Dead Men Living by Brian Freemantle

Author:Brian Freemantle [Freemantle, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: det_espionage
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The archives of the British embassy in Moscow are part of its basement, which have been tanked with two insulation-separated brick walls to prevent the incipient dampness of the Moskva river from mildewing the documents stored there ahead of their eventual transfer to London. In addition, humidifiers are kept constantly running. The artificial light, the only source, is harsh. Despite the brightness, the curator, a diminutive, quickly moving man with spectacles pushed up into disordered hair, blinked a lot, like a furtive animal accustomed to living permanently underground.

The man, whom Charlie had not met before, pedantically insisted upon telephoning personnel to check Charlie’s authorization, appearingdisappointed when it was confirmed. He recovered the moment Charlie asked for any records of a Lieutenant Simon Norrington having been at the embassy in early 1945.

“Don’t have to look,” said the man, cheerfully. “Already have, for Colonel Gallaway. We don’t have anything.”

“When?” asked Charlie.

“Yesterday,” said the archivist. “Told Mr. McDowell and Mr. Cartright this morning, when they inquired. This man Norrington must have done something pretty unusual?”

“He did,” said Charlie. “He died where he shouldn’t have and ended up in the wrong grave.”

Cartright was standing in the corridor outside Charlie’s office when Charlie returned because there wasn’t enough room with McDowell and Gallaway already inside. Both men were staring down at the paper plane.

Charlie said, “Pilot error.”

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