Our Man In Kuwait: A tense historical spy thriller based on true events behind 1960s Cold War espionage in the Middle East by Louise Burfitt-Dons

Author:Louise Burfitt-Dons [Burfitt-Dons, Louise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New Century
Published: 2022-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 31

Jean watched affectionately as her husband worked on the car. She was very proud of him. Neville Beresford was a hard worker and a wonderful protector of the family. Who else had such a practical escape plan, doesn’t just talk about it but gets on with it, Jean thought proudly.

‘We’re very lucky,’ Neville said when she boasted to him about their water tight marriage. Particularly when many of the other women in Ahmadi seemed so unhappy. Did nothing but complain endlessly about their husbands.

‘Do you really think it could happen?’ Jean patted her hair lightly.

‘Let’s hope not. However, it always pays to be prepared.’

Jean stood, arms crossed, as Neville continued to strip out the small area underneath the bonnet of the VW.

‘Are you planning to fit me in there?’

He looked over at her through adoring, hooded eyes. ‘I bloody well might unless you get me a cold Carlsberg.’

Jean reappeared with a tray of drinks, which she balanced precariously on the knee-high brick wall. Unfolding a canvas chair, she sat in the shade of the eucalyptus tree as Neville fiddled with the electrical cables, to make sure they were all tightly connected. Jean didn’t know anything much about cars herself, apart from how to start one, but had a blind faith in Neville’s abilities.

‘Take these will you, darling?’ He handed her the Registration Certificate together with the Proof of Origin and a Petrol Ration Book belonging to the car’s first owner. ‘Ah! Here’s the original maintenance record. Quite handy.’

‘Inside the house?’

‘No, we’ll keep them all upfront.’

‘What are you fitting in there?’ Jean leant forward affecting an interest in the enclosed space behind the spare tyre.

‘A jack. Extra headlamps. 6V battery. The tyre, obviously. Trickle charger.’

‘What’s that thing?’

He pulled out a sand coloured car cover. ‘Not bad if we had to hide the car for any reason. But I don’t think we have the room, unfortunately.’

‘I can’t see we have the room for anything but ourselves.’ The thought of them all packed in like sardines disturbed her somewhat. ‘Stewart thinks it’s all good fun. He loves squirrelling up in that back compartment.’

‘I think we can dump these though.’ He handed her out a couple of copies of Volkswagen he’d found. ‘The car is featured in the review, so obviously that’s why the previous owner kept them. Maybe poke one in the bookshelf for posterity.’

‘Darling, do you think perhaps we should get a bigger make?’

Neville Beresford took a long swig of his beer. ‘Definitely not. This car is perfect if we have to make a run for it. We need to be inconspicuous. That way no one will take us as wealthy evacuees and try to rob us. Or take me perhaps for a high-profile army officer on the run with the family for example. They’re the only ones you see with big flashy cars in the desert.’

‘Well, you would know, darling.’

‘We will travel light and fast. The only space for cases is where I’ve removed the passenger seat.’

‘You won’t get much there.

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