The Spy from Place Saint-Sulpice by Barry Michael Broman

Author:Barry Michael Broman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781636241777
Publisher: Casemate
Published: 2023-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

It was a cold autumn in Paris, and snow threatened. Sasha had just settled in at his office, bracing himself for the day with a double espresso coffee and his first Gauloises Bleu cigarette of the day. Peggy Ann stepped in and announced that Monsieur Osty from DST was on the phone.

“Good morning, Monsieur Osty,” Sasha said, “What can I do for you today?”

“First, I must thank you for such a memorable meal,” Osty replied. “My wife told me that if I am ever invited to a Michelin three-star restaurant again, I must bring her.”

“It’s a deal.”

“I’m calling to invite you to a small lunch today. I hope you are available.”

“It will be my pleasure. Where should we meet?

The counter-intelligence officer chose the working-class and reliable Aux Charpentiers in the 6th, dedicated to the memory of the carpenters of Paris and filled with miniature construction mementos. A few hours later, Sasha entered the restaurant, its warm and cozy atmosphere a welcome relief from the harsh wind outside that suggested snow might be heading their way.

Sasha joined Osty in an aperitif of Dubonnet and discussed the unseasonably bad weather before getting down to business. Over the special of the day, pork and lentils, Osty confided to Sasha that the American embassy would not be further bothered by DGSE looking into American interest in the Cambodian resistance. “They got a little carried away,” Osty declared. “It should not happen again. Monsieur Blayne needs to be careful, however, in dealing with French-born citizens. A word to the wise.”

This must mean it is okay to pursue non-French-born Cambodians.

“Many thanks, Jean-Michel, I will inform the political section.” Sasha maintained the fiction of Rick’s employment, as Osty knew he would. But the message was passed. DST was helping the Americans in their activities with the Khmer resistance. And it showed that DST was not shy in defending its turf from DGSE encroachment. It’s like the FBI and CIA in the old days.

Osty went on, “France’s adventures in Indochina are over. If anyone stops the advance of communism in that part of the world, it will have to be America. It was unfortunate that public opinion forced the U.S. to abandon Indochina in 1975. Perhaps President Reagan will put that right. Speaking personally, I wish you luck. My brother was killed at Dien Bien Phu, serving as an officer in the Foreign Legion. For me, the war is not over.”

It was the only time Sasha had seen Osty become emotional. The Frenchman lifted his glass of Bordeaux and toasted. “Vive l’amour, vive la guerre, vive la Légion étrangère.” Long live love, long live war, Long live the French Foreign Legion. They clinked glasses, drank, and sat for a long moment saying nothing.

Then, almost as an afterthought, Osty got to the main point of the meeting. “My superiors would like to thank you, Alexander, for the timely information regarding the KGB officer Makarenko. We have looked into the matter and the Soviet government has decided at a

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