Charlie’s Apprentice

organize themselves that quickly – it’ll take them at least until Nanchang to go right through the train to discover you are not on it. Actually board the Nanchang train, so that you’ll be remembered. Just before it leaves, get off. I’ve checked the track numbers, too. You’ll be two tracks away. Cross directly to the Shanghai train. I’ll have a two-berth, soft sleeper cabin. And a ticket for you. Which I’ll present around the door during any ticket inspection checks, so that once inside the cabin you’ll be out of sight. The majority of the journey is through the night, when everybody will be asleep.’

‘What happens in Shanghai?’

‘Nothing, I hope. There’s a plane out, four hours after we arrive, to Manila. Both tickets on it will again be in my name. We’ll go direct to the airport from the railway station.’

‘You’ve forgotten the need for travel permission.’

‘That only applies to restricted areas. There is none, on the route between Beijing and Shanghai. I checked that, like everything else. And you won’t be on the Nanchang train, where it does apply, anyway.’

Snow sat for several moments with his head bowed, deep in thought. ‘All right,’ he said.

Charlie was unsure to what the priest was agreeing. ‘You think you can do it?’

‘Yes.’

‘All of it?’

There was another pause. ‘I’ve got to, haven’t I?’

Charlie matched the cynicism. ‘Yes.’

‘From the moment I get into your cabin on the train you’ll be linked with me: as liable to arrest as I am? As that other man was?’

A fact that was paramount in Charlie’s mind. ‘Yes.’

‘I don’t want to cause any more problems, for anyone!’ insisted the other man. ‘Why can’t I do it by myself?’

‘Because it’s not a one-man job!’ rejected Charlie. ‘You need help and concealment on the train and help at Shanghai airport, to collect a ticket to get you out …’ Charlie hesitated. Then he said: ‘This is the only way to get you out.’ He wished to Christ there was a choice.

‘I have to return to the mission tonight?’

Charlie was torn between wishing to see the man show either something beyond dull obedience or a spark of initiative which might have risked the danger of improvisation. ‘Until tomorrow morning, when you call the Foreign Ministry, you’ve got to continue normally in every way at the mission.’

For the first time, Snow began to show some reaction. ‘What can I take with me, when I leave?’

‘Your passport,’ said Charlie, regretting the irritation in his voice. ‘That’s all! You can’t carry anything that will give the slightest indication that you’re not going back to the mission!’

Snow frowned. ‘I must have a rosary. And my bible.’

‘Will the bible fit into your pocket?’

Snow was clearly uncertain whether to lie outright. In the end he said: ‘Not really.’

‘Then no.’

‘I have always had it.’

‘No!’

‘I suppose I could ask Father Robertson to send it to Rome.’

‘Father Robertson has to believe you’re coming back to the mission, like everybody else.’

‘But he’s …’ Snow started, but Charlie wouldn’t allow the protest.

‘… exposed,’ he said, shortly. ‘His protection is not knowing! If he gives any indication of being aware in advance, he could be accused of colluding with you!’

Snow shook his head again. ‘I’m not sure …’ he began and trailed away.

‘No luggage. No goodbyes,’ insisted Charlie. ‘It’s not a matter for you. Not just your safety. You’re agonizing over the poor bastard they’ve already arrested. What happens to him depends upon their not getting you. My safety, too. Two people, utterly dependent on your doing everything right. OK?’

‘OK.’ It was very uncertain.

‘No deviation! None whatsoever!’

‘I said I understood!’ Now Snow was showing irritation.

Charlie was abruptly very nervous. Apart from Edith, a long time ago, and Natalia, much more recently, there was only one person in the world upon whom Charlie had ever felt able completely to rely. Himself. He’d never really liked operating with other supposed professionals, because invariably something got cocked up somewhere. This time he wasn’t even being forced together with a professional. He was being harnessed with someone he’d already decided was a collapsing liability. ‘Repeat it!’ he ordered. ‘Repeat everything back to me!’

Snow had to make two attempts, to get it right. At the end he said: ‘I’ve got it all clear in my head.’

‘I hope to Christ you have!’ said Charlie, unthinkingly.

‘And I’ll pray to Him,’ promised Snow, quietly.

Miller had not referred to the left-behind perfume after that one confrontation and obviously Patricia hadn’t. She hadn’t asked, either, when or how long Ann might be at Regent’s Park because it would have seemed she was anxious, which she was, but didn’t want to show it. He’d have to ask her to go there again: Patricia was determined that was how it would be. In the beginning, she had made up her mind to refuse the first time, putting up some excuse, but as the days passed her resolve about that lessened and she knew she’d agree, as she always agreed. But he’d still have to ask her: she wouldn’t suggest it.

‘There wasn’t a lot of point in Muffin making all that fuss about going in solo if he was going to approach the embassy as quickly as this, was there?’ demanded the Director.

‘At least we know he’s there. And that there is definite surveillance on the mission.’ Why wouldn’t Peter ask her? She was sure Ann wasn’t there.

‘That’s the most worrying part.’

‘I would have thought the continued refusal over Gower might have been?’

‘Then you’re not thinking clearly enough,’ said Miller, brusquely. ‘It can only mean Gower’s hanging on.’

Patricia’s face burned at the curtness but she chose not to argue against it. ‘What next?’

‘The Chinese ambassador is being told we are considering withdrawing our ambassador, for consultations.’

‘Isn’t that dangerous?’

‘Of course it is!’ said Miller, brusque again. ‘We’re bluffing. We’ve just got to hope the bastards don’t call it.’

Forty-six

The enmity between them had become absolute after the confession, which should have made it easier for Snow to leave the mission without any farewell, but he was reluctant to go like that. Despite no bond ever having grown between them, Snow felt the older priest deserved a warning at least. It was a deceit not to say something, just as it had been a deceit contriving the protective confession. The justification from the man who had come to get him out – his protection is not knowing – did not seem as acceptable in the echoing, dust-clogged church during early morning prayers as it had in the cramped embassy room less than twenty-four hours earlier.

Snow prayed for a long time. He prayed most fervently for forgiveness, for what he now accepted to be the mistakes and the wrongs he had committed. And then for courage, for what he had to do that day. And finally to be allowed to escape, apologizing as he did so for the weakness it showed.

He was aware, while he prayed, of Father Robertson entering and then leaving the church for his own worship. When Snow reached their living quarters there was no sign of the other priest. Snow felt positively sick, so he did not want anything to eat, but he brewed coffee, enough for both of them. Still Father Robertson did not appear. Finally Snow called for the man. There was no response. Snow looked into the empty office and finally knocked tentatively on Father Robertson’s bedroom door, beginning to fear another collapse. When he pushed the door open, the room was empty, the bed tidily made.