Mum and Dad didn’t badger me with any more questions during the trip. It was late in the evening when we got there so I went directly to bed and slept like a log.
I got out of bed with only a little discomfort, but I wouldn’t be doing anything that required stretching. My back was stiff and even though I had bandages around it, it burned if I twisted too much.
Even dressing was a problem as I put on a shirt. I could do it but as I raised my arms I got a reminder that skin had been torn off my back. I was fortunate that was all that happened.
The doctor told me it was a miracle that my spine wasn’t hit. A fraction of an inch and I would have been dead or paralyzed.
Grim thoughts aside I went out to the suite living room. Mum and Dad were there. Breakfast had been set up and kept warm with chafing dishes.
After I had some bacon, eggs, and potatoes we had a talk over coffee.
“Rick it seems the Soviets really don’t like you. You have got in their way too many times.”
“Apparently.”
“We aren’t going to forbid you to do anything but we think you would be wise not to go to Berlin anymore.”
“Dad, that sounds like excellent advice.”
“You have an appointment at the Palace with Mr. Norman in two hours. He wants to hear from you about what went on.”
“That will give me time to get cleaned up.”
We went to the Palace as a group. My parents weren’t letting me out of their sight. Mr. Norman was ready for us.
“Rick will you tell me what happened in your own words. I have read the West German police report, and MI6’s report, but I would like to hear it in your own words.”
I told him the whole story once more. He kept coming back to my fight with the poacher. He questioned every detail several times over.
I finally asked him why he was focusing on that.
“Because the East Germans have asked that you be extradited to stand trial for murder.”
“Not bloody likely,” Mum exploded.
Mr. Norman replied, “Calm down Peg, I said they requested, not that we are going to comply. Though the Foreign Office thinks it might help relations if we did.”
That statement made me wonder what the life expectancy of the Foreign Secretary had just become.
Mum got even more worked up at that comment.
“Tell the Foreign Secretary that…”
She shut down. I don’t think she wanted to go on record as threatening him if he had an unfortunate run-in with a Sterling machine gun.
“Her Majesty has firmly told them this wouldn’t happen. She will dissolve the government if they try.”
That made me feel better to have her on my side.
“There is also the issue of your airplane. They have seized it as evidence in your crime.”
“They are welcome to it. I wouldn’t trust the plane ever again after it has been in their hands.”
“Good decision. The Messenger Service will replace it. You lost it in the line of duty.”
“How is our man that I helped get back?”
“I’m sorry to say he didn’t make it.”
“This is really a Cold War, as Bernard Baruch stated.”
“You do know your history, Rick.”
“I just didn’t know that War is the keyword. I thought it was Cold as in relations.”
“It is very much real.”
“Anyway, what I need to tell you is your days of flying over East Germany are over.”
I chuckled as I told him, “I knew that, and Mum and Dad have reinforced it.”
“There have been concerns voiced about your safety even here.”
“I’m not going to run and hide.”
Dad spoke up, “Peg and I have talked about it, we are going to have surveillance put on Rick for the next several months until this dies down.”
“Rick, you do know the newspapers, especially the tabloids want to have an interview.”
I groaned at that.
“Do I have to?”
“It would be a good move on your part, showing you have nothing to hide.”
I looked at my parents, they looked at each other and shrugged. Thanks, Mum and Dad!
“I will do it, the sooner the better.”
I thought about calling Sharon Wallace but there wasn’t much she could do about this and she was changing jobs. On second thought I decided to call her as soon as I could as a professional courtesy.
Our conversation wound down so we got ready to leave. As we stood the door opened and Her Majesty was there.
“You certainly lead an interesting life, Sir Richard.”
After the prerequisite polite bow, I replied, “I’m afraid so Your Majesty. It is getting to be painful.”
“How is your back?”
“I’ll live. I have to work it a bit so that the scar tissue doesn’t restrict my movement.”
“Good. Don’t worry about our government's response. You got shot by an East German. What were you to do but defend yourself?”
I liked this take on things, though you could make a case that I wouldn’t have been shot or had to kill the guy if I had just surrendered to the Stasi.
Of course, then I could have ended up like the poor guy from the bridge. I bet he hadn’t even killed any of their agents.
That made a shiver run down my back, this cold war was real and I was a target.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Just what I expect from a Garter Knight.”
With that, she left us.
Upon returning to the hotel I placed a call to the States. It was still early there so I was able to talk to Sharon. She took it calmly until I told her I had been shot.
After going through all that once more I asked
