“We have a mixed bunch, really,” Iain Morrison replied. “They are all from different walks of life and levels of skills. We even have a Russian diplomat with us and he apparently is a very experienced mountaineer, although he has a limp from a fall about two years ago. I have split the group into four teams with a very experienced person in each group. We have planned four objectives for each team to try for in turn. I’ll bring the map over later to show you the objectives. Each team can plan their own route to each objective.”
Bradley’s ears really pricked up at the mention of the Russian diplomat and the limp. He brought mugs of coffee over. Crombie introduced him to Iain Morrison. “Mr Morrison, we will be in two groups, also with different objectives, but we will have people at our base camp all the time we are here. As a military organisation, we cannot give you details of our planned routes but can indicate how close to your teams we will be when you bring the map over. If you need help at any time, please contact the base camp and we can radio the team nearest to where you need help.” The three men discussed weather forecasts and likely risk areas while they drank their mugs of coffee. They arranged to meet in an hour’s time.
After Morrison had left and returned to the lodge, Flight Sergeant Bradley called Corporal Hill over to the main tent for a brief talk with Flying Officer Crombie. After he entered the tent with Flight Sergeant Bradley, he was told by Crombie to join them and have a seat. “Flight Sergeant Bradley here told me that two years ago you had a fight with a Russian and he fell over a cliff and disappeared. Flight Sergeant Bradley believes that the same person is here now as a Russian diplomat. Brad will point him out to you and whatever you do, do not react as if you had met him before.
Corporal Hill nodded his agreement and said, “Yes, sir.”
Crombie went on, “The difficulty for us is that he is now a foreign diplomat with all that goes with it. If he is the person thatBrad says then he is most likely a military man and/or a KGB operative. We will need to be careful. I’ll inform the office at our next scheduled radio call. Okay, Andy, carry on with your preparations.” A nod from Corporal Hill and he went out of the tent. Crombie turned to Bradley, “Well, Brad, we have a situation that won’t be an exercise. If the Russian believes that Andy is the one who caused him to walk with a limp then he may want revenge. You and your team will need to stay alert. No doubt the office will notify MI5 since they keep a check on all of the Russian diplomatic staff. We will be expected to report on this person’s movements. I’ll ask Morrison for the names of all his party when we meet with him. Have Kelly and Wilson split the men into two teams and go out for two hour’s exercise. Wearing their packs, they are to head for the high ground. You stay here with me to meet this Mr Morrison.” Bradley left the tent and called the men together while Crombie got his maps out.
The two teams headed out towards Cairngorm and left Flying Officer Crombie and Flight Sergeant Bradley at base camp to meet with Morrison and then radio in as scheduled. The office passed on the information to MI5. The morning passed quickly and, in the afternoon, refresher exercises related to their intelligence duties were carried out. This was followed by refresher training in unarmed combat.
***
The first three days with Crombie’s team passed without incident except for a slight change in the weather. More snow fell each night, making for a slower movement in some areas where the snow had drifted. Crombie’s team arrived back at base camp late in the afternoon on their third day (Thursday 8th). There was a general de-briefing that evening with all the teams, describing what had been encountered and how each person had fared in the tasks set for each. The approach was not to be critical but to suggest how each could improve in their different ways, some of this done with real humour. They had encountered a Mancunian team only once.
It was the fifth morning since their arrival and Bradley led his team out towards Braeriach. More snow had fallen that night and a slight breeze was causing drifts to build up. The day was cloudy and the sky a heavy grey as though it would snow again. Apart from camping equipment and their gear, each man carried crampons and an ice axe. They would be exercising their skills on some of the steeper slopes that ended in near cliff-like conditions. Bradley’s team was to follow the normal route up to the summit of Braeriach and then descend to Loch Einich to camp for the night. The first day went without incident.
On the second day they arose to slightly warmer weather but with a thick mist. The team broke camp and Bradley led them south past the loch and then they turned east towards Cairn Toul. The mist stayed with them and they found it slow going as snow and mist seemed to blend in to each other. They climbed up the Core nan Clach and crossed Carne na Criche to join the old track near the rim. They then broke at about 10:00 hours. Using their rucksacks as a shield from any breeze, they lit a stove to make a hot drink. They ate some dried fruit and chocolate to give them energy. The tea
