'I'd consider anything you suggest, of course.'

'I want you to bring the Chief of Training, Norfolk, onto the carpet at the Bureau and I want you and the whole of the administration — including senior executives and directors in the field — to confront him with the present situation, namely that there are people being sent into the field without a hope in hell of completing their missions before they're killed.'

Turner had come away from the window and was leaning with his back against the wall, head lifted, watching me through narrowed eyes. I listened to the static on the line. There was a gale blowing across southern England and the north of France, I'd heard at the airport in Rome, and the communications mast in Cheltenham would be swaying in the dark.

'I will give you my guarantee,' I heard Croder saying, 'that your demands are met.'

It had been a lot to ask, and his answer told me something about the size of the new mission he was mounting.

'Within a week from today,' I said.

In a moment, 'One can't always command the immediate attention of the administration, but I shall — '

'Within a week,' I said.

He could get those pontifical bastards out of hibernation sooner than that if he turned on the heat.

'Within a week,' he said, 'very well. As it happens, I share your concern in this matter, but that's not to say I shall find it easy to persuade them. I'm sure you — '

'Give them the facts. Show them the records for the past five years, tell them to count the increasing number of times we've seen "Executive deceased" on the bottom line.'

'I can only promise you to do my utmost.'

'That's all I ask,' I said. Croder's utmost could push a building down. 'Where do I report for clearance and briefing?'