The Big Breach - Index of

The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.comAs the discussion seemed to be going nowhere, I gave her an ultimatum.`Well, are you interested in this project or not?'Martyn thought for a moment. `Can you give me what you have written sofar, and I'll think about it?'`No, I can't do that,' I replied, `because I haven't yet written adraft.' It was too risky to give her a copy of the text, even if Irecovered it from its hiding place on the internet.Martyn thought for a moment. `I'll tell you what, then, write down asynopsis outlining the contents of each chapter and I'll have a thinkabout it,' she replied.I was still suspicious and reluctant. It was one thing to break the OSAverbally, as it could never be proved in court, but putting pen topaper was another. If a written synopsis fell into the wrong hands, I'dbe vulnerable to legal action. But the former journalist had justvouched for her ethics. It was worth the risk. `OK, I'll give you asynopsis, but I trust that you will show it to nobody.'Martyn pointed to the steel filing cabinet in her office. `It'll belocked up in there. It will go nowhere.' She gave me her card and Ileft to get the late-afternoon ferry to Fisherman's Wharf.That evening, back in my rented holiday apartment near Bondi Beach, Ityped an anodyne and brief outline. The following day, unsure of myprospects for a book contract but confident that Martyn would honourher word, I dropped a sealed envelope at Transworld's office.My money was running out and, with no job prospects in sight, mythoughts reluctantly turned to England. There were plenty of drawbacksto returning, but at least there was a job there. It wasn't a greatoffer but it would provide some marketable work experience for thefuture. Perhaps it would turn out better than expected. If it didn't, Icould come back to Sydney. I rang up Stewart Grand Prix, accepted theiroffer and was given a starting date.Back in Milton Keynes, things started brightly enough. I found a smallflat in Wavendon, a village a few miles from work. A Carlisle Saabdealer, from whom my mother had recently bought a car, kindly helpedout by lending one of their demonstration cars. With a flat, a job anda car, my lot was better than it had been for several years. The firstday at work, however, confirmed my worst fears. Contrary to whatMorrison had assured me, I was the junior employee in the departmentwith no input into policies and no outlet to use my initiative ordevelop projects. It amounted to little more than a school-leaver'sjob; MI6 had reneged on another clause of their `agreement'. Moreover,I felt the cloud of my dismissal hanging over me, making it hard for meto feel settled and welcome. Over the next few weeks I made an effortto find something better and attended several interviews, but theknotty chestnut of explaining why I had left the FCO always reared itsthorny head. After many wasted miles in my loan car, I wrote toPD/PROSPECT asking for his help. The reply arrived a few days later,not from the kindly and sensible Timpson but from another officer whosename was unfamiliar. He wrote, `The service has discharged all itspage- 162 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com