Breakthrough (The Red Gambit Series) (95 page)

Four men smiled ever so gently, one wondered what he had just set in motion. The sixth pursued the plan.

The uniformed MP shot to his feet
,
and Attlee gave way instantly.

“Mr Speaker, can the Prime Minister clarify that, for the sake of
an
ill-educated old soldier,” the laughs from both sides creating a more relaxed atmosphere instantly, just as he had intended, “What measures are
presently being
considered to secure the future of our country?”

Attlee smiled disarmingly.

“Mr Speaker, the House will, of course, understand that I am unable to be open in this setting, but that such matters are diligently discussed during the meetings of the Committee for Imperial Defence. But I can assure the House
,
and especi
ally the Hon
ourable member for Wroughton
,
that no stone is left unturned in the preservation of our nation state.”

Callard-Smith pushed again.

“Mr Speaker, I thank the Prime Minister for his assurances thus far, but find myself in need of further clarification.”

Those MP’s with limited attention spans started to mentally drift away, mainly to thoughts of the lunch to come.

Callard-Smith continued.

“Can the Prime Minister confirm that there has been no discussion between the Allied powers regarding any negotiated settlement with the
Soviet Union
?”

As was the habit of cabinet members giving a swift answer, Attlee slid upright to the stand, gave his reply
,
and slid back in place on the front bench, all in one movement.

“I can confirm that is the case
,
Mr Speaker.”

The retired Army officer coughed gently and composed himself.

“Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Prime Minister for his responses. Might I ask one more question, and seek his report on the progress of the Honourable member for Mortimer’s mission to the Court of Bernadotte?”

Some of those dreaming of lunch did a double-take, processing the question
,
and coming up no
ne the
wiser.

Others who were more attentive saw the Prime Minister pale.

The few
that were astute understood that they were in the presence of history in the making.

Four others waited in delicious anticipation.

Attlee’s delay in rising
,
spoke volumes.

“Mr Speaker, the Honourable member for Mortimer is presently returning from a trade mission to
Sweden
,
and he will be making his own report in due course.”

All in the house now realised that what was about to come to pass would be something special.

The stunned Attlee resumed his seat, his mind in turmoil.

The chamber was as silent as a morgue, no one’s mind on anything but what was going on in front of their eyes. Indeed, people started to arrive as if by magic, the electricity in the air drawing them forward
from the outer chambers
like fish into a net.

Everyone’s attention was on the Member of Parliament for Wroughton, as they
waited for him to rise.

Callard-Smith
stood and looked at the waiting Attlee. V
ery slowly, and with practised theatre,
he
tugged his jacket into plac
e and slowly examined his VC. The Colonel
then seemed to suddenly realise where he was and stiffened,
addressing
the
Speaker, the
central figure of authority
,
but fixing his gaze most firmly on the man across the floor.

“Mr Speaker, can the Prime Minister confirm that the report of the Honourable member for Mortimer will also include the results of his discussions with Soviet Foreign Ministry officials, and that a
full transcript of the meeting
,
recording our tentative offer of a separate armistice
,
will be made available to this House?”

Every eye, every fibre, ever
y sense, was directed at the Pr
ime Minister
,
who almost seemed to shrink under the intense scrutiny.

He rose like a fox who knew that the pack had
him cornered.

“Mr Speaker, I can confirm to the House that the Honourable member for Mortimer was secretly tasked with exploring certain possibilities
,
should the war situation become untenable, and that he will be reporting back
to me personally on his return. I will then
present the results to the Committee for Imperial Defence and, in due course, the King.”

Attlee felt he should admit the fact and try
to
control it as best he could, not thinking straight, as he had
just admitted openly misleading
the House on the matter.

The attention
again
switched to Callard-Smith, by common assent
,
now
appointed as the judge, jury and executioner in the matter.

“Mr Speaker, can the Prime Minister confirm that he acted with the compliance and agreement of the War Cabinet, and that the matter has been,” he searched his memory for the quote and found it instantly, “
As he so eloquently stated a few minutes ago, ‘
Diligently discussed by the Committe
e
for Imperial Defence?
’
”

Attlee continued to sit, his mind seeking a solution, and Callard-Smith t
o
ok the opportunity with both hands.

“No
,
Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister cannot confirm that. He cannot confirm that because his personal private secretary, the member for Mortimer, was sent to
Sweden
to negotiate terms for an armistice involving solely this country and our dominions. With
out discussion with his Cabinet. Without
the
knowledge of the Committee for Imperial Defence.”

His third thrust was delivered with open contempt, the sort that only a man of uniform, who has given his all for King and Country, can have for someone he sees as a traitor.

“W
ithout regard to our fighting allies or the indomitab
le spirit of this island nation!
”

The  house remained silent, the tension, disgust and anger tangible in the very air they breathed.

With a sense of the dra
matic, Callard-Smith picked up the tempo
,
and the volume.

“Look at his cabinet colleagues. See how appalled they are, the looks on their faces betr
ay the facts of the matter here!
”

He pointed at the opposition front benches, filled with horrified-looking men, either heads bowed in anguish or raised and focussed in anger upon the balding leader of the government.

“Without discussion, the Prime Minister has set our country on a path of betrayal from which we will not recover
,
unless it is stopped right now!
”

The House members howled, venting their own pent-up passion at last, concentrating their anger on the same diminutive figure.

The Prime Minister rallied and took to his feet, using the dispatch box as a support, enduring the cries of derision until they faded away and he could be heard.

“Mr Speaker, I asked the Honourable member for Mortimer to
meet with a delegation from the Soviet Foreign Ministry
,
in order
explore the possibilities of a separate negotiated peace for the island.”

Again he had to wait for the anger to subside.

“Mr Speaker, I did so in order to gauge the
Soviet Union
’s stance and reaction, as well to ensure that all options were properly explored.”

This time he did not just stop, but raised his voice over the throng.

“There has been no commitment at all, and there is no harm done.”

The hounds bayed louder, drowning out his defence, and much was lost although, in truth, no-one cared.

“Mr Speaker, I considered it prudent to embark on this undertaking
,
in order to explore all options for the preservation of freedom in our lands
,
and in the wider world. I repeat, there has been no commitment to any course of action, neither would there be without full and frank consultations with all our allies
,
and within this house.”

Attlee rallied, his
argument
convincing him of the astuteness of the move, although the continued jeers indicated that the opposite was true of his political colleagues from both sides of the house.

“Mr Speaker, by exploring all possibilities I have acted properly and within the remit of my office. No harm has been caused by this course of action and none will result, regardless of what approach His Majesty’s Government now chooses to take.”

The noise dropped away as Callard-Smith rose to his feet, holding a piece of paper given to hi
m by someone who had
supplied
the
hangman’s noose for just this
very
moment.

“Mr Speaker,
the Prime Minister informs the
House that there is no harm done
,
but I
fear that I
must contest that.”

Someone coughed gently and everyone heard it and suddenly realised that the
spectator
chamber was full
,
and yet in total silence.

“Mr Speaker
, I hold here a draft copy of an urgent
military report from the European Front, due to be placed before the Prime Minister this afternoon.”

No-one bothered to ask where he had acquired it from.

“Mr Speaker, before I pass on the contents of this document, I am aware that the first of three meetings bet
w
een the Honourable member for Mortimer and representatives of the Soviet Foreign Ministry and NKVD took place last Sunday at the private residence of Östen Undén, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs. Subsequent meetings took place on Monday lunchtime and Tuesday morning.”

Callard-Smith paused to permit the assembly to digest that information.
More than one mind digested the introduction of the NKVD into the equation.

As the house descended into expectant silence
,
he played his part to the full.

The Colonel
brandished the sheet of paper, high enough for all to see writing upon it
,
and for Attlee to imagine it as a headsman
’s
axe destined for use on him.

“Mr Speaker, this military report indicates that since Sunday evening, a disproportionate number of air raids and ground attacks have been made against our forces, causing heavy casualties amongst our Army and Air Force units.”

Pausing to
theatrically
consult one important section, Callard-Smith quoted to the assembly.

“If I may Mr Speaker, and I quote,
‘Soviet ground forces have commenced uncoordinated and hasty attacks on a wide front, adopting an offensive system and style not previously seen
,
and not conforming to any pattern previously identified during the Second War.”

He risked a look at the crestfallen Attlee and continued.

“Prisoners have been taken and talk only of
urgent orders
from command authorities to maintain attacks on British units
,
regardless of position or cost, just to maintain pressure at all times.”

A growing noise within the chamber gave him a moment’s pause
,
and he held his hand up to appeal for silence.

“Activities in American and other Allied sectors conform to previous expectations and doctrine
,
so this report concludes that British and Dominion forces are being deliberately targeted.”

He turned the report outwards, presenting the written word in Attlee’s direction, his spare hand addressing the paper, highlighting the phrase he loudly and precisely repeated.

“This report concludes that British and Dominion forces are being deliberately targeted.”

The noise returned, louder and more earnest in nature. Callard-brown concluded that the job was
nearly
done.

“Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister
has acted alone and without the consent or agreement of the official organs of state, and in so doing has placed the lives of our figh
ting troops in extreme jeopardy!
”