Free Goodbye to an Old Friend by Brian Freemantle Page B

family upon whom he knew retribution would be carried out. Pavel protected his sister. Any defector with a family knows that they will be made pariahs in the Soviet Union. Pavel is an intelligent man, someone who deeply loves his family. According to Bennovitch, Pavel’s only interest, apart from his work, was his wife and two children. Imagine what’s going to happen to that woman now – first her brother, then her husband, together the two most important men in the Russian space programme. It will be a miracle if she doesn’t face trial …’
    â€˜I’ve tried to be patient,’ burst in Ebbetts, ‘but I can’t see the point you’re trying to make. Of course we all know what is likely to happen to Pavel’s wife … that it will probably be far worse than what happens to relatives of most defectors …’
    â€˜And that’s exactly the point,’ said Adrian, with the vehemence of a man who has scored an advantage in a debate. ‘Pavel knows what will happen to her. And he knew it before he even considered coming across. Is that the action of a man deeply devoted to his wife? Would such a man abandon a woman he loves to a life sentence in a labour camp at Potma?’
    â€˜But he has ,’ pointed out Ebbetts. ‘I accept the point you’re making and I agree that if this had been a hypothetical discussion on the likelihood of Pavel following Bennovitch, then I would have agreed completely with you and dismissed as ludicrous the merest suggestion that Pavel would defect. But he has defected. You’re arguing philosophy. I’m arguing facts.’
    â€˜Wait,’ pleaded Adrian. ‘Please wait. Knowing, upon your acceptance of my point, that his wife would be punished, Pavel goes ahead and defects. And then, belatedly, becomes covered with remorse. You’ve seen the reports of the men guarding him, you’ve read the transcripts of the conversations he has had with them …’
    Ebbetts staged a theatrical sigh.
    Adrian hesitated, then forced himself on. ‘I’ve rarely known a more painstaking man. He flies into a rage if a cleaner so much as moves a hair-brush an inch from where he’s decided it should rest. Twice he’s carried out an entire inventory against the list he’s prepared and always has with him of what he’s been allowed to keep in his room …’
    Another sigh. ‘Get on with it, man,’ implored Ebbetts.
    â€˜It’s an analytical mind,’ said Adrian. ‘He thinks, considers, makes notes and refers to them … he’s painfully old womanish, if you like. But the point is he calculates everything before he moves, not afterwards. For Pavel to become concerned about what effect his defection will have upon his wife and family after he’s come across is so out of character and unreal as to be suspicious.’
    â€˜Psychological poppycock,’ dismissed Ebbetts.
    â€˜And there’s more,’ went on Adrian. ‘I believe Sir Jocelyn has told you about the man’s attitude …’
    â€˜Resulting from your own. A man reacts in attitude to the way he’s treated,’ interrupted the Premier, quoting elementary Dale Carnegie.
    Adrian was breathing heavily, losing ground. He could feel perspiration rivering beneath his shirt.
    â€˜No, that’s not it,’ he said. ‘Listen to the first tape again, please. Pavel’s attitude was formed from our first word. Over-confident and protective …’
    â€˜Protective.’ Ebbetts seized the word, rushing in like a ferret. ‘That’s just it. Wouldn’t you be protective, wouldn’t you be afraid but try not to show it if you’d defected to Moscow? I’m amazed, I really am. I’d had the highest regard for your ability, Dodds, until now. You’ve had courses in psychology and according to what Binns tells me, one of the commonest indications of fear or