20 8 Pieter Lawrence What harm could it do? We’ll still keep control of the bunker. In the meantime we could use the truce to discuss how we can all get out of this mess.” Fraser leapt at the idea. the main crowd dispersed “With and just a few of them left, we could easily deal with them.” Champney glared at him. he said, want you “Fraser,” “I out of here on the next transport. For one man you’ve done too much damage.” Fraser went pale. Champney,” he protested, “But “you don’t even know the facts. You'll see that my men were justified. You were on the point of using firearms yourself.” Champney replied with icy calm. not arguing. I want “I’m you out of here!” Blake realised at once that Champney had proposed the right course of action but he also foresaw a giant obstacle; the recalcitrance of Erica Field. He took her file from his brief case and tossed it on to Champney’s desk. “Read that,” he said. Champney glanced at it. all know about Erica,” he “We said. no doubt, she can be a very difficult lady.” “There’s say, impossible,” said Blake. “Some agreed Champney, they also say they don’t “Yes,” “but have leaders. Others be more reasonable. It’s worth a try. There’s a lot to gain and nothing to lose.” have to clear it with Whitehall,” said Blake. “I’ll Fraser had sat grim faced and silent. He suddenly got up. won’t be a party to any of this,” he said, as he left the “I office. a surrender.” “It’s Champney watched him go and then turned to Blake. “I wish you’d contact Whitehall now;” he said. while you ‘And are at it, I want a replacement for Fraser.”
20 8 Pieter Lawrence What harm could it do? We’ll still keep control of the bunker. In the meantime we could use the truce to discuss how we can all get out of this mess.” Fraser leapt at the idea. “With the main crowd dispersed and just a few of them left, we could easily deal with them.” Champney glared at him. “Fraser,” he said, “I want you out of here on the next transport. For one man you’ve done too much damage.” Fraser went pale. “But Champney,” he protested, “you don’t even know the facts. You'll see that my men were justified. You were on the point of using firearms yourself.” Champney replied with icy calm. “I’m not arguing. I want you out of here!” Blake realised at once that Champney had proposed the right course of action but he also foresaw a giant obstacle; the recalcitrance of Erica Field. He took her file from his brief case and tossed it on to Champney’s desk. “Read that,” he said. Champney glanced at it. “We all know about Erica,” he said. “There’s no doubt, she can be a very difficult lady.” “Some say, impossible,” said Blake. “Yes,” agreed Champney, “but they also say they don’t have leaders. Others be more reasonable. It’s worth a try. There’s a lot to gain and nothing to lose.” “I’ll have to clear it with Whitehall,” said Blake. Fraser had sat grim faced and silent. He suddenly got up. “I won’t be a party to any of this,” he said, as he left the office. “It’s a surrender.” Champney watched him go and then turned to Blake. “I wish you’d contact Whitehall now;” he said. ‘And while you are at it, I want a replacement for Fraser.”
the-last-conflict-pieter-lawrence.docx