Chapter Two, Part Fifteen
3.32pm, Saturday 26th January, 1906, GenevaExcuse myself for lunch with Adolphe.(The Geneva Train Station Officer)
As Wellington mentions the locker and their mission,
”G” realises all of a sudden that he has an impending lunch to attend. He rushes off!
Mrs Constanz cooks a wonderful lunch, which fills “G” full of the force necessary for a good few hours’ hunting in the surrounding countryside hiking about with the marvelous Swiss couple. Adolphe himself shows him some of the exploding rifle rounds he has been developing, and lets him try them out. He slays a goat!
It is, in fact, such a wonderful shot, that Adolphe feels moved to make a gift of the exploding ammunition, admiring as he does “G”’s tremendous skill and, it goes without saying, his appreciation of the Elk [5]. “G” makes his way back to the hotel towards mid-afternoon teatime.
Item Acquired! Goat carcass!
Item Acquired! Three magazines of exploding ammunition!
Set out to acquire a snack.
As “G” sets out from the hotel,
Wellington sets out to seek a snack, knowing as he does that a light meal is so often considered to be a prerequisite for successful espionage. Alas! He searches from brunchtime to lunchtime, and reaches nearly mid-afternoon teatime without success! He feels rather hungry, and sits down upon a bench to adjust his top hat [2].
Gentlemanly kiss her hand, properly introduce myself and accompany the gentlelady to the dining area. Inquire about her reasons for being in Geneva. If she asks the same, tell her I am a published writer who has come to Switzerland for inspiration, and that I just have arrived in my friend's airship. Otherwise be as charming as possible.
Von Fersen properly introduces himself to the gentlelady, and they go to break their fast in the dining area. She is, apparently, just touring the country with her three sisters, as part of their general education, and whilst she is quite impressed with von Fersen’s being a published writer, she confesses to not having read his works, and apologises profusely. She does, however, find von Fersen remarkably charming, and the gentlecouple pass an agreeable couple of hours in each other’s company. Alas! Her sisters return, and she must leave to meet them: when she does she is full of kindly words about the charming and handsome Swede and the four sisters soon set the hotel’s gentleladies a-chatter with talk of the gentleman who is also a published writer [5+1 trait bonus]. Before von Fersen knows it, it is mid-afternoon teatime!
Gentlemanliness Increased! Swooning ladies!
Bow to the gentlewoman, be on the lookout for any German bastards attempting to harm her.
As his friend and comrade von Fersen descends into the dining area with the beautiful Lady Caroline Agathe Ehrenstrahl Beaulieu de Meulemeester at his side,
McGeenyton bows like a gentleman, and whispers in von Fersen’s ear that he vows to protect them from any German bastards while they breakfast. There are none about in the breakfast room that he notices, however [3]. He continues to stand guard until he debriefs with von Fersen later in the day.
Head to Geneva Central Station on a cab and scout out the area. Look for a time when the guards aren't paying attention, a time when security is most lax, or a way to easily break in undetected.
Only one of our gentlemen seems not to be fixated with food and its acquisition:
Winston Smith, who, bravely remembering his service to His Majesty the King more Englishly than any Englishman, requests that a butler order him a cab to the station. He reaches it and discretely observes with all his ex-police detective’s intuition for much of the middle part of the day.
It would seem that, aside from the police presence outside the main entrance, the actual number of guards inside the station is fairly limited; and although the left luggage area itself seems to be permanently staffed by at least two porters, the rest of the guardsmen appear to be relieved every hour, whereupon there is a five minute drop in the rigorousness of the guardsmen’s application of their duty. Since the Swiss are notoriously unfond of tea, this is a rather strange thing to account for, Smith muses to himself. He walks on, and notices that the rear of the left luggage area adjoins an external wall of the station, and looks rather flimsy.
Towards the end of his observation, Smith keenly feels the presence of another observing pair of eyes; indeed, he soon spots someone suspiciously similar to a German, although in a top hat, walking about in the main hall of the station, looking about with great curiosity [5].
Mr John Link
Only one gentleman is not fixated on food? No! For
Mr Link is feeling sleepy, not hungry. Suddenly realising that he has not adequately rested for some time, John Link Esq. retires to his bedroom to take a nap as soon as he has informed his fellow gentlemen that Geneva Central Station will, in all likelihood, be free of police officers this very night. His nap goes exceptionally well [5].
Right – I need to get this slightly back on track and slightly more regular before our motivation is sapped and our minds clouded. Apologies. I won’t wait for Link to wake up until Darvi returns to help keep it moving (Further Apologies). Also a few more [1]s and [6]s would help. Unfortunately I will probably be too busy for much of this weekend to update, stupidly enough.
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Topic: Roll to Be a Gentleman Spy - Chapter Three Part Twenty One. (Read 75013 times)