Chapter Two, Part Sixteen3.49pm, Saturday 26th January, 1906, Geneva Central Station Smith, we might recall, has spotted a suspicious looking German lurking about in Geneva Central Station whilst staking it out. He casually walks up to him and puts his detective training into action.
“I say old chap, what are
you doing here?! I haven't seen you for simply
ages! How delightful! What are you looking for, by the way?”
“I am just er looking for mein left luggage! I hope to recuperate it this eve... I'm sorry, I don't remember your name?”“Winston Smith, at your service Sir.” Smith extends his hand, and as the German puts his forwards to meet it, smacks his walking
bat stick into his crotch.
Delighted to meet you... When the German has recovered sufficiently to raise his head and clear his watering eyes, Smith has long gone.
Some two hundred yards away Smith is leaving the station and heading back towards the hotel post haste, his internal monologue beavering away.
This evening eh... Strewth! I must inform my companions. Speed and decisive action will be of the essence!... I wonder what kind of sandwiches will be served with afternoon tea?4.06pm, Saturday 26th January, 1906, Inside Smith's Mind, Hotel Masson, Geneva Damn and blast! Bloody cucumber again!10.21pm, Saturday 26th January, 1906, Geneva Central StationA freezing wind blows off the lake into the city, and the first suggestion of snow is starting to fall from the overcast sky above onto the small group of gentlemen huddled together around the warmth of
August von Fersen's finely crafted pipe. Geneva Central Station lies across the street from them, and they eagerly discuss their plans in low voices.
“I say we should get some bloody tea, what?”
“Don't be a bloody fool: we've got to get in there before those blasted Germans do. No offence meant. They're coming tonight, I'm sure of it. And
then we could get some tea, and some decent bloody sandwiches. I'm fed up with cucumber, that's three bloody days straight. Now,
how should we get in?”
“Or, afterwards, we could offer that gentlewoman tea and biscuits?”
“At this hour?! How bloody dare you sir! She spoke to
me first in any case.”
“Sirs! At least one of you is more English than I am, and it shames me to have to give gentlemanship lessons to any of you. Now. Again. Let us make haste: if they have a means of getting in which doesn't involve the front door, then those ruddy Germans may already be inside. We
must get going!”
If actions are posted by tomorrow i.e. in the next 24 hours, I should be able to get a turn done and get things re-started. After that I am away for a couple of days, so it will have to wait. After that I will wait a maximum of two days between turns if I have the time to update, which I guess is a little arbitrary, but that's how it is.