Leclerc refused to go into the Cadena and they walked interminably until they found another café, worse than the Cadena and more expensive.‘I can’t remember him,’ Leclerc said. ‘That’s the absurd thing. He’s a trained radio operator apparently. Or was in those days.’Avery thought he was talking about Taylor. ‘How old did you say he was?’‘Forty, something over. That’s a good age. A Danzig Pole. They speak German, you know. Not as mad as the pure Slav. After the war he drifted for a couple of years, pulled himself together and bought a garage. He must have made a nice bit.’‘Then I don’t suppose he’ll …’‘Nonsense. He’ll be grateful, or should be.’Leclerc paid the bill and kept it. As they left the restaurant he said something about subsistence, and putting in a bill to Accounts. ‘You can claim for night duty as well, you know. Or time in lieu.’ They walked down the road. ‘Your air ticket is booked. Carol did it from her flat. We’d better make you an advance for expenses.
