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The voice came from the other side of the room. Leila turned to see a tall middle-aged man rising from an armchair in front of a magnificent marble fireplace.
‘I’m Michael Sullivan, Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs,’ he said, approaching her, hand outstretched. ‘It’s so good to finally meet you, I’ve heard such a lot about you.’
‘Oh, really – I can’t imagine what…’
‘Oh, no false modesty, my dear lady…your reputation has gone before you. Can I offer you tea, or coffee? I fear I can recommend neither in these straitened times, but both are available.’
‘Coffee please.’
Sullivan picked up the phone on his desk. ‘Coffee for two, Amanda, please.’ He then led the way to the group of armchairs in front of the fireplace. ‘Please – do sit down.’
Moments later, Amanda appeared carrying a silver tray with a pot of coffee, cups and saucers.
‘Just put it there,’ said Sullivan, pointing to the low table in front of him.
Leila took a sip of coffee, and tried to suppress a shudder. The man had been right – the coffee was dreadful. ‘MrSullivan, I’m not quite sure why I’m here. I understand it has something to do with a manuscript I’m working on. It’s not even finished yet, so I’m perplexed as to why it’s attracted so much attention.’
Sullivan settled into the opposite armchair. ‘Let me come straight to the point. We are interested in your clearly detailed knowledge of the female sex in Germany. They are, after all, half the population. Here at the FO, our job is to look ahead. We have high hopes our American friends will soon enter the conflict, after which we can be pretty certain of being victorious over Hitler. And when we are, we need to be ready.’
‘Ready for what?’
‘The German people, as you will know only too well, have been subjected to over fifteen years of propaganda. Their minds have been…how should I put it…warped by Hitler and his Minister for Propaganda, Dr Goebbels. People like your good self – journalists with a good reputation, who have lived under Hitler’s regime – have a detailed understanding of the effects of this propaganda. Your publisher kindly sent me an advance copy of your manuscript, and I have to say your insights are remarkable. From what I’ve read so far, I believe that, when the time is right, you would be a fine resource for the British government, advising us as to how we might help the German people – and women in particular – towards a more liberal way of thinking after Nazism.’
‘I see. I’m flattered of course, but I’m not quite sure how I could achieve that.’
‘Neither am I just now, but I wanted to have this initial chat so that we could get to know each other and be ready…when the time comes.’
‘Well, of course, I’d be pleased to help, but I do worry about what might happen if Germany isnotdefeated. Things are not looking too good at the moment…’
‘I understand your pessimism, but I don’t share it. We must keep victory firmly in our sights. As you may know, President Roosevelt and Churchill have recently signed the Atlantic Charter setting out their joint vision for the future of the world after Hitler’s defeat. With the Americans on our side, I really don’t see how we can fail.’
‘I hope you’re right but I still don’t see howIcan help?’
‘I believe that, once we have peace, the Allies will need an army of people to help us win over hearts and minds in Germany. Hitler and his propaganda machine have managed to persuade seventy million people to abandon democracy and civilised values, and ignore the destruction of human rights in their midst. If I may put it crudely, MrsLabowski, the German people will need to be re-educated. In order to do that we will need experts with a detailed knowledge of the German population, who have good communication skills. You would seem to fit the bill rather perfectly, wouldn’t you say?’
‘Well, put like that, I suppose I might be of value. But I’m struggling to grasp my actual role. Will you want me to write articles and so on?’
‘That will be part of it, of course, but also perhaps you might be invited to go back to your country and work with your compatriots – on the ground – convincing them that liberal values, rights to life and a free press are the bedrock of democracy.’
‘But I live here, in England,’ protested Leila. ‘I am a British citizen now, and am bringing up my two children here. I can’t just up sticks and go back to Germany – however much I’d like to help.’
‘Do you love your country, MrsLabowski?’
‘Do you mean Great Britain, or Germany?’
‘Both, I suppose.’
‘Well, yes, of course I do. I love this country because it has provided me with a refuge, a job and a home. I’m a British citizen now and proud to be so. But I also love Germany because it’s my homeland. It broke my heart to leave, but who knows what state it will be in after the war?’
‘Quite so,’ replied Sullivan. ‘A lot depends on the next couple of years. At this stage, I really just wanted to establish contact. If things go as we hope, I will be able to be more forthcoming about our plans when we next meet.’
As Leila walked back up Whitehall towards Bush House, she saw all around her evidence of a city in daily fear of attack. Anxious civilians scurried by, gas masks swinging from their shoulders; sandbags were piled high outside government buildings; barrage balloons swayed in the wind. Sometimes, it was hard to recall life before the war. Certainly few people could imagine a time when it might be over. But men like Sullivan were paid to look ahead, and were right to plan for it. There must, one day, be peace, and she was flattered that he had picked her out. She owed it to her adopted country and to her homeland to do whatever she could to help – to work to end the evil that had infected the people of Germany.
It was a few minutes to ten when Leila walked down the corridor towards her office. Alec was waiting for her, fidgeting impatiently, a clipboard in his hand.
‘Oh, there you are,’ he said, hurrying towards her. ‘We’ve got to get a move on – we were supposed to have a meeting with Hugh quarter of an hour ago.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ she said, ‘but I did mention to Yvonne that I wouldn’t be in before ten.’
