This week’s prompt shows a gloomy picture of dark clouds gathering, perhaps reflecting the mood of higher cost of living and possibilities of a renewed Cold War. Thanks to Na’ama Yehuda.
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Poisoned at Dawn
At dusk, Albert walked the alleys and paths around Battersea.
Although the bombing blitz of WW2 seemed a long time ago, he felt duty bound.
He wore a fedora now instead of the Warden’s helmet and had a George Medal pinned to his blazer.
He opened the Times and spluttered into his morning tea.
Everyone called him Daft Old Albert–but he was Sergey Makarov, a KGB Officer and sentenced to death.
The envoy in the newspaper photograph was his warning.
How close were they? He must keep his nerve and maintain the cover.
Has the MI5 mole exposed him?
James McEwan 
Wow, that was interesting. You can only hide for so long. Well done.
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I wonder how many Sergey’s are in hiding in the UK. Thank you.
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Hmm sleeper cells and dead letter drops and all that stuff. Very disquieting.
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Try living in Salisbury! Thank you.
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Well – quite
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Stressful life, having to be ever alert. Good story.
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Thank you.
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Intriguing story, James. It certainly does make me wonder how many are still out there.
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Someone knows! Thankyou.
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Nice that he’s still carrying on his mission, waiting for the call from a country that no longer exists
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Perfect. And now for the rest of the story. 🙂
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Thank you, it ended like in Salisbury…maybe
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I think life may be getting a bit more interesting for him.
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Good thing he spluttered his tea, he better not drink or eat from something he didn’t prepare himself.
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So true. Thanks.
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Keep calm and carry on!
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poor chap, it looks like he’s already living on borrowed time.
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And who is to say this is not closer to truth than fiction? This could be an introduction to a much longer story. You have my curiosity going.
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Are you aware of the poisoned Russian officer in Salisbury England?
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No. I guess it is closer than I thought!
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Not a good way to live life. Everything has a price.
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A high stakes game of cat and mouse.
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Never trust anyone.
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Rather amazed by your talent to say much with so few words.
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Thank you. I think I owe a longer one to “Literary Stories.”
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There’s probably a whole alternate reality of undercover fellows watching each other and for them the war’s never over, whatever war it might be. In fact, they might be right. I feel sorry for poor Sergey though. His peaceful routine of evening walks and morning cuppas sounds like it’s coming to a close.
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Do these people ever retire?
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Seems like the day of reckoning’s approaching. I don’t suppose he got that in the job description.
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If he holds his nerve he’ll be okay, The newspaper photo is a ruse to flush him out in a panic.
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Daft Old Albert sounds like he’ll finish up just DOA, (dead on arrival). I hope he escapes the Novichok; not a nice way to go.
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The key here is; he got old by keeping his wits about him.
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Ooooooo
Intriguing mystery here. Will he be caught? Who sold him out…
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Dear James,
One must wonder if Albert is delusional or truly a war criminal. You leave me wanting to know more.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Based on a true story. Thank you.
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Ooh! Mystery and intrigue. Fun!
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I see your response to Russell and that was going to be my comment! Makes one wonder just how many war criminals are hiding amongst us! Well done, James.
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Greetings. This is somewhat related to your story: There’s a political thriller on Netflix that you might like. Its title is Munich, The Edge Of War.
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Thank you. I will check it out.
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