"Behind the Iron Curtain" drabbles by Richard Hunt

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Appraisal

Behind the Iron Curtain #12

I had finished my lecture in Bucharest to great applause. Mainly I think for giving it in French.

As soon as lunch was finished and the audience had gone, we started to pack up.

The two men in grey appeared and said “Well?”

“Nothing, people did not talk about anything but chromatography.”

“A lot of use you are.” One grey said, showing bad interview skills. “You’ll find that your precious Angelique has disappeared, too.”

Barry and I filled the van for an early get away, had a short meal then went to our beds.

A long drive tomorrow, to Belgrade.

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Totally unexpected

Behind the Iron Curtain #11

I woke with a headache - paracetamol helped.

Breakfast, then the lecture theatre. I checked things then waited. 200 people were coming according to Barry, including a coach load from Transylvania. Up ‘till then I had only thought Transylvania = Dracula. Not so, there are many chemical plants there. I greeted everyone … including Angelique in a lovely white dress.

My talk was in three parts.

Coffee was after the first part, and I heard … French!!!!!

“Shall I continue my talk in French?” I asked, in French.

“Oui”. hands raised.

Virtually unanimous.

So I did, and finished to massive applause!

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Sense?

Behind the Iron Curtain #10

The Ambassador’s Secretary came over to me with a glass of wine and a tray of nibbles.

“Have a drink, Richard,” she said, “you need it.”

I turned to say goodbye to the two men but they had disappeared.

Several drinks and lots of lovely food later, I was full and well sloshed!

“Time to go.” Barry said, and out I staggered. The guns were still on the corner of the square, but I was less worried about them.

At the Hotel, out of the stink, Barry asked “The dollar bar?”

“No,” said I, “I need my bed and sleep!”

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Not so much a request

Behind the Iron Curtain #9

"Richard Hunt? Used to live on Withington Road, Manchester?" One asked.

"Yes."

"The President here runs a very tight ship. We need ANY information we can get, to try to destabilise him. You can help with that."

"The girl that you met in the dollar bar works for the State, so do not tell her anything, but listen. And remember there are cameras everywhere. Anything you do WILL be on record."

"Tomorrow you will meet a lot of people. We need ANY information that you pick up from them."

"You leave the following morning. We shall debrief you before that."

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Grey suits

Behind the Iron Curtain #8

I am in Bucharest, the first stop of a tour of ‘Eastern’ Europe, before the Iron Curtain came down. I flew out, the last leg on THE most uncomfortable Tarom flight from Vienna.

The streets stink, but there is an ‘interesting’ dollar bar of the hotel. More later ..

I am at the British Embassy with Barry, my colleague. I have come out of the toilet. Barry introduces me to the Ambassador.

“Welcome to Bucharest, Mr Hunt,” the Ambassador said, shaking my hand. “Before you have a drink, these two gentlemen would like a word”

Two men in grey suits.

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Insecurity

Behind the Iron Curtain #7

Barry came in, smiled. “Sorry to break up the party, but its time to go.”

I introduced Angelique. She took her hand from my leg. Shame.

Out into the stinky street and right.

The square with the Embassy.

Shock!

On every corner there was a soldier with a sub machine gun!

“Act normally.” Barry said.

Not so easy with machine guns all round! It would be so easy for one of them to shoot!

We went along one side, across the top and to the Embassy door.

A man welcomed us. “Come in.”

“I need the toilet,” I said, “Badly!”

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A proposition

Behind the Iron Curtain #6

She smoothes her skirt and eases in behind the table, sitting at my right, her skirt flaring across my leg and her hand ON my leg.

“He’ll bring them over. I said you’d pay.” She is now SO close.

“Of course.” I say

“Angelique,” she smiles that lovely smile.

“Richard.”

“Richard, Couer de Lion!”

Her hand is moving up my leg, I like it.

“This drink, then up to your room?”

“Not tonight, I have a meeting at the British Embassy.”

“Tomorrow?”

“I’m lecturing in the theatre here tomorrow ... daytime.”

“Can I come?” She asks.

“Of course.” I say.

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A drink in the bar

Behind the Iron Curtain #5

I turn to her, a vision in white. A white blouse and that white knife pleated skirt. She has such a cute, petal shaped face surrounded by softly curled blonde hair. Blue eyes smiling at me.

“Of course,” I reply, “what would you like?”

“Whatever are you having.’

“Gin and Tonic.”

“I’ll have the same, please.” She smiles at me. “I’ll go and wake up the barman, he won’t come over whilst I am here.”

I can only watch in admiration as she walks to the bar, speaks to the barman then comes back smiling, her skirt moulding round her.

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The Dollar Bar

Behind the Iron Curtain #4

I think through my presentation, going down in the lift. I had given it many times before, in England, France and Germany. This time it would be in English.

Out of the lift, across to reception, and left to the Dollar bar. The girls are still sitting opposite the bar.

The bar is narrow, red upholstered bench seats with tables along each side.

I take a seat on my right where Barry will see me, and look towards the barman.

A slight rustle, perfume, someone sitting at my left. Wearing a white pleated skirt.

“Buy me a drink?” She asks.

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Important detail

Behind the Iron Curtain #3

A quick glance at the blonde in the white skirt as we turn.

“I’ll show you the conference room.” Barry says.

It’s a big hall; there at the front, on a stage, is the equipment.

I look it over.

“Good, my talk will be in four parts with breaks for questions.”

“Up to your room then. There is a reception for you at the British Embassy at eight. See you in the Dollar Bar around Seven Thirty.”

The room is ENORMOUS. Big double bed.

I settle in ... it’s seven pm.

Down for a snifter in the Dollar Bar ...

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Reception

Behind the Iron Curtain #2

The street outside the hotel stinks. The drains. I am glad to get inside.

Inside, reception to my right, an open area to my left, looking out on to the street.

Barry says that the hotel is very comfortable.

“You’ve brought dollars?”

“Heaps.” I say.

“Pay for everything in dollars.”

Over there a bar marked ‘Dollar Bar’.

Sitting in front of the bar are three gorgeous looking women. One wearing a white pleated skirt, which I like, the other two in light flower patterned cotton dresses.

“Make sure you agree the price beforehand.” Barry says, seeing where I am looking.

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Security

Behind the Iron Curtain #1

1980. I am going to lecture behind the Iron Curtain, Romania, Yugoslavia and Hungary.

It was certainly not the secure place that it is now(!!!!!)

First stop is to be Bucharest in Romania.

The flight to Vienna is very comfortable, as you would expect. Then I change planes to a Tarom flight to Bucharest. Wooden seats, with seatbelts but without any comfort.

We land. The passengers all cheer and clap.

A taxi was waiting for me.

The Hotel in central Bucharest, my colleague, Barry, is waiting for me. He has driven the van with all the equipment over from Cambridge!