A Dangerous Game - Part One: Spain & Mr Hemingway

2009-03-17T01:24:00.000-07:00

Jack Scott loved the sun, loved to stretch out and gently fry; but not today: there were too many people lounging around the hotel pool, too many eyes to see the still livid wounds on Jack's body, and ask too many silent questions.

No, today Jack would keep himself to himself in the quiet corner of the Hotel Tramontano, with only Vesuvius for company across the Bay of Naples. Was it really only three weeks ago?

Jack and Ernest Hemingway had been friends for a long time, not openly - Jack had never been one of the group, the Cuadrilla, never in the photographs of the long lunches with the novelist holding court. But he'd known him since the Spanish Civil War, in fact it was Jack who had recruited Hemingway as a spy.

Back in the 1930s Jack Scott's cover was that of an industrial chemist (he was an industrial chemist) working for the cotton industry, but in reality (and in Jack's game there were many forms of reality) he was in Spain to recruit, and have in place, a network of of spies ready to listen in on Franco when he took power, as he surely would.

And it was in a bar in Madrid that Jack first spoke with Ernest Hemingway. This time the novelist wasn't holding court at the lunch table, but was sitting alone sipping from a glass of Campari and Cinzano, mixed with ice and lemon juice; and as he sipped he read from a battered volume of D.H. Lawrence's poetry.

'A better novelist than a poet.'

' Sorry?' enquired Hemingway as he turned to face Jack.

' A better novelist than a poet, D.H.Lawrence.'

' True, ' replied Hemingway, 'but his poetry can often get to the heart of things quickly, which is good, especially when there isn't much time to read novels.'

Jack and Hemingway looked at each other for a moment.

'The name's Scott, Jack Scott.'

' Good to meet you, Jack. Can I get you a drink?'

' Thanks. A glass of red wine.'

Hemingway beckoned the waiter over and ordered another drink for himself, and a glass of wine for Jack.

' I'm a great admirer of your work, Mr Hemingway.'

' Ernie, call me Ernie.'

' I'm a great admirer of your work...'

' So you said.'

' I...'

' Sit down, Jack, take the weight off your feet.'

Jack sat.

' Now, cut the bullshit. What do you want?'

' I...'

' Look, Jack, I've seen you around, keeping an eye on me.'

' I wouldn't make a very good spy would I?'

Hemingway didn't respond as the waiter brought over the drinks. The two men clinked glasses.

' I think you probably are a spy, Jack, and a good one.'

' Really?'

' Really.'

' Hmm, that puts me in a bit of a spot, Mr Hemingway, sorry Ernie.'

' Why?'

Jack now thought of using his carefully rehearsed, rather silly-ass-Brit-out-of-his-depth routine, that often worked, then, looking at Hemingway's hard features, thought better of it.

' Well, Ernie, as you say, I am a spy: British SIS...'

' I thought you worked for the British cotton industry...'

' How on earth...?'

' I have friends, Jack, lots of friends, and I know this country well, and most of the folks who come and go.'

' My cover's blown then?'

' No, I can be discreet.'

' Good, because I have friends too.'

' Is that a threat, Jack?'

' Certainly not, old man, wouldn't dream of it.'

Jack now took a long pull at his drink, emptying the glass.'

' Another, Jack?'

' Thanks.'

Hemingway ordered more drinks and waited for Jack to continue.

' Ernie, you know as well as I do that the Spanish Republic is finished, that Franco will win the day, this year, next year, whenever.'

' Sadly, yes.'

' This government is finished, and my instructions are to make plans for the future, to get people in place so that if Franco as much as farts in his sleep we'll know about it; and I need your help.'

' My help?'

' Yes, you're high profile.'

' In other words people are watching me, the famous novelist, being a war correspondent.'

' Yes. We need to delay Franco's victory for as long as possible so that we can get people into his command structure who might then, by whatever means they have, rise to become his aides.'

' A dangerous game, Jack.'

' Indeed, but I think you relish danger, Ernie? Do you think any of your Spanish friends might be up to the task?'

' They might, but how in hell are you going to delay Franco's victory?'

' Well, that's where I need your help again.'

' Thought you might.'

To Be Continued...

Coming Soon: The Adventures of Jack Scott - Secret Agent

2009-03-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

In 1935 a young Lancashire man by the name of Jack Scott joined MI6. It was his mission to create a new top secret bureau within the British Secret Intelligence Services that would recruit high profile personalities into the service to work against fascism, and later and communism.

He'd been spotted by the SIS as far back as 1921 when Jack was at Manchester Polytechnic studying industrial chemistry.

This is his story, and his adventures.

The first part of the series, A Dangerous Game, starts soon.