The Spy Who Came in From The Cold

“The truth is this: Mundt _was_ taken prisoner by the British; in a short historic interview they offered him the classic alternative. Was it to be years in an imperialist prison, the end of a brilliant career, or was Mundt to make a dramatic return to his home country, against all expectation, and fulfill the promise he had shown? The British, of course, made it a condition of his return that he should provide them with information, and they would pay him large sums of money. With the carrot in front and the stick behind, Mundt was recruited.

“It was now in the British interest to promote Mundt’s career. We cannot yet prove that Mundt’s success in liquidating minor Western intelligence agents was the work of his imperialist masters betraying their own collaborators–those who were expendable–in order that Mundt’s prestige should be enhanced. We cannot prove it, but it is an assumption which the evidence permits.

“Ever since 1960–the year Comrade Mundt became head of the Counterespionage Section of the Abteilung–indications have reached us from all over the world that there was a highly placed spy in our ranks. You all know Karl Riemeck was a spy; we thought when he was eliminated that the evil had been stamped out. But the rumors persisted.

“In late 1960 a former collaborator of ours approached an Englishman in the Lebanon known to be in contact with their Intelligence Service. He offered him–we found out soon afterwards–a complete breakdown of the two sections of the Abteilung for which he had formerly worked. His offer, after it had been transmitted to London, was rejected. That was a very curious thing. It could only mean that the British already possessed the intelligence they were being offered, _and that it was up to date_.

“From mid-1960 onwards we were losing collaborators abroad at an alarming rate. Often they were arrested within a few weeks of their dispatch. Sometimes the enemy attempted to turn our own agents back on us, but not often. It was as if they could scarcely be bothered.

“And then–it was early 1961 if my memory is correct–we had a stroke of luck. We obtained by means I will not describe a summary of the information which British Intelligence held about the Abteilung. It was complete, it was accurate, and it was astonishingly up to date. I showed it to Mundt, of course–he was my superior. He told me it came as no surprise to him: he had certain inquiries in hand and I should take no action for fear of prejudicing them. And I confess that at that moment the thought crossed my mind, remote and fantastic as it was, that Mundt himself could have provided the information. There were other indications too. . . .

“I need hardly tell you that the last, the very last person to be suspected of espionage is the head of the Counterespionage Section. The notion is so appalling, so melodramatic, that few would entertain it, let alone give expression to it! I confess that I myself have been guilty of excessive reluctance in reaching such a seemingly fantastic deduction. That was erroneous.

“But, Comrades, the final evidence has been delivered into our hands. I propose to call that evidence now.” He turned, glancing toward the back of the room. “Bring Leamas forward.”

The guards on either side of him stood up and Leamas edged his way along the row to the rough gangway which ran not more than two feet wide, down the middle of the room. A guard indicated to him that be should stand facing the table. Fiedler stood a bare six feet away from him. First the President addressed him.

“Witness, what is your name?” she asked.

“Alec Leamas.”

“What is your age?”

“Fifty.”

“Are you married?”

“No?’

“But you were.”

“I’m not married now.”

“What is your profession?”

“Assistant librarian.”

Fiedler angrily intervened. “You were formerly employed by British Intelligence, were you not?” he snapped.

“That’s right. Till a year ago.”

“The Tribunal has read the reports of your interrogation,” Fiedler continued. “I want you to tell them again about the conversation you had with Peter Guillam sometime in May last year.”

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