Flight or Fight

         Flight or Fight

Suzanne Marsh

He stood on the precipice of the crag; his eyes tearing for what he was about to do.

John McKinney turned to find James Smythe, his steel blue eyes boring a hole in his back.

“Mr. McKinney have you the information that I requested. You are doing a very good

job of gathering information. It does help that you have access to files and other things

of interest. On behalf of the Fuehrer here is the first installment of one million pounds.

If you continue to give us more information; we will pay you even more. After the war

you could live very comfortably anywhere in the world.”

John stuck his hand out for the first of many bribes; he knew that if he were caught it would mean

that he would be executed for treason in time of war. He was convinced that taking bribes from the Nazis would give him the financial security he wanted. He turned with the money in his hand:

“What do you require next Mr. Smythe?”

“We want to know about where the allies are planning to land in France. France must be

kept in German hands.”

“I will do my best. We can meet here in a month Mr. Smythe, and I will have the information

you seek however I want at least three million pounds.”

“I will inform my superiors.”

Mr. Smythe began his dissent of the crag; John McKinney turned to look out over the crag as he had been doing when Smythe arrived.

John returned to his office in MI5. He knew he was being watched; he could feel the hair on the back of his neck rise as he turned to face his superior Sir Thomas Meachem.

“Ah, John I have been waiting patiently for you to return. We, know you met Mr. Smythe

today in Scotland atop Crag Don. I presume that you are selling secrets to the Germans.

If you value your life, you will double cross Mr. Smythe.”

“I cannot do that sir, Mr. Smythe has my sister and mother. I cannot play with their lives.”

“Nonsense man, we can protect you. No one will know. We will give you the information

to give to Mr. Smythe. You could be a wonderful asset, or you will be dead within a week.”

“When you put it that way Sir Thomas, yes I will do as you ask.”

“Very good. Now stay put here in MI5 when do you expect to meet with Mr. Smythe?”

“Next month, he gave me a million pounds for the information I gave him. It was information

that was of no use to us. It dealt with Churchill and Roosevelt meeting that took place two

weeks ago.”

“tell me John, were you really going to accept the bribes the Germans were giving you for

worthless information.”

John grinned:

“Yes, Sir Thomas that is exactly what I am going to do.”

“Keep the million pounds John; by the way how much are you charging him this time?”

“Three million Sir Thomas.”

John hated the thought of accepting a bribe from the Germans but his Mum and sister meant more to him. He hoped that Sir Thomas would protect him as well as his family. Sir Thomas, he knew was a man of his word.

Time flew by and the following month Sir Thomas once again appeared in John’s office:

“John, here is the information you are going to give to Mr. Smythe. D-Day landings will begin

June 1^st, 1944, in Pas-de-Calais. You must make certain that he repeats this to you. If you

are caught, we will disavow any knowledge of you.”

John swallowed hard. He could be hanged by his own government, or he could be captured by Smythe and sent to Germany to be executed by beheading. Some choice he had, but somewhere in his heart of hearts he knew he could not betray his country.

John took the file from Sir Thomas, once again he swallowed hard:

“John, if this works out would you consider passing more information to Mr. Smythe?”

“Sir Thomas, I almost betrayed England for a million pounds, yes, I will continue to

pass information to Mr. Smythe especially if it will end this war quickly.”

Sir Thomas gave John a pat on the back:

“John, we have located your family. As we speak MI6 is rescuing them from Germany. They

will be returning home soon. Now shall we see how this moves along eh?”

John, was perplexed as to why Sir Thomas had so much faith in him or why he was willing to send in MI6 agents to get his sister and mum. Whatever his reasons John was willing to oblige him.

John took the five o’clock tram to Edinburgh, Scotland. The file in his battered leather briefcase. He disembarked found a small hotel. Tomorrow he would climb Crag Don at dawn to meet Mr. Smythe. He knew someone was following him, each time he moved the hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up. He wasn’t sure if it was MI5 or the SS either one was potentially dangerous. He would be glad when tomorrow was over with. Sleep seemed to elude him as he sat and watched the English and Scottish countryside disappear in the mist.

John began his climb up Crag Don quickly. He reached the top, the damning file in his briefcase. He once again was staring out over Crag Don when he heard more than saw Mr. Smythe standing there in his pin stripped suit. His blond hair blowing in the wind:

“Ah, good to see you again John. Have you the information we asked for?”

“Yes, do you have the three million pounds?”

“Yes, shall we swap now. I don’t want to be missed by MI6 I really don’t want to get caught.”

“Understood, John, may I please see the file?”

John unlatched his briefcase, with the file in it.

“Here is the file, the date, place, all the information you asked for.”

“Very well, John, next time we meet I want the information about the allied invasion of

Berlin. Yes, the war is going to end, perhaps not yet but next year sometime. I will give you

ten million pounds if you can give me that information.”

“I will get it; let’s meet in three months here on Crag Don.”

“See you then John.”

Mr. Smythe once again disappeared into the mist on Crag Don. Time was running out; John hoped he would make it to the end of the war.

Once again, John reported to Sir Thomas:

“The information Smythe has asked for this time is a bit tricky Sir Thomas. He wants to

know when Berlin will be invaded. He is sure the war will end by next year.”

Sir Thomas thought about that for several moments:

“When do you meet him again?”

“Three months from today on Crag Don.”

“I will get back to you sit tight John.”

John thought it would be more like sitting on a powder keg; hell, that might be safer than what he was going to do. Three months seemed like three days. One more time John took the tram to Scotland. He climbed Crag Don as he had the other three times. He waited. Something was wrong, he could feel it. Smythe did not arrive. Where could he be John wondered? Finally, Smythe appeared, he had the ten million pounds demanding the file immediately. Smythe pulled a Luger out aiming it at John. Just as John thought his demise was coming Sir Thomas and several MI5 agents appeared:

“Drop the gun Mr. Smythe NOW.”

Smythe dropped the gun at his feet.

Sir Thomas, scooped it up:

“Let’s go Mr. Smythe, I do believe a hangman’s noose is awaiting you in London.”

John let out a sigh of relief, his ordeal was over. He could have fled the country, and no one would have blamed him instead he was given a pardon by his Majesty King George VI for service to his country.