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PAUSE
This section covers the detection of bugs.
Viewers familiar with this subject may pass on to the next
section.
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Bugs
14/05/2093 Thursday
The next day George nearly overshot the point where he had to
get off the strip on his way to Regent's Park. The vidbook contained
so much interesting information that he became engrossed in reading.
The vidbook was only being used for the second time so there were
no new faces for it to recognise. One known face had made an appearance.
George had noted it and continued reading.
Marita discovered that she was being followed by one of the
known faces but she felt safe among the crowd of students who
were travelling with her towards the University. She did not open
her handbag to check who it was until she was at the entrance
gates. The person was older than most of the students so she knew
that he could not approach her too closely without being noticed.
As she approached the entrance she saw that the security camera
above and slightly to one side of the door was moving slowly in
an arc. If the person following her approached the door, he would
be seen by the University security operators. She decided to pay
a visit to the Bursar to check if it would be possible to have
a check made on the Uinversity security system.
The Bursar informed her that she had been contacted by Superintendent
Abdullah for permission to link the University's system to the
police network. The Superintendent had said that he had reason
to believe that Miss Andersson was being stalked and could be
in danger. He had also recommended that the security system should
also be checked today by a Mr. Gurprit Singh who acted as a special
security advisor to the police. Marita had to suppress a smile
when she heard that Gurprit was involved. She wondered if the
watchers knew how thoroughly they were being monitored. She thanked
the Bursar for the information and went to her class.
It seemed that Undepoldus had started to develop a routine for
himself. When George entered Undepoldus House he found him on
his desk near the processor. Then, shortly before the Park opened,
Undepoldus would make his way to his feeding station in the viewing
area, push the replica out of sight and start feeding. George
was left to get on with his own interests and the few jobs that
had to be done each day.
The day passed quietly with no interruptions leaving George plenty
of time to continue his project. Marita had become his partner
since he started it so he knew that he could ask her to supply
most of the minor details that were missing. When closing time
arrived, Undepoldus pushed the replica into the place he had occupied
for most of the day and climbed back onto the desk by the processor.
As George prepared to leave he said to Undepoldus. "I hope
that someday soon we will be able to travel around London together
again. I hope that you will want to join Marita and me again tonight."
Undepoldus remained silent as usual.
George became engrossed in his vidbook on the return journey but
remembered to get off the strip in good time.
Marita greeted him as he entered their cabin. "George
dear, I have some news for you. The students in my Space Studies
class met Gurprit today."
"What was Gurprit doing at the University?"
"He was asked to check out the University security system
and to link their cameras to the London Police network. Because
he was dressed like an old Sikh, the Bursar almost refused to
let him in. He managed to convince the Bursar that he was indeed
Gurprit Singh as recommended by Superintendent Abdullah. He checked
the Bursar's office and processor for bugs before he took off
his disguise. When the Bursar realised that he was a Spacer, she
apologised to him profusely for not believing him at first. Then
she said that it was logical for someone who was checking security
to be unrecognisable. Then he went all round the University in
his disguise until he came to my class. Some of my students started
to giggle when he asked me if it was OK to check out my processor.
I didn't recognise him straight away but then I remembered that
he had dressed in the same outfit when Admiral van Wijk was rescued."
George said. "He looked and acted like a very old man then.
Nobody would have recognised him in that outfit."
Marita continued. "My students were very curious about the
fact that I just let him carry on doing his checking without changing
my lecture at all. They were even more curious when he picked
up my handbag and checked it out too. It was only then that he
took off his disguise and introduced himself to the students."
"They were amazed and even more curious and started to ask
him a lot of questions. I gave him the OK to say what he liked.
He started by asking them if any of them wanted to go to the Spacers
College when they graduated. When they all said yes, he asked
them individually what speciality they would like to follow as
Spacers. Only one girl, Anita, said that she hoped to specialise
in communications. The rest wanted to be pilots, drive engineers,
planetologists, surgeons or ET specialists. Gurprit then invited
Anita to see the bugs he had found and how he made them inactive.
The others were a little jealous of the attention he gave her
but they respected the fact that it was reasonable for her to
receive advice from a communications expert. Anita has built her
own processors and vidcoms and can talk Gurprit's technical language.
They would have stayed talking for hours if I had not reminded
him that I had a lecture to finish."
"I understand. Gurprit loves to talk about his technology.
It would be a nice idea if he could give all your class a lecture
on communications."
"I thought of that but there was another development that
took it out of my mind. Anita asked Gurprit if he was checking
for bugs because I was possibly in danger. He said yes. There
were people who were spying on Spacers, particularly you and me."
"What did your class think of that?"
"They all volunteered to become my bodyguards. I told them
that I thought that I was being protected as far as possible by
the London Police and some Spacers who had volunteered to help.
I showed them my handbag and told them that the aim was not to
catch those who had been following me but the people who had hired
them. If I suddenly acquired a bodyguard, the followers would
know that I knew of their existence. It would then be much harder
to discover who their bosses were. They then asked me if the followers
were following me because I was connected with Undepoldus. I told
them that I thought so but there was no proof."
George said. "You are right Marita. There isn't any direct
proof, but I have not heard of any other Spacers being followed
like you and me. The link to Undepoldus is indirect but it is
clear enough. I trust that you told them not to try to protect
you."
"Of course. However, Anita said that she would check my lecture
room for bugs every day to make sure that the snoopers would not
know what I was doing."
"At least you know that one of them is less likely to try
to become an unofficial bodyguard."
"I don't want them involved. If there was trouble, one of
the could be injured or killed. They are all very young and inexperienced.
They are not protected in the same way as we are."
"I suggest that you let the Commander know that your students
are now aware of our situation. I have just thought of something
worrying. The followers might think of the idea of kidnapping
one of your students as a way to get leverage on you."
"I wish you had not said that George but you were right to
say it. I will go and see the Commander now. We must be prepared
for all eventualities."
After Marita left, George picked up his vidbook and started to
carry on reading what he had been reading on the strip. He had
hardly started when the processor announced: 'Lt. Cdr. Mc Figg.
Your presence is required in the Commander's cabin.'
George put down his vidbook and looked around to see if Undepoldus
had arrived before he left.
There was no sign of him.
When George arrived outside the Commander's door, Sil gestured
for him to go in without knocking.
As George closed the door behind him the Commander said. "Mufti
George. I wanted to talk to you and Marita together this evening
before Marita came to see me. What you said to Marita just now
is a possibility that has not been considered before. Marita's
students are vulnerable. If any one of them was kidnapped, Marita
would be in an invidious position. I informed Leonov while we
were waiting for you to arrive. He is now liaising with Superintendent
Abdullah. We cannot do anything until we hear from Admiral Chang.
Strictly speaking it is a matter for the London Police because
all the students are as yet non-Spacers. However, I feel that
we have a moral responsibility to make sure that none of them
come to any harm."
George said. "Ivan, I know that all of them want to go to
the Spacers College when they have graduated. Is it possible to
extend Spacer protection to them temporarily so that we can help
to protect them?"
"That would be a matter for the Council to decide but there
is nothing in the Spacer's Treaty that would prevent us from extending
our protection to anyone who intends to become a Spacer but has
not yet applied."
Marita said. "They are all Spacers in spirit already. I know
that they are very proud to have me as their lecturer because
of my reputation. I know that they continually help each other
to try to make sure that they all pass the College entrance examinations
together. They do not want to let me down by having any failures.
They will all graduate from the University with high honours.
Their coursework is exemplary in all the subjects that they study
at the University. The other lecturers ask me what my secret is
because they all say that their students who are also reading
Space Studies are at the top of their classes."
The Commander said. "That is quite a commendation Marita.
I can understand why you motivate them so much. If I had had you
as my lecturer when I was a student, I would have been an Admiral
by now."
Marita blushed. "Thank you for the compliment Ivan. I don't
think that I really deserve it because of my teaching ability.
I was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time to
have fame heaped on me. I am sure that they try hard because I
am a famous Spacer."
"Marita, your modesty is not justified. Your record shows
that you have always excelled in any activity you have undertaken.
Your fame is only an introduction that helps to break the ice.
When people get to know you, they realise why you became famous.
I am sure that all your students would say that you are the best
lecturer in the University."
George said. "I am sure that Ivan is right Marita. Your modesty
is real - and I should know better than most - but it is just
another one of you many attributes. I know how much effort you
put into your University work outside normal hours. You do your
utmost to pass on your talents and ability to others. I have been
reading about your other talents in my new vidbook. A lot of those
you have been coaching in athletics have won medals in inter-University
competitions. The score of medals was pretty dismal before you
arrived on the scene - I checked."
"Thank you George, but you are making me feel embarrassed.
I enjoy what I do at the University and I'm glad that things turn
out well. But please let us get on to the serious problem."
The Commander said. "Marita, I will make a strong recommendation
that your students will come under Spacer protection. In this
sort of matter I am sure that Leonov will support me."
As he spoke, Rear Admiral Chebychev entered.
"As you were, please. He said then continued. Ivan - Admiral
Chang, Superintendent Abdullah and I have agreed that Marita's
students should have Spacer protection as well as being treated
as non-Spacers for the moment. I just caught the last bit of what
you were saying. How will I support you?"
"George and Marita laughed. Ivan said. "I had just said
that I would strongly recommend that Marita's students should
come under Spacer protection. I was sure that you would support
me in such a recommendation but you beat me to it."
"Well, my spies have told me that every one of Marita's class
is likely to be admitted to the College on graduation. They are
an outstanding group of students."
The Commander interrupted. "Leonov, George and I have already
embarrassed Marita with our eulogies about her work at the University.
I don't think she would like you to carry on as we have recently
done."
"Thank you Ivan. Nevertheless, Marita has made it easy to
get the Council's approval for the application of Spacer protection
for her students. Superintendent Abdullah has already alerted
other police forces to watch out for snoopers where the students'
parents live. He said it would be easy for the snoopers to force
a parent to call a child home where neither he nor we could offer
much protection. The Chief Constable has been in contact with
the Home Office to obtain further assistance from other Government
agencies. The Foreign Office has also been informed because it
is suspected that the organisers of the snoopers have foreign
connections associated with a religious organisation."
Ivan asked. "Is Admiral Chang aware of these implications
Leonov."
"I gather that he is in daily contact with Superintendent
Abdullah, Ivan. The Superintendent has connections with Arabic-speaking
police forces in other countries where Spacer intelligence is
thin. Admiral Chang has his sources too. He is also aware that
it was the vigilance of the London police that spotted the followers
in the first place. That vigilance has led to the situation we
have now. The organiser of the snoopers has been traced but he
is only a middle man. He gets his orders in Arabic from somewhere
in the Middle East. The source of these orders has not been traced
yet. The people involved with the kidnapping of Admiral van Wijk
were probably organised from the same source. George's accuser
in Germany was seen with a man of Arab origin. The present lot
of followers and the kidnappers were hired to do what they did
and are now doing. They have all been paid handsomely or have
been blackmailed to keep their mouths shut. Intelligence from
the prisons where the kidnappers are now held tends to indicate
that they were coerced into doing what they did. Selected trusted
prisoners have been given the job of finding out as much as they
can about the way the kidnappers were hired and why they have
not said anything. The British have their own way of rewarding
prisoners who help the police. It may take some time to discover
the source and the motivation for the intrusion into our affairs
but each day the amount of intelligence gathered increases a little.
In the meantime we will have to remain constantly on guard."
George said. "In a way it is good that Marita and I have
become the focus of their attention. While their attention is
focused on us, other Spacers at present on Earth will have little
to worry them. It would be a totally different matter if Spacers
in general had to watch their backs all the time."
PAUSE
The next section covers the arrival
of Kerstin Broberg.
Viewers familiar with this subject may pass on to the following
section.
Please select PASS or CONTINUE.