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This section covers a sample of Kerstin's role as a policewoman.
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section.
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Police Matters
Wednesday 20/05/2093
At breakfast the three were approached by the Commander.
"Marita, the Council has decided that a special dinner should
be organised now your students have settled in a bit. Admiral
Chang will be here to represent the Council. He will address the
students in the Conference Room at 18:30. Dinner will be served
in the usual manner for such events at 19:30. A dress suit has
been ordered for you Kerstin. Marita will advise you about the
protocol. George, please make sure that Undepoldus attends both
events. Sarah and Eva will be present at the dinner. Marita, Lieutenant
Commander Adedeyo would like to give a lecture to your students
today and take them for a field trip afterwards. Please liaise
with her about a suitable time. It would be convenient if they
were away from the Club for around three hours this afternoon.
Can you fit in with that arrangement?"
"Certainly sir. It means that I will not have to keep them
entertained all day."
"Well that is settled then Marita. Kerstin, please would
you visit the Swedish Embassy in civilian clothes at 10:00 and
take your police uniform with you. Please look as unlike Marita
as possible. When you arrive, please give the codewords 'Anwar
Abdullah' in a sentence in Swedish to the receptionist. I have
not been informed of the reason for your visit. That is all I
have to tell you. I will see you all later in the conference room."
George said. "It looks like Ivan will have a very busy day
today. If he wants your students out of the way for a few hours
Marita, there must be a big surprise in store for them."
Marita said. "He didn't say it but I guess that he wants
me to do something while the students are not here. I'm wondering
Kerstin if your visit to the Embassy has any connection with the
dinner and Admiral Chang's presence. At the dinner he will be
present as the Council's representative, not as Chief Security
Officer. It could be a very interesting day."
George said. "The orders for you two seem quite clear and
straightforward. I hope that Undepoldus will be happy to attend
a meeting and a dinner. If he does not want to go, I won't be
able to make him go."
Marita laughed. Kerstin looked worried. Marita said. "Kerstin,
you will have to get used to the way George complains. He does
not like to have nothing to do when you and I are busy. I will
help you prepare for your visit to the Embassy as soon as I have
seen Boku. We will see you later George."
At the Embassy, Kerstin was welcomed by the Ambassador.
She said. "Miss Broberg, it seems that you have fitted in
to your new role extremely well. We have had good reports about
you from the London Police and the Spacers. You have already been
recommended to the acting rank of Sergeant. This agrees with your
position in the Sundsvall police. In addition, the Spacers League
has promoted you to the full rank of Lieutenant since you have
been in London. That is quite an achievement in the very short
time that you have been here. I take it that you are happy to
stay in London for the indefinite future?"
"Yes ma'am. I am pleased to say that the Spacers treat me
as a Spacer and the police like the way I fit in with their arrangements."
I have also heard that the Undepoldus worm likes you too. He killed
a man who was threatening you with a gun. Are you not worried
about your safety in your present situation?"
"Ma'am, although I came here as a bodyguard, the Spacers
do their best to protect me as they protect Miss Andersson and
Mr. McFigg. I feel safer here than I was in Sundsvall."
Miss Broberg, do the Spacers pay you well?
"There is not a simple answer to that ma'am. No Spacer gets
any salary but no Spacer needs one. Anything a Spacer needs is
free. I can receive 100 credits a day to cover minor expenses
and I can go into any famous London shop and get anything I like
and charge it to the Spacers League. I now have handmade shoes
and a wardrobe of smart clothes from Oxford Street. The police
provided me with two uniforms and the other items a policewoman
usually carries. I stay in a luxurious apartment in the Spacers
Club that has facilities that only Spacers can provide. I can
even order and get Swedish food at meal times. Even the queen
could not want for more!"
"I had to ask you what you were paid because the government
taxation department asked me to, and because you are still technically
a Swedish citizen. I will be very happy to tell them that you
only receive your uniform and modest expenses for the work you
do. I am sure that they will find it hard to believe that you
are only allowed 100 euros a day for expenses. Your Oxford Street
clothes are needed for your work because you have to have clothes
like that to double for Miss Andersson. I don't think that the
Swedish tax authorities will want to bother you when you go back
to Sweden.
Now I would like you to go with Miss Lindström. We would
like some images of you as you are, as a British policewoman,
and as Miss Andersson. The images will be conveyed by diplomatic
courier to the queen and the Sundsvall Police. The images will
be treated as confidential government property to protect you
and Miss Andersson."
Kerstin said. "May I have copies for myself ma'am? I am sure
that Spacer Admiral Chang and the London Police Superintendent
Abdullah would also like to see them."
"That can be arranged Miss Broberg. Your loyalty to your
superiors does you credit."
Kerstin was led into a room that had been fitted out as a studio.
Miss Lindström said. "Please do not be disturbed if
you are visited by some of our other guests while you are here."
Miss Lindström left Kerstin to attend to her appearance.
As Kerstin was checking her makeup, she saw a youngish woman behind
her in the mirror.
The woman said. "Please pretend that I am not here Kerstin.
My presence in Britain is unofficial."
Kerstin turned and acknowledged the queen with a bow. She said.
"Your Majesty, you do me a great honour."
"Kerstin, I have informed the Ambassador that I am here as
simple Siv Lindkvist or Commander Lindkvist if you wish. I was
asked by Admiral Chang if I would be prepared to come to the dinner
this evening to meet Marita's students. They are not to know who
I am. You and Marita should address me as Siv during the dinner.
Admiral Chang will introduce me as Commander Lindkvist, a friend
of his. That last part is true. Tun Wong and I met at the Spacers
College. We have known each other for a long time. Apart from
Rear Admiral Chebychev and Commander Sincayvitch, there are very
few Spacers in the club who would recognise me. There is one other
that knows who I am and she is here. She will help you with your
makeup. When I suggested to Tun Wong that you should be my escort
to the Club, he said that we should both be escorted by one of
his best operatives."
Kerstin laughed. She said. "There is only one Spacer he could
mean. Boku Adedeyo is the best bodyguard that anyone could want.
When she is our escort, you will not see her."
"Tun Wong said that she was brilliant at make-up and was
also the best person to help you take on your three roles."
"She will need some steps or a platform to work from. I am
literally twice as tall as she is."
As Kerstin spoke, Boku came into the room. She was wearing a long
flowing dress and stood taller than the queen.
The queen looked surprised that Kerstin had made such an obviously
inaccurate statement.
Boku laughed. She said. "Your Majesty, Kerstin is right.
I am using powered stilts."
Boku sat on a table and proceeded to remove her stilts. As she
took off her dress she revealed that she was wearing a short frock
underneath it. Boku continued: "I have trouble convincing
people that I am a bodyguard when they see my normal size. Because
I looked normal height when I came here, I was accepted without
question."
The queen said. "You fooled me with your height Boku. I thought
that Kerstin was saying silly things for a moment. Now I know
why you need a platform to do her make-up."
Boku said. "A chair or a table will do and Kerstin helps
me anyway. If I need to be higher, she lifts me up."
Kerstin obligingly lifted Boku up so that she could sit on one
of her hands.
She said to the queen. "Ma'am, Marita showed me this position.
She said it was good for her ventriloquism."
Boku said. "Now say that without moving your lips."
The queen laughed and said. "Please get the imagemaster to
get some of you two together like that - as Kerstin and as Marita.
I will leave you to do the necessary."
The queen left as Boku began to make adjustments to Kerstin's
make-up.
When George arrived at the Park he decided to look at the changes
around the strip. The concrete looked quite normal except that
here and there a pebble looked as if it was still wet. He concluded
that the pebbles had been diamond coated. Now the ground around
the strip was as impervious as the walls.
Inside the building he found Undepoldus by the processor. He said
to him. "Undepoldus my friend, we have an important engagement
tonight. There is going to be a dinner in honour of the students
who have tried hard to protect you and me. You will see how we
Spacers dress in our formal uniforms to honour our guests."
Undepoldus gave no sign that he approved or disapproved. When
the Park was due to open he moved to his display position and
pushed the replica out of sight. As he did so, George noticed
something that he had not noticed before. The replica had been
growing at the same rate as Undepoldus himself. In a sense it
was a balloon that could be inflated with water until it reached
the correct size. Somehow Undepoldus had found a way of inflating
it to keep pace with his own growth. Undepoldus was now over one
and a half metres long. The replica was slightly thinner but nobody
would notice the difference.
It was another day without interruptions or distractions so George was able to do a lot of work on his project and improve his knowledge of Swedish.
When Kerstin returned to the Club she showed Marita the images
produced at the Embassy. Marita had to laugh at the way Boku had
made herself look like a real ventriloquist's dummy on Kerstin's
arm. Marita thought that the images of Kerstin as herself could
be used as easily as any genuine holos of herself to send to friends.
Only the reference numbers on the corner could prove that they
were not the real thing. The holo showing her with the skyline
of Stockholm behind could almost pass as an alibi because an advertising
clock was clearly visible in the image. The reference number showed
a much later date and Kerstin's initials. The holo itself showed
that it was a fake image.
Marita was surprised to see that the images of Kerstin as a policewoman
showed her as a Sergeant.
Kerstin said. "It surprised me too when the Ambassador told
me that I had been promoted."
Marita asked. "Were your Swedish qualifications taken into
account?"
Kerstin said. "I would think that at least two would be valid
in Britain - Firearms Proficiency and International Law. They
might also include Forensic Science and Floater Engineering but
Swedish Law would not be of much use here."
Marita asked. "Your sporting achievements could have helped
couldn't they?"
Kerstin said. "I don't think that being the captain of the
Sundsvall Police basketball team would count for much or my scores
in the Vasa race."
"You are too modest Kerstin. I am sure that if you had been
in my shoes and had the same chances as I had, you could have
represented Sweden in the Olympics."
Kerstin said. "As soon as people started to notice that I
looked a lot like you, I began to see the down side of being famous.
I didn't want to have my face on the front covers of magazines
and to read scurrilous stories about my personal life. I wanted
to be thought of as an ordinary girl who did her job well. I did
not want to have to open events or sign autographs wherever I
went. I didn't know you then. When I was at school you were a
famous historical figure who had done well in the Olympics and
then disappeared into the Universe as a Spacer. It was a bit of
a shock when you came back to find that you looked so young and
almost exactly like me. When I heard about the danger that you
were in, I thought that I might be able to help as your double
and as a policewoman. I would not suffer the publicity because
I would be invisible. Things have worked out differently to what
I thought then. I never thought that I would be treated like you
in so many respects. I thought that you would want me to stay
away from George so that you could keep him to yourself. You did
the opposite. You helped me to fall in love with George. You and
George make me feel that I am an equal partner in our relationships.
Now I am being torn away from my aim of being a super policewoman
to my new aim of being an acceptable Spacer. I feel that somehow
I have not done enough to deserve the happy situation that I am
in now."
Marita said. "It is a great compliment to me that someone
would try to do so much to try to protect me from danger. When
I look at you - particularly in the images you have shown me -
I think you must be a very selfless person to want to live in
my shadow. When we heard about you and the fact that you wanted
to be my bodyguard, George and I decided quite separately that
it would be good for all three of us if you could become an equal
partner in our personal lives. You have helped to enrich our relationship.
When I see you and George together, I can see myself in your place.
I can see what it looks like to see the things that I can feel
when I am with George. Although I have always been a voyeuse,
I never thought that I could watch what happened to me and then
experience it shortly afterwards."
"Thank you Marita for your thoughtful words and your kindness.
As you are free this afternoon, I had hoped that you might like
to meet some of my colleagues in the police."
"That would be interesting. How should I dress?"
"Here in Britain it is against the law to dress as a police
officer except for a dramatic production. If you would dress to
look like me, I can go as myself dressed as a policewoman. When
I am in uniform I have free use of a floater because I cannot
be seen entering or leaving the Club as a policewoman."
"It sounds like fun. I have not seen much of London from
the air, will you be able to show me round.?"
"That depends on floater control. I will have to go to my
home station first anyway. If there is any sort of emergency,
I may be called on to assist. When we get there, I want you to
go in first so that they think that you are me in civilian clothes.
I will tell you what to say when we are in the floater."
In the floater Kerstin reported in to floater control. She said.
"Control, KB621 at Gower Street heading for Camden Central."
The reply came. "Acknowledged 621. State purpose."
Kerstin said. "Personal matter, KB621."
"Proceed. Please report to DF352 on arrival."
Kerstin lifted high to let Marita see the view. She said. "I
can't go higher that 100 metres without permission. We have to
stay lower than the aircraft approaching Heathrow. Anyway, it
is high enough for you to see the Park where George spends so
much time. Undepoldus House is there on our left. I have to go
down now. When we land, say to the receptionist, 'KB621 for Sergeant
Fisher.' Then go along the corridor to the third door on the left.
Knock once then enter. Wait until he looks at you and say 'You
wanted to see me David.' then play it by ear. I plan to be around
fifteen seconds behind you."
Marita asked. "What will you say to the receptionist?
Kerstin said. "I won't say anything because I will be in
uniform. My collar badge shows who I am. I wonder if the receptionist
will notice."
When Marita entered Sergeant Fisher's office, he was using the
vidcom. He glanced at Marita and gestured for her to sit down.
Shortly afterwards, Kerstin arrived. Sergeant Fisher gestured
for her to sit down without looking at her properly. Kerstin and
Marita had identical smiles as it dawned on Sergeant Fisher that
he had two Kerstins in front of him.
He said to the vidcom. "Don't worry, there are two
of them, they are here with me now. I will handle it."
He turned to Kerstin and Marita. He said. "I can't tell which
one of you is genuine but what you two have just done was a very
good test of our security. One of you must be Miss Anderson and
the other is Sergeant Berry. Whichever one of you is Sergeant
Berry, congratulations on your promotion. Please don't tell me
which is which, I want to see if I can tell just by looking at
you."
Kerstin and Marita retained their smiles as Sergeant Fisher looked
at them intently. After a while he said to Marita. "I think
that you are Sergeant Berry. You put Miss Andersson in your uniform
to disguise her."
The girls laughed. Kerstin said. "Sorry but you are wrong
David. It would have been against the law for Marita to wear my
uniform."
Sergeant Fisher said. "If there had been even the slightest
threat to you, Miss Andersson, I am sure that nobody would object
to you being disguised as a policewoman for protection. You two
ladies are unique. Because one of you is a genuine policewoman,
and your job Kerstin is to impersonate Miss Andersson, no policeman
would arrest Miss Andersson for impersonating you. Do either of
you mind if some of the others here come in to see you? I am sure
that the Super would be delighted to meet you both together like
you are."
Kerstin said. "Not at all David. Marita and I think that
half of the staff here will guess right and the others will guess
wrong. I would like to see the Super anyway. I would like to show
Marita London from a floater. I want to make sure that I stay
within the regs."
Sergeant Fisher said to his vidcom. "This is a message to
all staff. Anyone who is free or can spare a couple of minutes
from their work should come to my office now."
Marita and Kerstin stood up and faced the door so that everyone
who came in would see them before Sergeant Fisher.
There were subdued expressions of surprise and awe from all
of Kerstin's colleagues as they realised why they had been called
to Sergeant Fisher's office. Superintendent Abdullah was full
of smiles when he came in. He looked at the two girls carefully
and said. "You two have done a brilliant job. I would be
guessing if I said which one of you is Sergeant Berry." He
turned to the other assembled policemen and women. He said. "You
will never ever see two people who are not twins who look as alike
as Sergeant Berry and Miss Andersson. I am sure that if they were
dressed in the same clothes, you might be able to see slight differences
more easily but the difference in the clothes makes you concentrate
on their faces. You know that it is a part of Sergeant Berry's
job to look like Miss Andersson so you should not be surprised
to see them dressed the other way around. Can any of you identify
Sergeant Berry?"
There was a general murmur of denial.
Eventually a policewoman asked. "Can image recognition processors
tell the difference?"
Marita and Kerstin shook their heads in unison.
"Marita said. "I am a Spacer, not a policewoman. We
two have had our fun with you. Sergeant Berry has had plastic
surgery to make her features match mine in all standard recognition
tests. I fooled your identification system when I came into this
building. Your processor reported an error when Sergeant Berry
came in a few seconds later. Your receptionist was on the ball
too. Sergeant Fisher here was alerted as Sergeant Berry came into
this office. If your processor did not record everyone entering
and leaving, it might have accepted two identical people. Now
I would like to say thank you to you for doing your best to protect
myself and Mr. McFigg. The threatened attacks on the two of us
and Undepoldus have been neutralised but there may be other security
problems in the future. I hope that you will be able to maintain
the vigilance you have already shown without an onerous demand
on your resources."
Marita's short speech was greeted with applause.
Sergeant Fisher said. "Super, Sergeant Berry would like to
show Miss Andersson around London in her floater. Have I your
permission to clear this with floater control?"
Superintendent Abdullah said. "Go ahead Sergeant. However,
I think that it would be helpful if the two ladies were provided
with a native Londoner as a guide. Do we have any volunteer guides
here?"
Several officers indicated that they would like the job. The Superintendent
asked. "Constable Jones, what is your present status?"
"I am on reserve until 17:00 sir. Then I go off duty sir."
"Constable Abekwe, What is your status?"
"Sir, I am on rest period until 15:00, then I am on reserve
until 19:00."
The Superintendent said. "Thank you for volunteering. I think
that two guides are better than one. Sergeant Berry, I think that
you will have seen enough by 17:00. I know that the two of you
have a very important engagement this evening so I do not want
to put you in a position that would prevent you from being there
on time. However, no policeman can ever be completely off duty
so your services may be called upon if there is an extreme emergency.
Otherwise, you have my authorisation to go anywhere in the Greater
London area to see what an interesting city it is. Have a good
tour."
Kerstin said. "Thank you sir."
The Superintendent said. "Sergeant Berry, I forgot to say
congratulations on your promotion. In the short time that you
have been with us you have shown us a glimpse of the depth of
your skills and knowledge. I wish that you could become a permanent
member of my staff but I know that another organisation has first
call on you.. Now go before I find you a job to do."
The tour was more useful to Kerstin than Marita. Marita was able to look at the famous buildings and scenery as a tourist. Kerstin studied the patterns of moveways and streets. Simon Abekwe piloted the floater and Hayley Jones described the sights. It was clear that floater control had designated the floater as a police vehicle because all the police floaters they saw flashed a recognition signal towards them. Marita spotted a fire in a suburban house and Simon alerted the fire service. Their presence was not required because no major routes were affected.
PAUSE
The next section covers the Students'
dinner and the help given to new friends.
Viewers familiar with this subject may pass on to the following
section.
Please select PASS or CONTINUE.