【Full Steam Ahead】S0……
nar. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly.
"Now we just have to wait for torrow''''s papers. The Private Office will hahe public relations as best they , Minister," Cyril said.
"What will they write?"
"The Tis will report objectively and analyse the root causes. The Guardian ght elevate it to a sociological level. The Telegraph will likely n the protest," Cyril said, carefully avoiding the tabloids.
"It see your tingency plan did indeed include a dia relations strategy," Charles said, pressing his teles. "Was... what Laert said... also part of your plan?"
"Minister, I believe that st have been... a procedural ce. The Departnt of the Enviro has a regulatory duty ing Grade II listed structures, and large public events der their safety assessnt procedures. Perhaps your visit increased the profile of the event, whi turhe DoE to... exercise their duties rously."
"A truly... astonishing ce," Charles said, looking out at the blaess of the night. "Ont expresses '''''''' over the structural iy of another departnt''''s event just before it begins, and then, just after an ''''act'''' occurs, happily accepts an early clusioo ''''safety s''''."
The ige of Laert''''s face, a sk of post-disaster relief, flashed through his nd, followed by the cool risk assessnt in Alistair''''s , and those grey-greehat seed to see through everything. An idea sparked in his nd.
"Cyril," Charles turned his head suddenly. "When you reported the itinerary, did you... ntion the breakwater issue to Alistair? Or did he ntion aed terials?"
Cyril instantly recalled the brief report in Alistair''''s office the day before, reered the iy in Sir''''s eyes when he heard that detail, reered the note Sir had de. He knew he couldn''''t lie, and shouldn''''t.
"Yes, Minister," Cyril heard hielf say. "Durierday''''s pre-travel briefing, I reported it orally to the Ag Per Secretary as part of the local background infortion."
The rhythc clatter of the train''''s bogies over the track joints filled the carriage.
Charles fell silent.
He didn''''t press further. He just slowly, very slowly, leaned bato his seat and turned his gaze once re to the endless darkness outside the window.
He could feel it, clearly, beyond the floodlit stage: a vast web woven froprocedure, rules, and unseen sensus.
---
Twelve hours earlier.
London, Whitehall.
Alistair was in his office, reviewing the initial feedback frovarious departnts on the "Departntal Liaison Officer" is collated by Cyril before his departure.
The teleph. An internal line.
"Sir," ca the voice of an assistaary. "Mr. Gee Arbuthnot, Deputy Per Secretary at the Departnt of the Enviro, is returning your call."
"Put hithrough." Alistair picked up the receiver. "Gee, good afternoon. Alistair dish here. I hope I''''not disturbing you."
"Not at all, I was looking for an excuse to leave the offiyway. Good to hear froyou. Heard you''''re at a new departnt, old friend? gratulations."
"Hardly gratulations, Gee, just serving in a different capacity. I''''calling today about a sll tter, ohat ght require your expert opinion," Alistair said, leaning ba his chair, his tone sultative.
"Oh? Do tell."
"We at the DSC are dug a review of ''''collaborative intenance of key local assets''''. You know how it is, in the current clite, ensuring the robust operation of national assets and identifying potential gaps in cross-departntal collaboration is a priority for the et Office. While reviewing files on the South West, one case caught our attention—Newlyn Harbour in wall. The breakwater there, I recall it''''s a sterpiece of Victorian engineering, isn''''t it?"
"It is. Built in 1884. Grade II listed. What about it?"
"Nothing jor. It just ca to our attention that a rather large seafood festival is beihere today. You know, large crowds, teorary
"Now we just have to wait for torrow''''s papers. The Private Office will hahe public relations as best they , Minister," Cyril said.
"What will they write?"
"The Tis will report objectively and analyse the root causes. The Guardian ght elevate it to a sociological level. The Telegraph will likely n the protest," Cyril said, carefully avoiding the tabloids.
"It see your tingency plan did indeed include a dia relations strategy," Charles said, pressing his teles. "Was... what Laert said... also part of your plan?"
"Minister, I believe that st have been... a procedural ce. The Departnt of the Enviro has a regulatory duty ing Grade II listed structures, and large public events der their safety assessnt procedures. Perhaps your visit increased the profile of the event, whi turhe DoE to... exercise their duties rously."
"A truly... astonishing ce," Charles said, looking out at the blaess of the night. "Ont expresses '''''''' over the structural iy of another departnt''''s event just before it begins, and then, just after an ''''act'''' occurs, happily accepts an early clusioo ''''safety s''''."
The ige of Laert''''s face, a sk of post-disaster relief, flashed through his nd, followed by the cool risk assessnt in Alistair''''s , and those grey-greehat seed to see through everything. An idea sparked in his nd.
"Cyril," Charles turned his head suddenly. "When you reported the itinerary, did you... ntion the breakwater issue to Alistair? Or did he ntion aed terials?"
Cyril instantly recalled the brief report in Alistair''''s office the day before, reered the iy in Sir''''s eyes when he heard that detail, reered the note Sir had de. He knew he couldn''''t lie, and shouldn''''t.
"Yes, Minister," Cyril heard hielf say. "Durierday''''s pre-travel briefing, I reported it orally to the Ag Per Secretary as part of the local background infortion."
The rhythc clatter of the train''''s bogies over the track joints filled the carriage.
Charles fell silent.
He didn''''t press further. He just slowly, very slowly, leaned bato his seat and turned his gaze once re to the endless darkness outside the window.
He could feel it, clearly, beyond the floodlit stage: a vast web woven froprocedure, rules, and unseen sensus.
---
Twelve hours earlier.
London, Whitehall.
Alistair was in his office, reviewing the initial feedback frovarious departnts on the "Departntal Liaison Officer" is collated by Cyril before his departure.
The teleph. An internal line.
"Sir," ca the voice of an assistaary. "Mr. Gee Arbuthnot, Deputy Per Secretary at the Departnt of the Enviro, is returning your call."
"Put hithrough." Alistair picked up the receiver. "Gee, good afternoon. Alistair dish here. I hope I''''not disturbing you."
"Not at all, I was looking for an excuse to leave the offiyway. Good to hear froyou. Heard you''''re at a new departnt, old friend? gratulations."
"Hardly gratulations, Gee, just serving in a different capacity. I''''calling today about a sll tter, ohat ght require your expert opinion," Alistair said, leaning ba his chair, his tone sultative.
"Oh? Do tell."
"We at the DSC are dug a review of ''''collaborative intenance of key local assets''''. You know how it is, in the current clite, ensuring the robust operation of national assets and identifying potential gaps in cross-departntal collaboration is a priority for the et Office. While reviewing files on the South West, one case caught our attention—Newlyn Harbour in wall. The breakwater there, I recall it''''s a sterpiece of Victorian engineering, isn''''t it?"
"It is. Built in 1884. Grade II listed. What about it?"
"Nothing jor. It just ca to our attention that a rather large seafood festival is beihere today. You know, large crowds, teorary