The Hidden Assassins

by: Robert Wilson

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Hostage

Hostage, by Ted Allbeury describes not only the unquestioning obedience of the British equivalent to our CIA employees, but also the difficulties involved when one wishes to separate oneself from them. Here in the U.S. however, most of us are unfamiliar with the acronyms evidently used frequently by our English counterparts; we do not, for instance, have any idea of what the SIS is, or what SAS or CW consists of. Publishers of Hostage might have taken that into consideration when they decided to bring this work across the pond and perhaps asked the writer to insert the full titles in parenthesis!

Ted Allbeury obviously knows his stuff when it comes to espionage, spying, and everything that a covert governmental organization might do in order to 'protect the country.' Murdering anyone who might stand in the way or who is actively engaged in sabotage is considered perfectly fair; human life is nowhere near as important as protecting the country. Of course, such ideals may also lead to the killing of perfectly innocent people, but they're unimportant when you consider the larger picture. Aren't they?

If I wore a hat, I'd doff it for Mr. Allbeury's Hostage. It's written from the viewpoint of John Rennie, one of the SIS' most revered employees – not only because he was honest, but also because he always did whatever he was sent to do – and did it without question. Rennie was a man who believed that the SIS was always right and that whatever they decided to do was to increase the invulnerability of the country. He was a man who lived only to obey rules. And one of those rules was that in marriage you remained faithful to your spouse, regardless of how lonely it might be for the wife not to see her husband for weeks at a time when he was on a mission. So John considered it simply the right thing to do when he initiated a divorce after his spouse's single infidelity

Another infidelity concerned a certain Arab named Khalim Abu Said, a married billionaire who later turns out to be the go-between for Arab terrorists and the British. He slept with an SIS man's wife in order to learn how best to kidnap him. The terrorists then kidnapped Harry Mason, the SIS agent, ostensibly holding him until they received instructions on how to use some Israeli equipment they've secured. SIS plans to kidnap Khalim's two children, expecting he'll make a deal by returning Harry Mason in exchange for getting his girls back safely. What they don't realize is that Said is simply a go-between and has no real power – either with those holding Mason or, more importantly, those in Damascus who instigated the kidnapping.

John Rennie first begins to question his employers in his mind when Said's children are taken. Rennie already is prepared to free Mason, and through his contacts he even knows where Mason's being kept. But his superiors insist that their way is best. It's also learned that the Arabs have no intention of freeing Mason once they get what they want. They'll simply dispose of him.

A sub-plot concerns a drop-out and druggie – a girl named Joanna, whom Rennie takes in, feeds, and takes care of. Her didactic father and Joanna are both grateful when she not only recovers but begins to take an active part in society once more.

Rennie finally frees Mason – and continues to perform his assignments well, but becomes increasingly suspicious of SIS methods. Things come to a head when his own family is harassed because his superiors think that's the best way to deal with any insubordination. Rennie resigns, and later learns that the SIS plans to incarcerate him in a mental institution. The result of his defection from his career in the SIS at last leads to a stand-off in which Rennie holds the most potent cards.

The involvement of innocent children is primarily what goes against Rennie's grain in this novel, and
involvement of innocent people in secret service real life also contributes to Ted Allbeury's realism. Anything goes when the result is touted as being for the greater good. Who determines what that greater good might be, and the methods used to achieve it, are constantly fictionalized by authors like Mr. Allbeury – but so few see beyond the story-telling to the facts which form its basis. All fiction is based on truth, whether it be romance, comedy, history, or political machinations. It might be wise to remember that. Perhaps someday a group of influential, intelligent people will say “Enough!”

Meanwhile, be sure to read Ted Allbeury as well as our own U.S. authors…

Alan Paul Curtis

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