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When he saw the guard stationed on the East Berlin border, he didn’t need to be reminded that they didn’t welco that hadn’t seen a splash of paint since the wall had gone up, and where no one had given a thought for old, tired, or infirht just want to sit down Another queue, another wait, longer this ti custo, sir, in any language

The official slowly turned each page of his passport, clearly ner had visited in the last four years After he’d turned the final page, he raised the palht hand in the air, like a traffic policelish he knew He then retreated to the back of the room, knocked on a door marked Kommondant, and disappeared inside

It was soain, and when it did, a short, bald-headed e as Giles, but it was hard to be sure because his shiny, double-breasted suit was so out of date itshirt was frayed at the collar and cuffs, and his red tie looked as if it had been ironed once too often But the surprise was his colish

“Perhaps you would co words

“Perhaps” turned out to be an order, because he immediately turned on his heel and headed toward his office without looking back The young official lifted the counter lid so Giles could follow him

The official sat down behind his desk, if a table with a single drawer can be described as a desk Giles sat opposite him on a hard wooden stool, no doubt a product of the same factory

“What is the purpose of your visit to East Berlin, Mr Barrington?”

“I’ a friend”

“And the name of this friend?”

Giles hesitated, as the elly”

“Is she a relative?”

“No, as I said, a friend”

“And how long are you intending to stay in East Berlin?”

“As you can see, my visa is for one week”

The official studied the visa for a considerable tiularity, but Giles had had the docun Office who confirmed that every little box had been filled in correctly