Prague

I walked into the main office and there to my great surprise stood Freddie Halsopp. 
Freddie, what are you doing here?
Ah Guesty, I am here to see you. Can we find somewhere private?
I turned and motioned for him to follow me. I lead him to my own office, not a plush cubby hole but comfortable.
Sit please.
Freddie took the chair on the other side of my desk. He looked his usual handsome self though definitely a little nervous.
Haven't seen you since Prague. he said
No, that was quite an adventure, just got out by the skin of our teeth! Freddie smiled Maria still chides me about that time.
Maria was Freddie's wife and was not keen on him placing himself in any danger, real or perceived. 
Yes, I understand Katarina, has much the same opinion. Freddie laughed I rather face Maria than your good lady.
Wise man! I replied also laughing
So what can I do for you Freddie? You have not come here to reminisce. 
He gave me a resigned look.
Do you remember Helen Wezdranova?
The tall lady with the odd accent and even odder dress sense?
Yes her. She is in trouble Guesty and I need your help. Freddie shrugged and raised his eyebrows.
I said nothing and waited.
I know you thought she was strange, well we all did and she was a bit but unknown to you and others she was and has been a great source of information, a lot of which has proved to be very useful. Her very strangeness makes her appear to be harmless, simple even and often people would drop their guard when talking in front of her. Her real talent was collating that info and after sifting through what she had heard, some how she managed to filter out important stuff.It has at times given us an advantage and at the very least gave us a heads up. He paused and fiddled about in his pockets. Sorry I was looking for a cigarette but I have given them up He shrugged again You don't.......know of course you don't, anyway she is danger and I want to get her out.
She is still in Prague?
Freddie nodded She has managed to get out a message, she thinks a man called Verner has become suspicious of her. That was it. 
It is not much to go on Freddie. It does not mean she is in danger just that this Verner is suspicious!
Would you not err on the side of caution? 
I paused before answering, it was not pleasant in any communist country to even be suspected and if that led to more than just that, you could easily disappear.
Okay Freddie, get me all the details and I will see what I can do. I'll speak with Giveny he has contacts everywhere.

Two days later I got an a call from Giveny, he rarely spoke directly these days, most of our contact was passed through a third party. He had explained that things at home had become a little fraught with the advent of the new government and he was being circumspect.
Guestling, good to talk to you. This situation is more important than perhaps you had realised.
I see 
This woman is not just some ordinary citizen, she is the daughter of a high ranking party member who defected some 10 years ago, bringing his family with him all but for Helen, she refused to leave and as time was pressing and she an adult, there was little he could do.
You think they want use her as bait, leveridge or some other purpose?
I have no idea Guestling but she needs to be brought out. I understand she is a little eccentric? 
From what I remember, she certainly seemed it but you know the more I think back on it, I beginning to wonder if it wasn't an act to offset any closer inspection. It seems this Verner is looking closer. Do you know who he is?
No I'm afraid I don't but I suspect he is KGB or StB, one way or another his interest is not pleasant I'm sure.
What can we do?
I'm using my contacts but as you can imagine information is difficult to obtain, especially when it's specific to one individual. Our mission in Prague know nothing and of course are watched like hawks, so using them is fraught with danger. Do you want to send "someone" in and don't tell me you will go because that is not going to happen.
The good lady would divorce me if I told her I was going back to Prague, so you have nothing to fear there. Do you have anyone in mind?
I do, a young man who I have placed my trust in a few times, he seems able to carry out the job and look after himself as well. He is free at present so we could send him.
I know Freddie would be grateful he really thinks she is in danger.
Sources seem to indicate that he could very well be right.

Two weeks later I was at home going through some diplomatic reports, when the doorbell rang, Katarina answered.
Freddie, how delightful, come in please
Thanks, you are as beautiful as ever Katarina.
And your a terrible flirt Freddie. Guesty is in the dinning room.
They entered the room
You have a visitor, Guesty.
Hello Guestling, how are you?
Freddie, I take it you have news? Please sit, drink?
Thanks,that would most welcome.
Katarina poured out three whiskeys.
Well old man spit it out, good news I hope, I'm afraid other matters have taken my time and I have not kept abreast of the Helen situation.
Freddie took a sip of his drink and smiled 
Most surprising, most surprising he sighed
Freddie? I said in an exasperated tone.
Sorry Guesty. He smile once more. It appears that Verner was not interested in her because he was secret police but because he had been sent by her father to try to persuade her to leave.He still has contact with his former country and had got wind that she may be in danger. Verner is an old colleague of his and he got him to watch over her and if necessary get Helen out.He paused and took another drink. Anyway it all got a bit excitable, it seems Verner himself had come to the notice of the StB, his nosing about had drawn attention to himself and in turn to Helen, who it seems was, up until then not even on their radar. Ironic eh!
Bloody hell! So whats happened exclaimed my wife. I had told her brief details of the story.
Well we have had to extract both of them and thanks to the man Giveny sent, it has been done successfully, although not without a few glitches along the way. He laughed and drained his whiskey. Helen is kicking up a storm however, once she found out that her existence had been interfered with and she would have been okay, well I did not understand the language but I am certain that it would have been pretty strong in whatever the tongue was being spoken. Certainly Verner blanched and looked as though he would like to be anywhere but in the same room. She may not have seen her father for some years but I am sure when she does he will be subject to her fury as well!
She has agreed to go to the UK? 
It took some persuasion but once she realised she can't return she grudgingly accepted the situation. Secretly I think she was rather pleased to be seeing her family again.
I shook my head with a smile And Verner?
He has disappeared, probably relieved to get away from Helen's temper!

I had only met Helen Wezdranova no more than a couple of times when in Prague and spoken no more than a few words to her. She was a distinctive looking lady and not one you ever forget. Five years after she had been "rescued" I was at a cocktail party at a high ranking civil servants home in Bayswater, I was sitting on a couch, drink in hand contemplating nothing in particular, when a voice from above spoke in a husky east European accent.
You are Guestling Thorn, correct? 
I looked up a very tall lady was looking down at me with a beaming smile. She sat next to me.
I am I replied And you are Helen Wezdranova, if i am not mistaken. She nodded. I am
I never forget a face she breathed You are a friend of Freddie's are you not?
Yes, though I have not seen him for ages
Neither have I She touched my arm and beamed another smile. If you do tell him he is forgiven. 
With that she got up and walked away. I looked for her before I left but she must have already gone. 

I did not see Freddie for another 5 years or so, when eventually our paths crossed again, I was sad to learn that his wife, Maria had passed some 5 years earlier and he had decided to take early retirement and go and live with his sister in Kent. He had a son Raymond but it seems they were not on speaking terms.We reminisced as old colleagues do and I wished him well. Before we parted I remembered my meeting with Helen and passed on her message. He laughed like the Freddie of old. Thank goodness for that then!