Posted by David Chorley on May 09, 1997 at 20:17:06:
Some time ago, and now lost to electronic posterity, I postulated that James Turner was in fact a spy for British Intelligence ( A contemporary of, but not as cynical as, Ashenden). Further to that theory,, it is my opinion that Bob Blackett was also a secret agent, who went deep within the structure of the Bolshevik revolution and supplied information to His Majesty's Government. The necessity that he should be known to be dead is unfortunate, but a sacrifice that must be made.
When John Walker joins the Royal Navy, he will be sent on a training trip to the Baltic, there discover that James Turner is curiously on board the training vessel and have to use all his skills of piloting a small boat to rescue Bob.
There, we have a plot that combines elements of W.S. Maugham,
E. Nesbit, Erskine Childers and Ransome.....
... what could go wrong????
David