Posted by Terence McManus on September 03, 2002 at 02:42:22 from 203.193.96.68 user tmc.
In Reply to: Re: How did Commander Walker get to Flushing? posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on September 02, 2002 at 12:13:46:
Since first reading the book as a boy I have always assumed that he travelled on the Trans-Siberian railway. Twelve days is about the right time for that journey.
It had not occured to me that there would be political problems with taking that route. I have always had the impression that British citizens could travel more freely in the 1930s than in the post WWII era. On the Trans-Siberian he would have been "in transit" which could have made it easier to obtain the necessary travel documents for the Soviet Union.
I would guess that he would travel openly as a naval officer(in uniform until he reached the Netherlands?), to avoid any risk of being suspected of being a spy.
To me it seemed to be the type of adventurous but not foolhardy exploit that Cmdr. Walker would undertake. It is clear that he is keen to see his family as soon as possible and is willing to forego the comforts of the conventional sea voyage. It is ironic that he is unable to enjoy the time that he has gained since, in Secret Water, "their Lordships" demand his immediate attention to his new post.