Edward Roving Through Alaska:
As part of his new mission for Churchill in the mid 1950’s General Lord Edward Ware takes leave of his job as the black rod in the House of Lords. He and Dora, Lady Ware, board the Queen Mary to sail to New York. They are vague with friends and associates about what they are doing and where they intend to go. They don’t even confide in Dora’s parents in Pittsburgh. They have a long overland journey by train to the West Coast. There they make their way to Vancouver and sail to Alaska.
Edward finds himself on shore in the tiny town of Ketchikan in the days when Alaska was still a territory. In the days before statehood the prostitutes still walk the docks and cast him a leer now and then. It reminds him of days past when Helga von Wessel used to haunt his life, which has not happened in ten years.
One of these coastal cities along the Inside Passage seems to be the center of activity that he needs to investigate. Messages have been intercepted going back and forth to Russia and the new leader, Kruschev. He must find out where they are coming from.
He ends up in Juneau, the capital of Alaska. It is just another port of call on the ship. He heads for the Mendenhall Glacier. He and Dora are out in a small boat near the glacier. The glacier starts to calve. Ice plummets into the water and creates waves.
Their boat turns to head back to shore. Dora stops it and points at a skiff being washed towards them. Edward catches hold of a message tube. He pulls it out and reads it:
It has been a long time, Edward. We need to talk. H.
