‘I have spent most of my life on this island,’ said the Ordforer. ‘It has always been a peaceful law-abiding place, except when the Germans came. Now, since that Soviet submarine ran ashore on the Dragetennene, we have these extraordinary happenings.’ He shook his shaggy white head. ‘We live in bad times.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Extract from Top Secret file BMS/USSR Delta/Two/2713b… Planning memo, Operation Daisy Chain, Appendix 111, p. 7, para. 4:
Interrogation Team:
In Charge: Chief Superintendent R. McGhee, Russian language interpreters E. F. Brough, G. L. Hamsov (Special Branch)
Neurologist: G. B. Smithers
Scientific Team:
Sonar, radar, electronics W. E. Wilson, Missiles, underwater and surface weaponry G. W. A. Curtis, BMS design and operation P. L. Grogan (Admiralty Research Establishments)
Assistants:
Background intelligence, simultaneous translation, Chinese conversation, Li and Tanya Liang Hui — Secret Intelligence Service.
The Laundry had been divided into two parts by means of a temporary screen erected by the ship’s staff. One third of the compartment was forward of the screen, two thirds aft. The forward portion contained a table and chairs for the interrogators, facing it the chair into which Krasnov was strapped. Brough was already at the interpreters’ table. The rest of the party were behind the screen in the after end where a quantity of electronic equipment had been set up. A small storeroom led off it on the port side aft.
McGhee was explaining: ‘Krasnov is wearing headphones and a strobe light mask in place of the hood. He can see and hear nothing except the audio and visual material we feed him. As far as he’s concerned he’s alone. Got it?’
‘Brough and Hamsov explained the technical side to us when we were in Bluewhale,’ said Liang Hui, rather in the manner of a schoolboy saying, ‘We’ve already done that, sir.’
‘That’s right.’ McGhee was not to be put off. ‘And I explained it to you scientific gentlemen while we were in Belligerent. All I propose now is a quick run-through to make sure we all know what’s happening.’
There were murmurs of assent.
‘It’s essential to this technique to impose nervous stress on the brain of the interrogatee in order to introduce the hypnoid and ultra-paradoxical phases. This is scientific jargon for what we call inducing a compliant state of mind. In other words making the interrogatee willing to talk and changing his mental attitude in such a way that he wants to co-operate. It used to take a long time — weeks perhaps. Now, with the aid of electronics and drugs, it can be done in a few hours. We’ve come a long way since Pavlov.’
‘What drugs?’ asked Li Liang Hui.
‘We only use them if we run into difficulties, like a high level of resistance. Then mostly LSD — sometimes Nembutal.’
McGhee pointed to the console at which Smithers was sitting wearing headphones. ‘Smithers is working on Krasnov now. He’ll keep it up until midnight. After that the interrogation begins. That console contains audio mixers, selectors, input, output, volume controls and gauges and a lot more I won’t bother you with.’ He pointed to the equipment around them: the battery of tape recorders and players, the stroboscopic light projectors and diffusers, the video projectors, the microphones, loud-speakers, earpieces and other listening devices, the multiplicity of leads feeding into and out of the console.
‘Smithers controls everything,’ continued McGhee. ‘Speech, sound effects, video, light effects, whatever he wants to feed to his patient.’ He looked at the scientists. ‘You’ll be linked up with the interrogators and the simultaneous translators. The first questions to go to Krasnov will be taped ones prepared in the Admiralty research establishments. You’ll get the English version simultaneously on tape. Then, as we go along, you’ll ask supplementary questions on the basis of Krasnov’s answers. The interrogators will hear your supplementaries, put them to him in Russian. And so it goes.’ McGhee paused, thought of something. ‘From time to time Smithers will feed Krasnov with Chinese chat about the interrogation — some of it taped — some of it extempore by the Liang Huis. Although Krasnov can’t speak Chinese we must maintain the impression that he’s in a Chinese ship.’
‘How is the severe nervous stress you talk of imposed?’ The question was Tanya’s. Her brother realized that she already knew the answer but her question was an indication of her state of mind. She was deeply disturbed.
‘Smithers is working on Krasnov’s audio and visual reflexes now. Feeding him strange sounds. Weird noises. You know. Alternating these with pleasant sounds. Bits of Beethoven. Girl singing. Lambs bleating. Bird song. Stuff like that.’
‘Horrible,’ whispered Tanya. ‘It’s calculated cruelty.’
‘Not really,’ said McGhee quite happily. ‘Not a patch on what they used to do. Remember the Spanish Inquisition. Now where was I? Ah, yes. With those sound effects, Smithers is feeding in light effects.’ He leant over the console, examined the instruments. ‘He’s pushing in stroboscopic light now. Krasnov is picking it up through the mask. It confuses the nervous system even when there’s a high level of resistance.’
‘Perhaps he closes his eyes?’ suggested Curtis.
‘He certainly does. But it makes very little difference. That’s what the mask is for. It amplifies the light impulses. The intensity is too great. Now these lights. Very interesting. They’re ultra high frequency. Varying rhythms, variety of colours and patterns. Get the right frequency, rhythm and colour changes and you destroy reality. Fantasy takes over. Very clever.’
‘Fiendishly,’ said Curtis. He was suffering from a painful dichotomy. There was a great deal he wanted to learn from the Soviet lieutenant about the Zhukov’s missile systems but, compassionate and gentle, he was revolted by the methods used.
‘I suppose you could say,’ continued McGhee, ‘that Krasnov’s nervous system, his audio and visual perceptions, are now under attack — being broken down. Smithers judges the patient’s reflexes by feeding in straightforward questions at odd intervals. If the strains to which the patient is subjected become too severe, Smithers eases up.’
‘Very considerate of him,’ said Curtis dryly.
‘The object is to induce a state of nervous breakdown in order to obtain co-operation — or compliance if you like. At the same time the technique induces partial hypnosis. When these objectives have been achieved the interrogatee is usually ready to assist. Got the idea?’
‘Yes — and I think it’s perfectly bloody,’ said Tanya. ‘Cruel. Barbaric.’
McGhee smiled indulgently. ‘Don’t worry your head about that, Tanya. It’s no more cruel than the shock treatment given regularly in psychiatric therapy. And we permit that for people we love.’ McGhee spoke with more feeling than his audience appreciated. He had a schizophrenic daughter undergoing treatment in an institution in the south of England.