Down to size
This is the time for subtle and not-so-subtle messaging. We hear No 1 was reminiscing about how, not too long ago, he cut an obstreperous officer down to size. He told a friend that the same officer had been Head Spook during The Man of Steel’s last term, and hand in glove with Mr Bean, The Man’s Min of Int, had driven a deep wedge between the premier and Big Ben’s Hubby by hounding the latter to the wall. The Head Spook had also amassed a huge fortune and the khaki grapevine was abuzz with his sins of commission and omission. Not satisfied with all of that, the Head Spook then ganged up with the competition for the No 1 slot and spread all manner of slander about the one who ultimately bagged the top slot. According to our mole, No 1 recounted his face off with Head Spook after his ascension to the Olympian heights. He confronted him, apparently, with many counts of corruption and blatant thuggery and also delivered an off the cuff remark about how he knew of the “slander campaign”.
At that, recounted No 1, the Spook literally fell to his feet and begged forgiveness. After much ado, No 1 agreed not to pursue “the cases” provided the Spook put in his papers and disappeared off the face of the earth. This the Head Spook did happily, kept his ill-gotten gains and rode off into the sunset. The moral of the story: don’t cross No 1. There’s a limit to his patience.
Rats & sinking ships
Even before The Great Khan’s ship of state has well and truly sunk, an army of rats is scurrying from the craft, desperately trying to line up their next moves. Many serving ministers and high and mighty sorts are trying to cozy up to The Man of Steel’s Talented Bro. Others are sending pleading messages to The Man of Steel in exile, and yet others are trying to somehow get through to his daughter in Raiwind. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Return to sender
Our rep in the Holy Land was returned to sender and replaced by a more canny and well-connected diplomat because Al-Prince didn’t think much of him. He apparently thought that our rep, an ex-khaki, would have had better connections in his alma mater than he actually did. And that he might have had The Great Khan’s ear which was far from the case. Not much use, declared Al-Prince, and so our rep found himself replaced.
ENDS ENDS