The Wayward Spy (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters edit see section history

• Michael Vaux: The lead character, former journalist and reluctant spy.
• Arthur Davis: MI6 'talent spotter' and Vaux's early case officer.
• Veronica Belmont: Vaux's erratic lover
• Sir Walter Mason: Head of MI6's sub-sub group, B3, attached to the Near and Middle East desk.
• Alan Craw: Sir Walter's deputy and classic office schemer
• Ahmed Kadri: Vaux's old college friend
• George Greaves: Rabat-based MI6 operative and point man in the 'Tangier operation.'
• Safa: Nubile niece of Kadri's who distracts Vaux from the Moroccan operation.
• Amin Hakki: Ahmed Kadri's colleague, right-hand man and watcher.
• Col. John Freeman (Ret.) U.S. Marine Corps: Heads up the CIA's London liaison office with MI6.
• John Goodchild: Vaux's rediscovered childhood friend who still lives in the neighborhood where they both grew up.
• Chris Greene: A bright, young MI6 operative who befriends Vaux as well as Veronica Belmont, Vaux's lover.
• Susan Appleby: Real estate agent who is trying to buy Vaux's dream house
• Len Powell: MI6 technician
• Barbara Boyd: MI6 operative
• Alexander Vidal Simonds: London-based CIA agent
• Patrick Goodchild: John Goodchild's son and busboy at the Pig&whistle
• Abdullah al-Mawada: Kadri's factotum/housekeeper in Tangier
• Pete: Barman at the Pig&Whistle
• Mrs. Parker: Neighborhood gossip and Vaux's daily help
• Harry: Owner of the Pig&Whistle
• Mrs. Fletcher: Arthur Davis's housekeeper
• Sergeant Binkley: Head of special ops team whose task is to protect Vaux in Morocco
• Derek Westropp: Vaux's alias in Geneva
• Monica Manning: Heavyweight, witty London journalist covering the M.E. peace conference in Geneva.
• Corporal Smyth: Deputy to Binkley
• Dorothy: Alan Craw's young secretary, just out of Rodean.
• Mrs. Caldwell: Bar lady at the Pig&Whistle
• Salim: Arab youth who assists Abdullah at the Villa Mauresque in Tangier
• President Al-Assad: Syria's autocratic leader.

Quotes edit see section history

• “Craw could see that Sir Walter's patriotism was rising to the surface once again. Long weekends at a magnificent country estate, his wife's impeccable hospitality, two or three good horse rides in the bucolic splendor of the Dorset countryside--that was enough in itself to make him an ardent patriot. But what really helped stir the brew was being reminded that his day job could only further the political and economic interests of Great Britain and, of course, the American cousins.”

• “Hakki did most of the talking, but Kadri sometimes intervened to make a point clearer. The object of the marathon sessions, Vaux quickly realized, was to educate him in the ancient, modern and more immediate history of the crisis-torn Middle East region. Facts were piled on facts,anti-Arab arguments put up then knocked down by logic and truth...the labyrinthine twists and turns of the Arab souk were reflected in the circular but seemingly unassailable arguments of his interlocutors.”

• “In this business you live and learn. Treachery's no stranger to us--it just comes unexpectedly and in the most illusory disguises.”

  Sir Walter Mason, head of MI6's sub-sub group, B3, on the Near and Middle East desk.

• “'Course, the conference won't get anyone anywhere. It's just a platform for the U.S. to tell Russia to butt out and for the Israelis to say no progress is possible so long as the Palestinians condone terrorism. The Palestinian Liberation Organization will say the cause of terrorism is contnued occupation by Israel of the West Bank and Gaza. So deadlock.”

  Arthur Davis, an MI6 talent spotter who recruits a somwhat reluctant Vaux.

• “'I can understand their suspicions. They're like that, aren't they? Paranoia reigns supreme in the U.S.intelligence agencies--in the whole bloody country for that matter. Now they've beaten the Soviets, they're looking for other fish to fry--new enemies under every bed. So they latch on to this chap Hakki, think the sun shines out of his arse and believe everything he chooses to tell them.”

  Arthur Davis, MI6 talent spotter and old-hand advisor to Sir Walter Mason.

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Geneva
• London
• Syria
• Israel
• Middle East
• England
• Russia
• Tangier
• Vevey
• Britain
• Damascus
• Operation Helvetia
• Paris
• U.k.
• Morocco
• Century House
• Washington
• France
• Cairo
• Egypt
• Newquay
• Rue De Zurich
• Rabat
• Europe
• Gower Street
• Aleppo
• West Bank
• Iraq
• Padstow
• Atlantic
• Madrid
• Marseilles
• Dorset
• Gaza
• Heathrow
• Watford
• North America
• Bristol
• States
• Palmyra

Organizations edit see section history

• MI6: MI6 is the foreign intelligence branch of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service.
• Central Intelligence Agency: Gathers foreign intelligence by espionage and other means for the U.S. government.
• GSD: Syria's General Security Directorate whose job is to garner foreign intellligence and monitor Syrian dissidents.
• United Nations: International organization bent on peace-keeping and crisis resolution, particularly in the long drawnout Arab-Isaeli conflict.
• Bristol University, U.K.: Michael Vaux's and Ahmed Kadri's alma mater.
• Special Investigation Branch (SIB).: U.K. civilian police unit whose 'special' assignments often involve cooperation with Britains' Secret Intelligence Service.

First Sentence edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Loyalty to a friend or one's country? An age-old dilemma confronts protagonist Michael Vaux when he is asked by MI6 to betray an old university friend .: Describe this theme.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Roger Croft (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 813

Notes for Parents edit see section history

A good read for an intelligent 14-plus child and adults.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• amazon.com: sells 'The Wayward Spy.' paperback and Kindle