If he is being watched from when he leaves the apartment, the whole elaborate procedure is sheer nonsense. When I was a top agent at M15 we would change vehicles at least three times, double back in crowded places and always look for that slight hesitation of the 'watcher'. Crowds and confusion are the safest of all. That lonely empty park at night? It made no sense. More like kill Curt Jurgens rules.
shareGeneral Vladimir, once he was expelled from Paris by the French authorities, found sanctuary in Britain. He was a pensioner without the resources of the Circus. His only contact was through the Postman and his Vicar, George Smiley (alias Max). His first contact as I remember was when he put up a distress rocket. This meeting was indeed made in a crowded public place in the Science Museum (all those aeroplanes and kiddies eating crisps!) with Toby Esterhase, but Toby would not play. “Our Postman is no good” – he was very bitter about it.
The second attempt to contact Smiley by telephone message was a bungled affair, but eventually a meeting was arranged using classic tradecraft by striking a yellow chalk mark below the drawing pin placed there by Mostyn on the pavilion on Hampstead Heath. This lonely spot was chosen because it was conveniently close to the Safe House.
It is true that General Vladimir made himself vulnerable, but remember that his lieutenant, Miguel(?) said that the call might come at any time. Moscow Centre kept close tracks on all the refugees at the Baltic Library.
The difference between your experience with the resources of a Security Service behind you and that of General Vladimir, is that he was not protected by any elaborate security measures and had to fall back on being a harmless, elderly pensioner with a heart condition. That, I believe, is what is called natural cover.
Does any of this make any sense to you?
See: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnegansword/5621597056/in/photostream/
Thanks! I'm joking about my 'experience'. this helped explain a lot.
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