Most Secret War

by R.V. Jones

The building was almost ready for occupation when the Deputy Superintendent, performing one of his other functions, took in the Superintendent’s usual tray of afternoon tea, with the comment, ‘I suppose that you will be wanting tea when we move over to the new building, sir?’ ‘Of course’, replied the Superintendent. ‘Well, then, sir, you are not going to get it!’ ‘Why not. Are you going on strike?’ ‘Certainly not, sir—but there’s no electric point to boil my electric kettle!’ And then as the extent of this peculiarly civil service disaster sank in, he added, ‘And what’s more, sir, there is no electric point in the whole building.’ ‘How do you know this?’ asked the Superintendent. ‘I’ve looked at the plans, sir, and what’s more there’s no gas and no running water except in the lavatories.’