《No, Minister.(存一下英文版)》用其他笔名

4、【Interlude】S01E00.5 Cyril's Diary and Memos (1980.1.19-21)

　　Sunday, 20 January 1980 | Pimlico, London | Cold, with a pervasive fog
　　Sunday. It should have been quiet, unless you find yourself caught in the vortex of a new department's birth.
　　Today was my second day on secondment to the DSC.
　　The office door was ajar. When I pushed it open, he was already there, earlier than the appointed time. That came as no surprise.
　　He stood by the window, his back to the door, looking out at the grey, fog-shrouded streetscape of Whitehall. A perfectly tailored charcoal three-piece suit, his frame upright and lean, his platinum-blonde hair catching the cool light of the sunless room.
　　The room held only a temporary desk, a few chairs, an empty filing cabinet, and in the corner, an electric heater giving off a faint warmth—clearly insufficient to drive the chill from the bones of this old building. Of course. The preparatory unit had spent all of yesterday on more critical matters; Sir's office had been overlooked.
　　"Mr Astley." He did not turn around. His voice was steady and low, with a distinct cadence that cut through the silence of the room. "Punctuality is the politeness of kings, and thus the first duty of their servants. Good."
　　"Morning, Sir." I tried to keep my own voice steady as I set down my briefcase.
　　He turned, and his grey-green eyes met mine with a look of appraisal.
　　There was no superfluous pleasantry. The task was assigned immediately: "The Cabinet Office's PPS candidate shortlist is on your desk. I require you to complete a preliminary screening before noon. Mark the three you consider most suitable, with a brief rationale. The priorities are: discretion, organisational skill, and an understanding of the Whitehall ecosystem."
　　He paused. "In addition, here is the preliminary layout for the Minister's office." He handed me a hand-drawn sketch, the lines clean and precise, marking the positions of the desk, visitor's area, and filing cabinets. He had even reserved a blank wall. "The Minister's preferences are unknown, but the basic functions must be in place. Priority one is to ensure the telephone lines are clear and the In/Out Tray system is operational. The finer points of decor… can be addressed after His Right Honourable Minister arrives. Efficiency is paramount, Mr Astley. We have little time."
　　The instructions were clear, which was his style. There was no grand speech about the new department's vision, only concrete tasks demanding immediate execution. It was, frankly, a relief. Action is always preferable to baseless speculation.
　　The morning passed in a flurry of activity. Sifting through the PPS list required rapid recall and judgment of each candidate's background, reputation, and potential suitability. At the same time, I had to liaise with the logistics and estates division to ensure the basic office furniture would be in place, just about, before the Minister's arrival tomorrow. Telephones, desks, chairs, the most basic stationery… every item required communication and coordination. The irony that the 'Department of Synergy Coordination' was itself a stumbling infant was palpable.
　　Lunch was a hastily consumed sandwich. When I returned, Sir was still at his temporary desk, several files open before him, making swift annotations with a fountain pen in his left hand. Without looking up, he said, "Astley, I need your recommendation on the configuration of the Minister's office annex. The standard options are storage and a small reception area. But considering the particular nature of the DSC, are there other potential uses that should be planned for in advance? Write me a brief memorandum."
　　I naturally agreed, and was about to head to my own small cubicle to complete the task when Sir stopped me. He said I was to complete it there, in his office.
　　"Yes, Sir." I sat down immediately and began to think.
　　The question seemed simple, but it gave me pause. The DSC's 'particular nature'? Its very ambiguity was its most particular feature. A new department viewed by all as a sinecure, a political vase. How would the Minister use this space? Simply to store his coat and files? Or for more private, informal discussions? I tried to think from the perspective of a Minister I had yet to meet, and in the end, I listed several possibilities in the memo, leaning towards maintaining flexibility.
　　As evening approached, I finally placed the memorandum on the annex on a corner of his desk, next to the shortlisted PPS list I had submitted before noon.
　　MEMORANDUM
　　Department of Synergy Coordination (Preparatory Unit)
　　Ref: DSC/PU/INT/002/80
　　To: Mr. A. Cavendish
　　From: C. Astley
　　Date: 20 January 1980
　　Subject: Configuration Options for Minister's Office Annex
　　Mr. Cavendish,
　　Further to your instruction, I have considered the configuration of the Minister's office annex and submit the following options for your review:
　　1. Standard Store/Pantry:
　　Pros: Highly practical, conforms to standard practice. Can store the Minister's coat, dispatch boxes, books, and be fitted with a small sink and cupboards for preparing tea, coffee, and light refreshments (biscuits, etc.). Low cost, quick to implement.
　　Cons: Functionally limited, potentially inefficient use of space. Lacks privacy, suitable only for brief pauses or informal chats with one or two close aides.
　　2. Enhanced Private Meeting Room:
　　Pros: Offers greater privacy, suitable for the Minister to hold more substantive or sensitive discussions with specific visitors (e.g., colleagues, senior civil servants, stakeholders requiring careful handling). Can be furnished with more comfortable seating and a small coffee table. Enhances the comfort and functionality of the Minister's working environment, and may better suit the coordinative work the DSC might undertake (often involving sensitive or preliminary discussions).
　　Cons: Requires additional budget for furniture (sofa, coffee table, etc.). Takes up more space. May be perceived as 'overly comfortable' or beyond the standard for a new department's initial setup, attracting unnecessary attention or comment.
　　3. Hybrid Configuration:
　　Recommendation: Based on the standard store/pantry function (ensuring utility), but using sleeker, more presentable built-in cupboards (lockable) and pre-installing power points. Initially, furnish only with necessary shelving and tea-making facilities. Keep the core area of the room flexible, without fixed large furniture (e.g., a sofa).
　　Pros: Balances practicality with future scalability. Cost is controllable (initial outlay similar to Option 1). Can be flexibly adapted in the coming weeks/months according to the Minister's actual usage and departmental needs: if more private meeting space is required, one or two comfortable armchairs and a side table can be easily added; if mainly used for storage, the space is sufficient. Avoids initial over-investment in potentially redundant functions.
　　Rationale: Given the unique and as-yet-undefined function of the DSC, and the unknown nature of the Minister's personal working style, providing maximum flexibility would seem the most prudent course of action. It meets basic needs while allowing for rapid response to future requirements.
　　Recommendation: I lean towards Option 3, the Hybrid Configuration. Prioritise ensuring basic functions (storage, simple refreshments) are ready, while keeping the core space clear and flexible. This preserves the potential for future adaptation for private meetings, while controlling initial costs and perceptions.
　　I await your direction.
　　Cyril Astley
　　He picked up the memorandum, scanned it quickly, and took up his deep green fountain pen—it looked rather old—and wrote a few lines in the margin.
　　"Sir?" I couldn't help but ask softly, a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.
　　He didn't answer immediately, instead handing the annotated memorandum back to me. His handwriting was fluid and strong, with a classical elegance, but the content of his notes brought me up short:
　　Analysis thorough, but excessively detailed. The core is function and flexibility. (He had underlined 'thorough'.)
　　Avoid conflating memo with personal diary. Focus on executable options. (He had circled my phrases about 'potential uses' and some of the more speculative analysis.)
　　Recommendation adopted: basic configuration, preserve space for adaptation. Execute.
　　Remember, every word is potentially minuted. Brevity is a virtue; ambiguity, armour.
　　A.C. 20.01.80
　　That last sentence was a clarion call, a reminder of the first rule of survival in the Civil Service. My analysis might have been detailed, but in his eyes, it was verbose. In Whitehall, excessive detail can be a liability, a weakness. He always cut straight to the heart of the matter. A flush of heat spread across my face—the professional sting of being corrected on the spot, but mixed with a strange sense of being initiated into a more exacting standard.
　　"Do you understand, Mr Astley?" He lifted the teacup from his desk—I hadn't seen it arrive; the tea was dark, the steam almost invisible—and took a sip.
　　"Yes, Sir. Brevity and flexibility. I'll remember." I took a deep breath and put away the annotated memo. It felt heavy in my hand, like the most direct sort of induction manual.
　　"Good." He set the cup down, the sound of porcelain on wood light but sharp. "Tomorrow, our protagonist makes his entrance. Ensure everything is ready. Your first duty is to guide him smoothly into his role, and…" he paused, and for a fraction of a second something flickered in the depths of his grey-green eyes, "...observe. Your position will be a key node in the DSC's information flow, Cyril."
　　He called me Cyril.
　　I knew then that I had been kept on, as a candidate—a strong candidate—for PPS.
　　Before I left, Sir wrote me a short note:
　　Cyril,
　　Tomorrow's priorities: a smooth process and a good first impression. Ensure the Minister arrives without issue, finds the environment clear, and feels a preliminary sense of 'usability'. Observe. Note any specific requests or habits. If policy is raised, refer to the Cabinet Office brief or to me directly.
　　On a separate matter, I note the forecast for tomorrow morning is for low temperatures. Remind the driver to ensure the car's heating is sufficient.
　　Efficiency and decorum are key. Be poised but not obsequious. Avoid over-promising. Show plasticity.
　　There is no need to be nervous.
　　A.C. 20.01.80
　　I filed the note together with the annotated memorandum.