《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, 20th January, 1980 | Pimlico, London | Cold, fog rolling in
　　Sunday should be quiet, unless one is swept into the maelstrom of a new department's birth.
　　Today is my second day on secondment to help build the DSC.
　　The office door was ajar. Pushing it open, I found he was already there, earlier than the notified time. This was not a surprise.
　　He stood at the window, his back to the door, looking out at the grey, fog-shrouded vista of Whitehall. A perfectly tailored charcoal grey three-piece suit, his figure tall and rather lean, his platinum-blonde hair glinting with a cool lustre in the sunless room.
　　The room held only a temporary desk, a few chairs, an empty filing cabinet, and a small electric heater in the corner emitting a faint warmth—clearly insufficient to dispel the chill from the bones of this old building. Right, yesterday the preparatory team was busy finalising more important matters; we hadn't been able to attend to Sir's office.
　　"Mr Astley." He didn't turn around. His voice, steady and low with its unique cadence, cut through the room's silence. "Punctuality is the politeness of kings, and thus the first duty of their servants. Good."
　　"Good morning, Sir," I replied, striving to keep my own voice steady as I set down my briefcase.
　　He turned, his grey-green eyes fixing on me with an assessing quality.
　　There was no superfluous pleasantry. The task was assigned: "The PPS shortlist from the Cabinet Office is on your desk. I need you to complete a preliminary screening before noon, marking the three you consider most suitable, with brief justifications. The priorities are: discretion and reliability, organisational ability, and an understanding of the Whitehall ecosystem."
　　He paused. "Additionally, this is a preliminary layout for the Minister's office." He handed me a hand-drawn sketch, the lines clean and precise, marking the desk, visitor area, and filing cabinets, even leaving one wall blank. "The Minister's preferences are unknown, but the basic functions must be in place. Prioritise ensuring the telephone lines are clear and the in/out tray system is operational. The finer points of decor… can be discussed after His Honour the Minister arrives. Efficiency is key, Mr Astley. Our time is limited."
　　The task was clear and direct, which was his style. No grand speeches about the new department's vision, only concrete items awaiting execution. It was, in a way, a relief. Action is always better than pointless speculation.
　　The entire morning was a blur of activity. Screening the PPS list required rapid recall and judgement of each candidate's background, reputation, and potential fit. At the same time, I had to coordinate with the logistics and property management divisions to ensure the basic office facilities could be cobbled together before the Minister's arrival tomorrow. Telephones, desks, chairs, the most basic stationery… every item required communication and coordination, while the Department of Synergy Coordination itself was currently a stumbling infant. The irony was palpable.
　　Lunch was a hastily consumed sandwich. When I returned, Sir was still at his temporary desk, several files open before him, a fountain pen moving rapidly in his left hand. Without looking up, he said, "Astley, regarding the configuration of the Minister's private annex, I require your advice. The standard options are storage and a small reception area. But given the particular nature of the DSC, are there other potential uses we should plan 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. Complete it here, he said.
　　"Yes, Sir." I sat down immediately and began to think.
　　This seemingly simple question took me a long time. The particular nature of the DSC? Its very ambiguity was its most particular feature. A new department seen by all as a place to park a political vase, how would the Minister use this space? Simply for storing coats and files? Or for more private, informal conversations? I tried to think from the perspective of a Minister I had yet to meet, finally listing several possibilities in the memo, favouring flexibility.
　　As evening approached, I finally placed the memorandum regarding the annex on the corner of his desk, next to the screened PPS list I had submitted before noon:
　　MEMORANDUM
　　Ref: DSC/PU/INT/002/80
　　To: A. Cavendish
　　From: C. Astley
　　Date: 20 January 1980
　　Subject: Configuration Options for Minister's Office Annex
　　Mr Cavendish,
　　Following preliminary consideration regarding the configuration of the Minister's office annex, the following options are submitted for your review:
　　1. Standard Store/Pantry:
　　Advantages: High utility, conforms to standard practice. Can store the Minister's coat, file boxes, books, and be fitted with a small sink and cupboards for preparing tea, coffee, and simple refreshments (e.g., biscuits). Low cost, easy to set up quickly.
　　Disadvantages: Single-function, potentially low space utilisation. Insufficient privacy, suitable only for brief rests or informal conversations with one or two close aides.
　　2. Enhanced Private Meeting Room:
　　Advantages: Offers greater privacy, suitable for the Minister to hold more in-depth or sensitive discussions with specific visitors (e.g., colleagues, senior civil servants, stakeholders requiring careful handling). Can be equipped with more comfortable seating and a small coffee table. Enhances the comfort and functionality of the Minister's working environment, potentially better suited to the coordination work the DSC might involve (often entailing sensitive or preliminary discussions).
　　Disadvantages: Requires additional budget for furniture (sofa, coffee table, etc.). Occupies slightly 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 outlets. Initially, only necessary storage racks and tea/coffee facilities would be placed. The core area of the space would remain flexible, without fixed large furniture (like a sofa).
　　Advantages: Balances utility with future expandability. Cost-controllable (initial outlay comparable to Option 1). Can be flexibly adjusted in the coming weeks/months based on the Minister's actual usage habits and the department's operational needs: if more private meeting space is required, one or two comfortable armchairs and a small side table can be easily added; if mainly used for storage, the space is also sufficient. Avoids initial over-investment in potentially idle functions.
　　Rationale: Given the unique and yet-to-be-defined functions of the DSC, and the unknown nature of the Minister's personal working style, providing maximum flexibility seems the most prudent course. It meets basic needs while allowing for rapid response to subsequent changes.
　　Recommendation: I am inclined towards Option 3, the Hybrid Configuration. Prioritise ensuring basic functions (storage, simple refreshments) are ready, while keeping the core space empty and flexible to reserve room for potential future private meeting needs, thereby controlling initial costs and perceptions.
　　Please advise.
　　Cyril Astley
　　He picked up the memorandum, scanned it quickly, and took up his rather old-looking dark green fountain pen, writing 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 memo back to me. The handwriting was fluid and strong, with a classical beauty, but the content of the annotation was a sobering shock:
　　Analysis is comprehensive, but overly detailed. The core is function and flexibility. [He had underlined "Analysis is comprehensive".]
　　Avoid conflating memo with personal diary. [He had circled "potential uses" and some of the analytical descriptions.]
　　Recommendation adopted: basic configuration, reserve space for adjustment. Execute.
　　Remember, every word is potentially minuted. Brevity is a virtue; ambiguity, armour.
　　A.C. 20.01.80
　　That final comment was like a warning bell. Sir was reminding me of the rules of survival in the world of the Civil Service. My analysis may have been meticulous, but in his view, it was verbose. In Whitehall, excessive detail can sometimes be a liability, a flaw. He always cut to the heart of the matter. My face flushed hot, a mix of the professional frustration of being corrected on the spot, but also a strange sense of being initiated into a certain exacting standard.
　　"Understood, Mr Astley?" he asked, lifting the teacup at his side—delivered at some point, the tea was dark, the steam almost invisible—and taking a sip.
　　"Yes, Sir. Brevity and flexibility. I will remember," I said, taking a deep breath and putting away the annotated memorandum. It felt heavy, like the most direct of induction manuals.
　　"Good." He set the cup down, the base making a soft, crisp sound on the desk. "Tomorrow, our protagonist makes his entrance. Ensure everything is in order. Your primary duty is to guide him smoothly into his role and..." he paused, something flickering in the depths of his grey-green eyes, "...observe. You will be a key node in the DSC's information flow, Cyril."
　　He called me Cyril.
　　I knew I had been kept on, as a candidate—a strong candidate—for PPS.
　　Before I left, Sir wrote a note for me:
　　Cyril,
　　Tomorrow's focus is a smooth process and a good first impression. Ensure the Minister arrives without issue, understands his environment, and feels a sense of initial usability. Observe, and record any special requests or habits. If policy is mentioned, refer to Cabinet Office materials or directly to me.
　　Also, note the weather forecast for tomorrow morning is for low temperatures. Remind the driver to ensure the car's heating is adequate.
　　Efficiency and propriety are key. Be respectful but not subservient, avoid over-promising, and project adaptability.
　　There is no need to be nervous.
　　A.C. 20.01.80
　　I filed the note with the annotated memorandum.