Yes, in those days, that could be true. Today, though, almost everyone knows about Photoshopping, so it would be much more difficult for the KGB to use this ancient trick with any chance of success.
And now you know, too, why I zeroed in on the ____ on the beach at Limassol as a threat to British and foreign businessmen, who are great catches for the Russians wanting to get more of a foothold in the UK and Western Europe. Particularly since many Russians did feel they had to leave the UK after the recent several contretemps, Moscow must be scheming to send people back into these strategic areas. Or to develop solid contacts for them amongst respectable English and European men who could provide much help. Particularly if adroitly blackmailed or greymailed [ a term I invented this minute for softer-pedaled blackmail ].
I imagined a conversation as follows, which, by the way, could pop up anywhere at any time :
Natasha : Well, hello there ! [ bats false eyelashes at middle aged British businessman sitting under nearby umbrella at beach ]
Nathaniel : Um, excuse me ? [ looks at her askance ]
Natasha : Mind if I join you ? My umbrella is broken and the Cypriot sun is roasting [ pouts, giving him sidelong glances ]
Nathaniel [ gruffly ] I guess so. I won't be here much longer, as I have a business meeting with the Chamber of Commerce at 3 sharp.
Natasha : Oh ! You do ? What might be your line of work, then ?
Nathaniel : I am the head of the Chamber of Commerce in my home town York.
Natasha [ mirrors her target to make him let down his guard ] : How interesting. That's my area of work, too. I am a secretary for the city offices of Blagoveshchensk. It's pretty cold out there in the Far East, so we like to have a spell in the sun whenever we can.
Nathaniel [ sorts through the papers he had been reviewing ] : I had better get going, but, well, what did you say your name was ?
Natasha : Natalia, but call me Natasha. And you are Mr. -- ?
Nathaniel : Nathaniel
Natasha : It must have been fated for us to meet, then, since our names both begin with "Na". Perhaps you would like to meet at the St George bar for a drink later on after the meeting ?
Nathaniel [ calculating that the wife did not join him on this trip, so she might never be the wiser ] In fact, I have nothing else to do on this boring island. Why not, then ? 8 pm at the St George ?
One can see Natasha slyly making off with the sensitive documents, copying them and returning them before Nathaniel noticed. She has already secured a promise of an invitation to visit York, hence a coveted UK visa, and has planned her next moves in this chess game.
Meanwhile Nathaniel's wife will be outraged when a Kgb agent shows up at their residence not far from York Minster with glossy photos of her husband and a blond woman hitting the nightlife of Limassol. To prevent that catastrophe, Nathaniel might cave in and agree to cooperate with whatever Natasha, prompted by her controllers, demands he do next to serve the cause of the Russian secret agencies.
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