Part 1, Winding the Clock: Chapter 1, How the Circus Left Town, and Chapter 2, The Great Call Summary

The book begins sometime after the Dolphin case has been resolved. Many British Secret Service agents who are knowledgeable about the case sit around trying to decide where the case went wrong. There are many theories, most of them blaming key figures involved in the case, but no clear consensus. The one thing most of them do agree on, however, is that Bill Haydon is to blame for the overall demoralization that led to the case.

A group of reporters are hanging out in a bar in Hong Kong, most of them veterans of wars and who are burned out and counting the days to retirement. Included in this group are an American named Luke...