Malta first appears as a place Creasy is eager to reach and begin again. After a twelve-hour strike delay, his Italian ferry from Reggio arrives at Grand Harbour in the early morning; the delay has spared him a night on the big island. He crosses onward toward Gozo aboard the Melitaland, a squat working ferry that carries people, vehicles, and trucks between the islands. The passage makes Malta both a point of arrival and a base from which Creasy intends to resume a disciplined life.

Arrival and Setting

The crossing brings the islands into view through specific landmarks. As the Melitaland passes Comino, Creasy remembers swimming in the Blue Lagoon eight years earlier with Guido and Julia. The recollection connects his new stay to a past shared with his old friends, even as he is eager to settle in and start his program. Malta’s surroundings are therefore not merely a backdrop: they prompt memories that accompany his effort to begin again.

Training and Security

Malta also provides Creasy an opportunity to test how much of his former physical and professional ability remains. At St. Elmo, the old fort guarding the entrance to Grand Harbour, he trains with a newly formed antiterrorist squad. The request follows a newspaper account of an aircraft hijacking attempt in West Germany and Paul Schembri’s observation that Malta has its own squad, commanded by his nephew, George Zammit. Paul arranges the visit by telephone.

The squad’s fifteen members use weapons donated by the departed British Army, including Sterling submachine guns and handguns. Creasy joins them at the firing range deep inside the fort, then works out and practices unarmed combat with them. He is rusty and clumsy by his own standards, but expects to improve; the squad, though inexperienced, is enthusiastic and hardworking. The visit puts his physical reconditioning in a public, practical setting, where George can observe his weapons handling rather than rely only on what Creasy says about himself.

Neutrality and Regional Position

George’s interest in Creasy is shaped by Malta’s political position. He explains that the country is neutral, does not want foreign bases, and aims to look after itself, while recognizing that not everyone would agree with that policy. Malta’s central position in the region also makes the presence of people who might plan operations elsewhere a security concern. George says the authorities pool certain information with intelligence services and regards mercenaries as a potential nuisance.

As the ferry crosses toward Gozo, George calls Paul to ask what kind of man he has as a houseguest. Creasy answers the concern by pointing to the report on him: he has no group affiliations and no plans that would embarrass Malta, and is there to get fit. The exchange gives the island a role beyond shelter or scenery. Malta welcomes Creasy into a local training environment, but its neutrality means that his presence is also assessed against the possibility of foreign activity in the region.