I remember being told this story as a boy and it’s one of those that attached itself to my consciousness for no apparent reason… that is until today! I realise that it’s a metaphor for the struggle between the forces of in-house recruitment and agency recruitment. As with the story the outcome is by no means certain.

The story is set in the snowy Alps. The British spy (Agency) is being chased on cross-country skis by the Russian sniper (In-House). The Russian is faster downhill but slower than the spy going uphill. The spy is forced to climb higher and higher, knowing all the time that eventually he will reach the top of the mountain.

The moral of the story is that the spy cannot keep on running and must eventually face his adversary. In order to prevail he must hand over the secret documents/market territory or fight/compete with the sniper.