Did that damn submarine go with them? What tremendous power they would have in that case. Kazan was even more of a threat than the battlecruiser insofar as any intervention in this war might be considered. A submarine like that would be completely invincible. It could operate undetected, delivering its lethal torpedoes unseen, like a whisper of death.
Volkov’s last notation was very cryptic. It read: “So Kirov is there, back home where it came from. My only question now is why are you there at Ilanskiy, and not on your ship?”
Yes, Volkov was getting very curious now, and justifiably so.
They were soon interrupted by the Lieutenant, who walked very quickly to Karpov’s side and bent to whisper something in his ear. Karpov could no longer control himself, sitting up stiffly, the light of alarm in his eyes.
“You are certain of this?”
“We have three border stations reporting now, sir. But the wireless room is still receiving signals.”
“Make certain this gets to Irkutsk. Then find out what is happening south of Pavlodar. That will be all.”
He waited until the Lieutenant had withdrawn, then slowly folded his hands on the table, his face set and deadly serious now. Symenko had been finishing his brandy and thinking how to ask for another glass when he perceived something was very wrong.
“Very clever, Symenko,” said Karpov, the edge of danger in his voice. “Nice little theater here.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know damn well what I mean! I should string you up and blow both your airships to hell, shouldn’t I. My, my. What have you done to so displease Volkov? It’s clear that he considers you expendable.”
“Expendable? I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Don’t take me for a fool, Symenko! Are you going to sit there and tell me you knew nothing of this treachery?”
“Treachery? What are you saying, Karpov? I‘ve told you why I am here, and treachery has nothing to do with it. Why else would I have allowed you to sit off my brow where you can bring most of your guns to bear? Now what is this about?” The Captain was getting angry as well, and the two men stared at one another until Karpov spoke.
“Three border stations have reported shooting incidents in the last hour, all along the western border. Volkov’s 17th, 21st and 9th rifle divisions have pushed into Free Siberian Territory and they are all moving on your little city-the one you hoped to get your greedy hands on Symenko. Yes, my intelligence services know more than you may think. So now you can tell me what you are really doing here before I have you shot as a hostile enemy behind our lines!”
Symenko was truly surprised, and he could not keep the emotion from his face. Karpov could see it, was still suspicious, but soon began to perceive that this Captain might have been no more than an unwitting pawn here.
“I tell you I had no knowledge of this. I was simply sent here to deliver that pouch, and I expect diplomatic immunity, even if what you say is true.”
“Oh, it’s true, Captain. I will not be surprised to learn that there is now another big operation underway out west. Very clever, this Volkov. He baits me with promises at Omsk, and we move in the 18th Siberian Rifles to occupy the place. Now he has pushed three divisions across the border, and probably more south of Pavlodar. He knows we still are sitting on our main defense line on the Ob River. So now he can take a bite and trap our 18th Division at Omsk, and all this after all those smiles and handshakes at our recent conference. I should have known better. So why should I not put a bullet through your head for your part in this?”
“I tell you I knew nothing of this! Nothing at all.”
“Does it feel good to be used, Symenko? Is that what you are telling me here?”
Symenko’s face reddened as he realized what had happened. Volkov, that son-of-a-bitch! He’s thrown me to the wolves. He reneged on his promise to post me as Governor in Omsk, and sends me here on the eve of his operation like this, knowing what Karpov would do to me. That’s why the bastard insisted I deliver that damn pouch personally. Sookin Syn!
“That bastard betrayed me as well! No wonder he refused my posting to the Governorship. He was just trying to get me out of the way so he could give the city to someone else. It all makes sense now, this whole charade-rousted out of bed at four in the morning with special orders. Deliver the pouch personally, that was what I was told, and now I see why. Well, don’t shoot the messenger, Karpov. I have as much of a bone to pick with Volkov as you do. I tell you I had no knowledge that any such operation was planned or even contemplated!”
Karpov looked at him. Symenko was a rough hewn man, brutal at times, plain and ill mannered at others. He had read the file on him to size the man up, and Symenko was hardly the sort to use in a role like this. No, Symenko was not the artful dodger, one to mince words and handle a matter of this nature. It was probably true what he said now. Volkov had sent him all this way to be certain he was out of the picture he was painting. But what about his airships? Did they have orders here too? Were they getting ready to engage here to tie me down. I’ve gone and pulled in most of our regional reserves with this Ilanskiy business. A thousand questions ran through Karpov’s mind in an instant, yet one overshadowed them all. What was Volkov really up to?
“So you’re just the messenger, is it? You want to claim diplomatic immunity and have me kiss your backside and send you merrily on your way? I should drag your ass into that spy basket and cut the damn thing loose. That would be a nice long ride to hell, right Symenko? We are at 4500 meters up here. But before I do that let me test what you have said here. You tell me Volkov has betrayed you as well? Then join me.”
“What?”
“Don’t look so stupid. If it is true that Volkov considers you expendable and sends you into the bear’s den with that pouch, then how eager can you be to fight for him now? Is that what your Executive officer is planning? Are you going to open your gun ports and climb any second as part of this diversion? Well the minute I hear the first round fired you are a dead man. But if you are innocent in this, then I won’t hear a thing. Yes? If you are innocent, then you will have every reason to want to screw Volkov for what he has just done to you. Right Symenko?”
The Captain steamed, his eyes looking this way and that, clearly beside himself, and struggling with both fear and anger here. Then a knock came and in rushed the young Lieutenant again, this time with no message in hand.
“Air alert sir! One of the planes scouting north has seen a large airborne contact to the northwest! There’s another airship bearing down on us!”
Karpov smiled, and slowly reached into his jacket to produce a revolver, which he pointed directly at Symenko’s forehead.
Part IV
“The best laid schemes of Mice and Men oft go awry,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy.”
Chapter 10
So there it was, and Orlov was now in the hot seat of command with a real decision to make. Of course he looked at Troyak to see what he advised.
“Troyak?”
The Sergeant thought for a moment. “I could take in a single squad from here. We will be a long day to get there, but perhaps this will have blown over by the time we do. If not, I can set up an observation on the site and report. One way or another, a chance may come up for us to execute the mission.”
“Or to get executed yourself!” Orlov was not convinced this was a good idea. The whole mission was meant to rely on stealth. This was supposed to be a backwater outpost, not a bustling hub of military activity.