<What do I do?>
<Go, collect your colleagues, and return home. Concentrate in seeking others with gifts and no matter what your political masters do, you train them for our bright future. The Iron Curtain will fall, if not in the next year or two, certainly before the next century. Be ready to claim your place in the new world order.>
Nodding, he finished his drink.
<Whose is this house?>
<A friend of mines. Why?>
<I’d like a house like this.>
<When you come over the next time, we shall buy you one.>
Ivan smiled.
<Where are my friends?>
There was the sound of tyres on gravel.
<They’re outside, shall we join them?>
Ivan once more followed the girl back to the front door. There was Dimitri and the others in their car. They all had glazed expressions on their faces.
<What has happened to them?>
<They will not remember any of this,> the girl said.
<Will I?>
<Of course.>
<What do I say?>
<What’s to say? You came, you found nothing, and you returned home. Don’t worry, for I have given them each a memory of England they’ll cherish forever. Vassily’s operation may well be shut down in a few years, so you should be able to get a routine vetting job within the KGB, or its successor. It will be ideal for your purpose.>
Nodding, he opened the door of the car. None of the men paid him the slightest heed. He glanced at the girl. She was very attractive and her eyes were wonderful. He felt in awe of her, as her power made his seem insignificant. She could have destroyed him, yet she didn’t. At that moment Ivan fell in love for the first time.
<When will I see you again?> he asked.
<Do you want to?>
<Very much.>
<Soon. I have to go to America, perhaps when I get back.>
He nodded and was about to get into the car. He stopped, closed the door and returned to where she stood. He took both her hands in his, and then he gently kissed her on the lips.
<I look forward to it. I am so pleased not to be alone anymore.>
<Me too.>
She smiled as he left, seeing him watching her until the car disappeared.
Matthew and David came out from the house.
“Well?” asked Matthew.
“It’s done.”
“What’s done? You hardly spoke at all.”
“He’s on our side now,” Amber said, as she changed back into the girl with which both men were very familiar. Smiling her sad little smile, she left them and went back into the Brigadier’s house.
“Who’s side is she talking about?” David asked.
Matthew laughed. “You don’t know our Amber very well yet, do you, David? Amber has only one side that matters - Ambers! It might be helpful to remain on her side.”
David shook his head, grateful that, for the moment at least, he was well and truly on the winning side.
END of this book