“How is Major Potok doing”
“Just fine. In fact, better than we expected he would. He’s awake now and he’s asking for you. We’ll be flying both of you to Tel Aviv as soon as the Tomahawk is secured belowdecks
“What about the Stephos” they’re taking
“The Israeli Navy has taken her under tow
“Ib her up to their Kishon Naval Base at Haifa” Mcdonald said. “And we owe you another debt of gratitude. The SEALS found and disarmed the Labun gas cylinder, as well as the explosives. it would have made quite a mess had they gone off” He shook his head. “Your Russian was some s(noia bitch”
“Yes, he was” McGarvey said. “This is probably no time to tell you this, Mr. McGarvey” Lieutenant Nakajima said. “But you were damned lucky you pulled out the right wires. The only right wires had you grabbed the bundle a half an inch to the left, the missile would have exploded.
it was the self-destruct circuitry”
“I didn’t have much of a choice”
“Well, sir, you’ve got balls” Nakajima shook his head there was nothing to say’are you hungry? Do you want something to eat before you go”
Mcdonald asked. McGarvey shook his head. “All right, then” the captain said, getting to his feet. He stuck out his hand. McGarvey got up and shook it. i’ll add my personal thanks, McGarvey, you did great”
“That’s what they’re paying me for, Captain. Thanks for your hospitality”
“I’ll take you down to Major Potok in sick bay now, sir” Nielson said.
“We’ll have you out of here within twenty minutes” Mcdonald said. “Good luck” Below and farther aft, McGarvey was shown into Potok’s room. The Israeli’s left arm was in a cast from the shoulder down, and he looked pale and very drawn. But he was dressed and sitting up on the edge of his cot. The Navy doctor with him was checking his eyes with a tiny light. When he was finished he straightened up and turned to McGarvey.
“I’ve given Major Potok a stimulant that should keep him mobile for another few hours. But no longer. When he crashes he damned well better be in a medical facility”
“I’ll see to it. Thanks, Doctor” McGarvey said. The doctor glanced down again at Potok, and then he and Nielsen withdrew from the room. “How do you feel, Lev” McGarvey asked. “Like dreck, but at least I’m feeling”
Potok said. His voice was weak. “They’re moving you by chopper to Tel Aviv in the next few minutes. Apparently I’m to go with you. But you have to know from the start, Lev, that I’m not going to be able to tell your people very much more than they already know. “We don’t want much from you, Kirk. But we have something to say to you. Something … something very important. We owe you”
“But not now” McGarvey asked. “No.
Not here. In Tel Aviv. There is a man who wishes to speak to you”
“Who”
“I can’t give you his name. Not yet. But what he has to say is critical.
Believe me”
“I do” McGarvey said.
The uncertain dawn came cool and gray. Lorraine Abbott stood at the window of her secondfloor room looking down at the driveway. She was in East Germany, near a lake. She knew at least that much, as well as the fact that something had happened overnight.
Something that was causing her Russian captors some consternation. It was Kirk, she thought, and the certainty gave her a small measure of comfort. A black Mercedes sedan had pulled up and two bulky men had gotten out. They were standing below now speaking with the short, heavily built man who had identified himself as Baranov. From what she could gauge of their actions, they seemed to be happy. They had received some good news, and her spirits sank again. She turned away from the window. Her room was large and extremely well furnished, with a spacious, pleasant bathroom. Since her kidnapping and hasty trip across the border in the trunk of a car, she had been forced to remain here.
She had not been mistreated; her meals came regularly and were very good. But she had not been given a radio or television, nor had she been allowed any reading material. Most of the time she had spent with her ear to the wall or door, listening to what was going on in the rest of the house, or watching from the window. Baranov had spoken to her only once, when they had first brought her here. He had merely introduced himself and promised that no harm would come to her. But in that brief exchange she had been struck with the man’s charisma. He exuded a raw, but controlled, power. His eyes, she had decided, had the capability of looking inside of her. The experience had been chilling. In the bathroom she splashed some cold water on her face, and then looked into her own eyes. They were clear, although she was frightened. Eventually they would have to let her go. Eventually they would have to take her back to West Berlin. Her major fear at the moment was that her release wouldn’t come soon enough to stop Kirk from coming here first.
Now that she had met Baranov, and seen something of his tion-she had spotted at least three guards outside organiza — she didn’t think Kirk would have much of a chance against them.
Back at the window, she looked down at the driveway. The Mercedes was still there, but the men were nowhere in sight. She was craning her head to see toward the side of the house when the lock at her door clicked.
She turned as the door opened and Baranov entered the room, a gentle, almost wistful smile on his features, wrinkling the corners of his deep-set eyes. She thought he looked like the typical picture of a Russian peasant. Except for his power, which no peasant had. “Good morning, Dr. Abbott, I’m happy to see that you’re up. It’s us early risers who do best in the world, don’t you agree”
Baranov’s voice was soft and cultured, his English gently British in its intonations. “When are you going to release me” Lorraine demanded.
“Very soon now” Baranov said. “Your breakfast should be up in a minute or so. I thought I’d take this time to have a little chat with you. It seems a friend of ours will be showing up here soon” Lorraine’s blood ran cold. “Who is that” she managed to ask, though her voice sounded shaky in her own ears. “Kirk McGarvey, of course. He and I are very old friends. We go way back together. But of course I’m sure he told you this”
“How do you know he’s coming here”
“Oh, dear lady, I have my sources” Baranov chuckled. “You can’t imagine”
“What do you want” she Suddenly cried. “Why are you doing this now”
Baranov’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What do you mean byhis’? “Now’”
“You know damned well what I’m talking about. Whatever little plan your killer, Arkady Kurshin, was supposed to carry out backfired on you. Kirk stopped him. Now there’s nothing left”
Baranov’s jaw was tight. Lorraine thought she could almost hear or feel a thrumming vibration coming from him; as if a low-pitched string had been plucked within his body, or as if he were a high-tension line. For just that moment she felt as if she were very close to death. She backed up against the curtains. “What did he tell you in your little West Berlin love riest, dear lady” Baranov asked, his voice controlled. He advanced a pace. “What little secrets did he whisper into your ear at the moment of consummation”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about”
“I think you do” Baranov said, advancing another pace toward her. “And do you know what? You’re going to talk to me this morning. You’re going to tell me simply everything that you know” He took another pace forward. At that moment Lorraine stepped away from the window, all of her weight on her left foot as she kicked out with every ounce of her strength with her right, the toe of her low-heeled shoe connecting solidly with Baranov’s groin. The man didn’t even flinch. He reached out slowly, took a handful of her hair, and, as if he were gently leading a horse by its mane, led her across the room where, with his free hand, he slapped her face, knocking her nearly unconscious down on the bed.