‘What news?’ asked Bennovitch, the phrase automatic.
Adrian considered the blunt reply. Hadn’t the Prime Minister decreed speed? Then he thought of the effect upon Bennovitch’s uncertain personality and decided against it.
‘When will I see your experts?’ asked Bennovitch and then, without waiting for an answer, burbled on, revealing his thoughts of the last two days. ‘I have been wondering, will I be allowed any time to meet any American space people?’
Adrian smiled. ‘I would think that’s pretty inevitable, wouldn’t you?’
Bennovitch grinned back, as if they had a secret.
‘Are the Americans interested in me?’ he asked, anxious for the compliment.
‘Very,’ replied Adrian.
‘And they have got a space programme, which Britain hasn’t,’ pointed out Bennovitch, as if he were preparing an argument.
Adrian smiled. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘They have.’
‘I went for a walk yesterday, by myself,’ Bennovitch declared suddenly, like a child revealing it had learned to count up to ten.
‘Really!’ encouraged Adrian.
‘Yes,’ said Bennovitch, pleased that Adrian appeared impressed. ‘I told the guards they needn’t worry and went down through the meadow and almost to the road …’
The story trailed away. ‘Then I heard some cars and thought I’d better come back.’
From the security officers, with whom he had spoken before meeting Bennovitch, Adrian knew the tiny Russian had stopped a mile from the road and come back almost at a run.
‘You must be settling down,’ said Adrian.
‘I am,’ agreed the scientist. ‘I’m beginning to feel far more relaxed.’
Adrian felt it was time to start moving towards the point of the meeting.
‘Alexandre,’ he said, noting the smile the familiarity provoked compared to the annoyance that Pavel had shown. ‘I told you when we last met that you’d be meeting our space experts soon. And you will.’
Bennovitch remained smiling.
‘But that meeting is being postponed,’ Adrian completed, abruptly.
Immediately the attitude of the mercurial Russian changed. He struggled up from the deep couch, his face tight with anger.
‘Still you doubt me,’ he said. ‘Me, Alexandre Gregorovich Bennovitch, one of Russia’s leading space scientists. I have co-operated, I have told you all you wanted to know and you treat me like a child …’
He stopped, searching for invective.
‘I go,’ he announced. ‘I will stay here no longer. America wants me, America can have me. I will go today, now.’
‘Alexandre,’ soothed Adrian. ‘Come back here and sit down.’
‘I will not. You are no longer my friend.’
‘Alexandre,’ repeated Adrian. ‘Come here. I have some astonishing news. News that you’ll find hard to believe. Come here.’
Suspiciously, Bennovitch came back to the couch and wedged himself in a corner, determined to show his displeasure.
‘What?’ he said.
Direct or indirect? Adrian juggled the two approaches, uncertain which to employ. What would Ebbetts do? An unnecessary doubt. The Prime Minister would have shown his legendary bluntness within seconds of entering the room. And caused Bennovitch God knows how much mental harm.
Adrian started carefully. ‘Tell me,’ he said, ‘what is your greatest regret at leaving Russia?’
Bennovitch remained suspicious. ‘You know. I’ve already told you.’
‘That it means you’ll never see Viktor again?’
Bennovitch nodded.
‘Had it ever occurred to you that Viktor might think of defecting?’
Adrian suddenly realized that he was conducting the interview in such a way as to support his own doubts. The Prime Minister would hear the tape and recognize it. He shrugged, mentally. So what?
‘Viktor, defect!’ said Bennovitch. ‘Never.’
‘Why are you so sure?’
Bennovitch swept out his hand, as if the reasons were too many to list.
‘Why should he? He’s dedicated, for a start. I think he believes in the system. And he’d gain nothing. I was accorded great honour in my country, but nothing compared to Viktor. His own apartment, chauffeur car, dacha, whatever and whoever he wants in his department …’
‘But he’s lost something now that he can’t replace. You.’
Bennovitch considered the remark, nodding. ‘That’s true. We were a team and now that team no longer exists.’
Unexpectedly, Bennovitch disclosed a sudden modesty. ‘But Viktor is good by himself,’ he said. ‘What we were doing will be weakened by our being split, but Viktor is brilliant enough to compensate.’
‘But his work will suffer,’ pressed Adrian. ‘It could be that he could feel his work is all-important and worth sacrificing everything for.’
‘Ah, you don’t know Viktor,’ Bennovitch said. ‘He’s dedicated, I’ll agree. And I’ve never known a more painstaking man, not just with his work, but with everything. But there’s one more thing, more important to Viktor than the moon or Mars or space exploration.’
‘His family?’
Bennovitch nodded. ‘I’ve never known anyone like Viktor,’ said the scientist. ‘In the evening, after work was finished, he’d go home and I’d drop by for supper sometimes. There he would be, listening to young Valentina play or perhaps there would be a record on. And by his side would be my sister. And do you know what they’d be doing?’
Adrian shook his head.
‘Holding hands, like young lovers. They have a special expression for each other. She calls him her best friend: he says she’s his dear friend and they say the thing they have between them is deeper than any love and I believe it …’
He stopped, scrubbing his hand across his eyes, and then went on, ‘He can hardly bear to be away from her. Even when she’s cooking, he moons around the kitchen, not wanting to be in another room, just watching. A little before I went to Helsinki, when I had made up my mind to defect, I visited the flat. I was actually thinking of telling Viktor, but I decided against it. He was crying and I asked him what was the matter. He smiled and said, “I’m crying in gratitude because I can’t believe anyone can be as lucky as I am.” And then he said, “Nothing can shatter this happiness.” ’
Adrian found his concentration slipping. When had he and Anita ever sat alone at home, hand in hand, thinking how lucky they were? When had Anita ever called him a dear friend? When had she uttered anything but abuse, for that matter? ‘For Christ’s sake, Adrian, why are you such a bloody fool? For Christ’s sake, Adrian, why don’t you stick up for yourself … for Christ’s sake, Adrian, don’t you know people think I’m stupid for marrying you in the first place … for Christ’s sake … for Christ’s sake … for Christ’s sake …’
He came back to the interview with difficulty.
‘It isn’t often there is love like that,’ agreed Adrian.
‘Exactly,’ said Bennovitch. ‘And Viktor’s no fool, believe me. He knows what happens to defectors’ families. Leaving them would be like being a judge, sentencing them to jail. Viktor would never do that.’
‘Alexandra,’ began Adrian and the Russian looked at him, accepting from the tone of his voice that the Englishman was about to say something important.
‘… A little over a week ago, Viktor Pavel slipped away from the Russian delegation at the Paris Air Show and applied for political asylum at our embassy there. He was flown to this country four days ago. I have had a series of interviews with him, which is why our meetings have been interrupted. He has repeated to me his desire to leave Russia and has made an official application to be given asylum in this country.’