He was therefore vastly surprised as well as relieved when, in the early hours of next morning, Colonel Andreyev suddenly smiled, reached once again into his drawer, and threw something across the desk towards him.
It was his passport.
“You have satisfied me, Mr Cane,” Andreyev said genially, “and you are free to go… at least, you will be free to go if you will agree to give us your assistance in… a certain matter.”
Shaw, his head spinning with pain and sick weariness now, stared. “I don’t understand…”
“Then allow me to explain.” Andreyev snapped something at the MVD guards and one of them crashed to attention, then moved across the room to switch on an overhead fight. At the same time, Andreyev reached out and switched off the devilish lamp shining in Shaw’s face, and then pressed a bell-push on his desk. He said, “One moment before I go into details. Now is the time for us to join one another in a drink.” He signaled to the troopers, who withdrew; as they left, a black-uniformed girl came in, carrying a silver tray on which were cups and a steaming pot of coffee, together with a bottle of vodka and some glasses.
Andreyev asked courteously, “Which will you have, Mr Cane?”
“I’d be glad of some coffee.” Shaw eased his stiff limbs, wondering what was to come next. He moved neck and shoulder muscles gratefully, rubbing at his eyes, thankful that the light was out at last. “And after that… I could do with a vodka as well.”
“And you shall have it! You have been through an ordeal, and I am sorry, but that is past, is it not?” Andreyev, his flat face beaming with good-fellowship now, poured two cups of coffee thoughtfully, as the girl left the room, her gaze lingering with interest on Shaw. Then the Russian officer stared into Shaw’s eyes and said quietly, “I am going to ask you to do a little job for us.”
“What kind of job?”
“A job, shall we say, of obtaining information.” The voice was soft, persuasive. “It is neither difficult nor dangerous, but it is important and you will be well paid, very well paid indeed, if you will agree to help.” The KGB Colonel paused, and then gave a slight upward lift of his shoulders. “On the other hand, if you do not agree… but perhaps I do not need to go into any details about what will happen to you and your family if you do not agree, Mr Cane?”
Sixteen
Shaw was too intent upon keeping his reactions natural to appreciate the irony of this unexpected situation; he had, in fact, been taken right off guard and he was more than interested in the implications of Andreyev’s offer. He had to find out more, yet he had to play it cool, tread the tightrope between acceptance and rejection, show all the proper indignation, mixed with fear, that would be the normal reaction of Stephen Cane to any suggestion that he should co-operate with the KGB in such a way.
Meanwhile, Andreyev was watching him closely over the rim of a coffee cup. After a while the Russian said, “Well, Cane?”
Shaw cleared his throat. “I’m certainly not going to spy for you,” he said. “I’m sure you don’t really expect me to do anything against the interests of my country, Colonel Andreyev.”
“I understand your reluctance, naturally, but you exaggerate,” Andreyev answered easily. He made an expressive gesture. “You are taken by surprise and this is natural. You must give the matter serious thought — but quickly, quickly. I can help, perhaps, to set your mind at rest on the spy aspect you have raised.” The Russian leaned forward, eyes fixed brightly on Shaw. “We do not seek information of a kind that can be used against the general security of your country or indeed of any Western power — that you will see. You are not being asked to spy in the sense that you yourself would probably use the word. I assure you absolutely of this. You would like me to explain more fully?”
“I think you’d better.”
“Very well.” Andreyev paused, tapping his fingers on his desk. “You have told us what we already know, that is that you were brought to Moscow by a man named Henderson, who is on intimate terms with Sir Hubert Worth-Butters of your Embassy. You yourself appear to have become friendly with the man Henderson. Now — would you not agree that this gives you an excellent introduction to the Embassy staff — in particular to very senior Embassy staff?”
“It might, I suppose,” Shaw replied cautiously. “Not necessarily though. And if you’re suggesting I make use of the contact to help you in your spying work, then the answer’s no, Colonel.”
Andreyev shrugged but didn’t appear particularly put out. He murmured pleasantly, “I am so sorry. In that case you will not be allowed your liberty. I wish to make that clear, Cane.”
“But you’ve already said you’re satisfied with all I’ve told you!”
“This is true, but—”
“What have you against me? What can you hold me on? Do you imagine the British Embassy’s not going to start asking questions if I’m not released at once?”
Andreyev laughed. “Undoubtedly they will do so, but it is never a serious difficulty to deal with Embassies. We shall hold you on a general charge of obtaining information in the Soviet Union — and, believe me, we shall not let you go again!” He shrugged. “On the other hand, if you do what we wish you will not only be well paid, as I have said, but also you will be perfectly free to pass beyond our frontiers again, once your work here is done.”
“How do I know that?”
Again, Andreyev laughed. “You do not of course — let me be perfectly honest with you! You can only trust me — and remember that a freedom which perhaps in your heart you do not believe in is at least better than the certainty of losing that freedom entirely from now on. You have never been in prison, Cane?” The last sentence was rapped out like a bullet.
“Of course not, I—”
“Then you must use your imagination! Think, Cane… think what it would be like, never again to be free. To go from this room to a cell in the Lubianka prison, never to see your family again, never to feel the fresh winds blowing, the sun on your back… never to see the green fields and the forests, to know that all this is forever in the past!” He raised an eyebrow, speaking softly again. “You would be able to bear that, do you think, for the sake of some fanciful ideal of patriotism?”
“I don’t—”
“Also,” Andreyev interrupted, “from your answers to my questions earlier, I formed the impression that you were interested in the Soviet Union. Indeed, you said as much. I have formed an opinion that, while you are certainly not a Communist, there is much in our system that you do not find distasteful, and much that you admire in our achievements. If this is so, then think, Cane — think carefully! Do not jettison your life carelessly, on a whim. Your country is not noted for its gratitude towards those citizens who suffer on its behalf, I’d say. So I ask you to consider — before it is too late.”
Shaw got to his feet and moved restlessly up and down the room, unhindered by Andreyev, though the Russian watched him closely. Shaw brought out his handkerchief and mopped at his face, then kneaded it between his palms nervily. After a while, he stopped in front of Andreyev. He asked in a low voice, “What’s the job, then? I can’t say more till I know that at least, can I?”