“I see. You do not, of course, wish to act against the interests of the Soviet Union, even for friends of Comrade Gregor’s?”
She looked at him steadily. “Of course I do not.”
“But you see, you are acting against the Soviet by helping Wicks and Fawcett! You know, my dear girl, you’ve got yourself into something very dangerous, if you did but realize it.” He paused, then added, “What’s your name?”
“The name does not matter, and I shall not say.”
“Have it your own way.” He shrugged. “I’ve got to call you something, though.”
After a slight hesitation, the girl said, “Then call me Tanya.”
“Right. Well, Tanya, you’d better watch that pretty step of yours if you don’t want to be officially liquidated.”
She colored at that and snapped, “I pay no attention to what you say, Englishman! You may save your effort.”
“Very well,” Shaw answered briefly, “it’s your funeral, of course. Only the KGB will already be going through that street where you — er — operate. Sooner or later they’re going to establish that I was last seen in your company, and believe me, that’s when you’ll be in real trouble — right from then on! Because, you see, it so happens that I’m doing a job for the KGB myself.” He was watching her closely. “It’s unofficial, but it’s gospel truth. I don’t suppose you’ve been told that, Comrade Tanya?”
Her eyes narrowed and she looked a shade less sure of herself, he fancied, as she said, “No, I have not, but—”
“But you don’t really believe me because I’m British? Now tell me, Comrade Tanya, do you really believe our two friends — who’re also British?” He nodded across the room towards Virginia. “The lady’ll bear me out when I tell you that Wicks was responsible for smashing through a road check the other side of Minsk and causing the deaths of a couple of troopers of the MVD. Let me repeat, Comrade Tanya,” he said in a harsh voice, “you’re heading into far more dangerous waters than you realize.”
She pouted, and moved back to the table where she had put the gun. Picking it up, she pointed it at Shaw. “I do not believe you,” she announced firmly. “I take no notice of anything you say. The other men warned me that you would make up some apparently convincing story like that.”
“And you’re scared they may be telling the truth and that if we get away you’ll be in dead trouble. And it hasn’t occurred to you that if Wicks and Fawcett were genuine they’d have a security policeman here instead of you?” He laughed sardonically. “Oh, well — you’ll find out, Comrade! Meanwhile I assume you’re here to keep us alive as well as in custody — right?”
The Russian girl nodded. “Yes, that is right. I was told to prepare meals.”
“Fine, then you go right ahead and prepare one! I could do with a cup of coffee first — black and strong. Virginia?”
“Me too.”
“That I shall do,” Tanya said distantly. “More talk will be useless, so do not waste your breath.” She turned away and, carrying the automatic, went out of the room. Shaw watched the seductive movement of her buttocks beneath the tight skirt. She left the door ajar and they could hear the rattle of pans and crockery coming from the kitchen.
Shaw glanced at Virginia and said softly, “It’s no damn good. I might have known it wouldn’t be, of course. She’s not exactly a girl of very high IQ but even so those two wouldn’t have risked leaving her if they hadn’t spiked our guns in advance.”
“Check,” Virginia whispered back miserably. “So what do we do?”
Shaw gave a tight, hard grin. “Just wait and see, that’s all… till Tanya comes back with the food.”
The girl was back in fifteen minutes with a tray, which she put down on the table. She put the automatic beside it. There were cups of black coffee, as ordered, together with plates of sour-looking bread and some dark-colored tinned meat cut in thick rounds. It appeared unappetizing but substantial — and they had to eat.
Shaw asked, “How do we manage — with our hands tied?”
“I shall feed you.”
“If you insist. But wouldn’t it be easier all round if our hands were untied? You’d still have us by the ankles, wouldn’t you, and you’ve got a gun even if you don’t really know how to use it.”
There was a flash of anger in her eyes. “How do you know I cannot use it? Do not make childish requests, Cane. You will eat, and I shall feed you.”
He sighed, moved his body restlessly. “Well, let’s have the coffee first. I can do with it. After the lady, that is.”
Tanya took one of the cups over to Virginia, kneeling down beside her and putting the cup to her lips. Virginia drank gratefully, draining the cup as Tanya tilted it. Then Tanya went back to the table and approached Shaw with the second cup. She bent towards him, then knelt on one knee. Shaw took a mouthful of the coffee and swallowed it. At the second go, he allowed Tanya to fill his mouth to capacity — but he didn’t swallow any. He held the coffee there, judging his time to a split second and his aim to a millimeter. As the girl leant towards him her face was close to his own and he couldn’t miss. Suddenly, without a change in his expression to give any warning, he sent a stream of the hot, sticky liquid full into her eyes. She gave a startled cry, and then, as she staggered back clawing at her closed eyelids, Shaw moved.
He swung his bound legs up and sideways viciously, knocking the girl flat on the floor. Rolling over on top of her, he pinned her with his whole weight. Then he slewed his body round, worming upward until he had her head between his knees, with his full weight now on her neck and chest. Her face was white and terrified, the eyes dilated and bloodshot with the sting of coffee.
Shaw took a deep breath. “Comrade Tanya,” he said, “you’ve asked for it and you’re going to get it. So help me, I’ll break that pretty neck of yours if you don’t reach behind me and untie my hands.”
She gasped, “I–I cannot do this. In any case I could not reach…”
“You never know till you try, do you? You can do it all right.”
“I shall not!”
“I’m sorry to contradict a lady, but something tells me you will.” Shaw squeezed hard with his knees, forcing her head and neck over to the right. There was a throaty, desperate cry. Behind him, he heard Virginia’s sudden gasp. He said in a hard voice, “I won’t tell you again, Comrade. One flick and you’ll hear the crack as your neck goes… and that’ll be the last thing you ever hear in this life! Once you’re dead I’ll get out of this rope by myself if it takes all night — but I’m in a hurry, so I’d rather you did it. Take your choice.” He paused, then went on in a softer tone. “You don’t want to die, do you, Tanya. Especially as I swear I’m telling the truth when I say it’s the other men who are the criminals. Well?”
Breath rattled in her throat. He saw tears running from the corners of her eyes into her hair. Then her body, so tense till now, suddenly relaxed. She said no more; but he felt her chest muscles straining upwards against his thighs and her hands reaching for his wrists. She started tugging at the knots in the rope. As they loosened and fell away, he strained outward with his wrists, and within five minutes his hands were free. He moved away from the girl, pushed himself on to his bound feet, and hopped towards the table. Taking up the automatic, he pointed it at Tanya.