“It’s occurred to me, of course it has,” Shaw answered. “It’s one of the things we talk about in the West, as you obviously know. I doubt if I alone could ever convince you that however much we talk about it, it isn’t what we want. That is, those of us who take the trouble to think deeply about world affairs don’t want that. Let me put it this way… we know well enough that the Soviet is far more powerful today than China can hope to be in the next ten or twenty years. If it came to a showdown between you and China you would win — and that would leave Moscow in full control of China and her millions. It would make a tremendous, a colossal Communist land-mass, a build-up of frightening power that we in the West couldn’t hope to stand against. We don’t aim to see that happen, Colonel Andreyev. Let me be frank. We’re quite happy to see you and Pekin bickering — and keeping to that extent separated — but you can take it from me, our interests don’t lie along the road of war or of stirring up trouble that could lead to war. We wish to be on a friendly relationship with both of you. That’s how I see it, and I believe it’s how the British Government must surely see it too.”
Andreyev stared back at him without expression, a hand rasping along his jaw. He said, “I do not believe that, Cane. You in the West wish to see Russia and China destroy one another.” He added abruptly, “however, what you have told me so far is not helpful, and neither is it new. You are quite certain that your Embassy people did not indicate to you that they were in fact assisting China, doing their best to bring to a head border troubles in an area that is very highly important to our industry and our defence system, and where any disturbance whatever could have the most serious effects on our national economy and security?”
“I’m quite certain—”
“And did they not tell you exactly what the Chinese designs are, Cane?”
“No, they didn’t, because they didn’t know,” Shaw answered emphatically. “Even if they had they would never have told me. Your calculations weren’t entirely accurate, Colonel. They’d have known you’d have third-degreed it out of me.”
Andreyev’s eyes slitted. He reached a hand inside his jacket and a moment later Shaw saw the muzzle of the automatic pointed at his chest. Andreyev said, “It is not too late for third-degree methods even now, Cane. I give you sixty seconds. If you have not told me what you know by that time I shall kill you.”
A smile played around the corners of Shaw’s mouth. “In a passenger aircraft loaded with pressmen from half the world — Afro-Asian bloc and all? I rather think not, Colonel Andreyev!”
“Then you would do well to think again. No shot will be heard outside the flight-deck and your body can be disposed of without the passengers knowing anything about it. There will be a story on arrival that you have been taken ill… an ambulance will be brought, but your body will be lying somewhere down there, smashed into fragments.” Andreyev gestured through the port. “Come on, Cane! I am starting to count now.”
Shaw gave a heavy shrug. “You needn’t bother,” he said in a tired voice. “I was going to tell you anyway… because of my family.”
“You are wise!” Andreyev relaxed a little. “Please do so quickly, Cane.”
Shaw studied the man obliquely. The signs of anxiety, of tension, were plain. Andreyev badly wanted to know something… he said, “All right. Hold on to your seat, Colonel. I found out in the Embassy that something else is in the air. I don’t know if it links with your Chinese infiltration or not, but in any case it’s very much more immediate — and right up your street, too.”
“Well?”
“There’s thought to be a plot to kill Comrade General Kosyenko… after he reaches Kyakhta.”
Andreyev’s face went deathly white and the muzzle of the automatic trembled slightly in his fist. He repeated stupidly, “Comrade General Kosyenko… but he is the First Vice-Chairman of the Council of Ministers!”
“And just as susceptible to assassination as anyone else.”
“But how could it be possible…” Andreyev’s voice trailed away and he licked his lips. “Your Embassy is behind this, of course.”
“No, it isn’t, Colonel!” A light sweat had broken out on Shaw’s forehead now. “They wish to prevent the killing as much as you would yourself, simply because they see the consequences as I have already outlined them—”
“But how can the British Embassy prevent anything of this nature… unless a British national is known to be involved and unless they know, and are in contact with the assassin?”
Shaw studied his fingernails and sighed forbearingly. “Come, Colonel! You may be basically a policeman and accustomed to think along straight lines, but you must have learned something of diplomatic processes… and undercover working isn’t exactly a closed book to the KGB, is it? I needn’t tell you it goes on in diplomatic circles as well! If the British or any other Embassy sees an undesirable thing about to happen they have their ways and means of dealing with it—”
“But if they really wish to prevent this the easy and certain road is open to them!” Andreyev leaned forward, jabbing a thick finger towards Shaw’s face. “Why have they not reported their information and their sources — reported them officially and openly to our security authorities, Cane? Can you tell me that?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I can,” Shaw replied easily, “and part of the answer lies in the fact that you yourself are the security authority for Moscow. But perhaps before I go on I’d better just explain where I fit in — don’t you think?”
Andreyev’s face was more livid than ever. He nodded. “Do so, Cane. You, and the girl MacKinlay also.”
“Miss MacKinlay’s just tagging along because she happens to like my company. As for me… this is going to give you a bit of a shock, Andreyev… I’m a British agent.” A half-smile was once again lurking around Shaw’s mouth, though his eyes were hard and watchful. “Now, don’t get too excited. I may be sticking my neck out dangerously far, but I’m prepared to accept the risk. Fully prepared. Whatever you may feel about it, you’re not going to arrest me. Remember, I got lured into this — by you! You, Colonel Andreyev! Now, that wasn’t really very clever of you, was it — to try to use a British agent to spy for you? I’d have expected better of the Committee of State Security. Some might even try to insinuate that you had certain wicked links with the West — mightn’t they? Or at the very least, that you were monumentally stupid and careless, and not fit for your job. And here we are, chatting together once again, all nice and friendly except for that gun of yours… and you only pulled that because I wasn’t going right along with your plans — get me?” he added, with a sudden snap in his voice. “Are you with it, Andreyev?”
“You — you—”
Shaw lifted a hand. “Hold on, there’s more to come. Want to hear it?”
“Continue,” Andreyev said in a strangled voice. His face was mottled now and he was breathing heavily.
“Certainly. The British Embassy, acting largely on information pooled by the American Embassy, has reason to believe that certain ambitious elements in the KGB itself, and even in higher circles, are plotting against Kosyenko. They were therefore—”
“You ask me to believe all that?” Andreyev stormed.
“I do indeed. I assure you, I know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“Then if you wish me to believe… you must be precise as to names!” There was a trace almost of hysteria in the man’s voice now. “Who are these members of the KGB that you accuse of being potential assassins?”
Shaw said slowly, with a gleam in his eye, “There’s quite a number, but there was one in particular whose name cropped up, and I rather think he’ll be enough for you.”