“You can bet that for the next couple of months all of them will be on their best behavior,” offered Igor.
“Why of course,” returned the Admiral of the Fleet.
“That’s what these surprise visits are all about. But we know that it’s only human nature at work. The greedy ones will get hungry once more, and start stealing supplies just like before. And then it will be necessary for me to again cross the width of the Motherland to make an example of someone.”
While kneeling down to get a closer look at the bursting tulips, Konstantin Markov added, “What we need, comrade, is a real war. That will soon enough get the attention of those shirkers in the fleet. This cold war that we seem to be eternally in the midst of is causing us to lose our edge and go soft.”
“Who knows, perhaps that’s what the Americans have planned all along,” reflected Igor.
“It’s time for us to regain some momentum and readjust the world’s balance of power,” The Admiral of the Fleet gently stroked the bright red petals of the largest of the tulips as he responded.
“My sentiments exactly. I had hoped that the project that you are responsible for would do just that. As I said before, your retrieval of the American Trident II warhead from the waters off Kwajalein was absolutely brilliant work.
Even the Premier’s usually dour face lit up in a wide smile when he was briefed on the operation. As we speak now, the Imperialist’s most sophisticated weapon’s system is being dissected by our scientists, who will shortly be able to develop an effective decoy to counter this major component of their nuclear triad. But from what I read in yesterday’s briefings, our quest for their AD CAP torpedo didn’t go quite so smoothly.”
A pained expression crossed Igor’s face as he replied.
“That it didn’t, comrade. I had hoped that your visit here today would have an extra reason for celebration, but unfortunately that isn’t the case. At least we didn’t lose one of our units, and it appears that the security of our project is still intact as well.”
“We were lucky all the same,” returned the Admiral of the Fleet with a grunt.
“I just wish that we didn’t have to resort to laying those mines. The American Spruance class destroyer took a hit right on its bow. Though the casualties were minimal, the imperialists are angry as hell, and rightfully so.”
“They still have no positive proof that we were the culprits,” offered Igor.
“The mines were unmarked, and if they are indeed able to trace them, it will be found that they originated in China.”
Konstantin Markov stood up and shook his head.
“The Premier’s quite upset, nonetheless. From what I gather from Deputy Secretary Krasino, he wanted it to be made absolutely clear that he never again wants to be placed in such a potentially embarrassing situation.”
“Our business does have its risks, Konstantin.”
The Admiral of the Fleet compassionately patted his host on his back.
“You don’t have to tell me that, comrade.
These foolish young bureaucrats that we’re forced to work with don’t know what it’s like to fight in a real war. And what they refuse to understand is that our struggle against the forces of capitalism is just that. For there can be no compromise in the struggle for the triumph of world communism.”
Igor’s spirits seemed to lighten.
“Well said, old friend.
Our esteemed Deputy Secretary inside wouldn’t happen to share your outlook, would he now?”
Konstantin Markov looked at Igor as if he hadn’t heard him correctly.
“Come now, you know better than that. Stanislav Krasino is still on the side of the moderates, just like he’s always been. Yet of all those who sit on the Politburo, I believe he’s the one that we’ll have the best chance of reaching. So tell me, Igor, how have your powers of persuasion been lately?”
“Shall we go in and find out?” offered Igor with a grin.
“I’ve been waiting for some time now to find out what’s been going on in that head of yours,” confided the Admiral of the Fleet as he followed his host to the entryway.
“After that Trident scheme, I don’t know what to expect from you next.”
“That mission was only a warm-up,” said Igor as he opened the door for his guest.
“The one I’m about to propose is going to go down as the greatest clandestine Spetsnaz mission of all time!”
The two naval officers entered the dacha, and Igor briefly scanned the living room.
“I’ll bet Svetlana is charming the Deputy Secretary on the patio. Follow me, Konstantin. It’s the cottage’s best feature.”
Igor led the way down a hallway lined with framed landscape prints. They passed by the kitchen, which directly adjoined a large, airy room that offered a magnificent panorama of the waters of the gulf. The screened-in patio was tastefully decorated with rattan furniture. Seated in two of the chairs were the dacha’s hostess and Deputy Secretary Stanislav Krasino.
Quick to realize that they had company, Svetlana Starobin looked up to greet the two newcomers.
“So you finally made it back after all, husband.”
Igor meekly walked over to her side and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek.
“I’m sorry, my dearest. As always time has a way of escaping me whenever I take one of my seaside strolls.” Turning to address the bespectacled, fuzzy-haired bureaucrat who sat beside her, Igor added, “And I apologize to you also. Comrade Krasino.”
The two men shook hands while the Deputy Secretary responded.
“There’s no need for apologies, Admiral Starobin. Your wife has been the perfect hostess. Why, I never realized that she was the Chief of Staff of Komsomol hospital. My own cousin is a resident there, and she speaks most highly of the organization.”
Svetlana caught her husband’s eye.
“You remember Dr. Olav, don’t you, dear? She’s the cardiologist who gave you the stress test.”
“Of course I do,” returned Igor.
“She was a most competent physician, and if I remember correctly, a real looker too.”
Svetlana gave her husband a disgusted look and stood.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go to the kitchen and bring in the lunch. I hope all of you are hungry.”
“I happen to be famished,” retorted Igor, who devilishly grinned as his wife exited the porch.
“That one’s a gem,” he added, as he beckoned the Admiral of the Fleet to have a seat.
Konstantin Markov sat down in the chair vacated by Svetlana. With his gaze locked on the glistening waters visible in the distance, he thoughtfully observed, “You mentioned that the view was superb from this room, but I had no idea how incredible it really was. I bet on a clear day you can almost see the coast of Finland from this vantage point.”
“I saw it only this morning,” boasted Igor.
“Although I must admit that I had a little help with my telescope.”
Deputy Secretary Krasino adjusted the fit of his glasses and politely commented.
“This is my first visit to this portion of the Rodina, and I must admit that I’m quite impressed. I was expecting nothing but swampy marshland here.”
“We have plenty of that too, Comrade,” answered Igor.
“But as you can see on the adjoining shoreline plenty of sea grass pines, and birch trees also.”
“From what I understand, your czar and founder of the Russian navy Peter the Great was no stranger to Koporski Bay,” reflected the Admiral of the Fleet.
“I once read in one of his diaries that he kept a small sailboat stored in these parts, and liked to get off here alone whenever the pressures in St. Petersburg got too intense.”