Lisa said, “I haven’t seen a single person.”
Hollis nodded. Neither had he, and the unsettling thought came to him that they were all gone, moved to another location as had happened when the American rescue force had raided Son Tay POW camp in North Vietnam. But as he peered through the forest he saw lit windows in some of the houses, and smoke rose from the chimneys. No, he thought, they are still here. The KGB had not properly evaluated the situation and had not broken camp yet.
The Zil continued slowly along the road, and coming up on the right was the long green-roofed building Hollis had spotted from the air. It was a single-story building of white clapboard with a very homey-looking front porch. There were rockers on the porch and a red-and-white Coke machine against the wall near the double front doors. Through a large picture window Hollis got a glimpse of some men and women, and on a wall hung a large American flag. Hollis had the impression of a small-town Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, and as the Zil passed by, he saw a black-and-white sign over the double doors that said just that: VFW, POST 000.
The Zil moved on, then came to a halt in front of the headquarters building, a grey two-story hulk of precast concrete slabs, most of which had the familiar cracks that were a trademark of the prefab industry in these parts. Steel reinforcing rods protruded here and there and bled orange rust over the deteriorating concrete. A KGB Border Guard stood in a plywood booth, and to the right of the booth was the headquarters’ entrance. Standing in front, wearing the long green greatcoat with red shoulder boards of the KGB, was Colonel Petr Burov.
Marchenko got out and said, “Come, come. You don’t keep a colonel waiting.”
Vadim opened the rear door and got out, followed by Hollis and Lisa.
Burov looked at them a long time, then said, “Well, this is what you wanted to see, wasn’t it, Hollis?”
Hollis didn’t reply.
Burov said to Marchenko, “Why is he handcuffed?”
“He tried to hijack the helicopter.” Marchenko explained to Burov with great diffidence in his voice, altering somewhat the exact events at the airport and on the helicopter.
Burov looked at Vadim’s swollen wrist, now the size of an orange, then looked at Hollis but said nothing. Burov stared at the icon in Lisa’s hands. He said to her, “If you were Catholic or Protestant, you’d have to carry only a small cross for comfort.” He laughed, and Marchenko and Vadim laughed also.
Lisa said in Russian, “Go to hell.”
Burov slapped her hard across the face, knocking her to the ground.
Hollis bent down to help Lisa to her feet, and as he did, Burov swung at him, catching him on the jaw and sending him staggering back. His knees sagged, and he dropped to the ground, then stood unsteadily.
Burov flexed his right hand and watched Hollis as he straightened up. Burov said, “Well, that evens the score for Lefortovo.” Burov looked at Vadim and said in Russian, “The stomach.”
Vadim’s right foot shot out and caught Hollis in the solar plexus, causing him to double over, but he managed to stay on his feet.
Hollis straightened up and tried to catch his breath. Coming at him, as if in a bad dream, was the towering hulk of Viktor from Lefortovo. Hollis heard Burov’s voice. “The balls.”
Viktor’s foot came up between Hollis’ legs and caught him full in the testicles. Hollis heard himself yell, then found he was on the frozen ground rolling around in blinding pain. He heard Lisa scream, then the scream was cut off by the sound of a blow. Lisa fell beside him, holding her midsection, her eyes dull with pain.
Viktor took a step past Hollis, and Hollis got the handcuff chain under Viktor’s foot and around the man’s ankle. Hollis pulled and sent Viktor sprawling to the ground with a thud.
Burov came at Hollis but walked over him and planted his heavy jackboot in Lisa’s side, causing her to cry out. Burov said to Hollis, “Any more heroics?” He put his boot on Lisa’s head. “No? Get up.”
Hollis got to his feet at the same time as Viktor. Viktor grabbed Lisa by the collar of her coat and pulled her to her feet.
Burov motioned to Marchenko. “Uncuff him.”
Lisa moved unsteadily toward Hollis, but Burov pushed her away. Burov said to Marchenko in Russian, “That vehicle will take you and your subordinate to the Center, where you will make a full report. If you ever breathe a word about anything you saw here, you’ll both be shot. Dismissed.”
Marchenko and Vadim saluted, did an about-face, and got back into the Zil.
Burov said to Hollis and Lisa, “Get inside.”
The Border Guard opened the door, and Hollis and Lisa entered with Burov and Viktor behind them.
They found themselves in a lobby or waiting room where a duty officer sat at a desk facing the door. The man stood when he saw Burov. Burov said to Hollis and Lisa, “Leave your bags and that religious thing with this man.”
Hollis set his bag down and noticed an open door to the left through which he could see a telephone switchboard and a radio transmitter.
Burov said to them, “Now take off your coats and shoes.”
Hollis removed his trench coat and shoes while Lisa pulled off her boots and overcoat.
The duty officer put the coats and footwear on his desk, examining them as he did.
Viktor fingered Hollis’ tie, then pulled it off him and stuffed it in his own pocket. He unbuckled Hollis’ belt and ripped it off, throwing it on the desk, then took Hollis’ watch and put it on his wrist.
Burov snapped, “This way.” He led them down a long corridor toward the rear of the building. A Border Guard with an AK-47 followed. The guard threw open a steel door and shoved Lisa inside. Burov said to her, “Take off your clothes and wait for the matron to come and search you. Or, if you have a means to end your life, do it before she comes. You have a few minutes.”
Viktor said to her in Russian, “I’m not through with you, bitch.” He slammed the door shut and bolted it.
Burov opened the next door and pushed Hollis into a small, windowless cell, then followed him in. He said to Hollis, “For your information, I am the camp commandant here. I never had an escape for the ten years I’ve been here. Then Dodson escapes and two of my men are murdered.” He glared at Hollis. “I know you killed them, and I think you and your Jew friend Alevy know too goddamned much about this place. Don’t you?”
Hollis said nothing, and Burov punched him in the stomach. Burov waited for Hollis to straighten up, then said, “I’ll tell you something else, smart guy — from the moment I laid eyes on you and your snotty girlfriend I wanted you both here. The Center said impossible, but I showed them how we could kidnap two American diplomats. They thought it quite brilliant. Your death in a helicopter crash is now being reported to your embassy. Your incinerated remains — actually a male and female prisoner — are being gathered from the crash site. No one knows you’re here, Hollis. No one is looking for you. You’re all mine now, and you’re dead.”
Hollis tried to clear his head. Between the lines he read that Burov was in trouble and was trying to redeem himself with Lubyanka. So far, Burov was doing fine.
Burov snapped, “Take off your clothes and give them to Viktor.”
Hollis removed his suit, shirt, and underwear, handing each piece to Viktor while the Border Guard kept his AK-47 trained on him.
Burov said, “If I find any of your stupid spy gadgets, I’ll kill you with my own hands. Someone will be along shortly to see if you’ve got anything up your ass. Welcome to the Charm School, Hollis.” Burov, Viktor, and the guard left. The door slammed, and Hollis heard the bolt drive home.