Surikov stared off into space, and Hollis could see he was angry, but that didn’t matter.
Surikov nodded. “All right. My life and my granddaughter’s life are in your hands. I’ll bring the microfilm to my next meeting, or I’ll leave it in one of our dead drops, whatever you prefer.”
Hollis considered a moment. A dead drop was preferred, but his instincts told him that this was a case for hand-to-hand transfer. “Tomorrow at nine A.M. you will go to the antique store in the Arbat. A man will ask you where he can find czarist coins. He speaks fluent Russian. Have the microfilm with you.”
Surikov lit another cigarette. “And that’s the last I’ll hear from the Americans.”
“If you believe that, then you don’t want to live in the West, General. You might as well stay here.”
“Well, we will see if my cynicism is well-founded. And this man will tell me how I’m going West?”
“Yes.”
“I have a better idea. You tell me now. I want to know. Before I bring the microfilm.”
Hollis thought General Surikov needed a victory, but he remembered Alevy’s words of caution. Then maybe what he wants is to find out how we get people out of here. But there was no time for caution. Hollis said, “All right. I’ll tell you our secret. Can you get to Leningrad on a weekend?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll go to Leningrad this Saturday. The man in the Arbat antique store will tell you how to meet someone there who will give you more details. But it’s basically simple. You go to one of the Kirov Island recreational parks carrying fishing equipment. You and Natasha rent a boat and take it to the mouth of the Neva, but not so far as to attract the attention of patrol boats. You will fish in the marked channel. Whenever you see a freighter flying the flag of a NATO country coming in or going out, you will give a signal that you will be advised of by the man in Leningrad. One of these freighters will take you and Natasha aboard, and someone on board will take charge of you. When the authorities find your boat capsized, it will appear you’ve both drowned. If the rendezvous fails on Saturday, you’ll do the same thing Sunday.”
“And if it fails Sunday?”
“Then the next weekend.”
“There’s not much boating weather left up that way, Colonel.”
“General, if you are being honest with us, you will not be abandoned. There are other ways. But with luck… and God’s help… by this time next week, you will be in a Western port city.”
“This thing will need all of God’s help. Natasha thinks she is blessed by God. We’ll see.”
“I’ll see you in London.”
“And you will buy me a drink.”
“I’ll buy you the whole fucking bar, General.”
Surikov tried to smile. “Just a drink will do.” He handed Hollis the carp. “You poach them in sour cream.”
Hollis didn’t think so. He said, “I shake your hand.”
“And I yours.” Surikov added, “Safe journey west. I will see you in London.” He turned and walked back into the cemetery.
Hollis looked at the wrapped carp, slipped it into his pocket with the candle and the pistol, and headed toward the gate church. About ten yards from the church, someone tapped him on the shoulder and asked in Russian, “What’s in that package?”
Hollis gripped the 9mm automatic, pointed it through his coat pocket, and spun around.
Seth Alevy asked, “What did he give you?”
“Carp.”
“Oh. I grew up on carp. Very Jewish and Russian. I hate the stuff.”
Hollis turned and continued toward the gate church.
Alevy fell into step beside him. “I thought you said the meeting was for four.”
“I was going to tell you when I got back that I remembered it was earlier.”
“I thought it might have been. Where’s Lisa?”
“At the bell tower.”
They walked through the arched passage into the convent grounds. The drizzle was turning to light rain. Alevy asked, “Did we get lucky?”
“We hit the jackpot.”
“The Charm School?”
“Yes. The KGB, incidentally, calls it the American Citizenship School.”
“How is Surikov involved with that?”
“I’ll tell you later. Are we covered?”
“Well, I’m covering you, and you’re covering me. I couldn’t call out the troops again like I did at Lefortovo. The KGB tripled their embassy stakeout, and they’re looking for a confrontation. I snuck out in the van going to the Finnish dacha. If I had any brains, I’d have gone there and gotten laid.”
“Why didn’t you? Nobody asked you to come here.”
“I wanted a look at Surikov.”
“You’ll meet him soon enough.”
They kept walking quickly up the tree-lined path, toward the bell tower. Alevy said, “The other reason I came is that we got a communication this morning from the Soviet Foreign Ministry. They’ve revoked your diplomatic status. And Lisa’s.”
“I see.” Hollis added, “Thanks for coming then.”
“According to international law, your immunity is now good only between the embassy and a point of departure from the country. Therefore, your ass is hanging out here. So is hers, obviously.”
“Sort of like going vampire hunting and losing your cross,” Hollis observed.
“Sort of. I assume you have your wooden stake though.”
“Yes,” Hollis said. “You nearly got it through your heart.”
They came out into the paved square on the far side of which rose the bell tower. Hollis didn’t see Lisa. They crossed the open square walking normally so as not to attract attention. The rain was heavier now, and the strollers were disappearing. They reached the base of the bell tower, then split up and circled around it.
Alevy snapped, “God damn it!”
“Relax, Seth. She’ll be along.”
Alevy turned to him, and Hollis saw he was not going to relax. Alevy pointed his finger at Hollis and said irritably, “You shouldn’t have brought her here!”
“Hey, hold on. She wanted to go to church here, and she can do—”
“Oh, don’t give me that shit. This is not a fucking lark, Colonel, or an ego trip for you two. This is Moscow, buddy, and—”
“I know where the hell I am. And I’ll run my operations my way.”
“I should have had both of you shipped out a week ago. You’ve caused more problems—”
“Go to hell.”
Alevy and Hollis stood very close, then Alevy turned and began walking across the square. He called back, “I’ll wait at the main gate for fifteen minutes. Then I’m leaving, with or without you, her, or both of you.”
Hollis followed Alevy into the square. “Hold on.” He walked up to Alevy. “Listen, in case I don’t get back to the embassy — you have an appointment with Surikov. The antique shop on Arbat. Tomorrow at nine A.M. He has microfilmed personnel files of all the Charm School students, past and present. Three thousand, Seth.”
“Jesus… three thousand… how the hell did he get that information?”
“He’s the G-I for the entire Red Air Force.” Hollis explained briefly and concluded, “I gave him my word that we’d get him and his granddaughter out. You understand? Don’t fuck around with that, Seth. You get them out.” He stared at Alevy.
Alevy nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Now get out of here.”
Alevy hesitated. “I’ll wait at the gate.”
“No. You get your ass back to the embassy and stay there until you go to meet Surikov. I don’t need you here. I’ve passed the baton to you, Seth, and either way I won’t be around to meet Surikov tomorrow. It’s all yours now, buddy. Beat it.”
Alevy looked around the rain-splashed square, then nodded. “Good luck.” He walked off through the rain toward the main gate.