Virginsky took a bite of the pie, as he had been bid. He discovered it contained some kind of fish mixed with rice. It was devilishly dry. Despite his hunger, he had great difficulty swallowing the first mouthful. A swig of vodka helped to wash it down. ‘There is something you must know. I trust you will pass it on to the appropriate people.’
‘I am the appropriate people. As far as you are concerned.’
A chilling thought struck Virginsky. Suppose this man was not who he purported to be. Suppose he was simply a solitary crank, a fantasist without any connections to the revolutionary movement. The only link with Kozodavlev and Pseldonimov was the manifesto. But it was a common enough piece of trash. Even Porfiry had had a copy in his possession. Virginsky took a second bite of the pie, followed by more vodka. ‘An urgent situation has developed. The Third Section have Rakitin.’
‘Who is Rakitin?’
‘Please. Don’t insult me.’
‘Why do you think I should be interested in this information?’
‘If you do not understand the significance of it, you should pass it on to those who will.’
‘You are sweating, magistrate. What’s the matter? Is it hot in here?’
‘I suffer from a medical condition. This comes upon me without warning. And for entirely no reason.’
‘A medical condition, or a guilty conscience?’
‘No. It is. .’ Virginsky drained his glass.
‘Doesn’t the vodka exacerbate the condition? Most of the drunks I know suffer terribly from the sweats.’
‘It’s not the sweats. It is something more. .’ Virginsky poured another drink. The bottle rattled in the glass. His hand was shaking again.
‘Dear dear, the shakes as well. That does not bode well. We need men we can rely on, you know. Not alcoholics.’
‘You must understand,’ began Virginsky. ‘This is very difficult for me. I am putting myself at great risk. I have given you valuable secret information. And what if you are an informer? You say you need men you can rely on. But how do I know I can trust you?’
‘It is not necessary that you trust me. Simply that, when the time comes, you obey me.’
‘But how can I give obedience without trust?’
The guttering candle finally went out. The man’s features grew less distinct, his sarcastic smile lost in the shadows. ‘Blindly. That is what we require of you. Blind obedience.’ The man shook his head discouragingly. ‘Now then, my dear magistrate, this information you have given me. It is nothing. It does not help us. We will need more than this before we trust you.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Perhaps you could see to it that this. . what was his name?’
‘Rakitin. You know who he is.’
‘Perhaps you could see to it that this Rakitin does not betray his friends, whoever they may be. Perhaps you could personally see to it that he is silenced.’
‘Impossible. He has been taken away by the Third Section, I tell you.’
‘Do you not have contacts in the Third Section?’
Virginsky thought for a moment before replying. ‘No.’
‘Then you know what you must do. Apply for a transfer into the Third Section.’
‘But I despise them. I am against everything they stand for!’
‘That remark reveals you to be a very naive individual.’
Although he could not see it, Virginsky sensed the man’s sarcastic grin was back in place. He felt himself flush. ‘If I may say so, your proposal is quite absurd. Even if I were able to secure a transfer, which is by no means certain, it would take time. That effectively rules out your plan as a means of silencing Rakitin. He would have informed before I had a chance to get anywhere near him.’
‘Then you are no use to us. Superfluous. But it is no matter. We already have our people inside the Third Section. If the central committee decide that this is a matter that requires acting on, there is someone in place to silence this fellow. Indeed that is how you may know that you can trust me. Wait for news of Rakitin’s. . silencing.’
‘You would have him killed?’
‘If what you have said is true, then that would be the logical course of action.’
‘Would it not be safer for the central committee to disperse?’
‘The central committee is not interested in what is safer, but in what is necessary. If they disperse, the work will be abandoned. And all that we have struggled to achieve so far will be in vain. Yours is the suggestion of a coward.’
‘I am not a coward.’
‘I require you to prove it.’
‘I have brought you this information.’
The man made a dismissive gesture with his hand. ‘We knew it already.’
‘Lie.’
‘No matter. Whether it is a lie or not is irrelevant. It is not enough. We require more of you.’
‘What?’
‘Names. The names of police agents who have infiltrated revolutionary cells.’
‘Can’t your spies in the Third Section discover this for you?’
‘There is a list. But it is not widely circulated, even inside Fontanka, 16.’
‘And do you think I would have access to it?’
‘Oh, but it is essential that you should. As I am sure your superiors will agree. Tell them that you have the opportunity to infiltrate a terrorist cell yourself. Tell them as much of our history as you think is necessary to make the story persuasive. They will naturally give their consent. However, at this point, you will raise an objection. What if there is already a police agent in place? That would seriously complicate matters, and might put both of you in an awkward position. You would be working against one another, rather than together. If you are to undertake such a dangerous task, it is only reasonable that you should be forewarned with this information. They will see that. You will be given the list.’
‘I’m not convinced your plan will work.’
‘So far I have asked you to perform two tasks for the cause. You have raised objections to both.’
‘I can only do what is possible. If you ask me to reach down the moon. .’
‘I would expect you to do it.’
‘Is there not a danger that if I broach the subject of infiltrating a cell, it will arouse my superiors’ suspicions? Furthermore, I will be expected to supply them with information about the cell to make the story credible.’
‘Of course. We will select what you tell them. There is something that is very like information, but is in fact its opposite. Disinformation, you might call it.’
‘There’s no need to talk in such a roundabout sort of way. It serves no purpose. I understand perfectly well what you are talking about. Disinformation. Just say it.’
‘So you will do it?’
Virginsky poured another vodka.
‘Go easy on that, my friend. Remember, you are no use to us if we cannot rely on you. The cause requires sobriety and dedication. An almost ascetic devotion to the furtherance of our great task. Study the lives of the martyrs. You must become a contemporary martyr. No more fish pies and vodka. You must learn to live simply. To endure privation. And pain. Are you capable of that?’
‘Yes. Of course.’
‘My friend. We are not ungrateful. We realise that you have put yourself at some risk. That you brought us the information about Rakitin in good faith.’ Virginsky detected a softening in the man’s tone. ‘We recognise in you considerable potential. We wish to encourage you, but you must be made aware of what lies in store for you if you continue down the path you have set out upon. In a word, danger. There will be rewards too, of course. When the time comes, you will be in a position to reap them.’
A waiter brought over a fresh candle. In its glow, Virginsky saw that the hatchet-headed man was smiling. His smile was almost kindly, and for once without any sarcasm. But as soon as the candle was placed on the table, the man stood up, as if the presence of light repelled him.
‘Where are you going?’ Virginsky’s question had an edge of desperation to it.
‘A friend of mine is having a party. It is his name day.’