“Congratulations, Mr. Kold,” the Lawyer put the papers aside and stretched out his hand. “This is our victory!”
Kold looked at the wide palm for a few seconds and then weakly shook it. The Lawyer felt the American shivering.
The phone rang again.
“There’s already an official statement from the Russian President,” the Lawyer said after a short conversation, passing the tablet over to Kold. The voice of the Russian leader sounded in the room.
“‘Cassandzhi and Kold consider themselves human rights activists who fight for freedom of information. Ask yourself a question: should people like this be handed over to be put into jail? Either way, I would’ve preferred not to deal with questions like that because it’s the same as cutting a piglet’s hair – a lot of screeching but little fur.’”
The Lawyer translated this difficult text, omitting the phrase about the piglet just in case.
“Is that all?” asked Kold with a rasping voice.
“Earlier the President said that you can feel safe in Russia,” the Lawyer smiled. “He also sympathises with you, Mr. Kold. He said that you are an odd lad and condemned yourself to a quite difficult life. This is true and you know it. But our President thinks that time will pass and America itself will understand that it’s dealing not with a traitor or a spy but with a man who has certain principles that can be considered in different ways. And maybe in this case some compromises will be found. But it definitely won’t happen now.”
“And thank God for that,” Kold folded his arms on the table like a schoolboy, then smiled shyly. “A path of a thousand li, as is well known, starts with the first step. I have come part of the way but I have to carry on until the end. Do you know what I want now?” he suddenly changed the subject and without waiting for an answer literally blurted out: “An ice-cream cake with pineapples and vanilla syrup! My father used to buy cake like this when I was little and we lived in Elizabeth City.”
“You look as if your cherished dream has come true,” the Lawyer noted. “But in the meantime…”
“In the meantime, it’s not the end; it’s the beginning of a new cycle,” Kold agreed. “Of course I understand it. I won’t be surprised if a reaction from the White House will follow immediately.”
“You’re absolutely right. I was told that a briefing from the White House Press Secretary Mr. Sarney will start in a few minutes. I think it might be useful for both of us to listen to him.”
“Yes, yes, of course…” Kold sighed deeply. It did not escape the Lawyer that he was lost in confusion again.
As the call signs of the official channel of the US President’s press service boomed from the screen, Kold fell silent. But the moment Jay Sarney appeared in front of the cameras, gleaming in his Harvard glasses, Kold said hurriedly:
“They are not going to say now that Obama has managed to make an agreement with Mr. Putin and I will be extradited? Right?”
“This night has exhausted you, my friend,” the Lawyer reassuringly patted Kold on the arm. “Don’t worry. As far as I know Mr. Putin is not one of those people who change their decisions easily. Everything will be fine.”
The Lawyer repeated last phrase in Russian and Kold repeated it like a mantra:
“Vsio budet khoroshio…”
In the meantime, Sarney’s firm, confident voice resounded in the room:
“‘The Russian Federal Migration Service has officially confirmed that they have granted temporary asylum for a period of one year to Mr. Kold and have allowed him to leave the airport. We are deeply disappointed that the Russian leadership has taken this step, contrary to our completely clear and lawful demands, expressed at both official and non-official levels, to extradite Mr. Kold to the USA where he is indicted.
“‘Mr. Kold is not a whistleblower. He was accused of the disclosure of classified information in accordance with three counts of criminal law and must be returned to the USA as soon as possible, where he will face all lawful procedures and where he will be provided with necessary protection.
“‘This action by the Russian leadership undermines the long-term history of our cooperation in the area of the rule of law – cooperation which very recently was at a high after the explosion during the Chicago marathon.’”
“You see?” The Lawyer leaned back on the chair. “He hasn’t said a single word about…”
“Wait!” Kold interrupted him rather crossly.
One of the journalists was asking a question:
“‘The Russian side has stated that they are not going to extradite him to the USA. So what are the next steps of the American administration in trying to bringing him back home?’”
Sarney replied, without changing his facial expression:
“‘We will continue contact with the Russian authorities, expressing our extreme disappointment with their decision and making it clear that there is an absolutely lawful rationale for returning Mr. Kold to the USA, where he is charged with three criminal accusations in relation to disclosure of classified information. He is not a dissident. He is not a whistleblower. He was convicted of a crime. Upon his return to the United States he will be granted all the rights and privileges provided to those accused within the framework of our legal system.
“‘We have expressed this point of view at an official level and in private conversations with representatives of the Russian leadership. Therefore I am confident that discussions will carry on.’”
“They are not talking about guarantees anymore,” Kold said quietly, keeping his gaze on the screen.
The Lawyer decided he should not say anything. After all, his client is not a child and doesn’t require consolation.
The briefing went on. The conversation came to the visit of the President of the USA to Russia.
“‘I am not prepared to talk today about the timetable of the President’s business trips.’” Sarney said. “‘Obviously, events are taking an unwanted turn. But because we have a wide circle of questions, in accordance with which we interact with Russia, we are now looking into the expediency of this visit.’”
“Tell me,” Kold asked suddenly, “Could a war start because of me?”
“Of course not,” the Lawyer indulged in a smile. “In the history of our countries’ relations there have been many more dramatic episodes, but on both our side and America’s, there have always been sober-minded politicians. I will go further – even such hawks as for example, Senator McCain really don’t want war. Politics is the art of possibility. Many people in it have a certain role but nobody wants to leave it and turn from tribune and demagogue into executioner and murderer. Especially because the same McCain had enough grief during the war in Vietnam.”
“Speak of the devil,” Kold nodded towards the screen. And there was a question in relation to McCain:
“‘Do you consider the actions of the Russian side as a conscious attempt to infringe upon the interests of the United States, as Senator McCain claims?’”