"Copareffl," said David Rostov excitedly. "Where have I heard of a ship called the Coparelh?" Yasif Haman said, "It's familiar to me, too." "Let me see that computer printout" They were in the back of a listening van parked near the Yacobean Hotel. The van, which belonged to the KGB, was dark blue, without markings, and very dirty. Powerful radio equipment occupied most of the space inside, but there was a small compartment behind the front seats where Rostov and Hassan could squeeze in. Pyotr Tyrin was at the wheel. Large speakers above their heads were giving out an undertone of distant conversation and the occasional clink of crockery. A moment ago there had been an incomprehensible exchange, with someone apologizing for something and Dickstein saying it was all right, it had been an accident. Nothing distinct had been said since then. Rostov's pleasure at being able to listen to Dickstein's conversation was marred only by the fact that Hassan was listening too. Hassan had become self-confident since his triumph in discovering that Dickstein was in England: now he thought he was a professional spy like everyone else. He had insisted on being In on every detail of the London operation, threatening to complain to Cairo if he were excluded. Rostov had considered calling his bluff, but that would have meant another head-on collision with Feliks Vorontsov, and Rostov did not want to go over Feliks's head to Andropov again so soon after,the last time. So he had settled on an alternative: he would allow Hassan to come along, and caution him against reporting anything to Cairo. Hassan, who had been reading the printout, passed it across to Rostov. While the Russian was looking through the sheet.% the sound from the speakers changed to street noises for a minute or two, followed by more dialogue. Where to, guv? Dickstein's voice: Lime Street. Rostov looked up and spoke to Tyrin. 'ThaVII be Uoyd!s, the address he was given over the phone. I.,efs go them" Tyrin started the van and moved off, heading east toward the City districL Rostov returned to the printout Hassan said pessimistically, "Lloyd's will probably give him awritten reporLso Tyrin said, "Me bug is working very well ... so far." He was driving with one hand and biting the fingernails of the other. Rostov found what he was looking for. "Here it ist" he mid. 'The Coparelli. Good, good, goodl" He thumped his knee In enthusiasm. Hassan said, "Show me." Rostov hesitated momentarily, realized there was no way he could get out of it, and smiled at Hassan as he pointed to the last page. "Under Nom-NucLEAR. Two hundred tons of yellowcake to go from Antwerp to Genoa aboard the motor vessel Coparelll." 'That's It, then," said Hassan. 'That's Dickstein's target" "But if you report this to Cairo, Dickstein will probably switch to a different target. Hassan-" HassWs color deepened with anger. "You!ve said all that once," he said coldly. "Okay," Rostov said. He thought: Damn it, you have to be a diplomat too. He said, "Now we know what he's going to steal, and who he's going to steal it from. I can that some progress." "We don't know when, where.'or how," Hassan said. Rostov nodded. "All this business about sister ships must have something to do with it." He pulled his nose. "But I don!t we how." Two and sixpence, please, guv. Keep the change. "Find somewhere to park, Tyft" said Rostov. "Mars not so easy around here," Tyrin complained. "If you can't find a space, just stop. Nobody cares if you get a parking ticket,- Rostov said impatiently.
Good morning. My name's Ed Rodgers. A h, yes. Just a moment, please ... Your report has just been typed, Mr. Rodgers. And here's the bill. You're very efficient. Hassan said, "It is a written report." Thank you very much. Goodbye, Mr. Rodgers. "He's not very chatty, is her, said Tyrin. Rostov said, "Good agents never are. You might bear that in mind. Yes, sir." Hassan said, "Damn. Now we won't know the answers to his questions." "Makes no difference," Rostov told him. "Ifs just occurred to me." He smiled. "We know the questions. All we have to do is ask the same questions ourselves and we get the answers he got. Listen, he's on the street again. Go around the block, Tyrin, let's try to spot him." The van moved off, but before it had completed a circuit of the block the street noises faded agam Can I help you, sir? "He's gone into a shop," Hassan said. Rostov looked at Hassan. When he forgot about his pride, the Arab was as thrilled as a schoolboy ab ut all thi"e van, the bugs, the tailing. Maybe he would Teep his mouth shut, if only so that he could continue to play spies with the Russians. I need a new shirt. "Oh, nol" said Tyrin. I can see that, sir. What is it? Coffee. It should have been sponged right away, sir. It will be very difficult to get the stain out now. Did you want a similar shirt? Yes PWn white nylon, button cuffs, collar size fourteen and a halt. Here we are. This one is thirty-two and sixpence. Thafs fine. Tyrin said, "III bet he charges it to expenses." Thank you. Would you like to put it on now, perhaps? Yes, please. The fitting room is fust through here.
Footsteps, then a brief silence. Would you like a bag tor the old one, sir? Perhaps you'd throw It away for nze. That button cost two thousand rublesl" Tyrin said. Certainly, x1r. 'Mat's it," Hassan said. "We won't get any more nm" 'Two thousand rublest" Tyrin said again. Rostov said, "I think we got our money's worth." "Where are we heading?" Tyrin asked. "Back to the Embassy," Rostov told him- "I want to stretch my legs. I can't feel the left one at all. Damn, but weve done a good morning's work." As Tyrin drove west, Hassan said thoughtfully, 'Ve need to find out where the Coparelli is right now." IpMe squirrels can do that," Rostov said. s6squirreiarg "Desk workers in Moscow Center. They sit on their behinds all day, never doing anything more risky than crossing Granovsky Street in the rush hour, and get paid more than agents in the field." Rostov decided to use the opportunity to further Hassan's education. "Remember, an agent should never spend time . acquiring information that is public knowledge. Anything in books, reports and files can be found by the squirrels. Since a squirrel is cheaper to run than an agent-not because of salaries but because of support work-the Committee always prefers a squirrel to do a given job of work if he can. Always use the squirrels. Nobody win think yoWre being lazy." Hassan smiled nonchalantly, an echo of his old, languid self. "Dickstein doeset work that way." "Me Israelis have a completely different approach. Beside% I suspect Dickstein isn!t a team man." "How long will the squirrels take to get us the Coparelws locationr' "Maybe a day. ru put in the inquiry as soon as we get to the Embassy." Tyrm spoke over his shoulder. "Can you put through a fast requisition at the same time?" "What do you need?" "Six more shirt buttons." 64six?*0 "If theyre like the last lot, five wOn!t work."
Hassan laughed. "Is this Communist efficiency?" "There's nothing wrong with Communist efficiency," Ros. tov told him. "It's Russian efficiency we suffer from." The van entered Embassy Row and was waved on by the duty policeman. Hassan asked, "What do we do when we've located the Cpparelli?" "Obviously," said Rostov, "we put a man aboard."