tc.redrabbit-第85章

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e　cabstand。　There　were　a　lot　of　cabs；　all　of　them　Russian…made　Ladas…the　Soviet　version　of　an　old　Fiat…and　all　the　same　color；　which　might　have　been　beige　under　the　dirt。　Zaitzev　tipped　the　porter　one　econ　ruble　and　supervised　the　loading　of　their　bags　into　the　car。　The　trunk　of　the　diminutive　taxicab　was　far　too　small。　Three　bags　went　to　the　front　seat；　and　Svetlana　would　have　to　sit　in　her　mother's　lap　for　the　ride　to　the　hotel。　The　cab　pulled　away；　made　a　swift　and　legally　dubious　U…turn；　and　then　raced　at　breakneck　speed　down　what　appeared　to　be　a　major　shopping　street。
　　　The　Astoria　Hotel　was　only　four　minutes　from　the　station。　It　seemed　to　be　an　impressive　structure；　looking　almost　like　a　grand　hotel　of　another　age。　The　lobby　was　modest　in　size；　though　not　in　appointments；　and　much　carved　oak　was　in　evidence。　The　desk　clerk　expected　them；　and　greeted　them　with　a　smile。　Soon　after　giving　Zaitzev　the　room　key；　he　pointed　across　the　street　to　the　Soviet…Hungarian　Culture　and　Friendship　Center；　which　was　so　obviously　a　KGB　operation　that　it　might　as　well　have　had　a　statue　of　Iron　Feliks　in　front。　The　bellman　led　them　to　the　tiny　elevator　and　then　to　the　third　floor；　turning　right　for　Room　307；　a　corner　room　that　would　be　their　home　for　the　next　ten　days；　or　so　everyone　but　Oleg　thought。　He　also　got　a　ruble　for　his　trouble　and　withdrew；　leaving　the　family　in　a　room　little　larger　than　the　bined　space　of　their　train　acmodations；　and　with　only　a　single　bathroom；　albeit　one　with　a　bath/shower；　which　all　three　of　them　needed。　Oleg　let　his　wife　and　daughter　go　first。
　　　As　shabby　as　the　room　was　by　Western　standards；　however；　by　Soviet　ones　it　was　almost　palatial。　There　was　a　chair　by　the　window；　and　Zaitzev　sat　down　and　surveyed　the　streets　for　a　CIA　officer。　That；　he　knew；　was　a　fool's　errand；　but　he　could　hardly　resist　the　temptation。
　　　The　men　he　was　looking　for　were　not　Americans　at　all；　but　rather　Tom　Trent　and　Chris　Morton；　both　of　whom　worked　for　Andy　Hudson。　Both　had　dark　hair　and　hadn't　washed　that　day　so　that　they　could　appear　to　be　working…class　Hungarians。　Trent　had　staked　out　the　train　station　and　spotted　them　ing　in；　while　Morton　had　camped　out　in　the　hotel。　With　good　photographic　prints　provided　by　the　Times　photographer　in　Moscow；　identifying　the　Zaitzev　family　had　been　simplicity　itself。　As　a　final　check；　Morton；　who　spoke　flawless　Russian；　walked　to　the　reception　desk　and　verified　his　〃old　friend's〃　room　number　at　the　desk；　in　return　for　a　twenty…florint　banknote　and　a　wink。　Then　he　wandered　down　to　the　bar；　while　surveying　the　hotel's　ground　floor　for　future　reference。　So　far；　they　decided　on　the　subway　ride　back　to　the　embassy；　things　were　going　remarkably　well。　The　train　had　arrived　late；　but　their　information　on　the　hotel　had　been　bang…on　for　once。
　　　Andy　Hudson　was　a　man　of　average　height　and　appearance；　except　his　sandy　hair　marked　him　as　a　foreigner　in　a　land　where　everyone　looked　pretty　much　alike。　Certainly　at　the　airport　they　all　did；　Ryan　thought。
　　　〃Can　we　talk？〃　Ryan　asked　on　the　way　away　from　the　airport。
　　　〃Yes；　the　car　is　clean。〃　Like　all　such　vehicles；　it　was　regularly　swept　and　parked　in　a　secure　location。
　　　〃How　sure　are　you　of　that？〃
　　　〃The　opposition　doesn't　break　the　rules　of　diplomatic　conduct。　Strange；　but　true。　And　besides；　the　car　has　a　very　sophisticated　alarm。　Not　sure　I　could　fiddle　it　myself；　as　a　matter　of　fact。　In　any　case；　wele　to　Budapest；　Sir　John。〃　He　pronounced　the　city's　name　as　Byudapesht；　as　opposed　to　the　way　Ryan　thought　it　was　spoken。
　　　〃So；　you　know　who　I　am？〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　was　home　in　London　last　March。　I　was　in　town　when　you　performed　your　heroics…bloody　fool；　you　ought　to　have　gotten　yourself　killed；　except　for　the　stupid　bloody　Irish。〃
　　　〃I've　said　that　to　myself　many　times；　Mr。　Hud…〃
　　　〃Andy；〃　Hudson　suggested　at　once。
　　　〃Fine。　My　name　is　Jack。〃
　　　〃Good　flight？〃
　　　〃Any　flight　you　walk　off　of　is　a　good　one；　Andy。　So；　tell　me　about　the　mission　and　how　you're　going　to　go　about　it。〃
　　　〃Entirely　routine。　We　observe　the　Rabbit　and　his　family…we'll　keep　them　under　intermittent　surveillance…and　when　the　time　is　right；　we'll　whisk　them　out　of　the　city　and　into　Yugoslavia。〃
　　　〃How？〃
　　　〃Car　or　truck；　haven't　decided　yet；〃　Hudson　answered。　〃Hungary　is　the　only　possible　problem。　The　Yugoslavs　care　sod…all　about　people　crossing　their　border…they　have　a　million　citizens　working　overseas　in　various　capacities。　And　our　relations　with　the　border　guards　is　very　cordial　indeed；〃　Andy　assured　him。
　　　〃Payoffs？〃
　　　Hudson　nodded　as　he　took　a　turn　around　a　modest…sized　park。　〃It's　a　good　way　for　them　to　outfit　their　families　with　fashionable　items。　I　know　people　who　smuggle　hard　drugs　in…I　make　no　use　of　them；　of　course。　Drugs　are　one　thing　the　locals　at　least　pretend　to　care　about；　but　some　border　guards　are　more　open　to　negotiation　than　others…hell；　they　probably　all　are；　or　damned　nearly　all。　It's　remarkable　what　you　can　get　for　some　hard　currency　or　a　pair　of　Reebok　running　shoes。　The　black　market　here　is　a　lively　one；　and　since　it　often　brings　hard　currency　into　the　country；　the　political　leadership　will　look　the　other　way　so　long　as　it　doesn't　get　too　out　of　hand；　you　see。〃
　　　〃Then　how　did　the　CIA　station　get　clobbered？〃
　　　〃Bad　bloody　luck。〃　Hudson　went　on　to　explain　for　a　minute　or　two。　〃Like　being　run　over　by　a　lorry　on　an　empty　road。〃
　　　〃Damn；　does　that　sort　of　thing　really　happen？〃
　　　〃Not　often；　rather　like　winning　a　state　lottery。〃
　　　〃You　gotta　play　to　win；〃　Ryan　murmured。　It　was　the　motto　for　the　Maryland　State　Lottery；　which　was　just　one　more　form　of　tax　for　those　dumb　enough　to　partake；　just　one　that　was　a　little　more　cynical　than　the　other　kinds。
　　　〃Yes；　that's　right。　It's　a　chance　we　all　take。〃
　　　〃And　how　does　that　apply　to　getting　the　Rabbit　and　his　family　out？〃
　　　〃One　in　ten　thousand。〃
　　　To　Ryan；　those　sounded　like　betting　odds；　but　there　was　one　other　hang…up　to　worry　about。　〃Have　they　told　you　his　wife　and　kid　don't　know　how　extended　his　vacation　is？〃
　　　That　made　Hudson's　head　turn。　〃You're　bloody　joking。〃
　　　〃Nope。　That's　what　he　told　our　people　in　Moscow。　plication？〃
　　　His　hands　flexed　on　the　wheel。　〃Only　if　she's　noisy。　I　suppose　we　can　handle　that　if　we　must。〃　But　it　was　plain　on　his　face　that　it　was　something　to　worry　about。
　　　〃European　women；　they　tell　me；　are　less　assertive　than　American　ones。〃
　　　〃They　are；　as　a　matter　of　fact；〃　Hudson　agreed。　〃Particularly　true　of　the　Russians；　I　believe。　Well；　we　shall　see。〃
　　　One　last　turn　onto　Harm　Utca；　and　they　were　at　the　British　Embassy。　Hudson　parked　the　car　and　got　out。
　　　〃That　building　there　is　the　Budapesti　Rendorfokapitansag；　the　police　head　quarters。　Good　to　be　in　a　secure　location…they　are　little　threat　to　us。　The　local　police　are　not　very　highly　regarded。　The　local　language　is　bloody　impossible。　Indo…Altaic；　philologists　call　it。　Origin　is　somewhere　in　Mongolia；　if　you　can　believe　it。　Unrelated　to　any　language　you've　ever　heard　about。　Not　too　many　people　here　speak　English；　but　some　German；　because　Austria　is　the　next　country　over。　Not　to　worry；　you'll　have　one　of　us　with　you　at　all　times。　I'll　take　you　on　a　walkabout　tomorrow　morning。　Don't　know　about　you；　but　traveling　always　tires　me　out。〃
　　　〃Yeah；〃　Ryan　agreed　at　once。　〃I　call　it　travel　shock。〃
　　　〃So；　we'll　get　you　settled　in　your　quarters　upstairs。　The　embassy　canteen　is　quite　adequate；　and　your　quarters　will　be　fortable　if　not　elaborate。　Let　me　get　your　bag。〃
　　　You　couldn't　knock　the　hospitality；　Jack　thought　ten　minutes　later。　A　bed；　private　bath；　a　TV；　and　a　VCR　with　a　dozen　or　so　tapes。　He　decided　on　The　Cruel　Sea　with　Jack　Hawkins；　and　he　made　it　to　the　end　before　fading　off　to　sleep。
　　　
　　　CHAPTER　26　…　TOURISTS
　　　All　of　them　woke　up　about　the　same　time。　Little　zaichik　was　first；　quickly　followed　by　her　mother　and　finally　her　father。　The　Hotel　Astoria　even　had　room　service；　an　unheard…of　luxury　for　Soviet　citizens。　Their　room　had　a　telephone；　and　Irina；　after　taking　down　the　orders；　called　it　in　to　the　right　extension；　then　was　told　that　their　food　would　arrive　in　about　thirty　minutes。
　　　〃I　could　fix　it　faster；〃　Irina　observed；　with　a　hint　of　sourness。　But　even　she　had　to　admit　that　not　having　to　fix　it　wasn't　a　bad　deal　for　her　at　all。　And　so　they　all　took　turns　in　the　bathroom　in　anticipation　of　their　morning　meal。
　　　Ryan　got　himself　showered　and　found　his　way　to　the　embassy　canteen　about　a　quarter　to　eight。　Evidently；　the　Brits　liked　their　luxuries　as　much　as　American　foreign　service　officers。　He　got　himself　a　pile　of　scrambled　eggs　and　bacon…Ryan　loved　English　bacon；　though　their　most　popular　sausages　seemed　to　him　to　use　sawdust　as　a　filler…and　four　slices　of　white　toast；　figuring　that　he'd　need　a　big　breakfast　to　make　it　through　this　day。
　　　The　coffee　wasn't　all　that　bad。　On　asking；　he　found　out　that　it　was　Austrian　in　origin；　which　explained　the　quality。
　　　〃The　Ambassador　insisted　on　that；〃　Hudson　said；　sitting　down　across　the　table　from　his　American　guest。　〃Dickie　loves　his　coffee。〃
　　　〃Who？〃　Jack　asked。
　　　〃Richard　Dover。　He's　the　Ambassador…back　in　London　at　the　moment；　just　left　day　before　yesterday。　Too　bad。　He'd　enjoy　meeting　you。　Good　boss；　he　is。　So；　sleep　well？〃
　　　〃No　plaints。　What　the　hell；　only　one　hour's　worth　of　time　difference。　Is　there　a　way　for　me　to　call　London？　I　didn't　get　a　chance　to　talk　to　my　wife　before　I　left　yesterday。　Don't　want　her　to　worry；〃　Jack　explained。
　　　〃Not　a　problem；　Sir　John；〃　Hudson　told　him。　〃You　can　do　that　from　my　office。〃
　　　〃She　thinks　I'm　in　Bonn　on　NATO　business。〃
　　　〃Really？〃
　　　〃Cathy　knows　I'm　Agency；　but　she　doesn't　know　much　about　what　I　do…and　besides；　I　don't　know　what　the　hell　I'm　doing　here　anyway。　Analyst；〃　Ryan　explained；　〃not　an　operations　guy。〃
　　　〃So　the　signal　about　you　said。　Bollocks；〃　the　field　officer　observed　tersely。　〃Think　of　this　as　a　new　experience　for　your　collection。〃
　　　〃Thanks　a　bunch；　Andy。〃　Ryan　looked　up　with　a　very　crooked　smile。　〃I　got　plenty　already；　pal。〃
　　　〃Well；　then；　the　next　time　you　do　a　memo；　you'll　have　a　better　appreciation　for　how　things　are　at　the　sharp　end。〃
　　　〃Fine　with　me；　just　so　I　don't　get　blunted　by　a　brick　wall。〃
　　　〃It's　my　job　to　prevent　that。〃
　　　Ryan　took　a　long　sip　of　the　coffee。　It　wasn't　up　to　Cathy's　but；　for　industrial　coffee；　not　too　shabby。　〃What's　the　plan　for　today？〃
　　　〃Finish　breakfast；　and　I'm　your　tour　guide。　We'll　get　you　a　feel　for　the　land　and　start　thinking　about　how　we　plete　Operation　BEATRIX。〃
　　　The　Zaitzev　family　was　agreeably　surprised　by　the　quality　of　the　food。　Oleg　had　heard　good　things　about　Hungarian　cuisine；　but　the　proof　of　the　pudding　is　always　in　the　eating；　and　the　surprise　was　a　pleasant　one。　Eager　to　see　the　new　city；　they　finished；　got　dressed；　and　asked　for　directions。　Since　Irina　was　the　one　most　interested　in　the　local　opportunities；　she　asked　for　the　best　shopping　street。　This；　the　desk　clerk　said；　was　Vaci　Utca；　to　which　they　could　take　the　local　metro；　which；　he　told　them；　was　the　oldest　in　Europe。　And　so　they　walked　to　Andrassy　Utca　and　walked　down　the　steps。　The　Budapest…Metro；　they　saw；　was　really　an　ordinary　streetcar　tram；　just　underground。　Even　the　tram　car　was　of　wooden　construction；　with　the　same　overhead　catenary　you