rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第13章

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tization；　the　plex　was　taken　over　by　the　newly　formed　Russian　Federal　Security　Service。
　Major…general　Oleg　Kirov；　hands　behind　his　back；　stood　in　front　of　the　windows　of　his　fifteenth…floor　office；　looking　out　at　the　Moscow　skyline。
　〃The　Americans　are　ing；〃　he　murmured。
　〃What　did　you　say；　dusha？〃
　Kirov　heard　the　tap　of　heels　on　hardwood；　felt　slender　fingers　slide　across　his　chest；　inhaled　the　warm；　sweet　perfume　borne　on　the　words。　He　turned　and　took　the　beautiful　brunette　into　his　arms；　kissing　her　hungrily。　His　passion　was　returned　as　he　felt　her　tongue　teasing　his；　her　hands　slipping　to　his　belt；　then　lower。
　Kirov　pulled　back；　gazing　into　the　provocative　dark　eyes　that　tantalized　him。
　〃I　wish　I　could；〃　he　said　softly。
　Lieutenant　Lara　Telegin；　Kirov's　aide…de…camp；　stood　with　arms　akimbo；　surveying　her　lover。　Even　in　the　drab　military　uniform　she　looked　like　a　runway　model。
　〃You　promised　me　dinner　tonight；〃　she　pouted。
　Kirov　couldn't　help　but　smile。　Lara　Telegin　had　graduated　at　the　top　of　her　class　at　the　Frunze　military　academy。　She　was　an　expert　marksman；　the　same　hands　that　caressed　him　could　take　his　life　in　a　matter　of　seconds。　Yet　she　could　be　as　shameless　and　provocative　as　she　was　professional。
　Kirov　sighed。　Two　women　in　one　body。　Sometimes　he　wasn't　sure　which　was　the　real　one。　But　he　would　enjoy　them　both　for　as　long　as　he　could。　At　thirty；　Lara　was　just　beginning　her　career。　Inevitably　she　would　move　on　to　other　posts；　and　finally　a　mand　of　her　own。　Kirov；　twenty　years　her　senior；　would　go　from　being　her　lover　to　her　godfather…　or；　as　the　Americans　liked　to　say；　a　〃rabbi〃　who　would　look　after　the　interests　of　his　favorite。
　〃You　didn't　tell　me　about　the　American；〃　Lara　said；　all　business　now。　〃Which　one　is　it？　We　get　so　many　these　days。〃
　〃I　didn't　tell　you　because　you　were　gone　all　day　and　I　had　no　one　to　help　me　with　this　infernal　paperwork；〃　Kirov　grumbled。　He　handed　her　a　puter　printout。
　〃Dr。　Jon　Smith；〃　she　read。　〃How　very　mon。〃　She　frowned。　〃USAMRIID？〃
　〃Our　Dr。　Smith　is　anything　but　mon；〃　Kirov　said　dryly。　〃I　met　with　him　when　he　was　stationed　at　Fort　Detrick。〃
　〃　‘Was'？　I　thought　he　still　is。〃
　〃According　to　Randi　Russell；　he　still　has　an　association　with　USAMRIID　but　is　on　indefinite　leave。　She　called　to　ask　if　I　would　see　him。〃
　〃Randi　Russell。。。〃　Lara　let　the　name　hang。
　Kirov　smiled。　〃No　need　to　get　catty。〃
　〃I　only　bee　catty　when　there's　good　reason；〃　Lara　replied　tartly。　〃So　she's　paving　the　way　for　Smith。。。　who；　it　says　here；　was　engaged　to　her　sister。〃
　Kirov　nodded。　〃She　died　in　the　Hades　horror。〃
　〃And　would　Russell…　whom　we　both　suspect　operates　a　CIA　front…　vouch　for　him？　Are　the　two　of　them　running　some　kind　of　operation？　What's　going　on；　dusha？〃
　〃I　think　that　the　Americans　have　a　problem；〃　Kirov　said　heavily。　〃Either　we're　part　of　it　or　they　need　our　help。　In　any　event；　we　will　find　out　soon　enough。　You　and　I　will　be　seeing　Smith　tonight。〃
　
　
　In　the　waning　afternoon　Smith　stepped　out　of　the　apartment　block　on　Ulitsa　Markovo。　He　turned　his　collar　against　the　wind　and　stared　up　at　the　grim　concrete　face　of　the　building。　Somewhere　within　the　anonymous　windows　on　the　twentieth　floor　Katrina　Danko　would　be　attending　to　the　heartbreaking　task　of　telling　her　six…year…old　daughter；　Olga；　that　she　would　never　see　her　father　again。
　To　Smith；　the　task　of　calling　on　the　relatives　of　the　dead　was　a　task　that　pained　him　like　no　other。　Like　all　wives　and　mothers；　Katrina　had　known　why　he　was　here　from　the　minute　she　opened　the　door　and　laid　eyes　on　him。　But　she　had　iron　in　her　spine。　She　had　refused　to　surrender　to　tears；　asking　Smith　how　Yuri　Danko　had　died　and　whether　he　had　suffered。　Smith　told　her　as　much　of　the　truth　as　he　could；　then　said　that　arrangements　had　already　been　made　to　fly　Danko's　remains　to　Moscow　as　soon　as　the　Venetian　authorities　released　them。
　〃He　talked　a　great　deal　about　you；　Mr。　Smith；〃　Katrina　had　told　him。　〃He　said　that　you　were　a　good　man。　I　see　that　is　true。〃
　〃I　wish　I　could　tell　you　more；〃　Smith　said　sincerely。
　〃What　good　would　that　do？〃　Katrina　asked。　〃I　knew　the　kind　of　work　Yuri　was　involved　in…　the　secrecy；　the　silences。　But　he　did　it　because　he　loved　his　country。　He　was　proud　of　his　service。　All　I　ask　is　that　his　death　not　be　in　vain。〃
　〃I　can　promise　you　it　won't　be。〃
　Smith　walked　back　to　his　hotel　and　spent　the　next　hour　lost　in　thought。　Seeing　Danko's　family　added　a　personal　sense　of　urgency　to　his　mission。　Of　course　he　would　make　sure　that　Katrina　and　her　daughter　were　well　provided　for。　But　that　wasn't　enough。　Now　more　than　ever　he　needed　to　know　who　had　killed　Danko；　and　why。　He　wanted　to　be　able　to　look　his　widow　in　the　eye　and　say；　no；　the　man　you　loved　did　not　die　in　vain。
　As　night　descended；　Smith　made　his　way　to　the　lobby　bar。　Randi；　wearing　a　navy　blue　power　suit；　was　already　waiting　for　him。
　〃You　look　pale；　Jon；〃　she　said　quickly。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃I'll　be　fine。　Thanks　for　meeting　me。〃
　They　ordered　pepper…flavored　vodka　and　a　plate　of　zakuski…　pickled　mushrooms；　herring；　and　other　snacks。　After　the　waitress　withdrew；　Randi　raised　her　glass。
　〃To　absent　friends。〃
　Smith　echoed　her　toast。
　〃I　spoke　with　Kirov；〃　Randi　said；　and　gave　him　the　details　on　the　uping　meeting。　She　glanced　at　her　watch。　〃You'll　have　to　get　going。　Is　there　anything　else　I　can　do？〃
　Smith　counted　out　some　rubles　and　left　them　on　the　table。　〃Let's　see　how　things　go　with　Kirov　tonight。〃
　Randi　came　close　and　slipped　a　business　card　in　his　hand。　〃My　address　and　phone　number…　just　in　case。　You　have　secure　munications；　right？〃
　Smith　patted　his　pocket。　〃The　latest　in　digitally　encrypted　cell　phones。〃　He　gave　her　the　number。
　〃Jon；　if　you　find　out　anything　I　should　know。。。〃　She　let　the　rest　of　her　thought　hang。
　Smith　squeezed　her　hand。　〃I　understand。〃
　
　
　Jon　Smith　had　been　to　Moscow　a　number　of　times；　but　he　had　never　had　occasion　to　visit　Dzerzhinsky　Square。　Now；　standing　in　the　cavernous　lobby　of　the　Zamat　3　building；　all　the　stories　he'd　heard　from　Cold　War　warriors　came　back　to　him。　There　was　a　soulless　indifference　about　the　place　that　no　amount　of　fresh　paint　could　hide。　The　echoes　off　the　varnished　floorboards　sounded　like　the　footsteps　of　the　condemned…　men　and　women　who；　since　the　birth　of　munism；　had　been　dragged　through　there　on　their　way　to　the　interrogation　chambers　in　the　cellars。　Smith　wondered　how　those　who　worked　there　now　dealt　with　the　ghosts。　Were　they　aware　of　them？　Or　was　the　past　hurriedly　dismissed　for　fear　that；　like　a　golem；　it　might　e　back　to　life？
　Smith　followed　his　junior…officer　escort　into　the　elevator。　As　the　car　rose；　he　mentally　reviewed　the　details　Randi　had　provided　on　Major…General　Oleg　Kirov's　career；　and　that　of　his　deputy；　Lara　Telegin。
　Kirov　seemed　to　be　the　kind　of　soldier　who　straddled　the　past　and　the　future。　Raised　under　the　munist　regime；　he　had　distinguished　himself　in　bat　during　Afghanistan；　Russia's　Vietnam。　Afterward；　he　had　thrown　his　lot　in　with　the　reformers。　When　a　fragile　democracy　took　hold；　Kirov's　patrons　rewarded　him　with　a　post　in　the　newly　formed　Federal　Security　Service。　The　reformers　were　eager　to　destroy　the　old　KGB　and　purge　the　diehards　in　its　ranks。　The　only　people　they　trusted　to　carry　out　that　cleansing　were　battle…tested　soldiers　like　Kirov；　whose　loyalty　to　the　new　Russia　was　unquestioned。
　If　Kirov　represented　a　bridge　to　the　future；　Lara　Telegin　was　that　future's　best　hope。　Educated　in　Russia　and　England；　Telegin　was　the　new　breed　of　Russian　technocrat：　multilingual；　worldly　in　her　outlook；　a　technological　wizard　who　knew　more　about　the　Internet　and　Windows　than　did　most　westerners。
　But　Randi　had　emphasized　that　when　it　came　to　matters　of　national　security；　the　Russians　were　still　secretive　and　suspicious。　They　could　drink　with　you　all　night；　regale　you　with　their　most　intimate　or　embarrassing　experiences。　But　if　you　asked　the　wrong　question　about　the　wrong　subject；　offense　would　be　taken　instantly；　the　trust　broken。
　Bioaparat　is　about　as　sensitive　an　issue　as　there　is；　Smith　thought　as　he　was　shown　into　Kirov's　office。　If　Kirov　takes　what　I　tell　him　the　wrong　way；　I　could　be　back　on　the　plane　before　morning。
　〃Dr。　Jon　Smith！〃
　Kirov's　voice　boomed　across　the　room　as　he　went　over　and　shook　Smith's　hand。　He　was　a　tall；　barrel…chested　man　with　a　full　head　of　silver　hair　and　a　face　that　might　have　been　stamped　on　a　Roman　coin。
　〃It's　good　to　see　you　again；〃　he　said。　〃That　last　time　was。。。　Geneva；　five　years　ago。　Correct？〃
　〃Yes；　it　was；　General。〃
　〃Allow　me　to　introduce　my　adjutant；　Lieutenant　Lara　Telegin。〃
　〃A　pleasure；　Doctor；〃　Telegin　said；　openly　appraising　Smith　and　approving　what　she　saw。
　〃The　pleasure　is　mine；〃　Smith　replied。
　He　thought　that　with　her　dark　eyes　and　raven　hair；　Lara　Telegin　was　the　archetypal　temptress　out　of　a　nineteenth…century　Russian　novel；　a　siren　who　wooed　otherwise　rational　men　to　their　doom。
　Kirov　indicated　the　sideboard。　〃Can　I　offer　you　a　refreshment；　Dr。　Smith？〃
　〃No；　thank　you。〃
　〃Very　well。　In　that　case；　as　you　Americans　are　so　fond　of　saying：　what's　on　your　mind？〃
　Smith　glanced　at　Lara　Telegin。　〃No　disrespect　intended；　Lieutenant；　but　the　subject　is　highly　confidential。〃
　〃None　taken；　Doctor；〃　she　replied　tonelessly。　〃However；　I　am　cleared　for　COSMIC…level　material；　the　kind　that　you　would　take　to　your　president。　Besides；　I　understand　that　you　are　not　here　in　any　official　capacity。　Are　you？〃
　〃The　lieutenant　has　my　full　confidence；〃　Kirov　added。　〃You　may　speak　freely　here；　Doctor。〃
　〃Fine；〃　Smith　replied。　〃I　will　assume　that　this　conversation　is　not　being　monitored　and　that　the　premises　are　secure。〃
　〃Take　that　as　a　given；〃　Kirov　assured　him。
　〃Bioaparat；〃　Smith　said。
　The　single　word　elicited　the　reactions　he'd　expected：　shock　and　concern。
　〃What　about　Bioaparat；　Doctor？〃　Kirov　asked　quietly。
　〃General；　I　have　good　reason　to　believe　that　there's　a　security　breach　at　the　facility。　If　material　has　not　already　gone　missing；　there　is　a　plan　under　way　to　steal　some　of　the　samples　you　hold　there。〃
　〃Preposterous！〃　Lara　Telegin　snapped。　〃Bioaparat　has　some　of　the　most　advanced　security　systems　in　the　world。　We　have　heard　these　kinds　of　allegations　before；　Dr。　Smith。　Honestly；　sometimes　the　West　thinks　that　we　are　little　more　than　unruly　schoolchildren　playing　with　dangerous　toys。　It's　insulting　and…〃
　〃Lara！　〃
　Kirov's　voice　was　soft；　but　the　mand　behind　it　was　unmistakable。
　〃You　must　forgive　the　lieutenant；〃　he　said　to　Smith。　〃She　resents　when　the　West　appears　to　be　patronizing　or　paternalistic…　which　is　sometimes　the　case；　wouldn't　you　agree？〃
　〃General；　I'm　not　here　to　criticize　your　security　arrangements；〃　Smith　replied。　〃I　wouldn't　have　e　all　this　way　if　I　didn't　believe　that　you　have　a　serious　problem…　or　that　you　wouldn't　at　least　hear　me　out。〃
　〃Then　please；　go　on　about　our　‘problem。'　〃
　Smith　regrouped　and　took　a　deep　breath。　〃The　most　likely　target　is　your　store　of　smallpox。〃
　Kirov　paled。　〃That's　insane！　No　one　in　their　right　mind　would　try　to　steal　that！〃
　〃　‘Right　minds'　wouldn't　try　to　steal　anything　you　keep　at　Bioaparat。　But　we　have　information　that　the　theft　is　in　the　works。〃
　〃Who　is　your　source；　D