‘It’s okay,’ he said.
‘Oh, darling. Lovely man!’ She embraced him as he got out, smothering him in her furs.
‘Tanya.’ He nuzzled her, thinking how to put it without panicking her. ‘We have to talk a little. You mustn’t stay long here, but there are a few things to say.’
‘I love you.’
‘Yes, that. But listen to me. You’re going to be seriously questioned — not by the people here. Probably they’re already out of it, and don’t know yet. But if Irkutsk told them to look for me elsewhere, and they still think I’m here, then Irkutsk hasn’t told them everything. The chances are people will fly in, senior people, professionals. You must be prepared for it. Tell me — Tcherny Vodi is the one secret place here?’
‘So far as I know.’
Then that’s what I’ve come for — they must know that. They don’t know how I got here. But they know a place was prepared for me — they know the whole Ponomarenko angle now. He doesn’t know why, the agent who fixed him doesn’t know. I’m certain of that. But they know. They know there was an explosion here, and that a satellite observed it. And a few months later, I arrived. Do you understand?’
‘Yes, I understand.’
‘Who is allowed to go to Tcherny Vodi from here?’
‘I am — you know that.’
Exactly. Only you. Who drove you there?’
‘Ah.’
‘Yes. Now remember — I made all the running. I volunteered. I struck up acquaintance with you, asked if I could drive you — to anywhere, to Panarovka, to settlements. I hung on to you, made myself available, was very willing. You didn’t ask for me. That’s the first thing. Now Tcherny Vodi — could they find anything out from there?’
‘Find out what?’
‘Are they entitled to ask them questions? Could they question the Evenks on what happened?’
‘They wouldn’t get far with the Evenks.’
‘No.’ He thought for a moment. ‘When you left, the first time, you went to a couple of European settlements and stayed the night. What happened to the driver there?’
‘They gave him a room.’
‘Did he eat with them? Did they get a good look at him?’
She thought. ‘No — he took a tray to his room, he didn’t eat in the dining hall. The same both nights. He kept himself to himself. And in the mornings, too. I remember there was only comment on his fine hat, his fancy balaclava. That’s all they’d remember — a native. They can’t tell one from another. I’m almost certain.’
‘Okay.’ He thought about this. ‘Now, they’re going to assume I had help here — that at the least someone must have helped me skip from Tchersky. They need steering away from you. You will have to mention a couple of things.’
He told her what they were, and she listened seriously.
‘Have you got it?’
‘Yes, I’ve got it.’
‘Stay very alert. They’ll be professionals. In another life I’ve had experience of the type. Unexpected questions come up. I wish I could think of some more for you. You’ll be stuck with this, after I’m gone, and I can’t help.’
‘Oh God, darling, sweetheart.’ She had opened her coat and enfolded him in it, pressing them close together. ‘Only go safely! Please be safe. Lovely one! I want you. And we’ll be together again. When this is over, when all the craziness in the country is over, we’ll be together — why not? Everything is changing. I’ll move from here. At some time I’ll move, and we can be together, in another place. I love you!’ She was caressing his face, kissing him. ‘You’re necessary for my life! And you love me. Say it to me. Tell me.’
‘Yes. I love you,’ he said, and meant it. He was moved by her, and she had fallen very much in love with him. But now he only wanted her away.
And presently she grew more practical. ‘I brought you more food and two flasks of coffee. I couldn’t get a map. Can you manage with that?’
‘Yes, I’ll manage.’
‘Do you know where you’re going?’
‘No,’ he said. But he did. ‘I have to work it out, and go where I can. When I’ve got this working properly — it isn’t anything, I can do it.’
‘Is there anything more you could want?’
‘I don’t know, I hope not.’
‘I’ll come back to see. I’ll come tomorrow night.’
‘I don’t know,’ he said slowly, ‘if that’s so wise.’
‘I’ll be very careful. If it isn’t safe, then as soon as I can. But I will come. If you’re gone will you leave me a sign?’
He kissed her hard, wishing her away. ‘Yes, I’ll leave you a sign,’ he said in her ear.
He turned the car on the river, and got her into it and, as she clung to him, felt the tears on her face.
‘Sweetheart, darling. It’s only goodbye for now, isn’t it?’
‘It’s only for now,’ he said.
‘I love you for ever and ever, my lovely lover. You know that. Say it to me.’
‘For ever and ever — I love you, lovely Tanya-Panya.’
He watched her lights recede, and went in and had a stiff drink, and to his surprise found his own eyes were moist.
Then he lit a cigarette and looked through the book. Engine. Timing.
50
As she drove on to the main river, the aircraft passed overhead, and she saw its lights emerging through the overcast. But in the river’s curve it went out of sight, dropping lower and lower.
Ahead, many kilometres ahead, unusual activity was taking place on the river; cars milling, headlights swinging.
Although it was almost three in the morning, a full reception committee was awaiting the major-general of security; who was not in the best of tempers. He had slept the last hour of the long flight and had awoken bilious.
‘What’s this — have the fools turned out the town band?’ he said, peering out of the window as the plane taxied.
Not the town band, but senior town hall staff and all the headquarters staff of the militia were tumbling out of cars and lining up as the plane came to a halt, its engines whining down. The general had a team of four with him and they went slowly down the steps, shielding their eyes in the powerful glare of headlights. In this glare the general’s shoulder-boards were very prominent, and the chief of militia had no difficulty in identifying him. He stepped forward and snapped off a smart salute, receiving a nod from the general.
‘Are you head of the militia here?’
‘Yes, General.’
‘You’ve got me an apartment?’
‘Of course, General.’
‘Come with me to it. Which is my car?’
A fine apartment had been secured for the general, and two more, not much less fine, for his four aides, who included a colonel. In fifteen minutes all of them were at the general’s.
He had brought a set of large-scale maps with him, and on the journey had ringed a number of areas. He took a glass of bismuth while casting a sour eye over these.
‘The routes you sent were not so clear. On these short hops, the drivers seem to have a choice. Who determines it?’
‘It depends on the load, General, and what’s to be dropped off. They can stick either to the river or to the made tracks. To Ambarchik, for instance —’
‘Forget Ambarchik. He hasn’t gone to Ambarchik. He’s gone south or east.’