Alexandra gasps: we all lean forward, listening.
“I wanted to go to Svea’s island. In my head, I pictured her and me together, investigating the shot I’d heard, as if she and I were detectives, working together.”
“Where did you go?”
“I went down onto the long wooden bridge that goes out to the islands. I went along, past the store room, and then past the first house, the copper one. Then I saw the silver house, on Svea’s island. I went to the door; it was open. I could see right through the house, and I could see the lake beyond, and the outline of Svea, sitting there in her wicker chair. I called out.”
I glance at the faces around the room; the bated breath of the silence, the intent listening. There’s a long pause, as if the boy has drifted off into sleep. Moments pass. Then I hear Alexei’s voice again, and I feel a tremor in my pulse.
“I stepped into the house, and the floorboards creaked, but I heard nothing else. Then I went out of the French windows, onto the porch, and I looked at her sitting there. I said ‘Hello, Svea!’.
She didn’t reply, I thought she was asleep. And I touched her shoulder. Her head was on one shoulder, and her eyes were open, but she was totally quiet.”
Alexei is still holding the watch, gazing at the hands as they turn. Its tick is the only sound we can hear.
“Then I walked round to the front of her chair, and I looked at her head, it was just resting on her shoulder, not moving. And on the side of her head was a big red hole.”
The watch ticks on. Alexandra whimpers to herself.
“And – Svea was sitting on my book. I could see my book on the wicker chair, sticking out underneath her bottom. And I pulled at my book, and it came out from underneath her, and I took it, and I ran and ran, all the way back to my room. And no-one noticed me.”
The professor nods at Alexandra. She rises and goes over to the boy: her arms go around him. Axelson whispers.
“This session is finished. Please, your Majesty, comfort your son.”
22
Gunfire and smoke
Silently, Axelson and I leave the room. Tatiana comes onto the landing with us; the professor bows his head in apology.
“I’m so sorry, your High – I mean, Tatiana. I didn’t realise…”
“It’s all right, Professor Axelson! Honestly, you have done no harm. What happened – what Alexei saw – that was there, in his head anyway. He has had to live all alone with it – until now.”
“In the long term, speaking about what happened may help…”
“I think it will help a lot. He is such a quiet boy, and he’s been carrying this burden all this time. What can we do for him?”
“I will come and see him again – if your mother permits it. I have dealt with soldiers sufferng from the shocks of battle. There are some similarities. Talking about it, and sharing it with all of you, can only help him.”
She looks at him gratefully. “I agree, Professor. After all, I was a nurse myself.”
Unthinking, I reach out and touch her hand. “I did nursing too – in Flanders. It opens your eyes, doesn’t it?”
Her smile broadens, but there’s a faraway look in her eyes. “Working in the hospital – that was the happiest time of my life. Every night, when I pray, I ask God that I can soon start to live again, to do things. I prefer being active and useful.”
I nod in sympathy. Tatiana doesn’t let go of my hand, and carries on speaking, as if a dam has burst inside her, and her feelings are pouring out.
“Before I went to the hospital, I didn’t know if I could do it. A Russian princess – doing real work! But as soon I started working there, I found that I liked to be busy, and most of all, I liked nursing the patients. It was a chance for me to give something back – to all the brave men who have suffered so much. I wanted to treat wounds, to tackle blood and pain head-on. I even enjoyed making beds and sterilising bandages!”
She laughs, but then looks more serious. “I want to be a real person, working to heal men from what this insane war has done to them. I don’t want to be treated like a toy porcelain doll. And now… Russia says it doesn’t want the dolls any more.”
The professor meets her eyes. “You are a courageous young woman, Tatiana. I understand your frustration. But you can still be useful – even here and now. Do what you can for your brother. Does your family take walks in the Ipatiev House garden?”
“‘Walks’ is an overstatement. The garden is very small. But yes, we all go out, twice a day, to get some fresh air and sunlight.”
“Then ask your mother to allow Alexei out with you. Let him run and play in the sunshine, as much as he can.”
“Thank you – both of you.”
I look at her. “The professor has helped Alexei… I’ve not done much! But, I do have one question.”
Axelson looks at me quizzically. Tatiana replies “Of course – ask me anything.”
“Have you or your sisters ever been to Tri Tsarevny? I mean, did you maybe go there as children, long ago, before Alexei was born?”
“No, never. We’d never even heard of the place, until I got a letter from Alexei saying that he and Mother were staying there.”
Five days have passed; five days of total inactivity and frustrated boredom at our hotel. Professor Axelson is the only one who has been out: he has visited the Ipatiev House on two further occasions.
After the first of those visits, he came back with a puzzled, disturbed air. “I went to see Yurovsky. I told him a pack of lies, of course. I said the hypnosis of the Tsarina had gone well, but it had been merely an initial session. I asked him if I might be permitted additonal visits and hypnotic sessions with the imperial family.”
“Did he agree?”
“He didn’t even answer my question. Nor did he ask to see the notes of the first hypnotic session, which surprised me greatly. Instead, he looked at me and simply said ‘I’m too busy to see you, Professor’. That was it. And then, instead of asking me to leave his office, he stared into space, as if in a trance.”
“What did you do?”
“As a psychologist, I found it an interesting phenomenon. I sat and watched him. After about twenty minutes, he noticed I was still sitting there. Only then did he ask that I leave the Ipatiev House.”
“So what is going on?”
“I watched Yurovsky, in his trance-like state. He was actually fully conscious the whole time. The only way I can describe how he looked was this: he looked like a condemned prisoner in his cell. He looked indifferent to anything around him, including me and my requests. As if a death sentence had been passed on him.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I. You, I and Mr du Pavey were brought to Yekaterinburg because the Bolshevik leaders, Lenin included, decided that this hypnosis was of the utmost importance. Yurovsky himself, of course, is still under the impression that it was the Tsarina, not Alexei, that I hypnotized. He expects that in due course I will produce a report for him, which the Bolsheviks hope to use as evidence against her. But now, Yurovsky is acting as if my report on the Tsarina is not even worth talking about. Something else, something unwelcome, is occupying his thoughts entirely.”
Like what?”
“I think his orders have changed. For some reason, the Bolsheviks think it is no longer important to get a confession from the Tsarina. They have some new plan. But I have no idea what it is.”
That happened two days ago. Yesterday, the professor went back to the Ipatiev House, but this time the guards would not let him enter. We are in limbo, and none of us know what to do. Today has just been the usual frustrating routine of breakfast, a day sitting in the garden, and dinner. Like every other day, the hotel staff watch us at all times.