I already knew that there had been trouble in Baku, back in 1905. But I didn’t know the details. So I read up carefully on the incident. It was a revolt against the Tsar. The revolutionaries tried terrorist tactics, including setting fire to some of the oil wells, and damaging the all-important pipelines. The revolt was suppressed, and then the Russian government built new, well-protected pipelines. Did you see a long, walled alley near the courthouse, Professor?”
“We did. We walked through that alley, to get here.”
“That wall along one side of the alley was built after the 1905 revolt, to protect the new pipeline running from the oilfields down to the harbor, for loading oil tankers.”
Axelson nods. “Yes. I thought that long, straight, blank wall looked odd.”
Yuri carries on. “Between that wall and the harbor, the pipe has to run a steady, level line. So parts of the old courthouse were demolished to make way for it. That’s why these cells are here, on the upper floor. They replace the old cells on the ground floor, which were knocked down to make room for the pipeline.
The pipeline runs right through the middle of the court buildings, on the ground floor. Look out there.” Yuri points out through the grille into the courtyard. “The courtyard is an artificial floor. The pipe is, in fact, directly below that courtyard. Do you see that iron trapdoor? It’s an inspection hatch, so that engineers can get inside the pipeline to check it.”
Rufus looks at him. “You’re not suggesting we go into the pipe! It’ll be full of oil!”
“It might be. On the other hand, it might be empty. Agnes, you told me something that General Dunsterville said, about the oil pumps?”
“Yes. Dunsterville said that the governors of Baku wouldn’t listen to his idea. He proposed that the pumps should be destroyed, to stop them falling into the Turks’ hands. Then the oil supply would be cut off.”
Yuri looks around the room. “That’s what I’m hoping. You told me, Agnes, that Dunsterville was a leader and a fighter. I believe he and his men took matters into their own hands, and destroyed the pumps.”
Rufus can’t suppress a laugh. “A wild guess, Sirko!”
“I’m open to better ideas, if you can offer them.”
The professor, meanwhile, has been musing to himself, staring into empty space. But now, I realise what he’s doing. He’s looking out through the grille at the trapdoor.
“I agree with Captain Sirko’s idea. It is our only chance. I have only one question: if we get through the pipeline to the harbor, how will we escape from there? It will be full of Ottoman troops.”
Yuri replies with a smile. “We’re not going to the harbor, Professor.”
It’s half an hour later, and night has fallen. I stand at our cell door, and call softly through the hatch. After a few moments, I see the face of our guard.
“Yes?”
“Look, I know you have your job to do. But could you move me to another cell for the night? I can pay you, like I did before when you let me go to the bathroom.”
He hisses in reply. “I can’t change your cell! I have strict orders. Kılıç is a truly harsh commander: no-one has ever dared disobey him.”
“I could offer you a hundred rubles.”
“How much do you have?”
“I have – quite a lot of money.” I pull several hundred-ruble notes out of my pocket. The man peers through the hatch, his eyes bulging greedily at the sight of the money. Then he glances around the cell at the sleeping shapes of my companions. I smile pleadingly at him.
“Two hundred rubles? That’s my top price. These men, they all snore, and I really do need to get away from the noise and get some sleep.”
He takes a final glance at the money in my hand. Then I hear the key turn in the lock, and he ushers me out into the corridor. Suddenly, my face is pushed against the stone wall.
“Now, you bitch. Give me all your money—”
His voice is cut short. I turn, and see Yuri’s arm around the man’s throat. Behind Yuri, Rufus holds the man’s rifle, and levels it at his face. Yuri glances at Axelson.
“Take off his jacket; use it to tie him. And, Professor, do you have that handkerchief? I’ll gag him so he can’t make a sound.”
We look out into the darkened corridor. To our right are the steps leading down to the lobby; we can see light down there, and hear the noise of talking: it sounds as if more of Kılıç’s troops have come into the courthouse. I dread to think of what they have been doing today… or of what they might do to us.
But Yuri points silently along the passage to our left, and whispers. “I’m not using the flashlight yet. We must be like cats in the night.”
He leads us along the corridor. I’m just behind him, holding Mariam’s hand. We go a few paces, then Yuri pushes open a door on our left, and I feel air on my face. I can’t see it, but we’re looking out on the courtyard.
There’s no moon, but a few scattered stars mark the shape of the sky above the surround of blank walls. Yuri puts his hand on my shoulder, to signal to me to wait. He steps out alone into the courtyard without a sound. We can’t see what he’s doing, but then I feel his hand again on my elbow; a gentle tug forward. It’s a signal for us all to step into the courtyard. I go forward ten paces, then I hear the faintest whisper from Yuri.
“We’re at the hatch, and I’ve opened it. Now, I will drop down into it, holding the edges of the hole with my hands so I can pull myself out again if it’s full of oil. But if I’m able to get right down inside the pipe, I’ll put on the flashlight.”
I hear the tiniest sound, his feet grazing on the brickwork, as he lowers himself. Then I see dim, blood-red light below me. Yuri has cupped his hand over the end of the flashlight, so no light shows up here in the courtyard. He signals to me to lower Mariam to him. Moments later, I dangle my own feet over the edge: Yuri grips my calves, and I slide down; then he holds my waist. “Take great care to keep standing, Agnes. Now, can you hold the flashlight while I help the others down? Keep your hand over the end of it.”
Within a minute we’re all inside the pipe, and Yuri pulls the hatch down on us. I take my hand off the lamp of the flashlight, and we look around.
It’s horribly claustrophobic. The pipe is four feet or so in diameter; I’m bent over, but Yuri and Rufus have to crouch. The smell of oil is overwhelming, and the whole interior of the tunnel is coated in sticky, shiny black, like tar. The oil is pooled on the floor of the tunnel; my shoes are covered.
I see the professor’s face in the flashlight, looking intently at us all. “Listen carefully. There are dangers down here. Perhaps not as bad as Kılıç and his murdering mob – but we could still die down here.
Firstly, after a few minutes, the oil will begin to irritate your skin where it touches: your feet will start to feel they are burning. Secondly, crude oil gives off noxious gases such as toluene: we will all have bad headaches, and start to feel dizzy. Those feelings will get worse as we go along. And of course, take great care not to slip over and get covered with oil.”
Yuri leads us forward, shining the flashlight down the pipeline. The glistening circles of the oil-coated walls recede endlessly before us, dimming into faraway blackness. We inch our way forward, time goes by, but nothing changes; my view is always the same. I feel the tunnel is hypnotizing me. Step, step. Under my feet, it’s like walking in maple syrup: the suction of the oil pulling at my shoes, as I move my feet forwards.