‘Oh, it doesn’t matter. We haven’t got time for that now. Tell me about Anni.’
Pia’s mother sighed.
‘Please tell me – what about Anni?’ Iain pleaded.
Pia recounted what Anni had told her about the Finns wanting to get rid of Kovtun
‘That makes sense,’ Iain said. ‘Of course, we know he’s a trusted interpreter.’ Iain looked up, ‘It’s hard to get hold of Finnish Russian translators. Strange, but very few Finns want to learn the language.’
Maija lowered her eyes. ‘Were you aware of Mr Linnonmaa’s involvement?’ she asked.
‘Of course,’ Iain said.
‘But you said Anni was in danger.’ Pia was watching Iain carefully.
Iain took Pia’s hand and said, ‘She was, and is, in danger. How do you think the Russians will react to a Finn getting involved with a defection to the West? Not to mention the Finns. Anni’s father is playing a dangerous game. In my opinion…’ Iain hesitated.
‘So you knew about Jukka’s plan all along?’ Pia’s mother had moved closer to the table.
Both Pia and Iain looked at her. Pia didn’t understand who her mother was talking about, but Iain said, ‘Jukka?’
Pia’s mother’s mouth was slightly open. She was staring at Iain, as if she couldn’t understand what he was saying.
‘Maija?’ Iain said.
Finally her mother seemed to come out of her trance, ‘Mr Linnonmaa and I exchanged Christian names on the telephone after Pia’s little accident…’ She coughed and continued, ‘But the point is you knew what he was planning?’
Now it was Iain’s turn to look uncomfortable, ‘Well no, not exactly, but we did have information that Mr Linnonmaa was involved somehow…’
Again there was a long silence. Iain was still watching Maija. She turned around and started to busy herself with washing up cups and saucers left in the sink.
Finally Iain said, ‘I’m glad you two are OK.’
Maija stopped washing up and faced Pia and Iain again. Her arms were folded over her chest but she smiled.
Iain got up and said, ‘What time are you planning to leave here?’
‘I’m not sure we’re going yet.’ Maija said.
Iain said, ‘Look, I’ll be there all the time keeping an eye on Pia.’
‘Mum, it’ll be fine,’ Pia said ‘You’ll be there too, and all those people. What could possibly happen to me in the middle of all that? It’s a huge hall, it can seat at least 1,000 people and Miss Joutila has been going on about how many people there will be watching us. Then there are the other schools and their trainers and parents. Finnish and Russian officials, the police will be there, isn’t that right?’ Pia turned to Iain, who just nodded, then said, ‘Look Maija, it’s up to you. If you don’t want Pia to go, don’t let her.’
Pia let her hands drop, ‘I’m supposed to attend the final training session at ten, and then we’re all transported to the Myllypuro hall in a bus. The competition is due to start at one o’clock.’ Pia looked at her mother but she averted her eyes.
‘Ok, I’ll be there whatever you decide,’ Iain said.
Standing side by side, the two women watched as Iain walked wearily out of the kitchen and out of the flat.
The morning was beautiful. When Pia woke for the second time that Monday, she couldn’t believe the strength of the light filtering through her closed Venetian blinds.
Maija was already dressed. She had even put on her make-up and looked polished in her work suit.
‘I’m coming with you to the rehearsals and then the Tournament,’ she said.
Pia ran up to her mother and hugged her hard. ‘I knew you’d understand!’ She gave her mother a light kiss on the cheek, careful not to disturb her make-up.
‘But what about your job?’
‘I’ve phoned in sick.’
Pia looked at her mother. She was glad she’d told her everything.
‘It’s quarter past nine, so we haven’t got that long.’ Maija handed Pia a cup of coffee. ‘I’ve also spoken with Iain. He’ll be at the Myllypuro hall waiting for us. Hopefully that’ll be enough.’ She sighed.
‘Did Iain say anything about Anni?’
Maija paused briefly before replying, ‘No, but we spoke only a few words.’ She added, ‘C’mon, Pia, you only have half an hour!’
Pia had an unreal feeling. It was strange being at home this late on a Monday morning. She’d been given the day off for the Tournament while the rest of the class would already be listening to another boring lecture from the Old Crow. She looked out of the window. The street was quiet. The sun reflecting on the newly fallen snow was blinding. How could anything be dangerous on a bright and beautiful day like this? She started eating the rye bread and cheese her mother had laid out for breakfast. Pia wasn’t in the least bit hungry, but knew she needed to eat in order to have the strength to carry through the programme.
Leena woke after a sleepless night. Iain and she had talked until the early hours. Had she made a mistake telling Iain everything? She peered at the large window in her living room and saw the sun was shining through the long thin curtains. It was in this room that Vadi had confessed his love for his daughter. Leena remembered how touched she had been.
‘My daughter, Leena, my daughter crying in sleep every night. I must do something, I must get her out!’
Leena now wondered if any of what Vadi had told her was true. If this Alyona even was his daughter. Iain knew about the defection, but not that he was going to be accompanied by his daughter. But why would Vadi make up such an elaborate lie? The whole forced schooling of talented gymnasts, how Alyona was made to train even when ill with exhaustion or injured. How the Tournament proved the perfect opportunity to get Alyona over the border to Finland and then to London. He had even told Leena he’d send for her when they had both settled in England. Or had Leena just been fooling herself? Thinking about it now, she couldn’t remember when he had actually said she would join them in London. Leena put her head in her hands. She looked at her watch by the bed. Just before nine. This won’t do! She got up to have a hot shower.
The girls looked nervous. The gym hall was bathed in strips of bright light from the windows near the high ceiling. Pia Mäkelä had come with her mother. Leena went over and shook her hand. She was a copy of Pia, just a little older.
‘Miss Joutila,’ she said and there was a chill in her voice. But Leena didn’t have time to think about that now. She needed to concentrate on preparing her girls for the Tournament.
The group of five girls looked smart in their sky-blue competition costumes. The cuffs and collar had thin white edgings on them. Leena had designed the costumes herself to reflect the colours of the Finnish flag. ‘Helsinki Lyceum’ was discreetly embroidered over the top left breast of each girl’s suit. The three girls with long hair had it up in a tight ponytail, just as Leena had told them to. Leena frowned at Pia’s leg warmers. They looked shabby. She’d have to remove them before the routine. All that was left now was to get through the programme as well as possible.
Leena clapped her hands together and shouted, ‘From the top, start with the front roll, on my signal!’
When they had run though the whole of the ten-minute programme the third time, there was clapping from behind Leena. Other parents must also have decided to come to the rehearsals. Leena turned around to see who was being so enthusiastic.
The man clapping and whooping loudly was Vladsislas. He was now walking towards Leena, with a big grin on his face. He was wearing the long black coat and boots.
‘Vadi,’ Leena whispered. She felt the eyes of the girls and Pia’s mother drill into her as Vadi took her hand and shook it.