The next stage of their journey, though, did concern Grishkov.
“Isn’t anyone going to complain when we don’t bring this car back, and maybe report it to the police?”
Esmail answered, shaking his head. “No. Alina has an arrangement with the rental car manager. She gives him far more than the regular rental price, which goes right into his pocket. I’m sure he suspects that the cars are used for smuggling. But as long as the cars come back undamaged, and so far they have, the money is enough reason to play along.”
Grishkov frowned. “But how will the car get back to the dealer?”
Esmail smiled. “Alina did not tell you that part, because I handle it myself.
I have an arrangement with three families with farms outside Nalous, all related to each other. I leave the car with them, and they return it to the rental car manager. We aren’t going past Nalous because farms closer to the border are watched much more closely by the police.”
Grishkov shook his head. “I don’t like this. What is to stop them from turning us in to the authorities?”
Esmail laughed. “Many things. First, they will never see you. When I pull the car off this road and onto their driveway, you will not be visible from their house. Land this far from a major city is relatively cheap, and the farm is quite large. We will be walking through one of their orchards for some time before we reach the first of several trails that will take us to the border.
Second, they know that if they turn us in they are certain to be imprisoned as well, since any investigation of their finances will show income that cannot be explained. Finally, the same is true for the other families involved. If one is discovered, the police are sure to find out about the others as well. Greed might tempt one person to take a chance. But to risk the entire extended family? Very unlikely.”
Grishkov nodded, and looked at Esmail thoughtfully. “My apologies. You appear to have thought this through quite carefully.”
Esmail smiled. “It’s why I’m still alive, and many of my competitors are not. Don’t worry — I’ll get you to the border.”
Grishkov nodded and looked at Vasilyev, who arched one eyebrow and said nothing.
Esmail looked over his shoulder at Vasilyev and Neda, who were following behind him. Grishkov was walking a short distance ahead, looking back every now and then as though daring Esmail to correct him. So far, Esmail had said nothing.
After they finished walking through the farm’s apple orchards, Esmail called for a stop.
Pointing at the trees around them, Esmail said, “We will continue walking through forest for some time, though the trees will thin as we approach the border. If you have anything to discuss do it in the next two hours, while we are still far enough from the border not to worry about patrols. After that, do not speak or make noise for the rest of our journey. If you need to stop, wave your hand at me. We will make camp at nightfall.”
Turning to Grishkov, he said, “It’s obvious this is not your first walk in the woods. You are welcome to take the lead. Once we approach the border, though, you should let me earn my pay. There are old and new minefields along the border, and neither are marked.”
Grishkov nodded. “Is there any wildlife we need to be concerned about?”
Esmail shook his head. “Iran has many dangerous creatures, ranging from cobras and crocodiles to cheetah and leopards. We are far from the habitats of cobras and crocodiles, and cheetahs and leopards have been hunted to near extinction. Though we could encounter a viper or a wolf, it’s unlikely since they usually avoid people. At least, I’ve never seen either in these woods.
The best reason to keep your eyes open is the uneven ground. It’s full of rocks and tree roots. A sprained ankle or worse for any of you will be a problem for all of us.”
Though he was careful not to look at Neda as he said it, she answered anyway. “This isn’t my first time in the woods either. You’ll have nothing to worry about from me.”
Esmail nodded. “Very well. We’ve been making good time so far. Let’s get back to it.”
Once again, Vasilyev and Neda brought up the rear. Vasilyev asked quietly in English, “Have you thought about what you might do in Moscow?”
Just as quietly, Neda answered in Russian, “I plan to teach physics.”
Only Vasilyev’s years of experience let him keep his feet steady, and keep his astonishment from reaching his face. “I didn’t know you spoke Russian,” he said, again in Russian.
Switching to English, Neda shrugged. “I’ve just started to learn. It’s obviously something I will have to know.”
Vasilyev nodded. “You are right. Many Russians speak English, but most do not. It is good that you have already started to learn. I compliment you on your accent.”
Neda smiled, the first time Vasilyev had seen her do so. “Thank you. I’ve just done some online instruction, so it’s good to have feedback from a native speaker. I was able to learn Urdu pretty quickly when I spent a year as an exchange student at the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Islamabad, so I’m hoping to have the same luck with Russian.”
Then her smile faded. “But let’s be serious. You’re not really interested in my plans in Russia. You want to know whether I’m going to tell your General all that I know.”
Vasilyev shrugged. “I am actually interested in your plans. One of America’s great strengths is its willingness to welcome outsiders, and I have often thought Russia could learn from their success. As someone with an advanced degree in physics, I have no doubt you will make important contributions.”
Now Neda’s smile was back, but she shook her head. “Really? It’s not as though there aren’t plenty of other physicists in Russia.”
Vasilyev smiled back. “Perhaps. There were plenty of them in the United States in the early 1940s. Do you know how many of the two dozen scientists on the team that created the first atomic bomb were born in America?”
Neda shook her head.
Vasilyev said, “Two. And one of those two obtained his degree outside the US. I think the lesson is clear. Any nation, no matter how great, can always use some help.”
Neda looked at Vasilyev with new respect. “I believe you are sincere. I will tell you frankly that Russia was not my first choice. Hearing from you, though, I’m starting to think it was not a bad one.”
Neda paused. “I will tell you this much. When I see your General in Syria, I will tell him absolutely everything I know, instead of waiting until I arrive in Moscow. Until then, I will not say another word. I threw away everything I had to leave Iran, and my last reason for staying disappeared when I found out my husband was a monster willing to kill thousands of innocent people. I want to save those people, and I’ve told Alina as much as I did already to give you a chance to stop their deaths. But I also want to stay alive myself.”
Vasilyev said quietly, “Even if you told me everything right now, I would still do all I could to get you to Moscow alive.”
Neda’s smile now was real, but bitter. “I believe you and the other Russian would as a matter of honor. But there is honor, and then there is duty.
Keeping me alive because I still know something your country needs is about professionalism, and your obligations as a servant of the Russian state. I think you will try harder and sacrifice more to keep me alive if that is your motivation.”
Vasilyev nodded. “I think you will fit in very well in Russia.”
Esmail held up his hand, now barely visible in the gathering shadows.
Vasilyev, Neda and Grishkov quickly gathered around him and they all began to unpack their food and sleeping bags. Esmail pointed to a fallen log nearby, and sat down. They all followed his example, and began to open their food packets.