"I will handle this, Krasny," the major said. "Take your men aside."

The major approached the truck cab. Standing just a yard or so from (he side of the door, his height was such that she knew he could watch her every move-if she went for her gun.

"Sarah, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Major-Sarah," she nodded, feeling somehow more tired than she had ever felt. "You caught me," she said, looking at his face.

"I think about you-a great deal. They are lovely children. They are yours?"

"Yes. They are. They had nothing to do with-"

"Have you a husband, Sarah? I was curious."

"Yes. I'm trying to reach a friend's farm and maybe he'll find me there."

"Does he love you-to let you go around the countryside like this?"

"He was away the Night of the War. He must have tried to get back. I know he's searching for us. I've met a man who told me-that John was still alive-was looking for us."

"John-a st.u.r.dy name." He smiled. "It is my name- in Russian, of course.

Ivan. This John-you love him?"

"Yes," she answered.

"Then there is nothing I can do." He smiled.

"Major, I didn't-"

"You have a gun under your right thigh. You would shoot me?"

"If I had to," she said, surprised at the firmness of her voice.

"Then you are stronger than I am. I could bring you no harm. What is the Americanism-weare even, now?" He turned and called out something Russian.

Almost immediately, the ranks of men in front of her blocking the truck, blocking her escape, began to fan apart.

"You're letting me-"

"Yes. Am I not stupid, though?" He smiled.

"I don't even know your na-"

"Maj. Ivan Borozeni, madam . . . Sarah. Literally, at your service." He stepped farther back from the truck and saluted her. "One fighter to another, then. And what is the expression? G.o.dspeed-you and the children."

Sarah looked at him a moment, then whispered, so that only he could hear it, "I'll pray for you."

Borozeni nodded, then smiled. "And I, you, madam."

Sarah popped the clutch and started the truck ahead; she was crying.

Ishmael Varakov stepped from the back of hi; limousine to walk across the airport runway surface. The V-STOL aircraft's engines were maddeningly loud, his feet ached and his belly felt constrained with his uniform blouse b.u.t.toned.

He walked toward a dark blue Cadillac, stopping for an instant to glance once again at the V-STOL aircraft. He watched as the remainder of the cargo was put aboard- Natalia's things.

He started walking again, stopping beside the rear door of the Cadillac, the driver-an Army corporal-saluting, Varakov returning it. The driver opened the rear door on the driver's side and as Varakov stepped inside, he looked at the man. "Go talk with my driver-about women or something."

Varakov slammed the door shut behind him.

In the far corner of the back seat, looking frightened for the first time since he had seen her last as a little girl, sat Natalia Tiemerovna. Next to her-between himself and her-sat a young man, about Natalia's own age, but already with dark thinning hair above a high forehead. He wore gla.s.ses, wire-rimmed, and as Varakov settled his bulk in the seat beside him, the young man pushed the gla.s.ses off the bridge o( his nose.

"What the h.e.l.l do you want with me?"

"Impertinent young man, aren't you?" Varakov smiled. "Here-if you promise not to shoot me with it yet.' Varakov reached into his briefcase and took out the worn Browning High Power that belonged toRubenstein. He rammed the magazine up the magazine well, then snapped back the slide of the pistol.

He lowered the hammer over the loaded chamber and handed the pistol into Rubenstein's hands, which were opening and closing, balling in and out of fists.

"I told you," Natalia murmured. "My uncle is a man to trust . . . not to-"

Rubenstein looked at her and she fell silent. Then he turned to Varakov.

"What do you want-General?" The younger man almost spat the word.

"You don't like Russians-let me guess. But you like Natalia, my niece.

Doesn't that strike you as odd, young man?"

"I know her and-"

"You would be a terrible debater. It would then follow that once you got to know me, you would like me, wouldn't it? Logically, I mean?" Varakov felt himself smile.

Natalia laughed, a little laugh. Varakov liked her voice. It reminded him at times of that of her mother. "Well, will you listen to me, young man?

For I need your help. Natalia needs your help; she doesn't know it yet.

She is leaving here-for an extended stay."

"Uncle?"

"I had Catherine pack your things; they are aboard that aircraft out there." Varakov gestured behind him. "Everything."

Varakov looked at Rubenstein, then past him at Natalia. "You are both so young. It is the young who always risk for the errors of the old-like me.

I have learned something of paramount importance-to your friend John Rourke, something which I must discuss with John Rourke in person. It is of importance to him and-"

"Tm not bringing John into a trap," Rubenstein snapped, his right fist tightening on the b.u.t.t of the pistol he held.

"Two questions. Would Natalia knowingly do Rourke harm?"

"Of course not," Rubenstein told him.

"And would I, if I were planning to deceive both my niece and Rourke, entrust Natalia to him, through you? Obviously not. That is why she goes with you-for that reason and for her own safety."

"My safety . . ." Natalia began. "But-"

"You asked no questions when I sent you to explore Rozhdestvenskiy's office."

"Roz-what?" Rubenstein asked.

"Rozhdestvenskiy, a singularly good-looking fellow, yet singularly unpleasant, I am afraid." Varakov looked outside the window, watching his driver and the driver who had brought Natalia and Rubenstein, talking; he wondered about what. "I need you, Mr. Rubenstein, to take Natalia, my niece, to wherever it is John Rourke lives-"

"The Re-"

"The Retreat? Yes. I believe that's the place. Then,"- and Varakov fished inside his case-"you will give him this message. I am also giving you papers of safe conduct, for yourself and for Rourke, but I cannot guarantee how long my orders in such matters will be strictly enforced."

"Uncle," Natalia began.

"Silence, child." He looked at Rubensfein. "Can I entrust to you, sir, the one thing in my own life I hold most dear-her life?" Varakov extended his hand.

Rubenstein hesitated a moment, glanced at Natalia, then took Varakov's hand. "What the h.e.l.l is going on here?"

"See? I told you you would like me, young man; I told you."

He started out of the back seat, opening the door, hearing Natalia's voice behind him as he exited the car.

"Uncle!"

She ran around the back of the car, then came into his arms. " would not have let you go without saying good-by, child. I will see you again. Do not fear."

"What is happening, Uncle Ishmael? What is ... that report of Rozhdestvenskiy, the Eden Project abstract?"

"Be thankful you read no more of it. You will learn the details when you come back here with John Rourke. There is no other way."

"Come back here with-"

"You must, child-and when Rourke reads the letter I have sent him, he will want to come. If he is the man I think he is-that you think he is ... he is the only one." Varakov stepped back, holding his niece at arms' length.

"You look lovely-a beautiful dress; that coat-real fur?"

"Yes." She looked down.

"I fear where you are going you'll have to change aboard the aircraft. I know little about survival retreats, but I don't imagine one reaches them in high heels and silk stockings."

'They are nylon-silk stockings are-"

"Yes. Nylon. Be careful." He folded his arms around her. There was a possibility, he knew, that he would never see her again.

The noise of the rotor blades was uncomfortable, despite the protective m.u.f.fs on his ears, and there was always the distraction of the radio chatter coming from other ships in the squadron. But he didn't wish lo lurn it off.

Rozhdestvenskiy looked at the ground beneath him, the shadows there. Could Bevington, Kentucky, be far away? Could glory be much farther?

He reviewed the plan. Land the small armada in Bevington, Kentucky.

Ground troops from . . . The name of the officer? Major Borozeni. Ground troops from Borozeni close into the valley. Locate Morris Industries.

Empty the factory and load the equipment aboard the cargo helicopters coming from the west.

"Pilot, how long until we reach the staging area for the rendezvous with ground forces?"

"Twenty-three minutes, Comrade Major Rozhdestvenskiy."

"Twenly-three minutes," Rozhdestvenskiy repeated. The staging area, then Bevington, then glory-and then life, all but eternal.

He leaned slightly back in his seat. He was perfect for the role, he thought; he had always looked the part of a hero of the Soviet Union.

Rourke opened his eyes, his breathing easier, his muscles aching, his body tired.

When he tried to move his arms, he could feel the aches in his forearm muscles. "Muscle relaxant," he whispered.

' He tried to move his head; it raised, and he felt the dizziness, the light-headedness. "Morphine," he rasped, coughing. He remembered. Martha Bogen had given him the muscle-relaxant block, and reduced the shot of morphine. Death-because he couldn't have breathed.

He a.s.sumed he had awakened earlier than the other times-had he? He doubted his own ability to gauge time. He started to move his feet, his bound ankles, to flex his knees up. There was pain in his muscles, stiffness; he needed the pain and he moved his legs more, twisting his aching head from side to side, his neck hurting as he did. He breathed deeply-but not too deeply. He couldn't afford to pa.s.s out again, not with this his only chance.

It was as though, he realized, he were watching himself from a distance.

His mind was clear enough-though holding a long train of thought was difficult. But his body was what seemed drunk, uncoordinated. He had stepped '.

outside of himself, he felt. He started moving his arms up from his abdomen and chest and into the airs.p.a.ce above his head.

He heard the door, the key being turned, the woman coming.

"No-too soon," he rasped, thick-tongued, his voice sounding odd to him.

He could see her, coming toward him, the little black leather case in her hands.

"John, looking much better. I think I'll have to give you the full shot of the morphine this time or else you'll get out of hand. We wouldn't want that." She smiled as she bent over him, the needle in her right hand.

She squirted a little into the air, then lowered the needle toward him.

He slammed up his knees toward her stomach, both his fists bunched together and hammering against the right side of her head.

There was a short gasp like a scream and she disappeared below the level of the cot. He rolled over, half-falling on top of her. He raised his hands to break her exposed neck; but sank forward instead, across her body, the rope tightening around his neck.

He closed his eyes. . . .

He had to urinate. He opened his eyes. She would have been evacuating him, he realized. She? He looked under him; Martha Bogen was stirring but still unconscious.

Now able to remove the clothesline wrapped tightly around his neck, Rourke rolled away, pushing himself up on his hands to his knees. He rocked on his haunches for a long moment. He shook his head. "Morphine," he rasped.