“That’s what I mean,” said Wayne. “We might flush him out that way.”

“Ah, I understand. You mean, instead of remaining camouflaged, he would reveal himself by running away.”

“Maybe. What do you think?”

“It could work if he is in our sight,” said Ishihara. “If he is too far ahead of us, or if he was in the other direction when we turned left, then we would not see him.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“These ditches are very long,” said Ishihara, looking ahead. “To protect Moscow from attack, they must be many kilometers long. We have many workers to consider.”

“This is as close as we’ve come so far,” said Wayne, shrugging. “Besides, I’m really getting the feel of how to drive this car now.” He grinned wryly.

They continued their slow progress down the length of the ditch. The sun was low over the horizon when Ishihara heard the rumble of large trucks behind them, still in the distance. He did not bother to turn and look.

“Looks like quitting time,” said Wayne, glancing into the rearview mirror. “Here come the trucks to take people home.”

A familiar shape in the distance, among the workers, momentarily slipped into Ishihara’s vision and then disappeared again. “Stop,” Ishihara said sharply.

Wayne hit the brake and the clutch quickly. “What’s wrong? I don’t think the truck drivers will care what we’re doing here.”

“No, that is not the reason. I saw MC 4.”

“What? Where?” Wayne stopped the car and leaned toward Ishihara to look.

Ishihara pointed. “I saw him there, but he is not visible now. He is lost in the crowd.”

“Did he run away?”

“I do not believe so. He has no way of knowing our identities and was not looking toward us.”

Near them, the workers had also seen the trucks coming. They were picking up their shovels wearily and climbing out of the ditch. The crowd was dense, however, and Wayne could not see MC 4 anywhere.

“Maybe we can have him brought to us,” said Ishihara. “We do not have to chase him ourselves.” He got out of the car and slammed the door.

Wayne got out and hurried around the car to join him. Ishihara saw a man approaching him and waited for him with an arrogant expression. The man smiled nervously.

“Can I help you, comrade?” His voice quivered slightly.

“NKVD,” Ishihara said imperiously. “Do you know the code name MC 4?”

“Mm, no, I don’t.” He shook his head tightly. “I really don’t.”

Ishihara described MC 4.

“Yes, I remember seeing him. He just joined us a few days ago. A real little guy.” The man nodded vigorously.

“Have some people bring this man to me immediately. Do not let him escape.”

“Yes, comrade.” The man hurried back down toward the ditch.

Wayne, next to Ishihara, let out a long breath. “Is he going to help?”

“Yes,” said Ishihara. Then his internal receiver picked up another alert on the NKVD radio band. They had been spotted standing outside the car by a pair of agents who did not recognize them. Those agents were on their way for a closer look.

“We must go,” said Ishihara, turning and looking into the distance. In the middle of the line of trucks, he saw another NKVD car. It was trying to get around the trucks in front of it, but the slope was too rough in that spot for it to pass them. “Get in the car and start it. Wait for me. Now.”

Wayne hurried back to the car.

Ishihara ran down the slope after the man he had just sent to find MC 4. “Comrade, wait.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“An emergency has arisen. Tell no one about this man called MC 4. I repeat-no one.”

“All right.”

“Where does this work brigade spend the night?” Ishihara asked quickly.

The man gave him an address.

Ishihara ran back up to the driver’s side of the car. Taking the hint, Wayne slid quickly over to the passenger side. The driver of the other NKVD car honked his horn and waved for the trucks to move out of his way. When the truck drivers could, they slowly worked their way to the side on the uneven terrain.

“It may be a rough ride,” said Ishihara. “Hang on. I will search for a place where we can turn back toward Moscow.” He took the car forward with a jerk. Some distance behind them, the other NKVD car still honked angrily at the trucks in its way.

“What if they have us surrounded?” Wayne asked frantically. “How do we know which way to go?”

“Only one car has reported sighting us so far,” said Ishihara. “I do not believe they saw the license plate on this car. They saw us standing outside the car and must have had our personal descriptions.”

Wayne nodded.

Ishihara gripped the wheel hard and drove forward, glancing in the mirror. The NKVD car had finally passed the trucks and was speeding toward them.