They said their emotional good-byes thatsame day, and by the end of the war he was a wing commander, decorated byStalin, two years later a full colonel.

The first month he was posted to theSoviet air base in Vienna. Three years later he was sitting in a coffee houseminding his own business when a woman sat opposite him. Gratchev's facedropped.

Eva said, "Hello, Volya."

Before he could reply she slid anenvelope across the table and told him to open it. When he did he saw copies ofhis Gestapo arrest documents, a transcript of his interrogation, with repliesby him that would have been enough to destroy him utterly.

It was simple blackmail after that. Thewoman had saved him to use him. He was forced to help smuggle Jews on SovietAir Force flights to Vienna, bound for the new state of Israel. Not often, butoften enough to give him sleepless nights.

. Now, sitting in the tavern, Gratchevsighed and stood up. "Walk with me."

"Where?"

"Outside, in the street."

Gratchev tossed some notes on the tableand they went outside and walked until they found a spot that overlooked thelights of Vienna. Gratchev stopped. "You were serious? About leaving me inpeace?"

""If you do this,definitely."

"Your man speaks Russian,obviously."

"Obviously."

Gratchev sighed and thought for a moment."There's a military transporter leaving for Moscow from Vienna at six thisevening. There's a house on Mahler Strasse. Number four. I have a mistressthere. Have your man at the address at five o'clock. No later."

He looked at the woman. "So this isthe last time we meet?"

"You have my word."

He continued looking at her face almostwistfully. He went to kiss her, then seemed to change his mind and let his handtrace the outline of her face. "Shalom, Eva. Think of me sometimes."

"Shalom, Volya."

He turned and walked back toward the townand the tram op.

Moments later a black Opel pulled up atthe curb and the woman climbed in. The man in the driver's seat turned around.Branigan said, "Well?

How did it go?"

The woman nodded at Massey, sittingbeside her. "Your friend leaves tonight."

There was an expression of relief onBranigan's face as he looked at Massey. "I guess you're in luck,Jake."

Massey didn't reply. Branigan tapped thedriver's shoulder and the car pulled out from the curb.

Moscow.

The guard unlocked the cell door andLukin stepped inside.

Anna Khorev barely acknowledged him asshe sat on the edge of the wooden bed. As the door clanged shut behind him,Lukin said, "Anna?"

She looked up at him slowly but didn'tspeak. Her eyes were red from crying, her face drawn and pale. Lukin thoughtshe looked as if she were in a trance. What had happened in the park appearedto have left her deeply traumatized.

He said, "Anna, I want you to listento what I have to say. I'm releasing you."

She looked up, a puzzled frown on herface.

He said, "It's no trick. Something'shappened you need to know about."

He told her what had happened to his wifeand when he had finished he saw the shocked reaction but she didn't reply.

"I'm exchanging your life for hers.That's what Stanski wants. If I don't agree he says he'll kill my wife."When she still looked unconvinced, he said, "Anna, this is no elaboratetrick, you must believe me. You have to come with me now, there isn't muchtime. Please."

"Where are you taking me?"

"A rendezvous near Moscow. Theconvent of Novodevichyas far as the chief warden is concerned you're beingtransferred to Lefortovo prison. But I need your cooperation. Please don't doanything rash when we leave the building and don't speak to anyone but me. Andwhen we meet Stanski I want you to do something for me."

"What?"

"Persuade him not to harm my wife.She's pregnant. Stanski can do what he wants to me, but if he harms my wife,I'll kill him. Whatever's between Stanski and me doesn't concern her. Will youdo as I ask?"

Anna Khorev continued to look at him asif she didn't believe what was happening. She seemed to be studying his face.

His voice had sounded dead with despair.She must have seen the dark rings under his eyes and the tension in his body,and he was aware how absurd the situation was; he was no longer theinterrogator, but pleading with her. He didn't know whether she hated him ornot, or if she was getting some grim satisfaction from his dilemma, but thenshe nodded.

"Yes."

"Thank you." Lukin moved towardthe door. "We'd better go."

"What will happen to you?"

"Because of this? Does it matter?Ultimately we're all dead. You and Stanski because I doubt You'll get out ofMoscow alive after Beria learns about this. And my wife and I for what I'veallowed to happen."

"What will happen to mydaughter?"

"Anna ... "Tell me."

Lukin saw the utter misery in her eyes.She was on the edge of tears but she didn't cry. He shook his head. "Ican't answer that, Anna. I honestly can't."

He saw the grief flood her face anddespite his own despair it almost broke his heart.

He touched her shoulder gently."We'd better leave now. There isn't much time."

Anna sat in the front passenger seat asLukin drove. She stared out beyond the windshield at the lights of Moscow.

He had signed the release and transferpapers in front of a warden before he put the handcuffs on her. Five minuteslater they drove out of the Lubyanka courtyard and he had pulled up to the curband removed the handcuffs. After that he had been silent. She didn't carewhether he spoke or not. All she could think of was Sasha. It had almost brokenher heart to see her again. Holding the child in her arms had brought back aflood of memories and she thought she was going mad with anguish. She felt asif someone had stuck a dagger in her heart.

So much about her daughter had changedand yet she was still Sasha. She remembered the smell of her, the feel of herskin. And then came a flood of grief when she realized all the moments they hadmissed together in their lives.

And then Lukin had taken her away and shewould never see her again.

She had wanted to die at that moment inthe park, because only death would put an end to her suffering. And now she wasconsumed with worry; what would happen to her daughter?

Despite what Stanski had done, somehowshe didn't seem to care. She looked at Lukin as he drove. She hated him. Hatedhim for what he was and what he had done to her.

She wanted to kill him.

Looking at his face, she realized he wasclose to the breaking point. For a brief moment in the cell she had feltcompassion for him, but now she thought of Sasha again and her anger came back.

Finally, she couldn't bear the silenceany longer.

"Give me a cigarette."

Lukin looked across at her. "Are youall right?"

"Just give me a cigarette."

He pulled in and searched in his pocket.He gave her his cigarettes and lighter and pulled out from the curb again. Annalit a cigarette and saw that her hands were trembling.

"May I have one too?"

She lit another and handed it across.Lukin glanced at her. "Stanski must love you."

"Why?"

"To do what he's done. He's eithervery courageous or else he loves you so much he's being reckless." WhenAnna didn't reply, Lukin said, "Does he love you?"

"He's not doing this for love."

"Then why is he doing it?"

"Because he doesn't want to see meharmed or killed by bastards like you."