Lukin looked across at her steadily."Anna, let me tell you something. I've never killed or hurt a woman in mylife. And as far as asking for the job of finding Stanski, I was ordered to.But one thing I will tell you. If he harms Nadia, I'll kill him."

Lukin switched off the engine and dousedthe headlights. As he stepped out of the car he said to Anna, "Pleasewait, and don't leave the car."

He started to walk toward the desertedconvent. Halfway there he looked back at the BMW. Anna Khorev was still sittingin the passenger seat. He heard an owl hoot.

There was an arched entrance in frontwhich led into the convent. When he reached the archway he halted. A rustedtrellis gate stood at the end. He stepped up to the gate. It was padlocked witha heavy chain. Beyond stood a collection of dilapidated whitewashed buildingsset around a small courtyard with a fountain in the center.

He heard a voice behind him.

"Turn around slowly."

Lukin turned, his pulse racing, asStanski stepped toward him out of the shadows, the Tokarev pistol in his hand.

"Up against the wall and spread yourfeet."

Lukin bit back his rage and did as he wastold. When he had finished searching him, Stanski said, "Where's Anna?"

"in the car."

"You came alone?"

"Only with the woman. Where's mywife ... ?"

"Later."

Lukin was spun around to the right andStanski pushed him forward. "Walk toward the car."

"My wife ... we agreed,Stanski."

Lukin glanced back and felt the barrel ofthe gun in his neck.

"How do you know my name?"

"We knew all about you and the womanbefore you parachuted onto Soviet soil."

"What else do you know?"

"You're here to kill Stalin."

There was a silence, then Lukin felt thegun press hard into his neck. "Keep looking straight ahead and walk. Youtry anything and I drop you."

"You're either a very brave man or acomplete fool. After tonight you won't stand a chance of getting near Stalin.The entire army will be searching Moscow for you. Take my advice and forgetwhat you came to Moscow to do. You're throwing your life away. AndAnna's."

He felt the sudden sharp blow on the backof his skull and a bolt of pain jolted him. "Now why don't you shut thehell up and keep walking."

They reached the BMW and Stanski flashedan electric flashlight in Anna's face. "Are you alone?"

"Yes."

"Were you followed?"

"I ... I didn't see anyone."

Stanski shone the light around the insideof the car. "OK, step out slowly."

When Anna stepped out, Stanski said,"At the back of the convent there's a road by the river. You'll see a carparked. Someone's waiting in the driver's seat. Get going, fast."

Suddenly Stanski fired a shot into theBMW's right front tire. It hissed and deflated. He did the same with thedriver's side.

He came back and aimed the Tokarev atLukin's head, then said to Anna, "What the hell are you waiting for.Go!"

Anna didn't move as she looked atStanski. "What about Lukin's wife?"

"Get going. Leave this to me."

"Don't kill him."

"Just do as I say. Get going.Now!"

"No. Not until you release his wifeand promise me you won't harm them. Not until you do that."

Stanski stared at her in disbelief."Just whose side are you on, for God's sake! Move!"

Anna didn't flinch. "I mean it. I'mnot going until I know his wife's safe and you won't harm him."

Stanski had a wild look on his face andfor a moment Anna thought he would kill both her and Lukin.

"Please, Alex." He saidangrily, "Go to the car. The woman's inside. Bring her here. Quickly. Ihaven't got all night."

"You won't kill him?"

"No. Now move. Get his wife."

She moved away toward the convent at arun.

Stanski gestured to LUKIN with the gun."Get down on your knees. Then lie flat on your stomach.@' Lukin turnedpale. "Are you going to kill me?"

"Do it or I take your head offnow."

Lukin knelt, then lay in the snow on hisstomach. "if you're going to kill me do it now. Do it before my wifecomes. I don't want her to see this."

Stanski put the tip of the barrel againstthe back of Lukin's skull. He cocked the hammer.

For a long time he hesitated, then hesaid, "It's tempting, but not this time, Lukin. I think your life's justbeen saved. I can't think why. But let me tell you this. If I see you againafter tonight you're dead."

Stanski heard a noise and turned. Annaraced out of the shadows of the convent wall, clutching Lukin's wife by thearm.

They had come halfway when Stanskishouted, "That's far enough! She comes the rest of the way alone."

Anna let go of the woman's arm. Stanskiwas already moving back toward the convent, the Tokarev still aimed at Lukin.He passed Lukin's wife and then shouted at Anna, "Get back to thecar."

For a second she hesitated, as if to becertain that Lukin and his wife were safe, then she turned and ran. Stanskistarted to follow her, moving backward, the gun still trained on Lukin, untilfinally he turned and trotted toward the convent walls.

When Stanski was twenty meters away,Lukin pushed himself up from the snow and grabbed Nadia.

"Get in the car!"

He saw the naked fear on his wife's faceas he pushed her into the BMW.

"Yuri-please-what's going on-?"

"Start the car. Drive to the end ofthe street and wait there. Drive carefully, the front tires are punctured. Butget the hell out of here fast. Do it, Nadia, no questions!"

He slammed the car door and already hewas reaching under the left front fender, He worked feverishly , fumbling untilhe found the knotted cord and tugged. He felt the Tokarev revolver slip free asthe knot released. He placed the weapon on the hood and felt under the fenderagain, tugged at the second cord, and the bigbarreled Negev flare gun ploppedinto the snow.

He worked like a man possessed, sweatdripping down his face. He put the Tokarev under his arm and grabbed the flaregun. When he looked back through the windshield he saw Nadia's face stare athim in horror as she saw the weapons.

"Go! Nadia, get the hell out ofhere!"

For a moment she seemed to hesitate, thenhe banged on the hood with the butt of the Negev and roared at her.

"Quickly, woman! Go!"

The BMW exploded into life.

The car started to move, slowly at firstuntil the punctured tires gripped the snow, then it shot forward.

As the BMW roared away, Lukin looked backat the convent. He could still see Stanski's figure moving toward the river inthe shadows of the wall, sixty meters away.

For a moment Stanski appeared to turn,hearing the roar of the BMW as it raced away. Lukin dropped the Tokarev in thesnow, cocked the Negev flare gun, raised it above his head and squeezed thetrigger.

A deafening crack erupted as a burst ofbrilliant orange light exploded above in the darkness and the flare turnednight into day.

In the glare of light Lukin saw Stanskihalt, his figure illuminated. Already he was turning, reacting.

At the same moment a black Emka cameroaring out of nowhere, its engine screaming like some wild animal. As the carskidded to a halt in front of Lukin, Pasha burst out of the driver's doorclutching a machine-pistol.

Lukin dropped the flare gun and grabbedthe Tokarev. In one swift movement he knelt, rested his elbow on his knee andcocked and aimed the revolver. He caught Stanski clearly in his sights andsqueezed the trigger. The shot ' missed and ricocheted off the convent wall. Ashe aimed again, suddenly Pasha opened up with the machinepistol, flame leapingfrom the barrel as lead exploded in puffs of snow in front of Stanski, shotsringing around the convent walls. What happened next Lukin could hardlybelieve.