Romulka smirked. "Now that's no wayto speak to a fellow officer. You ought to be more respectful. What's wrong,Lukin?

Worried what might happen to you and yourwife when Beria learns you've failed him? I just thought you'd like to know theFrenchman still hasn't talked yet, he's holding out remarkably well." Heheld up his glass and grinned. "It's thirsty work, and I needed a littlerefreshment before I really go to work on him. But if a little more torturefails, then I have something in store for Lebel that's certain to loosen histongue. That can only mean one thing, Lukin. Once I find the American you'll befinished and the woman will be my responsibility."

"I said go to hell."

Only something bothers me. I hear you hadthe woman transferred to Lefortovo this evening. But you know what's odd? Theprison has no record of receiving her. Now why is that?"

When Lukin didn't reply, Romulka leanedin closer and said threateningly, "If you're trying to hide her from meI'll make you shorter by a head. Where's the woman, Lukin? Where is she?"

As Lukin stared up at the man's face hefelt a terrible overpowering rage.

"You know what your trouble is,Romulka? You and your type are the scum of the KGB. Goddamned cowards all ofyou. And like all cowards you get pleasure inflicting pain. You bastard, youhaven't an ounce of pity in you. You want to know where the woman is? Here'syour answer."

He threw his drink in Romulka's face.

Romulka flung away his glass in a rageand reached over and grabbed Lukin by the collar, twisting him around in thechair. A fist smashed into Lukin's face and he was flung back.

As he crashed onto the floor Romulka wasalready moving in for the kill. For a big man he moved fast, but not fastenough.

Lukin stumbled to his feet and duckedright as Romulka punched the air. He saw his chance and swung his hand up andthe metal hook impaled itself in Romulka's forearm.

Romulka's eyes snapped open and hescreamed in agony.

Lukin pulled him in like a baited fishand his knee smashed into the man's groin. Romulka yelled in pain as Lukinpulled out the hook and blood spurted on the carpet.

Romulka fell to the floor, stillscreaming in agony, and a couple of army captains rushed forward to break upthe fight.

Lukin roared, "Leave him!"

The men took one look at the rage onLukin's face and stopped in their tracks, Romulka stared back up, murder in hiseyes, pain twisting his face. "Understand one thing, Lukin-i'm going tofind the Wolf. Do you hear me? I'm going to succeed and you'll have failed. Andthen you're finished, Lukin! Dead!"

Lukin took a handkerchief from his pocketand wiped the metal hook, "And you understand this-I see you within twopaces and so help me I'll kill you."

He noticed the entire room had gone deathlysilent. Faces gaped at him and a few stern-faced elderly officers scowled theirdisapproval. But no one moved, and from the look on their faces they obviouslythought he was deranged, Lukin turned to the two officers. "I suggest youcall a doctor before the colonel here ruins the carpet."

Then he turned and strode out of thedoor.

When Lebel came around he started to cry.

The pain in his testicle was unbearableand the sickening feeling of nausea still hadn't left him.

Suddenly a bucket of water was splashedin his face and Romulka's voice roared, "Wake up, Jew! Wake up!"

Lebel spluttered behind the wet gag asRomulka leaned over the table. He looked pale and in a savage mood. Lebelnoticed a bloodied bandage on his forearm.

"You're being stupid, Lebel, don'tyou think? A simple question is all you have to answer. Who is helping yourfriends in Moscow? You tell me how I find them and I release you, Not onlyrelease you but do you a favor. I promise your friends won't be hurt. It's theAmerican I'm after. The American and his bitch friend. No one else concernsme."

Sweat and water ran down Lebel's face andhe mumbled behind the gag. Romulka tore it off.

"You have something to say?"

"You bastard ... you're ... making... a mistake ..

There was a murderous look in Romulka'sface. "Have it your way."

Lebel felt the implement being attachedto his scrotum again, tightened, and the pain again shot through his spine,only this time more intensely. His screams rang around the walls and tearsflooded his eyes.

It was too much ... Too much to bear. Histortured cry rang around the cell.

"NO ... !"

Romulka shouted to one of the men,"Get the scopolamine."

The man came back from the table with asyringe filled with a yellowish liquid and Romulka said to Lebel, "The truthdrug. Either way you're going to talk, Lebel, but let's just see how much morepain you can stand, shall we?"

Romulka turned the screw more tightly andthe pain increased until it flooded Lebel's body from head to toe.

He screamed again.

Too much.

He couldn't bear it. It felt as if histesticle was about to burst. He tried to tell Romulka he would talk, tell himeverything anything to stop the pain, and then he passed out again.

It was 11:30 when they reached thestreet.

There was no street lighting and Masseyhad to strain his eyes to see the van parked at the end of the road. The glasswas iced but he saw that patches had been scraped away so that the driver couldsee out. The Ukrainian tapped on the side window.

"Open up, Sergei, it's me."

The driver's door opened and a young manpeered out, his icy breath fogging the air. He looked almost frozen to death,despite the fact that he was wearing a heavy coat and hat and a scarf coveringthe lower half of his face.

"About fucking time, Kapitan."

Massey and the Ukrainian slid into thefreezing cab. When he had got over the shock, he said to Massey, "Yougoing to tell me what's happening?"

"Later. What's the situation?"

"They're still in there. Theyhaven't moved so far as I can tell. The dacha's the third on the left."

Massey rubbed a patch in the icy window.He saw the dark outline of houses across the street and counted off the thirdone, a bank of trees in front. He turned to the driver and explained everythinghe had told his companion. Massey would go in alone first. If he wasn't out inhalf an hour or the men heard shooting they were to enter the house back andfront and finish the job.

As the driver checked the action of hisweapon and screwed on the silencer, Massey said, "I want you to cover therear."

The young man grinned. "No problem.Anything to get out of Moscow."

Massey looked at the red-haired man."You stay out front and keep under cover in the front garden. If anyoneother than me comes out you both know what to do."

"You're sure you don't need helpinside?"

Massey shook his head. "Justunderstand one thing. The man will be armed and he's dangerous, very dangerous.So be careful."

The red-haired man grinned."Whatever you say, Americanski. But we were SS, remember? We know how tohandle ourselves. Right, Sergei?"

"As the Kapitan says."

"For your sakes I hope you,reright," said Massey.

He looked back toward the dacha. Therewas no way out for Stanski if he tried to leave. And if Massey himself failed,then the two men would finish the job.

He checked the silenced Tokarev. Hishands were shaking and nausea in the pit of his stomach made him want to vomit.

The driver said, "Hey, are you OK,Americanski?"

Massey nodded and took a deep breath.

They synchronized their watches andMassey said, "OK, let's go."

The three of them stepped from the car.