There was something in his tone andaction that suggested Lebel knew the man. The car bumped as it hit the curb,then Lukin righted it again and kept following the tracks in the snow. The manin the passenger seat groaned and his head rolled to the right.

Lukin said urgently, "You knowhim?"

"Yes."

"Who is he?" Lukin demanded.

Lebel looked at him, perplexed. "Whoare you? How did I get here?"

"Major Lukin, KGB. I released you fromthe Lubyanka."

Confusion filled the Frenchman's face andhe fell silent. Lukin guessed that he was still too disoriented from themorphine to recognize him from the hotel. And the Frenchman looked to be inconsiderable pain. Before Lukin could speak again he suddenly noticed the redtaillights of a car a hundred meters ahead and his heart skipped. He had almostreached the Moscow River and a bridge ahead led across to Novodevichy. When thecar in front trundled over the bridge and the taillights kept straight on,Lukin realized the vehicle was headed toward the old convent.

It had to be Stanski.

The marks in the snow were the only onesLukin had seen all the way from the dacha. Stanski was obviously desperate andhad nowhere else to run. The deserted convent would offer brief cover.

Lukin slowed and Peered beyond thewindshield. Just then he saw the beginning of the convent walls on theleft-hand side of the road. He felt his heart thumping against his ribs as hesaw the car slow and then turn left toward the convent entrance. He had kept asafe distance behind and still had the headlights off, and he guessed theoccupants of the car hadn't noticed him. But even from a distance he thoughtthe car was a light colored Skoda.

As he came toward the left turn, Lukinincreased his speed, looked and saw the Skoda halted outside the convententrance, fifty meters away. He glimpsed the shattered rear window and sighedwith relief. A hundred meters farther on, he doused the headlights, swung theBMW back around facing the convent, then eased on the brakes and switched offthe engine. As he sat there he could just make out a figure moving into thearched entrance. Moments later the figure returned, climbed back into thedriver's side, and the Skoda drove in through the archway and disappeared.

Lukin waited, then started the car againand drove closer to the convent. Fifty meters from the entrance he Switched offthe engine and let the BMW coast silently to a halt just outside the archway-He saw the gate inside was open.

The man in the passenger seat groanedagain.

The Frenchman said, "He's dying. ForGod's sake do something, quick!"

"Listen to me, Lebel, and listenwell. I mean you no harm.

If you do as I say, you go free. Do youwant to go free?"

Lebel stared back in disbelief."Would someone kindly tell me what the hell's going on? I've been abductedand spent two days in a stinking cell, had one of my balls half crushed by aderanged maniac who said I'd never see sunlight again. And "Jake ...flicked on the lights, and drove straight on past. He turned to now you'reasking me if I want to go free, like it's all been some terrible mistake?"

Lukin handed over the key to thehandcuffs. "Here, release yourself."

The gesture seemed to amaze the Frenchmanand he quickly unlocked the cuffs. Lukin asked, "Who's yourfrien&?"

Lebel hesitated, then said, "AnAmerican. His name's Jake Massey. If you want to know more, ask your friendRomulka.

"Time for explanations later. AndRomulka's no friend. If I hadn't taken you from the cellars he would have hadworse in store for you, I can assure you. But right now I want you to deliver amessage to the convent."

There was a puzzled look on Lebel'spained face. "I don't understand."

"Your friends from the dacha justdrove in there. There's a man named Stanski with them. Tell him I want to talk.Tell him that it's important and I mean him no harm."

Lukin saw the confusion on theFrenchman's face.

"He'll doubt you, Lebel, but assurehim this is no trick. Here, I want you to give him this." He removed thefile from his tunic and handed it over. "Tell him to read what's insidecarefully. Tell him Major Yuri Lukin has discovered the reason why he waschosen to find the Wolf. When he's read it I need to talk.

Lebel frowned uncertainly.

Lukin said, "Please, trust me and doas I ask. I haven't been followed and I mean none of you any harm. AssureStanski of that. Take my gun if you don't believe me."

He removed the Tokarev from his holsterand handed it to Lebel. When the Frenchman didn't take the weapon, he grabbedhis hand and forced the gun into his palm and closed his fingers around it."Take it. Can you drive?"

Lebel looked bewildered. He nodded. Lukinsaid, "Take my car and drive into the convent. Tell Stanski I'll bewaiting by the river. Take your friend with you. The others may be able to helphim."

He climbed out of the car and helpedLebel out of the back and into the driver's seat, the Frenchman wincing inpain. "Take it easy," he groaned. Lukin stuffed the Tokarev and thefile into Lebel's pockets. "Do you think you can manage it?"

"Mon ami, so long as I don't have toreturn to the Lubyanka, I'll manage anything."

"How do you feel?"

Lebel grunted. "Like someone's setfire to my right testicle." Lukin found the white rag in the car androlled down the driver's window. "Take this. Keep waving it as you goinside."

The Frenchman looked alarmed. "Youthink there'll be shooting?"

"For your sake I hope not."

"I think it's time to get out of theMoscow fur business.

Move somewhere safer and More peaceful,like Hell's Kitchen, New York. Wish me luck."

"Go, please. Quickly. And rememberwhat I told you."

Lebel drove unsteadily toward the conventgate. As Lukin watched him disappear into the dark courtyard beyond he heardthe distant sound of a clock strike half past midnight.

He walked on down to the river. The lacewas deserted, the frozen water silver in the pale moonlight. He found a benchand sat. He removed the cigarette case from his pocket, lit one with a shakinghand, and waited.

Massey became conscious again as he satin the car.

A draft of icy cold rushed in through theopen window and stung his face. Then shock waves of pain flooded his entirebody. He moaned 'in agony and tasted blood on his lips. His lungs and chestfelt as if they were in flames, but his brow felt cold as ice. He coughed upblood and it spewed onto his coat.

He thought: God, I'm dying.

A voice said, "Take it easy, Jake.We're almost there, you goddamned son-of-a-bitch. Don't die on me now."

Massey was faintly aware Of a silverlight at the end of an alcove, an open trellis gate and a courtyard withgardens be yond. The car drove through very slowly and finally came to a haltand the engine died. And then the man beside him was waving something andshouting. "I've got a wounded man here, for Christ's sake! Give me somehelp!"

The voice rang around the courtyardwalls.

In the freezing silence that followed themoments seemed like hours. Then Massey heard another voice, distant, toodistant to hear clearly.

Then the voice beside him called out,"Don't shoot! I've got Massey with me. He's badly wounded."

Stanski appeared out of nowhere holding agun.

Massey tried to move, but all his sensesseemed to go out of focus, a strange fog started to envelop him, and he slumpedforward in his seat.

The buildings set around the conventcourtyard had long been allowed to go to ruin, and the vestry at the back ofthe old church was no different. It had no electricity and stank of urine andexcrement, and the plaster walls were peeling.