The man who stood beside Lebel waspainfully thin and had a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. Hewore a greasy cap and a train driver's overalls under a filthy overcoat, andthere was a troubled expression on his face as he wiped his hands with an oilyrag.

A train stood waiting on the tracksoutside, its black paintwork muddied, a limp plume of smoke rising from itsfunnel.

The man said, "For a while there youhad me worried, Henri. When I didn't get your call yesterday as we arranged Iphoned your hotel. They said you hadn't arrived in Moscow. Then you call me atthe last minute and tell me everything's still on as we agreed. And now I findyou hobbling about like you need crutches. Mind telling me what's goingon?"

Lebel was barely enjoying his first smokein three days. Lukin had given him another shot of morphine, and the pain inhis crotch had subsided, replaced by a feeling of numbness. But he was barelyable to walk, and really he needed rest and a decent doctor. But both wouldhave to wait for now. He brushed a fleck of ash from his sable coat and turnedto the man.

"Forget it, Nicolai. Let's just sayI had a rather unpleasant experience, but I'm here now," He looked at thecheap makkorka cigarette with distaste. "You could have found me somethingbetter than this Bolshevik firecracker."

"They're good enough for me."

"With the money you earn from me youought to be smoking Havanas. What time is it?"

The man consulted his watch. "Almostone. Your friends are cutting it a bit fine. You're sure they'll come? If theydon't they'll save us both a lot of bother."

Lebel fixed him with a stare."They'll come. Just don't forget our agreement."

"Hey, have I ever let you down? Butwhether they appear or not, I still get my money, that was what weagreed."

"You'll get your reward, Nicolai.Just as soon as the goods are delivered."

At that moment the headlights of a carswept up to the right of the station house and Lebel's heart skipped. Stanskistepped out of' the BMW, followed by Lukin, still wearing his KGB uniform.

When Nicolai saw the uniform thecigarette dropped from his mouth and he said with horror, "On Lenin's life... what the fuck's going on?"

"Nothing for you to worry about.Relax, Nicolai, your passengers have arrived."

"Relax? In case you hadn't noticed,that's a KGB uniform your friend's wearing." Lebel said wearily,"Help me up." Nicolai eased him to his feet and the Frenchman said,"Wait here."

He opened the station house door andhobbled out. He hadn't gone very far when Stanski crossed the platform to meethim and said, "Everything's in order?"

"I haven't told the driver about ournew arrangement yet. I thought it best to wait until you came. Something tellsme Nicolai isn't going to like it. How has Major Lukin's wife taken thenews?"

Stanski glanced back toward the car whereLukin was helping the other passengers out. His wife took his arm shakily asshe stepped from the car clutching a single small suitcase, looking totallylost.

"She's bewildered to say the least,and upset. But that's to be expected."

At that moment they heard a door bang andthe train driver came marching across the platform toward Lebel.

"Henri, what the fuck's going onhere ... ?"

Stanski said briskly, "A change ofplan. You have two extra passengers."

The driver's face turned red with angerand he glared at Lebel. "This wasn't our agreement. Two was the limit. Youwant to Get me put up against a wall?"

"Nicolai, I'm afraid the situation'schanged."

"You can say that again. The deal'soff. No way do I go along with this." Lebel said, "Listen to me,Nicolai. The only way you're going to get your money is to take the extrapeople along. Besides, I'll see there's a bonus in it for you."

."it wasn't what we agreed. And ourlives are on the line quite enough as it is. I may never get to spend themoney. Don't fuck with me, Henri. I haven't got the time or the patience. Thetrain's already behind schedule. I take two people, no more, take it or leaveit. What do you think I'm running here, a fucking wooden horse of Troy?"

"Ten thousand rubles more as soon aseveryone's safely over the border. I guarantee it. That's a lot of champagneand underwear for your girlfriend in Karelia."

Nicolai seemed to hesitate, then helooked over at the green BMW as the uniformed KGB major ushered more passengersout of the back, but in the slanting snow the driver couldn't see their faces.

"Who are they?"

"Your passengers, that's all youneed to know. Three women and a child."

"This is starting to sound like awidows and orphans outing. Children are trouble. What happens if the borderguards decide to take a look at the carriage and the kid starts crying?"

"if you've done your job and bribedthem as usual, they shouldn't. Besides, the child will be given a sedative.She'll sleep all the way through."

Nicola looked doubtful and shook hishead. "It's still too big a risk." He jerked his chin at Stanski."And who might this be?"

Stanski produced a KGB identity card fromhis pocket and flashed it at the driver.

"Someone who's about to save yourlife, comrade." He looked over toward the BMW, as Lukin led the otherstoward the platform. "The man you see over there is a colleague of mine,Major Lukin." Stanski paused for effect. "He knows all about yourlittle smuggling operation. In fact, until Monsieur Lebel and I intervened, hewanted to arrest YOU."

Nicolai turned even paler and looked atLebel in alarm. "You bastard. You said I had nothing to worry about."

You don't so long as you do as you'retold," Stanski interrupted. "One of the passengers is an agent ofours we want transported to the west. You leave her behind and I personallyguarantee to have you up against a wall and shot before morning.

Nicolai's face drained completely ofcolor as he looked helplessly at Lebel.

Lebel said, "It's true, I'mafraid."

"Then tell me exactly what's goingon." Stanski said, "That's a matter of state security and none ofyour business. You'll proceed as normal with the transport and give noindication, as usual, of your hidden cargo. Fail us, and you'll suffer theconsequences. You think you can do that?"

Nicolai crumpled and sighed. "Idon't have much choice, do I?"

Stanski turned and crossed the platformsmartly toward the others.

Lebel said, "Relax, Nicolai. Look onthe bright side."

"Which is?"

"Now you're working for theKGB."

Stanski stood on the platform, Lebelbeside him as they watched Nicolai slide open the door of one of the goodstrucks. He stepped inside carrying a steel crowbar and a bag of tools.

Lebel said, "It shouldn't take himlong to loosen the floorboards. He's already vented the wood so they won'tsuffocate. Your friends will be able to come out once we have a clear run tothe border, but they'll have to go back in hiding before we cross thecheckpoint. That is, assuming we make it that far."

"Give me a cigarette."

Lebel handed Stanski a cigarette andlooked over at the group huddled on the platform beside the open carriage.Lukin was embracing his wife and Lebel saw that the woman was crying. Next tothem Anna Khorev was holding her daughter tightly in her arms as irena fussedover the child.

Lebel said, "Your lady-friend I knowabout, but who's the little girl?"

Stanski struck a match against one of thestation pillars and lit his cigarette. "Her daughter. The child was in aKGB or phanage. Major Lukin just forged Beria's signature to release her."Lebel said palely, "My God, this gets worse by the minute."