He took in her figure and smiled faintly,and Anna said straight-faced, "Besides that? If you don't believe inanything, then what would please you?"

He thought for a long time. His facelooked more serious. "What would please me? To be able to walk in myfather's garden again. To smell the scent of apple trees and cherry blossoms.To be with my parents and brother and sister once more."

:"You're such a strange man,Alex."

"In what way?"

" You're a killer. And yet you talkof the scent of apple trees and gardens. Or maybe you're just a typicalRussian. Sentimental when you drink vodka for a memory that can never berecaptured." He laughed and said, "Or maybe I'm just trusting youenough to let you get close."

She saw something vulnerable in his eyesthen, and as he offered her the bottle she shook her head.

"I think I've had enough. Any moreand you'll have to carry me back."

When he looked away over the town shestudied his face. The words he had spoken had obviously affected him. Therewere no tears, but there was a tightening around his mouth and a distant lookin his eyes, as if what he had said of his past had been painful to remember.

She wrapped her scarf tightly around herneck and stood. "I think it's time we were getting back. Gorev will beworried."

Stanski looked up. "Anna..

"What?"

"Do you have any regrets after whathappened last night?"

She thought for a moment, then shook herhead. "No regrets." Her hand reached out and a finger gently brushedhis lips. "It's been a long time since someone had their arms around me. Along time since I felt so secure and safe and wanted."

"And did you want me?"

"Maybe I've wanted you since thefirst day I saw you. Only I didn't want to admit it." She smiled."Women can be like that, you know. It's a kind of foolish pride."

He stood and kissed her. "So, do youreally think I'm crazy?"

There was a kind of childish innocence tothe question that suddenly made her feel very tender toward him. She smiledfaintly.

"Perhaps just a little. But then allof us Russians are."

Gorev, his face pale, looked from Stanskito Anna as they sat in their bedroom. The innkeeper had ushered them upstairsas soon as they returned.

"Bad news. I had a visit from thelocal militia sergeant."

Stanski said worriedly,"What did hewant?"

"To see the inn's guest register.Luckily I hadn't written in your names. When he saw the ranks of the two KGBofficers in the register he left. We're in the clear for now but it doesn'tlook good."

Gorev wiped his hands anxiously on hisgrimy smock. "According to Erik, the army and militia are setting uproadblocks everywhere. They're watching the bus and railway stations and theairport with great interest. It seems almost everyone's papers are beingchecked. Apparently, some KGB major arrived here from Moscow last night to takecharge of the operation.

His name's Lukin, and barrack rumor hasit he's working directly for Beria. Erik says he's got everyone on their toes.The militia shot one man already at the railway station. A deserter, poorbastard."

"Did Erik know exactly why thisMajor Lukin was in Tallinn?"

"That's the really rich part. Erikheard he's looking for two agents who parachuted in last night. Apparently, aMig disappeared and crashed off the coast. A foot patrol was sent out onto theBaltic ice last night. This morning they found the wreckage, and another of alight aircraft that had crashed mid air into the Mig. No doubt it was theaircraft that dropped you.

That explains why the army and militiaare swarming all over Tallinn like flies on shit."

Stanski went noticeably white. He lookedat Anna. There was a shocked look on her face. He turned back to Gorev.

"But how could this Lukin have knownabout us?"

"Search me. Maybe some yokel foundyour buried parachutes. But he does and that spells trouble for all ofus."

Stanski saw Anna's face pale.

Gorev said quickly, "My intentionwas to put you on the train for Leningrad, but that's out of the question nowwith the station being watched. Even the buses are being stopped and checked,and the airport is definitely out, security will be too tight." Anna saidanxiously, "What can we do?"

Gorev stroked his beard nervously."God only knows. Normally our resistance people in the forests would hideyou. But getting you through the roadblocks would be too difficult and theirnearest camp is too far. I doubt Erik could try to borrow the truck again, thatwould be tempting luck too far. Besides, this Lukin seems to have commandeeredevery available vehicle and man at the barracks. And even if I got you to ourresistance there are risks involved. The boys may not welcome your companyright now; they get enough flak from the Reds as it is."

Stanski slammed a fist on the table infrustration.

"Damn it to hell!" Gorev said,"Erik tells me they'll start house-to-house searches if they haven't foundyou both by tomorrow."

Anna glanced at Stanski, a look ofindecision on her face, and I then she said, "What do we do?"

' Either way, I'm on this ride to the endof the tracks. But if you want to take your chances alone trying to hide outwith the partisans, I'm sure Gorev will oblige and I won't stop you."

She thought for a moment, then shook herhead. "No, I stay with you."

"Then there's no choice at all,really. We have to move. We haven't a chance in hell staying here."

"But that doesn't seem possible. Howcan we get out of Tallinn?"

"You could try the sewers under theold town, but you'd be asphyxiated by the fumes before you got tenmeters."

"Where do the sewers lead?"

"To the edge of the old town. Butafter that where do you go? And Erik says the Reds are everywhere."

"It could be worth a try."

Gorev shook his head firmly. "Forgetit. We used the sewers once to hide weapons from the Germans. The gases killedtwo of our men and another died from blood poisoning. A couple of sniffs ofthat foul air and you'd be on your backs in the mortuary. And even if you didmanage to stay conscious, most of the tunnels lead to under the KGBheadquarters. You take the wrong turn and you'd save this Major Lukin theeffort of finding you."

"Still, it looks like we'll justhave to take our chances. Could Erik find us some gas masks at thebarracks?"

Gorev shrugged. "I can ask, butthere's still the risk of drowning or poisoning yourselves in the effluent. Butit's ),our heads on the chopping block, I suppose."

They all heard a screech of tires on thecobbled street below and they looked out of the window anxiously.

The Emka had drawn up and the two KGBofficers, Zinov and Bukarin, stepped out, two young women accompanying them.They all looked the worse for drink and the women laughed as the young captainstaggered drunkenly toward the inn.

Gorev's face screwed up in disapproval."Drunken bastards.

Back for more drink at the bar and a rollin the hay with those tans from the town."

Stanski thought for a moment, then said,"Did you tell your guests who we were?"

"Only that you were my niece and herhusband on honeymoon. Why?"

"Nothing more? No names?"

Gorev shrugged. "It didn't seemimportant to elaborate. Besides, they didn't seem that interested."

"When do your two friendsleave?"

"Zinov drives back to Leningradtomorrow morning, presuming he's sober enough to drive. Bukarin, the youngerone, tells me his girlfriend wants him to stay behind another couple of days.Why?"