"You have my word you're safe."

He looked at the woman. He realized hewas more nervous than he thought and that made him suspicious. He noticed theconcentration camp numbers tattooed in blue ink on her wrist, then he saw aframed photograph on the wall. It showed a man in a colonel's uniform. A hardand ugly face that looked like it had been beaten with rifle butts.

"Who's that?"

"My husband, Viktor. He was killedduring the war."

"I'm sorry."

The woman laughed, then looked at thephotograph with contempt.

"Don't be. The man was a pig. Iwouldn't have cut him down if he was hanging. All I ever got from him was awidow's war pension and this place after he died. I only keep his picture thereto remind myself how lucky I am without him. Every anniversary I get drunk andspit at it. Are you hungry?"

"Starving."

"Sit down. I'll make yousomething."

The woman busied herself cutting severalthick slices of bread and sweaty goat's cheese. As Stanski ate ravenously sheheated a pot of soup on the stove, then poured them each a glass of vodka andjoined him at the table.

"You look like you've been to helland back."

"I guess that's close enough."

"Eat and drink some more. Then I'llheat some water for you to wash and shave." The woman wrinkled her nose."You smell worse than a cattle train. Give me your jacket and shirt for astart. There's some old things of Viktor's somewhere that should fit you."

"If the KGB took my friend toMoscow, where would they have taken her?"

The woman shrugged at the question."The Lubyanka prison. Or Lefortovo. But most likely the Lubyanka, becauseit's part of KGB Headquarters. Why?"

Stanski didn't reply as he removed hisjacket and shirt and stood there bare-chested as he handed them over.

"You're certain I'm safe here? Whatabout the neighbors?"

"Perfectly safe. Most of the dachasaround here are never used in winter. They're owned by army officers and Partyofficials." The woman smiled. "And if anyone asks, you're my cousincome to visit. Whether they believe it or not is another matter, but they won'tbother us."

"I'll need transport."

The woman crossed to the stove and pouredthick soliyanka soup into a bowl and placed it in front of Stanski, cut morebread and poured another vodka for him.

"There's an old Skoda under atarpaulin in the woodshed. Viktor brought it back from Poland in '41, alongwith a mistress and a bad case of syphilis. The car still works perfectly welland the tank's full."

"Can you drive?"

The woman nodded, "I was a driver inthe army during the war. I sometimes take the Skoda into the city."

"Can you show me aroundMoscow?"

"Will it be dangerous?"

"I doubt it. Just a nice leisurelydrive to help me get my bearings. You have a map of the city?"

"An old one, from before thewar."

"That'll do fine."

The woman stood. "I'll get the map.Have your soup before it gets cold."

"One more thing."

The woman looked at his face and Stanskisaid, "What do I call you?

Madame Dezov?"

Her eyes took in his bare chest as shelaughed. "You? Anything you want. But lrena will do for now."

Moscow. February 28th, 2 Pm.

The small park off Marx Prospect wasempty that afternoon.

With its ponds and landscaped gardens andwooden pavilions, the park had once been a favorite haunt of Tsar Nicholasuntil the KGB had decided to acquire it for their own private use. Tall birchtrees protected it from the prying eyes of passers-by and the wrought-iron gatewas constantly guarded by an armed militiaman.

Lukin was sitting in the BMW outside whenhe saw the Emka pull up in front of the gate.

Two plain-clothes KGB men climbed out ofthe back. Anna Khorev was handcuffed to one of them. Someone had given her aman's overcoat and it hung loosely over her shoulders.

Lukin climbed out of the BMW and crossedto the men. "You can take off the handcuffs. That'll be all, I don't needyou any more." When the handcuffs had been removed the two men left. Lukinsaw the confusion on Anna's face. In the oversized coat she looked vulnerable.He nodded to the militiaman to open the gate, then looked back at her. "Come,let's walk."

Silver birch trees lined the narrow walksand the place was peaceful apart from the faint hum of traffic. As theystrolled toward a pond, Lukin pointed to one of the wooden benches. "Let'ssit, shall we?"

He brushed away a dusting of snow and whenthey had sat down he looked at her. "How are you feeling?"

"Why have I been brought here?"

"Anna, I told you my job is to findStanski dead or alive. I'm going to be honest with you and tell you so far oursearches have turned up nothing. He could be dead, of course, but I believehe's still alive. He's a very resourceful fellow. By now he could even be inMoscow. You're the only one who can help me find him. I told you I'd give youtime to consider your situation. But I have to be frank and tell you mysuperiors are becoming impatient. They want answers and they want them fast. IfI can't get you to talk, then they'll use someone who will. The kind of brute Itold you about."

"You're wasting your time. I toldyou already. I can't help YOU."

"Can't or won't? You know the peoplewho helped you on your journey to Moscow. And there may be other things youknow that could offer me some clue that could help me find Stanski."

"I have nothing to say."

"Anna, I'm asking you to thinkagain. Even if Stanski is alive and in Moscow, it's impossible for him tosucceed, The Kremlin or Stalin's villa can't be breached. And make no mistake,sooner or later Stanski will be caught. It would be better for your sake if youplayed a part in that by helping me. I know you won't break easily underpressure. Anyone who has suffered as you did has to have nerves of steel. Butin the Lubyanka cellars even a strong woman would talk eventually. These peoplehave drugs, implements of torture. They've made braver and more stubborn peoplethan you confess to crimes they didn't even commit." He hesitated, thenshook his head. "I don't want you to have to suffer that. It's not worthit, Anna. Not for someone who's going to be caught eventually."

Something in the tone of Lukin's voicemade Anna look at him. That same look of compassion was discernible in his softbrown eyes.

"Do you mean it when you say youdon't want me to be hurt?"

"Of course. I'm not a beast, Anna.But if I don't succeed, you'll be tortured and hurt. Much more terribly thanyou can imagine."

"Then if I asked you to kill me tosave me from that pain, would you do that?"

"You know I couldn't do that."

"You know what - I think'? I thinkyou just want me to believe that you're half human. And that way you think I'llconfide in you and talk."

Lukin sighed and stood. He took a deepbreath before he looked down at her. "My father, you know what he used tosay? Begin with the truth. He was a principled man. Perhaps far too principledfor this life. I've tried to begin with the truth. I've tried to tell you whatwill happen if you refuse to talk. You know that your position is impossible.But there may be a future for you if you help me."

"You know I won't be set free."

"True, but any alternative to deathis a welcome one."

"What alternative?"

"If you help me, I'd ask theprosecutor to consider penal servitude in the Gulag instead of a death sentencewhen your case comes to court."