"Except the Ukrainian SS. They wererapists and scum."

Stanski looked at Popov, whose faceturned red with fury Stanski stood up to break the tension.

"Let's get this under way. Wheneveryou're ready, Dimitri."

Popov stood and pushed back his chair."There's still light outside. Let's start with ways to kill." Helooked at Anna. "We'll see who was scum. Go change." He grinned atStanski "You know, I think I'm going to enjoy this."

They were out behind the house, theirbreaths fogging in the freezing air, but the cold didn't seem to bother Popov,who hac removed his parka and sweater, and stood there in his dirty vest. Thesmell from the man's body was unpleasant, a mixture of stale sweat and woodsmoke.

He faced them, his feet spread apart ashe hitched up his trousers.

"OK. Basics first. To kill properlyyou need two things. Determination and skill. Forget anger. It makes formistakes and distracts you. You must be clear-headed about your purpose. OK,without weapons first. Let's start with you, Alex.

Step forward." Stanski steppedforward.

"Give up your hands. Palms up,"commanded Popov.

Stanski offered his hands. Popov graspedone, held it up and splayed the fingers.

He looked at Anna. "Five fingers.Five simple but deadly weapons on each hand. You use them to gouge and poke outeyes. To strangle and choke. Then there's your feet. And Your head, but usethat for anything other than thinking it can be both painful and dangerous.Better to stick with the other parts-legs, hands and feet. OK, Alex, tell me howyou can kill with your hand@;."

Stanski's hand touched a point behindPopov's left ear and pressed.

"Pressure points left and rightsides of the neck where the veins Carry blood to the brain. Depending on theamount of pressure applied, you can knock a man unconscious or kill him in fiveto ten seconds."

"That's assuming of course,"said Popov, "you've (, got time. What if you haven't'? What if it must bedone instantly'?

A sentry, perhaps ' Someone you wish tosilence without a sound @and at once?"

Stanski showed him. With the edge of Hishand, he gestured like it was a blade. "Side cut to the throat shattersthe Adam's apple."

"And if You're coming frombehind?"

"The right way is to side cut orpunch to the pressure Points."

"But if it doesn't kill him?"

"Stamp on his throat."

"But if he's still standing?"

"You get him down on the ground asquickly as possible. Crush his throat with your hand or foot."

"Which part of the foot?"

"The heel is the strongest."

"OK, do it to . me."

Popov turned, offering his back. Stanskicame up behind him and went to attack. As his hand came cutting through theair, Popov turned quick as lightning and grasped Stanski's arm and twisted.Stanski didn't scream even though the bone almost cracked. Popov released hisgrip and grinned. "First mistake. I'm surprised at you, Alex. You've grownrusty. Always and always be ready for the unexpected. Anticipate that the guardis going to turn and look or have a piss," He looked at Anna. "If theguard sees you, it can cost you your life, and worse, the lives of the otherswith you. Never expect things to happen as you plan them. In short, expectfucking anything to happen. And when you're making that kill, every sense mustbe alert. Not only the ones you're using right now."

He stepped back a little. "Now tryit again." He turned, offering his back again. Stanski came at him. As hewas about to strike, Popov turned once again, but this time Stanski was ready.As Popov's hand came around, Stanski grabbed it and twisted, at the same timebringing his knee up and halting it an inch from smashing Popov's face, thenhis hand It stunned the man but he was power-fully built, and as Stanski's handcame down sharply to strike again Popov grunted and wrenched free, his handgrabbing Stanski's hair, wrenching it back painfully from the scalp.

"Better. But not quite good enough.You would have killed me, but not silently. We'll improve on it. Remember,always anticipate. The SS trained their men to expect everything." Helooked at Anna and grinned. "And now you. Step forward please,madam."

There was something in the way Popov saidmadam that was almost goading. Anna took two steps forward. The grin behind theUkrainian's beard widened.

"With women," Popov saiddismissively, "it's even more difficult. They haven't got the naturalstrength a man has. But even nature's weaklings can be taught technique.Remember, always anticipate and react. And it must be quickly, or your lifegets snuffed out. Got it?"

"I think so."

"We'll see. OK, the same again. Tryand remember what you saw Alex do. Come at me from behind."

Popov turned again, showing Anna hisback.

There was a swishing sound and Popov feltthe force of the kick as a foot slammed hard between his legs. He vomited as hewent down, his face turning purple as his hands went to cover his genitals.

At the same time Anna came around infront of him. Her hand sliced through the air and hit Popov a glancing blow tothe side of the neck as he pitched forward.

As Popov writhed in pain, Stanski saw thebarely concealed smile on Anna's face, and then it was gone, her face deathlyserious as she looked back at him.

"His first mistake. He didn't heedhis own advice to anticipate. That's the sign of a poor instructor,"Stanski grinned, "I'd have to agree. What's the idea, are you trying tokill him?"

"There are many ways to stop a bear.The Mongolian troops I served with at Stalingrad taught me that. That's howthey've silenced a sentry since the time of (Christ. A hard, sharp kick betweenthe legs to a man's most vulnerable spot. The pain is so intense he can'tscream or cry out even if he wants to. He goes dumb with shock. Then you killhim."

Stanski smiled over at Popov squirming onthe ground. "I think you've made your point."

"Then tell him for me I hope therest of the training is better. And remind him a good instructor should alwayspractice what he preaches. Tell him that. I'll be inside when your friend hasrecovered."

Stanski watched as she turned and wentback up to the house. He saw Popov try to struggle to his feet, cross-eyed withpain as he tenderly massaged his genitals and moaned.

Stanski laughed and lit a cigarette."I guess she's better than you thought, Dimitri."

Moscow. February 12th It was almost noonwhen the Finnish DC-3 carrying Henri Lebe] landed at Vnukovo airport. Situatedten kilometers southwest of Moscow, Vnukovo served as the city's main civilianairport, but it was also a military airbase, ringed by a highsecurity fence andguarded by a battalion of crack paratroops.

Lebel remained quietly in his seat longafter the aircraft had taxied to a halt. There were only a dozen passengers onboard that Thursday morning, and among them Lebel recognized several faces hehad seen before on Moscow flights-two prominent Dutch diamond merchants, aGerman oil magnate, and a minor Finnish embassy official. They all waitedpatiently in their seats, frequent visitors to Moscow who knew the drill thatwas to follow.

Lebel glanced out of the window and sawan Enika car drive the short distance across the snowy tarmac to the plane. Henoticed that, as always, there were few Western aircraft on the aprons.

The Enika halted below on the apron andthe two passengers climbed out and came up the metal stairway. The procedurewas always the same, The two men were KGB, and they came on board but remainedat the door. Before the passengers were allowed to disembark, the Finnishstewardesses went through the cabin removing any Western newspapers andmagazines and storing them away in a locked cabinet in case anyone was temptedto take one.