Kislov sighed. "I suppose you'dbetter fill me in on what's been happening."

"We're using Lombardi to watch thewoman, of course, but Braun's acting as the link."

"Braun'? That animal?"

"Even an animal has its necessity.

"The woman had a suitcase withher," Akashin went on, "so it's likely she was going to staysomewhere. Lombardi's men followed the three of them out of the station butlost them after they drove off in a vehicle driven by the man we think isStanski. But they got the license number-a New Hampshire registration-and hadit checked out. It's definitely registered to an Alex Stanski, with an addressat a place called Kingdom Lake in New Hampshire, which confirms hisidentity."

"Go on," prompted Kislov.

" Curious, but the terrain aroundthere is not unlike Russia. It would seem an ideal place for mission trainingif Massey is planning a drop."

Kislov nodded. "Anything else?"

Akashin half smiled. "There's aSoviet cargo ship due in New York docks in five days, which rather suits us ifthings go the way I plan. I'll need you to authorize a dollar payment forLombardi if we're to go ahead with the woman's abduction."

"Can Lombardi be trusted with such adelicate matter as this?"

Akashin grinned. "He's as shifty asa sewer rat, but a true capitalist who'll do anything for money. Besides, he'snot averse to killing."

"Surely Lombardi won't get involvedin this personally?

He'll want to leave it to his men."

"I'll insist that he does,considering what we'll pay him. I don't want this business botched."

Kislov thought a moment. "CouldBraun and Lombardi make the deaths of Massey and Stanski look like accidents?So that the Americans can't come back at us""

"It could be arranged, I'mcertain."

Kislov grinned slightly. "Thenperhaps your second option was best after- all, There could be promotion inthis for both of US."

Akashin smiled back. "That's what Ithought."

"But just remember, the woman is thepriority. It's her we want. It's fine if Massey and Stanski are there when wetake her, we can deal with them, but if not, just make sure you get that bitch.And tell your people to be careful. By all accounts this Wolf is a dangerousproposition."

New Hampshire.

Popov had recovered, and the followingdays had been spent on weapons training. He didn't reproach Anna but Stanskisaw the blaze of anger in the trainer's eyes every time he looked at her. Themeaning was obvious It had started to snow that early afternoon, a late fallthat covered the forest and land in a sprinkling of'white. They spent an hourexamining Soviet weapons which Popov had laid out on the table in the frontroom.

"Some of these you may meet on yourtravels, so it's important you know what you're up against and how to use themif you have to." He picked up the first weapon. "Kalashnikov assaultrifle," he said. "Not really a rifle at all, but a machine-pistol andrifle combined. It can fire single shots, semiautomatic or automatic bursts.Designed by an NCO in the Red Army by the same name in 1947. That's how it gotits model number--AK47. It fires 7.62 ammunition. An excellent weapon, I haveto admit. Hardly ever jams and you can throw it in the mud and dance on it andit will still fire."

He put it down and picked up anotherweapon with a drum magazine. "PPSU machine-gun. Standard issue to SovietNCOS during the war. It's noisy and inaccurate, and it fires too fast. Steelpressed parts. It's still in use in all countries behind the Iron Curtain. Fineif you're up close to a kill or need to spray a room at speed but otherwise awaste of fucking time."

He replaced it and selected another."And now for the Crim de Resistance German MP40 machine-pistol, sometimesinaccurately called the Schmeisser. The Soviets captured thousands of them fromthe Germans. The Reds even preferred this weapon to their own models during thewar. They've armed some of the militia with the MP40 in Soviet Bloc countriesuntil they're replaced with the latest Soviet arms. A lethal weapon, way aheadof its time. Nine-millimeter parabellum shel ' Is, thirty-two rounds in a clip.Better than any of the others You've seen, in my opinion."

Popov put down the German machine-pistoland turned to a Couple of' handguns, "Only two that should really concernyou. The Tokarev TT33 automatic pistol and the Na gant revolver. Bothreasonably accurate and reliable. The shortcomings of the Tokarev are it's anawkward design and badly finished. The Na gant is really a Belgian weapon, butthe Soviets manufacture a direct copy. It's a good, solid, dependablerevolver."

He looked up at Anna. "Pick them up.Handle them. Feel the weight and get used to the mechanical action. You too,Alex. You can never have enough practice. Then outside in the woods in tenminutes."

Anna had begun to feel fit again. Therunning through the woods and the excruciating exercises had toned her body andshe felt more alive than she had in a long time. Stanski had covered therudiments of parachuting and he and Popov had rigged up a basic training dropto teach her how to land properly. The entire regime had given her little timeto be alone and think, her days preoccupied by what she was doing and hernights a haze of sleepy exhaustion.

It was snowing on the second to last dayof training, and when they had finished supper and Stanski and Vassily hadcleared away the plates she threw her coat over her shoulders, left the cabinand walked down to the lake.

She heard the voice behind her minuteslater and turned. Popov came down to stand beside the water. He looked over ather.

"So, we only have another daytogether. No doubt you're happy to see me go. But I hope you've learned enoughto save your life in an awkward situation?"

She looked at him coldly. "Are youworried about me, Popov?" He grinned in the darkness. "I always worryabout my pupils. But it's up to them to take as they will of what I teach them.Either they learn enough to survive or they don't and they're dead." Hehesitated. "When did you escape?"

"I don't think that's any of yourbusiness. And who says I escaped?"

Popov grinned. "How else could youhave got out of Russia?

Still, I wouldn't like to see a woman aspretty as yourself caught by the Reds, if that's the case. You know what theywould do to you?"

"I can imagine. Now why don't youleave me alone."

"Believe me, if they caught you,rape would be the mildest thing. Then torture. Excruciating torture. Afterthat, death would be a welcome companion. And with the KGB, that usuallyhappens slowly."

"Are you trying to frighten me,Popov?"

The grin behind the beard widened."I doubt if that's possible. I'm just making sure you know what to expect.You have better nerves than most men I've trained." He crushed thecigarette under his boot. "But whatever you're going to do I hope it hurtsthe bastards. Good night."

He stared over at her before he turnedand walked back up to the cabin.

"Nice conversation."

Anna turned. Stanski stood there in theshadows. smoking a cigarette-she saw the glow from the tip of his cigarette beforeshe saw him. He strolled down to stand beside her.

"He's not as bad as he looks orsounds."

"if you say so."

"You don't like Popov much, doyou?"

" No."

' "What you learned from him couldsave your life, remember that."

"That doesn't mean I have to likehim," Stanski smiled. "I guess not."

He flicked away his cigarette and itcartwheeled into the lake. "Tomorrow I'll take you into Concord. There's ahotel, it's not up to much, but the cooking's better than Vassily's. Andthere's a dance during dinner."