Chapter 21
Moscow
Chuck Stoddard’s Russian counterpart was seated at his heavy wooden desk that was polished to a purity of craftsmanship that enabled him to see his reflection in its finish, and this filled him with satisfaction. The desk was a relic of imperial times and symbolized a power of a different sort in his age, but it was power none the less, which he had strived for and achieved. It was a personal tragedy of the first order that he was soon to be separated from it. That was his unbiased assessment.
The electronic epistle he held in his hand did little to relieve him on that score.
“What does it say?” his assistant asked.
The Director of the Russian science program blew out from between his lips.
“That, you must see for yourself.” He handed the Telex over the desk.
“This is outrageous!” the assistant said upon completion of scanning the message.
“Yes, there is much outrage to be had on all fronts. However, please be specific.”
This was a signal to the assistant that his superior wanted him to break the situation down to its essential factors and give him an assessment of each.
“First, Gregore believes that the man is attempting to defect by going with the environmentalists. This seems unlikely since he was already with the Americans. If he wanted to abandon his country, he could have done so right then.”
“Maybe not so easily,” the Russian director said. “It could be that he tried, and was refused. With what is happening between us and the Americans right now, I would think they have to refuse him. Or, proceed very craftily. But, continue.”
“Second,” the assistant went on after the interruption, “this environmental group seems to be taking on a new character. The making of noise that satisfied them before no longer appears to be enough. They could become dangerous to us too.”
“I think not,” the Director said with a dismissive gesture. “They only attack wealthy countries, because wealthy countries have choices, which we do not. Besides, they know that we will not play games with them the way the western countries do. They are not so foolish.”
The assistant appeared to equivocate on this point, as if to say that the recent actions of the Green Organization should be taken as proof that they are that foolish. But he did not argue the point.
“Third, the Americans say that they have gone to Terra Nova, and that they can be intercepted there. Gregore is quite clear that he believes this to be a deception, though he does not give an explanation as to why.”
“Interesting,” the Director mused. “Why, if they had no part in this, would they feel obligated to make a deception?”
“To embarrass us politically somehow?” the assistant suggested, choosing a perennially safe answer.
“No. There is something we are missing.”
Both the men sat quietly now, pondering the situation.
“Well,” the assistant said after a moment went by. “Either we try to recover the traitor, or we do not. That seems to be the essential question.”
The Director nodded.
“If we retake him then we risk condemnation in the world at large, while now we appear to be the victim of an Imperialist plot to corner the global oil supply. If we do not try to get him back we send another message, a message that may inspire others. Both are bad choices.”
“Unless it is to rescue him from the terrorists. That would be the only humane thing to do,” the assistant offered craftily.
“I don’t see how that helps us, we still have the inevitable question of if he went of his own will and that is not a question I would like to hear answered in front on strangers.”
“So, we make sure we don’t actually rescue him. He is of very little value to us militarily; his work has been separated from actual programs years ago. We let him go, and make the appearance of attempting to rescue him at Terra Nova like they would have us believe.”
The Director smiled.
“I believe you will go far in this department, my young protégé.”
The assistant smiled with glee, as going far within the department, and surpassing his superior, was his only goal.
“So, we tell Gregore that his orders are to make a show of pursuing Sokolov to Terra Nova, as a concerned countryman would, to rescue him in his plight, but to be sure that no ‘rescue’ actually takes place. Correct?”
“That is correct.”
“I will prepare the message right now.”