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old.
As Petrovina scanned the first note, her smile of triumph slowly faded. By the
time she finished the second and third notes-written by Director Chutesov on a
flight from Moscow-Petrovina's hands were shaking.
They were still shaking as she stabbed out the number to Remo's room. The
internal lines worked. The phone rang and rang without answer. Woodenly she
hung up.
Petrovina fumbled in the suitcase pocket where her computer had been hidden
away. For a moment she didn't seem to know what to do with the pistol she
pulled out. Finally she stuffed it in her belt, zipping her jacket up over
it.
When she stepped numbly from the room a moment later, the usually efficient
Petrovina Bulganin didn't even notice that she had left her computer on and
the door wide-open.
Chapter 26
Captain Gennady Zhilnikov was lying on the bunk in his New Briton prison cell
when he heard the distant clacking of footsteps far up the corridor beyond the
iron door.
Zhilnikov tuned out the sound.
People had been coming and going all afternoon. Ever since he and his men were
brought here by the local authorities. There had been local and federal
police. The Russian ambassador stopped by, voicing disapproval of this whole
affair. One of the SVR agents who had been on the boat that helped capture the
Novgorod-an SVR neanderthal named Vlad Korkusku-came by with the ambassador.
He growled and threatened and puffed out his chest in the way only old KGB
could do. When he left, Korkusku told Gennady Zhilnikov that he was looking
forward to seeing him back in Moscow.
Now, hours later, hands behind his head as he stared up at the springs of the
empty bunk above him, Captain Zhilnikov smiled. As prison cells went, this one
was not so bad. In fact, it was more spacious than his quarters on the
Novgorod.
Despite Vlad Karkusku's bluster, things were not as dire as they could be.
Zhilnikov had chosen the right time to go mad. With all eyes focused on
Mayana, there was no way the Mayanans would deal harshly with their prisoners.
Even a return to Moscow would not necessarily be the end. Ten years ago death
would have been certain. Now? Who knew?
He had been told that the Russian government was already working to extradite
the crew of the Novgorod. If they succeeded, the cell he would end up in would
be nowhere near as pleasant as his current accommodations.
Zhilnikov didn't care so much about himself. He was more concerned about the
treatment of his men. Still, the most important thing of all was that revenge
had been served. There were cameras waiting when he arrived at shore. He
shouted Garbegtrov's name at all of them. Although Zhilnikov hadn't heard
anything yet, the former premier was certainly disgraced by now.
The captain of the Novgorod was smiling once more when he heard keys jangling
outside his door. The cell door swung open. Two men in suits loomed in the
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doorway.
"Get up. You're coming with us."
Zhilnikov assumed he was being brought before some sort of magistrate.
Climbing out of his bunk-which was more comfortable than his old worn mattress
back on the Novgorod-he followed the two men out of the cell.
When he saw some of his men already standing in the hall, Zhilnikov frowned.
There were more Mayanans in suits in the dank corridor. They were turning keys
in locks, releasing the rest of the Russian submarine crew.
"What is meaning of this?" Zhilnikov asked.
"It's judgment day," the Mayanan replied. "And you fellows have bought
yourselves a front-row seat."
Puzzled, Zhilnikov looked to his men.
The Mayanans had drawn handguns. They were waving the weapons at the sailors,
herding them together and steering them toward an open rear door. The door
didn't lead to the main street. Zhilnikov saw an alley wall. The men began
shuffling out into the late-afternoon sun.
"I am confused," Gennady Zhilnikov said, hesitantly trailing his men. "Are we
going before judge now?"
At this, the Mayanans shared a wicked smile. "You're going before the ultimate
judge," one promised. "And woe to you sinners, his wrath shall be great."
With a rough shove between the shoulder blades, the Mayanans propelled Captain
Gennady Zhilnikov out the prison door and into the lengthening afternoon
shadows.
Chapter 27
By the time Remo and Chiun finished supper, dusk was sweeping away the last of [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]