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。 Instead he pulled into a badly rutted dirt track that cut diagonally through the forest and switched off the ignition。
He sat listening to the ticking of the hot engine。 The bluebirds and cardinals sang in the trees； the insects droned and whirred； life went on here no different than it had the day before； than it would the day after。 If only that were true for Valeri Bondasenko。
Valeri pulled open the locked glove partment； extracted the handgun。 It was of West German manufacture； and extremely reliable。 He slid it into the waistband of his trousers。 It was unfortable there； but that was good； he thought as he began his nerve…racking trek toward the grim Victorian facade of the insane asylum； it would remind him of what had to be done now。
He took out a slender switchblade with a long； wicked blade。 He tested the action of the blade； then strapped the knife in its sheath to the inside of his wrist。
If he was expecting a contingent of KGB Border Guards to have surrounded the place； he was mistaken。 By the time he arrived near the front steps； he had almost convinced himself that Natasha was still holding on； that she hadn't spilled everything in her mind into their laps。 He said a little prayer as he turned away from the main lobby； entering the building through the rear service doors。
He was immediately hit by the familiar noxious odors； but he was too concerned to be repelled。 He went quickly up the south staircase to the third floor。 He stood just outside the door to the floor corridor； peering through the meshed square of glass。 In a moment he saw a plainclothes man ing in his direction。 Valeri ducked back into the stairwell。 The man passed by the door； and Valeri watched him as he went into his daughter's room。
His heart sank。 Natasha was as good as dead。 She had told them everything she knew。 Poor Natasha。
The only good news for him was that it appeared that she had just been broken； otherwise all entrances would have been guarded； the place would have been surrounded。 Time was running away。 He knew that the Border Guards contingent must be on its way。
Valeri opened the door； looked first to his left； the direction from which the KGB man had e。 The corridor was clear in that direction； but to his right another KGB man stood guard outside his daughter's room。
His heart thundering in his chest； Valeri ventured out into the corridor。 He walked directly up to the KGB man； said； 〃I'm looking for Dr。 Kalinin。 Have you seen him？〃
The KGB man opened his mouth to reply； and Valeri depressed the stud that opened the switchblade； shoved the blade between the man's third and fourth ribs； in a slight upward tilt so that the blade pierced his heart。
The KGB man's jaws snapped together as he collapsed into Valeri's arms。 Valeri dragged him quickly across the corridor； parking him just inside the door to a room occupied by a atose woman in her eighties。 He went through the KGB man's pockets； taking his ID folder； his weapons。
He strode swiftly； confidently； back across the hall and through the door to his daughter's room。 The second KGB man looked up； said； 〃Stop where you are；〃 then looked down in astonishment at the hilt of the knife buried in his chest。
He went down on one knee； but still had the presence of mind to draw his pistol。 Valeri kicked it out of his hand。 The KGB man grabbed Valeri's foot； twisted it from the heel。
Valeri felt himself going over； and the man was upon him。 Blood was seeping from the wound in his chest； but Valeri could see how his aim had been off。 The man's sternum had been pierced； but the bone had taken the brunt of the wound。
His hands were around Valeri's throat； and Valeri used his knee； kicking the man in his crotch。 Pink froth flew from the KGB man's mouth； and his eyes almost bugged out of his head。 He growled like an animal； but did not relinquish his stranglehold on Valeri's throat。 His spatulate thumbs were pressing into Valeri's windpipe。
Valeri used three kites to the man's rib cage； felt it stave in on the third blow。 The man toppled to the floor。 Valeri scrambled to his feet； went to the bed； gazed down at the placid face of his daughter。 He was never so happy to see her。 Bending down； he scooped her up； stepped over the body of the fallen KGB man。
He peeked out into the corridor。 It was clear。 He ran to the stairwell； headed downstairs。 It took him seven minutes to ferry his daughter out of the asylum； back to where the car was hidden among the birches。
Then he hurried back。 There was more to be done。
He skirted the building； heading around back to the long； sloping lawn。 He looked back toward the open doors to the main lobby。 There was the usual activity； with nurses passing this way and that； some with their charges in wheelchairs； others shepherding slow…shuffling figures in tatty robes from one corridor to another。 There was a clot of doctors to the left who seemed to be huddled over a chart。
Valeri saw Dr。 Kalinin among the clot of doctors and； at almost the same moment。 Dr。 Kalinin saw him。
Valeri saw the doctor's face go white； then he began to surreptitiously edge away from his colleagues； away from the spot where Valeri stood。
Valeri ran down the lawn toward the bench that overlooked the large birch tree where he always sat with his daughter。 It was empty。 He turned； looked beyond the tree； toward the birch forest； and he saw to his horror the young man with the strawberry birthmark on his cheek running from two plainclothes men。 The young man was heading toward the forest； but Valeri could see that he was not going to make it。
Valeri drew his pistol； went down on one knee； held the gun in both hands。 He sighted； squeezed off one shot； two。 Both the KGB men fell。
〃rade！〃
He heard the shout behind him and whirled。 Dr。 Kalinin had e down the back steps onto the lawn。 He kept shouting； pointing at Valeri。 Valeri shot him。 Dr。 Kalinin threw his hands into the air as he spun around。 By the time he hit the ground face first； Valeri was already off and running toward the forest of birch trees。
He crashed into the underbrush； then was within the woods； the light dimmer； speckled with deep shadow。 The rich scents of moss and humus perfumed the air。
〃Halt！〃
Valeri came up short。
〃Hands！〃
Valeri raised his hands。
〃Stay right where you are or you will be shot！〃
In a moment the young man with the strawberry birthmark emerged。 〃Valeri！〃
Valeri put down his hands。 〃You gave me a start； Sergei！〃 Valeri's voice was filled with relief。 〃What are you doing waiting around here？〃
〃I wanted to make certain you got away clean；〃 Sergei said。 〃That was some shooting； rade！〃
They laughed together； clapping each other on the back； but Sergei quickly sobered。 〃What has happened？〃
〃e；〃 Valeri said； leading him through the forest。 〃The KGB picked up Natasha。〃
〃But how？ How could they know about her？ If there is a leak of such proportions； we're finished。〃
Valeri found the rutted dirt track； followed it back toward where he had hidden his car。
〃Let's not get ahead of ourselves；〃 he said； but Sergei could see the concern on his face。
〃This is Volkov's doing；〃 Sergei said。 〃I can smell his duplicit