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Centuries ago the Zamoskvorechye was the residential quarter not only for the czar's servants； but for the court artisans。 Nowadays it is very different； like most of Moscow； having gone through a period of intense industrialization during the early part of the nineteenth century。
However； many delights still abound here； not the least of which is the Church of St。 Gregory of Neocasarea。 One arrives at this seventeenth…century triumph of Gothic architecture by passing over either one of the Kamenny bridges； following halfway down Bolshaya Polyanka Street。
The church is surrounded by modern one…story houses with their wide porches and cool inner courtyards； its five…domed sanctuary and tented belfry soaring over the shaded houses and narrow streets to the right； where； startlingly； one es upon the Institute of Geography and the Atomic Energy Administration。
Valeri Bondasenko could not have found a better hiding place in all of Moscow than the Church of St。 Gregory of Neocasarea。 Though its gorgeous interior had been denied… the sublime sanctuary's decorative frescoes and ceramics had been confiscated by the state…the church was a popular spot for foreign tour groups。 Intourist buses were always parked not far away； and the ringing voices of sour…faced state tour guides could be heard during the day； as regular as the belfry's chiming； echoing through the interior； repeating by rote the authorized version of this particular piece of history。
Below the shuffling crowds； in the long…forgotten church crypts； Valeri and Sergei hunched in the dust and the cobwebs。 Beside them； on a crude pallet； Valeri's daughter lay as if asleep。 Her face was peaceful； utterly blank。
〃God must be testing us； eh； rade？〃 Sergei said with a derisive laugh。 〃Otherwise； I can't think why I feel like Job。〃
〃It appears that the testing will be over soon；〃 Valeri said in a serious tone； 〃one way or another。〃
Sergei sobered quickly。 〃Is White Star doomed； men？〃
〃I don't know；〃 Valeri admitted。 〃rade Volkov…〃
〃May he rot in hell for eternity！〃
〃rade Volkov may have squeezed Natasha Mayakova dry； but there is only so much she knows。 We have sprung a leak； to be sure； but we're not yet sinking。 As long as my log of White Star activity is safe； so are we。〃
Sergei said； 〃I don't think I care for the look on your face； rade。 What are you thinking？〃
〃I'm thinking that as long as my puter is in my apartment； it is a liability to us now。''
〃The log is in there？〃
Valeri nodded。 〃Hidden safely away from inquisitive eyes。 But still。 。 。〃
〃Yes。 I understand pletely；〃 Sergei said。 〃Still； it is there。'' He shrugged。 ''Well； one thing is for certain； with rade Volkov's people scouring the city for us； neither of us can risk going to the apartment to get it。。 All of Moscow has bee a danger zone。 I doubt if we can risk anyone。''
〃Anyone who is involved with White Star。〃
〃Well； of course； that's what I meant；〃 Sergei said。 〃But who else could we use？〃
〃There is someone 。。。〃
〃Who？〃
〃A woman。〃
Sergei groaned。 〃Not another woman； rade。 Look at what has happened to Natasha Mayakova。 Doesn't her torture mean anything to you？〃
〃Yes；〃 Valeri said。 〃It means a great deal。 I cared about Natasha…〃
〃That； if I may say so； is the problem with you； rade。 Emotional involvement…〃
〃 …is a clear and present danger；'' Valeri finished his thought。 〃Yes； I know； Sergei。 But I find it imperative to continue to see people as people； not as pawns to be pushed around a chess board。〃
〃But for the sake of all of us； you'll push this woman around the board； won't you； rade？〃
〃I'll tell her what needs to be done； but not why；〃 Valeri said。 〃I'll give her a choice。〃
〃The illusion of choice； you mean；〃 Sergei grunted。 〃By the time you're done with her； holding her tight； kissing her； I'm quite certain she'd jump off the Moskvoretsky Bridge if you asked her to！〃
〃She is not someone to manipulate；〃 Valeri insisted。
〃Neither was Natasha Mayakova； rade； but you manipulated her just the same。 For the good of us all。〃
〃It was wrong of me to so shamelessly use Natasha in that way。〃
〃Wrong？ But no； you have mistaken my intent。〃 Sergei put his hand briefly on Valeri's arm； a sign of solidarity。 〃You did what needed to be done。 It might have been dirty； but there is no shame involved； my friend。 It was necessary。〃
〃I am not often certain of that； Sergei。〃
〃Think of Volkov； man！ Without your constant cunning； that monster would have defeated us already。''
''Perhaps you're right。''
〃The times of revolution are desperate times；〃 Sergei said。 〃They call for desperate measures。〃
〃I think； rade； that we are done with revolutions。 You see the results of our original 'glorious revolution。' Would you have us repeat the mistakes of our forebears？〃 He shook his head。 〃No； rade。 These may； indeed； be desperate times； but I will not condone desperate measures。 The cycle of mindless violence and hidden greed must be broken； once and for all time。 I will not bring down one form of tyranny only to replace it with another。 Do you understand this？ Are you with me？〃
Sergei nodded。 〃For forever and a day； Valeri。〃
Valeri clapped Sergei on the back； but his gaze was far away。 〃Ah； Natasha；〃 he said softly into the musty darkness of the crypt； 〃if only you knew how important your pain was for White Star。 Volkov has broken you； but now he believes that all you were doing was bringing the Него KGB dossiers。 Our truth is still safe。〃 He turned to Sergei。 〃Still safe； eh； rade？〃
〃Is he gone？〃
〃Yes。〃
Irina crept out of the Hero's shower where Lara had hidden her when Tatiana had warned them of Mars Volkov's arrival in the building。
〃Don't be frightened by what you may have overheard。〃
Irina slipped into the pool beside him。 〃Nothing about you could frighten me。〃
The Hero touched her as they moved out into the center of the pool。 〃Mars was looking for you；〃 he said。
〃Did he say why？〃
〃I don't think it would be a good idea to let him find you；〃 Lara said。
''But why is he looking for me？〃
''He thinks you know where Valeri is hiding；'' the Него said。
〃He'll kill Valeri if he gets the chance；〃 Lara said。
Irina shivered。 〃Now I am frightened。〃
〃So you should be；〃 the Него said。 Then he put his hand on her again； and she felt a warmth flow through her。 〃Don't worry。 You have a guardian angel looking after you。''
〃That's what Natasha said。〃 Irina squeezed her eyes shut。 〃Why must there always be violence； pain； suffering； death？〃
The lapping of the pool； four entities in the faintly phosphorescent darkness； linked by an invisible umbilical。
The Hero said； 〃All these things are part of human nature。〃
〃You're wrong；〃 Irina said。 〃You must be。〃
''People want things；'' the Hero said。 ''Usually they are things they shouldn't have； such as too much money； too much power； dominion over other people； dominion over other nations。 It never ends。 There is a cycle of human existence that must be played out。〃
〃Nothing is so inevitable；〃 Irina said。 〃Now you sound like a god talking about his mortal charges。〃
〃Mars has accused me of wanting to be a god； but that is not my intent。〃