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〃Mars has accused me of wanting to be a god； but that is not my intent。〃
Irina looked into his extraordinary opalescent eyes。 〃What is your intent； then？〃
〃Freedom；〃 the Hero said。 〃That's simple； enough； isn't it？ Or it should be。 But human nature being what it is； the concept of freedom bees entangled like a crab in a net； and now that crab crawls and crawls and never es to the end of the net。〃
Irina was about to answer him when she became aware of Tatiana slipping into the pool。 She was their sentry。 Both the Hero and Lara looked toward her。
〃She must go；〃 Tatiana said； indicating Irina。
〃Now？〃 the Hero asked。
〃At once。 It is vital。〃
〃Where am I going？〃 Irina said。 〃I don't want to leave。〃
The Hero ignored her for a moment。 He said to Lara； 〃Make certain she exits as she entered so she is not seen。〃
Lara nodded； climbed out of the pool。 Tatiana followed her。 Irina could hear the padding of their bare feet against the tile。 Water dripping in the darkness。
〃Must I go？〃 she repeated。
''It is most important；'' the Hero said； 〃or the request would not have been made。''
〃I won't go。 I refuse to be ordered around。 I'm done with being a marionette； dancing on the end of strings that men pull。''
〃It's freedom you want； isn't it？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； so do I；〃 the Hero said。 〃So do we all。 Even Arbat。〃 He looked at her。 〃If you consent to go； you'll be helping us get there。〃
〃Then how can I refuse？〃 But Irina felt the fright； like an engine that would not stop； churning inside her。
The Hero smiled。 〃Bravely spoken。〃
〃But where am I going？〃
〃I don't know；〃 he said。 〃It's better that way； I assure you。〃
Irina stared at him with wide eyes。 She was fighting back the tears。
The Hero swam up to her。 He took her in his arms； kissed her hard on the lips。 〃e back to me； Irina；'' he whispered。 〃I don't know what I'd do without you。〃 Irina's heart was beating so loud she could hardly hear him。 She searched the universe in his eyes； spoke to him wordlessly in that peculiar silence of munication she had learned from him。
Then Lara and Tatiana were standing on the coping。
〃It's time；〃 the Hero said。
Bending down； they pulled Irina from the pool。
〃What is it；〃 Mars said to Captain Nikolev； 〃that is of paramount importance to you？〃
〃The sovereignty and security of the Soviet Union。〃
〃You did not hesitate。〃
〃No； rade。〃
Mars nodded。 They were sitting in the mand center of Department N。 Mars was at a small desk； reviewing the monitored munications of suspected White Star personnel over the past twelve hours。 Captain Nikolev was manning a sophisticated electronics console。 〃It's good to be sure of yourself； Captain；〃 Mars said。 〃That is something that fades with stamina as youth gives way to middle age。〃 He looked at Captain Nikolev。 〃You are； what？ Thirty…five？〃
〃Thirty…two； rade。〃
〃There you have it；〃 Mars said almost wistfully。 〃Youth must have its day。〃 He smiled enigmatically。 〃Like perestroika。〃 Almost immediately his mouth twisted as if he had tasted spoiled food。 〃Tell me； Captain； how do you feel about the Americanization of Russia？''
〃I beg your pardon？〃
〃Don't do that！〃 Mars balked。 〃Don't play the loyal but dull…witted soldier with me； Captain。 You may gull your superiors； but they are only army men； after all。 You can't fool me。 I know the extent of your intelligence。 I know about your studies； your passion for history that has led you to unearth the levels of 'authorized' histories down through the decades。〃
〃rade…〃
〃Not to worry； Captain。 Your secret is safe with me。 But don't tell me that you are unaware of the Americanization of our country。 The military must now go begging to a mittee formed from the Congress of Peoples' Deputies if it wants to change anything； including the location of post latrines。 Budget increases？ Oh； no； it must go before an oversight mittee which knows nothing about capabilities； liabilities； national security。
〃Then there are the independent farmers who are now being paid in foreign currency in direct petition with the collectives。〃
Mars shrugged。 〃And what about the KGB？ We are forced to endure the excruciating； nit…picking examinations of our present structure while submitting meekly to the grossest of theatrical public lamentations by known dissidents and subversives allowed into the Congress； berating us for what they see as our past sins。〃
He grunted。 〃This is not perestroika； it's America。〃
〃As I understand it；〃 Captain Nikolev said； 〃perestroika is merely an experiment。〃
〃An experiment that has gone terribly awry；〃 Mars said。 When Nikolev made no further ment； he continued。 〃We have gone from trying to emulate a perfect model； to wanting to emulate a thoroughly corrupt one。 In terms you can easily understand； Captain； it is akin to the ancient Britons wanting to base their culture on that of Rome in the time of Caligula。 Utterly inprehensible； utterly reprehensible。 What is happening to us； Captain？ Are we to lose all sense of ourselves； of what makes Russia unique in all the world？ Our culture is being subverted by the very people who govern us。 The CIA no longer needs Radio Free America； it's got the president to do its subversive work for it。〃
〃I suppose it's all in how you look at things；〃 Nikolev said。 〃It's a telling lesson in how interpretation subverts intent； don't you think？〃
〃Spoken like a true diplomat。'' Mars laughed。 ''You're wasting your talents in the Border Guards； I can tell you。''
〃As you no doubt have suspected；〃 Nikolev said； 〃my job affords me the luxury of time to pursue my own interests。〃
〃It is altogether beyond my prehension how you can hold any love for history； Captain； when our so…called scholars keep rewriting it。〃
〃I would have thought that you； of all people； would see the necessity for revisionism。''
〃You interest me； Captain；〃 Mars said。 〃Perhaps you； too； understand what an elusive and treacherous beast the truth is。〃
〃rade； I am not even certain that I understand the definition of truth。〃
Mars laughed。 〃Yes； indeed； Captain。 There is more to you than meets the eye。〃 He nodded toward the bank of electronics。 〃What news？〃
〃The same；〃 Captain Nikolev said。 〃Irina Ponomareva's car is still in the same spot。 It has not moved since we began monitoring it。 It is parked six blocks from your apartment。 I have four of my men watching it。〃
''You do？'' Mars's head came up。 ''Who told you to do that？''
〃No one； rade。 I thought it would be pro…〃
''You thought wrong；'' Mars snapped。 ''Get your men out of there at once。 All we need is for one of them to be spotted。 Irina does not know I am KGB。 If she sees one of your men…and believe me； if your men are there； this woman will spot him… she will never go near the car。''
〃Yes； rade。〃
While Nikolev made the arrangements； Mars thought of Irina。 He had to laugh at himself； paranoid Mars。 How often in the past had he wondered whether she had made any clandestine contacts； perhaps with American White Star sympathizers； while she had been abroad in the United States？ After all； she had had mid…level security clearances； and therefore had not been monitored by the KGB as closely as； say； Nata