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ntly fell from a featureless sky。 Her nightmare taking shape around her。
Irina scrutinized the faces of everyone who passed by。 She peered into rain…streaked car windows。 Everyone was a potential enemy； and she thought； It's happening to me； so soon； so soon。 I have bee afraid of everything and everyone。 Must this be the price of freedom？ Haven't I any other choice？
Thunder rolled through the canyons of the city； and it became as dark as midnight。 Once or twice a flash of lightning lit the street in a sickly； colorless burst of energy； making Irina start nervously。
It was pouring。 The KGB must be nearby； she knew； and she suspected that the longer she remained in the area； the greater her chance was of getting picked up。 Such was her anxiety and single…mindedness； it never occurred to her to ditch the Toshiba in the nearest trashcan。 Besides； even she knew that making a run for it on foot now would be foolish。 The KGB would spot her within minutes。
The car was her only salvation。 Once she was in it she could blend into traffic； take back streets； shortcuts； be able to double back on herself to make certain that no one was following her。
Picking up the puter and ducking her head； Irina ventured out into the rain； heading for the car。
It was slow going。 The drainage in this section of the city was due for repairs； but they had not e through as scheduled and as a result； every time it stormed； rainwater would sluice through the gutters； occasionally slopping onto the sidewalks。
Irina passed several babushkas dragging their net shopping bags behind them。 A street merchant huddled with sodden newspaper over her head； dancing from one foot to another to avoid the water as best she could； as her pathetic display of dried…out beets and blasted turnips was battered by the foul weather。
Once； when Irina suspected that she was being followed； she ducked into a small building； clattered through the worn tiles of the dismal lobby。 At the rear entrance she glanced back； saw the obvious trail of water and nearly burst into tears。
I'll never get the hang of being devious； she thought miserably。 Then she remembered that she had still eluded the KGB； and she took some solace from that fact。 Perhaps I'm not as inept as I think； she told herself bravely as she pushed out the rear door。
She found herself in a filthy back alley。 Someone had forgotten to take in their laundry； and linen flapped wetly over her head in the sodden wind。 For a moment she was at a loss as to which way to go。 Then； glancing down the end of the alley； she saw part of the rear of the Church of the Archangel Gabriel； and regained her bearings。
Irina hurried down the alley。 The Toshiba was growing heavier by the minute； but she tried not to think of the weight。 She concentrated on getting to her car； slipping through the net the KGB had thrown around Valeri's apartment。
She emerged from the alley； turned left down the block。 A black Zil turned onto the street； came cruising toward her； its speed far slower than was normal； as if its occupants were checking each side of the block。
Irina ducked back into the alley； held her breath as the Zil came abreast of where she was hiding。 She wished she were twelve again； thin as a rail； able to disappear in a sliver of shadow。 She imagined herself gone from here as the Zil stopped abreast of the alley。 Her pulse thundered in her ears and she was certain it would give her away。 The Zil sat for what seemed an interminable time。 Its windows were tinted black and she could not see inside。 Truth to tell； she did not want to look inside。 What was happening in there？ Had they spotted her？ Were they playing with her as they would a mouse？
At last the Zil rolled on。 Irina took a deep； shuddering breath as her eyes followed the Zil down the street。 It turned at the far corner； disappeared。
She headed down the street in the opposite direction。 She would have liked to stop at the church； sink to her knees； pray for safety for Valeri； the Hero； as well as herself。 But there was no time。 Still； she spoke to God as she rounded the corner to the street where she had left the car。
She stopped； cautious again。 The street was deserted。 The car sat where she had left it。 But suddenly it didn't seem like a sanctuary： this was； after all； the car Mars had given her； what if it had been followed； or worse； was bugged？
Irina looked furtively around； her heart pounding in her chest。 What was she to do？ She had to get back to Valeri with the puter； yet with the KGB out； she could not walk there or take a tram。 But if the car was bugged； she would lead them straight to Valeri。
There was so little time。 Sweat rolled down the back of her neck as she worked through the problem。 She stared at the car。 It seemed to beckon her on； a safe haven。 It occurred to her that she was already thinking like a fugitive； and that frightened her further。
Behind her she heard the soft swish of car tires on the wet asphalt of the street； and she jumped； thinking of the black Zil。 All right； she thought； I 'll use the car but abandon it well before I get to the church。 Once I get to the other side of the Kremlin I'll be all right。 I can walk the last few blocks； making sure I'm not followed。
Having made up her mind； she hurried to the car； dropped the keys in her anxiety； retrieved them； unlocked the driver's door。 She threw the Toshiba on the passenger's seat； slid in herself； shut and locked the door behind her。
The ignition turned； and when she heard the engine cough to life； she breathed an enormous sigh of relief。 She stared out the windshield。 It was already fogged； and she used the cuff of her coat to wipe away the condensation。 She wondered vaguely why there should be so much condensation when she had just now got in the car。 That kind of mist came from human breath。
That was when she became aware of the slight stirring behind her。 A hand clamped her shoulder and she gave a little scream。
〃Did I startle you； Irina？ That was thoughtless of me。〃
She saw his movie…idol face in the rearview mirror； and she thought for a moment that her heart had ceased to beat。 Then it thudded home； and she felt as if she had been punched in the chest。
She said his name involuntarily； like a sigh。 〃Mars。〃
THIRTEEN
MOSCOW/STAR TOWN
Tori was dreaming of Koi； of the purity of whiteness stained red； of shiny innards slithering into sunlight； steaming like an Aztec sacrifice； she was meditating on the unpromising will of the warrior spirit； she was wondering how it was the Japanese； among many other ancient peoples of the world； had determined that blood could purify the most corrupted spirit； when Russell woke her。 Had she dreamed about the blood of Koi or the blood of Christ？
〃We've just landed outside Novosibirsk for refueling；〃 Russell said。 〃We're halfway to Moscow。〃
Although they were at a civilian airfield and had logged an official flight plan； the military mander of the nearby air base had sent his adjutant； who was in the pany of a lean…faced plainclothes man。 An obvious KGB agent； the lean…faced man's cheeks were scarred by a severe case of adult acne； and his cheap suit seemed to grab him under the arms an