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te too much time searching for it。
〃Mr。 Slade； Miss Nunn；〃 Captain Nikolev said in Russian； as he introduced himself； 〃do either of you speak Russian？〃
〃I speak it passably well；〃 Tori said； 〃though I admit it's been some time since I had cause to use it。〃
Captain Nikolev smiled； inclined his head。 〃Your accent is not terrible。 Miss Nunn。 How is your vocabulary？〃
〃We'll have to see。〃
Yes； Nikolev thought。 That we will。 He closed their documents； handed them back。 〃Everything seems in order；〃 he said。
〃Really？〃 Tori was surprised。 〃Then why have we been sitting here wrangling with Immigration for over an hour？〃
Nikolev shrugged。 〃It seems to me that bureaucracies are the same the world over。〃 He smiled。 〃Someone perhaps was concerned that your flight plan overflew the military air base outside Novosibirsk。〃
Tori said； 〃The fact is； we were detoured around it。〃
〃Of course。 I understand local security outside of Moscow is quite good； quite stable； but nevertheless 。 。 。〃 He smiled again。 〃I hope it would not be too much of an inconvenience if I had some of my men check your aircraft。''
〃I'm afraid that's impossible；〃 Tori said。 〃We are on a diplomatic mission。 Our carrier is United States government equipment。 We…and it…have immunity。〃
〃I promise you nothing of a personal nature will be disturbed。 I suppose some of my superiors are understandably disturbed that we might find long…range lenses or cameras…〃
Tori said； 〃I can assure you there's nothing of that nature on board。〃
〃Not to dispute your honesty。 Miss Nunn； but policy dictates…〃
〃You'll leave our airplane alone； Captain； unless you're prepared to initiate an international incident。 Our government takes a dim view of the violation of diplomatic rights。''
Captain Nikolev hesitated for just a moment； then a smile broke out on his face。 〃Of course；〃 he said。 〃You're quite right。 I can't imagine what I was thinking of。〃 He gestured them through Immigration。 〃Won't you follow me？ I have a car waiting to take you to Tchaikovsky Street。 To make up for the inconvenience。〃
Tori saw his expectant look。 She knew she was being tested。 She already had the disquieting sense that this Captain Nikolev of the KGB Border Guards did not for a moment believe that she and Russell were diplomats。 But how was that possible？
For a moment she had the odd； even more disquieting sensation that this man had been waiting for them to land。 But all that had been logged with the Soviet authorities was their flight plan。 That could hardly be enough to alert the KGB。 And that nonsense about the air base at Novosibirsk had not fooled her。 Had the ever…paranoid Soviets really been worried； they would never have approved the flight plan in the first place。 She wondered what was going on behind the carefully erected facades。
As they headed through the terminal； Russell said in English； 〃What the hell's going on？〃
Tori grinned like an idiot at him。 ''This nice KGB captain has been kind enough to offer us a ride into town。〃
〃He's too kind；〃 Russell said； catching her expression； which said； Who knows who understands English around here？
〃My thought exactly。〃
Captain Nikolev's driver had the black Zil's curbside doors open； and they all piled into the car。 Nikolev had previously told his driver not to take the Chaika lane inside Moscow； and the man did not take the route that would have brought them directly to the American embassy on Tchaikovsky Street。
〃I thought；〃 Nikolev said； 〃that you might enjoy a spot of sightseeing before I drop you at your destination。〃
〃That's most kind of you。 Captain；〃 Tori said after she had translated for Russell's benefit。 〃Neither of us have been in Moscow before。〃
〃A first diplomatic mission！〃 Nikolev enthused。 〃Now I must make this sightseeing something to remember。〃
Why is it； Tori asked herself； that I'm hearing sinister undertones in everything he says； as if he's saying one thing； and meaning something altogether different？
He took them past the Lenin Hills and the State University； where yesterday he and Mars Volkov had had their discussion。 Along the Moskva； past Gorky Park； so green and lush in the full onset of summer。
Captain Nikolev stuck his head out the window。 He could almost taste the ice cream as he watched children with their mothers queuing up to the mobile stand； clamoring for their treat。
〃Such a beautiful time of year；〃 Nikolev said to Tori。 〃You are so lucky to be here now。〃
〃Luck has nothing to do with it；〃 Tori said。 〃Our orders from the State Department brought us here。''
〃Of course。〃 Nikolev brought his head back inside the Zil。 It was odd； he thought； fencing with a woman。 He would have much preferred to deal with the man； Russell Slade； but since Slade obviously did not speak Russian； Nikolev knew for the time being he'd just have to make the best of it。
〃You know；〃 he said now； 〃all this sightseeing has made me hungry…and you； well； you've just e off a twelve…hour plane ride。 Please allow me to take you to lunch。〃
〃Much as we appreciate the offer；〃 Tori said； 〃I think we'd better be getting to our first appointment。〃
〃I believe the time change has made you confused； Miss Nunn。〃 Nikolev shot her his best smile。 〃You missed your first appointment while you were unfortunately held up at Sheremetyevo。 In fact； were it not for me； I'm afraid that you and Mr。 Slade would have been stuck there the whole day。 Besides； it's lunchtime now。 And I know the best restaurant in Moscow。〃
In fact； Tori and Russell were famished。 But the moment they turned onto Krasnokursantsky Street； Tori was all too aware of the joke being played on them。 She had heard of Lefortovo； the state security police interrogation center and prison； had even seen photos of its forbidding exterior。 So had Russell。
〃What the hell is this？〃 he said； sitting bolt upright。
Captain Nikolev laughed。 〃You do not think I am taking you there； do you？'' He shook his head。 '' That Lefortovo is only for spies and criminals。〃 The black Zil pulled up across the street。 〃You are to be my guests at the Lefortovo restaurant。〃
〃Charming；〃 Tori said as they stepped out onto the rain…washed sidewalk。
〃Not really；〃 Nikolev said； apparently ignorant of her sarcasm。 He led them up the steps。 〃The place has little charm； I admit。 But the food is good； the service even better…most important in Moscow； I'm afraid。 And it's cheap。 We who are dependent on military salaries must constantly count our rubles。〃 They went through the doors。 〃I suppose it's the same with you and Mr。 Slade。〃
〃Why would you say that？〃 Tori asked。
Captain Nikolev took off his shiny…billed hat and； sticking it under his left arm； spoke for a moment with the maitre d'。 They were immediately led to a superior corner table。
When they were settled； Nikolev studied Tori for a long time。 Then he said； 〃It is my understanding that government personnel of all types are underpaid。 Is this not so？〃
Tori chose not to answer him。 Instead she said； 〃Captain； I would very much like to know why you chose this restaurant to take us to。 Surely you knew its location…not to mention its name…would be repellent to us。〃
〃Well； yes； that did