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ly you knew its location…not to mention its name…would be repellent to us。〃
〃Well； yes； that did occur to me；〃 Nikolev said。 He paused to order them all vodka。 When the waiter had gone； he continued； ''But we have business to discuss； and in Moscow one must choose one's negotiation site with the utmost care。〃
〃Negotiation？〃
〃What's he saying？〃 Russell asked； concerned by the expression on her face。 When she had translated； he said； 〃Just what the hell does this bozo want？〃
〃This bozo；〃 Captain Nikolev said in almost accentless English； 〃wants a chance to make a proposal。〃
The silence at the table was deafening。 Tori shot Russell a glare that would have taken off his head if her eyes had been lasers。
Nikolev cleared his throat。 It seemed as if he was as unfortable as they were。 The vodka came to save them all…at least temporarily。 He raised his glass。 〃What shall we drink to？〃
〃The dismantling of Lefortovo prison；〃 Tori said。
〃An inquiry into its questionable practices；〃 Captain Nikolev said。
They drank to that； but it was a promise that made Tori uneasy。 This man was； after all； a captain in the Border Guards division of the KGB。 He was on to them； no doubt about it； but what was his game？ Tori expanded her wa in an effort to catch a glimpse of his strategy。 She did not like being wholly in the dark。
She and Russell had no sooner stepped into the Red Sector… the enemy's territory…when they had been picked up by that very same enemy。 Or was Captain Nikolev the enemy？
That was the danger； she recognized： to be able to differentiate the enemy from a friend was a cardinal principle of espionage。 The idea of successfully couching the one inside the other was what made this clandestine world continue to tick in this electronicized； puterized age。 When you got into trouble…whether it was an individual； a department； a country…it was because you had trusted the person who was selling you out to your enemy。
She felt nothing from this man； neither hostility nor camaraderie； merely a kind of coiled tension。 It was different from Russell's tension when she and he were fighting。 The Russian's was more intense； darker； more opaque。 And it had many layers。 It seemed interesting to her that this man should be under so much stress。 What was he frightened of？ she wondered。
〃I want to at least attempt to explain；〃 Captain Nikolev was saying now； breaking in on her thoughts。 〃Look around you。 By and large； you will see only military men。 Most of them work across the street。 I know many of them； though not well。 We have never shared an evening meal； our children are not friends。 But they know me； and therefore this is a safe haven for me。 I can take anyone here and no one will talk about it because it will be assumed that these people are my friends； my guests； or are business associates。〃 He cocked his head。 〃Do you understand？〃
〃I think I'm beginning to；〃 Tori said。 〃But you'd better spell it out for Mr。 Slade。 He isn't as quick as I am。〃
〃Is this true？〃 Nikolev asked Russell anxiously。 〃Perhaps my English will be inadequate。〃
〃Your accent isn't terrible；〃 Tori said。 〃But Mr。 Slade will； I think； tax your vocabulary。''
Nikolev laughed softly。 〃I like humor；〃 he said。 〃Especially in a woman。 It's very fortable； don't you think？〃
〃I think you mean forting；〃 Tori said。 〃And that depends on the type of humor。''
〃Perhaps if I get to know you better； I will receive an entire catalogue of humor；〃 Nikolev said； clearly delighted。 〃I would wele that。 It's said the Romans of Augustus Caesar's day had much humor。〃
Nikolev patiently watched the silent interplay between Tori and Russell before saying； 〃I know。 You're thinking again； 'What does this bozo want？' By the way； what is a bozo？〃
〃Know what a clown is？〃 Russell said。 〃Same thing。〃
〃I see。〃 Nikolev seemed to frown a little。 Then the first course came； and he brightened。 〃It's a set menu here。 I hope you don't mind not being able to choose。〃
''We're getting used to it；〃 Tori said。
They ate more or less in silence。 When the plates were cleared of the last course； Nikolev said； 〃Was it so bad？〃
〃Lutece it isn't；〃 Russell said； plopping sugar into his strong Russian tea。
〃Ah； a restaurant in Paris。〃
〃Close；〃 Russell said。
Captain Nikolev nodded； apparently satisfied。 〃In any case； I think we all feel better now； yes？〃
〃Maybe some of us do；〃 Russell said pointedly。
〃What Mr。 Slade means；〃 Tori said hurriedly； 〃is that we're still a bit bewildered。 Obviously you want something from us； but we still have no idea what it is。〃
〃That's all right for now；〃 Nikolev said。 〃Can we say that this time together has proven that we can 。 。 。 talk to one another？〃
Russell said； 〃Depends about what。〃
Captain Nikolev looked at him for some time； as if he could not make up his mind about something important。 ''It's a matter of trust； isn't it？〃 he said。 He took out a handkerchief； wiped his brow。 〃I have no idea whether I can trust you。〃
Russell； who had just taken some tea； was so surprised he almost choked on it。 He began to cough； and his eyes teared。 Tori just sat and stared at Nikolev as if he were out of his mind。
〃Have I said something odd？〃
〃You bet you have；〃 Tori said。
Russell said； 〃You； Captain； are the goddamnedest Russian I have ever met。〃
〃Yes？ Well； perhaps that is something to be proud of。〃
〃You said something before about a proposal；〃 Tori said。
〃Have I your assurance that you'll listen to what I have to say？〃
〃I'm more paranoid than she is；〃 Russell said。 〃What kind of proposal？〃
〃An 。 。 。 exchange of information。〃
〃You first； Ivan。〃
〃Russell！〃 Tori said。
〃What？〃 Russell retorted。 〃Remember where we are； Tori。 In a country where we're guilty until proven guilty。 Anything we say or do from now on will be used against us in a place not unlike the building across the street。 Talking to this guy's like trying to stand in quicksand。 I think he's as loony as Daffy Duck。〃
〃Excuse me；〃 Captain Nikolev said。 〃This Daffy Duck； is he a bozo as well？〃
Tori put her hands over her face。
Russell said； 〃Yeah。〃 Then he turned to her。 〃This isn't happening。〃
〃It isn't？〃 Nikolev said； clearly confused。
Russell said； ''Where are the guys in baggy pants to squirt us with seltzer？〃
〃They have seltzer here；〃 Nikolev said； calling a waiter。 He was trying to be helpful。
〃That's all right；〃 Tori said。 She told the waiter in Russian to forget it； and he retreated。 Tori hunched over the table。 ''Captain； we have nothing to hide。 I want that understood from the outset。〃
Nikolev nodded。
〃On the other hand； 。Mr。 Slade and I have no way to know whether we can trust you。''
〃Tori； for God's sake…〃
〃I understand；〃 Captain Nikolev said。 His expression showed something of his relief。 〃It is like a 。。。 Mexican shootout； yes？〃
〃Standoff；〃 Russell said。 〃A Mexican standoff。〃
Captain Nikolev nodded soberly。 〃Thank you。 I will remember that。 American idioms are so 。。。 inprehensible。〃
〃Tell me about it。〃
〃Pardon？ I just did。〃
〃Let's not start this all over again；〃 Tori said。 She spread her hands on the table palms up。 〃How do you wish to proceed； Captain？〃
〃I would li