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experts that it's a sound psychological principle。〃
〃No matter；〃 Irina said somewhat defensively。 〃It hasn't happened to me。〃
〃No？〃 He was very close to her now。 Close enough to hear the rapid pounding of her heart？ 〃Who are you； really？ The sweet Irina Ponomareva my family knows？ Or the devious Katya Boroskaya who is using Natasha Mayakova？ Or the tough Irina Ponomareva who is spying on Valeri Denysovich？〃 He cocked his head sagely。 〃You know； even I get confused trying to sort through all these different personalities。 It certainly would be understandable if you did； as well。〃
〃I don't understand what you're doing；〃 Irina said。 〃Why are you trying to put words in my mouth？〃
Mars spread his hands。 〃I'm just trying to sort out illusion from reality； fact from fiction； myth from certainty。 I'm like an archaeologist at an important historic dig。 Many people are counting on the acuity of my skills。〃
〃I don't know what you're getting at。〃
〃You know； I blame myself most of all； Irina。 I'm afraid I pushed you into this triple life。 I see now the foolishness of my action。 But it was pulsive。 Surely that absolves me； if only a little。 Valeri Denysovich pushed me to it。 Because of him； you've been walking a perilous tightrope； and now you've fallen off。 You've lost your center； you've forgotten who you really are； what your true allegiance should be。
〃As I said before； it's perfectly understandable。 Certainly； there's no hint of a criminal act involved； nothing you could be charged with； no matter what your confession might bring to light。 I'd see to that personally。〃 He reached out to touch her fortingly。 〃You can count on me； Irina； to be your guardian angel。〃
The odd and terribly frightening thing was that Irina almost believed him。 There was so much essential truth in what he was saying that it was easy to accept the entire package…believe everything： that she would be off the hook； that she would not be charged； that he would protect her no matter what。 No endless Siberian whiter； no bars over her moon； after all。 It was so very tempting。
He made it so difficult to see the lie hidden away beneath his version of the truth； but Irina did see it at last and； imagining him torturing Natasha； she wondered how on earth she was going to fight this enormously powerful and charismatic creature。
She could see that she was out of time。 It was obvious to her that Mars was pushing for a resolution…soft or hard…one way or another。 She had to fight him； but how？ Then she thought of Odysseus； Mars's prisoner for almost eighteen months。 He had successfully fought Mars。 How？ By applying Mars's own psychology and boomeranging it back at him。 Mars might on the surface seem invulnerable； but Odysseus had certainly proved that to be an illusion。
Mars was now frightened of Odysseus because Odysseus had convinced him that he was metamorphosing into another kind of being。 Was that a plete lie？ Irina did not know； and she suspected that； for all his bravery and bravado； Odysseus did not know； either。 After all； he had been made into an experiment to see the effects of cosmic rays on the human body and mind。
And he had had the munication； he had seen the color between the stars； the color of God。 Who could know how that had altered him； or even whether the changes were not still going on？ Certainly not Mars。
So there was a way to fight him； then。
As Mars's fingers wrapped around her wrist； she collapsed in his arms。
〃I don't know what more you want from me； Mars；〃 she whispered。 〃I've given you everything you've wanted。〃
〃I want the truth； Irina。 Only the truth。〃
She put her head on his shoulder； molded her body against him； not as a siren； but as he would wish for； a helpless； confused female dependent on him for guidance。
〃Irina；〃 he said in her ear。 〃Just tell me everything。 It will be all right。 I promise you。〃
〃Oh； Mars。〃 Bringing to mind images of her betrayal of Natasha Mayakova； she began to weep。 〃When Odysseus took me by surprise in the pool； I was helpless； you must believe me。〃
''I do； koshka。 I see his physical effect on Tatiana and Lara。''
〃I was at that time of the month。 I was fertile。〃
She felt him stiffen； and she clung to him all the more。
〃There is no way to know for certain； of course；〃 she went on relentlessly； 〃but a woman can often tell these things far sooner than even a doctor can。 But now I am afraid。 I don't know what Odysseus is any longer。 I don't believe even he does； though he puts on a brave face。 Now I don't know what is forming inside me。 What if it's…but that is too unspeakable to even contemplate。 I would kill myself。 I would…〃
She stopped as Mars thrust her convulsively away from him。 He stared at her for a long tension…filled moment。
〃How could you？〃 he said at last。 〃How could you be with him at just the wrong moment？〃
〃I told you。 He took me by surprise。〃 Irina made herself shiver。 Who am I？ a tiny voice reverberated in her mind。 〃He gave me no time to think。 He made me helpless。〃
〃I…〃
At that moment a sharp rap on the door interrupted them。
〃What is it？〃 Mars showed his nerves by nearly shouting。
〃Captain Nikolev is here；〃 Tatiana said。
〃Tell him I'm busy。 I'll see him…〃
''He says he must see you now； rade。 It is most urgent。〃
〃Shit！〃 Mars said。 He looked at Irina。 〃Get back to the puter。 Find that White Star information。 Now。〃
He went out into the pool room； ignored Irina as she slipped past him。
〃What is it； Captain？〃 he said tersely。
Nikolev took Mars aside。 Both Tatiana and Lara were staring at them。
〃We have located Valeri Bondasenko。〃
〃Excellent；〃 Mars said； for the moment forgetting the sliver of terror Irina had handed him。 ''Bring him here。''
〃I am afraid that is impossible； rade。〃
〃Nothing is impossible。 Captain。 Do it！ That's an order。 I must have the secrets of White Star contained in Valeri Deny…sovich's puter。〃
〃You and I will have to go to him；〃 Nikolev said。
〃I won't leave here；〃 Mars said flatly。 〃I do not trust the Hero alone with Lara and Tatiana。〃
''Bring some of your men in。〃
〃No；〃 Mars said。 〃Such an overtly aggressive act would destroy everything I've worked for here。 The Hero is far too important to us。 He is a doorway to a whole new technology。〃
〃Then take the puter and e with me。〃
〃Do as I order！〃
''But you don't understand； rade；'' Nikolev said。 ''There was only one way to get to Bondasenko； and I used it。 Remember the American diplomatic mission from Tokyo？ I intercepted them at Sheremetyevo。 They are the Americans that White Star asked for in the coded cable we intercepted。〃
Nikolev leaned closer。 〃I convinced them of my sincerity。 They believe I am on their side。 They told me they know a way to contact Bondasenko； and they are at the Rossiya Hotel doing so right now。〃
〃Is that where Valeri Denysovich has gone to ground？〃
〃No。 The hotel is apparently one of White Star's dead drops。〃 Nikolev watched the play of emotions flicker across Mars's face。 〃We must go in as friends。 Or； at least； I must。 The Americans can convince Bondasenko to access the puter。 I know that you do not want to let it out of your sight； so I suggest the two of us go。〃