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fail that trust now。
She felt a growing terror of the evidence that Sakata had left behind him： the dark heart of the maelstrom that had so abruptly； so cruelly overtaken him。 What would it do to her if it had destroyed a samurai？
But she knew that she could not back down。 Her feet were already set upon this particular path and there was no turning back。 Giri dictated that she find the evidence that had destroyed Kakuei Sakata。
What； then； was she to do about the key？ She could hardly handle this situation on her own。
Honno could think of only one answer； and it scared her to death。
Mars Petrovich Volkov was an altogether different breed of animal than Valeri Bondasenko。 For one thing； he wasn't Ukrainian； or a member of any other Soviet ethnic minority。 He had been born and raised in Moscow…in the White City； not so far from where Valeri now made his home。 Accordingly； he possessed that sangfroid peculiar to Muscovites which only a Parisian or a New Yorker would fully understand。 Everyone else would have resented the kind of arrogance Mars Volkov exhibited were he not so smooth a talker and a genuinely sympathetic listener。
Mars Volkov liked to think of himself not as a lifelong politician or even a party member； though there was no doubt that he was both； but as a problem solver。 〃I am like a cryptographer in the KGB；〃 he told Irina when they first met； 〃locked away in some subbasement of the Lubyanka； struggling to make sense of the inprehensible。 But unlike my somewhat clinical counterpart； I deal with real people in the full light of day。〃
This was not； strictly speaking； the whole truth； or in any event it was not as simple as that。 For Mars Volkov sought to convert the subversive into the patriotic。 Like Valeri； he dealt with the gray areas of daily life in the Soviet Union。 It was he who decided the new coats of paint with which to cover the old。
And that； fundamentally； was where he and Valeri differed。 For it was Mars's considered opinion that the old should not merely be repainted； but be done away with entirely。 Valeri found this idea at best dangerous； at worst subversive。
Irina was up on all the latest rumors。 It was all well and good for Valeri to be paying lip service to Mars's growing power in the Congress； but Irina knew who ultimately held the advantage： Valeri Denysovich Bondasenko。 These days； though he was continually trying his best to pound home his views to the rest of the Politburo； Mars； like all of Valeri's previous enemies； was definitely ing out second best。 Irina wondered how long it would be before Mars was removed from his seat in the Congress of People's Deputies； shipped off to God only knew where； far from Moscow； the center of power。 No doubt that would be determined； in part； by how successful she was in the aftermath of her seduction。
Mars Volkov looked like a movie star。 A Russian movie star； to be sure； but a movie star nonetheless。 He was tall and slim； with the pale eyes and high cheekbones mon to the people of the windswept northern Steppes。 His hair was blue…black； very straight； and he wore it slicked back from his wide forehead。 He had a generous； thin…lipped mouth； and a firm chin。 His only oddity was his rather small ears。 But this lack of perfection somehow enhanced his overall appearance； rather than detracted from it。 In sum； he was more than attractive； he was desirable。
This made the task Valeri had given Irina far less odious。 But in the beginning it was almost irrelevant。 What drove her… Valeri was so right； damn him！…was the sense of absolute freedom she gained by initiating the contact with Mars Volkov。 She orchestrated his subsequent seduction with the aplomb of someone born to the role。 By the time they went to bed for the first time； Irina was giddy with her newfound sense of freedom； but also a little afraid by how much pleasure she derived from this act of treachery。
She was no longer one among many coworkers at the Ministry of Education； some drudge； given work no man would do； accorded a minimum of recognition for either her initiative or her innovations。 Up until this moment of separation； she had seen herself only in terms of being her parents' daughter or； briefly…until he had died in a training maneuver accident…her husband's wife。 But something inside her had always whispered； Is this the sum of what life is？ Can this be all there is to Irina Viktorovna Ponomareva？ Now she knew the answer； just as Valeri had known。 There was another Irina； independent； in control； yearning to be free。 And at the moment of her triumph； when she knew that she had caused Mars Volkov to bee enamored of her； to desire her beyond all other women； she had at last caught the first glimpse of her own true worth。 And she knew with an immense thrill that the real Irina Viktorovna Ponomareva was just beginning to be defined。
Mars had been elected to represent Moscow in the Congress； a signal honor。 His constituency included the Soviet Baseball Federation； as well as Zvezdny Gorodok； Star Town； the city built to house and train the Soviet cosmonauts。 He had been one of the main architects of the space program for some years； which； Irina supposed； was why he had been chosen to help build the national baseball team。
Irina thought that Valeri had good reason to fear Mars。 Their views differed in quite fundamental ways； and Mars was in every sense a charismatic figure。 In America this talent would have caused Mars to go far in whatever field he chose； but this was Russia； and charisma was looked upon with a good amount of suspicion。
Where Valeri held sway through the sheer force of his personality； Mars charmed people。 While Valeri easily forced other wills to bend to his； Mars had to struggle for every inch of political ground gained。 He was； he said； always fighting against other people's innate fear of Valeri Bondasenko。 〃I feel like a salmon；〃 he told Irina that night when she asked him why he had not eaten the meal she prepared for him。 〃Always swimming upstream。 Valeri Denysovich will beat me； despite all my efforts； just as he has beaten everyone else。〃 He looked up at her with a weary smile。 〃They say that beneath the Kremlin there is a pile of bones that is all that remains of his enemies。''
〃Defeatist talk；〃 she said。
〃Tonight；〃 Mars said； 〃I feel like the defeated。〃
〃Tomorrow…〃
〃Tomorrow will be different； yes？ That was what you were going to say； Irina； wasn't it？〃 He shrugged。 〃Well； who knows； perhaps you're right。〃
She sat down beside him； took his hand。 〃Tell me what happened。〃
〃No。 It's too boring…and too depressing。 And I've had enough of gloom for one evening。 Let's go out； have dinner； get drunk on pepper vodka。〃
They did。 Irina let him do all the talking。 He seemed in the mood to do so； and she wanted to get to know him better。 When he spoke； she was a student； soaking up information…the bits and pieces of his life…as if she were studying for a final exam。
He told her about his parents； who still lived in Moscow and whom he visited every Sunday； bringing them treats…tins of caviar； fresh Baltic herring…things they would never buy for themselves。 He told her about his brother； who had died； and his sister；