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〃Mars Volkov is the enemy。 He wants to destroy me。 I think perhaps you've forgotten that。〃
〃I have forgotten nothing；〃 she said； angry despite herself。
〃Irina； what's happened to you？〃
〃Nothing； I'm just…〃 With a chill that froze her soul； she realized how dangerous Valeri could be； and knew she was taking the wrong tack with him。 〃I'm tired； that's all。 The strain of keeping up pretenses； of lying to Mars； of having to remember through layers of identities； has frayed my nerves。 Sometimes I'm not sure who I am anymore。〃
Valeri nodded。 〃You see？ Your own mind is telling you that you weren't cut out to be a spy。 And that's all the more reason for you to break it off with him。 Now。 Do you understand me； Irina？ I see that I gave you more than you can handle； and I'm sincerely sorry for that。 Now I want you to forget all about Mars Volkov。 I'll think of another way to get to him。 I'm not about to sacrifice you； nothing's that important； not even Volkov。〃
Now Irina had no choice but to look at him。 She could barely think straight。 〃What are you saying？〃
Valeri pushed his plate away。 〃You must know how I feel about you。 Haven't I made it perfectly clear every time we make love？〃
〃Valeri； I…〃
〃I care for you； Irina。〃 His hand enfolded hers。 〃I made a terrible mistake in trying to use you against Mars Petrovich。 My overwhelming desire to destroy him put you in grave danger； and I'm ashamed of myself for doing that。 That's why I must take you out of harm's way now…immediately…before you're in too deep for me to get you out。〃
His voice was so soft； go gentle； that Irina felt her disorientation return。 She felt her original desire for him rising and； with it； her own power waning。 Again she had to remind herself of what Valeri really was behind this pelling； seductive mask。 The specter of the papers Mars had shown her； revealing Valeri's true identity； rose up； towering over everything； and Irina shuddered inside； clamping down on all feeling； concentrating on what she must do to help Mars destroy Valeri。
I have not told Mars Natasha's name； Irina said to herself； so I have not betrayed her。
She was standing on a corner later that day； concealed within the shadows of an ornate doorway。 She was watching Valeri and Natasha Mayakova talking in the lobby of the old Moscow Arts Theater。
She no longer felt the intense jealousy she once had at their clandestine meetings。 But； then； she no longer felt the same way about Valeri Bondasenko。 Now he revolted her。
Or did he？ Then how is it； she asked herself； that you adore him when he makes love to you？
Irina had tried all morning to answer that question。 There seemed an essential paradox in all her relations that she was not understanding or seeing。 It nagged at her； she felt as if her thoughts were spinning around in circles。 She understood dimly that she no longer seemed capable of distinguishing right from wrong； good from evil。 It was wrong to continue sleeping with Valeri； knowing what she knew about him。 She had told herself that she did not want to go back to him； and she had meant it。 Yet the moment she did go back to him； the moment he put his arms around her； her insides turned to water and the sexual hunger inside took over。 Did that make her evil； as well？ Even her devotions at the Church of the Archangel Gabriel were no longer of any solace。
In an intense spasm of guilt； Irina imagined Valeri in a black leather trench coat； and thought。 You are doing a first…rate job of scaring yourself。
But she was also frightened for Natasha。 Did she know what kind of man Valeri was？ Did she know that she was kissing a colonel in the KGB when she met with him once a week in the afternoon？
The last time they had met； Irina had followed Valeri when he had left her。 But he had merely returned to his office； staying there the rest of the day； except for when he appeared at the Congress of Peoples' Deputies。
Irina watched Valeri now； saying good…bye to Natasha。 I care for you； Irina。 I made a terrible mistake in trying to use you against Mars Petrovich； he had said。 More lies。
If she were going to be truthful with herself； Irina had to admit that she could not read Valeri at all。 How did he really feel about her？ Why had he seduced her？ What was it he wanted from her？ Did he care about her？ But； no； that was impossible。
She concentrated more deeply。 She wanted to think like a spy； to prove him wrong when he had told her she wasn't cut out to be a spy； so she worked at getting inside his head。 He seemed to be a bundle of contradictions。 If he had picked her up in order to use her against Mars； then why had he suddenly ordered her away from Mars？ Had something changed？ Was she missing a step in the equation？ She could not say。 She only knew one thing： she did want a measure of revenge on the KGB for what they had done to her father； to her entire family。
Irina had never before dreamed she would be in a position to exact revenge； but her relationship with Mars had changed all that。 She saw clearly how she could use his power to destroy Valeri。 Some kind of evil animal was whimpering inside her； re…creating the scents； the emotions of sex。 How can you think of destroying all this？ the evil animal said。 Are you mad？
Irina blinked。 How long had she been standing here？ She took a step out of the shadows； then immediately retreated。 Across the street Natasha was emerging from the old Moscow Arts Theater。
She glanced at her watch。 Now that's interesting； she thought。 Rehearsals aren't half over with yet。 Where can she be going？
Irina set off after Natasha； watching as she headed up Gorky Street； through the crowds。 At the last instant Natasha ducked into Druzhba； the Freedom bookstore。 Irina waited a moment； then followed her inside。
The bookstore was crowded with tourists； but Irina did not see Natasha。 She went quickly through the store and out the back； caught a glimpse of Natasha turning a corner。 Irina hurried after her and found herself； more or less； back at the old Moscow Arts Theater。 There she saw Natasha getting into a black Zil which pulled immediately out into the street。
Irina turned away as the car passed； then ran to the anonymous…looking blue Volga that Mars had procured for her from God only knew what government stockpile。 While it had been parked； someone had stolen the windshield wipers； which were in short supply and consequently in great demand by Moscow motorists。 She cursed herself for forgetting to take them with her。
Irina followed the Zil through the city； then out of it。 Forty minutes later they were entering the environs of Zvezdny Go…rodok。 Star Town。
When Mars saw the blue Volga he had loaned to Irina parked across from the Hero's pound； he ordered the driver of his Chaika to pull over fifty yards away。 He sat in the darkened interior and watched the Volga with the kind of suspicion one reserves for the broken lock on one's apartment door。
Across from where the Volga sat； a shiny black Zil was parked in front of the entrance to the Hero's building。 As Mars watched； Natasha Mayakova came down the steps； ducked into the back…seat of the Zil； and it began to turn around。
Mars got out of the Chaika an