Lensky waited for a response but Aarons stayed silent and Lensky went on. “From now on you’ll be full-time intelligence with overall control of three of our New York networks. There are things going on that we must know about. I’ve got two specialists here to brief you on everything. And I’ve got a man who’ll show you how to use a new radio. A radio that can give you instant contact with Moscow, direct or through Canada.” Lensky smiled. “You’ve been promoted, Andrei. Your rank now is lieutenant-colonel with direct access to the Director of the First Chief Directorate, to me in the Kremlin and to Comrade Tokarov in the Politburo. You out-rank all other intelligence agents in the USA.”
“Do the other network leaders know about this?”
“They will do when you and I have finished here.”
“Who funds the networks I’ll be controlling?”
“The existing channels will operate but we shall double or treble the funds. You’ll have your own funds for special operations. You’ll be getting 150,000 dollars a month funded through several accounts in different names. We’ll be going through all that in the next couple of days.”
“Who am I responsible to in the States?”
“To nobody. You’ll be under direct control of Moscow.”
“And you want no reports from me on the political situation in the States?”
“Not unless you’re asked for them. There will be times when we want your opinion but it’s not a formal responsibility.”
“And I can say what I really think?”
Lensky sighed. “Yes.” He paused. “Come here tomorrow at ten and we’ll get started.” As Aarons stood up Lensky said, “How do you get on with Comrade Garcia?”
“I’ve been asleep most of the time. She doesn’t talk much.”
Lensky grimaced. “Glad to hear it.”
As they walked back to her house she said, “Did you solve the problem?”
“Who said there was a problem?”
She laughed softly, “I’ve been around these things a long time, Andrei. I can smell it in the air. It’s a kind of ritual dance, a ballet. The pas de deux with the steps all rehearsed and then the beautiful swirling music when all comes right. Or, of course—just an echo in the silence as an iron door closes.”
“And what kind of music do you hear tonight?”
“I don’t recognise it, that’s why I asked.”
“I’d better buy you a set of those tarot cards we saw in the market this evening.”
She laughed. “Why not?”
The meetings had gone on for four days, the last day spent with Lensky alone. And Lensky now seemed more relaxed, telling him of the problems that the Soviets found in waging war against the Germans while trying to produce armour, planes, weapons and food to keep the country alive. They had eaten a meal together in the early evening and as they drank their coffee Lensky said, “Do you miss Moscow at all, Andrei?”
Aarons shrugged. “I never really knew it. I was a child when we left. All I knew about Moscow and Russia was the months when I was being trained and what my father told me. He missed it very much.”
“As soon as this war is over you must come to Moscow. Meet the people who matter and enjoy the respect that so many feel for what you’ve done.” He paused. “Tell me about the family.”
“My brother is to be married shortly. A local girl. He works for me in the cause.”
“What kind of work?”
“As a courier. Anything I tell him to do he does. My wife Chantal and Anna run the bookshop. We make enough money to live on.” He smiled briefly. “We get by.”
“As I said, when this is all over it will be a time for rewarding all those who have played a part in the nation’s survival. Nobody will be forgotten.”
“How is your life?”
Lensky sighed. “Not easy. The Party uses me as a trouble-shooter so I go from one problem to another. Big personalities clashing, criticisms of policies, rivalries even in wartime.”
“Is there still anti-semitism?”
Lensky was silent for a few seconds and then he said quietly, “Not that affects me. Nor you.”
Influence had been used to get Aarons a seat on a plane to San Diego and Maria Consuela had gone with him to the airport and waited with him until his flight was called. Two days later he had got on a flight to Boston where he took the train to New York, and then he took the subway to Brighton Beach.
CHAPTER 12
Malloy had been given four days’ embarkation leave and he and Kathy had spent it in New York. With a little help from Washington they had got a special deal at the Waldorf.
The last day was a Sunday and they got up early, had breakfast and then walked up the Avenue to Central Park. There were few people about despite the fine weather that gave promise of an early spring.
They walked as far as the lake and sat on the bench watching a father row his two children back towards the boathouse.
Malloy was wearing his uniform with captain’s double bars but no unit insignia and Kathy was aware that these would be their last few hours together for a long time. They had spent a day with his father who was obviously proud of his son in uniform, insisting that they stroll up to the cemetery and back so that his father’s cronies could see them.
She had gone along with the move to Washington but she missed New York and coming back had emphasised it.
“Shall we be coming back to New York when this is all over?”
He looked at her, smiling. “I hope so. You miss it, don’t you?”
“Yes. Do you?”
“I
