'Artillery?' asked Benjamin, confused.
'You have to remember those times,' Natalya said. 'They disguised their purpose, you see. The only insignia they wore on their uniforms was of the artillery division. Anyway, he was assigned to one of their first underground missile bases. It was considered a posting of considerable prestige. But it was a city in the wasteland of Siberia, a town built practically overnight. It was given the name of a village nearby that had existed for hundreds of years, but the town itself didn't appear on any maps.'
'What was it called?' Benjamin asked. He leaned forward and put his snifter on the coffee table, rubbed his eyes, trying to wake himself up. But he couldn't repress a yawn. 'Sorry,' he said. 'I'm interested, really.' He leaned back against the couch.
'The village was named Uzhur,' Natalya said. 'But the military base was called Uzhur-4.' She looked down at her own drink, was quiet for a moment.
'Very,' Benjamin searched for the right word, 'cryptic.' And then he remembered something Anton had said. 'Uzhur-4, you said?'
Natayla nodded. 'Why, you know of it?'
'No, not me. But Anton mentioned it tonight… or this afternoon…' Again he rubbed his eyes. 'Anyway, go on.'
Natalya looked pensive as she continued. 'It was both a terrifying and a protected place,' she continued. 'We were surrounded by electrified fences, and there were soldiers everywhere. But on the other hand, we had many amenities other citizens of the 'socialist paradise' could only dream of. I remember how proud we were when a telephone was installed in our apartment, the first private line in the city. Of course, we knew it was monitored. But who was there to call?' She smiled. 'When we went on vacation to Sochi, we were flown to the airport in a large helicopter. I thought of it as my helicopter. And when we took a train, we always had our own private compartment. Strange,' she said, 'but for all its forbidding atmosphere, I was happy there.'
She looked up at Benjamin. He was slumped against the back of the couch, his eyes closed. He was sound asleep.
Natalya went into her bedroom, came back out in a moment with a blanket and pillow. She lifted Benjamin's legs onto the couch, took off his shoes, then placed the pillow under his head and pulled the blanket over him.
She stood looking down at Benjamin for some time, as though she was balancing some kind of decision. Finally, she turned off the lamp next to the couch and walked off to her bedroom.
CHAPTER 35
Benjamin woke to Natalya's face above him. She was holding a cup of coffee in one hand. The scene reminded him of Wolfe getting him up early, shoving coffee in his face. He preferred this version.
'Good morning,' Natalya said. 'Did you sleep well?'
Benjamin looked down. Apparently during the night she'd pulled a blanket over him, placed a pillow under his head.
He sat up, accepted the coffee.
'Yes, for the first time in several days,' he said. He took a drink of the coffee-it was quite strong, and he winced.
'Too strong?' she asked. 'I am afraid I like it very strong. American coffee, well, to me it usually tastes like weak tea.'
'No,' Benjamin said, taking another sip. 'It's good.' He looked around for a clock. 'What time is it?'
'About seven thirty,' she said. 'I woke up at six, but you were sleeping so soundly, I decided to let you rest.'
'Oh,' Benjamin said. He smiled at her. 'I'm afraid I dropped off while you were speaking. Sorry to be so rude. These last few days at the Foundation… well, there wasn't much time for rest.'
'So I understood.'
She went to the kitchen, returned with a plate with some croissants and a bagel, a dab of cream cheese, another of red jam. 'I was not sure what you would eat for breakfast, so I went to the Starbucks across the street.' She set the plate on the coffee table. 'But perhaps you would like to wash and change first.'
Benjamin was already munching one of the croissants. He looked up at her.
'Change into what, exactly?' he said, his mouth still half full. 'This,' he plucked the tuxedo shirt, 'is all I've got right now.'
'Ah,' Natalya said, sitting down next to him. 'Of course.'
'But first,' and he stood up, 'I think I should try Anton's again.'
'Yes, please, go ahead.'
While Benjamin went into the kitchen to use the telephone, Natalya sat for a moment, staring out the window. It was a bright, cloudless day, a relief after the gray clouds and rain of yesterday.
She was sipping her coffee and still looking out the window when Benjamin returned.
'Still no answer,' he said. 'And I didn't want to leave this number on the message.'
He came and stood next to her.
'I'm really not sure what to do now. Dr. Fletcher's computer is at Anton's, though I have the CD. We could drive by his house again, but if he isn't answering his phone…'
'Does he have the password for the computer?' Natalya asked.
Benjamin thought back. 'No,' he said. 'I started it for him. I never told him the password.'
'Well, that is reassuring,' Natalya said.
'You mean, you think Anton is…'
'A betrayer?' finished Natalya.
'I know it doesn't look good, what with the police and Hauser there. But they might have simply followed me.' Benjamin shook his head. 'I can't quite believe Anton is on their side.'
'Their side?' asked Natalya, raising an eyebrow.
'Sorry,' Benjamin said. 'I guess that sounds a little paranoid.'
'I am a professional paranoid, Mr. Wainwright,' she said, standing. 'Anyway, why don't you wash up. I need to let them know at the center I will be in late today. If at all.'
'I hadn't even thought of that,' Benjamin said. He looked at her, an expression of concern on his face. 'I'm sorry to have gotten you involved in all this, Natalya.' He paused. 'I believe I know how Sam Wolfe felt when he last spoke to me.'
'Your Dr. Fletcher involved me,' she said. She stood up. 'And anyway, chto bylo to bulyom poroslo. As you would say, it is no good to cry over milk already spoiled.'
'Spilt,' Benjamin corrected.
'Excuse me?'
'Never mind, I understand,' Benjamin said. He looked at her appreciatively. 'I think Dr. Fletcher knew exactly what he was doing when he wrote to you. Even if we don't yet know why. ' Then he set his coffee down and went off to the bathroom.
Natalya waited a moment, then went into the kitchen to the telephone. She dialed the number of the Cultural Center. When someone there answered, she asked for Yuri. 'All right,' she said, 'I'll try him at home. Oh, and would you tell them I won't be in for a while today. Perhaps late this afternoon? Spasiba, ' and she hung up.
She went to the window, stood staring out again, deep in thought.
She was still there when Benjamin came out of the bathroom. He was drying his hair with a towel. He still had on the tuxedo shirt, cummerbund and pants, and black socks. 'Are my shoes around here somewhere?' he asked.
'Yes, there,' Natalya said, pointing under the couch. 'I took them off last night.'
Benjamin sat down and began putting on his shoes. 'I've decided the best thing for me to do is go to Anton's, see if he's home. And if he isn't… well, I'll cross that bridge then.'
'To where?' Natalya asked.
