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ad even e near the place。
But the fact was it wasn't so simple。 Freedom was a plex issue； one that； she saw now； she had been obsessed with ever since she had returned from Cambridge。 How could she turn her back on freedom now？
If she turned away； where would she go？ Back to her apartment to wait for Mars Volkov to find her and debrief her about her conversations with Odysseus？ What would she do when Mars was finished with her？ Return to her drone…like job at the Ministry of Education？ No； no。 She could not go back。 She would choke to death on her own despair。 Her feet were set on this new path； and she knew that she must follow it to its end or she would never be able to live with herself。 The other side of the mirror was too tantalizing； too filled with wonders for her ever to contemplate stepping back。
Irina stood trembling with fear as she inhaled the smells of the building。 The elevator hummed； on its way toward another assignation on another floor。 A baby cried。 A radio played a snatch of martial music； then was still。
Gathering her courage like a cloak around her； Irina ventured into the hallway。 She went quickly to Valeri's door； slid her key into the lock； turned it。 She closed her hand over the knob and； turning it； let herself into the apartment。
She knew immediately that people had been here。 The stillness was the same as when she had been here before； but there were smells lingering in the air； half…remembered reminders： a whiff of body odor in the dusty air of the hallway； a hint of cheap tobacco in the stale air of the bedroom。 She saw no butts anywhere； and she did not notice anything out of place。 Whoever had been in here； searching； had been circumspect。
Irina held her breath until she reached the kitchen。 But there it was； the illegal Toshiba lap…top； sitting fortably where it had always been； on the corner of the chopping block。
Crossing the kitchen Irina slammed down the top of the puter； unplugged the cord from the current converter； stuffed both into the puter's carrying case； then fit the puter itself in； zipped the case closed。
She had just grabbed the case by its soft handles when she heard the scrabbling sounds at the front door。 Her blood froze in her veins。 The contents of her stomach threatened to return to her mouth。
KGB。 Keep calm。
Mary； Mother of God！
Irina looked around her。 I'm trapped； she thought。 Then； No！ The window！
She threw open the kitchen window； ducked； stepped quickly out onto the fire escape。 She turned； shut the window behind her； stood with her back against the filthy concrete and brick facade of the building。 Below her was Telegraph Street。 Irina closed her eyes； imagining herself kneeling in the sanctuary of the nearby Church of the Archangel Gabriel。 She was there； as a child with her mother； inhaling the heady incense； hearing voices raised in prayer； listening to the inprehensible sacraments。 If only she could turn back time 。。。
Her eyes flew open as she heard a voice say； ''Is there any evidence that she was here？''
〃The front door was unlocked。 Captain。〃
〃Search the apartment。''
Irina turned her head； strained to get an oblique look through the windowpane。 In a moment she saw a young good…looking man in a gray uniform with red accents。 Valeri in the dankness of the crypt saying。 Mars is out for my blood。 He's mobilized the KGB Border Guards to find me。
How did they find me？ Irina asked herself。 Was I followed or were they watching the apartment？ I thought I had been so careful。 Oh； God； how stupid I am。
〃She's already left。 Captain。〃
〃Why did she e here？〃
Silence
〃Is anything missing？〃
〃Just the puter； Captain。〃
〃Ah；〃 the young uniformed man said。 〃The puter。'' He turned away from the window。 〃Find her；〃 Irina could hear him say。 〃If she slips by us； rade Volkov will have the lot of you reassigned to Sinkiang。''
KGB。 Keep calm。
How many of them are there？ Irina wondered； shaking with terror。 They're like ants crawling over a picnic blanket。 I've got to get off the blanket before they eat me alive。
When she could no longer see anyone through the kitchen window； Irina began to climb down along the rusting catwalks。 At any moment she expected shouts to be raised as one of the Border Guards contingent spotted her。 But nothing happened。
She gained the ground without incident。 The Toshiba puter pulled at her left arm。 If only I can make it to the car； she thought； I'll be all right。
She went along Telegraph Street； fearful that someone would wonder what it was she was lugging around with her。
It had begun to rain。 Instead of heading directly for the car； Irina sought shelter。 She stood； hidden within the deep shadows of a building doorway； the Toshiba tucked behind her legs； invisible to anyone passing by。 She watched the street with frightened； haunted eyes。 She could feel the bars across her moon； heading downward to close around her。 She could feel the arctic cold of the winter that never ended； bones strewn across a bleak field of ice； frozen Siberian tundra catching the snow as it silently fell from a featureless sky。 Her nightmare taking shape around her。
Irina scrutinized the faces of everyone who passed by。 She peered into rain…streaked car windows。 Everyone was a potential enemy； and she thought； It's happening to me； so soon； so soon。 I have bee afraid of everything and everyone。 Must this be the price of freedom？ Haven't I any other choice？
Thunder rolled through the canyons of the city； and it became as dark as midnight。 Once or twice a flash of lightning lit the street in a sickly； colorless burst of energy； making Irina start nervously。
It was pouring。 The KGB must be nearby； she knew； and she suspected that the longer she remained in the area； the greater her chance was of getting picked up。 Such was her anxiety and single…mindedness； it never occurred to her to ditch the Toshiba in the nearest trashcan。 Besides； even she knew that making a run for it on foot now would be foolish。 The KGB would spot her within minutes。
The car was her only salvation。 Once she was in it she could blend into traffic； take back streets； shortcuts； be able to double back on herself to make certain that no one was following her。
Picking up the puter and ducking her head； Irina ventured out into the rain； heading for the car。
It was slow going。 The drainage in this section of the city was due for repairs； but they had not e through as scheduled and as a result； every time it stormed； rainwater would sluice through the gutters； occasionally slopping onto the sidewalks。
Irina passed several babushkas dragging their net shopping bags behind them。 A street merchant huddled with sodden newspaper over her head； dancing from one foot to another to avoid the water as best she could； as her pathetic display of dried…out beets and blasted turnips was battered by the foul weather。
Once； when Irina suspected that she was being followed； she ducked into a small building； clattered through the worn tiles of the dismal lobby。 At the rear entrance she glanced back； saw the obvious trail of water and nearly burst into tears。
I'll never get the hang of being devious； she thought miserably。 Then she remembered that she had still eluded the KGB； and she took some solace from that fact。 Perhaps I'm not as inept as I think； she told herself bravely as she pushed out the rear door。
She found herself in a filthy back alley。 Someone had forgotten to take in their laundry； and linen flapped wetly over her head in the sodden wind。 For a moment she was at a loss as to which way to go。 Then； glancing down the end of the alley； she saw part of the rear of the Church of the Archangel Gabriel； and regained her bearings。
Irina hurried down the alley。 The Toshiba was growing heavier by the minute； but she tried not to think of the weight。 She concentrated on getting to her car； slipping through the net the KGB had thrown around Valeri's apartment。
She emerged from the alley； turned left down the block。 A black Zil turned onto the street； came cruising toward her； its speed far slower than was normal； as if its occupants were checking each side of the block。
Irina ducked back into the alley； held her breath as the Zil came abreast of where she was hiding。 She wished she were twelve again； thin as a rail； able to disappear in a sliver of shadow。 She imagined herself gone from here as the Zil stopped abreast of the alley。 Her pulse thundered in her ears and she was certain it would give her away。 The Zil sat for what seemed an interminable time。 Its windows were tinted black and she could not see inside。 Truth to tell； she did not want to look inside。 What was happening in there？ Had they spotted her？ Were they playing with her as they would a mouse？
At last the Zil rolled on。 Irina took a deep； shuddering breath as her eyes followed the Zil down the street。 It turned at the far corner； disappeared。
She headed down the street in the opposite direction。 She would have liked to stop at the church； sink to her knees； pray for safety for Valeri； the Hero； as well as herself。 But there was no time。 Still； she spoke to God as she rounded the corner to the street where she had left the car。
She stopped； caut