el.angeleyes-第88节

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　She　looked　into　the　student's　dull　face；　trying　to　see　any　hint　of　the　spark　she　had　seen　in　so　many　of　the　young　faces　lining　the　streets　of　Cambridge。　〃Nothing；〃　she　said。　〃Drink　your　tea。　It's　all　right；　I　don't　blame　you。　She's　just　worse；　that's　all。〃
　〃Everything's　worse；〃　the　student　said；　turning　away。
　And　Irina；　glancing　from　the　student　to　her　mother　nodding　in　the　rocker；　thought　of　the　grasshopper　that　had　lived　by　her　hearth。　I　am　in　a　vise；　she　thought；　that　is　slowly　squeezing　the　life　out　of　me。　I　must　take　some　action　before　there　are　no　seasons　left　for　me　to　sow　or　reap。
　The　revelation　hit　her　like　a　rifle　shot。　All　at　once　she　understood　why　it　was　so　important　for　her　to　find　White　Star。　It　wasn't　to　help　Mars；　and　it　wasn't　to　get　back　at　Valeri；　although　those　motivations　were　still　in　play。　She　needed　to　get　to　White　Star　for　herself。
　Irina　knew　the　answer　to　her　feelings　of　imprisonment：　freedom。　Freedom　not　from　people；　but　from　the　oppressive　life　in　Russia　which；　despite　all　her　attempts　to　lie　to　herself；　she　could　no　longer　abide。
　And；　for　her；　freedom　could　mean　only　one　thing：　White　Star。　The　underground　nationalist　movement　was　her　one　chance　to　find　her　way　to　America。　To　Cambridge；　where　every　form　of　idea；　theory；　and　philosophy　was　freely　expressed；　embraced；　or　rejected　as　the　individual　saw　fit。
　It　was　White　Star；　and　White　Star　alone；　Irina　saw　now；　that　could　get　her　back　to　paradise。
　〃There　she　is；〃　Mars　Volkov　said　from　the　interior　of　his　black　Chaika。　〃Pick　her　up。〃
　He　was　speaking　into　a　mobile　phone；　and　when　he　gave　the　order；　three　plainclothes　men　stepped　out　of　the　shadows。　Two　moved　to　either　side　of　Natasha　Mayakova；　pinioning　her　wrists。　The　third　moved　behind　her。
　〃What　is　this？〃　Natasha　said；　astonished。　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　〃KGB；〃　said　the　plainclothes　man　behind　her。　〃Keep　calm。〃
　Mars　watched　Natasha's　eyes　go　wide　with　fear　when　the　man　whispered　in　her　ear。　There　was　a　measure　of　satisfaction　to　be　gained　by　that；　as　if　fear　were　a　form　of　energy　that　could　be　ingested　like　food。
　Mars's　men　brought　Natasha　to　the　Chaika。　The　door　opened；　and　with　a　stiff　hand　behind　her　neck；　they　pushed　her　inside。
　One　of　the　plainclothes　men　sat　in　the　back　so　that　she　was　sandwiched　between　him　and　Mars。　The　man　who　had　whispered　in　her　ear　climbed　into　the　passenger's　seat　in　front；　and　the　Chaika　took　off。
　〃Mars！〃　Natasha　said；　struggling　to　gain　her　equilibrium。　〃You　needn't　have　been　so　melodramatic。　Where　are　you　taking　me？〃
　〃The　Lubyanka。〃
　It　was　interesting；　Mars　thought；　to　see　how　her　brave　face　began　to　crumble。　They　all　did　it　in　different　ways；　his　subjects；　but　like　a　catalogue　of　petty　sins；　there　was　an　underlying　correlation　that　bound　them　all　together。
　〃You've　been　a　bad　girl；　Natasha。　I'm　quite　cross　with　you。〃
　〃What　gives　you　the　right　to　speak　to　me　as　if　you　were　my　father？〃
　〃This　gives　me　the　right；〃　Mars　said；　sending　the　back　of　his　hand　across　her　face　in　a　stinging　blow　that　sent　Natasha's　head　whipping　back　against　the　seat　back。
　〃My　God！〃　she　gasped。　〃You　animal！〃
　〃We're　both　animals；　Natasha；〃　Mars　said。　〃You　and　I。〃　He　watched　the　blood　seep　from　the　cut　in　her　skin　just　below　her　cheekbone。　He　thought　the　flash　of　color　did　her　good。　〃You　are　gnawing　at　the　underbelly　of　the　state。　But　there　are　rules　to　be　observed。　The　state　demands　obedience　from　one　and　all；　I　as　well　as　you。　If；　one　day；　I　am　found　wanting；　as　you　have　been；　I；　too；　will　wind　up　in　the　Lubyanka。〃
　〃What　a　load　of　shit；〃　Natasha　said。　〃You　and　I　are　like　night　and　day。　You　are　KGB。　Are　you　surprised　I　know？　The　Hero　told　me；　but　how　he　knew　I　can't　imagine；　locked　away　like　a　prisoner　or　a　laboratory　experiment。　Surely　you　didn't　tell　him；　Mars。　You're　far　too　devious　for　that。　You've　been　hoping　to　be　his　kindly　uncle；　haven't　you？　'Put　your　head　on　my　shoulder；　old　son；　and　tell　me　everything；'　that's　more　your　style。　But　you　haven't　fooled　the　Hero；　and　you　haven't　fooled　me。　The　foul　stink　of　the　KGB　is　all　over　you；　no　matter　how　you　try　to　hide　it　beneath　cordiality　and　greasepaint。　Like　all　the　other　members　of　the　secret　police；　you　enjoy　all　the　perquisites　your　thoroughly　corrupt　nature　can　gobble　up。　Oink！　Oink！　rade　Volkov！〃
　〃I　see；〃　Mars　said；　nodding　as　if　to　himself。　〃I　imagine　that　you　are　still　under　the　misapprehension　that　the　same　guardian　angel　who　protected　you　when　you　made　such　a　dangerous　fool　of　yourself　and　us　in　New　York　City　will　extricate　you　from　this　situation。　Put　such　fantastic　thoughts　from　your　mind；　Natasha。　I　am　in　the　process　of　stripping　your　guardian　angel　of　his　power。　He　doesn't　know　it　yet；　but　he　is　ready　to　take　his　fall　from　grace。　And；　as　he　is　about　to　learn；　it　is　a　long；　painful　way　down。〃
　The　black　Chaika　turned　a　corner；　came　gliding　into　Dzerzhinsky　Square。　Natasha's　last　look　at　the　outside　world　was　of　the　place　on　the　corner　of　Kirov　Street；　where　once　had　stood　the　Church　of　Our　Lady　of　Grebvev；　demolished；　like　so　many　houses　of　worship；　as　the　munists　rebuilt　areas　of　Moscow。
　In　the　Lubyanka；　the　KGB's　fortresslike　prison　across　Dzerzhinsky　Square　from　Detsky　Mir；　the　world's　largest　children's　store；　Natasha　Mayakova　was　divested　of　her　possessions；　stripped；　searched；　given　threadbare　prison　togs；　delivered　to　a　cell　that　measured　eight　feet　in　each　dimension。　There　was　no　window；　but　a　large　light；　protected　by　a　metal　grill；　protruded　like　an　exophthalmic　eye　from　the　center　of　the　ceiling。　It　was　off　when　Natasha　was　placed　in　the　cell；　but　some　time　afterward；　when　she　had　lain　down　on　the　board　that　served　as　a　bed；　it　went　on。　She　turned　toward　the　wall；　put　her　hands　over　her　eyes；　but　she　could　not　block　out　the　light。
　It　was　very　cold　in　the　cell；　and　Natasha　began　to　shiver。　She　thought　she　should　be　hungry；　but　she　was　not。　The　cold　made　her　tired；　but　the　light　cut　inside　her　closed　eyelids　as　if　prying　them　apart。　Her　mind　refused　to　let　her　sleep；　but　when　she　sat　up；　she　was　abruptly　dizzy；　and　had　to　hold　on　to　the　board　to　keep　from　pitching　headlong　onto　the　stone　floor。
　She　put　her　back　against　the　wall；　closed　her　eyes。　She　could　hear　the　accelerated　beating　of　her　heart；　was　aware　of　the　blood　pulsing　through　her　veins。　She　tucked　her　feet　under　her　in　an　attempt　to　keep　them　warm。　The　light　went　off。　She　drifted　into　a　light　sleep。　An　instant　later…or　so　it　seemed…the　light　came　on　again；　but　she　could　not　shake　herself　fully　awake。　Instead　she　lapsed　into　a　kind　of　limbo　that　sapped　her　of　more　strength。
　Some　time　later…she　had　no　idea　how　long…she　was　pulled　from　her　cell。　It　was　done　during　a　period　when　the　light　was　out；　so　that　she　was　pulled　out　of　sleep。　She　was　taken　three　floors　up；　led　into　an　interrogation　room。　Mars　Volkov　sat　behind　a　scarred　wooden　table；　an　open　dossier　in　front　of　him。　There　were　two　wooden　chairs　in　the　room；　Mars　was　sitting　in　one。　Natasha　sat　in　the　other　one。
　〃Stand　up；〃　Mars　said。
　〃What？〃
　''I　said　stand　up！〃　he　shouted；　so　that　Natasha　jumped　to　her　feet。　〃You　do　not　sit　until　told　to　do　so。〃
　〃Bullshit。〃　Natasha　was　regaining　a　semblance　of　her　self…possession。　She　sat。　Almost　immediately；　she　screamed；　leaped　out　of　the　chair　as　a　jolt　of　electricity　shot　through　her。　She　looked　down；　saw　the　wires　ing　up　out　of　the　floor；　enwrapping　the　chair　legs。
　〃I　thiink　you've　got　the　seating　arrangements　wrong；〃　Natasha　said。
　〃Sit；〃　Mars　told　her；　〃if　you　feel　you　have　to。〃
　Natasha　remained　standing。
　〃Do　you　see；〃　he　said；　smiling　hungrily；　〃how　easy　it　is　to　get　you　to　do　what　I　want？　I　don't　have　to　use　electricity　or　rubber　truncheons　or　even　threats。〃
　Natasha　sat。　〃It's　a　miracle　you　can　live　with　yourself。〃　She　studied　him。　〃No；　I　was　wrong。　It's　not　a　miracle；　it's　an　abomination。〃
　〃Are　you　hungry？〃　Mars　asked。　He　seemed　absorbed　in　the　open　dossier　in　front　of　him；　and　his　refusal　to　engage　her　directly　had　the　effect　of　making　her　will　seem　nonexistent。
　〃Where　is　your　uniform。　Colonel？〃　Natasha　said；　pressing　on　because　she　suspected　that　to　be　silent　now　was　tantamount　to　giving　up。
　Mars　ignored　her。　〃If　you　do　not　answer　my　question；　I　will　assume　that　you　have　no　use　for　food。〃
　〃Are　you　certain　you　wouldn't　be　more　fortable　with　the　KGB　rank　boards　on　your　shoulders？〃
　〃No　food；　then。〃　Mars　ticked　off　a　box　on　the　top　sheet　of　the　dossier；　turned　to　the　next　page。　〃What　is　your　relationship　with　Valeri　Denysovich　Bondasenko？''
　〃Valeri　is　my　brother。〃
　Mars　looked　up。　He　seemed　genuinely　startled。　〃Your　brother？〃
　〃Did　I　say　brother？　I　meant　lover。〃
　Mars　frowned。　〃Which　is　it？　Brother　or　lover？〃
　〃Both。〃
　Mars　put　aside　his　pen；　folded　his　hands；　one　over　the　other。　Natasha；　with　the　kind　of　heightened　sense　that　often　es　in　such　life…threatening　situations；　noticed　with　revulsion　how　his　small　ears　made　him　look　more　like　a　beast　than　a　movie　idol。
　〃Natasha；〃　Mars　said　carefully；　〃I　assure　you　that　talking　with　me　will　be　far　more　preferable　to　the　alternatives。〃
　〃My　alternatives；〃　Natasha　said；　〃are　life　or　death。〃
　Now　Mars　smiled。　〃Out　there；　in　the　streets　of　Moscow；　I　would　be　inclined　to　agree　with　you。　But　you　are　her