"Then if you will both excuse me, I need to speak with the major about a few things."
The cutter's drive through the sea put a chill wind across her darkened decks. Gregori Smyslov flared the butane lighter within his cupped palm, touching the flame to the tip of his cigarette. He inhaled once, deeply, and let the smoke hiss slowly through his clenched teeth.
He needed to contact General Baranov. He needed to find out what in all hell was going on! He had a secure phone number that would be guarded by the Russian Federation military attache at the embassy in Washington, but Smith's ordering of an immediate sailing this afternoon had not given him the chance to make a call.
And even if he had accessed a clear phone, would he be able to trust the person at the other end? Somebody knew! Somebody outside the konspiratsia knew!
But how much? About the Misha 124, obviously. They must also know the anthrax was still aboard the bomber. That would be the minimum that could conceivably justify this afternoon's airborne assassination attempt. But what other knowledge might they possess?
Smyslov took another heavy drag on his cigarette. The anthrax and the risk of it falling into the hands of a terrorist group would be bad enough. But what if there was something more? What if they knew of the March Fifth Event?
That was a nightmare worth considering. What if someone outside the circle of thirty-two knew about the Event and of the possibility that evidence of it still existed aboard the downed bomber? What if they were striving to prevent the destruction of that evidence and obtain it for themselves?
What if an organization or even a single individual gained the ability to blackmail a major nuclear power? It would dwarf the threat of even a planeload of anthrax to insignificance.
Lost in that dark thought, Smyslov started as a voice spoke nearby. "As a physician I'm required to warn you that smoking is bad for your health."
Jon Smith's silhouette detached itself from the shadows down deck and came to lean on the cable rail beside Smyslov. "And now that I've performed that duty, please feel free to tell me to go to hell."
Smyslov chuckled dryly and flipped the glowing cigarette butt over the side. "We haven't invented lung cancer in Russia yet, Colonel."
"I just wanted to tell you again, thanks for what you did today."
Smyslov caught himself before he could reach for his lighter and cigarette pack again. "We were all riding in the same helicopter."
"So we were," the silhouette agreed. "So, Major, what do you think?"
"To speak the truth, Colonel, I don't know what to think." And it was the truth.
"Do you have any idea at all who might have been behind the attack?"
Smyslov shook his head. Now he would lie again. "None. Someone must have learned that the Misha 124 was a bioweapons platform. They must be acting on the assumption the anthrax might still be aboard the aircraft and are attempting to prevent us from reaching the crash site first. That's the only thing that would make any sense."
"You'd think so," Smith mused. "But someone is certainly committing a lot of resources on a speculation." He turned his head and looked directly at Smyslov. "The Alaskan authorities are also speculating about the possible involvement of the Russian mafia."
Good. Smyslov could tell the truth again. "This is entirely possible, Colonel. It would be foolish to deny that certain criminal elements within my country have developed a great degree of power and influence within our government."
Smyslov grimaced. "The members of our underworld had a considerable advantage over the rest of our nation. They were the one facet of Russian society not controlled by the Communists."
Smith chuckled in the darkness, and they looked out across the darkened wave tops for a time, listening to the hiss of the hull cutting through the water.
Finally Smyslov spoke. "Colonel, can you tell me if my government has been notified of today's attack?"
"I really can't say for sure," Smith replied. "My superiors have been advised of the situation, and they've informed me that all available resources are being put to use to identify our attackers. I'd presume that includes Russian resources."
"I see."
Smith hesitated, then continued. "Major, if you wish to speak directly with your superiors about this incident, I can arrange it. If you are concerned about...security, I can offer you my word that you will be able to speak freely. Your communications will not be monitored."