"With this." Taleniekov separated the black hair on the dead man's chest so the jagged circle could be seen clearly. "Come here." Lodzia got up, walked to the corpse, and knelt down. "What? The birthmark?" "Per nostro circolo," he said. "It wasn't there when our Englishman was born. It had to be earned." "I don't understand." "You will. I'm going to tell you everything I know. I wasn't sure that I wanted to, but I don't think there's a choice now. They might easily kill me. If they do, there's someone you must reach, I'll tell you how.
Describe this mark, fourth rib, border of the cage, near the heart. It was not meant to be found." Lodzia was silent as she looked at the bluish mark on the flesh, and finally at Taleniekov. "Who is 'they'?" "They go by the name of the Matarese...." He told her. Everything. When he was finished, Lodzia did not speak for a long time, nor did he intrude on her thoughts. For she had heard shocking things, not the least of which was the incredible alliance between Vasili Vasilovich Taleniekov and a man known throughout the KGB world as Beowulf Agate. She walked to the window overlooking the dreary street. She spoke, her face to the glass.
"I imagine you've asked this question of yourself a thousand times; I ask it again. Was it necessary to contact ScofieldT' "Yes," he said.
"Moscow wouldn't listen to you?" "Moscow ordered my execution. Washington ordered his." "Yes, but you say that neither Moscow nor Washington knows about this Matarese. The trap set for you and Beowulf was based on keeping you aparL I can understand that." "Official Washington and official Moscow are blind to the Matarese.
Otherwise, someone would have stepped forward in our behalf; we would have been summoned to present what we know-what I brought Scofield. In- stead, we're branded traitors, ordered to be shot on sight, no provisions made to give us a hearing. The Matarese orchestrated it, using the clandestine apparatuses of both countries." "Men this Matarese Is in Moscow, in Washington." "Absolutely. In, but not of. Capable of manipulating, but unseen." "Not unseen, Vasili," objected Lodzia. "The men you spoke to in Moscow-- "Panicked old men," interrupted Taleniekov. "Dying war horses put out to pasture. Impotent." "Men the man Scofield approached. The statesman, Winthrop. What of him?" "Undoubtedly dead by now." Lodzia walked away from the window and stood in front of him. "rhen where do you go? You're comered." Vasili shook his head. "On the contrary, we're making progress. The first name on the list, Scozi, was accurate. Now, we have our dead Englishman here. No papers, no proof of who he is or where he came from, but with a mark more telling than a billfold filled with false documents. He was part of their army, which means there's another soldier here in Leningrad watching an old man who's curator of literary archives at the Shchedrin Library. I want him almost as much as I want to reach my old friend; I want to break him, get answers. The Matarese are in Leningrad to protect the Voroshins, to conceal the truth. We're getting closer to that truth." "But suppose you find it. Whom can you take it to? You cannot protect yourselves because you don't know who they are." "We know who they are not, and that7s enough. The Premier and the President to begin with." "You won't get near them." "We will if we have our proof. Beowulf was right about that; we need incontrovertible proof. Will you help us? Help me?" Lodzia Kronescha looked into his eyes, her own softening. She reached up with both her hands and cupped his face. "Vasili Vasilovich. My life had become so uncomplicated, and now you return." "I didn't know where else to go. I couldn't approach that old man directly. I testified on his behalf at a security hearing in 1954. I'm terribly sorry, Lodzia." "Don't be. rve missed you. And, of course, I'll help you. Were it not for you, I might be teaching primary grades in our Tashkent sectors." He touched her face, returning her gesture. "That must not be the reason for your help." "It isn't. What you've told me frightens me."
Under no condition was the traitor, Maletkin, to be aware of Lodzia. The Vyborg officer had remained in the automobile at the comer, but when more than an hour had passed Taleniekov could see him pacing nervously on the pavement