tc.redrabbit-第76章

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　　　Kovacs　was　so　typically　Hungarian　as　to　deserve　a　photo　in　the　non　existent　tourist　brochures：　five…eight；　swarthy；　a　mainly　circular　face　with　brown　eyes　and　black　hair。　But　he　dressed　rather　better　than　the　average　citizen　because　of　his　profession。　Kovacs　was　a　smuggler。　It　was　almost　an　honored　livelihood　in　this　country；　since　he　traded　across　the　border　to　a　putatively　Marxist　country　to　the　south；　Yugoslavia；　whose　borders　were　open　enough　that　a　clever　man　could　purchase　Western　goods　there　and　sell　them　in　Hungary　and　the　rest　of　Eastern　Europe。　The　border　controls　on　Yugoslavia　were　fairly　loose；　especially　for　those　who　had　an　understanding　with　the　border　guards。　Kovacs　was　one　such　person。
　　　〃Hello；　Istvan；〃　Andy　Hudson　said；　with　a　smile。　〃Istvan〃　was　the　local　version　of　Steven；　and　〃Kovacs〃　the　local　version　of　Smith；　for　its　ubiquity。
　　　〃Andy；　good　day　to　you；〃　Kovacs　replied　in　greeting。　He　opened　a　bottle　of　Tokaji；　the　local　tawny　wine　made　of　grapes　with　the　noble　rot；　which　afflicted　them　every　few　years。　Hudson　had　e　to　enjoy　it　as　the　local　variant　of　sherry；　with　a　different　taste　but　an　identical　purpose。
　　　〃Thank　you；　Istvan。〃　Hudson　took　a　sip。　This　was　good　stuff；　with　six　baskets　of　nobly　rotten　grapes　on　the　label；　indicating　the　very　best。　〃So；　how　is　business？〃
　　　〃Excellent。　Our　VCRs　are　popular　with　the　Yugoslavs；　and　the　tapes　they　sell　me　are　popular　with　everyone。　Oh；　to　have　such　a　prick　as　those　actors　do！〃　He　laughed。
　　　〃The　women　aren't　bad；　either；〃　Hudson　noted。　He'd　seen　his　share　of　such　tapes。
　　　〃How　can　a　kurva　be　so　beautiful？〃
　　　〃The　Americans　pay　their　whores　more　than　we　do　in　Europe；　I　suppose。　But；　Istvan；　they　have　no　heart；　those　women。〃　Hudson　had　never　paid　for　it　in　his　life…at　least　not　up　front。
　　　〃It's　not　their　hearts　that　I　want。〃　Kovacs　had　himself　another　hearty　laugh。　He'd　been　hitting　the　Tokaji　already　this　day；　so　he　wasn't　making　a　run　tonight。　Well；　nobody　worked　all　the　time。
　　　〃I　may　have　a　task　for　you。〃
　　　〃Bringing　what　in？〃
　　　〃Nothing。　Bringing　something　out；〃　Hudson　clarified。
　　　〃That　is　simple。　What　trouble　the　hatar　rseg　give　us　is　when　we　e　in；　and　then　not　much。〃　He　held　up　his　right　hand；　rubbing　thumb　and　forefinger　together　in　the　universal　gesture　for　what　the　border　guards　wanted…money　or　something　negotiable。
　　　〃Well；　this　package　might　be　bulky；〃　Hudson　warned。
　　　〃How　bulky？　A　tank　you　want　to　take　out？〃　The　Hungarian　army　had　just　taken　delivery　of　new　Russian　T…72s；　and　that　had　made　the　TV；　in　an　attempt　to　buck　up　the　fighting　spirit　of　the　troops。　A　waste　of　time；　Hudson　thought。　〃That　might　be　hard；　but　it　can　be　done；　for　a　price。〃　But　the　Poles　had　already　given　one　of　those　to　SIS；　a　fact　not　widely　known。
　　　〃No；　Istvan；　smaller　than　that。　About　my　size；　but　three　packages。〃
　　　〃Three　people？〃　Kovacs　asked；　getting　a　dull　stare　in　return。　He　got　the　message。　〃Bah；　a　simple　task…baszd　meg？〃　he　concluded：　Fuck　it。
　　　〃I　thought　I　could　count　on　you；　Istvan；〃　Hudson　said　with　a　smile。　〃How　much？〃
　　　〃For　three　people　into　Yugoslavia。。。〃　Kovacs　pondered　that　for　a　moment。　〃Oh。　Five　thousand　d…mark。〃
　　　〃Ez　kurva　draga！〃　Hudson　objected；　or　ostensibly　so。　It　was　cheap　at　the　price；　hardly　a　thousand　quid。　〃Very　well；　you　thief！　I'll　pay　it　because　you　are　my　friend…but　just　this　one　time。〃　He　finished　his　drink。　〃You　know；　I　could　just　fly　the　packages　out；〃　Hudson　suggested。
　　　〃But　the　airport　is　the　one　place　where　the　hatar　rseg　are　alert；〃　Kovacs　pointed　out。　〃The　poor　bastards　are　always　in　the　light；　with　their　senior　officers　about。　No　chance　for　them　to　be　open　to。。。　negotiations。〃
　　　〃I　suppose　that　is　so；〃　Hudson　agreed。　〃Very　well。　I　will　call　you　to　keep　track　of　your　schedule。〃
　　　〃That　is　fine。　You　know　where　to　find　me。〃
　　　Hudson　stood。　〃Thanks　for　the　drink；　my　friend。〃
　　　〃It　lubricates　the　business；〃　Kovacs　said；　as　he　opened　the　door　for　his　guest。　Five　thousand　West　German　marks　would　cover　a　lot　of　obligations　and　buy　him　a　lot　of　goods　to　resell　in　Budapest　for　a　handsome　profit。
　　　
　　　CHAPTER　23　…　ALL　ABOARD
　　　Zaitzev　called　the　travel　office　at　1530。　He　hoped　that　this　didn't　show　an　unusual　eagerness；　but　everyone　was　interested　in　their　vacation　arrangements；　he　figured。
　　　〃rade　Major；　you　are　on　the　train　day　after　tomorrow。　It　leaves　Kiev　Station　at　thirteen　hours　thirty　and　arrives　in　Budapest　two　days　later　at　fourteen　hours　exactly。　You　and　your　family　are　booked　into　Carriage　nine…oh…six　in　partments　A　and　B。　You　are　also　booked　into　Budapest's　Hotel　Astoria；　Room　three…oh…seven；　for　eleven　days。　The　hotel　is　directly　across　the　street　from　the　Soviet　Culture　and　Friendship　House；　which　is；　of　course；　a　KGB　operation　with　a　liaison　office；　should　you　need　any　local　assistance。〃
　　　〃Excellent。　Thank　you　very　much　for　your　help。〃　Zaitzev　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Is　there　anything　I　might　purchase　for　you　in　Budapest？〃
　　　〃Why；　thank　you；　rade。〃　His　voice　just　lit　up。　〃Yes；　perhaps　some　pantyhose　for　my　wife；〃　the　functionary　said　in　a　furtive　voice。
　　　〃What　size？〃
　　　〃My　wife　is　a　real　Russian；〃　he　replied；　meaning　decidedly　not　anorexic。
　　　〃Very　good。　I　will　find　something…or　my　wife　will　assist　me。〃
　　　〃Excellent。　Have　a　grand　trip。〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　shall；〃　Zaitzev　promised　him。　With　that　settled；　Oleg　Ivan'ch　left　his　desk　and　went　to　his　watch　supervisor　to　announce　his　plans　for　the　ing　two　weeks。
　　　〃Isn't　there　some　upstairs　project　that　only　you　are　cleared　for？〃　the　lieutenant　colonel　asked。
　　　〃Yes；　but　I　asked　Colonel　Rozhdestvenskiy；　and　he　said　not　to　be　concerned　about　it。　Feel　free　to　call　him　to　confirm　that；　rade；〃　Zaitzev　told　him。
　　　And　he　did；　in　Zaitzev's　presence。　The　brief　call　ended　with　a　〃thank　you；　rade；〃　and　then　he　looked　up　at　his　subordinate。　〃Very　well；　Oleg　Ivan'ch；　you　are　relieved　of　your　duties　beginning　this　evening。　Say；　while　you　are　in　Budapest。。。〃
　　　〃Certainly；　Andrey　Vasili'yevich。　You　may　pay　me　for　them　when　I　get　back。〃　Andrey　was　a　decent　boss；　who　never　screamed；　and　helped　his　people　when　asked。　A　pity　he　worked　for　an　agency　that　murdered　innocent　people。
　　　And　then　it　was　just　a　matter　of　cleaning　up　his　desk；　which　wasn't　difficult。　KGB　regulations　dictated　that　every　desk　be　set　up　exactly　the　same　way；　so　that　a　worker　could　switch　desks　without　confusion；　and　Zaitzev's　desk　was　arranged　exactly　according　to　office　specifications。　With　his　pencils　properly　sharpened　and　lined　up；　his　message　log　up　to　the　moment；　and　all　his　books　properly　in　place；　he　dumped　his　trash　and　walked　to　the　men's　room。　There　he　selected　a　stall；　removed　his　brown　tie；　and　replaced　it　with　his　striped　one。　He　checked　his　watch。　He　was　actually　a　little　early。　So　Zaitzev　took　his　time　on　the　way　out；　smoked　two　cigarettes　instead　of　one；　and　took　a　moment　to　enjoy　the　clear　afternoon；　stopping　off　to　get　a　paper　along　the　way；　and；　to　pamper　himself；　six　packs　of　Krasno…presnensky；　the　premium　cigarette　smoked　by　Leonid　Brezhnev　himself；　for　two　rubles　forty。　Something　nice　to　smoke　on　the　train。　Might　as　well　spend　his　rubles　now；　he　decided。　They'd　be　valueless　where　he　was　going。　Then　he　walked　down　to　the　metro　station　and　checked　the　clock。　The　train；　of　course；　came　right　on　time。
　　　Foley　was　in　the　same　place；　doing　the　same　thing　in　exactly　the　same　way；　his　mind　racing　as　the　train　slowed　to　a　stop　at　this　station。　He　felt　the　tiny　vibration　from　the　boarding　passengers　and　the　grunts　of　people　bumping　into　one　another。　He　straightened　up　to　turn　the　page。　Then　the　train　lurched　off。　The　engineers…or　motormen；　whatever　the　hell　you　called　them…were　always　a　little　heavy　on　the　throttle。　A　moment　later；　there　was　a　presence　to　his　left。　Foley　didn't　see　it；　but　he　could　feel　it。　Two　minutes　later；　the　subway　train　slowed　for　another　station。　It　lurched　to　a　stop；　and　someone　bumped　into　him。　Foley　turned　slightly　to　see　who　it　was。
　　　〃Excuse　me；　rade；〃　the　Rabbit　said。　He　was　wearing　a　blue　tie　with　red　stripes。
　　　〃No　problem；〃　Foley　responded　dismissively；　as　his　heart　leapt　inside　his　chest。
　　　Okay；　two　days　from　now；　Kiev　Station。　The　train　to　Budapest。　The　Rabbit　moved　a　step　or　two　away；　and　that　was　that。　The　signal　had　been　passed。
　　　Skyrockets　in　flight。　Foley　folded　his　paper；　and　made　his　way　to　the　sliding　doors。　The　usual　walk　to　his　apartment。　Mary　Pat　was　fixing　dinner。
　　　〃Like　my　tie？　You　didn't　tell　me　this　morning。〃
　　　MP's　eyes　lit　up。　Day　after　tomorrow；　she　realized。　They'd　have　to　get　the　word　out；　but　that　was　just　a　procedural　thing。　She　hoped　Langley　was　ready。　BEATRIX　was　going　a　little　fast；　but　why　dawdle？
　　　〃So；　what's　for　dinner？〃
　　　〃Well；　I　wanted　to　get　a　steak；　but　I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　settle　for　fried　chicken　today。〃
　　　〃That's　okay；　honey。　Steak　for　day　after　tomorrow；　maybe？〃　she　asked。
　　　〃Sounds　good　to　me。　Honey；　where's　Eddie？〃
　　　〃Watching　Transformers；　of　course。〃　She　pointed　to　the　living　room。
　　　〃That's　my　boy；〃　Ed　observed；　with　a　smile。　〃He　knows　the　important　stuff。〃　Foley　kissed　his　wife　tenderly。
　　　〃Later；　tiger；〃　Mary　Pat　breathed　back。　But　a　successful　operation　merited　a　discreet　celebration。　Not　that　this　one　was　successful　yet；　but　it　was　certainly　headed　that　way；　and　it　was　their　first　in　Moscow。　〃Got　the　pictures？〃　she　whispered。
　　　He　pulled　them　out　of　his　jacket　pocket。　They　were　not　exactly　magazine…cover　quality；　but　they　did　give　good　representations　of　the　Rabbit　and　his　little　bunny。　They　didn't　know　what　Mrs。　Rabbit　looked　like；　but　this　would　have　to　do。　They'd　get　the　shots　to　Nigel　and　Penny。　One　of　them　would　cover　the　train　station　to　make　sure　the　Rabbit　family　got　going　on　time。
　　　〃Ed；　there's　a　problem　with　the　shower；〃　Mary　Pat　said。　〃The　spray　thingee　isn't　right。〃
　　　〃I'll　see　if　Nigel　has　the　right　tools。〃　Foley　walked　out　the　door　and　down　the　hall。　In　a　few　minutes；　they　were　back；　Nigel　carrying　his　toolbox。
　　　〃Hello；　Mary。〃　Nigel　waved　on　his　way　to　the　bathroom。　Once　there；　he　made　a　fuss　about　opening　his　toolbox；　then　turning　on　the　water；　and　now　any　bug　the　KGB　might　have　here　was　jammed。
　　　〃Okay；　Ed；　what　is　it？〃
　　　Ed　handed　over　the　photos。　〃The　Rabbit　and　the　Bunny。　We　have　nothing　on　Mrs。　Rabbit　yet。　They'll　all　be　taking　the　one　P。M。　train　to　Budapest；　day　after　tomorrow。〃
　　　〃Kiev　Station；〃　Haydock　said；　with　a　nod。　〃You'll　want　me　to　get　a　picture　of　Mrs。　Rabbit。〃
　　　〃Correct。〃
　　　〃Very　well。　I　can　do　that。〃　The　wheels　started　turning　at　once。　As　mercial　Attache；　he　could　e　up　with　a　cock…and…bull　story　to　cover　it；　Haydock　reasoned。　He'd　get　a　tame　reporter　to　acpany　him　and　make　it　look　like　a　news　story…something　about　tourism；　perhaps。　Paul　Matthews　of　the　Times　would　play　along。　Easily　done。　He'd　have　Matthews　bring　a　photographer　and　take　professional　photos　of　the　whole　Rabbit　family　for　London　and　Langley　to　use。　And　Ivan　shouldn't　suspect　a　thing。　However　important　the　Rabbit's　information　might　be；　the　Rabbit　himself　was　just　a　cipher；　one　of　many　thousands　of　KGB　employees　not　important　enough　to　be　taken　any　note　of。　So　tomorrow　morning　Haydock　would　call　the　Soviet　state　railroad　and　say　that　the　Soviets'　sister　service　in　Britain…which　was　also　state…owned…was　interested　in　how　the　R