Armageddon_ A Novel of Berlin - Leon Uris [284]
“Come in,” Sean said.
Igor looked about the shabby room. It reminded him of rooms in Moscow. “Forgive me for showing up in this manner, but you know how things are done in Berlin. It has been a long time, O’Sullivan.”
They shook hands.
“So, we are all just men,” Igor said, “and all in the same boat.”
“Can I expect to be reading about my frailty in your papers tomorrow?”
“Of course not,” Igor said, “there are certain things we Russians honor. Besides, everyone from Popov on down is too vulnerable.”
Sean scrounged the cupboard, found a half bottle of vodka, and offered Igor a cigarette.
“The record of our past friendship appears to have gained value in our command,” Igor said. “I have been told to bring you a message.”
“Go on.”
“We are ready to implement a four-power currency control immediately and guarantee your access routes to Berlin.”
Sean knew that the Russians were capable of reversing themselves overnight on any given issue and offer an unexpected treaty without apparent reason. “I’ll see that General Hansen gets the message.”
“With your personal recommendation, I hope.”
“As a matter of fact, no,” Sean answered.
“Between friends,” Igor said, “this whole quarrel is becoming costly for both sides. The prospect of having to impose a blockade during the winter is not pleasant. On the other hand, there is no way your Airlift can run through the winter. We have both proved our points. I believe we should both save face as gracefully as possible.”
Sean laughed. “Come on, Colonel Karlovy. What’s a few thousand Germans starving to death? You’re bringing this offer because you don’t want to go into the winter and find out we can pull the city through.”
The Russian stiffened. “When can I have your answer?”
“You know the address here.”
The door burst open and Ernestine saw the Russian first and became masked in fright.
“An old friend,” Sean said, stepping into the candlelight.
Igor tipped his fingers to his cap and thought it time for him to go. “Good-by, Colonel ... aufwiedersehen, fraulein.”
Igor locked himself in his office, shocked by O’Sullivan’s abruptness. Had O’Sullivan spotted a Soviet weakness that quickly? Had he in truth been sent to transmit Russian fears?
He reached up on a shelf, took his mandolin down. It was covered with dust. He blew the film away, tuned the sour strings, then remembered that Lotte had not greeted him. He found her asleep on the living-room couch.
She fluttered her eyes open. “I lay down for a moment. I must have dozed,” she said.
She was quite pale. What the devil was getting into her? She had always been a picture of health and energy. Now all this weeping and dragging about.
In the topsy-turvy world of working by night and running days together one was apt to overlook small things. Igor thought ... how long has it been? How long?
“You little fool!”
She did not answer.
“You are pregnant.”
“Yes,” she said.
He was seized with panic! Where to run! What to do!
She took his hand and made him sit. “I have always loved you, Igor. I am not afraid.”
He knelt beside her and lay his head in her lap. “You little fool ...”
“I must have something when you are gone.”
Chapter Twenty-nine
SCOTT SHOVED A BOUQUET of roses into Judy Loveless’ hand. “You are a sexy babe ... it’s you I really crave.”
“I also think you’re great ... but damn, you’re ten years late. Come in, Scott, Hilde will be down in a minute.”
Lynn and Tony picked Scott’s pockets for the ransom that usually turned up. Tony found a wooden Hussar carved in the Black Forest, and Lynn a charm in the shape of a heart to go on a bracelet they were building.
He began to tell the children about a hair-raising landing with three Jap Zeros on his tail, which he never made, and they didn’t think he made, but it was exciting the way he told it.
Hilde entered dressed the way Judy had advised for a football game. She looked