Doctor Who_ Bunker Soldiers - Martin Day [52]
‘I can vouch for that,’ I said.
‘More importantly,’ continued Dmitri, ‘you say that the “dark angel” is now at liberty within our city – worse still, within these very chambers?’
‘I believe so.’
‘Then my men must concentrate on flushing the creature out
– here, above ground, where it can be captured or destroyed.’
‘Forgive me,’ I said. ‘I’m not sure you’ll easily succeed in killing it.’
Dmitri sighed, as if accepting what I had said.
I took heart from his ready acceptance of my story. ‘What will you do about Yevhen?’ I asked boldly.
‘For the moment, nothing,’ said Dmitri. ‘He may still be of some use. With the Tartar attack imminent...’
‘Something else is going on,’ I added quickly. ‘I believe the bishop... Vasil? I believe he has come up with his own plan to save the city from the Mongols.’
Dmitri arched his eyebrows in surprise. ‘Vasil? What plans has he to avert the attack?’
‘At first Vasil and Yevhen were working together, though they seemed to fall out over this creature. In any event, Vasil is now planning a direct appeal to the Mongols.’
Dmitri looked surprised. ‘An appeal, to those devils? On what grounds?’
‘He mentioned a “southern problem”.’
Dmitri’s eyebrows arched, but he said nothing.
‘Olexander reckoned it might refer to the Muslims,’ I ventured.
‘It is true that the Church would dearly love to rid the world of Islam,’ said Dmitri. ‘But even so...’ He shook his head slowly.
I remembered the brown-cloaked man the clerics had been so keen to keep hidden. ‘I think there is a Mongol emissary in Kiev, smuggled in by Vasil,’ I said.
Dmitri nodded curtly. ‘Then the rumours are not without substance,’ he said. The boiling irritation he felt was obvious on his features. ‘We are in no position to trade with the Tartars...
Surely they will take whatever is not offered to them. Vasil is a fool!’ He strode angrily towards the door, pulled it open, and barked instructions at one of the soldiers just beyond: ‘Order a search of all Church properties in Kiev.’
I saw the soldier’s eyes widen. Such an action was almost unthinkable.
‘You will find a Tartar spy in our midst. You will find hiin, and bring him to me.’
The dazed man opened his mouth to speak, seemingly on the verge of challenging the governor.
Dmitri paused just long enough to draw breath, and continued before the soldier could utter a sound. ‘Bring Bishop Vasil to me as well. While we are preparing to die for our city, this traitor is colluding with the enemy!’ He spat his words through gritted teeth. ‘Tell this “man of God” that, unless he convinces me otherwise, I shall soon send him to his true lord and master!’
He turned and slammed the door shut, breathing deeply as his irritation subsided. ‘Thank you, Steven, for bringing this information to me. I am sorry this knowledge has come via such suffering – in prison, and in these tunnels you speak of.’
‘That’s OK,’ I said. ‘Though, I must say... I’m amazed you accept everything I have said. During my travels... Well, let’s just say, I’m not often believed!’
‘I hear many rumours, suspect many plots. It could be said that I am only effective if I am able to sift all gossip, all tittle-tattle, looking for evil, suspecting always the worst of those who surround me. What you have said this morning ties many threads together for the first time!’
‘I could be lying,’ I blurted out, before remembering that this was probably not the time or the place to play devil’s advocate.
‘And, as a traveller, you would hope to gain what, exactly?
Your freedom is the one thing you crave, and yet you know by now that I am not willing to let you go until after the Tartars have been defeated.’ He paused. ‘In any event, I trust you, Steven. I always have. I am saddened, however, that it has been so difficult to assure you of that trust.’ Dmitri looked keenly about the empty debating room, tapping his fingers to his lips.
‘Do not let Yevhen know that we are aware of this beast he has liberated,’ he whispered. ‘There is still more duplicity and treachery in the man that only time