Mila 18 - Leon Uris [18]
Her flat was in a large old mansion on the Square of the Three Crosses facing St Alexander’s Church. She stopped before the door and fumbled in her purse for her key and handed it to him. Andrei unlocked the door and handed the key back.
“Good night, Miss Rak,” he said.
They shook hands.
“Lieutenant Androfski. I was brought up in America, as you know, and sometimes we do things a little differently. Would you consider me terribly brash if I said I would like to see you again, very soon?”
He took his hand from hers slowly and became pitifully and awkwardly shy. “I am afraid not, Miss Rak,” he said quickly, and turned and walked off.
Gabriela was stunned at her own words, more stunned at his action. She ran up the steps, watery-eyed, confused, and hurt and angry.
A large group of American VIPs were flying in from Paris. It included three congressmen and their wives and an advisory board of industrialists for a prospective American loan to build a dam on the Warta River.
“We want to help get this loan pushed through,” Thompson said to Gabriela. “I’ve got to be away in Krakow when they arrive. Can you make up their itinerary and handle them for two days till I get back?”
“Anything special you want them to see?”
“The usual junk around Warsaw. Lunch with the Ambassador, press conference, whatever is going at the opera and theater. Meanwhile, draw up a list for their reception.”
“Will do. Don’t worry about a thing.”
“Here’s all the dope. Look this over. Play it to Congressman Galinowski, big Polish district in Gary. Stay close to Cranebrook; he talks too much.”
“Tommy, the last time we had wives, the Ministry of Information sent over a real creep to escort them around. Why don’t we try someone else?”
“Like what?”
Gabriela shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. Why not—well, get one of those big Ulany officers. The Seventh Ulanys have a dozen real charmers who speak English.”
“Oh, sister,” Thompson mumbled. “He’s already cost me one hat.” He flicked the inter-com and spoke through it. “Mildred. Call up the commanding general at the Citadel. On that group of VIPs coming in day after tomorrow, we’re going to need an escort for the wives. Make it important ... big loan to Poland involved. See if you can get Lieutenant Andrei Androfski—from the Seventh Ulanys—placed on detached duty for PR. Have him report to Miss Rak.” He flicked off the switch. Gabriela’s face was crimson. “Just call me Cupid Thompson.”
If Andrei was livid with rage, which he was, he did nothing to show it. He reported to Miss Rak and took his orders with complete detachment and oozed Polish charm playing escort to the three elderly but appreciative American ladies. Andrei even managed to hold his temper when one of the ladies discovered he was on the national soccer team and insisted he take off his boots so she could see the muscles in his calves.
At the end of the third day he delivered them to their suites and reported to Miss Rak at the Embassy.
“I must say, everyone is commenting on my masterstroke of public relations. You have made a noble contribution to a dam on the Warta River.”
“Thank you,” Andrei said stiffly.
“In fact, Lieutenant, they are so pleased with your company, they particularly asked if you would escort them on a two-day trip to Krakow while the committee surveys the proposed dam site.”
“Miss Rak,” Andrei said, “I feel I am denying fellow officers a tremendous experience and wish to share this duty with some others—”
“But they particularly asked for you. You do want to see that dam on the Warta?”
“Miss Rak. To hell with the dam on the Warta. I hurt your pride the other night and you have made me eat humble pie. You win, I lose. Since I have been taking those—those—nice ladies around Warsaw my brigade has lost an important soccer match and my home is dying of loneliness. You will have to find someone else to assume this pleasurable duty, because it will take a court-martial to bring me back tomorrow.”
“I think that is terribly un-Polish of you.”
“Will you let me return to my brigade?”
Gabriela