Russka - Edward Rutherfurd [419]
For a moment, Misha thought he was going to strike this loathsome Popov; but he contained himself. If nothing else, he was determined to get to the bottom of this young man’s ideas, which had such an influence on his son.
‘Your real reason for being here is to foment a revolution that will usher in a new age – this heaven on earth of yours, without a God. Is that correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘The revolution will destroy everything – the Tsar and the landowners – for the good of the peasants?’
‘For the common good.’
‘Would you have the peasants kill the landowners?’
‘If necessary, certainly.’
‘But the peasants don’t follow you. They almost arrested Nicolai. Where does that leave you?’
‘The peasants aren’t politically aware yet. They don’t understand the common good.’
‘That’s the new world of perfect equality?’
‘Yes. The peasants still need to be educated.’
‘By you?’
‘By the new men.’
‘Who understand what is really good for them. And to achieve this end – for the common good – will new men like yourself use any means?’
‘Possibly. Why not?’
‘This means that the new men are superior to all of us. They are above the ordinary rules because of their higher mission and understanding. You’re a sort of superman.’
Popov smiled faintly. ‘Perhaps.’
Misha nodded. Now he thoroughly understood. ‘You’ll leave my house tomorrow morning,’ he said drily. ‘At dawn. As for you,’ he turned to Nicolai, ‘you will stay in the house for the time being. Your nervous illness is the only thing protecting you from the police. You understand?’
But if Misha thought he had settled matters, he had not reckoned with Yevgeny Popov; and it was with atonishment that he now turned as the red-headed student calmly addressed him.
‘Actually, I shall be staying here for some time.’
What new impertinence was this? ‘You’ll do as you are told and be gone at dawn,’ Misha snapped.
Yet still Popov only gazed at him imperturbably. ‘I think not,’ he replied. And as Misha started to grow red, he went on quietly: ‘Consider, Mikhail Alexeevich, your true position. Your son has incited the peasants to revolution. I didn’t. In the eyes of the authorities, it is Nicolai who is a criminal now. So your position is very weak. For myself, I care nothing about the authorities or anything they can do to me. But if you force me to, I could certainly make things very unpleasant for you and your son. If I say, therefore, that I wish to stay here for a while, it would probably be wiser of you to let me.’ And then he smiled.
Misha was dumbfounded. He looked first at one, then another of the young men. ‘And you call this man your friend?’ he said to Nicolai with disgust. And then, furiously, to Popov: ‘Do you really suppose you can get away with this?’
‘Yes.’
Misha was silent. He supposed it was true that the young troublemaker could be a danger to Nicolai. I wish to God I had more information – something I could pin on this Popov, he thought. Perhaps something would turn up. In the meantime, though he hated to show any weakness before this loathsome interloper, he decided to be cautious. ‘You can, perhaps, be useful,’ he said at last. ‘You can remain here a while on the following conditions: you are to refrain from any political activities; and you will tell people that Nicolai is sick. But if you start any trouble, or implicate Nicolai in any way with your activities, then you may find I have more influence with the authorities here than you think. Do you understand?’
‘That suits me very well,’ Popov said blandly, and strolled out of the room.
It was half an hour later that Nicolai came to Popov’s room. He found his friend in a calm but thoughtful mood.
‘That was a