Prologue Read Online Free PDF Page B

Coast–they make a hell of a lot of money, which we need. And their schools, MIT, Syracuse , Yale, produce some of the best minds and products. As you know, Comrade, industrious enterprise isn’t a natural by-product of the Soviet system, neo or not.”
Natasha stiffened a little. She wasn’t sure if Igor were leveling with her, or subtly testing her true beliefs, a last-minute screening. “I find a lot to commend itself in Soviet business,” she said carefully.
Rostov scoffed. “You know what the radicals in America say, ‘Nobody in the Soviet Union works worth a shit since they get paid anyway.’ The Northeast District workers bust ass, because their pay depends on performance. We need that.”
He sounded genuinely contemptuous. Natasha took a chance. “And we use the Northeast District as our trading port to the rest of the world.”
Igor nodded. “None of that propaganda garbage now, Natasha. I must know that you see reality.” He resumed his seat.
“Of course,” Natasha answered.
“As the old China needed Hong Kong , we need the Northeast District. Over half of all American S.S.R. business goes through there–three-fourths of all business with Europe . If we screw with that we’re committing economic suicide. Basically put, everybody who’s anybody in the Party makes their real money through the Northeast District, and we–they’d-all like to keep it that way.”
“Of course.”
“But the damn thing about freedom is that people do unapproved things. Which we feel deVere might be doing.”
“Such as?”
“I don’t know. Something to do with time travel? Probably rubbish. But whatever it is, we need to find out and either control it or stop it. My gut feeling, after working in the Agency for thirty years, is that it might be something.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.”
“Of course you will. Otherwise…well, we don’t need to talk about the ‘otherwise’ part, do we, Comrade Nikitin?”
“No,” she said, suddenly uncomfortable again.
Rostov glanced down at a file that lay open on his desk and flipped over a page. “There’s not much on your family in your personnel file, Comrade. That is unusual.”
“There wouldn’t be. My parents are dead. I was raised an orphan.”
Rostov nodded. “Killed in the Second Great War. Your parents were heroes.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“You were raised in a home made possible by the Soviet system.”
“For twelve years.”
“I see you have a degree in history from Karl Marx University . Strange beginning for a future physicist. And you have an older sister,” Rostov continued, turning a page. “She has a rather nice apartment.”
Natasha stiffened slightly. “It’s sufficient.”
“Sufficient my ass,” Igor laughed. “It’s a hell of a lot nicer than most loyal comrades get. It’s downright bourgeois. I assume it’s due to your position as one of the most promising young agents we have. We like to keep people like you happy.”
“I’m sure we all appreciate it,” Natasha said.
“And I’m sure your sister wouldn’t much fancy moving back to…let’s see, what’s that hellhole, Jovanograd ?”
Natasha blanched. “I’m sure she wouldn’t.”
“Of course not. And as I’ve said, we’re all anxious for your mission in Boston to succeed. I’d hate to wake up one morning and read about deVere in the newspaper, or in one of those intelligence briefings that come with the black tape, know what I mean? I don’t like surprises. And my superiors don’t like them much either.”
“Of course not. You can count on me.”
“Let’s hope so,” Igor had said.
But thus far she had come up with nothing she could send back to Yeltsengrad. The Agency certainly wouldn’t conclude from that that deVere and his cronies were clean–indeed, the total sanitization of his files would be a suspicious tip-off. But she was at a loss to formulate a cogent report to her superiors. And, there was nothing in deVere’s personal history that revealed any