The Margin of Evil! Read Online Free PDF Page A

long brass key. It shone briefly in the fading light. He put it in the lock and turned the key. The door opened. The sight that greeted him was simply out of this world. It was a garden, but no ordinary garden; it was a beautiful winter garden. Over in one corner was an outhouse; they both walked over to it and went inside. They sat down on respective chairs. Georgii looked towards his old mentor and wondered why they had both come to this place. He did not have to wait long for an answer.
    ' Georgii ... I'm going to tell you a story. You are privileged to hear it my son! Very few people have heard this story ... very few people will ever hear it,' Gerhardt said.
    The pit of Georgii Radetzky `s stomach collapsed.   He had been put into this situation before.     And it always started with, 'You are very privileged my son ...', and then if their histories were anything to go by - Georgii would find himself, out on his own, lurching from one disaster to another. But it was probably, already, too late to pullout. He had, tacitly by being present already agreed to do it whilst at the same time, he was also in complete ignorance of the facts.     Plus he'd already said to Gerhardt that he would do whatever he could to help.
    ' Two weeks ago a drunkard was brought in to a Militsya station. It turned out that the drunkards name was Goldstein. We have known him for over twenty years, but he was raving drunk. He kept on about how these Kevshor people had ripped him off. Considered opinion thought that a night in the cells would sober him up and in the morning we would see what he had to say. But the fat little weasel was insistent that he wanted to see me. He had something that he wanted to tell me. He would not tell it to anyone else. Goldstein said that the information that he had was explosive, and it was of such a nature that it would blow the lid off this city. He would only entrust this information to me, nobody else. They called me and I said that I'd interview him in the morning and see, for old time's sake, what he had got to say.  Anyway Georgii, something strange happened. In the early hours of the next day, a Cheka unit turned up, saying that they had orders to take our 'Comrade' good friend away.   O.K. nothing wrong with that you might think! But when I got in, in the morning, and found Goldstein gone; I phoned Cheka H.Q. and they knew nothing about a Goldstein, or anything about picking up a Goldstein at four o` clock in the morning.'
    ' So what do you want me to do? Cranks are queuing up outside Militsya stations with all sorts of outrageous stories.  They believe that if they can get arrested they will get three square meals and a bed and lodgings for the night,' Georgii said.
    ' Indeed they do, but there's more. I might have dismissed everything as the ramblings of a drunken, petty crook. But he mentioned the word Kevshor. Kevshor interests me Georgii. It interests me a lot! That name has cropped up all over the place recently. I want you to find out who they are, what Goldstein's link, with them was and what makes them tick. Do you think you can do that for me Georgii,' his mentor said.
    ' Why don't you do it,' Georgii said.
    ' I would love to but my profile is too high. What this needs is a low key enquiry.  'Gerhardt gestured with his hands,' I stick out like a lamp post; you on the other hand are able to work cautiously and discreetly.'
    ' Two days ago I would have agreed with you. But now, since the arrival of Anya Trofimov, I have to be very careful. Yes, it's that Anya Trofimov, thanks for the tip-off and she is running my station!'
    ' But I told you she was coming! So what's it like to be working with Lenin's whore!' he said.
    ' That's the second time, in the last two days, that I've heard her called that!' Georgii said.
    ' Hmmm, that should not cause you any problems. If anything her presence might help your investigations. She can gain you access into otherwise forbidden places. Remember these