Part 10 (1/2)

”Perhaps I'm an exception.” Hank didn't like this at all. The C.I.A.

men had been of the opinion that the KGB was once again thoroughly checking on every foreigner.

”If the KGB is already onto you, Henry Kuran, then you might as well give up. Your mission is already a failure.”

”I suppose so. Will you have a chair? Can I offer you a drink? My roommate has a bottle of Stolichnaya vodka which he brought from the boat.”

There was an amused light in her eyes even as she shook her head.

”Your friend Paco is quite a man--so I understand. But no, I am here for business.” She took one of the armchairs and Hank sank into another opposite her.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

”The committee has decided to a.s.sist you to the point they can.”

”Fine.” Hank leaned forward.

”Tomorrow your Progressive Tours group is to have a conducted tour of the Kremlin museum, Ivan the Great's Tower, and the a.s.sumption Cathedral.”

”In the _Kremlin_?”

She was impatient. ”The Kremlin is considerably larger than most Westerners seem to realize. Originally it was the whole city. The Kremlin walls are more then two kilometers long. In them are a great deal more than just government offices. Among other things, the Kremlin has one of the greatest museums and probably the largest in the world.”

”What I meant was, with the s.p.a.ce emissaries there, will tours still be held?”

”They _are_ being held. It would be too conspicuous to stop them even if there was any reason to.” She frowned and shook her head. ”Just because you will be inside the Kremlin walls doesn't mean that you will be sitting in the lap of the extraterrestrials. They are probably well guarded in the palace. We don't know to what extent.”

Hank said, ”Then how can you help me?”

”Only in a limited way.” She pulled a folder paper from her purse.

”Here is a map of the Kremlin, and here one of the Palace. Both of these date from Czarist days but such things as the general layout of the Kremlin and the _Bolshoi Kremlevski Dvorets_ do not change of course.”

”Do you know where the extraterrestrials are?”

”We're not sure. The palace was built in the Seventeenth Century and was popular with various czars. It has been a museum for some time. We suspect that the Galactic Confederation delegates are housed in the _Sobstvennaya Plovina_ which used to be the private apartments of Nicolas the First. It is quite define that the conferences are being held in the _Gheorghievskaya sala_; it's the largest and most impressive room in the Kremlin.”

Hank stared at the two maps feeling a degree of dismay.

She said impatiently, ”We can help you more than this. One of the regular guide-guards at the facade which leads to the main entrance of the palace is a member of our group. Here are your instructions.”

They spent another fifteen minutes going over the details, then she shot a quick glance at her watch and came to her feet. ”Is everything clear ... comrade?”

Hank frowned slightly at the use of the word, then understood. ”I think so, and thanks ... comrade.” He, as well as she, meant the term in its original sense.

He followed her to the door but before his hand touched the k.n.o.b, it opened inwardly. Paco stood there, and behind him in the corridor was Char Moore.

The girl turned to Hank quickly, reached up and kissed him on the mouth and said, in English, ”Good-bye, dollink.” She winked at Paco, swept past Char and was gone.

Paco looked after her appreciatively, back at Hank and said, ”Ah, ha.

You are quite a dog after all, eh?”