"Yes." Shvernik said. "There are no microphones in here. I absolutely
know. Who are you?"
Paul said, "In the movement they call you Georgi, and you're top man in
the Leningrad area."
Shvernik's hand came up from under the desk and he pointed a heavy
military revolver at his visitor. "Who are you?" he repeated.
Paul ignored the gun. "Someone who knows that you are Georgi," he said
"I'm from America. Is there any chance of anybody intruding?"
"Yes, one of my colleagues. Or perhaps a secretary."
[Illustration]
"Then I suggest we go to a bar, or some place, for a drink or a cup of
coffee or whatever the current Russian equivalent might be."
Shvernik looked at him searchingly. "Yes," he said finally. "There's a
place down the street." He began to stick the gun in his waistband,
changed his mind and put it back into the desk drawer.
As soon as they were on the open street and out of earshot of other
pedestrians, Paul said, "Would you rather I spoke Russian? I have the
feeling that we'd draw less attention than if we speak English."
Shvernik said tightly, "Do the Intourist people know you speak Russian?
If not, stick to English. Now, how do you know my name? I have no
contacts with the Americans."
"I got it through my West German contacts."
The Russian's face registered unsuppressed fury. "Do they ignore the
simplest of precautions! Do they reveal me to every source that asks?"
Paul said mildly, "Herr Ludwig is currently under my direction. Your
secret is as safe as it has ever been."
The underground leader remained silent for a long moment. "You're an
American, eh, and Ludwig told you about me? What do you want now?"
"To help," Paul Koslov said.
"How do you mean, to help? How can you help? I don't know what you're
talking about."
"Help in any way you want. Money, printing presses, mimeograph machines,
radio transmitters, weapons, manpower in limited amounts, know-how,
training, anything you need to help overthrow the Soviet government."
They had reached the restaurant. Leonid Shvernik became the Russian
export official. He ushered his customer to a secluded table. Saw him
comfortably into his chair.
"Do you actually know anything about cameras?" he asked.
"Yes," Paul said, "we're thorough. I can buy cameras from you and
they'll be marketed in the States."
"Good." The waiter was approaching. Shvernik said, "Have you ever eaten
caviar Russian style?"
"I don't believe so," Paul said "I'm not very hungry."
"Nothing to do with hunger." Shvernik said. From the waiter he ordered
raisin bread, sweet butter, caviar and a carafe of vodka.
The waiter went off for it and Shvernik said, "To what extent are you
willing to help us? Money, for instance. What kind of money, rubles,
dollars? And how much? A revolutionary movement can always use money."
"Any kind," Paul said flatly, "and any amount."