The Charm School

poach them in sour cream.”
    Hollis didn’t think so. He said, “I shake your hand.”
    “And I yours.” Surikov added, “Safe journey west. I will see you in London.” He turned and walked back into the cemetery.
    Hollis looked at the wrapped carp, slipped it into his pocket with the candle and the pistol, and headed toward the gate church. About ten yards from the church, someone tapped him on the shoulder and asked in Russian, “What’s in that package?”
    Hollis gripped the 9mm automatic, pointed it through his coat pocket, and spun around.
    Seth Alevy asked, “What did he give you?”
    “Carp.”
    “Oh. I grew up on carp. Very Jewish and Russian. I hate the stuff.”
    Hollis turned and continued toward the gate church.
    Alevy fell into step beside him. “I thought you said the meeting was for four.”
    “I was going to tell you when I got back that I remembered it was earlier.”
    “I thought it might have been. Where’s Lisa?”
    “At the bell tower.”
    They walked through the arched passage into the convent grounds. The drizzle was turning to light rain. Alevy asked, “Did we get lucky?”
    “We hit the jackpot.”
    “The Charm School?”
    “Yes. The KGB, incidentally, calls it the American Citizenship School.”
    “How is Surikov involved with that?”
    “I’ll tell you later. Are we covered?”
    “Well, I’m covering you, and you’re covering me. I couldn’t call out the troops again like I did at Lefortovo. The KGB tripled their embassy stakeout, and they’re looking for a confrontation. I snuck out in the van going to the Finnish dacha. If I had any brains, I’d have gone there and gotten laid.”
    “Why didn’t you? Nobody asked you to come here.”
    “I wanted a look at Surikov.”
    “You’ll meet him soon enough.”
    They kept walking quickly up the tree-lined path, toward the bell tower. Alevy said, “The other reason I came is that we got a communication this morning from the Soviet Foreign Ministry. They’ve revoked your diplomatic status. And Lisa’s.”
    “I see.” Hollis added, “Thanks for coming then.”
    “According to international law, your immunity is now good only between the embassy and a point of departure from the country. Therefore, your ass is hanging out here. So is hers, obviously.”
    “Sort of like going vampire hunting and losing your cross,” Hollis observed.
    “Sort of. I assume you have your wooden stake though.”
    “Yes,” Hollis said. “You nearly got it through your heart.”
    They came out into the paved square on the far side of which rose the bell tower. Hollis didn’t see Lisa. They crossed the open square walking normally so as not to attract attention. The rain was heavier now, and the strollers were disappearing. They reached the base of the bell tower, then split up and circled around it.
    Alevy snapped, “God damn it!”
    “Relax, Seth. She’ll be along.”
    Alevy turned to him, and Hollis saw he was not going to relax. Alevy pointed his finger at Hollis and said irritably, “You shouldn’t have brought her here!”
    “Hey, hold on. She wanted to go to church here, and she can do—”
    “Oh, don’t give me that shit. This is not a fucking lark, Colonel, or an ego trip for you two. This is Moscow, buddy, and—”
    “I know where the hell I am. And I’ll run my operations my way.”
    “I should have had both of you shipped out a week ago. You’ve caused more problems—”
    “Go to hell.”
    Alevy and Hollis stood very close, then Alevy turned and began walking across the square. He called back, “I’ll wait at the main gate for fifteen minutes. Then I’m leaving, with or without you, her, or both of you.”
    Hollis followed Alevy into the square. “Hold on.” He walked up to Alevy. “Listen, in case I don’t get back to the embassy—you have an appointment with Surikov. The antique shop on Arbat. Tomorrow at nine A . M . He has microfilmed personnel files of all the Charm School students, past and present. Three thousand, Seth.”
    “Jesus… three thousand… how the hell did he get that information?”
    “He’s the G-I for the entire Red Air Force.” Hollis explained briefly and concluded, “I gave him my word that we’d get him and his granddaughter out. You understand? Don’t fuck around with that, Seth. You get them out.” He stared at Alevy.
    Alevy nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”
    “Now get out of here.”
    Alevy hesitated. “I’ll wait at the gate.”
    “No. You get