The Charm School

Dodson was totally chance?”
    “Of course. You heard Fisher on the taped phone conversation. He’s not ours.”
    “And your snooping around here—that was not an attempt to rescue a prisoner?”
    “No. There was only Lisa Rhodes and I. We did that on our own.”
    “You have no contact with any prisoners inside the camp?”
    “No.”
    “With any staff?”
    “No.”
    “Do you have Soviet citizens on the outside who are your agents?”
    “None that have any connection with this camp.”
    “But you do employ Soviet citizens as American agents.”
    Hollis thought it was time to get one point on the board. “Not employ. They don’t take a kopek. They do it because they hate the Communist Party and the KGB.”
    Burov said nothing for a while, then asked, “You’ll give me their names.”
    “I don’t have any actual names. Just code names.”
    “We’ll see.”
    “Why should I tell you anything if I’m going to be shot?”
    “Because being shot is not as bad as what I can do to you.”
    “And I could kill myself before you do
anything
to me.”
    “I don’t think you have any lethal means at your disposal.”
    “I could have pushed that ballpoint pen through my jugular vein. You’re not supposed to give trained intelligence officers things like that.”
    “Ah, yes. The pen. So, you think that as an intelligence officer your brains are too valuable to be blown out?”
    “Perhaps.”
    “Well, then let me ask you something. What do you propose? Intelligence officer to intelligence officer.”
    “My appeal makes that clear. I realize I’m officially dead. I’d rather work here, among my peers, than go to Siberia or be shot. I want Lisa Rhodes with me.”
    “Yes, you are officially dead. I’ll show you the American newspaper accounts. The Center wants you actually dead after your debriefing. But perhaps I can convince them that you and your girlfriend will be an asset here. Perhaps a life sentence here, helping us destroy America, will be worse than death. I’d enjoy that, Hollis.”
    “I know you would.”
    Burov smiled, then said, “I don’t think you defense attachés are as tough as your CIA people. However, if I begin to think that your capitulation is a ruse of some sort, I’ll torture your girlfriend to death. Right in front of you.”
    Hollis didn’t reply.
    Burov walked over to Hollis and looked down at him. “You thought you were quite the man, didn’t you? In the Mozhaisk morgue, then in Lefortovo restaurant, then on the telephone with me. What abuse I took from you.”
    “I had diplomatic immunity.”
    Burov laughed. “Yes, you did. Big shot. Now I can do whatever I please to you.” Burov grabbed Hollis’ hair and yanked his head back. “Look at me, you smug American bastard. You shits in the embassy look down your noses at us, don’t you? I’ve heard some of the tapes of embassy conversations. You laugh at our drinking, you think we don’t bathe enough, you make fun of our women, you joke about Moscow, the food, the housing, and just about everything else about us.” Burov pulled harder on Hollis’ hair. “Do you think you look or smell so good now, you son of a bitch?” Burov released Hollis’ hair and slammed the heel of his hand against Hollis’ forehead. “Do you think your delicate girlfriend looks or smells so good now? Do you think you look so civilized now? What are you without your tailored clothes and your deodorants? You’re nothing, that’s what you are. A Russian can stand more suffering because we don’t start with so much. And because we have more inner strength. You people fall apart as soon as you miss a shower or a meal.” Burov paced around the room, then came to Hollis and barked, “Stand up!”
    Hollis stood.
    “Hands on your head!”
    Hollis put his hands on his head.
    Burov glared at him. “Can you imagine the things I could do to you and Lisa Rhodes? Things that wouldn’t leave a mark on your bodies, but would completely destroy you inside, your humanity, your souls, your minds. Answer me!”
    “Yes. I know.”
    Burov stood off to Hollis’ side and said, “Your girlfriend is a lover of Russian culture. Perhaps she would like a Russian boyfriend. Maybe several dozen of them.”
    Hollis didn’t reply.
    “Did you know that she and Alevy were lovers? Answer me.”
    “Yes.”
    “I told you that your wife has taken up with an English gentleman.”
    “I don’t care.”
    “She’s in Washington now for your funeral. I think