The Charm School

Natalia, said, “Will my father be all right?”
    Lisa replied in Russian, “Yes.”
    Suddenly the old woman pushed past her daughter-in-law and granddaughter and hurried into the room, kneeling beside her son, tears falling on his face, her fingers caressing him. “Oh, God, my poor boy. Petr, Petr, God love you, my little one.” Hollis recalled those World War II newsclips of the old babushkas keening over the bodies of their sons and husbands. He thought,
My God, how many Burovs have been carried in the big bellies of these saintly old ladies?
    Alevy said in English, “We can’t take them, and we can’t leave them… .”
    Lisa snapped, “No, Seth!”
    Hollis said to Alevy, “I want Burov to know they’re alive. That could be useful to us later.”
    Alevy nodded. “All right.” He said to Burov’s wife in Russian, “All of you will remain in the house, or the dogs will get you. Some soldiers will be along in a while.” Alevy knelt to pick up Burov, but Hollis pushed him aside and with some difficulty got Burov in a fireman’s carry and took him toward the door, the old woman still caressing him.
    Lisa put her hand on Natalia’s head. “We’re taking him to the hospital. He will be home soon.”
    Burov’s wife and mother tried to follow Hollis down the staircase, but Alevy stopped them. “Don’t worry. Everything will be all right.”
    Lisa and Alevy made their way down the stairs after Hollis. Lisa said to Alevy, “You were kind to them.”
    Alevy didn’t reply.
    The Trans Am was now outside the front door, its hatchback open. Mills got out of the car, and with Hollis, they put Burov in the rear compartment with Dodson. Mills tied Burov’s wrists with a piece of steel flex. Hollis looked down at both battered men: Dodson in his torn warm-up suit, Burov in his blood-splattered pajamas, neither face recognizable. The circle was closing on itself, Hollis reflected, the events set in motion by Dodson’s catapult over the wire were nearing resolution. Hollis said to Alevy, “I’ll drive. Bert, give me your topcoat and hat and get in the back with Lisa.” Hollis put on the KGB topcoat and cap, then slid into the driver’s seat and started the car. Mills and Lisa climbed into the rear, and Alevy got in beside Hollis. Hollis threw the Trans Am into gear and accelerated quickly up the path, through the gate, and onto the dark, curving road.
    They passed the shopping plaza, and Alevy said, “We have twenty-two minutes before Sandman. Lots of time.”
    Lisa said, “Is that it, Seth? We can go now?”
    “Yes. Helicopter’s full.”
    “Damned full,” Hollis added. He stepped on the accelerator and brought the speed up to sixty mph.
    As they approached the headquarters building, a piercing siren cut the air. Alevy said, “I assume that has something to do with us.”
    Ahead they could see the lighted headquarters building with several Zil-6’s in front of it and about a dozen KGB Border Guards milling around. One of them stepped to the side of the road and began waving to Hollis to pull into the parking area in front of the headquarters.
    Hollis put the pedal to the floor, and the headquarters shot by in a blur.
    Alevy said, “What do you suppose that fellow wanted?”
    “I don’t know.” Hollis saw the speedometer climb to ninety mph. They shot past the dark VFW building, and Hollis said, “Watch for the helipad turnoff.”
    Mills commented, “They’re not real sure who’s who or what’s what yet.”
    Alevy said, “Well, I hope they figure it all out after we’re gone.”
    Hollis glanced in his rearview mirror. “Two vehicles coming up.”
    Alevy looked over his shoulder, and his eyes made contact with Lisa’s. He said, “You’re unusually quiet.”
    She smiled nervously. “Thinking about the helicopter.”
    “We’ll be airborne in a few minutes.”
    Hollis said, “They’re still back there.”
    Alevy said to Mills, “Burn them.” He handed his hat to Mills. “Use this.”
    “Right.” Mills took a phosphorus grenade from its Velcro holder on his ankle, set the timer dial at zero, and laid the grenade in the hat. He asked Alevy, “What’s the delay for zero?”
    “Seven seconds.”
    “Right. Could you open your door a crack?” Mills pulled the timer dial out to arm the grenade and counted to four, then pushed the hat out the door onto the road. “Five, six.”
    The lead vehicle, a Zil-6, was about two hundred meters behind them, flashing its lights now and