The Project 04 - Black Harvest

goal."
    "How do you feel about being here? Working with us?"
    "I'll be blunt. I have mixed feelings." Korov's English was excellent. "I never expected to work with Americans. I was raised to see your country as the enemy. As you were regarding the Motherland."
    She opened a folder on her desk. Turned it so Korov could see. His picture was prominent. The folder contained a full history. Family, education, military service. The date he'd been recruited to Spetsnaz. His assignment to the non-existent Zaslon. Commendations for heroism under fire. Evaluations from superior officers.
    If Korov was surprised, he gave no sign.
    Harker closed the folder. "Your record speaks for itself. You have the skills. My question to you is if you can give us your total commitment."
    "I've been ordered to do so."
    "That's not what I asked."
    "I will do my best."
    Harker waited for the others.
    "We spoke in the elevator," Nick said. "I'm willing to put him in the loop."
    "Likewise." That was Ronnie.
    "Selena?"
    "Yes." She watched Korov. A flicker of surprise on his face.
    "Lamont?"
    He shrugged. "Okay."
    Stephanie nodded.
    "All right. That's settled."
    Korov knew what had happened. He just hadn't expected it.
    "If one of you had said no, would I now be on my way back to Moscow?"
    "You would."
    "This will be interesting."
    Nick couldn't resist. "You can count on it."

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

    "Tell them about Adam, Nick."
    "Who's Adam?" Lamont asked.
    He briefed them, leaving out the part about the Pentagon. It was up to Harker to tell Korov or not. Nick had given her the full story earlier.
    "You have no idea who Adam is?" Harker said.
    "No. Whoever he is, he's got power, he's got money and he's playing his cards very close. The voice was disguised. I think Adam is a man. Just something in the way he spoke. I could have refused to get in the car. Nothing would have happened."
    "You sensed no threat?"
    "No."
    "Do you think he was giving you accurate information about Demeter?"
    "Yes."
    Korov said, "I will have to pass this to Vysotsky."
    "You can call him now, if you like."
    "Here? Right now?"
    "Yes. I told Yakov I'd let Vysotsky know immediately if we learned what Demeter was."
    Korov nodded. "You continue to surprise me. You have the number?"
    She picked up her phone, dialed. A short pause while the signal relayed across the world. In Moscow, Vysotsky picked up.
    "Da."
    "General, this is Director Harker. Major Korov would like to speak with you."
    Elizabeth smiled inside. She didn't think Vysotsky would have expected that. She handed the phone to Korov.
    "I will speak in Russian."
    "Feel free."
    Korov began talking. Selena listened. She spoke Russian. If Korov knew it, he didn't care. He paused, listened. He said "Da" several times. Even Nick knew that meant yes. Korov gave the phone back to Harker.
    "He wants to speak with you."
    Harker put the call on speaker. She'd decided full transparency might build trust. She wanted Korov to see she played it straight.
    "Director Harker. We meet, so to speak. What do you intend to do?" Vysotsky's English was accented but quite good.
    "Now that we know what and where it is, we are going to destroy Demeter."
    "Time is running out." The speaker hissed in the background. "When do you plan this operation?"
    "Two nights from now. I need to get the logistics together and the team on site."
    "What about Lodge?"
    "Our primary concern is Demeter. After we take care of that, then Lodge."
    "Major Korov will be part of the strike unit?"
    "Definitely. His experience will be valuable. There may be resistance."
    "Arkady is used to that." A pause. "Good hunting."
    Elizabeth set the phone down.
    "Let's talk about the mission. Steph, bring up the objective."
    Steph tapped keys at her console. A live satellite picture came up on the big wall screen.
    Harker swiveled toward the monitor. "This is Dansinger's compound in Texas. He grows experimental crops in those large buildings."
    The live satellite picture was stationary, clear and detailed. A state highway paralleled the complex to the north. A straight, blacktop road ran south for about a quarter of a mile from the highway to the main gate of the compound. The compound itself was several hundred acres in size, rectangular, with the long sides on the east and west. The entrance by the gate was the only way in.
    A high fence went completely around the property. Low shrubs and landscaping split the center of the compound east and west. Looking south from the highway,