Two of them were so drunk they had to be put to bed by porters. One vomited in his bathroom.
How delightful, Kurbsky said. Ive always said, put a peasant in uniform and hes still a peasant. It hardly covers the Russian Federation with glory. The doorbell rang. Answer it.
The manager was so apologetic that it irritated Kurbsky immensely. Of course their behavior doesnt meet the standards the Ritz expects. It doesnt meet the standards I expect. They will be dealt with appropriately when we return to Moscow. As Im due at the Élysée Palace this evening, I must request your indulgence. We are leaving in the morning, as you know.
I apologize for having to bring this to your attention, Monsieur, as I know you are to receive the Legion of Honor from our President this evening.
Kurbsky felt like saying, So what? but contented himself with Your consideration has been all that I would have expected from the Ritz. The manager bowed himself out, and Kurbsky said to Ivanov, In here now, both of them, and dont bother to dress. Bath-robes will do.
WALKING DEAD MEN was an apt description. They both looked dreadful and were experiencing the most appalling hangovers. They stood there in their robes, obviously very ill indeed.
Kurbsky said, You are officers in the GRU, on assignment abroad, in one of the worlds greatest cities. You are representing your country. You are supposed to be showing some pride in the Motherland, and what do you do? Disgrace yourselves, disgrace Russia. You might as well have stood there and urinated against a wall in the Champs-Élysées, and, frankly, you are not fit to accompany me to the Palace this evening.
Please, sir, I dont know what happened, Burlaka croaked. I think there was something in my drink.
The oldest excuse in the world. Get out of my sight, get yourselves downstairs to the Sports Club. See what the saunas and steam room can achieve.
They backed out. Ivanov said, What happens for the rest of the day?
Well, Ive no intention of sitting here on my backside, and according to the rules, youve got to accompany me, which will probably bore you to death. I like art, great art, so the Louvre is a must. I might just allow you a cruise on the Seine or a trip up the Eiffel Tower, but thats it.
FOUR FIRST-CLASS TICKETS on the midnight train for Brest from the Gare du Nord. They are private compartments linked by a door. Each compartment takes two in the sense that you can pull two bunk beds down, but with the connecting door, it will suffice for a party of four. Here are the tickets.
Blériot put them on the table and Monica examined them. Excellent. Well travel in style. There is a restaurant car, I presume?
Yes. I know the train well. It has a kind of faded splendor, and the rolling stock is charming, but old. For example, there is a toilet at each end of the corridor, nothing private.
Hardly the end of the world, Monica said. She turned to Dillon. So, what do we do now?
Go for a walk, see the sights. Does that suit you, Billy?
Absolutely.
Remember you may use my barge as much as you want. Theres a lot of time to fill before your train leaves, and youll need a couple of the restaurant umbrellas. Its not exactly the best time of the year to go walking by the Seine. Ive things to do. Ill see you later. Blériot got up and went.
Theres always the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame.
Been there, done that, Monica said. What about you, Sean?
My dear girl, I used to live in this great city years ago, in the days of my wicked past. I even had a barge like Blériots. He turned to Billy. What about you?
Ive never been to Paris, the Louvre isnt my cup of tea, and Im not into cathedrals. The Eiffel Tower, though, is something I always wondered about when I was a kid.
Right, Dillon said. Well get a cab and go. Afterwards, Ill take you somewhere special.
THEY DIDNT KNOW that they had missed Kurbsky and Ivanov by only forty minutes at the top of the Eiffel Tower. In any case, the visit was something of a non-event because of the rain mixed with mist that draped itself across the city.
I enjoyed Blackpool Tower more, Billy said as they descended in the elevator.
Spoken like a true Englishman, Dillon told him, approached a taxi rank, and in rapid and fluent French told the driver to take them to Quai de Montebello opposite the Île de la Cité.
Now what? Billy demanded.
Wait and see.
A short while later, they parked at the side of a cobbled quay. Whats all this? Monica asked, getting out and putting up an umbrella.
Bateaux mouches, Dillon told her. Floating restaurants. Sail up the river and have a meal and a bottle of wine, see the sights. Its a regular thing. They follow a timetable.
In this bloody weather? Billy said.
If you notice, there are ample deck awnings, and you can sit inside if you prefer.
Dont be a grouch, Billy, it looks like fun, Monica told him.
Two deckhands were about to pull up the gangway, but paused to let them on board. A waiter approached, smiling.
Will you be dining?
If its not too late for lunch, Dillon answered in French.
Of course, Monsieur, we never close. Not too many customers today. Its the time of the year and the weather. Choose where you would like to sit and I will start with a drink for you.
They went up to the upper deck, but the sides were open and the rain was blowing in, so they went back down and found a nice table by the stern window so they could see all the sights as they passed. Dillon and Monica had champagne, grilled Dover sole, and Lyonnaise potatoes, Billy a large bowl of bouillabaisse.
Ive got to give it to you, Dillon, Billy said. This stew is the business. Im really enjoying the whole thing. Notre Dame looks great up there, the barges. Its nearly as good as the Thames.
Monica patted his hand. Theres no answer to that. My fish was marvelous. All Id like now would be coffee.
The waiter, hovering, started to clear the plates. At once, Madame.
Dillon lit a cigarette, passed it to her, and lit another. Theyre French, he said. Nobodys going to throw us off the boat.
How do you think things are going? Billy said. With Kurbsky?
Kurbsky seemed confident in his ability to handle the guard in his room tonight, said Dillon. Considering his military experience, he should be.
I suppose Im just nervous because weve got nothing to do except wait for him at the gate for that midnight train at the Gare du Nord, Billy said.
The waiter brought coffee. Billy asked for English breakfast tea and Dillon a Bushmills whiskey. Monica said, Im still fascinated by the whole venture, the future. I cant get my head round whats supposed to happen to Kurbsky.
Maybe he cant either, Billy said. Well just have to wait and see.
KURBSKY HAD BEEN slightly surprised to discover that the dress for the ceremony was not black tie. The new President had decided to open things up, and business suits were the order of the day. It was five-thirty when Kurbsky finished dressing and examined himself in the mirror in the bedroom wardrobe. Very much as he had done in New York, he wore black and had to confess it looked good. He went and kicked on the door of the connecting room, then went and found his jacket.
Ivanov came in. You wanted me?
How are they?
Obviously better than they were. A long, hard day.
Bring them in.
Ivanov departed. Kurbsky pulled his jacket on, fixed his cuffs, checking himself in the sitting room mirror. Burlaka and Kokonin were obviously revived by the days regime, had tried hard with their appearance, and he knew from what Ivanov had told him that they had put themselves in the hands of the hotels barber.
Have you had a good day?
They looked hunted and didnt seem to know what to say. It was Ivanov who answered for them. They behaved stupidly, but theyve learned their lesson. It wont happen again.
Kokonin said, Never, I swear it.
In the circumstances, Ive decided not to take any further action in this matter, Kurbsky said, and to Ivanov, You will make no report of the affair when we return to Moscow.
Their relief was immediate. Thank you, Comrade, they chorused.
Kurbsky wondered how theyd feel when they discovered hed done a runner. Itd be a blot on their records sufficient to ruin any prospects of advancement in their chosen careers. What would they think of Alexander Kurbsky then?
He said, Come down to the bar. Ill buy you a drink. They were astonished. Come on, we havent got time to waste. He opened the door and went out.
THEY STOOD AT the magnificent bar, and he ordered four vodkas and said, You cant all come with me to the ceremony. Only one aide is allowed to accompany me inside, so two of you have to wait in the limousines. In the circumstances, you will understand that Im choosing Ivanov.
Of course, Comrade, Burlaka said gamely, and glanced at Kokonin.
And the fact that Ivanov spent the whole night obeying my orders and guarding me was, I believe, detrimental to his love life. It wont be the same tonight. You two must sort it out when we get back.
They nodded almost eagerly, and the four vodkas appeared before them. Kurbsky raised his in a toast and surprised them by not mentioning himself.
To the Motherland, and to Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.
He emptied his glass and turned it upside down on the bar and said to Ivanov, Well go now. There is a Mercedes due from the Embassy. Speak to the concierge. He led the way out.
AT THE ÉLYSÉE PALACE, they were checked at the main gate and passed through to the courtyard and parking area. Kurbsky and Ivanov left the others and joined a sizable crowd of people pushing toward the main doors of the Palace.
All life was there, a mixture of uniforms and civilian attire, and the Palace guards in their gorgeous outfits. There was a great hubbub as they went in, chandeliers sparkling over the incredible opulence of it all. A colonel in the dress uniform of the Foreign Legion standing at the entrance to a cordoned-off section of the crowd saw Kurbsky and beckoned.
When Kurbsky approached, he said in English, Mr. Kurbsky, this is an honor. Weve been worried-your embassy was supposed to be in touch an hour ago to confirm you were on the way. Its a good thing I saw you. Is this your aide?