Текст книги "Snow Wolf"

Автор книги: Glenn Meade

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Текущая страница: 32 (всего у книги 34 страниц)

Stanski's voice softened. "Tell me what happened the night I left the orphanage. Tell me what happened afterwards."

Lukin looked at him. There were tears at the edges of his eyes and his voice was thick with emotion.

"Do I have to?"

"I need to know, Petya."

"It's been a long time since anyone called me by that name, it seems strange, from another life. So much of what happen in my past I've locked away. It seemed such a terrible nightmare. Until I read the file, I thought I'd managed to bury it all."

"You have to tell me."

Lukin shook his head. "it won't help. For over twenty years I've tried to forget. And maybe it's better you don't know."

For some reason, Stanski reached over and touched Lukin's hand.

And then Lukin was overcome with emotion. Stanski put his hand gently on his brother's shoulder and said, "Take it easy, Petya."

They sat there for several moments, not speaking, then Stanski said, "Being with you and Katya seemed like the only reality I knew. When I left you both behind that night at the orphanage it felt like I'd lost everything. I had no idea of what happened to you both. And afterwards worse than knowing you were dead. It was my heart out there and there was a hollow where you should have been. I need to know."

Lukin looked away. Towards the city he saw the lights of traffic moving beyond the mist of snow. The scene seemed so normal, and yet the turmoil in his own soul was so extraordinary. He felt a stab of anguish in his chest and turned back. "The night you escaped Katya and I watched you from the window. It was like losing Mama and Papa all over again. The same grief, the same pain. Katya was inconsolable. She loved you, Mischa. You were father and Mother to her.

"It must have been about four in the morning when you escaped. Katya was broken-hearted, she was shaking with convulsions. I couldn't stop her. One of the wardens came to the dormitory and found us. When she discovered you were gone she raised the alarm and put US both in one of the basement cells. Two men came from the Secret police. They demanded we tell them where you had gone. They threatened to kill us if we didn't." His voice shook with anger. "Katya was five years old but they beat her, tormented her, just as they did me-.

"After three or four days went by they told us you were never coming back. Your body had been found on a railway track near the Kiev Station, crushed by a train. Something happened to Katya after that. It was like a light went out inside her. When I looked in her face her eyes were empty. She never knew what that pain seemed like someone cut both of you away. She wouldn't eat or drink. A doctor was sent for, but the doctors who came to the orphanage couldn't have cared less if you lived or died. There were so many orphans, one less didn't matter."

He hesitated. "The next day they sent me to a correction school. From that institution the secret police often picked their recruits. Katya they sent to an orphanage in Minsk and I never saw her again." He looked up. "Only it wasn't an orphanage. It was a special hospital. For special children."

"What do you mean?"

" It was a home for the retarded. The really bad ones were kept in locked cells, chained to their beds like animals. Katya had become so withdrawn they locked her in a cell on her own. But there was nothing really wrong with her except her heart was broken and no one could reach her." Lukin paused. "When the war came and the Germans advanced, Stalin ordered that the inmates of all special hospitals were to be liquidated to conserve food supplies. They took the patients out in batches to the woods and shot them. Katya was one of them."

After a long silence Stanski said palely, "So Katya died because of me."

No, not because of you. Don't blame yourself. You did what you had to."

"If I'd stayed she would have survived."

" No matter what you think, you were right to escape. To have stayed would have destroyed you too. Just like it destroyed me. Not physically, but in spirit. Me, I became the one thing our parents would never have wanted me to become."

Stanski stood. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes tightly, as if the pain of what he had heard was too much to bear. After a long time he looked down.

"Tell me what happened to you. Tell me how you learned the truth. How your people knew about my mission?"

Lukin told him. Stanski just stood there listening, not speaking.

Finally, Lukin said, "You must know now it's impossible to kill Stalin."

"Maybe the impossible appeals to me. Besides, it can still be done.

"How?" Stanski said warily, "First, I need your word you won't betray me. I need to know I can really trust you."

"I'd never betray you, Mischa. Not ever. You have my word. And you trusted me by coming out here. So trust me now."

Stanski thought for a moment. "One of the Tsar's old escape tunnels leads from the Boishoi Theater to the third floor of the Kremlin and comes out near Stalin's quarters. That's my way in."

Lukin shook his head. "You'd be wasting your time. Stalin has moved to his dacha at Kuntsevo because of the threat to his life. And because of this threat it's even more tightly guarded than the Kremlin. Besides, all the secret Kremlin tunnels are also under extra guard. You'd be dead before you got near the place."

Stanski half smiled. "When the cards are stacked against you, reshuffle the deck. There's an alternative plan, A secret underground train line runs from the Kremlin to the Kuntsevo villa. The line is only ever used when Stalin needs to travel in haste or in an emergency. It can be breached near the Kremlin and leads right under the villa."

"I know about the underground train but you can be sure the line is also heavily guarded, especially now. You'd be dead before you got anywhere near Stalin's villa. Besides, there are armed guards everywhere and the woods around it are mined. You'd be committing suicide."

"I knew that from the start. But it's a chance I'm going to have to take,"

"And even if You got close enough, how would you kill him?"

"I'm afraid even you can't know that, brother. But if I do get close enough, I'll make certain Stalin's punishment fits his crimes." Lukin thought for a moment, his brow creased in concentration. "Maybe there's another way into the dacha that stands some chance. Only there's a price to pay,"

"What price?"

"Both our lives."

Stanski hesitated, then shook his head. "Me, I figured on dying anyway. But this isn't your battle."

"You're wrong. It's as much mine as yours. You and I, we're two sides of the same coin. We can both repay everything that happened to us. Stalin has an appointment with death. It's an appointment long overdue, I'm going to make sure he keeps it."

"What about your wife? The child she's carrying? You can't do that."

"I must, And you can't do what I have in mind without me. Your friends might still make it to the border with Lebel. The colonel I told you about, Romulka, may suspect that Lebel's train will be used, and try to stop it. But if things go the way I plan, the entire Moscow KGB will be in chaos and your friends just may get away in the confusion. It's the only chance they have, however small. I'll see to it they get on board safely. Nadia can go with them. After tonight, I'm dead anyway. Staying in Russia, Nadia stands no chance. Going with Lebel, she may make it over the border."

Stanski looked at him intently. "You're sure about this?"

"I've never been more certain about anything in my life."

Lukin paused. His voice became firm. "But one condition. It's best Nadia doesn't know what we're going to do. Or why we're doing it. She'll be confused enough as it is. As far as she's concerned, I caught you, but we've come to a mutual understanding. I've allowed Anna and your friends to escape and you've agreed in return for her to go with them because of the risk to her life. You make sure your friends tell her I'll be joining her later in Finland. Make sure they tell her that. She'll worry less. But you don't tell any of them about our past. They'd never believe it, and things are confusing enough for them as it is."

"So what do I tell them?"

"That I've failed Beria and my life is at risk. And now we've reached an accommodation in return for letting your friends escape."

"You think they'll believe it?"

"I don't see why not. Anna and Lebel know I'm finished after releasing them. They know what Beria's capable of and that Nadia's life would be in danger because of what I've done." He hesitated. "There's something else I want to do before the train leaves. Something important."

"What?"

Lukin told him. Stanski's forehead creased in thought as he sat there in the cold night, as if trying to take it all in. Lukin said finally, "So, brother, do you agree?"

"You know, I never thought I'd be glad I didn't kill you when I had the chance."

Lukin smiled, a sad smile. "Maybe it was fate."

Suddenly Stanski seemed to crumple and his shoulders sagged, a lifetime of hardened anguish peeled away, as if his soul was exposed. He said, "God, Petya ... it's good to see you again."

Lukin put a hand on his shoulder, then embraced him.

As they sat together the snow started to fall more heavily, drifting against the silver birch trees. Beyond the far bank of the frozen river the lights of Moscow were dying slowly. The whole city seemed to be growing still in the cottony silence.

After a long time Stanski seemed to compose himself, wiped his face, looked across at Lukin and asked, "So tell me, how do we kill Stalin?"

Henri Lebel sat uncomfortably at the window of the deserted station house outside Moscow, smoking a cigarette and staring out worriedly beyond the thickly falling snow.

The man who stood beside Lebel was painfully thin and had a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. He wore a greasy cap and a train driver's overalls under a filthy overcoat, and there was a troubled expression on his face as he wiped his hands with an oily rag.

A train stood waiting on the tracks outside, its black paintwork muddied, a limp plume of smoke rising from its funnel.

The man said, "For a while there you had me worried, Henri. When I didn't get your call yesterday as we arranged I phoned your hotel. They said you hadn't arrived in Moscow. Then you call me at the last minute and tell me everything's still on as we agreed. And now I find you hobbling about like you need crutches. Mind telling me what's going on?"

Lebel was barely enjoying his first smoke in three days. Lukin had given him another shot of morphine, and the pain in his crotch had subsided, replaced by a feeling of numbness. But he was barely able to walk, and really he needed rest and a decent doctor. But both would have to wait for now. He brushed a fleck of ash from his sable coat and turned to the man.

"Forget it, Nicolai. Let's just say I had a rather unpleasant experience, but I'm here now," He looked at the cheap makkorka cigarette with distaste. "You could have found me something better than this Bolshevik firecracker."

"They're good enough for me."

"With the money you earn from me you ought to be smoking Havanas. What time is it?"

The man consulted his watch. "Almost one. Your friends are cutting it a bit fine. You're sure they'll come? If they don't they'll save us both a lot of bother."

Lebel fixed him with a stare. "They'll come. Just don't forget our agreement."

"Hey, have I ever let you down? But whether they appear or not, I still get my money, that was what we agreed."

"You'll get your reward, Nicolai. Just as soon as the goods are delivered."

At that moment the headlights of a car swept up to the right of the station house and Lebel's heart skipped. Stanski stepped out of' the BMW, followed by Lukin, still wearing his KGB uniform.

When Nicolai saw the uniform the cigarette dropped from his mouth and he said with horror, "On Lenin's life ... what the fuck's going on?"

"Nothing for you to worry about. Relax, Nicolai, your passengers have arrived."

"Relax? In case you hadn't noticed, that's a KGB uniform your friend's wearing." Lebel said wearily, "Help me up." Nicolai eased him to his feet and the Frenchman said, "Wait here."

He opened the station house door and hobbled out. He hadn't gone very far when Stanski crossed the platform to meet him and said, "Everything's in order?"

"I haven't told the driver about our new arrangement yet. I thought it best to wait until you came. Something tells me Nicolai isn't going to like it. How has Major Lukin's wife taken the news?"

Stanski glanced back toward the car where Lukin was helping the other passengers out. His wife took his arm shakily as she stepped from the car clutching a single small suitcase, looking totally lost.

"She's bewildered to say the least, and upset. But that's to be expected."

At that moment they heard a door bang and the train driver came marching across the platform toward Lebel.

"Henri, what the fuck's going on here ... ?"

Stanski said briskly, "A change of plan. You have two extra passengers."

The driver's face turned red with anger and he glared at Lebel. "This wasn't our agreement. Two was the limit. You want to Get me put up against a wall?"

"Nicolai, I'm afraid the situation's changed."

"You can say that again. The deal's off. No way do I go along with this." Lebel said, "Listen to me, Nicolai. The only way you're going to get your money is to take the extra people along. Besides, I'll see there's a bonus in it for you."

."it wasn't what we agreed. And our lives are on the line quite enough as it is. I may never get to spend the money. Don't fuck with me, Henri. I haven't got the time or the patience. The train's already behind schedule. I take two people, no more, take it or leave it. What do you think I'm running here, a fucking wooden horse of Troy?"

"Ten thousand rubles more as soon as everyone's safely over the border. I guarantee it. That's a lot of champagne and underwear for your girlfriend in Karelia."

Nicolai seemed to hesitate, then he looked over at the green BMW as the uniformed KGB major ushered more passengers out of the back, but in the slanting snow the driver couldn't see their faces.

"Who are they?"

"Your passengers, that's all you need to know. Three women and a child."

"This is starting to sound like a widows and orphans outing. Children are trouble. What happens if the border guards decide to take a look at the carriage and the kid starts crying?"

"if you've done your job and bribed them as usual, they shouldn't. Besides, the child will be given a sedative. She'll sleep all the way through."

Nicola looked doubtful and shook his head. "It's still too big a risk." He jerked his chin at Stanski. "And who might this be?"

Stanski produced a KGB identity card from his pocket and flashed it at the driver.

"Someone who's about to save your life, comrade." He looked over toward the BMW, as Lukin led the others toward the platform. "The man you see over there is a colleague of mine, Major Lukin." Stanski paused for effect. "He knows all about your little smuggling operation. In fact, until Monsieur Lebel and I intervened, he wanted to arrest YOU."

Nicolai turned even paler and looked at Lebel in alarm. "You bastard. You said I had nothing to worry about."

You don't so long as you do as you're told," Stanski interrupted. "One of the passengers is an agent of ours we want transported to the west. You leave her behind and I personally guarantee to have you up against a wall and shot before morning.

Nicolai's face drained completely of color as he looked helplessly at Lebel.

Lebel said, "It's true, I'm afraid."

"Then tell me exactly what's going on." Stanski said, "That's a matter of state security and none of your business. You'll proceed as normal with the transport and give no indication, as usual, of your hidden cargo. Fail us, and you'll suffer the consequences. You think you can do that?"

Nicolai crumpled and sighed. "I don't have much choice, do I?"

Stanski turned and crossed the platform smartly toward the others.

Lebel said, "Relax, Nicolai. Look on the bright side."

"Which is?"

"Now you're working for the KGB."

Stanski stood on the platform, Lebel beside him as they watched Nicolai slide open the door of one of the goods trucks. He stepped inside carrying a steel crowbar and a bag of tools.

Lebel said, "It shouldn't take him long to loosen the floorboards. He's already vented the wood so they won't suffocate. Your friends will be able to come out once we have a clear run to the border, but they'll have to go back in hiding before we cross the checkpoint. That is, assuming we make it that far."

"Give me a cigarette."

Lebel handed Stanski a cigarette and looked over at the group huddled on the platform beside the open carriage. Lukin was embracing his wife and Lebel saw that the woman was crying. Next to them Anna Khorev was holding her daughter tightly in her arms as irena fussed over the child.

Lebel said, "Your lady-friend I know about, but who's the little girl?"

Stanski struck a match against one of the station pillars and lit his cigarette. "Her daughter. The child was in a KGB or phanage. Major Lukin just forged Beria's signature to release her." Lebel said palely, "My God, this gets worse by the minute."

"After what happened tonight it's hardly going to matter much."

"Let's hope you're right."

"You did the favor I asked?"

Lebel took a set of car keys from his pocket and handed them to Stanski. "All I could manage was a blue Emka van.

One of my contacts from the Trade Ministry who owed me a favor left it parked and waiting where you said. He won't report it stolen until tomorrow morning."

"Thanks. What about the train? Can you manage that too?"

"Slightly more risky. We halt at a station named Klin, an hour out from Moscow, to hook on a cargo of coal for Helsinki.

That shouldn't take more than an hour. Nicolai ought to be able to stretch it to two taking on water for the engine and attending'

to some imaginary repairs, but he won't be able to delay much longer than that. Otherwise, the railway authorities may get Suspicious. So if you're going to join us, I suggest you don't delay.

"Try to stretch the halt as long as you can." Lebel said glumly, "I think we've stretched matters quite far enough as it is, don't you?"

Stanski tossed away his cigarette. "Cheer up, Henri. You're still breathing. It could be a lot worse."

"After this, I'll never see Moscow again. Not that I ever want to. I suppose there's some compensation if Irena is free, if we live long enough to enjoy it. Do you really think we'll still make it to Helsinki?"

"It's a chance worth taking when you consider the alternative."

Lebel frowned. "May I be permitted an observation? After four years in the French Resistance, a man gets to know when he's being sold a stinker. And something definitely stinks about this whole arrangement. I suppose it's no use asking what's really going on between you and Lukin?"

"No use at all."

Lebel shrugged and nodded toward the train. "It seems you have a farewell in store, my friend. I'd better see what's keep ing Nicolai."

As Anna handed her daughter to lrena and came toward them, Lebel shuffled toward the train.

Then Anna's arms were around Stanski's neck and she pulled him to her tightly.

"What Lukin did, I don't know how to thank him."

"Look after his wife, that'll be thanks enough."

She looked into his face. "You and Lukin aren't really going to join us later, are you?"

"Oh, I don't know about that."

She studied him, her eyes wet. "That's a lie, Alex, and you know it. Please ... it's not too late to change your mind."

"Far too late, I'm afraid."

And then her lips were on his and he heard her sobbing. Finally he broke away. For a long time he looked at her face, then his hand brushed against her cheek. "Take care, Anna Khorev. I wish you a long life and happiness with Sasha."

"Alex please ... ! Come with us!"

The train suddenly whistled and Lebel appeared and said, "Another minute and I'll be in tears myself. Nicolai's ready to go. Let's move, my friends, this isn't the Gare du Nord."

The steam engine seemed to burst into life, gave another shrieking whistle, and Stanski took Anna's hand and pulled her toward the train.

Lukin helped Lebel up beside the driver, then got the others on board. A final look passed between them all; Stanski and Anna, Lukin and Nadia, and then lrena slid the carriage door and bolted it shut.

Lebel gave a wave from the engine. "So long, comrades. With luck, maybe we'll all live to crack a bottle of champagne in Helsinki."

Stanski saw a terrible look of anguish on Lukin's face as he stared grimly at the carriage, and then the train whistled again and started to move. Lukin touched the carriage door with his hand as it pulled away from the platform, as if reluctant to let it go, and then the engine picked up speed and the carriage slid away.

Stanski said, "You said your goodbye?"

"As best I could under the circumstances."

"How did Nadia take it?" Lukin said grimly, "I don't think she believed me when I told her I'd see her again. But she knows what she's doing is for the best. And for our child. On my way to pick up Anna's daughter I called at the Leningrad Station. I showed Beria's letter to the duty official in charge of the railway lines to Helsinki and told him to keep the lines clear for Lebel's train.

Under no circumstances was it to be deliberately stopped or delayed, otherwise he'd face Beria's wrath and a firing squad. Let's hope he does what I tell him. All we can do is hope by some miracle they all survive." He looked around, agony in his face. "A terrible world we live in, brother, but there you have it. And Anna? Something passed between you and her, didn't it?"

Stanski shrugged. "Another time, another place, and under different circumstances, who knows what might have come of it? But too late now."

He paused, then there was a hint of remorse in his voice. "But it's still not too late for you to change your mind."

Lukin shook his head. "This is for Katya. For our parents. For us.

Stanski touched his arm. "We'd better go. There isn't much time.

It was still snowing as Lukin pulled up across the street from the side entrance to KGB Headquarters.

As he switched off the engine he turned to Stanski and said, "Give me fifteen minutes. If I haven't showed up by then get away from here as fast as you can. Ditch the car and go to the nearest Metro. After that I'm afraid you'll have to make your own way to Kuntsevo, as you planned."

Stanski nodded toward the KGB building. "You'll be taking a risk going in there. Is it really necessary?"

"I need to know if Pasha's safe. I want him to leave Moscow, otherwise after everything we've done is discovered he'll be guilty by association and doubtless he'll be shot. There's a train leaving for the Urals in under two hours and I want him on it with a false set of papers. They'll never find him among his own people."

Lukin glanced over at the building. The double oak doors were open, and another glass door led to a hallway beyond. The lights were on and the uniformed guard on duty sat behind a desk in the hall.

"Besides, you're going to need a KGB uniform for what we're planning to do. There's also an important phone call to make, remember?"

Stanski nodded. "Good luck."

Lukin climbed out of the car, crossed the street and went in through the side doors. Stanski watched the guard check his papers before Lukin stepped into an elevator in the hall and was gone.

As Stanski sat in the car he reached anxiously for a cigarette and lit one, then glanced over at the dead body lying on the backseat.

Jake Massey's lifeless eyes stared back at him.

The fourth floor was empty and the office was in darkness.

Lukin stepped into the room and closed the door. He flicked on the light switch. The room flooded with light and he heard the voice at once and turned.

"Welcome back, Lukin. So kind of you to join us."

Romulka stood by the window, a Tokarev in his hand. Two brutal-faced plain-clothes KGB men stood in front of Pasha's desk. They held rubber truncheons. Pasha was tied down in a chair with leather straps binding his arms and legs, his face bloated and bloodied almost beyond recognition. One of the men had his hand over his mouth and as he released it Pasha gurgled with pain and his swollen eyes rolled in their sockets.

Lukin's heart sank. "What's the meaning of this?"

Romulka stepped forward. "Don't fuck with me, Lukin, it's far too late for that. Remove your pistol and place it on the desk. Nice and easy. Or I'll be tempted to take your head off before Comrade Beria has the pleasure of dealing with you."

Lukin removed his Tokarev and placed it on the desk.

Romulka crooked a finger. "Come closer, away from the door."

As Lukin stepped forward, Romulka slammed his fist into his jaw. Lukin fell back against the wall but Romulka moved in smartly and jerked his knee savagely into Lukin's groin.

As he slid to the floor, Romulka stood over him, his hands on his hips.

" I can't understand it, Lukin. I credited you with some brains. Did you really expect to get away with what you did tonight? Preventing me from catching the American? Releasing the woman and taking the child from the orphanage? You must think I'm a fool."

A trickle of blood ran down Lukin's chin. "No, just a callous, brutal bastard."

Romulka lashed out with his boot and it smashed into Lukin's thigh.

"Get up, traitor!"

When Lukin didn't move, Romulka yanked him savagely by the hair and hauled him into a chair. He stared into his face. "You know what I don't understand, Lukin? Motive. But there must be an explanation. There always is. And you're going to give it to me."

He replaced the pistol in his holster and the riding crop appeared. Without warning it swished through the air and struck Lukin a stinging blow across the face, As he jerked back in pain, Romulka grabbed him by the hair again.

"A small debt repaid. But nothing to the debt you're about to be repaid by Beria. Interesting to know that your wife isn't at home, Lukin. I had my men stop at your apartment half an hour ago. No doubt you thought she'd be safer elsewhere. But don't you worry, we'll find her. And you know what I'll do to that bitch wife of yours when we throw her in a cell? Screw her until she can't walk." He leered. "Of course, cooperate and you may find me a little more lenient. What have you been playing at, Lukin?"

"Go to hell," Lukin spluttered.

The muscles tightened in Romulka's face. "You had your little yellow friend here tie us up nicely until you got away, didn't you?

Unfortunately, he hasn't been much help either. But then perhaps we haven't tried hard enough to loosen his ton ue." He nodded to the two men standing over Pasha.

Show Lukin what he and his bitch wife can expect in the cellars."

One of the men grinned and slapped the rubber truncheon in his hand. It swished through the air and struck Pasha savagely across the face. The Mongolian screamed in agony as again and again the rubber struck, his head tossing from side to side with the force, until his face was a bloodied pulp.

Lukin screamed, "No!" The beating went on until finally Romulka said, "Enough."

He put the barrel of Lukin's pistol hard against Pasha's temple.

"Something else I discovered. This yellow bastard was seen sniffing around the records office. That's off limits without a permit." He grinned. "A man could get himself killed for sticking his nose where he shouldn't. I wonder what he was up to? One last chance, Lukin. Either you talk, or I blow this yellow bastard's brains out here and now."

Pasha seemed barely conscious, his eyes unable to focus, a froth of blood on his mouth. Then suddenly a gurgling sound came from his throat and with a burst of rage he came to life.

"Tell him nothing, Yuri ..." His bloodied face stared up at Romulka, his voice a hoarse whisper. "You ... go ... fuck yourself ..."

Romulka's face erupted in rage and the Tokarev came up so fast Lukin could barely react. The weapon pressed into Pasha's temple, the hammer clicked, and the gun exploded.

Pasha's head snapped sideways with the force, his body suddenly limp like a rag doll's, blood spattering the walls as the bullet tore into his skull.

Lukin roared, "NO!"

As he tried to struggle from the chair the two men held him down.

Romulka turned to him and the gun came up hard and struck him below the jaw, sent him reeling back, then Romulka pressed the barrel painfully hard into his forehead. "Now it's your turn, Lukin. You're going to talk if it's the last thing you do." He put the pistol down and picked up the riding crop and said to the men, "On the desk with him. Pull down his trousers.

He produced what looked like a pair of pliers from his pocket and said to Lukin, "A little implement even the Frenchman couldn't resist. Only in your case, I assure you you'll never walk again. And I can't tell you how much I'm going to enjoy this."

As the two men dragged Lukin onto the desk, a voice said, "I really wouldn't do that."

Romulka and the men turned at once. Stanski stood in the open doorway, the silenced Nagant in his hand.

It happened quickly. One of Romulka's men went to reach for his pistol and Stanski shot him in the eye. As the man reeled back a second shot hit him in the neck, shattering his windpipe, cutting off the scream in his throat.

As the man spun, the second man lunged forward and Stanski fired twice, hitting him in the throat and chest.

Stanski was already reacting as Romulka started to reach for his weapon, but Lukin shouted, "NO! He's mine."

He lunged just as Romulka grabbed for the gun, pushed him back against the wall. His arm came up and the metal claw dug hard into Romulka's chest. The man's eyes opened wide in horror as Lukin's hand went over his mouth to stifle the scream.

Lukin stared into his face. "Have a nice time in hell, you bastard."

He withdrew the claw and stepped back as Romulka slid down, a fountain of blood gushing from the gaping wound in his chest.

Lukin stared at Stanski in disbelief. "How the hell did you get in here?"