The Forbidden Territory (28 page)

Marie Lou obediently left them. As the door closed behind her Valeria Petrovna drew a chair close to Richard and sat down.

“Listen,” she said, quickly. “I can save your frien’. Stalin, ’e will listen to what I ’ave to say; you can do nothing ’ere, also this girl. Now that she ’as brought my locket, she can do no more. You must leave Russia and take ’er with you in your airplane.”

“She may not want to go,” Richard protested. “Besides, I would rather stay here and see this thing through myself.”

Valeria Petrovna smiled sweetly. “I ’ave understanding, Mistaire Eaton. You are brave, but what good can you do? And this girl—she is in danger, she is ’unted by the police. Please to do as I say and take ’er out of Russia.”

“We’ll ask her and see what she says?” Richard suggested.

“No.” Valeria Petrovna placed a hand on his arm. “Mistaire Eaton, I will make to you a confession—I love your frien’ Simon, and only I can save ’im. Give me a free ’and, then, and take the girl away.”

Richard Eaton was no fool. Valeria Petrovna had made it abundantly clear that whatever her reasons might be she wished to get rid of Marie Lou. He felt that in any case the sooner the girl was out of Russia the better. He dreaded to think what might happen to her if she was caught by the Ogpu after having concealed and assisted his friends. Personally he would much have preferred to go down to Kiev, but Valeria Petrovna said that she could secure the release of the prisoners, so she was obviously the person to be considered at the moment.

“All right,” he agreed. “I’ll clear out and take her with me—that is, if you’re quite certain that you can get Stalin to give my friends their freedom?”

“ ’Ave no fear.” She rose, smiling. “That is settle’, then. I will call’er.”

The situation was explained to Marie Lou; Valeria Petrovna was now all solicitude for the girl. Richard himself urged upon her how little either of them could do, and how much wiser it would be for her to leave Russia at the earliest possible moment.

She looked from one to the other with her big serious eyes. She had no argument to oppose theirs, but somehow she did not trust this beautiful Madame Karkoff. It never occurred to her that she could be regarded as a rival. She did not understand in the least the passionate temperament that was responsible for these sudden changes from imperious anger to honeyed sweetness, and then to suspicious distrust. Had it not been for Richard she would have refused to go, but he was so obviously sincere that she accepted the decision, contenting herself with reminding them that there might be difficulties at the airport, as she had no permit to leave Russia.

“I will arrange,” declared Valeria Petrovna quickly. “The commander of the airport, ’e is a frien’ of mine. We shall say that you are my little cousin, Xenia Kirrolovna from Niji. You travel to your mother, ’oo is ill in Berlin. Your bag ’as been stolen—all your papers are gone—it is urgent, for the mother dies. The Englishman ’as offer’ to take you in ’is ’plane. They will make no difficulty eef I come with you.”

Richard nodded. “That sounds all right, if you can arrange it. When do we leave, tomorrow morning?”

“No, no, at once—this afternoon. You shall eat ’ere. In the meantime I get my clothes.” She clapped her hands loudly and the maid appeared.

“Quickly, Fenya,” she ordered. “Bring food, and tell Vasily to bring the car to the door. After, come to me in my room.”

Marie Lou and Richard made a scratch lunch of ham, cheese and tea. By the time they had finished Valeria Petrovna joined them again, dressed in a smart travelling suit.

“Let us go,” she said at once. “Mistaire Eaton, we
will call on the way at the ’otel for your bags. You, little one, ’ave no luggage.”

As they stood at the door of the apartment she turned to the maid. “I go to the airport, Fenya, after to the Kremlin, then I return ’ere in one ’our, perhaps two. Pack at once, that all may be ready—on my return we leave for Kiev immediately.”

At the aerodrome there was surprisingly little difficulty. Eaton’s passport was all in order. A tall effeminate officer danced attendance on Madame Karkoff. He made no trouble about the little cousin who had lost her papers and was so anxious about her mother. He could not do enough for Valeria Petrovna—bowing, saluting, and twisting his little fair moustache. He even provided extra rugs, which Richard was to return on the Warsaw ’plane.

Marie Lou had been tucked into the passenger’s seat, and Richard was about to climb into the cockpit. He turned to ask a last assurance from Valeria Petrovna.

“You are quite certain that you will succeed with Stalin?”

“Do not worry, Mistaire Eaton. I ’ave a way to make ’im do as I say.”

He nodded. “Where shall I wait for Simon? Warsaw would be best, I think?”

She smiled above her furs. “I would not do that, Mistaire Eaton. You would ’ave to wait a very long time.”

“Why?” Richard frowned.

“Simon cannot leave Russia—’e ’as been to the forbidden territory—’e knows perhaps too much. Stalin would not ’ave that.”.

“But he can’t stay here for ever!” Richard gasped. “There’s his business in London—all sorts of things!”

She shrugged her beautiful shoulders and smiled again. “Why should ’e not?—’is business is not everything. Many people ’ere in Russia ’ave learned to do without their businesses these last years.”

“But he’d be miserable,” Richard protested.

Valeria Petrovna laughed softly. “You are not very
complimentary, Mistaire Eaton—’ave I not told you that I love ’im—also ’e loves me. All right, I shall register with ’im.”

“Register? What do you mean?”

“Marry ’im—as all things are, Stalin would nevaire release ’im—if ’e is to remain in Russia and become my ’usband, that is different—Stalin will not refuse.”

From comparative serenity Richard was thrown into a state of acute anxiety. How would Simon view this extraordinary plan? To give up his life entirely, everything to which he was attached, his active career, with its multitude of interests, and become the lapdog husband of this famous actress; to start life anew in this extraordinary country as a suspect, with principles utterly opposed to those of the State. Of course, Richard reflected, as he caught a glimpse of her beautiful smiling dark eyes, if he loved this woman enough, anything was possible. Besides, Simon was Jewish, and could make a home in any country; exile was never quite so terrible for them. Perhaps Simon would go native, become a Kommissar. With these thoughts whirling through his brain Richard looked once more at the tall dark woman by his side—the problem was too much for him! “Well, you know best,” he said; “but what about De Richleau and Van Ryn? You can’t marry them as well!”

“What of them?” she shrugged again. “They are
saboteurs
both—I ’ave no interest in what ’appens to them—it is for Simon only that I worry.”

“But you promised,” he protested, quickly.

“I promised nothing.” She gave him a sharp look. “Only for Simon—’e is your frien’. Why should you trouble for these others?”

“Look here,” said Richard firmly, “they are all my friends. I don’t know what you meant when you spoke about it in your flat, but I understood that you were going to get them all out of this. If you’re not I won’t go—I’ll stay and do what I can myself.”

“So…” She raised her well-marked eyebrows. “Think again, my frien’—I ’ave but to speak a word to
the officer ’ere—to say I tell the untruth about my little cousin—’e will ’ave ’er arrested quick—’ow will that please you?”

Richard shot a sharp glance in the direction of Marie Lou. The girl was sitting in the ’plane, all unconscious of the subject of the conversation. He knew that he’d been tricked, and he was furious. Yet how could he stand by and see that poor girl hauled off to prison.

“It is time for you to go, Mistaire Eaton,” came the husky voice at his side, “the officer ’e waits that you should depart, or shall I confess to ’im that I ’ave told a lie?” She laughed softly.

There was no alternative, but as Richard stepped towards the ’plane he turned and looked Valeria Petrovna squarely in the eyes. “Perhaps you are right, Madame Karkoff,” he said, with a little smile, “but I wonder if you have ever heard of the old English proverb: ‘He who Fights and Runs Away, lives to fight another day’.”

In a long graceful curve the ’plane left the Moscow airport. It was just before three o'clock, a lovely clear afternoon in early spring. The spires and domes of the ancient Muscovite city spread out below them, the winding river and the open spaces of the parks diminished in size; soon they were left far behind. For the time being Richard put anxiety for his friends out of his mind, and gave himself up to the joy of flight.

About half past seven they came down at Minsk to stretch their legs and eat a snack at the aerodrome buffet. Marie Lou had enjoyed the flight; it had been Rex’s antics to avoid the searchlights at Romanovsk which had made her airsick on her first aeroplane journey. She also had ceased for the time being to worry about the prisoners at Kiev; after the strain of the last few days it was an enormous relief for her to be in comparative safety—she was content to leave all decisions to Richard Eaton.

Richard had taken the precaution to secure a note from Valeria Petrovna’s effeminate friend for the airpark officials at Minsk, so no difficulty was made about their proceeding on their journey. From Minsk it was only some twenty odd miles to the Polish frontier. In the evening light they started on the long stretch over the plain of Grodno, arriving at Warsaw a little before midnight.

They were led at once to the passport office, and it was here that the trouble began. Richard’s passport was all in order, but what of Marie Lou? They were taken before an official in a resplendent uniform with a plethora of gold lace. It seemed that had they come
from anywhere but Russia the matter might have been arranged. The Poles, however, live in perpetual terror of their Soviet neighbours, and the strictest precautions are in force to prevent spies and agitators from entering the country. Richard told the story of the dying mother in Berlin, and the stolen baggage, but in vain. In no circumstances could Marie Lou be allowed to remain in Poland.

Richard asked the decorative gentleman where he thought they were going to sleep?

The man shrugged. “You wish to go to Berlin? Very good, go to Berlin. It is three hundred miles only. You can rest here for an hour and then proceed.”

Richard did not in the least want to go to Berlin! “Perhaps they will make the same sort of trouble there?” he suggested.

The official thought that undoubtedly they would. People could not go entering countries like this, just as they chose, without proper papers.

“But we can’t just go on flying from place to place,” Richard protested. “We must stop somewhere!”

“Undoubtedly,” the man agreed, stroking his carefully curled beard. “One would get tired. The best plan is that you return to Minsk. They will give you there a proper passport for the lady. You can still be in Berlin by tomorrow. One thing is certain—the lady cannot remain here!” He began to gather his papers together.

Richard wished to return to Minsk even less than he wished to go on to Berlin.

“How far is it to Vienna?” he asked at length.

“Three hundred and fifty miles—about, but there, also, it is doubtful if they would let you enter.”

“I’ve got friends there,” Richard replied. “Can I send a telegram or wireless?”

“Certainly, if you wish. Here are forms.”

“Thanks.” Richard addressed a brief wire to: The Honourable G. B. Bruce, Secretary, British Embassy, Vienna, in which he requested that gentleman most
urgently to leave his comfortable bed and meet him at the Vienna air-park between four and five in the morning.

The wire was sent, they had some hot drinks and sandwiches at the buffet, and an hour later set off once more.

“It is a misfortune, this,” said Marie Lou. “We shall not now be able to meet our friends when they arrive in Warsaw.”

“That’s true,” Richard agreed, but he said no more. He had not told Marie Lou that there was no prospect of their meeting their friends anywhere in the immediate future.

Richard was dog tired. It was by far the longest flight he had ever made in one day, but his new ’plane was going splendidly. He thanked the Lord that he had run her in before he left England, and settled down gamely to the last lap. Marie Lou slept most of the way, and had to be awakened when they arrived at last at Vienna.

“Hullo, Dickybird? You’re a fine fellow, keeping a lad from his hard-earned rest till this hour in the morning,” came a voice from the darkness as Richard was helping Marie Lou to alight.

“Hallo, Gerry.” Richard heaved a sigh of relief at finding that his friend was there to meet them. “I’m glad they didn’t pull you out of bed,” he added, as he noticed that Bruce was still in evening dress.

“No, I’ve been to a party, my ancient auk—didn’t get your wire till I got in. What’s the trouble?”

Richard explained as briefly as possible.

The tall, gaunt diplomat loomed over him in the darkness.

“My giddy aunt—you are a lad. Can’t you find enough trouble among the young women in London without picking up bits in Bolsheville?”

“Shut up,” said Richard, in a savage whisper. “She speaks English.”

“Sorry, Dicky,” the tall man apologised. “Hope she didn’t hear; introduce me to the lady, and I’ll see if I
can’t work the oracle with Rupert of Hentzau, there.” Bruce nodded towards a slim-waisted officer who stood some distance away.

The introduction was made, Bruce took Richard’s passport and held a short conversation with the so-called Rupert of Hentzau, there was much laughter between them, and the little officer gave an extra twist to his moustache as he looked at Marie Lou, then Bruce rejoined them.

“All serene,” he announced. “He says you’re a lucky fellow, Dickybird.”

“I—why?” Richard yawned, wearily.

“Well, I had to make up a bit of a story, so I said Madame, was your wife. In fact, I implied in a sort of way, that you were on your honeymoon—doing the round trip—Berlin, Warsaw, Vienna. Little chappie got quite excited about it. I thought it best not to mention Russia.”