Джеффри Арчер - Heads You Win

The storm of applause and cheering that followed must have been heard in the centre of Saint Petersburg. But like Mark Antony, Alexander knew there was nothing more he could say, as the time had come for him to march onto the battlefield. He had sown the seeds of revolution, and would now have to wait for them to take root. As he quietly left the stage his followers continued to chant, ‘Kar-pen-ko! Kar-pen-ko!’

Standing alone at the back of the crowd was a smartly dressed, heavily built man who didn’t join in the applause. The recently appointed head of the secret service dialled a number on his mobile phone, but had to wait for some time before he heard a voice on the other end of the line.

Donokov held his phone high in the air so his boss could better hear the acclamation of the crowd.

‘I was about to issue a press release,’ said the Prime Minister, ‘expressing my deep sorrow on learning of the tragic deaths of Alexander Karpenko and his family. An heroic figure, who would surely have become our next president, and played a major role in the building of a new Russia, if I recall my exact words.’

‘A little premature, I would suggest,’ said Donokov. ‘But be assured, Prime Minister, it is under control. I shall not make the same mistake a second time.’

‘Let’s hope so for your sake,’ said the Prime Minister as he continued to listen to the exuberant crowd in the background.

‘I am confident,’ said Donokov, ‘that it shouldn’t be too long before you are able to issue a more up-to-date press statement.’

‘That’s good to hear. But I shall still wait until after I’ve delivered the eulogy at the funeral of my old school friend, before I announce I will be standing for president,’ said Vladimir Putin.