Stephen Burke: The Reluctant Contact

‘Nice speech,’ said Yuri. ‘Vladimir Ilyich really does have words of wisdom to suit every occasion. Unless you just made those up. Did you?’

Grigory smiled. ‘Yes, he does. Aren’t we lucky. By the way, I was chilly while you were gone, Yuri. I had to sleep in a chair in my office for two nights.’

‘That’s all sorted now,’ Yuri assured him. ‘You can go back to your own bed. Apologies for any inconvenience.’

‘I’m glad to hear it,’ said Grigory. ‘Funny the way it happened while you were away. A word of advice between friends, with ladder-climbers like Timur around, it is best not to tempt fate too often.’

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ said Yuri.

Grigory smiled and ignored his answer. ‘Have you met Catherine yet?’ he asked.

Yuri turned to find the young English woman standing directly behind him. Up close, her wide blue eyes seemed to hide nothing. And the light sprinkle of freckles on her cheeks, the same colour as her strawberry blonde hair, gave her a childlike quality.

‘No, I haven’t had the pleasure.’

Catherine offered her hand, which was small, but her grip was firm.

‘Pleased to meet you, comrade,’ she said, in quite acceptable Russian.

‘Call me Yuri,’ he said.

He reserved the word ‘comrade’ for people he was annoyed with.

‘Yuri here is a fixer of all things. He has magic hands,’ said Grigory.

Catherine’s eyes widened further, which did not seem possible.

‘Then he is a valuable asset to the Soviet people,’ she said, with a straight face.

Yuri and Grigory grinned at each other. Yuri had not met many foreign Reds. The ones he had, he found to be idealists in love with just that – an idea. One they had never had to live through.

‘He is indeed very valuable,’ agreed Grigory. ‘Precious I’d say. Why don’t you wait for me in my office, Catherine, and I’ll be along there in a moment.’

‘All right,’ said Catherine. ‘I’m sure we will meet again, Yuri.’

‘Nothing is more certain,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to avoid anyone here, even if you wanted to.’

Catherine smiled and walked off in the direction of the administration building.

‘How was Moscow?’ asked Grigory.

‘Same,’ said Yuri. ‘Too many people, too much traffic. I didn’t see much, only the inside of the graveyard.’

‘Your ex-wife come?’

‘Ha. No. She didn’t come, surprise, surprise. It’s better that way, believe me.’

‘You two were in love once, though?’ Grigory asked. ‘Weren’t you? Or have you forgotten?’

Yuri frowned, wondering where this was headed. ‘A distant memory, that’s all. And for such a short time, between fights, I am not sure it can be classed as love.’

‘Shame,’ said Grigory. ‘Too many women is not good for a man. Especially at your age. By the way, while we are on the subject, do me a favour, and stay away from her.’

‘What? You mean the cosmonaut? Where did that come from? I have absolutely no intention. Did she—?’

‘No. She did not say anything. I have just had to deal with the fallout from your affairs too many times. And this one is an innocent.’

‘I can see that,’ said Yuri. ‘Well, thanks for the vote of confidence. Much appreciated, friend. Don’t worry, Miss Innocent is not on my to-do list. What’s she doing here anyway?’

‘She’s writing her university thesis on why the first human settlements in space will have to be communist.’

‘Seriously?’ asked Yuri.

‘I think she has some very interesting arguments,’ replied Grigory.

‘I’ll bet she does. But that still doesn’t explain why she’s here, in Pyramiden.’

‘We were the closest thing she could find to a space-like living environment,’ said Grigory.

‘Well, she’s got that right,’ agreed Yuri. ‘Ice cold and light years away from civilisation. Cosmonaut Katerina. Her application to come here must have been greeted with open arms. I suppose they are going to milk her for publicity.’

‘No one is using anyone. We are going to help her, that’s all. You know some day you are going to drown in that cynicism of yours.’ Grigory walked on.

‘I’m a good swimmer,’ said Yuri. ‘Chess soon?’

‘If I’m free. Just come find me.’

It was true what Grigory had said. Sometimes his affairs had not ended as cleanly as he liked to imagine. One in particular, involving the wife of a miner, had been spectacularly messy. Threats, spousal violence and a couple of kids caught in the crossfire. The experience had made him avoid the extra complications of married women ever since.

For several days afterwards, Yuri and Semyon worked together on the dam system that prevented the town from flooding in the spring thaw. No water was running down the mountain now, but it would as soon as winter was over, and they needed to prepare in advance. The two men rarely spoke for the whole of this time spent in close proximity to one another. When they did it was short and to the point. Yuri didn’t know, or care, what he did in his spare time, but having Semyon around kept him on edge.

After yet another day of sly looks and non-communication, Yuri decided he was spending too much time second-guessing his potential Latvian usurper, and that he needed to think more about himself. It had been four months since he had any female companionship and he resolved to take matters into his own hands the following morning.

Parents were still dropping their children off when Yuri arrived in the school lobby, carrying his metal toolbox. He explained to the headteacher that it was routine for him to check all the systems in every building at least once a year, and today was the school’s turn.

‘But the classes are starting,’ she protested. ‘Couldn’t you come back in the evening when everyone is gone?’

‘Oh no. It’ll take me the whole day at least,’ he argued. And when she was still reluctant, he added, ‘Wouldn’t you rather a little disturbance now, than allow a problem to build up and have to shut down the whole school for who knows how long?’

‘All right,’ she said, with a sigh. ‘I suppose, if you think it’s really necessary.’

‘Don’t worry. You won’t even know I’m here.’

Yuri took a moment to check the electrical fuse box inside the front door, while casting a curious glance down the hall towards the classrooms. He could already hear her voice, addressing her pupils. He had planned to make more of a pretence about his presence here by visiting all the other rooms first. But he decided to hell with that – he wanted to see her straight away. Perhaps she really did have no interest in him, but he was going to aim high until there was a reason not to.

On his way down the corridor, he passed a long line of children’s winter boots. Hanging above them on hooks were their thick winter coats, with gloves dangling from the pockets.

He knocked politely on her classroom door and entered, without waiting for permission.

‘Good morning, Miss Anya,’ he said.

She didn’t reply, just looked at him, waiting for an explanation for his intrusion. He ignored her stare and headed to the back of the classroom, watched by many little eyes. There, he knelt at the radiator under the window. His being in her classroom didn’t seem to disturb her too much; she continued without hardly missing a beat. She was teaching mathematics to a group of ten-year-olds. Her style was direct and no-nonsense. She wasn’t harsh with the kids, but she certainly wasn’t motherly either. Yuri liked that about her. He didn’t trust homemakers any more. He listened to her for as long as he thought he could reasonably stay in the room. When she wasn’t looking he watched her from the corner of his eye. His opinion had not changed. She was the best-looking woman he had ever seen in Pyramiden.