Tom Smith: Agent 6

Austin’s expression grew increasingly sour. He was no longer speaking. His hands were deep in his pockets, his shoulders slumped, while all around him customers behaved like a flock of magpies, swooping from aisle to aisle, picking up anything that caught the light. Leo glanced in one shopping basket to see three red apples, a single beetroot and a tin of processed ham, an unlikely set of requirements for any shopping excursion.

Austin broke free from the clump of officials, once again approaching Leo. He’d evidently decided Leo represented the ordinary man. Perhaps it was his coarse uniform and gruff reticence – during the car ride here Leo had said almost nothing, in contrast to the incessant pitter-patter flattery of the official. Austin put a hand on Leo’s shoulder.

– I feel I can talk with you, Comrade Demidov.

– Of course, Mr Austinto maint

– Everyone wants to show me the best. But I just want to see the ordinary stores, where ordinary folks shop. Is there something more ordinary around here? You can’t seriously be telling me every store is like this one? Is that what you guys are telling me?

Leo felt the pressure of his question like a hand tight around his heart. He answered:

– Not all are the same. We are in the centre of town. This store might have a better range than a village store.

– I’m not talking about a village store. I’m talking about an everyday store. You know? This can’t be the only place in town?

– There are other shops.

– Within walking distance?

Before Leo could answer the officials hurried over, keen to divert their guest back towards their displays. They still had things to show him – fresh bread, the finest cuts of ham. Austin raised his hand, as if to keep them at bay. His mind was made up.

– My friend is going to take me on a walk. He’s going to take me to a smaller store, you know, one that’s a little more… ordinary.

The officials glared at Leo as if the suggestion had been his. Their survival instincts were acute. Suddenly the two other teams of agents pushed forward, addressing Leo.

– That is out of the question. We must stick to our itinerary, for security reasons.

Austin raised an eyebrow and shook his head.

– Security? Are you serious? I’m not in any danger here, am I?

They were trapped. They could hardly claim that they couldn’t protect him on the streets of their capital. Austin smiled.

– I know you got rules and regulations. I know you got things you want to show me. But I want to be able to explore, OK? I insist. You hear that? I’m insisting.

He laughed to soften the order but it was an order nonetheless. They were under instructions to do as their guest requested. From the way the others were looking at Leo it was clear that he was going to be blamed.

Leo led the group out of the store, appointed head of this expedition in search of the ordinary. Austin was by his side, his mood already improving as they trampled through the thick snow. Leo glanced back to see the officials in animated conference by the store’s grand doors as a new influx of carefully down-dressed, scraggy shoppers in cheap coats arrived to find the show was over. The party officials didn’t understand what Austin wanted to see but they knew it wasn’t long queues and poorly stocked stores. Since they were under strict orders to accommodate Austin’s every whim they could hardly intervene.

Austin put a friendly hand on Leo’s back.

– Tell me a little about yourself.

Leo had no desire to talk about himself.

– What would you like to know?

Appearing out of nowhere, one of the officials joined them, having evidently overheard their conversation.

– Leo Demidov is one of our bravest officers. He fought heroically during the war and was awarded numerous commendations. Please, Mr Austin, where is it you would like to be taken? Perhaps you could take some tea while we make preparations?

Austin was annoyed at the interruption, ignoring the notion of tea, a crude attempt to stall for time, and addressed Leo.

– What do you do now, Comrade Demidov?

Leo believed in his work as an agent. Communism faced dangers from many sides. It needed to be protected. However, it was much too complex an issue to go into now. He simply said:

– I’m a police officer.

Leo hoped the questions were at an end. But Austin continued:

– Is there a lot of crime in the city?

– Not crime as there is in America. There are no murders or theft. I deal with political criminals, conspiracies against the State.

Austin was quiet for a moment.

– Fairness has many enemies, am I right?

– Yes, you are.

– I’ll wager your job can be difficult.

– Sometimes.

– It’s worth it, my friend. It is worth it.

They’d danced around the edge of this dark subject. Leo was thankful for Austin’s discretion. The conclusion of the conversation seemed to require a long silence, a pause. Jesse Austin eventually broke the silence, opting for a lighter topic.

– No more serious questions. What do you like to do for fun? A handsome man like you, you must be married?

Embarrassed at being called handsome, and at being single, Leo blushed.

– No.

– But why not?

– I don’t know…

– But there’s someone you love, isn’t there? Surely there’s someone? There’s always a love story, right?

The question implied it was simply unthinkable that a person could be without love. Leo was desperate to move the conversation on. A lie was the easiest way to do it.

– There is someone. We met recently.

– What does she do?

Leo hesitated, thinking back on Lena’s pile of schoolbooks:

– She’s a teacher.

– Bring her to the concert tonight!

Leo gave a small nod of his head.

– I will ask her. She is often very busy. But I will ask her.

– Please, bring her.

– I will try.

They’d walked for inutes, down side streets, off the main road. An official tugged Leo’s arm, smiling broadly to conceal his agitation.

– Are we walking anywhere in particular?

Before Leo could reply, Austin saw the queue. He raised his hand, pointing to a line of customers snaking outside a small grocery store. Grigori ran ahead, assessing the store. There were at least thirty men and women. Many of them were elderly, their ragged coats dusted with snow. Grigori looked at Leo with alarm. The crowd turned and stared at the unlikely visitors, an MGB agent and a well-dressed American celebrity – perhaps the most famous American singer in the USSR, one of the few that the media was allowed to promote.

Leo turned to Austin.

– Wait here. Let me see what the problem is.

Leo hurried to Grigori’s side to hear him whisper:

– They haven’t opened yet!

Leo banged on the store window. The manager scuttled out of the back room, unlocking the door. Before Leo could utter a warning, Austin was by his side.

– They open a little later here?

Despite the cold, Leo’s shirt had become damp with perspiration.

– It would seem so.

As the door opened, Austin addressed the store manager:

– Good morning. How you doing today? My name is Jesse Austin. Don’t mind us, we’re just here to look around. Please go about your business as usual and I promise we won’t get in the way!

The manager turned to Leo, eyes wide and mouth open.

– Should I close the store for you?

Austin replied, taking control of the situation:

– Those people are waiting in the snow! Let everyone in. Don’t do anything different!

Cautiously, the shoppers trundled in, perplexed at the circumstances, forming a second line at the counter. Leo explained:

– In the other store you saw customers browsing. Here things are more disciplined. The customers tell the staff what they want. They pay and then collect the items.