Ken Follett - Triple (1991)

"Yuri Davidovitch, he's twenty." "What does he dor' Rostov's smile was not as chilly as before. "Unfortunately he spends most of his time listening to decadent music. He doesn't study as hard as he should. Not like his brother." Suza's breathing was slowing to normal, and her hand no longer shook when she picked up her cup. She knew that this man was no less dangerous just because he had a family; but he seemed less frightening when he talked like this. "And your other sonT' shq asked. 'The younger one?" Rostov nodded. "Vladimir." Now he was not frightening at all: he was staring over Suza's shoulder with a fond, indulgent expression on his face. "He's very gifted. He will be a great mathematician if he gets the right schooling." "That shouldn't be a problem," she said, watching him. "Soviet education is the best in the world." It seemed like a safe thing to say, but must have had some special significance for him, because the faraway look disappeared and his face turned hard and cold again. "No," he said. "It shouldn't be a problem." He continued eating his eggs. Suza thought urgently: He was becoming friendly, I mustn't lose him now. She cast about desperately for something to say. What did they have in common, what could they talk about? Then she was inspired. "I wish I could remember you from when you were at Oxford." "You were very small." He poured himself some coffee. "Everyone remembers your mother. She was easily the most beautiful woman around. And you're exactly like her." That's better, Suza thought. She asked him, "What did you study?" G.Economics." "Not an exact science in those days, I imagine. "And not much better today." Suza put on a faintly solemn expression. "We speak of bourReois economics, of course." "Of course." Rostov looked at her as if he could not tell whether she were serious or not. He seemed to decide she was. An officer came into the galley and svoke to him in Russian. Rostov looked at Suza regretfully. "I must go up to the bridge."

She had to go with him. She forced herself to speak calmly. "May I come?" He hesitated. Suza thought: He should let me. Hes enjoyed talking to me, he believes I'm on his side, and if I learn any secrets how could he imagine I could use them, stuck here on a KOB ship? Rostov said: "Why not?" He walked away. Suza followed. Up in the radio room Rostov smiled as he read through the messages and translated them for Suza's benefit. He seemed delighted with Dickstein's ingenuity. "The man is smart as hell," he said. "What's Savile Shipping?" Suza asked. "A front for Israeli Intelligence. Dickstein is eliminating all the people who have reason to be interested in what happens to the uranium. The shipping company isn't interested because they no longer own the ship. Now he's taking off the captain and crew. No doubt he has some kind of hold over the people who actually own the uranium. TVs a beautiful scheme." This was what Suza wanted. Rostov was talking to her like a colleague, she was at the center of events; she must be- able to find a way to foul things up for him. She said, "I suppose the breakdown was rigged?" "Yes. Now Dickstein can take over the ship without firing a shot." Suza thought fast When she "betrayed" Dickstein she had proved her loyalty to the Arab side. Now the Arab side had split into two camps: in one were Rostov, the KGB and Egyptian Intelligence; in the other Hassan and the Fedayeen. Now Suza could prove her loyalty to Rostov's side by betraying Hassan. She said, as casually as she possibly could, "And so can Yasif Hassan, of course." "'What?" "Hassan can also take over the Coparelli without firing a shot. Rostov stared at her. The blood seemed to drain from his thin face. Suza was shocked to see him suddenly lose all his poise and confidence. He said, "Hassan intends to hijack the Coparelli?"

Suza pretended to be shocked. "Are you telling me that you didn!t know?" "But who? Not the Egyptians, surelyl" "Me Fedayeen. Hassan said this was your plan." Rostov banged the bulkhead with his fist, looking very uncool and Russian for a moment. "Hassan is a liar and a traitor!" This was Suza's chance, she knew. She thought: Give me strength. She said: "Maybe we can stop him . . Rostov looked at her. "What's his planr "To hijack the Coparelli before Dickstein gets there, then ambush the Israeli team, and sail to ... he didn't tell me exactly, somewhere in North Africa. What was your plan?" "fo ram the ship after Dickstein had stolen the

"Can't we still do that?" "No. We're too far away, we'd never catch them." Suza knew that if she did not do the next bit exactly right, both she and Dickstein would die. She crossed her arms to stop the shaking. She said, "nen there is only one thing we can do." Rostov looked up at her. "There isr "We must warn Dickstein of the Fedayeen ambush so that he can take back the Coparelli." There. She had said it. She watched Rostov's face. He must swallow it, it was logical, it was the right thing for him to dot Rostov was thinking hard. He said, "Warn Dickstein so that be can take the Coparelli back from the Fedayeen. T'hen he can proceed according to his plan and we can proceed according to ours." "Yesl" said Suza. "Thafs the only waylIsn't it? Isn't it?"

FROM: SAVILE SHIPPING, ZURICH TO: ANGELUZZI E BIANCO, GENOA YOUR YELLOWCAKE CONSIGNMENT FROM F.A. PEDLER INDEFINITELY DELAYED DUE TO ENGINE TROUBLE AT SEA. WILL ADVISE SOONEST OF NEW DELIVERY DATES. PAPAGO' POLOUS.

As the Gil Hamflton came into view, Pyotr Tyrin cornered Ravlo, the addict, in the 'tweendecks of the Coparelli. Tyrin

acted with a confidence he did not feel. He adopted a bully~ ing manner and grabbed hold of Ravlo's sweater. Tyrin was a bulky man, and Ravlo was somewhat wasted. Tyrin said, "Listen, you're going to do something for me." "Sure, anything you say." Tyrin hesitated. It would be risky. Still, there was no alternative. "I need to stay on board ship when the rest of you go on the Gil Hamilton. if I'm missed, you will say that you have seen me go over." ~"Right, okay, sure." "If I'm discovered, and I have to board the Gil Hamilton, you can be sure III tell them your secret." "I'll do everything I can." "Yowd better." Tyrin let him go. He was not reassured: a man like that would promise you anything, but when it came to the crunch he might fall to pieces. Ali hands we're summoned on deck for the changeover. Mie sea was too rough for the Gil Hamilton to come alongside, so she sent a launch. Everyone had to wear lifebelts for the crossing. Tlie officers and crew of the Coparelli stood quietly in the pouring rain while they were counted, then the first sailor went over the side and down the ladder, jumped into the well of the launch. The boat would be too small to take the whole crew-they would have to go over in two or three detachments, Tyrin realized. While everyones attention was on the first men to go over the rail, Tyrin whispered to Ravlo, "Try and be last to go. 99 "All right." The two of them edged out to the back of the crowd on deck. ne officers were peering over the side at the launch. The men were standing, waiting, facing toward the Gil Hamilton. Tyrin slipped back behind a bulkhead. He was two steps from a lifeboat whose cover he had loosened earlier. The stem of the boat could be seen from the deck amidships, where the sailors were standing, but the stem could not. Tyrin moved to the stem, lifted the cover, got in and from inside put the cover back in place. He thought: If I'm discovered now Ive had it. He was a big man, and the life jacket made him bigger.

With some difficulty he crawled the length of the boat to a position from which he could see the deck through an eyelet in the tarpaulin. Now it was up to Ravlo. He watched as a second detachment of men went down the ladder to the launch, then heard the first officer say, "Where's that radio operator?" Tyrin looked for Ravlo and located him. Speak, damn you I Ravlo hesitated. "He went over with the first lot, sir." Good boyl "Are you sure?" "Yes, sir, I saw him." The officer nodded and said something about not being able to tell one from another in this filthy rain. The captain called to Koch, and the two men stood talking In the lee of a bulkhead, close to Tyrin's hiding place. The captain said, "rve never heard of Savile Shipping, have you?" "No, sir." "This is all wrong, selling a ship while she's at sea, then leaving the engineer in charge of her and taking the captain Off." "Yes, sir. I imagine they're not seafaring people, these new owners." "They're surely not, or they'd know better. Probably accountants." There was a pause. "You could refuse to stay alone, of course, then I would have to stay with you. I'd back you up afterward." "rm afraid I'd lose my ticket." "Right, I shouldn't have suggested it. Well, good luck." "Thank you, sir.' The third group of seamen had boarded the launch. The first officer was at the top of the ladder waiting for the captain, who was still muttering about accountants as he turned around, crossed the deck and followed the first officer over the side. Tyrin turned his attention to Koch, who now thought he was the only man aboard the Coparelli. The engineer watched the launch go across to the Gil Hamilton, then climbed the ladder to the bridge. Tyrin cursed aloud. He wanted Koch to go below so that he could get to the fbeard store and radio to the Karla. He watched the bridge, and saw Koch's face appear from time to time behind the glass. If Koch stayed there, Tyrin would have to wait until dark before he could contact Rostov and reporL It looked very much as if Koch planned to remain on the bridge all day. Tyrin settled down for a long wait.