kid-stolen." Hepointed at Wims.
Bushmilov unconsciously shifted his bulk to blot Wims from Peng's view."You are wrong Colonel Peng. Your intelligence was not getting nowherewith him and we are having more experience in these matters. We thinkyou approve to take him to Moscow."
"Ah. Yes? Then why you sneak away like folding Arabian tent? Ah!"
Although Bushmilov did not comprehend what Arabian tents had to do withthis business he did understand the accusation. Before he could reply,Peng continued. "Us Chinese not fool, Comrade Colonel. You Russian thinkus not good like you, like smart. O.K. Us not b'long Russia likesat'lite. Us b'long us. Us not let you take what you want and no asking.You will give it back, the American officer. Us can make him saysecret."
Bushmilov stiffened and dropped all pretense at cordiality. "Us will--"He shook his head in annoyance. "I will not do that without order frommy superior, Minister Modrilensky. Now you will be kind to leave. Thereis business to finish."
"No go unless us take officer."
An angry Bushmilov strode to the door and snarled at the two guards inRussian. One of them dashed away down the corridor. "We shall see,"Bushmilov sneered at Peng.
"Yes us shall, ah!" said Peng, withdrawing his automatic pistol from itsholster. The other Chinese did the same and their movement wasduplicated immediately by the Russians.
No one moved or spoke further until five Russian security guards burstinto the room with submachine guns at the ready. The corporal in chargelooked to Bushmilov for instructions. The Russian colonel looked longand thoughtfully at the primed Chinese. He had not expected them to goto this extreme. Perhaps they were only bluffing but one suddenmisinterpreted movement or the wrong word and another ugly incident inan already dangerously long chain might be created to accelerate thedeteriorating Sino-Soviet relations. Without specific instructions hedared not take the responsibility for any untoward action. Bushmilovordered the guards to stand at ease and dispatched one of his henchmento notify his superior of the crisis.
"You being very wise, Comrade Colonel," Peng said.
"You are being very annoying," Bushmilov snapped.
"O.K., yes," Peng replied. "Chinese People's Republic ambassador now atKremlin demand give back American officer. Come soon now, us go. Takelieutenant. You annoying finish. Ah!"
Bushmilov spoke sharply to his junior officers who still stood withdrawn pistols. One of them came over and stationed himself alongsideBushmilov. He explained to Peng, "I go on with questioning. My men willshoot anyone who interfere."
Colonel Peng knew his bounds. "O.K., yes. Us wait when order come yougive us lieutenant. Us stay. Listen."
Bushmilov turned to Wims. "You are captured six days before. Two weeksfrom now at this month end you suppose to be exchange by GenevaConcordat number seventeen. Now you tell to me why your government insuch a hurry they can not wait and why they make special request togovernment of Chinese People's Republic for immediate return of you. Andwhy is it offered, twelve Chinese officers, all ranks, to get back onlyyou?"
"Ah don't know, suh," Wims said in honest surprise.
"I warn you. If you not co-operating, you not go home at month end. Youcannot pretend with us. We check and know much about you. You go in armythree month before now. No university education, no military experienceand now you are second lieutenant so quick. How so?"
"Oh, Ah kin tell y'all that," Wims said with relief. "That ain't nomil't'ry secret. When we was havin' basic trainin' this here gen'ralallowed as to how Ah did some right smart soldierin' durin' maneuversan' he up an' give me a battlefield commission."
Bushmilov's eyes were slits. "Ha. Ha. Ha," Bushmilov said without asmile. "You Americans, always making joke. I enjoy that good laugh. Nowwe are serious. It is true, yes, that you are intelligence officer sentto Burma with special mission? We know everything," Bushmilov lied, "butwe want you say it with your words the few details."
"Cain't tell you nuthin' cause they ain't nuthin' to tell, Ah mean!"
* * * * *
Bushmilov swung up his arm to strike Wims across the face. His handsmacked against the pistol held by the Russian officer standing next tohim. The gun went off. The bullet zipped through the window, across thecourtyard, into another office and past the nose of Minister of InternalSecurity, Modrilensky.
Modrilensky shouted for his guards while his aide pointed out the windowand yelled, "The shot came from Bushmilov's office. See! The glass isbroken in his window!"
Modrilensky paled. "Bushmilov? My truest comrade? Who is there to trust?This I expect from that filthy plotter, Berjanian! Or that sneak,Lemchovsky, or Kamashev. And Gorshkinets and that babyface, Konevets;they do not fool me, I assure you! They would all like to denounce meand steal my job! And the others! I know them all, every last one ofthem and I'll deal with them, they'll see! But Bushmilov!"
Several guards with submachine guns burst into the room. "Thosewindows!" Modrilensky screamed. "Shoot them! Kill the deviationistplotters!"
The guards were uncertain which windows Modrilensky was indicating withhis wildly waving arms but they had no intention of risking thedispleasure of the top man of the MVD. They tentatively sprayed all thewindows around the courtyard with bullets and when they received nocensure from their chief they went at it with gusto. Modrilensky was toobusy shouting orders to other guards to give them any further attention.The sound of the firing was assurance enough that his orders were beingobeyed. By the time he had dispatched men to get Bushmilov andneutralize other potential plotters the occupants of most of the officesoverlooking the courtyard were crouched at the windows, shootingindiscriminately at each other.
"I can't believe it about Bushmilov," Modrilensky shouted to his aideover the din.
"You know he was at the Kremlin yesterday with Shaposnik," the aideshouted back. "And you know how close Shaposnik is to the Premier. Maybethey have discovered our plan and Bushmilov, as your successor, wasordered to liquidate you!"
Modrilensky slapped his forehead. "Of course! We must act at once! Sendour man to Marshal Mazianko and tell him it is time. He must get histrusted troops into the city before the others suspect what ishappening, especially that Kamashev."
Major Kamashev of the MVD put in a hasty call to the Minister ofTransport. "I am forced to phone because of a sudden emergency.Modrilensky must have gotten wind of our plans. His men are besieging myoffice. You must get General Kodorovich to move his men into the city atonce! And watch out for the Foreign Minister. I think he and Lemachovskyare up to something."
Major Lemachovsky of the MVD was listening to the Foreign Minister. "ThePremier has ordered the arrest of the Minister of Heavy Industry forplotting with General Plekoskaya to bring in troops to seize thegovernment. As soon as General Zenovlov arrives with his troops and weare in control, I will teach these vile counterrevolutionaries that theycannot plot against the party and the people with impunity! And becareful! I think the Minister of Hydroelectric Power is involved withyour Colonel Berjanian."
Colonel Berjanian of the MVD was shouting into the phone. "Why can't Iget the Minister of Hydroelectric Power? If you don't want a vacation inSiberia, you had better get my call through!"
"I'm sorry, Comrade Colonel," the harried operator whined, "but it isn'tmy fault. Can I help it if all of Moscow decides to use the telephonesall at once? The lines are still tied up. I will keep trying, Com--"
Berjanian slammed down the phone just as an aide rushed in. "Colonel, Ihave good news! Our men have gained control of most of the immediatehallway and we have captured the lavatory from Captain Konevets!"
"Wonderful!" Berjanian beamed as he hastily left the room.
* * * * *
General Kodorovich's command car rattled and bounced along the roughshoulder of the highway past his stalled 71st Motorized InfantryDivision. He found the van of his column tangled with the rear of the124th Armored Division under General Plekoskaya. Kodorovich sought outPlekoskaya and found him at table u
nder some trees having a fine lunch.
"Would you mind getting your army out of the way," General Kodorovichsaid to General Plekoskaya. "I have emergency orders to proceedimmediately to Moscow."
"So have I," Plekoskaya replied, wiping his lips. "Won't you join me forlunch?"
"I haven't time!" Kodorovich snapped, glaring accusingly at the roastfowl and wine on the white linen.
"Oh but you have, my dear Kodorovich," Plekoskaya said pleasantly. "Yousee, neither of us is going anywhere for the moment. There's a brigadeof the 48th blocking