Read Someone Else's War: A Novel of Russia and America Page 52

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  Suslov was to spend the weeks between his leave with Olivia and the beginning of the academic year at Voroshilov as deputy division commander of the 106th Guards Airborne Division at Tula. The assignment carried no real responsibilities; it was purely to familiarize him with the unit he would likely command after his studies at Voroshilov.

  The next Monday, the day he left for Tula, he first went to Olivia’s lab with her. Olivia kept early hours at the lab, arriving at about 0700 and working straight through until about 1300. After that, lunch. Then she was available to her staff, held meetings and took calls. Borodkin had once thought it was an easy schedule, until he watched what she accomplished in six hours of entirely focused work. Most people were simply incapable of such intense and sustained concentration.

  As the administrator and expediter, Borodkin arrived later and left later, keeping more normal business hours. But this was Olivia’s first day back. He had not seen her for nearly three months and he looked forward to an hour or so alone with her.

  He did not appreciate finding a man’s uniform cap in the coatroom. He looked at the trim. A general officer’s cap. He appreciated even less seeing the man in Olivia’s office, standing very close to her, closer even than was the Russian custom. He recognized the chestnut hair and the elegant Tartar features from his trip to Grozny. Borodkin had never seen her so calm and relaxed. Content to stand so close to the man, content that he should stand so close to her. And when she moved, it was shocking. She didn’t move as if she was in pain, or even guarding herself against pain. There would always be a faint awkwardness to her movements, but she moved as if she had been put back together. She moved as if her body gave her pleasure, not pain, and he knew without doubt the officer with her was responsible for that pleasure.

  He watched them speaking quietly, knowing from her gestures that she was talking about the lab and what they did there, from the man’s keen expression that he was following her words with interest and understanding.

  How, Borodkin thought angrily but abstractly, can I compete with this man? Borodkin was taller than Suslov and he knew he made more money and was paid more regularly. Suslov was better looking than Borodkin. Then the assessment stopped. He would not say, not even to himself, that Suslov was braver, kinder, most likely a better lover…a man who was so many things that he, Borodkin, was not. To compete, even to consider competition, was, Borodkin consoled himself, unfair.

  For the months of Olivia’s absence, Borodkin had half-pondered what might pass between them upon her return. His thoughts alternated between something resembling courtship and…Kristinich

  And then a thought erased from his consciousness the consequences of wanting. He did not want her, not really. Not after what he had seen of her in Chechnya. Not after what she had allowed herself to become there. Well, of course she prefers a vicious, uncultured killer. That’s what she is herself, now. And I…I am free of her.

  Olivia walked Suslov out of the lab. “And you remember Mister Borodkin, my administrator.”

  “I do. A pleasure to meet you again.”

  They shook hands, and Borodkin found himself looking away from Suslov for a few seconds, not bearing his gaze, thinking, This is my lab, not yours. I work with her all day. You don’t. And you’ll always wonder…. “How nice,” he said, “for us that you were able to make the time to see us briefly.”

  Suslov swallowed his surprise. “I appreciate being given the opportunity to do so, and I hope to later be able to bring my classmates from Voroshilov here. I have a train to catch, so I hope you will both excuse me.”

  “Of course, General.” He turned to Olivia. “Doctor Tolchinskaya, I will be available all day, should you need me.” He then returned to his office, making a mental note to write himself a memorandum for the record. Just in case.