In the Company of Spies

by Stephen Barlay

  “Didn’t you? I’m tempted to swear that it was you who planned it.”

  “It wasn’t. I might have been instrumental in supplying information about your character and psychological makeup on which they based their scheme.”

  “It was clever. Anna made me resign of my own free will and disgust without ever suspecting the pressure or her involvement, other than sexually, of course. And a few well-chosen words from you about Father gave me the final push. But I find it hard to believe that you knew nothing about her role.”

  “It’s true. She had been working for the Soviet Union long before we met. Then her main task became to love me, help me and safeguard me at any cost. She prepared that reverse-blackmail trick to discredit you if you ever became a threat to me. She stole some information that had come from you to make my position easier. It would have been much more difficult for me to withhold that Castro shopping list from Langley if it ever got to me. And she risked everything to prevent you from reaching me when you were on the run from Moscow.”

  “Risked everything? What? What did she risk apart from my life? They almost killed me on Long Island.”

  “And I almost killed her with the shot you diverted. Because I still had no idea that all along she was only protecting me. That’s what you can expect from these people, total loyalty.”

  “Yet now you’re ready to ruin her. Once you’re in Moscow, she’ll be exposed. She’ll be no good to Langley. They might lock her up or dispose of her. Accidents do happen.”

  “That’s true. And she knows it. It’s part of her deal. She didn’t take her assignment blindly.”

  “No, but if you stayed on, she’d still be working for Moscow.”

  “True. But she’s the price we have to pay for me. I had to get out. I was more important. And I’ll continue to be more important when I start working in Moscow.”

  “That’s what you call loyalty.”

  “No. That’s what I call a matter of priorities. You must be pragmatic about these things. I only wish you could see it my way. We’d be working together. Real players, not onlookers. Remember what you told me when you came to see me in Washington after Long Island? You said I must clear my name and remain a player whatever the consequences. Now we could do that together.”

  The moment came back easily. It brought back the comradeship of their childhood, brothers versus the world, two little boys taking on parents, school, neighborhood gangs, all corners. “You know something, Ell? I think you … ”

  “I know what you think.”

  “And I know that you think that you know what I think.”

  “And I think you stink.”

  The silly old schoolboy routine brought instantaneous but short-lived laughter. The silence that followed was grave. The game was for real now.

  Boychenko returned and gave Repson a slip of paper.

  “Was it on the radio?”

  Boychenko nodded.

  “Then show it to my brother. It’s no secret.”

  Rust read it: Havana had announced that a U-2 had been brought down by a SAM. It was meant to be a lesson to the imperialists. But it could mean war.

  *

  In Washington, EXCOM was in nonstop session. It had to decide how the two Khrushchev letters should be answered. Bobby Kennedy suggested disregarding the broadcast, reacting only to the first, “private” approach, and accepting the offer. Missiles out for the guarantee of noninvasion. But the answer would also be an ultimatum: if the work on the missile sites failed to stop and the evacuation of offensive weapons did not begin at once, the consequences would be Moscow’s responsibility.

  “Now it can go either way,” said the President and issued orders to call up twenty-four troop-carrier squadrons of the Air Force Reserve.

  *

  “But can’t you see, you’re not asked to cause any damage to America,” Repson insisted. “In fact, the information about the caves should look quite useful to them.”

  “Then why do you want me to give it to Langley?”

  “It’s not for us to question the reasons. We’re pros. We just gather and supply information and let others make the decisions.”

  “But if that info really is or may seem good to the Company, whose side are we on?”

  “Does it really matter? Look, the Russians may have all sorts of reasons. Perhaps somebody wants to embarrass Khrushchev. Or give something to Kennedy, who’d hear about those caves sooner or later in any case. Or help Khrushchev against Castro, who may resist the idea of pulling all the missiles out of Cuba. Or make Kennedy demand the removal of missiles from the caves so that Khrushchev could then agree to that, too, for a price, and still leave some other missiles in mothballs over here.”

  Rust felt tempted to say yes to everything his brother wanted. What bothered him was that he could not make up his own mind about his motivation. Was he trying to escape and save Yelena as well as take a piece of intelligence to Washington, or was he trying to hit back at Langley and become a big-time player in one go?

  Sunday, October 28

  At 9:00 A.M., Moscow Radio announces Khrushchev’s capitulation. The missiles will be crated and removed from Cuba. American guarantees will be accepted.

  *

  AFTER A NIGHT OF COLLAPSE IN TOTAL EXHAUSTION, RUST and his brother listened to the news on the radio. “Kennedy’s won a great victory for the history books,” said Repson.

  “And lost Cuba as well as his freedom of action.”

  “He lost nothing. He was always ready to give guarantees on non-invasion under pressure. The memo was no fake.” After a silent breakfast together, Rust accepted his brother’s propositions. Boychenko was called in to make the necessary arrangements. He embraced Rust and kissed him on both cheeks. “Wish we had more time to talk,” he said, “but let’s hope there’ll be other opportunities for us in the future.”

  Rust did not want to involve and endanger Orlando. He claimed he had no clear plans how to leave the island. Boychenko promised to find a way.

  November 1962

  Bertrand Russell claims: mankind owes a “profound debt” to Khrushchev for his “sanity and magnanimity.” China pledges support to Cuba. Mongoose is cancelled. Shot down U-2 pilot’s body to be returned home. Kennedy reveals: dismantling of missiles has begun. Castro objects to supervision of dismantling. Front page advertisement in The London Times: “Good country home is required for silver poodle bitch [phone number].”

  *

  THE ENGINE OF THE INCONSPICUOUSLY DECREPIT BARGE Boychenko had acquired broke down barely beyond the Cay Sal Bank. Because the blockade had been lifted but the tension over the Caribbean had not been dispelled, there was no traffic in the area. Rust and Yelena ran out of water by the end of the first day. Rowing and reaching even the nearest coral reefs proved to be impossible. They lay in each other’s arms, talked little, and waited. There was no choice.

  After three days of drifting they were spotted and picked up by an American patrol. The captain was reluctant but was eventually persuaded to radio Miami and get Schramm traced. The date was November 2, when Kennedy went on the air to announce that the Cuban missiles were being dismantled.

  Schramm arranged for them to be flown to Washington by the Air Force. During the flight, Yelena slept and ate and slept and ate all the time. Rust sat with Schramm. An air of lingering mutual suspicion made it difficult for them to start talking. Rust was troubled by his own motives: when he made his report about the caves, would he do it as a patriot or a traitor? In a way, it didn’t matter. The outcome, his information, would be just the same. He told Schramm about the caves. He first said that he himself had seen a transport on the way to Matanzas with Miguel. He then added what Miguel had told him about the other caves. He finally revealed that Ell was in Cuba as a defector and wanted him to convey exactly the same message. Schramm said nothing and tried to look inscrutable, but Rust knew him well enough to know that he was shocked. The gist of his report was en
coded and radioed to Washington.

  On arrival at Langley, Rust had to say goodbye to Yelena. Schramm was stiff and formal toward her, but made an effort to be friendly: “You’ll be all right, colonel. If you’re frank with us, you have nothing to worry about. Your debriefing may take a few months or even a year, but I hope that Helm will be able to visit you from time to time.”

  “Just tell them everything they want to know,” said Rust. ‘This is no time for holding back. And soon we’ll be together.” He hoped he sounded convincing.

  For six hours, a three-man committee and Schramm listened to Rust, who decided to tell them everything, including the approaches made by Boychenko and the scheme outlined by his brother. At first they listened to him in icy silence. Then minute signs of a change in mood occurred. He wondered if he was becoming a hero. Was Ell’s scheme beginning to work? Eventually, he was offered a cool vote of thanks and congratulations. His report would now go higher up and would need to be evaluated. He was invited to take a well-earned rest in a room on the second floor, where he was plied with drinks and food. Nobody made a secret of the fact that he was watched and guarded at all times.

  Twenty-four hours later, Schramm came to see him. For the first time since Miami in August, Rust saw him wear his old jovial earth-moving-machinery salesman’s smile.

  “Helm, you’ve done a fantastic job.”

  Never guessed it would be so easy to become a traitor, thought Rust.

  “It’s a great victory.”

  “Is it?”

  “Of course it is. And you know it.” Schramm was definitely beaming.

  “Does it mean that Khrushchev’s agreed to remove the confetti from the caves, too?”

  “You’re to forget about those caves.”

  “They can’t be ignored.”

  “Just forget them. We’ll try everything to smoke them out if at all possible, but we’ve no direct way to check every one of thousands of caves in Cuba. Besides, Khrushchev has got to be allowed to retain a vestige of dignity. Otherwise he couldn’t possibly retreat and would go raving mad. The venture has earned him only a few more years in power.”

  “And Cuba. Or isn’t our guarantee serious?”

  “Dead serious. Mongoose has already been cancelled. The Cubans and all its other personnel are being disbanded.”

  “And I’m free to go — is that what you’re saying?”

  “If that’s what you want. On the other hand, I’ve now been put into the full picture and I’m authorized to tell you that we want you — need you, in fact, more than ever. We’ll work together with Charles and you’ll have the key part to play in the big game that’s about to begin.”

  “What game and what part? I’ve already confessed to you that I was on the brink of becoming a traitor. And I’m still not sure about my motives.”

  “That’s fine. Just fine.” Schramm was clearly enjoying himself.

  “What about Yelena?”

  “Ostensibly, she’s under psychiatric treatment. But we must consider the possibility that she may be a plant. They know what she did for you, yet they let her come over. They must have a reason.”

  “I know.”

  “Which is just fine. You’ll return to the Upstairs for a well-earned holiday, and she’ll be allowed to join you there if that’s what you want. Then we’ll wait.”

  “For her to give herself away? Don’t underestimate her, Jake.”

  “I don’t. And I’m sure that even if she’s a plant, she probably won’t make a single move for years. But I bet there’ll be a gentle or not-so-gentle approach made to you. They’ll want you to repay their gesture of friendliness. And you will, I promise you, you will. And together we’ll smoke out those friends of theirs, the Sapphire network, somewhere very, very high up in the Company. Because I’m authorized to tell you what I heard only twenty minutes ago and what must be our best-guarded secret of the past decade: that our man’s succeeded.”

  “With what?”

  “He’s got himself installed in Moscow Center.” The smile disappeared from Schramm’s face. “Do you want a drink, Helm?”

  “You mean … ?”

  “Yes. It’s Ell.”

  “You mentioned a drink.”

  “I’ll join you,” said Schramm. “We’ll drink to his success.”

  “You’ve just been told?” Rust’s voice was unusually weak. The thought of Ell in Moscow brought back the flavors of danger he had tasted not that long ago.

  “Yes. But apparently he’s been working as a double for us for almost seven years now. He knew nothing about Anna’s role. And initially, your unauthorized Moscow venture was an inconvenience and risk to him. But then it grew into the opportunity he had been waiting for. The big spiel of trying to recruit you at the crocodile farm was for the benefit of anyone listening in. Now we can do nothing but wait to see how he goes about it and how they intend to use you.”

  Rust spent a day of initial briefing in a daze. He never had a chance to think about wanting or not wanting to play. It was taken for granted that nobody would want to miss an opportunity like this. And nobody would be allowed to, once being in the know.

  The following day, tidbits about his success and heroic deeds were leaked out within the Company. They would surely reach the right ears. Officially, a brief announcement was made about his return from a “lengthy leave of absence” and his promotion. He was then flown to Florida for his holiday.

  It was at the Upstairs that a postal messenger delivered a small express package for him. Complying with his instructions, he did not touch it until Schramm arranged a thorough examination for explosives. Then the two of them opened it together. The first thing to emerge was a typed note:

  “I’ve just discovered that some fool took photographs of you. I wouldn’t want them to fall into the wrong hands. So here they are; I suggest you burn them at once. Regards, Andrey.”

  There were sixteen photographs. All taken in the room where Sylvia was dying. One showed her raising her arm to defend herself from Rust, her apparent torturer. His profile could be seen clearly. Rust was not in all the pictures. Some of them focused on her injuries. Others detailed his bloodied clothes. He was flanked by armed men at all times. The final pictures formed a sequence — her execution step by step, ending with a close-up as Rust handed the revolver to someone whose face was blackened out by a shadow. It needed no caption. Debts were expected to be paid.

  It took Rust two days to track down Morales and arrange to meet him at El Paraíso, where Julia-Rosa had died. Schramm objected to the meeting. There was an element of grave risk in telling the old Cuban about the death of his girl. He might blame Rust. He and his friends might seek revenge. Rust refused to argue. Talking to Morales was a debt he wanted to pay.

  Morales was sitting up at the bar when Rust entered. The old man watched him as he approached, grew older and older with every step, and knew the truth by the time Rust sat down next to him, ordering two golden añejos.

  They drank in silence. Rust could still not decide how and how much to tell him.

  “Were you there when she died?”

  “Yes.” And after a pause, “I’m sorry.”

  “Not your fault, amigo” And after an equally long pause, “Is it?”

  “No.”

  “Did she suffer?”

  Rust swallowed. “No.”

  “Did she cry?”

  “No. She was brave. She fought them all the way.” He decided to let Morales develop his own memories of the scene. “Was she still beautiful?”

  “Yes.”

  “Very beautiful. You tell me.”

  “She was very beautiful.”

  “She was a good girl.” Morales ordered another round of drinks. “Fantastic in bed.” He drank. “Fantastic … wasn’t she?”

  “Wouldn’t know.” He owed Morales the total reassurance that his girl had died faithful to him. “She was yours.”

  “She was fanta
stic. Probably the last of many in my life. I’m an old man. Without a home. Who’d want me? But it’s a good way, it’s a good girl to end it with, right?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “She was so sexy. So giving. And so demanding.”

  Wish I knew, thought Rust, when it began to dawn on him that the old man might be seeking quite another kind of reassurance.

  “She was … she was … Tell me, amigo, did you sleep with her?” Rust was about to deny it when Morales raised his hand to silence him. “No! Don’t tell me. Just that — was she good?”

  “The best.”

  October 1964

  China explodes atomic device. Soviet 3-man spaceship is launched. OAS condemns Cuba for terrorist attacks and subversion attempts against Venezuela. Gold medals galore for America at the Tokyo Olympics.

  *

  ELEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE KENNEDY ASSASSINATION, Khrushchev left for a holiday at Sochi. All members of his Politburo, including his latest great protégé, Brezhnev, assembled at the railway station to see him off. The same group met in great secrecy on October 14. The same day, Mikoyan was visiting Khrushchev, probably to reassure the leader that nothing important was happening in Moscow. Khrushchev talked on radiotelephone to cosmonauts aboard the Voskhod in space. He was jocular but seriously puzzled when he shouted: “And Comrade Mikoyan has just arrived. He doesn’t let me talk to you. He’s pulling the phone out of my hand!” When Khrushchev returned to Moscow, not a soul was at the railway station to meet him. He must have known then that he was out and Brezhnev was in.