To St Petersburg
Lil blinked in the brilliant light. Someone was standing in front of her, pointing an electric torch at her – and although she couldn’t see their face, she recognised the angry voice at once.
‘You followed me!’ she burst out.
‘Of course I did,’ retorted Carruthers. ‘You woke me up, crashing about in the dark. I could tell straight away you were up to something – but what are you doing? Trying to leave me behind and get to Hamburg on your own, I suppose – so you can get all the glory for yourself!’
‘As if I’d do an idiotic thing like that!’ Lil flung back. ‘This train doesn’t even go to Hamburg!’
‘Then where in heaven’s name does it go?’
There was no sense trying to conceal it now. Lil held her head high as she said briskly: ‘To St Petersburg. It’s the train belonging to the Circus of Marvels. It’s going to Russia – and that’s where I’m going too.’
‘To Russia?’ Carruthers squeaked, incredulous. ‘But our assignment is in Germany!’ He stared at her for a moment, as though he thought she was completely mad, and then realisation dawned across his face. ‘Oh. I know what this is about. This is about your friend, Miss Taylor, isn’t it? You’ve got some crackpot scheme to hare off to St Petersburg to find her.’
‘It’s not a crackpot scheme,’ Lil snapped. ‘It’s a very good plan – or at least it was until you started interfering.’
‘Ha! You really think throwing aside your mission to hide aboard a circus train and go illegally into Russia is a good plan?’ Carruthers gave a sardonic snort. ‘It’s the worst plan I’ve heard in all my life!’
‘What else was I supposed to do? I know Sophie is missing. I know the Chief hasn’t heard a word from her since she went over the border into Russia – not a letter, not a telegram, nothing. Anything could have happened to her! No one even told me that she was missing: The Chief – Forsyth – you – not one of you could care less. But I’m not going to abandon her on the other side of Europe. It’s simply not decent to leave her alone and in danger, whatever you may think.’
Carruthers glared at her – but for a split second, Lil thought she caught a look on his face that was almost, but not quite, ashamed. Then he said: ‘This is precisely why the Chief didn’t tell you, you know. He must have known you’d do something hare-brained like this.’
‘Bother the Chief,’ said Lil, folding her arms. ‘And bother you too. Why don’t you go to Hamburg and get the report? There’s no reason you can’t do it on your own. You’ll get to have your big field assignment – and you’ll get all the credit. You can go home and tell the Chief whatever you like about me. But I’m going to St Petersburg, whether you like it or not.’
Carruthers blew out a frustrated breath. ‘Have you got any idea how ridiculous you sound? You’re behaving like an idiotic schoolgirl!’ He shook his head in silent disbelief. ‘You work for the government. You can’t just decide to disobey your orders. It simply isn’t done!’
Lil lifted her chin stubbornly. ‘Just because I work for the government doesn’t mean I’ll blindly follow orders. Sophie and I, we make up our own mind about things and –’
She could have said a great deal more, but just then she broke off abruptly. From outside came the shrill of a whistle, followed by the unmistakable sensation of the train beginning to move forward, picking up speed. Carruthers darted at once to the door – but when he flung it open, it was clear that the train was already moving too rapidly for him to think of jumping back down on to the tracks.
‘Oh, this is just absolutely marvellous,’ he muttered bitterly.
Lil ran over to the window and peered out. Even in the dark, she could see that the train was going faster and faster, carrying her towards St Petersburg and Sophie. She felt a sudden fizz of excitement.
Carruthers, on the other hand, looked utterly dejected. He flopped down, holding his head in his hands. Lil could hear him muttering to himself: this was a nightmare; they were certain to be discovered; he was hungry and thirsty; this wretched luggage car was freezing cold; he’d left his bag behind on the Hamburg train; and thanks to her, his first assignment was completely ruined.
‘You aren’t behaving much like a secret agent on a government mission, you know,’ Lil told him eventually, losing patience.
‘I’m not on a government mission,’ Carruthers snapped back. ‘I’m on a circus train.’ He screwed up his face. ‘No doubt full of drunken and dissolute ruffians! I’d go straight to whoever is in charge here and demand they let us off at once but who knows how they might react? You can’t trust these kinds of people to behave properly.’ He shuddered, as if imagining the very worst criminal behaviour.
‘You really are a dreadful snob,’ said Lil. ‘That’s a lot of rot. And there’s no need to be so dramatic. It’s your own fault you’re here, you know: I didn’t tell you to follow me. If you’d stayed where you were, you’d be on the way to Hamburg by now to complete the assignment. Anyway, as soon as the train stops at a station, you can simply get out there and catch the next train back to Cologne. It’s really quite easy.’
But as it turned out, it wasn’t easy at all. Through the small hours of the morning, the train bumped and rattled onwards, without any sign of stopping. They steamed straight through the station at Hanover, and then at Berlin, without even slowing down. As the night drew on, Carruthers grew crosser and crosser, and by the time dawn had broken and a watery sunlight was beginning to filter through the window, he was positively fuming.
Lil was beginning to feel bad-tempered herself. She’d hoped to leave Carruthers behind at Cologne: now it seemed she would be saddled with him all the way to St Petersburg. Last time she’d travelled in Europe, it had been with Captain Forsyth, and now she reflected that she’d quite happily swap him for the grousing, grumbling Carruthers – even if Forsyth would no doubt have spent the entire journey showing off about his important role at the Bureau, and telling long, boring stories about all his derring-do.
For a moment, she allowed herself to think of how much better this journey would be if Joe had come with her, as he’d suggested at the station. Joe was the least complaining person she’d ever met: and besides, she knew he would be focused on supporting her, helping her plan what they’d do when they arrived in St Petersburg, and how they’d find Sophie – not fretting and fussing. He was someone who could be absolutely relied on, she thought, smiling in spite of it all.
She was beginning to feel hungry, so she took out the package of sandwiches she’d bought at Ostend and opened it. They were filled with some kind of sausage, strongly flavoured with garlic – unfamiliar, but rather tasty. She offered Carruthers one but he just stared at her as though she’d insulted him.
‘You don’t even care, do you? You’re absolutely brazen. You’re not even considering the fact that you’ve wrecked my entire career. Do you know how long I’ve waited to do something that isn’t filing? Now it’s all ruined and I’ll probably never be trusted to go out into the field again – and it’s all your fault!’
But Lil didn’t reply. Instead, she put down her half-eaten sandwich. ‘Shhh!’ she hissed suddenly. She’d heard something over the rattling of the train – a sound which seemed very much like footsteps, coming closer towards them. ‘I think someone’s coming!’
There was no time to find a better hiding place. They crouched down where they were, behind an enormous wooden crate. Lil listened intently, her ears straining, as an interconnecting door that led into the luggage car squealed open. A single set of footsteps entered and crossed the carriage, making straight for the corner where they were hiding.
Lil stiffened, and Carruthers shot her a quick, horrified glance. But before the footsteps could reach them, they came to a sudden halt. Whoever had come in was standing very close to them – so close that Lil could hear the sound of heavy breathing. There was silence, and then the creak of a wooden lid being lifted – and she realised that the crate they were hiding behin
d was being opened.
‘Rogers!’ came a crisp, curt, English voice from across the room. ‘What are you doing in here?’
The lid dropped suddenly shut. ‘Er . . . just checking everything’s all right, sir,’ said a man gruffly. ‘Making sure nothing’s been damaged in transit.’
‘Well, I must say, it’s good to hear that one of you fellows has some initiative,’ said the first voice, sounding rather surprised. ‘The rest of your colleagues are still fast asleep after last night’s revelries. You’ll have to wake them up, sharpish. We’re almost at Virballen, and the guards will need to check everyone’s papers at the border crossing.’
At her side, Carruthers let out a little groan. Lil elbowed him as sharply as she dared. They must certainly not be caught now: the last thing she wanted was to be handed over to the border officials, who she was certain would not be friendly towards stowaways trying to cross the border illegally.
‘Well, hurry along then,’ said the first voice impatiently.
‘In a moment, sir.’
‘Not in a moment, Rogers. Now,’ insisted the first voice, muttering: ‘Goodness me, these fellows!’
To her relief, Lil heard Rogers’ footsteps padding reluctantly away from them. A moment later the two men were gone, and the closing door had been slammed shut behind them.
‘I can’t go into Russia!’ Carruthers wailed. ‘I haven’t got a visa!’
But Lil could already feel the train was slowing. Sure enough, when she went over to the window, she saw that they were chugging into Virballen station, at the very edge of Prussia, the easternmost province of the German Empire. She knew that this was the border of the vast Russian Empire, a place where all trains must stop; passports must be shown; trunks must be opened and inspected. As they came to a shuddering halt on the platform she ducked out of sight – but not before she’d had the chance to take in the uniformed policemen with rifles, the customs men and border officials, and an immense flag bearing the sign of the Imperial Eagle, fluttering against a chilly blue sky.
‘Perhaps I can get out and explain this is all a dreadful mistake,’ said Carruthers desperately. ‘I’m an Englishman, after all – surely they’ll believe me? Or perhaps I can just slip off somehow, before they catch sight of me . . . ?’
‘Don’t be an idiot! Have you seen how many armed men are out there? You don’t want to mess about – they might arrest you. What we need is a really good hiding place. Look – what about this crate? It’s easily big enough to hide a person.’
She pointed to the large wooden crate that Rogers had opened and flung back the lid. The top part of the box was packed with straw, but as she felt about beneath it to see what was inside, her fingers closed unexpectedly on something that felt cold and metallic. Grasping hold of the strange object, she drew it out from beneath the straw – and at once, almost dropped it in surprise.
It was a gun! A long black gun! The big crate was full of them – pistols, revolvers, rifles and ammunition, all carefully packed amongst straw. ‘I say, look at this!’ she exclaimed aloud. ‘Dozens and dozens of guns!’ She turned over the luggage label attached to the crate: sure enough it was clearly marked for the Circus of Marvels. ‘Whatever could the circus need those for?’
‘Goodness knows,’ retorted Carruthers. ‘Maybe for some kind of Wild West cowboy number – one of those idiotic things where they shoot apples off the top of some poor fool’s head? Or perhaps they have a delightful little sideline in illegal gun-running? I honestly don’t know – and just now, I don’t much care.’
Much as she hated to admit it, he had a point. Lil was not about to hide in a box full of guns, so she let the lid fall closed, and then looked around to where Carruthers was opening what looked like an enormous dress basket. Inside, she saw a heap of shimmering costumes – spangled ballet dresses, frilly petticoats, a feather boa. There would be plenty of room for someone to squeeze in amongst them. ‘That’s perfect – get in, quickly!’
Carruthers clambered inside, and Lil hastily covered his head with two or three of the frilly petticoats. If anyone opened the lid, they would have no idea there was someone hiding underneath.
‘Ugh! You’re smothering me!’ came a bad-tempered voice from somewhere beneath the petticoats. ‘And by the way, can I just make it clear that I still think this is the most terrible plan in existence.’
‘Oh shush!’ said Lil, closing the lid of the basket over his head.
She looked swiftly around for a hiding place of her own, but before she had the chance to find one, she heard voices and footsteps approaching along the train once more. There was no time left. ‘Move over – I’m getting in too!’ she whispered to the dress basket urgently – and before Carruthers could argue, she hurriedly squeezed herself in beside him, pulling the lid closed over both their heads.
Inside it was hot, dark and very uncomfortable. ‘What d’you think you’re doing? This is my hiding place,’ Carruthers hissed in her ear. ‘You reek of garlic sausage, do you know that? It’s positively revolting.’
‘Shut up and stay still – they’re coming in!’
But staying still when you were squeezed tightly into a dress basket was not easy. It might be an unusually large dress basket, but it was still not nearly large enough for two tall people. Carruthers’ bony knee jabbed painfully into Lil’s side, and she had to bend her neck at an unpleasant angle in order to keep her head covered with the petticoats she’d hastily pulled over it. She could feel one of her legs cramping, but there was nothing she could do. The connecting door had opened, and what sounded like a whole crowd of people were coming in.
‘And this is another of the luggage vans . . .’ came the same crisp English voice they’d heard before.
Someone said something short and forceful, in what Lil assumed was Russian.
‘Sasha – what’s he saying?’ asked the English voice.
‘He wishes to know what is inside the boxes,’ came another voice, softer and speaking with an accent.
‘Well, tell him they are circus costumes and properties.’
‘He says he must open them all. To survey them.’
‘Oh, heavens above – really? We’ll be here all day! Fanshawe is going to be hopping mad if we don’t make it to St Petersburg on time.’
‘I am very sorry, Max, but it is what he says he must do.’
‘Well, look here, does he really need to check every single one? Couldn’t he just inspect a few at random? We’ve got all the documentation – Imperial seals, declaration that the circus is to perform for the Tsar, and all that – great reams of the stuff!’
There was the rustling of paper as documents were passed around, then Sasha said something again in Russian. Lil tried to keep quiet and still as a mouse, all the time very conscious of how loud Carruthers’ breathing sounded, and the way the wicker basket creaked and rustled with even the tiniest movement.
The connecting door opened again, and a girl’s voice said: ‘Here’s the refreshments you wanted, Max.’
‘Thanks, Hanna. Here, Sasha – ask the fellow if he’ll have a drink with us.’
The soft-voiced Sasha said something else in Russian, and there was an appreciative grunt from the official, followed by the glug-glug-glug of liquid being poured, and glasses clinking.
‘There,’ said Max. ‘Cheers! I say, what do they say in Russia for “cheers”, Sasha?’
‘Za Zdarovje.’
Max repeated the words clumsily, and then there was silence for a few moments, but for lip-smacking and the sound of glasses being refilled.
‘Well, I can’t say I care much for vodka – especially at this time in the morning. But he seems to be enjoying it, and I suppose that’s what matters. Now then, Sasha – all well?’
Sasha spoke again, and this time the official made some approving noises, and then said a few words in a more cheerful voice.
‘Yes, all is well,’ Sasha explained. ‘He says your paperwork is in order. No need to inspect the boxes si
nce you are travelling under the protection of His Imperial Majesty the Tsar. He thanks you for your hospitality. Now, the other men must finish the checking of the passports, and then we may go.’
‘All right – very good – let’s get that over with,’ said Max. There was the sound of feet shuffling out again. The door slammed shut, and Lil realised that she and Carruthers were alone in the luggage car once more.
‘Thank goodness!’ she exclaimed with feeling, pushing herself upwards out of the box, shaking out her cramped limbs. ‘That was a narrow escape – but I believe everything’s going to be all right now.’
‘All right?’ repeated Carruthers, as he burst to the surface from beneath a foamy sea of petticoats. ‘How can you possibly think this is going to be all right?’
‘The train will soon be on the move again, and we’ll go on to St Petersburg. From there, you’ll be able to get a train to Hamburg.’
‘No I won’t! I’ll be in Russia illegally – without a visa, remember? They’ll probably clap me straight in handcuffs and have me shipped off to prison in Siberia!’
‘Don’t be so silly,’ Lil scoffed. ‘They won’t do that. Anyway, all you have to do is let the Chief know where you are and what’s happened, and I’m sure he’ll arrange for the papers you need.’
Carruthers looked more furious than ever. ‘The Chief ? Oh yes, I have no doubt he’ll be absolutely thrilled when I tell him we’re in St Petersburg, having completely disobeyed his orders and gone to the other side of Europe on a whim. This was my chance to show him what I’m made of, and now I’ll have to go to him cap in hand, to beg for his help like some naughty schoolboy. He’s going to be so disappointed.’
‘It isn’t a whim,’ said Lil crossly. Just then, she heard a whistle on the platform, and the slamming of doors. ‘I say – here we go! I think we’re moving off again. We’ve done it! We’re going over the border!’
‘Oh, we’ve done it, all right,’ muttered Carruthers sarcastically.
Before he could say another word, Lil lunged forward, clapping a hand over his mouth and dragging him down into the dress basket once more, then pulling the lid closed over their heads. Carruthers gave an indignant squeak of protest, but the connecting door opened yet again.
Spies in St. Petersburg Page 10