Zara's Game

by Jo Black

  ‘As you wish.’

  ‘Take care Harry. I’m sure we’ll see each other soon. Do me a favour, call the pilot and tell him to ready the jet, I’ll be there in thirty minutes.’ Alex got in his car and drove towards the exit. Nish watched him depart then returned to supervise the final pack up. With all Mister Patel’s kit packed they headed down to the boat and boarded it.

  ‘Boss not coming with us?’ Sooty asked.

  ‘No. He’s got to do what bosses do Sooty; he’s got to find us a way out of this. Tell the captain we’re ready to go. I’ll brief everyone after dinner.’

  Alex arrived at the jet terminal and parked his car. He walked over quickly to his jet where the co-pilot was doing final checks. As Alex approached he called over. ‘Change of plan. We’re going to Amman.’ The pilot finished the checks as Alex boarded. As he settled into his seat, Alex punched in a number to his cell phone. ‘We need to meet. Urgently.’ He put his phone down and stared out the window.

  77

  You look troubled Alex, tell me what is on your mind,’ Hani asked softly as Alex nursed his tall glass of tea.

  ‘It is nothing Hani, beyond the usual affairs we find ourselves amidst. And we must wait for Gabriel to discuss that.’

  ‘But I sense this is something personal.’

  ‘Something that has been on my mind for a while. Since Zara returned. I understand my purpose Hani. My job is to take lives, ones that don’t want to be taken. I am something of a burglar of souls in that regard. It brings me no joy. I see in your eyes, and Vincent’s, and others, the joy that the creation of life has brought and I find myself guilty of envy. I would like for once to create a life, and not simply take it.’

  Hani nodded with understanding. ‘I often feel of all the brothers, the heaviest burden has most unfairly fallen to you. That you are denied that which is given so freely to others, I cannot imagine the suffering it must cause, but that is also why you were gifted the most beautiful of the swans as some recompense for your troubles. Is it not enough to possess such a treasure in your life that you can sacrifice that which you now desire?’

  ‘It should be. I know. I ask too much. I’m guilty of the very greed I despise in others. I am blessed.’

  ‘If it is was only that simply, we can be blessed and cursed in equal measures.’

  Devreaux finally arrived. ‘Sorry to have kept you, it was short notice.’

  ‘I apologise for that, but needs must Gabriel.’

  Devreaux sat down. ‘What is it Alex?’

  ‘I believe our long-standing enemy has finally revealed himself. I believe our enemy to be Smythe.’

  ‘Are you certain?’

  ‘He came to Paris. He spoke with me. His vanity and ego betrayed him and he spoke too freely. He boasted that all the trials which have beset us recently have been by his hand. He turned the will of all my men, bar the devoted, to his own ends, and he set his will against us to manipulate Zara. I have never seen him exercise such capability before, more importantly, that he was able to get past me with his schemes. I did not see the outcome until it was upon us.’

  ‘Then I fear it is as we suspected. Did you strike him down?’

  ‘No. Hani, we, we all worked too hard to learn of Smythe’s operations. It would serve no purpose to allow him to simply manifest in another.’

  ‘Then you acted wisely my brother. His scheme against you does indeed sound very familiar. He will not take kindly to its failure. He may raise the stakes, or find another vector to attack us with.’

  ‘Gabriel, I sought your counsel because I cannot be sure if his scheme has failed or we merely continue to propagate it further. I’m wary of his trickery that his decision to parley was merely another subterfuge in a much greater continued deception.’

  ‘And you found yourself unable to see past this deception?’ Devreaux asked.

  ‘I cannot be certain. I find myself not entirely focused, I see too much or I see too little.’

  ‘No Alex, I believe you grant him too much credit. His malevolence is certainly without limits, but his capacity to plot such things is limited by his own impatience. I believe he has tested you, and been found wanting. He will now seek redress by other means. You must be on your guard. He knows of us all that you are the gravest of threats, he’ll seek to destroy you by indirect means.’

  ‘You think he’ll go after Zara again?’

  ‘No, he’s already tried that and found her to be remarkably resilient, as we would expect her to be, to his machinations. Now she is becoming self-aware her strength grows by the day. It is no longer his game to play, but Zara’s game. And she has proven to be most adept at it.’

  ‘I fear my wishes are selfish in that regard. The path she will take will steal the very innocence I find so endearing. I’m concerned as she grows as a person...’

  ‘She’ll become too much like you?’

  ‘We are both black swans, are we not Gabriel?’

  ‘But you swim together.’

  ‘Not always...’

  ‘You must work hard to strengthen than bond, so when the time comes she remembers it. So back to the matter in hand.’

  ‘What do you propose we do?’ Hani asked.

  ‘We must continue on the path we have taken. While some are convinced of our theories – Vane, Souza, Vincent, there are others who still remain sceptical and refuse to act. Until we have the will of the entire Guild Council to act then we cannot defeat our common enemy or fulfil our plan. We are not ready. Let us hope this current bout of mischief is merely temporal in nature and we have more time to prepare. Alex, you must go to Moscow. You need to impress the need for urgency to clean up these domestic problems and begin the greater implementation. If our enemy is active then he has awoken and he will renew his search for the weapon.’

  ‘I will go to Moscow.’

  ‘We must operate with caution now. If he has turned men within our sphere then we must choose our company carefully. Continue with your plans Alex. I will give consideration to how we deal with this,’ Devreaux said.

  Alex got up to leave. ‘If it is him?’

  ‘Then it has already begun...’ Hani said with a solemn nod.

  78

  Zara looked up from the documents she was reading as Alex emerged from the aircraft restroom, now changed into a smart black officer of the Kremlin Guard dress uniform. The ornate red and gold epaulettes signifying his most senior rank as a Marshal of the Russian Federation, a chest emblazoned with lines of campaign ribbons and decorations for service. Adorning his wide peaked hat: the gold wreathed Red Army star. Knee high black leather winter riding boots impeccably polished, carrying a long ceremonial cane of polished wood, adorned with a cast gold dragon handle, its eyes set with pure green emeralds, claws clutching the Soviet red star decorated with red diamonds. He returned to his seat opposite.

  ‘I’ve never seen you in uniform,’ Zara said softly.

  ‘Purely for ceremonial duties.’

  ‘A celebration not a funeral, I hope.’

  Alex downed his vodka and recharged his glass from the bottle. He stared out of the window. ‘We just crossed the border into Russia.’

  ‘How do you know?’ Zara asked. Alex nodded out of the window as a group of four winter camouflaged Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter aircraft folded into escort formation around the Challenger 604. ‘Friend or foe?’

  ‘Just a precaution I expect. Not all of Russian airspace is friendly.’ Alex looked out of the window and returned the pilot’s salute. Alex returned his attention to Zara. He took her hand and squeezed it gently. ‘What’s troubling you?’

  ‘Hunter. I can’t believe he betrayed my friendship.’

  ‘He didn’t. You have to learn in this business to separate business from friendship. It’s possible to hold different political viewpoints, and still remain friends.’

  ‘Ever the pragmatic Russian.’

  ‘Pragmatism and Russian politics are essential bedfellows. You know Zara; once you step off thi
s plane it will be very hard to go back, your options may become very limited. Are you sure this is the decision you want to make? I can have the pilot return you to Spain.’

  ‘No. My place is at your side now. Besides, what is there to go back to?’

  ‘Hunter clearly found his way back on side, perhaps you could to.’

  ‘No. I can’t work for the people who protect Smythe and his ilk. This scheme they have created, I want no part of it, either directly or complicity by my inaction.’

  ‘As long as you understand the consequences.’

  ‘I understand.’

  ‘Good. Regret is a terrible thing.’

  The Challenger began its descent into the military airfield outside of Moscow. Zara looked out the window at the cold and snow covered landscape. Alex returned from the wardrobe closet with a full-length black coat on. He brought a thick wool coat with fur lined collar and fur hat for Zara. ‘You need to wrap up warm. The pilot reports current outside air temperature of minus twelve. It will take some acclimatisation after Spain.’

  ‘What do you suggest? Starting by sitting in a fridge and working my way on to the deep freeze?’ Zara said with a sarcastic smile.

  ‘Just drink more vodka.’ Alex smiled as he helped Zara into her coat. He buttoned it up for her then pulled her hat deep over her ears.

  ‘I feel like an extra from Doctor Zhivago.’

  ‘You’ll fit in well. In The Motherland it is better to be warm than fashionable.’ Their aircraft rolled to a stop outside the reception terminal. Alex put his hat on and picked up his cane as the engines spooled to a stop. ‘Are you ready?’ he asked Zara.

  ‘As I’ll ever be.’

  ‘Good. Let’s not keep him waiting.’

  ‘Who?’ Asked Zara.’

  ‘The President of the Russian Federation.’

  ‘Is he here?’ Zara expressed with shock.

  ‘Of course.’ Alex headed to the door as Zara dipped her head for a look through the jet’s small window, her jaw dropped with shock as she saw what was waiting for their arrival.

  Two soldiers supervised the opening of the door. They rolled the long red carpet out to the base of the steps as Alex stepped out, he turned to help Zara steady herself as she made her way down the steps before guiding her to position in front of the waiting reception. A full company of black uniformed Kremlin Guards waited flanked either side of the red carpet, behind them, the ceremonial military band and army male choir. Stood at the end of the red carpet, beneath the statue of Lenin, a large wreathed Soviet red star behind, and the most surprising for Zara, but not Alex, the flag of the Soviet Union gently flapping in the light winter breeze. It was as if she had been transported back in time into the depths of The Cold War. Orders were barked; the honour guard presented arms and saluted. Alex returned the salute as the band struck the opening chords to the recently restored, and signed into law by the president, music from the State Anthem of the Soviet Union, not the Russian Federation’s post Soviet National anthem, sung by the military choir.

  (Translated from Russian)

  * * *

  Russia — our sacred State,

  Russia — our beloved country.

  A mighty will, a great glory —

  Is your legacy for all time!

  * * *

  Be glorious, our free Homeland,

  Fraternal peoples, a union for the ages,

  Common wisdom handed down by our forbears

  Be glorious, our country! We pride ourselves in you.

  From the southern seas to the arctic circle

  our forests and fields spread before you

  You are unique in the world, you are without compare

  The land of my birth protected by God.

  * * *

  Open spaces for dreams and for living

  Are opened for us by the coming years

  Our strength is given to us by faith in our Homeland

  Thus it was, so it is and always will be!

  Zara felt the hairs on her neck bristle from the unashamed patriotism on display. She had become used to the slightly grubby and tarnished anthem of her own country that had become something that drunken football hooligans chanted to annoy foreigners at away matches, or people mumbled through reluctantly, such was the lack of any real affection for the kingdom these days.

  The anthem concluded, Alex took Zara’s arm through his and walked the length of the red carpet to the waiting president who stepped down from the small stand, walked over and put a hand on each of Alex’s shoulders, smiled warmly and embraced him with a kiss on each cheek. A greeting Zara didn’t imagine Her Majesty would be likely to copy for any commanding officer arriving home.

  ‘Welcome home Aleksandr. It is good to see you.’

  ‘President.’

  ‘And this must be your charming wife, Zara. Welcome to Russia.’

  ‘Thank you. It is a great honour,’ Zara replied. The president raised a delighted eyebrow and a beamed smile.

  ‘Ah, your Russian is very good.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Let us get out of the cold, come.’ Alex and Zara followed the president through the building to the exit where his limousine was waiting along with another hundred or more black state security and F.S.B cars in escort, an entourage so long Zara wondered if they had anyone else doing any work that day.

  ‘You can ride with Grigor. I have to speak to the president, you’ll understand if he prefers not to discuss state business with a former M.I.6 agent.’

  ‘Who is Grigor?’ Zara asked in a whisper.

  ‘He’s the head of the F.S.B. He’ll take care of you.’

  ‘As a former M.I.6 agent, I’m not sure I want to be “taken care of” by the head of the F.S.B. Does he know?’

  ‘Of course he knows, he wouldn’t be the head of the F.S.B if he didn’t,’ Alex said with a smile. He spoke briefly to the president, soliciting a hearty laugh. ‘You’ll be fine.’

  Alex kissed her on each cheek and got into the back of the president’s armoured limousine. One of the president’s aides directed Zara to the car behind. She got in the back. ‘Ah Zara,’ Grigor said. ‘It is good to finally meet you after I’ve heard so much.’

  ‘Nothing bad I hope.’

  Grigor smiled. ‘Your husband, when he drinks too much, never stops talking about you. Of course all good, he is a very proud husband, and I can see why. Close the door you idiot before we freeze to death!’ Grigor snapped at the aide who quickly shut the door. The convoy took off at speed towards Moscow, and Zara quickly realised the reason behind its size as every single road had been completely shuttered to traffic to clear the path for the president’s passage, bringing a large area of Moscow to a standstill as they waited for the long line of vehicles to speed past.

  79

  So tell me Aleksei, is it as I suspected?’ the president asked. Alex removed an envelope from his inner coat pocket and handed it to him. The president opened it and scanned through it. His former K.G.B intelligence officer skills had not diminished and he required no guidance as to the significance of the contents as his eyes fell on the ringed payments to a pair of named companies. ‘The evidence appears irrefutable.’

  ‘It would seem so. Based on our conversations, and the contradiction with your directives, after my conversation with Grigor in Crimea, I believe there is little doubt remaining that he acts in concert with our enemies.’

  ‘I suspect he is not alone in this mischief. The oligarchs are not taking kindly to their removal from the table of power. Their greed overwhelms them. It is not enough they have already looted the people’s treasury; they now wish to subvert the path of democracy as well. It is a great irony to me that the greatest proponents of democracy believe in it the least, when it doesn’t suit their purpose.’

  ‘How will you act?’

  ‘What do you counsel?’

  ‘This continued domestic disturbance has become an irksome distraction to the greater plan and architecture for restora
tion of The Motherland. They are enemies of the state, and like all enemies of the state they must be purged. In this regard I do not believe a few show trials for tax evasion will be sufficient to deter further activity of this type.’

  ‘I’m inclined to agree with you. They are the cancer eating us from the inside. Left to fester in a Siberian prison cell we risk these tumours to merely become more malignant. Perhaps it is time to cut them out so the patient may recover to full health.’

  ‘They need reminding the old ways of doing things have not been forgotten.’

  ‘Is this the appropriate message to send?’

  ‘Stalin burned these things into the psyche of every Russian man, woman, and child, for eternity. A reminder of it will demonstrate to them that Russia is not so easily bought by the imperialists simply because there is a McDonalds in Red Square.’

  ‘A little fear goes a long way. I like your thinking. It seems prudent. Are you confident you can recover the money and assets that have been taken from the people?’

  ‘I believe my wife may prove entirely useful in that regard once the current situation we are dealing with is resolved. She has your keen eye for the small details Vladimir. She is an expert in following the money, as she so diligently proved against The Saudi Group subterfuge.’

  ‘Yes, I had wondered what you had planned to amuse her. I don’t imagine her to be the sort of wife who would stay at home and cook borsch and commit to idle gossip with the neighbours. She reminds me of your mother. Very well Aleksandr, we must act swiftly. That they have chosen to act in such a fashion suggests they believe I am vulnerable, we must show them strength. You will take care of it personally?’