Cashback

by Duncan James

  ***

  They met first over tea at the Cafe Loco, sitting under the giant painting of the Mad Hatter. Jim Farlow joined them, as he was also keen to meet the great man.

  Sergei Volkov was tall and heavily built, quite unlike his statuesque daughter. His lined face betrayed a life of hardship, which Valya had alluded to. Sergei - he insisted on them calling him by his first name - soon relaxed in their company, and before long was talking about his family background, which Valya had been so reluctant to discuss.

  He had been born in Central Siberia, he told them, and lived in a log cabin on the outskirts of a small village, with his parents and family of three sisters and two brothers, all older than himself.

  "It was cold there beyond your imagination in the winter," he said. "At night, we could hear branches on the trees in the larch wood near our home cracking and breaking, they were so heavy with ice. Although there was a mountain stream which fed our well, there was never running water - we broke off icicles and sucked those for fresh water."

  Sergei's father had been a peasant farmer, he explained, who had given everything to the local collective. It was during the days of Stalin's purges, and eventually he had fallen out of favour with the village council, and the whole family had been forced to move. They left with nothing, and went to live in a tiny flat belonging to his elder sister, who had recently married.

  "We had only a few blankets between us to keep ourselves warm, and a couple of sheepskins on the floor," he explained, with no apparent trace of bitterness. "That's how life was in those days. I had no shoes until I was six."

  His father eventually got work on a local building project, and soon things started to improve as a little money came into the family. They were allocated a worker's flat, and old man Volkov was able to buy a few basic tools for the kitchen, including a sausage-making machine. There was a little bread every day for the first time Sergei could remember, but still they did not all have shoes.

  "Very soon, though, the hard life proved too much for my mother, who died still quite young, leaving a huge burden of responsibility on my father and sisters. I was lucky enough to be able to go to the local school, where I was anxious to learn and determined to do well so that I could eventually help my father and the rest of our family. My dear Valya, here," he said, putting his arm round her shoulders and pulling her close, "reminds me very much of my mother."

  Sergei Volkov was still at school when Stalin died, but it was a long time before the country really started to change. Apprehension and suspicion dominated the lives of everyone, who remained careful of what they said for fear of a sudden night time knock at the door from the secret police. And in spite of his education, Sergei knew little about anything outside the Soviet Union, although he understood that the West, and in particular the United States, was a threat to their way of life.

  "I was always fascinated by mathematics," he explained, "and was lucky enough to have an apparent natural aptitude for it. I was determined to go to college, and one day I hitched a lift in a lorry, in my father's best clothes, to visit the one nearest to us. I bluffed my way to the principle's office, to announce that I intended to study there. He was so taken aback, that he quizzed me there and then on my chosen subject, and was obviously sufficiently impressed with my knowledge that he undertook to find a place for me at the start of the next term - without having to take any entrance exam."

  He grinned. "My luck had turned at last," he said, "and really I never looked back from that day. I went on to get a good degree, and eventually specialised in computer science. There was a great demand then for computer experts, who were needed in the nuclear industry, and later to contribute towards the huge effort being made to win the space race."

  "So how did you come to work in America, your once-feared enemy?" queried Robin.

  "Well," answered Sergei with a sigh, "at the end of the cold war, everything changed. We knew much more about the West, and we knew that there were great challenges to be met, which the West could afford, but which Russia could not. It was not lack of knowledge that lost us the space race, and put Americans on the moon before us - it was lack of money. And the Americans knew that there was a large reservoir of highly talented mathematicians in Russia - many much cleverer than I was - who could be hired cheaply."

  Sergei looked solemn. "And so it was I came to make the biggest mistake of my life, along with many other fellow scientists, and went to the States to work for one of the big computer companies in California's Silicon Valley. Make no mistake, the work was good, and the pay was handsome compared with what I could earn at home, and I had the joy of my little Valya being with me. But when I had done what they had wanted me to do - a piece of pioneering computer engineering which put the company ahead of any other in the field, - I was suddenly told to go. My contract was torn up, I was turned out of my flat, given an air ticket, and told to go. My work permit was invalidated, so I could not look for work elsewhere in America, and I was given no gratuity, no severance pay, and no pension - nothing. Not only that, I have no claim to any royalties or anything similar for the development work which I completed for them. Not content with that, they have so far refused to provide any decent sort of reference when I apply for work in my own country - they almost imply that I was unsatisfactory, and fired. Which is why, at the moment, I have no permanent job."

  He sighed, and there were tears in Valya's eyes.

  "In spite of all the hardships which I have had to endure in life, nothing except this has left me feeling bitter before. And although I almost feel ashamed to admit it, I bear a great grudge against America and its people because of the way I have been treated."

  "I'm sure we can all understand that," said Jim Farlow. "And I'm sure we'd all feel the same if we had been treated in that way."

  "It's not only me, either," said Sergei. "Dozens of my fellow countrymen were engaged on the same project, and many more were employed by the same people but worked in Russia, writing new computer operating systems for them. We have all been treated the same. None of us has any way of seeking compensation. We are all in touch with one another, and have formed a sort of loose affiliation to lobby our government to do something on our behalf, but they seem unwilling or unable to do anything for us."

  "Politics, I suppose," said Marian.

  "But I am very surprised that the Americans should have treated you in this way," said Jim, "especially one of the big corporations. They are making millions in that industry at the moment, so it's not as if they couldn't afford to treat you decently."

  "They certainly wouldn't get away with treating their own people like that," said Robin. "It really is a disgrace. You feel you have to do something to right an injustice like that, but if your government can't do anything, then there's little anyone else can do."

  "Not officially, anyway," said Jim.

  "Or even unofficially," said Marian.

  "What exactly was the work you were engaged in?" asked Robin.

  "I was helping with the design and development of an encryption device for use in the banking industry. Although I say it myself, it was an excellent piece of work, and I know that they have enjoyed worldwide sales of it. Almost every bank uses it, not just to safeguard their transactions at home, but also to protect their international clearing bank activities. It is very versatile, and very secure. The Corporation has made millions of roubles as a result of our work, and we have no share of it at all."

  The three British under-graduates looked at one another in astonishment. Sergei and Valya looked puzzled.

  "Did I say something wrong?" queried Sergei.

  "No, certainly not," said Robin. "It's just the most amazing co-incidence, that's all!"

  "What is?" asked Valya, intrigued.

  "Simply this," replied Jim Farlow. "Robin and I have been taking a special interest in banking security systems during our time at Oxford, and had thought that we might even set up in business together to work on systems like the one you have developed
."

  "Well, that is extraordinary, I must admit," replied Sergei. "I insist that you must let me know if I can help in any way, and I wish your venture every success," he added generously. "Certainly greater success that my colleagues and I have had."

  "That is most kind of you," said Robin.

  "But surely you did succeed," said Marian. "You developed a system which is now in world-wide use, didn't you?"

  "Oh, yes," replied Sergei. "But the system has brought me nothing but grief, and none of the rewards in which I should now be sharing. That's why I bear such a grudge."

  "There is no justice," said Valya sadly. "Let's hope you do not suffer the same fate."

  "Tell me, Sergei," asked Robin. "Did you not patent or licence your invention, or take out any form of copyright?"

  "We had no time or opportunity to do anything like that. We were sacked too soon and too quickly after the device had completed its trials, by which time the American computer giant had already registered it in their name."

  "It is so unfair," said Valya. "There are few in the world so brilliant as my father, and yet he is not rich and has difficulty finding work."

  "Now, now, my dear daughter," responded Sergei. "Your young friends have heard enough of my problems. Now you must show me round this lovely city."

  "It has been a great privilege to meet you, Sergei," said Robin, standing as they prepared to leave. "And we must meet again before you return to Moscow. We had agreed before you arrived that we would hold a small dinner party in your honour, so if you agree, we will do that. And if it would help, I'm sure my tutor would be very pleased to meet you, and might even be in a position to offer you a teaching post here at the University."

  "The dinner party will be a very happy affair, I'm sure, and I would enjoy that, so thank you all for thinking of it," replied Sergei, now with a smile on his careworn face. "As to working in this country - well! It is not a possibility that had ever crossed my mind, so I should need to give it considerable thought. Valya and I will discuss it."

  Valya also looked much happier when she left with her father, who said to her, "Me! A don at Oxford! Such a thing would never have occurred to me. What a difference between your friends here and the people in California, even to think of it as a possibility."

  "Nice man, that 'Grudge'", said Jim when they had gone. "Good idea of yours, too, suggesting he might be able to teach at Oxford. Nothing wrong with 'electric whiskers' and his chums, of course, but 'Grudge' would certainly strengthen Oxford's position in the computer world."

  "One day," said Robin, "we might even be able to offer 'Grudge', as you call him, a job ourselves."?

  6. A PRESENT FROM AUNT GLADYS?

  It had been Friday afternoon when they eventually left Oxford in the Mini for the drive to Robin's home in Surrey for their second visit. No doubt about it - Robin needed a break.

  There was never any question that they would not be welcome to stay again for the weekend at the old farmhouse. It didn't matter a bit that Charles and Sally Bowman were coming to lunch on Sunday - the more the merrier. Robin's mother, Gill, was sure that they would both like to see him again and meet his delightful partner - they always asked about the couple.

  Gill had missed Robin since he had been at Oxford, even though he had been at boarding school before that. She supposed that was natural for a mother, but he got home less often now, and was always so busy, what with his studies and his computer work that seemed to be going so well. Not that she understood it, as she was the first to admit, but he must be clever to invent things that major companies wanted to buy from him. He had hinted that he was negotiating the sale of another of his inventions, and he didn't even have a degree yet! She must remember to ask him about that, although she was sure that if she forgot, Denis would ask. Much more up his street! Besides, Robin had said that he wanted to spend a bit of time with Frank Tucker, fishing, if that could be arranged, so that would mean that she would be able to go to the shops with Marian. Perhaps they would go to Guildford, where there were some good shops and nice little places for a coffee and a chat. If they went early enough, they should be able to park all right.

  She did so hope that things would keep going well for Robin. And in particular, she hoped that he would be able to hang on to that lovely girlfriend of his. Marian had been so good for him since they had met, and he had really come out of himself, somehow. He'd never been much interested in girls before, but it was plain that the couple adored one another and that Robin was blissfully happy in her company. He wasn't the only one, either. Both Gill and Denis had immediately taken to the girl the first time they had met her. She was so easy to get on with, and had somehow - well, sort of fitted in with the family, from the moment they had met.

  "I hope you won't mind if I nip off for a bit of fishing with Padre Tucker," Robin had said to Marian, as they headed for the M40.

  "Of course I don't mind," replied Marian. "You really must relax a bit this weekend. You've been looking so tired, and there's a lot of studying ahead of us - you must be fresh for that."

  "It will be nice to get out on the river for a bit, I must say. Fishing is always totally relaxing, I find. And there are a few things I need to chat to Frank about - the moral issues of what I'm trying to do, and all that sort of thing - so it won't all be a waste of time!"

  "And I'm quite sure your mother will see that I'm not left on my own, either!" said Marian. "She and I get on so well together, so perhaps I shall be able to help with some of the preparation for the lunch party on Sunday."

  "Knowing my mother, everything will be done!" said Robin. "She'll probably be wanting to spirit you off somewhere, to get you to herself for a bit! But you'll enjoy meeting the Bowmans. They're old RAF friends of my father's and they know Frank and Audrey Tucker, too. In fact, I had heard that Charles Bowman is being posted to Africa somewhere quite soon. I wonder if he's going anywhere near where we plan to visit on our trip?"

  "It would be nice to think that we knew somebody over there," replied Marian. "Just in case!"

  They turned on to the motorway, which, thankfully, was not too crowded.

  "I hope we've made the right decision, coming by motorway this time instead of going cross-country," said Robin, as he settled back for the drive. "The M25 has a ghastly reputation as the world's biggest car park, but if it's anything like clear, we should be home in an hour and a half, even in this old thing."

  "Just relax and take your time," said Marian. "We're not in a hurry, but you did insist on driving."

  "You can drive back," said Robin.

  "No problem," she replied. "As a matter of interest, my dear, what are these burning 'moral issues' you've identified, that you want to discuss with the Padre?"

  "Well," he said, "to achieve what I want to achieve, I have to break the law up to a point, and you know that neither of us is happy about that. We have already effectively 'stolen' fifty pounds from various banks, just to prove that the second card worked. The fact that we've given it to charity doesn't change the fact that we nicked it in the first place."

  "I suppose not," agreed Marian.

  "And if I can ever manage to get into the banking system by computer, rather than just with a plastic card, then the sums of money will be bigger still," Robin went on.

  "Well, I know we've already agreed that we shouldn't in any way profit from the experimental side of your work, and I'm already keeping a detailed account of what we take out and what we do with it, so that anyone can check if they want to. I'm not really sure what more we can do at present."

  "Neither am I," admitted Robin. "But we shall need to think of some way to get the money back where it belongs once this development work is over, and we have a viable system that works. And we will need to do that before I have developed and sold the security system which will prevent others from doing what we are doing."

  "Ah," she said, "I see what you mean."

  "We'll have a bit of money of our own to play with," he said, "depending
on what I get offered for my new piece of work."

  "I can't wait to hear what they might say," she said excitedly.

  "I don't think there's any doubt that they'll want it," said Robin. "If their main competitor has bought it, then they almost certainly will want the version that works on their system, just to keep up. I'm tempted, this time, to licence it and take the royalties, rather than cash, depending on what they offer. A bit of income might not be a bad idea, but we shall see."

  "You, know," said Marian, "the more I think about it, the more I think you're right to set up your own business, rather go into some stuffy advertising agency. You could, after all, always provide the advertising industry with a service as a consultant, if ever you had the time."

  "Well, as I've said, computer security systems, coding and encryption and that sort of work certainly interests me more now than it did, and more than computer graphics. There's probably more money in it, too."

  "And I'd be more than happy to help you in your own business rather than go into charity work, if you think I could help," said Marian. "It would be fun working together."

  "Yes, it would," agreed Robin. "And you'd be tax-deductible!" he quipped.

  "That's the sort of thing I could do," added Marian. "All the paper work, while you get on with the technical stuff."

  "Too soon to decide, yet, probably," said Robin. "But it's a nice idea if everything works out, and I really appreciate you offering like that. I actually have the germ of an idea for a business that we could set up to provide a service to all computer owners and users, from the private individual sitting at home, to the major business corporations."

  "That sounds exciting," exclaimed his partner. "Tell me more!"

  "Later!" he promised. "I need to give it a lot more thought first, and be sure nobody else is already doing it. Then, you'll be the first to know, of course!"

  He paused, as they untangled themselves from slow moving traffic near the approaches to Heathrow.

  "The problem is that we shall need quite a bit of start-up capital to get going," he said, as they accelerated again. "I'm tempted to go down the A30 from here, you know, and down the Blackwater Valley Road to Farnham. With all this traffic, and the Friday rush-hour as well, it could be an easier drive, even if it takes a bit longer."

  "We're not in a hurry," replied Marian. "If I were you, I'd take the easiest route - you're supposed to be relaxing this weekend, remember? But you were talking about start-up capital - how much will you need?" she asked.

  "I can't work professionally with a laptop at home, and I shan't have access to the University's computer power any longer, so I shall need quite a bit of expensive equipment," he replied. "And if Jim joins me, he's got nothing to invest in the company, I should think, so I shall have to provide for him as well."

  "And we'll need an office of some sort," added Marian.

  "Damn it, I hadn't thought of that," replied Robin, crossly. "I suppose we shall have to rent something, and that will be really expensive."

  "We'll need a loan, or sponsorship or something," said Marian. "Unless your current inventions raise enough?"

  "I doubt that, very much. And another thing," said Robin, getting even more worried, "we shall need quite a bit of cash behind us to test out phase three of my bank security project. Getting a few quid out of a hole-in-the-wall with a card is one thing, but it will be no good trying to test a system that breaks into the main computer at a bank just by moving a few bob about - that will require quite large sums to show that it works."

  "But if that system does work," reasoned Marian, "surely you'll be able to move money between the banks without actually needing your own, and that means that you will eventually be able to pay it back, doesn't it?"

  "In theory, you're quite right," he agreed, "but in practice that would arouse suspicion, and could easily lead the banks to trace the movements of cash back to us. Using our own money will attract no attention at all. So I would rather use our own money until such time as I know how to do it without being traced. I have some ideas about that, too, as a matter of interest, but it will take a lot of work and take time. And the longer it takes, the more chance there is that we shall be found out if we are using bank money rather than our own."

  "Oh, dear," said Marian. "I begin to see why you need to talk things over with the Padre."

  "Now I seem to have more than ever to worry about," joked Robin.

  "Please don't," pleaded Marian. "Do try to forget it all this weekend, and relax properly."

  She leant across and put her hand on his knee.

  "Not on the motorway, if you don't mind!" said Robin.