“Okay sir, just please don’t be too long. I have a bad feeling about this, and I’m usually right about these things,” Orlov cautioned, cradling his rifle while nervously looking around.
“What’s there to be worried about? We’re thousands of miles from home, inside a fort full of cutthroat traitors, which is itself surrounded by thousands of pissed-off Reds. What could possibly go wrong?” said Sheppard, trying to lighten the mood.
“Well, when you put it like that, sir, it doesn’t sound so bad,” replied Orlov, playing along.
Walking out from behind the truck, Sheppard looked around, trying to get his bearings. The inside of the fort was lined with what looked like a series of barracks and storerooms. In the middle of the fort was tall two-story building with a marble-arched entranceway in the middle that appeared to lead inside the structure. Sheppard judged that this was probably as good a place as any to start their search. Slinging their rifles, they headed towards the entrance. He and Elena were almost there when Sheppard eyed the Vauxhall he had seen previously, parked outside the building. Stopping shortly to admire the car in the dim light, Sheppard thought it looked in mint condition, no doubt an expensive toy of Colonel Reimer’s.
Stepping beneath the archway, Sheppard saw that they could go either left or right to begin their search. He looked at Elena and shrugged.
“Right, turn right. I would,” said Elena from behind him.
“Right it is.”
They moved along quietly, hoping to find where the Czarina was being held. The hallway was narrow, arched, and dimly lit by candles. A sound caught Sheppard’s ear. He could hear singing coming from a room further down. Continuing on, Sheppard peered inside the room where the singing was coming from. He could see about a dozen soldiers in various states of inebriation. Sheppard found it odd that these men were getting stinking drunk when there was an army of Reds breathing down their necks. He was just glad that they wouldn’t be as vigilant, or as sober as he had initially feared.
After about ten minutes, their search of the bottom floor proved to be fruitless, so they decided to climb a set of wooden stairs to the second floor and continue their exploration up there. When a man unexpectedly tumbled out of a nearby room, seeing Sheppard and Elena, he staggered towards them with a half-empty bottle in his hand. Sheppard smiled at the man, and as soon as he was less than a couple of feet away, Sheppard stepped into the man and smashed his fist into his face, knocking him out cold. Grabbing the man by the arms before he fell to the floor, Sheppard looked about. They needed a place to hide the unconscious man.
Trying a door, Elena opened it and Sheppard stepped inside and laid the drunken man down on the hard cold floor. Closing the door behind them, Elena and Sheppard both let out a deep breath and then together climbed the stairwell to the second floor. Sheppard was about to step out of the stairwell, when he heard voices coming from down the hallway. Throwing himself against the wall, he waved for Elena to halt in her tracks. Slowly edging forward, he peered around the corner to see who was talking. At the far end of the hallway, he could see three well-armed soldiers standing on guard outside a closed door. They looked to be waiting for someone important. A crooked grin emerged on Sheppard’s face. His pulse raced with excitement; he was sure that this was the room they were looking for. As Sheppard watched, the door swung open and light flooded out. A beautiful blonde-haired young girl wearing a full-length voluminous green dress inlaid with gold emerged and was instantly flanked by the three men. They turned down the hall and walked around a corner, leaving Sheppard and Elena alone in the darkened stairwell.
Sheppard turned back and looked at Elena. “Come on, we need to check out that room,” said Sheppard, as he quickly strode towards the door that the girl had come out from.
Stopping outside, Sheppard saw that the ornate door was unique. They hadn’t seen one like it so far in the fort, which made him certain they had found the right room. Looking both ways to make sure they were still alone, Sheppard slowly turned the large brass handle, surprised to find it unlocked. With a silent prayer on his lips, he pushed open the door. Without hesitating, they both quickly stepped inside, their eyes squinting from the brightly lit room. Both Sheppard and Elena stood there staring at the magnificent furnishing adorning the room. Quickly closing the door behind them, Sheppard waved for Elena to move along the right side of the room while he did the same on the left.
“What do you want? You know you’re not allowed in here, by order of the Prince Reimer,” said a stern woman’s voice, from behind some hanging carpets at the far end of the room.
Sheppard took a chance and spoke. “We don’t work for Colonel Reimer. We’re friends.”
There was silence for a moment and then an elderly, well-dressed woman stepped out from behind the curtains. She appeared to be in her mid-seventies. Her long grey hair tied in a bun behind her head, an unmistakable air of grace and poise surrounded her.
“Who are you and what are you doing here?” she asked.
“Madame, my name is Captain Christopher Sheppard, and this is Private Elena Zakharov,” said Sheppard, introducing them.
“You’re not Russian, yet you speak Russian fluently,” said the woman.
“You are correct madam, I am not Russian, but Elena is. Please, Madame, we’re wasting valuable time. Was the girl who just left the room under guard Major General Alekseev’s granddaughter?”
An awkward silence filled the room. Sheppard observed that the older woman had tears in her eyes.
“Yes, she is his granddaughter, and I am his widow,” said Mrs. Alekseev, her voice cracking with remorse and sadness.
“I am sorry, Madame. I did not mean to be so heartless or so rude. It’s just that I needed to know,” said Sheppard, lowering his weapon.
“It’s all right, Captain, you didn’t know who I was.”
Sheppard turned to Elena. “Guard the door!”
“Yes, sir,” replied Elena, her weapon pointed at the door should anyone try to enter.
“Madame, time is short; do you know where they were taking her?” Sheppard asked.
“Sorry, Captain, I don’t. Prince Reimer called for a private audience with Nadya. Normally, he comes to us. However, tonight he asked that she go to him. It’s most unusual. I hope she’s all right,” said Mrs. Alekseev, her voice full of concern.
“Do you think she will be gone long?”
“Hard to say, this rarely happens. Why, Captain?”
“Because, Madame, we’re here to take you both to freedom.”
Mrs. Alekseev looked at Sheppard and then over at Elena with some disbelief, both of whom were in desperate need of a bath and some new clean clothes. “I hope there are more than two of you. Reimer has hundreds of murderers and other assorted scum working for him, you know.”
“Well, we have one more man downstairs,” replied Sheppard with a smile. “So we’ll be more than a match for Reimer and his men. Now, Madame, please change into something more appropriate. I’ll watch the door while Private Zakharov helps you pack.”
Nadya Alekseev walked with her head down, listening to her footsteps echo down the hallway as she followed close behind the three men Reimer had sent to fetch her. She did not fear what was going on; she knew that Reimer was devoted to her and dependent on her gift. For as long as Nadya could recall, she had been blessed with an ability to see deep into a person’s soul and tell them their future or their deepest secrets, simply by touching something they owned. She was rarely, if ever, wrong.
A soldier seeing them approach opened a door; together they entered Reimer’s personal quarters. Nadya was shown to a couple of large plush pillows on the floor. With a nod of her head, Nadya silently sat down cross-legged, with her head facing the floor and her hands wrapped deep inside her lavishly embroidered gown, while she waited for the usual questioning to begin.
“Welcome, my child”’ said Reimer. “I hope you are well tonight.”
“Yes, I am my Prince,” Nadya lied. She so de
sperately wanted to be away from Reimer. She didn’t raise her head, but sensed that things were in motion all around her. Nadya’s heart raced. Her world was about to change.
“My child, please look up. Tonight I have an unannounced guest. He comes all the way from Moscow just to meet you,” said Reimer.
Nadya slowly raised her head and saw a man sitting next to Reimer. He was a big man, dressed completely in black. Unlike Reimer, this man looked like a cold-blooded killer, menacing, someone to be feared.
“This man … Pardon me, where are my manners. Comrade Colonel Grusian is an agent of the infamous and much feared Soviet State Security Services. He has travelled far to bargain for your freedom,” said Reimer, with a broad grin on his face.
Nadya stared at Grusian, trying to see inside the man’s soul. She felt nothing, nothing whatsoever. He truly was dangerous. No one had ever been so hard to read. For the first time in years, she felt a chill crawl down her spine. Nadya was suddenly scared and fearful for her life.
“Why come at all, Comrade Colonel?” asked Nadya, trying to control her fear.
“My superiors have asked me to bring you home to Russia, where you belong. You shouldn’t remain here, a hostage, a pet of some disgusting White pariah,” said Grusian, not bothering to disguise his loathing of Reimer.
Several of Reimer’s guards took exception to Grusian’s comments and moved towards him. Reimer waved them off with a quick wave of his dirty hands.
“What if I like it here, Colonel? What then? Do you and your men intend to take me by force?” said Nadya, trying to read the killer.
Grusian leaned forward in his chair. “My child, I have come here with an army of Red soldiers, who currently surround this fort. I can personally guarantee Colonel Reimer’s safety, but only if you agree to come with me. Now, doesn’t that sound like a fair trade, your freedom for your captor’s life?”
Nadya sat silently for a minute, and then extended her hands. “Your knife, give me your knife, Colonel.”
“I am unarmed,” Grusian replied, though he knew he had been caught in a lie.
“Colonel, you are not telling the truth. I can see it. You carry a large knife in a pouch in the small of your back. Now please hand it to me,” ordered Nadya.
Reimer jumped up and twirled on his heels. “She’s so damned good. God, how I love her! Colonel, hand her your hidden knife, before I hand her your head,” said Reimer coldly.
Grusian did not know how, but the girl could see things that she should not. Slowly reaching behind his back, Grusian pulled out his meat cleaver and held it out before him. One of Reimer’s men walked over and snatched it from his hands. With great care, the guard reverently placed it in Nadya’s hands.
Wrapping her fingers around the cold steel, Nadya brought the blade close to her chest. She closed her eyes and then bowed her head to the ground once more. After a few seconds, she gently placed Grusian’s blade down on the pillows in front of her and raised her head, looking deep into Grusian’s cold, unfeeling eyes.
Reimer’s eyes lit up. He was enjoying himself. “Go on, Colonel Grusian, ask her anything you like. She’ll answer you truthfully. She always does,” boasted Reimer, beaming at his treasure.
“This is some kind of parlour trick. I don’t have time to waste on such childish games. Reimer, send her away and let’s talk some more without this unneeded distraction,” said Grusian, starting to feel uncomfortable about the way the girl stared at him, unblinking.
“You came here with four armoured cars,” said Nadya.
“They’re right out front for anyone to see. You see it’s just a game,” said Grusian as he stood.
“Your junior officer’s name is Titov, yes, it’s Titov, and he is waiting for you as we speak,” said Nadya with a blank poker face.
Grusian sensed that the girl could somehow be genuine, but he didn’t want to let on that he thought this. “Another trick, any one of your men could have asked for Comrade Lieutenant Titov’s name before coming up here with the girl,” said Grusian dismissively.
“Enough, my child,” snapped Reimer. “It is obvious that this godless Bolshevik devil does not want to believe. Tell him if you are going to leave me for your freedom.”
Nadya took a deep breath to calm herself and then told the truth. “My Prince, I have no intention of leaving with this or any other Red agent.”
“There, Colonel, you have my answer,” said Reimer with a proud smile upon his face.
“May I go now, Prince?” asked Nadya.
“Yes, once again you have done me proud, my dearest,” said Reimer. “Sergeant, please take my most prized possession back to her room,” Reimer said, with a snap of his greasy fingers.
With that, Nadya slowly rose to her feet, bowed her head, and then waited to be escorted from the room. As before, the three soldiers formed up around her and led her towards the door.
Just as they were about to leave the room, Nadya turned abruptly, lifted her head, and faced Grusian. “I’m sorry, Comrade Colonel, but I feel that I must tell you that in the next day or so, you along with most of your men will be dead,” her voice and face expressionless as she spoke.
Reimer broke out into howling laughter upon hearing her pronouncement and cheerily slapped Grusian on the back while Grusian stared back at the girl, hate filling his cold eyes.
Sheppard sat up the instant he heard footsteps coming down the hallway. Quickly moving against the wall, he drew his pistol, took aim and then holding his breath, he waited for the door to open. With a loud creak the door opened, a moment later, in stepped the stunningly beautiful young woman whom Sheppard had earlier seen leave with the guards.
“Lower your weapon Captain, no one enters this room without my knowledge,” said the girl, without even bothering to look at Sheppard.
Surprised, Sheppard did as he was told.
The girl looked to be about seventeen years old, with porcelain white skin, thick golden blonde hair, and sparkling ice-blue eyes, which vividly shone in the light. Her nose was small and slightly upturned. Sheppard judged that she was probably tall for her age.
“Now, where is my grandmamma?” asked the girl as she walked past Sheppard.
“I am in here, my child. These people did not harm me,” said Mrs. Alekseev, stepping out from behind a hanging rug, dressed in simple loose-fitting clothing.
“I know,” said Nadya, embracing her grandmother in a long hug.
“This is Captain Sheppard. He's a foreign officer. He says that he has come to take us away. I believe that he’s the man you saw in your visions,” said the elder Alekseev, looking at Sheppard with a reassuring smile.
Nadya turned and looked Sheppard in the eye. “Captain, just how do you propose that we leave here? I think you are aware that we are surrounded by thousands of Red soldiers who intend to take this place by storm.”
“Miss Alekseev, I have found a way out. There is an underground river, which flows beneath the fort. By using it, we can swim our way to freedom. It’s horribly risky, but we should be able to find a way past the Reds once we are outside the fort,” said Sheppard.
Nadya took her grandmother by the hand. “I am sorry, Mister Sheppard, but my grandmamma would never survive such a journey, and I will not leave without her. There has to be another way.”
“Madame, please forgive me, but Captain Sheppard, and I made it in here using that route. There are no other ways in or out of this fort, that is unless you believe that we can just walk out the front door,” Elena interjected.
“Excellent suggestion, we will leave via the main gate,” announced Nadya. “Come, Grandmamma, I need to change into something a little less obvious.”
Sheppard and Elena were left dumbfounded on their side of the room while Nadya quickly changed out of her formal attire.
“Sir, we can’t simply waltz out of here,” protested Elena. “She’s right. We're surrounded. The only workable option is to go out the way we came in,” whispered Elena, frustration growing in her
voice.
“All things being considered equal, I would tend to agree with you Elena, but tonight things are far from equal,” said Sheppard. “Besides, I doubt that Mrs. Alekseev would survive both the freezing river and then the lake. She would die before too long.”
“We should leave the old woman. We came for the girl, and we should leave with her,” said Elena bluntly.
“I doubt we could convince the girl to abandon her grandmother to these people. Would you, Elena?”
Elena bit her lip and then shook her head, knowing that she could never leave her grandmother behind either.
Sheppard looked at his wristwatch. He estimated that they had at most two more hours of darkness before dawn arrived. His mind raced with possibilities. Whatever they were going to do, they would have to do it quickly.
Nadya and her grandmother emerged from behind the curtains, wearing simple but practical Mongolian peasants’ clothing. The disguise would work until someone took the time to look at them.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Sheppard raised his hand to silence everyone in the room.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
“My child, I know that it is late, but I must see you,” pleaded a voice from behind the door.
Sheppard looked over at Nadya.
She mouthed a name—Reimer.
“Prince, please it is late, can it not wait until the morning?” Nadya said, trying to get Reimer to leave.
Reimer begged, “Please don’t send me away. I will not rest until I have seen you.”
“Very well. Are you alone?” asked Nadya.
Smart girl, thought Sheppard.
“Yes, like always. I know your rules. Now please, don’t make me beg anymore. My child, please let me see you,” pleaded Reimer.
Nadya waved for Sheppard and Elena to get out of sight. “Come in, my Prince,” said Nadya.
Sheppard raised his pistol and took aim as he heard the door handle turn. The heavy golden inlaid door slowly swung open.
The Last Eagle (A Christopher Sheppard Adventure Book 1) Page 19