Dunross laughed。 〃Jolly good luck！ The idea of burning to death or drowning with you fills me with equal dismay。〃
Ten yards away； Bartlett was lifting Casey up。 The angle of the deck was bad now； the fire worse。 〃This whole goddamn tub could capsize any second。〃
〃What about them？〃 she asked quietly； nodding at Fleur and Orlanda。
He thought a second； then said decisively； 〃You go first； wait below！〃
〃Got it！〃 At once she gave him her small purse。 He stuffed it into a pocket and hurried away as she kicked off her shoes； unzipped her long dress and stepped out of it。 At once she gathered up the light silk material into a rope； tied it around her waist； swung neatly over the railing and stood there poised on the edge a moment； gauged her impact point carefully； and leapt out into a perfect swan dive。 Gornt and Dunross watched her go； their immediate danger forgotten。
Bartlett was beside Orlanda now。 He saw Casey break the surface cleanly and before Orlanda could do anything he lifted her over the railing and said； 〃Hold your breath； honey；〃 and dropped her carefully。 They all watched her fall。 She plummeted down feet first and went into the water a few yards from Casey who had already anticipated the spot and had swum down below the surface。 She caught Orlanda easily； kicked for the surface； and Orlanda was breathing almost before she realized she was off the deck。 Casey held her safely and swam strongly for the cutter； in perfect control。
Gornt and Dunross cheered lustily。 The boat lurched again and they almost lost their footing as Bartlett stumbled over to the Marlowes。
〃Peter； how's your swimming？〃 Bartlett asked。
〃Average。〃
〃Trust me with her？ I was a lifeguard； beach bum； for years。〃
Before Marlowe could say no； Bartlett lifted Fleur into his arms and stepped over the railing onto the ledge and poised himself for a second。 〃Just hold your breath！〃 She put one arm around his neck and held her nose then he stepped into space； Fleur tightly and safely in his arms。 He plunged into the sea cleanly； protecting her from the shock with his own legs and body； and kicked smoothly for the surface。 Her head was hardly under a few seconds and she was not even spluttering though her heart was racing。 In seconds she was at the cutter。 She hung on to the side and they looked back。
When Peter Marlowe saw she was safe his heart began again。 〃Oh； jolly good；〃 he muttered。
〃Did you see Casey go？〃 Dunross asked。 〃Fantastic！〃
〃What？ Oh； no； tai…pan。〃
〃Just bra and pants with stockings attached and no ironworks and a dream dive。 Christ； what a figure！〃
〃Oh those're pantyhose；〃 Marlowe said absently； looking at the water below； gathering his courage。 〃They've just e out in the States； they're all the rage 。。。〃
Dunross was hardly listening。 〃Christ Agnes； what a figure。〃
〃Ah yes；〃 Gornt echoed。 〃And what cojones。〃
The boat shrieked as the last of its mooring guys snapped。 The deck toppled nauseatingly。
As one； the last three men went overboard。 Dunross and Gornt dived； Peter Marlowe jumped。 The dives were good but both men knew they were not as good as Casey's。
38
11：30 P。M。：
On the other side of the island the old taxi was grinding up the narrow street high above West Point in Mid Levels； Suslev sprawled drunkenly in the backseat。 The night was dark and he was singing a sad Russian ballad to the sweating driver； his tie askew； coat off； his shirt streaked with sweat。 The overcast had thickened and lowered； the humidity was worse； the air stifling。
〃Matyeryebyets！〃 he muttered； cursing the heat； then smiled； the twisted obscenity pleasing him。 He looked out the window。 The city and harbor lights far below were misted by wisps of clouds； Kowloon mostly obscured。 〃It'll rain soon； rade；〃 he said to the driver； his English slurred； not caring if the man understood or not。
The ancient taxi was wheezing。 The engine coughed suddenly and that reminded him of Arthur's cough and their ing meeting。 His excitement quickened。
The taxi had picked him up at the Golden Ferry Terminal； then climbed to Mid Levels on the Peak； turned west； skirting Government House where the governor lived； and the Botanical Gardens。 Passing the palace； Suslev had wondered absently when the Hammer and Sickle would fly atop the empty flagpole。 Soon； he had thought contentedly。 With Arthur's help and Sevrin's … very soon。 Just a few more years。
He peered at his watch。 He would be a little late but that did not worry him。 Arthur was always late； never less than ten minutes； never more than twenty。 Dangerous to be a man of habit in our profession； he thought。 But dangerous or not； Arthur's an enormous asset and Sevrin； his creation； a brilliant； vital tool in our KGB armament； buried so deep； waiting so patiently； like all the other Sevrins throughout the world。 Only ninety…odd thousands of us KGB officers and yet we almost rule the world。 We've already changed it； changed it permanently； already we own half 。。。 and in such a short time； only since 1917。
So few of us； so many of them。 But now our tentacles reach out into every corner。 Our armies of assistants … informers； fools； parasites； traitors； the twisted self…deluders and misshapen； misbegotten believers we so deliberately recruit are in every land； feeding off one another like the vermin they all are； fueled by their own selfish wants and fears； all expendable sooner or later。 And everywhere one of us； one of the elite； the KGB officers； in the center of each web； controlling guiding eliminating。 Webs within webs up to the Presidium of all the Soviets and now so tightly woven into the fabric of Mother Russia as to be indestructible。 We are modern Russia； he thought proudly。 We're Lenin's spearhead。 Without us and our techniques and our orchestrated use of terror there would be no Soviet Russia； no Soviet Empire； no driving force to keep the rulers of the Party all powerful … and nowhere on earth would there be a munist state。 Yes； we're the elite。
His smile deepened。
It was hot and sultry inside the taxi even though the windows were open as it curled upward through this residential area with its ribbons of great gardenless apartment blocks that sat on small pads chewed out of the mountainside。 A bead of sweat trickled down his cheek and he wiped it off； his whole body feeling clammy。
I'd love a shower； he thought； letting his mind wander。 A shower with cool sweet Georgian water； not this saline filth they put through Hong Kong's pipes。 I'd love to be in the dacha near Tiflis； oh that would be grand！ Yes； back in the dacha with Father and Mother and I'd swim in the stream running through our land and dry off in the sun； a great Georgian wine cooling in the stream and the mountains nearby。 That's Eden if there ever was an Eden。 Mountains and pastures； grapes and harvest and the air so clean。
He chuckled as he remembered the fabrication about his past he had told Travkin。 That parasite！ Just another fool； another tool to be used and； when blunt； discarded。
His father had been a munist since the very early days … first in the Cheka； secretly； and then； since its inception in 1917； in the KGB。 Now in his late seventies； still tall and upright and in honored retirement； he lived like an old…fashioned prince with servants and horses and bodyguards。 Suslev was sure that he would inherit the same dacha； the same land； the same honor in due course。 So would his son； a fledgling in the KGB； if his service continued to be excellent。 His own work merited it； his record was impressive and he was only fifty…two。
Yes； he told himself confidently； in thirteen years I'm due for retirement。 Thirteen great more years； helping the attack move forward； never easing up whatever the enemy does。
And who is the enemy； the real enemy？
All those who disobey us； all those who refuse our eminence … Russians most of all。
He laughed out loud。
The weary sour…faced young driver glanced up briefly at the rear mirror then went back to his driving； hoping his passenger was drunk enough to misread the meter and give him a great tip。 He pulled up at the address he had been given。
Rose Court on Kotewall Road was a modern fourteen…story apartment block。 Be