Page 263 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

"Kharkov," he said. "Fuck it."

His association with the disgraced leader had clearly outweighed the influence of his distinguished family. This was a serious demotion. There would be a salary increase, but money was not worth much in the Soviet Union. He would be assigned an apartment and a car, but he would be in Ukraine, a long way from the center of power and privilege.

Worst of all, he would be living four hundred fifty miles from Natalya.

Sitting at his desk, he sank into a depression. Khrushchev was finished, Dimka's career had gone backward, the Soviet Union was heading downhill, his marriage to Nina was a train wreck, and he was to be sent away from Natalya, the bright spot in his life. Where had he gone wrong?

There was not much drinking in the Riverside Bar these days, but that evening he met Natalya there for the first time since coming back from Pitsunda. Her boss, Andrei Gromyko, was unaffected by the coup, and remained foreign minister, so she had kept her job.

"Khrushchev gave me a parting gift," Dimka said to her.

"What?"

"He told me Nina is having an affair with Marshal Pushnoy."

"Do you believe it?"

"I presume the KGB told Khrushchev."

"Still, it might be a mistake."

Dimka shook his head. "She admitted it. That wonderful dacha we got is right next door to Pushnoy's place."

"Oh, Dimka, I'm sorry."

"I wonder who watches Grigor while they're in bed."

"What are you going to do?"

"I can't feel very indignant. I'd be having an affair with you if I had the nerve."

Natalya looked troubled. "Don't talk like that," she said. Her face showed different emotions in quick succession: sympathy, sadness, longing, fear, and uncertainty. She pushed back her unruly hair in a nervous gesture.

"Too late now, anyhow," said Dimka. "I've been posted to Kharkov."

"What?"

"I heard today. Assistant secretary of the Kharkov Communist Party."

"But when will I see you?"

"Never, I imagine."

Her eyes filled with tears. "I can't live without you," she said.

Dimka was astonished. She liked him, he knew that, but she had never spoken this way, even during the single night they had spent together. "What do you mean?" he said idiotically.

"I love you, didn't you know that?"

"No, I didn't," he said, stupefied.

"I've loved you for a long time."

"Why did you never tell me?"

"I'm frightened."

"Of . . . ?"

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