Page 269 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

"Your story is wonderful," Tanya said. "Not just good, but extraordinary."

He smiled. "Thank you. Perhaps something worthwhile can come out of this terrible place."

"I'm not the only person who admires it. The editors of New World accepted it for publication." He lit up with gladness, and she had to bring him down again. "But they changed their minds when Khrushchev was deposed."

Vasili looked crestfallen, then he took another handful of nuts. "I'm not surprised," he said, recovering his equanimity. "At least they liked it--that's the important thing. It was worth writing."

"I've made a few copies and mailed them--anonymously, of course--to some of the people who used to receive Dissidence," she added. She hesitated. What she planned to say next was bold. Once said, it could not be retracted. She took the plunge. "The only other thing I could do is try to get a copy out to the West."

She saw the light of optimism in his eyes, but he pretended to be dubious. "That would be dangerous for you."

"And for you."

Vasili shrugged. "What are they going to do to me--send me to Siberia? But you could lose everything."

"Could you write some more stories?"

From underneath his jacket he took a large used envelope. "I have already," he said, and he gave the envelope to her. He drank some beer, emptying his glass.

She glanced into the envelope. The pages were covered with Vasili's small, neat handwriting. "Why," she said with elation, "it's enough for a book!" Then she realized that if she were caught with this material she, too, could end up stuck in Siberia. She slipped the envelope into her shoulder bag quickly.

"What will you do with them?" he asked.

Tanya had given this some thought. "There's an annual book fair in Leipzig, in East Germany. I could arrange to cover it for TASS--I speak German, after a fashion. Western publishers attend the fair--editors from Paris and London and New York. I might be able to get your work published in translation."

His face lit up. "Do you think so?"

"I believe 'Frostbite' is good enough."

"That would be so wonderful. But you would be taking a terrible risk."

She nodded. "So would you. If somehow the Soviet authorities found out who the author was, you'd be in trouble."

He laughed. "Look at me--starving, dressed in rags, living alone in a hostel for men that is always cold--I'm not worried."

It had not occurred to her that he might not be getting enough to eat. "There's a restaurant here," she said. "Shall we have dinner?"

"Yes, please."

Vasili ordered beef Stroganoff with boiled potatoes. The waitress put a small bowl of bread rolls on the table, as was done at banquets. Vasili ate all the rolls. After the Stroganoff he ordered pirozhki, a fried bun filled with stewed plums. He also

ate everything Tanya left on her plate.

She said: "I thought skilled people were highly paid here."

"Volunteers are, yes. Not ex-prisoners. The authorities submit to the price mechanism only when forced."

"Can I send you food?"

He shook his head. "Everything is stolen by the KGB. Parcels arrive ripped open, marked 'Suspicious package, officially inspected,' and everything decent is gone. The guy in the room next to mine received six jars of jam, all empty."

Tanya signed the bill for dinner.

Vasili said: "Does your hotel room have its own bathroom?"

"Yes."

"Does it have hot water?"

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