Page 95 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

Filipov returned with a colonel and a major. The senior man said: "Good morning, comrades. I'm Colonel Kats. Slight delay, but otherwise everything is going smoothly--"

"No, it's not, you dimwitted prick," said Dimka.

Kats was incredulous. "What did you say?"

Filipov said: "Look here, Dvorkin, you can't talk to an army officer like that."

Dimka ignored Filipov and spoke to Kats. "You have endangered the security of this entire operation by your disobedience. Your orders were to paint over the army numbers on the crates. You were provided with new stencils reading 'Construction-Grade Plastic Pipe.' You were to paint new markings on all the crates."

Kats said indignantly: "There wasn't time."

Filipov said: "Be reasonable, Dvorkin."

Dimka suspected Filipov might be happy for the secret to leak, for then Khrushchev would be discredited and might even fall from power.

Dimka pointed south, out to sea. "There is a NATO country just one hundred and fifty miles in that direction, Kats, you fucking idiot. Don't you know that the Americans have spies? And that they send them to places such as Sevastopol, which is a naval base and a major Soviet port?"

"The markings are in code--"

"In code? What is your brain made of, dog shit? What training do you imagine is given to capitalist-imperialist spies? They are taught to recognize uniform badges--such as the missile regiment flash you are wearing on your collar, also against orders--as well as other military insignia and equipment markings. You stupid turd, every traitor and CIA informant in Europe can read the army code on these crates."

Kats tried standing on his dignity. "Who do you think you are?" he said. "Don't you dare speak to me like that. I've got children older than you."

"You are relieved of your command," said Dimka.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Show him, please."

Colonel Pankov took a sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to Kats.

Dimka said: "As you see from the document, I have the necessary authority."

Filipov's jaw was hanging open, Dimka saw.

Dimka said to Kats: "You are under arrest as a traitor. Go with these men."

Lieutenant Meyer and another of Pankov's group smoothly positioned themselves either side of Kats, took his arms, and marched him to the limousine.

Filipov recovered his wits. "Dvorkin, for God's sake--"

"If you can't say anything helpful, shut your fucking mouth," Dimka said to him. He turned to the missile regiment major, who had not said a word so far. "Are you Kats's second-in-command?"

The man looked terrified. "Yes, comrade. Major Spektor at your service."

"You are now in command."

"Thank you."

"Take this train away. North of here is a large complex of train sheds. Arrange with the railway management to stop there for twelve hours while you repaint the crates. Bring the train back here tomorrow."

"Yes, comrade."

"Colonel Kats is going to a labor camp in Siberia for the rest of his life, which will not be very long. So, Major Spektor, don't make a mistake."

"I won't."

Dimka got into his limousine. As he drove away, he passed Filipov standing on the quay, looking as if he was not sure what had just happened.

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