Assignment Maltese Maiden by Edward S. Aarons

Author:Edward S. Aarons [Aarons, Edward S.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-05-04T07:00:00+00:00

The Soviet KGB man entered the door on the right. His bald head gleamed in the hot sunlight that came through the narrow windows. He wore a white tunic with peasant embroidery and black, baggy slacks and leather Libyan slippers. His big hands were empty. He spread them like bear paws, grinning.

“No weapons, Cajun.”

“How did you get here?”

“I knew that sooner or later, Major Won would bring you here for a talk. Major Won and I are friends. Difficult to believe? We Russians and Chinese have been enemies for a long time. I do not speak of ideologies now. I speak of simple nationalism and imperialism. But we are all pragmatic men, Durell. If an unholy alliance is needed, we do what the facts demand. Major Won and I have already discussed a plan of procedure against Madame Hung.”

Durell said drily, “I’ve wondered if Hung works for you, Cesar.”

“No. She works only for herself.”

“But she has to have customers for her information.”

Skoll lumbered across the room and poured some tea without asking Won’s permission. The tiny cup was swallowed up in his massive hand. “I trust the major, you see. One must do so, to survive. I do not threaten you. Neither does Major Won. But please listen to us, Comrade Cajun.”

Durell took Anna-Marie’s hand and sat down on a low settee with her. The girl’s lingers felt cold.

Won said, “I realize that we three, amicably together in this room, create an unprecedented moment. As I say, we must be pragmatists in this business we pursue—”

“Opportunists,” Skoll rumbled.

“Ah. True. We three have a common enemy. All of us have suffered losses at the hands of the Hung organization. Shall I tell you about my brother, young Po, who purchased data from Hung with Peking’s consent about Russian plans to sabotage our Sinkiang nuclear establishments? It almost created war between Communist brothers. The information was false—or nearly so.” Won lifted his one eyebrow toward Skoll, who merely grunted. “My brother was executed for spending the people’s funds and being a dupe; he was charged with treason. A disgrace to my family, a hardship for myself. I was under suspicion myself for many months afterward.”

“Was the data false?” Durell asked quietly.

“We believe it was.” Won waved a pale hand toward Skoll. “The KGB has also been duped and deluded by Hung. She will sell, or create something to sell, whenever she can. Her mind is so brilliant she can convince anyone of its verity.”

“She’s never been charged with false data before.” “Perhaps she needs money more desperately. She was an extraordinarily wealthy woman, at one time, with interests all through Southeast Asia. You hurt her grievously, Mr. Durell. Perhaps, in her need to recoup, and in the growing sanity in relations between our countries, she must invent crises to keep her organization alive.”

“What did she do to you, Cesar?” Durell asked.

Skoll’s Siberian face grimaced. “We tried to penetrate her apparatus in Vladivostok, for example. Lost two very fine young men in the attempt.

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