Black Sun by Owen Matthews

Author:Owen Matthews
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2019-07-22T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

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The tram was packed with lunchtime shoppers. Maria’s thin body pressed against Vasin’s in the crowd. Two kontora Volgas followed them, overtaking the tram in relays. Doubtless another car would be waiting outside the Adamovs’ apartment. Quite an entourage.

As she fumbled with the keys, Maria kept her eyes down, avoiding Vasin’s. Once inside, she double-locked the door and tossed her coat on the floor. Vasin made a quacking gesture with his hand. Keep talking.

“Thank you for your good citizenship, Maria Vladimirovna,” he said loudly. “Your remarks have been most helpful. Would that all our countrymen were so zealous in assisting the organs of law enforcement.”

He walked over to a telephone receiver that stood on a table in the hall. Silently he pointed at the apparatus and tugged his ear. Maria nodded in understanding and beckoned him to follow. She opened the door to Adamov’s study, an austere room filled with neatly labeled files and stacks of journals, and pointed out the other receiver. Then she led him to the kitchen, where a third telephone hung on the wall.

“May I offer you some tea, Comrade Major? I feel a chill from our walk.”

“I felt a chill too. But only if I am not keeping you from your busy day?”

“It is I who fear that I may be keeping you from your important duties.”

“Not at all. Tea. Yes, please.”

The presence of invisible listeners made their conversation easier. Maria filled a kettle, struck a match, lit the gas.

“Excuse me for a moment, Comrade?”

She returned with a large brown envelope and placed it silently on the kitchen table in front of Vasin.

“Would you like some jam with your tea?”

Vasin slid out a smooth wad of black-and-white photographs. On the top was a typewritten card with a single line of text, the letters punched in angry capitals. It said:

HER OR ME?

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