Land of Ghosts by E V Seymour

Author:E V Seymour [Seymour, E V]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781408917008
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Midnight. Katya and Ruslan were still talking. Outside was the sound of baying dogs and random gunfire. Chaikova and Tallis were bent over a map. Both planned to leave the next morning in different directions. Tallis traced a line down through the Argun Gorge towards Shatoi.

Chaikova shook his head. ‘You will be passing through the triangle of death.’

Tallis looked up. ‘This folklore or informed opinion?’

‘He’s right,’ Katya said. ‘The area between Shali and Kurchaloi is dangerous.’

‘It’s all dangerous.’ Tallis shrugged. His passage was going to mean a keen divide between speed and concealment. He knew that to leave at night might better obscure his movements, that his sense of smell would be more acute, but the journey would be tortuously slow, especially in unfamiliar terrain. At night, sound was louder, shapes and distance distorted and, if there were mines, he ran the strong risk of triggering an explosion and seriously injuring himself. On balance, he opted for speed.

‘Which is why I need to say this,’ Katya said, turning to Ruslan, suddenly cupping his chin in her hands. ‘You know I love you.’

‘Yes, Aunt,’ Ruslan said, two points of pink appearing on each of his high cheekbones reminiscent of Lena.

‘Then you know that what I’m about to say next is because I love you.’

‘What?’ Ruslan said, squirming with embarrassment, drawing away.

‘We have enjoyed peaceful times, but I fear for the future,’ Katya said. ‘Things are changing.’

‘But—’

‘Listen,’ Katya said softly, stroking his face with one finger. ‘Moscow is nervous. You know we are being blamed for bad things that have happened there. I know, I know,’ she said in answer to Ruslan’s whatever expression, ‘it is the way with us. We are the whipping boys. But it’s rumoured that the rebels are planning a new offensive. They’ve changed their tactics, Ruslan.’

Underneath Tallis’s impassive expression, his brain was spring-loaded. What change in tactics?

‘There are fewer head-on collisions with federal forces,’ Ruslan argued.

‘That’s true,’ Katya conceded, ‘but the guerrillas are fighting on their terms now. More ambushes, hidden bombs, targeted attacks. Don’t you see, the situation cannot continue? The Russian government will respond the way it always does, with a crackdown. We’ve already seen the signs—more military presence in the streets, checkpoints, spot checks. You know all this for yourself.’

‘What are you saying, Aunt?’

She looked up imploringly at Tallis. ‘Go back with this man. He will look after you.’

Tallis opened his mouth to say that it was out of the question. Ruslan beat him to it.

‘No, absolutely, definitely—’

‘It’s for the best,’ Katya said. ‘Perhaps you could get to England, to be with your mother.’

Ruslan was adamant. ‘No. This is my home.’

‘Your home is where you make it,’ Katya said, an urgent expression in her eyes.

Ruslan jerked away, angry. ‘Then come with me.’

She shook her head.

‘Why not?’ he said, grabbing hold of both her hands.

She didn’t answer. Her gaze fixed on Tallis. Christ, he could willingly drown in those eyes. ‘You’ll take him, won’t you?’ she said, beseeching.

I’d willingly take all of you, Tallis thought wildly.

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