The Girl With the Crystal Soul by Barbara Dargan

Author:Barbara Dargan [Dargan, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-28T05:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

Tobolsk, Western Siberia, Russia

1991

The following few days at the morgue were uneventful; they went about their usual tasks of putting the skeletons together and mindful of Katya's pleas, did not discuss the matters she had raised with anyone. May caught Agni gazing at Nikhil with an intense look of puzzlement on a couple of occasions, but that was all.

May and Agni arranged to meet in the restaurant for dinner at seven as usual. Katya had given her apologies, saying she was meeting friends for dinner, and May enjoyed her nightly soak in the bath, enjoying the feel of the hot water ease the knots of tension that had formed in her neck and shoulders. As she soaked, May found herself thinking about Tobolsk, and what she knew of the time that Olga and her family had spent there, wondering if the house they had lived in was still standing and if so and whether it would be possible to visit it, or to even go inside.

She waited until they had almost finished eating before asking him, 'Agni, how long does it take to get from here to Tobolsk?'

'Tobolsk? In Western Siberia? About seven hours by car I would say, quicker by air. Why?' He put his fork down and gazed at her thoughtfully. She had an idea that he half knew why she was asking anyway.

'I'd like to go; would you be able to take me?'

'Why?' he repeated.

'Well,' she took a deep breath, 'I read in my book, and we have talked a few times about the eight months or so that the Romanov family were imprisoned there in the Governor's House before coming here.'

'We have, yes.'

'I've been wondering if the house is still there. I'd like to see it if it is and go inside if it's possible. I have no particular reason for wanting to go; maybe it's research, or just out of interest. It might help me to join up the dots. I've seen where they lived here and would like to see where they lived there if I can.' She shrugged; not sure what else she could say.

He was silent for a long time, so long that May worried that he was going to refuse, tell her she was being fanciful, or wasting time, change the subject, or worse, get up and leave.

'All right. I know for a fact that the house is still there, and I think it's a great idea. When do you want to go?'

She felt almost dizzy with happiness. She would have considered going on her own had Agni refused, but she really wanted him to come with her. She liked having him around, enjoying his company. His quiet strength and kindness soothed her.

'I thought we could get there and back before the Americans arrive next week. I can make some excuse to Nikhil; say I need to do some research or something and that I need your assistance - '

'I don't need to ask Nikhil for his permission.' Agni interrupted.

'No, of

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.