Major Lazarev reloaded the gun and stood at the ready. He saw that the targets had started to rotate and pulled the trigger. Bang! Bang! Bang! It was the fifth round and, laying the gun down, Anatoly Lazarev began examining the targets. He was pleased and complimented himself with satisfaction.
Just yesterday he was bathing in the sea and basking in the sun. He loved resting in the KGB sanatorium among palms and manicured lawns, but he soon got tired of doing nothing. When the communications officer found him on the beach and sent forward an order to break off his vacation and return to Moscow promptly, Anatoly gladly complied. The same officer took him to the airport and Major Lazarev took the first flight to the capital city. At the Moscow airport the Committee car was already waiting for him.
The sun illuminated only the roofs of Moscow houses, but from the western side, plunging the city streets into a kingdom of violet, reddish and bronze shades with emerald shadows. The day was drawing to a close. The hubbub of the birds fell silent, and in large flocks they settled on the roofs and trees for the night. On the vibrant and bustling city streets the smell of doughnuts was mingled with the odor of fallen leaves and the whiff of car fumes.
Major Lazarev was sitting in the spacious, but uncomfortable office of his boss. It was already his second visit there today, but there was now a file with the documents and the plan for the new mission on the table in front of him. Anatoly was describing his project of the fetation of the Crown Prince or Princess, and was supporting every stage of this plan with arguments and details. Usually, it was impossible to understand what was going on in the general’s head judging solely by his expression, but Anatoly Lazarev saw a tiny sliver of a smile one of approval. It was well known in the office that General Yershov was not capable of smiling, but it was obvious that the general liked his plan. Moreover, he had given Anatoly a free hand, limiting his discretion in no way.
«Larisa Panko belongs to European nobility; she has nice looks and good manners. She is ambitious, wilful and determined. She and Gleb work in the same theatre “Youth”. They are friends, and, what is more, they were once seen kissing. Larisa has already worked for us. She was used for recruiting a foreign agent. It went OK, but she got pregnant. As soon as the Committee found out that she was in a familiar way, it was decided that this fact should be used as an additional pressure factor for the recruited agent. After that Larisa has not been involved in work. I have placed all my bets on her this time, because she is really blue-blooded. In order to ruin Gleb’s wedding with that actress Roshin I will use the director of “Youth” theatre Mikhail Fedorov. He is our active collaborator and I am sure there will be no problems. That’s all from me.» Major Lazarev took the file with the documents from the table and stood up, waiting for instructions.
«Well, on the whole, the plan is good. You will polish the details in the course of the operation. Off you go, down to work.» concluded General Yershov.
The autumn sky hung over Kronstadt. Low, dark gray clouds pressed heavily and breathed moisture. Screaming seagulls deftly maneuvered in the air currents on spread white wings, creating the illusion of confusion and anxiety. Gusts of wind brought splashes of sea water and the smell of diesel fuel. The project 613 submarine was visible at the long pier. In the light of the lanterns, its wet body shone silver.
