forces that plunged Russia into its own Dark Age did not go away, and their purpose has not changed.” He looked at Pacey sharply. “And the forces that brought religious terror and economic exploitation to the West have not gone away, either. On both sides they have merely modified their stance to avert what would have guaranteed their destruction along with everything else. There is a web across this whole planet that connects many Sverenssens with many Verikoffs. They pose behind banners and slogans that call for liberation, but the liberation they seek is their own, not that of the people who follow them.”
“Yes, I know,” Pacey said. “We’ve uncovered some of it too. What’s the answer?”
Sobroskin raised an arm and gestured at the far side of the lake. “For all we know, those children might have grown up to see other worlds under other suns. But the price of that would have been knowledge, and knowledge is the enemy of tyranny in any disguise. It has freed more people from poverty and oppression than all of the ideologies and creeds in history put together. Every form of serfdom follows from serfdom of the mind.”
“I’m not sure what you’re saying,” Pacey said. “Are you saying you want to come over to us or something?”
The Russian shook his head. “The war that matters has nothing to do with flags. It is between those who would set the minds of children free, and those who would deny them Thurien. The latest battle has been lost, but the war will continue. Perhaps one day we will talk to Thurien again. But in the meantime another battle is looming in Moscow for control of the Kremlin, and that is where I must be.” He reached behind him for a package that he had placed on the bench behind him and passed it to Pacey. “We have a tradition of ruthlessness in handling our internal affairs that you do not share. It is possible that many people will not survive the next few months, and I could be one of them. If so, I would like to think that my work has not been for nothing.” He released the package and withdrew his arm. “That contains a complete record of all that I know. It would not be safe with my colleagues in Moscow since their future, like my own, is full of uncertainties. But I know that you will use the information wisely, for you understand as well as I do that in the war that really matters we are on the same side.” With that he stood up. “I am glad that we met, Norman Pacey. It is reassuring to see that on both sides, bonds
exist that are deeper than the colors on maps. I hope that we meet again, but in case that is not to be. . .” He let the words hang and extended a hand.
Pacey stood up and grasped it firmly. “We will. And things will be better,” he said.
“I hope so.” Sobroskin released his grip, turned, and began walking away along the side of the lake.
Pacey’s fingers tightened around the package as he stood watching the short, stocky figure marching jerkily off to keep its appointment with fate, possibly to die so that children might laugh. He couldn’t let him, he realized. He couldn’t let him walk away without knowing. “Mikolai!” he called.
Sobroskin stopped and looked back. Pacey waited. The Russian retraced his steps.
“The battle was not lost,” Pacey said. “There’s another channel to Thurien operating right now . . . in the United States. It doesn’t need the relay. We’ve been talking to Thurien for weeks. That was why Karen Heller returned to Earth. It’s okay. All the Sverenssens in the world can’t stop it now.”
Sobroskin stared at him for a long time before the words seemed to register. At last he moved his head in a slow, barely perceptible nod, his eyes expressionless and distant, and murmured quietly, “Thank you.” Then he turned away and began walking again, this time slowly, as if in a trance. When he had covered twenty yards or so he stopped, stared back again, and raised his arm in a silent salutation. Then he turned away and began walking once more, and after a few steps his pace lightened and quickened.