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Authors: David Lee Marriner
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them possessed true greatness, God’s gift – he and Batka
Ivan. The Tsar had acquired his high status by birth, not because of his
personal qualities. Laptin came up with the ideal solution at once, as though
it had been dropped into his mind from outside. It would satisfy everybody
here. It was also good for the country, although that was not Laptin’s prime
interest. The truth was that for some time he had served his Tsar and country
less and less and himself more. Not that he did not care about Russia. He was a
patriot, but he could foresee that dark times were coming for the empire. The
worst of it was that he and a few others who knew were unable to change
anything. The country was heading inevitably towards a bloody purgatory, and he
didn’t want to be one of the scapegoats. And here was the chance for him to
secure his salvation. In the turbulent times ahead, a partnership with a man
like Batka would be much more useful than blind service to the Tsar and laws.
He only needed to convince Ivan of the authenticity of his intentions.
Regarding the cover-up of what had happened here, Laptin did not doubt that
Batka Ivan would accept it, because it gave him much-needed anonymity.
Laptin went back to Batka and said in a low voice,
“Commander, let me introduce myself. My name is Semeon Laptin. I am a colonel
of the Secret Police and personal adviser to His Majesty. I’ve got an offer for
you…”
When the Tsar’s adviser finished, Batka had already decided.
The nature of the proposal had earned his approval. It had been forged by a
mind similar to his. The motives behind it were logical and understandable.
Batka had put himself in Laptin’s place. He would most probably do the same is
those circumstances, and he saw the proposal as a win-win situation. For Batka,
Laptin was a boon. Although the list of government people he ‘fed’ was not
short, there was no one so high up in the state hierarchy.
“I’ve got the feeling that we will co-operate very well,
Excellence,” said Batka.
Laptin, who had waited, frozen, for his response, sighed
with relief. “Call me Semeon,” he said and went again to the Tsar, who had
moved to the sleigh with the wounded hussars. “All has been arranged, Your
Majesty.”
“Ivan, come close,” the Tsar said. “My intention is that you
and your people will be awarded for your bravery. Semeon will take care of
this.”
“Your Majesty does not owe us anything. We fulfilled our
duty,” said Batka.
“That’s why we are in debt to you.” The Tsar took off his
belt together with his sword and handed them to Batka. “With our gratitude,” he
said ceremoniously.
“Thank you.” Batka took the sword and bowed. “Your Majesty
can travel quietly to Vladimir. My people will ride ahead until the forest’s
end.”
“Look after the wounded until we send people for them,” said
the Tsar. “Farwell, Ivan.”
CHAPTER TEN
‘Fatherland’ underground facility, location unknown
The present day
The giant platform elevator started to glide towards the
ground level of the spacious cave chamber. It carried an elongated electric
cart in which several people sat. The man in the driving seat was young, with
blond hair and glasses and he wore a neat white apron. In the seats behind him,
two armed guards sat opposite a man and three women dressed in long,
light-brown robes.
A panoramic view opened out of the platform. Numerous
luminescent lamps fixed to the ceiling illuminated the underground chamber. The
vaulted ceiling was about thirty metres high. A three-storey complex, housing
rooms and offices with large glass-panelled front windows, was built along the
cave walls. There were stairs linking the storeys, with platforms in between
constructed of heavy iron beams held together with steel bolts and welds. At
one side of the cave there were about ten people bustling around long tables
piled with papers, books, computers, monitors and other electronic
Ivan. The Tsar had acquired his high status by birth, not because of his
personal qualities. Laptin came up with the ideal solution at once, as though
it had been dropped into his mind from outside. It would satisfy everybody
here. It was also good for the country, although that was not Laptin’s prime
interest. The truth was that for some time he had served his Tsar and country
less and less and himself more. Not that he did not care about Russia. He was a
patriot, but he could foresee that dark times were coming for the empire. The
worst of it was that he and a few others who knew were unable to change
anything. The country was heading inevitably towards a bloody purgatory, and he
didn’t want to be one of the scapegoats. And here was the chance for him to
secure his salvation. In the turbulent times ahead, a partnership with a man
like Batka would be much more useful than blind service to the Tsar and laws.
He only needed to convince Ivan of the authenticity of his intentions.
Regarding the cover-up of what had happened here, Laptin did not doubt that
Batka Ivan would accept it, because it gave him much-needed anonymity.
Laptin went back to Batka and said in a low voice,
“Commander, let me introduce myself. My name is Semeon Laptin. I am a colonel
of the Secret Police and personal adviser to His Majesty. I’ve got an offer for
you…”
When the Tsar’s adviser finished, Batka had already decided.
The nature of the proposal had earned his approval. It had been forged by a
mind similar to his. The motives behind it were logical and understandable.
Batka had put himself in Laptin’s place. He would most probably do the same is
those circumstances, and he saw the proposal as a win-win situation. For Batka,
Laptin was a boon. Although the list of government people he ‘fed’ was not
short, there was no one so high up in the state hierarchy.
“I’ve got the feeling that we will co-operate very well,
Excellence,” said Batka.
Laptin, who had waited, frozen, for his response, sighed
with relief. “Call me Semeon,” he said and went again to the Tsar, who had
moved to the sleigh with the wounded hussars. “All has been arranged, Your
Majesty.”
“Ivan, come close,” the Tsar said. “My intention is that you
and your people will be awarded for your bravery. Semeon will take care of
this.”
“Your Majesty does not owe us anything. We fulfilled our
duty,” said Batka.
“That’s why we are in debt to you.” The Tsar took off his
belt together with his sword and handed them to Batka. “With our gratitude,” he
said ceremoniously.
“Thank you.” Batka took the sword and bowed. “Your Majesty
can travel quietly to Vladimir. My people will ride ahead until the forest’s
end.”
“Look after the wounded until we send people for them,” said
the Tsar. “Farwell, Ivan.”
CHAPTER TEN
‘Fatherland’ underground facility, location unknown
The present day
The giant platform elevator started to glide towards the
ground level of the spacious cave chamber. It carried an elongated electric
cart in which several people sat. The man in the driving seat was young, with
blond hair and glasses and he wore a neat white apron. In the seats behind him,
two armed guards sat opposite a man and three women dressed in long,
light-brown robes.
A panoramic view opened out of the platform. Numerous
luminescent lamps fixed to the ceiling illuminated the underground chamber. The
vaulted ceiling was about thirty metres high. A three-storey complex, housing
rooms and offices with large glass-panelled front windows, was built along the
cave walls. There were stairs linking the storeys, with platforms in between
constructed of heavy iron beams held together with steel bolts and welds. At
one side of the cave there were about ten people bustling around long tables
piled with papers, books, computers, monitors and other electronic
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