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more and more concerned, even if I had little enough proof. From what I'd
heard so far, I wasn't about to claim more or to hand over anything of
substance to the Russians until much greater interest manifested itself. Much
greater interest.
That we will. Yet another smile followed. I don't want to keep you,
Minister Eschbach, but I trust you understand my position.
I stood before he could. I certainly do. I'll let you know if anything
develops.
I had walked less than a dozen paces from the ambassador's office when Colonel
Sudwerth appeared.
Minister Eschbach, the man I've been looking for. Might you have a moment,
sir? asked Sudwerth in his hearty and polite voice.
A few minutes, but I'm going to try to listen to Llysette's rehearsal this
afternoon, and I'll have to get something to eat before that.
This won't take long.
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I followed him to his office, smaller and far more spare than the first
secretary's, and with the only view that of the rear courtyard.
Sudwerth closed the door but didn't sit down, as if to underscore that he
intended to be brief. I just wanted to know how your meetings were going and
whether I might be able to offer any assistance.
I've met with the people who were interested, and now we'll have to see.
I understand you saw Colonel General Kaselov.
That was this morning. He was concerned that any environmental technology
might have an adverse impact on the usability of canals and rivers for
transportation. I think I was able to reassure him on that score. What do you
know about him?
He seems to be what he is.
Unlike many of their military?
Russia is an autocracy, Minister Eschbach, and they have a secret police that
is very thorough and effective. The Ohkrana has no fear of dealing with
military officers. Anything that supports the tzar and the motherland is
considered acceptable in some circles.
That's scarcely a new idea, I temporized. Besides, I'm just offering
environmental expertise that will result in improved energy recovery
techniques and riverine cleanups. I doubt that they have much problem with
saving roubles, not with Ferdinand knocking on the south door.
The Russians' great strength is that they will take any losses necessary to
destroy an invader. That hasn't changed since Napoleon.
The Russians haven't changed, but the Austrians have, I said mildly. Except
in the case of the March to the Sea and the fall of the Low Countries, they're
content to take little bites, to provoke the other land, and then to chop up
attacking forces. That's why they effectively hold all of continental Europe,
except Sweden and Russia. I watched Sudwerth closely as I added the next
sentence. Unless Russia has something newer and more powerful than anyone has
been able to discover, the Austrians will do the same thing they've been
doing most successfully. They'll just nibble away at Russia the way the Poles
did in the tenth century or whenever it was, or perhaps they'll nibble up
enough of the Ottomans to control the Bosphorus directly, and then turn their
energies to Russia.
You may be right, Minister Eschbach, but I'd advise against saying so loudly
outside the embassy.
I may be wrong, Colonel. I often have been. So I'm most unlikely to venture a
public opinion.
Sudwerth laughed. I've probably kept you . . .
No problem. But I do need to find my wife. I offered a last smile and
slipped out his office door, keeping the expression in place until I was well
away.
I needed to know more, but that was getting more and more difficult, largely
because I didn't speak Russian, and I wondered, not for the first time, why
Harlaan had really wanted me in St. Petersburg, as opposed to someone who did
know the language and the culture far better.
28
THE MARIINSKY THEATRE looked like a circular stone arena rising out of
ornately rectangular buildings added on at irregular intervals, except it was
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