Shadow of the Condor (18 page)

"Yes, it could have," replied Malcolm.

"Shall we join my colleague?"

The girl was downstairs in the kitchen, slicing meat and preparing an early dinner. She lifted her eyes from the cutting board to return Malcolm's gaze, then lowered them to complete her task. Malcolm had the uneasy feeling she looked at him with exactly the same manner she regarded the meat she sliced. He followed the man's gesture and sat at the kitchen table.

The girl finished her task and silently brought Malcolm a cup of coffee. She glanced at the man, but he shook his head no. He nodded toward another chair and she obeyed the command by sitting down. The man waited politely until Malcolm had finished his first cup, then, while refilling his guest's cup from the pot the girl had placed on the table, the man said, "I suppose you have several questions."

Malcolm thought before answering. Make it cute, he thought, but not too cute. "Do I get to use truth serum too?"

The man smiled, amused but not overly pleased. Humor has its limits and its appropriate timing. "Unfortunately for you, you must simply trust us by judging your own unaided instincts."

Malcolm shrugged. "I guess I'm stuck. You probably know the kind of questions I want to ask. Wouldn't it save time and be a lot easier if you told me things without me asking for them? I'll probably have other questions, but at least you can tell your story in a coherent, uninterrupted fashion."

The man graciously nodded his head. "An excellent suggestion. Condor-what a horrible code name. Morbid. Sometimes the lack of imagination on your superiors' part appalls me. Such bad taste. But all that should be saved for another time. My name is Chou. My companion is called Sheila Ming. Actually, those are not our real names, but even if we were to give you our real names, we would still 'Anglicize' them since I doubt you could adequately pronounce them without a great deal of effort and their mispronunciation would prove very irritable. We are intelligence agents of the People's Republic of
China
, and you are our captive at a house just across the Canadian border from
Montana
.

"'Perhaps it would be best to begin several years ago. As you know, relations between the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
, that huge country you Americans simplify as
Russia
, and our country have been strained for decades. Actually, they've been strained since
China
first unified itself following World War Two and that crazy general's rather disgusting, ignoble retreat. There have been the periodic easing and tightening of tensions. Although the two countries are by and large 'allies,' an oftentimes belligerent situation exists. This belligerence quite naturally manifests itself in what one of your fictional writers would probably call the dark world of espionage. We must really have a long discussion about that literary genre. Like you, I have studied it extensively, although not 'professionally.'

"Over the years we have worked with Soviet intelligence apparatuses on numerous projects. We have also spent a good deal of time thwarting their efforts to spy on and meddle in our affairs. At times our intelligence units come as close to open conflict with Soviet agents as they do with the CIA. But usually we stick to the more mutually palatable and minimally destabilizing activities such as diplomatic expulsions, checking maneuver s and quiet pressure. Just after your new year of 1974 'started, our two countries went through a whole series of such endeavors, including mutual diplomatic expulsions.

"During that time we discovered some very interesting things. We obtained some knowledge from a Soviet agent which we had seen only glimpses of before. We were able to obtain it in such a way that we doubt his superiors know we have it. I won't bore you with unnecessary details.

"Since 1964 a number of rather nasty events have been occurring in and around our security endeavors. Suffice it to say that we were not pleased. The Soviet agent we captured told us, after some persuading a good deal which tied most of these incidents together and helped place them in a logical framework. And he gave us a name, the name of the Soviet case officer who directed the operations and agents in most of these activities. That name was Krumin.

"Yes, Krumin. From our interrogation we know that the name is not unknown to you. It ties in with the mysterious death of your agent Parkins. Exactly how it ties in we are no more sure of than you, but it does. Other information the Soviet gave us helps confirm the connection.

"The Soviet agent was a middle-level cutout, one who had been in the business for years, as far back as the early days of World War Two. He had a long memory and saw a good deal. He told us many interesting things unrelated to the nasty incidents which were our major concern. Unfortunately, Krumin seems to be very security-conscious, and the agent knew only sketchy details. But they were enough.

"Krumin appears to be a floater, a type of troubleshooter, but one who initiates his own trouble. He operates all over the globe directly against the
USSR
's foes. The agent thinks he has little
Third World
involvement. He's something of a specialist, but in his own area, and that specific area, of course, was unknown to the Soviet. He did have one priceless gem that he gave us: Krumin has an operation going in the
United States
, an operation in this general region. More than that, Krumin is scheduled to spend a good deal of this year on site attending to that operation. The agent we captured helped prepare some of the logistics for Krumin.

"We have no description of Krumin, other than he is not young, no idea what his mission is in the
United States
, no idea of his American apparatus. We do think he is either in
America
or on his way. That is why we are here.

"My superiors are very displeased with Krumin's nasty activities in
China
. Very displeased. To register that displeasure through protests to the
Soviet Union
would be absurd. Not only would it do no good, it would show a weakness, a cringing on our part. So we must meet Krumin's challenge in the arena in which it is offered. That is our mission.

"Sheila has been operating in
Canada
for nearly two years now. She entered on a special visa as a refugee of part-Japanese descent. We were able to provide her with a set of Canadian relatives, distant but plausible. The relatives are old, innocent civilians. They do not question her identity. They are living in what you would call 'an old folks' home' in
Lethbridge
. Their distant great-niece visits them once a week and studies for her Canadian citizenship. She lives here on their old farm, raising vegetables for restaurants. I entered illegally one month ago and now am established as a visiting relative, one whom it took her no trouble to get the senile old folks to accept. Luckily this area of
Canada
has a large Oriental population. Unfortunately most of it is Japanese, but we manage to blend in. 'Looking alike' in Western eyes is not always a disadvantage. It is so difficult for us to blend in your country anywhere but
San Francisco
or
New York
. I understand your agents have similar problems in
China
and
Africa
.

"My mission is simple: Find Krumin and learn every thing about his Chinese operations. With that knowledge we can render him impotent and thwart the Soviets in a very pointed, effective, embarrassing manner.

"Until recently we have had absolutely no luck. While it is difficult for us to operate in
Montana
, we have made a number of contacts and we know what kind of operations Krumin ran in
China
. No similar operations have occurred in
Montana
. Until, of course, Mr. Parkins died.

"Sheila, using, ah, several methods, long ago compromised an airman stationed at Malmstrom. Motivated by profit and, shall we say, intangible rewards, he provides us with a good deal of information."

Malcolm glanced at the girl., Chou's comments carried a sadistic needling overtone, but she showed no reaction. After pausing to let his words sink in, Chou continued.

"The airman thinks he is helping Sheila smuggle marijuana by providing information about the security systems around the missiles. He also quite naturally keeps us informed about anything unusual happening in the area. With you Americans and your strange desire to tell all, that task is easy.

"Parkins' death fascinated us. Of course it is no secret on the base, although I doubt if any of the citizens in the area know about it. Although the airman knew nothing beyond the fact the Air Force is covering up a murder on a missile site, his information prompted us to assume, perhaps optimistically, that Krumin is involved. When the airman told us a 'security officer' had arrived, was given a grand tour, and then left the base for Shelby, we knew your government knew something more than a strange murder was involved.

"The airman made it his business to find out your destination and provide us with such minor details as a photograph he took of you and your vehicle. Through a little work on our own we found you traipsing across the prairie on your lovely cover mission."

"So why the snatch? I don't understand."

Chou smiled. "Your 'snatch' was a calculated risk. My control agreed with me that we needed to know what the Americans knew. It would save us time and effort, for one thing. For another, we need to get to Krumin before you do or at least as you do, or our posture with the Soviets suffers considerably.

"The original plan entailed a 'snatch,' interrogation, then your death, probably in a car wreck. Your death would, of course, rivet your government's attention to this area, but we hoped to be far enough ahead of the game to get to Krumin first and then get out. But I have a better idea."

"Do I get to live in the better idea?" asked Malcolm. Up until Chou's description of the girl and the airman Malcolm had been abstractly fascinated by Chou's narration. Now Malcolm's involvement in the story made him very, very nervous.

"But of course! If you play your role properly."

"And my role is-"

Chou interrupted Malcolm. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. All in good time. The overall important thing in my mission is Krumin's neutralization. I'm not engaged in a mission against the
United States
or against direct
United States
interests, although it is of course in your interest that
China
and the
Soviet Union
continue at each other's throats. The
U.S.
and
China
have recently been more friendly to each other, for mutual gain. A good turn by us to you would be appreciated and probably reciprocated. Such an exchange would also infuriate and intimidate the Soviets. Given all this, why should I kill an American agent who is not bothering me or my country? Especially such an ineffectual, insignificant agent as yourself?

"I am in
Canada
only temporarily. My cover will never be used again. Shelia's cover is already shaky. When she takes her citizenship test, she will undergo intensive screening. We barely sneaked her by the immigration authorities the first time. A second time is unlikely, and she must appear before them again soon. In any event, she is not reaping what you would call a bountiful harvest of information stationed here.

"After questioning you and learning everything you have to tell us, it became apparent that the original plan should be reconsidered. Given my mission of neutralizing Krumin, the fact that the
U.S.
is not involved as a belligerent party. in this operation, the status of our two countries, Sheila's and my dubious future in Canada and the possibilities I foresee involved with the Soviet agent your colleagues are tracking across the country, I decided it would be best to let you live. My control agrees with my plan."

"I still don't understand."

"You're about to become a double agent."

Malcolm smiled. "Really?"

Chou returned his smile. "Really. Consider your situation. You are looking for Krumin also. You are trying to solve Parkins' death. And right now, you are trying to figure out a way to avoid being killed by us. Everything I said regarding my country's role toward your country holds true in reverse. In this instance we are not your enemy. We are not your friend, but our interests are similar. You want Krumin. We want Krumin. Why not share him?”

"My proposal is this. I know your instructions, your signs and countersigns, your recognition signals and operating plans at least well enough to know if you are betraying us. I do not propose to hinder you in the ultimate achievement of your mission objectives. All I propose is intervention. Before we turn Krumin over to you, we will interrogate him. and learn all about his Chinese operations. After that he is yours. We will part ways. There is even a chance neither of us will get to Krumin. Perhaps your friend Kevin Powell and his teams will get him first. Quite possibly Krumin is the Soviet agent they are trailing across the country. In that event, we have lost nothing and at least have the satisfaction of knowing Krumin has been neutralized.

"You will, of course, be under our control until the operation is over. One of us will always be with you when you return to
Montana
. Believe me when I say that we are professionals and that any attempt to . . . renege on your acceptance of our offer will be dealt with effectively and harshly. When the mission is over, you will, of course, report fully to your superiors. No doubt they will be unhappy, but not alarmed or overly annoyed. Of course, we will not inform them, deliberately or accidentally, of our association while we are together."

Malcolm frowned. "What are my options?"

Again Chou smiled. "Option.* You have only one: death We cannot risk working with you unless you are cooperating to at least some degree. If you turn down our offer, it is clear you are definitely not cooperating, so we have no choice."