A Time To Pay

by David Woods

  The young woman interrogator spent the next two hours walking up and down glaring at him, and laughing with the two guards. He closed his eyes in an effort to shut out the humiliation, only to have his body prodded by her sharp stick accompanied by a high pitched laugh. Time passed very slowly, as he tried to concentrate his mind on his work and home life, but the thought that he would never see Anna and William again made tears come to his eyes. All night he stood, whilst different guards patrolled up and down. He lost all feeling in his hands, his knees ached and every muscle in his body wanted to rest. Every time he slumped against the wall he was prodded, and the bright light above continued to bear down on him.

  The male interrogator returned the next morning. The cell door was opened and Brian walked out with a guard either side of him, and he felt visibly relieved to be able to sit down and rub his aching knees. A woman brought in a chunk of bread and a mug of water, which he soon devoured. The interrogator waited until he had finished and said. “Nice to sit down again isn’t it?” Brian just nodded. “Tell me the truth about Jane Smith? Why did she come to Moscow?”

  “I really don’t know, please believe me.”

  “I don’t believe you.” The chair was pulled out from under him and he fell backwards. “Get up and stand with your hands behind your back.” He struggled to his feet and stood unsteadily. “I’ll give you no more chances, why did Jane Smith come to Moscow?”

  Brian thought about Sally and the fact that she would probably be executed for killing the two East Germans. “For God’s sake I don’t know.”

  The interrogator nodded to a woman, who summoned the guards, who shoved him back into his cage which stunk of human excrement. He kept wondering how long it could on for, and how long he could last without giving Sally away? All day he stood shivering with different women jeering and prodding him. His mental state worsened, his body was racked with pain, his feet numb with the cold and he felt as if all his bones were crying for sleep. How I would like to bask in the sun on some far away beach, he thought.

  The same day Sally spent a nervous morning not knowing whether the message from England would prove to be dangerous or not. Later in the afternoon when she was in her boss’s office he said. “Come with me, I want to show you something.”

  “What is it Sir?”

  “Just follow me.” He led the way down the corridor, down three flights of stairs and through a steel door. She shivered as they walked along a cold stone passage and finally entered a room. “I want you to identify someone,” He held her arm and pushed her forward to stand in front of Brian’s cage. She recoiled in horror at the sight of his half naked and tormented body, and she held her hand across her mouth as the stench filled her nostrils. Pokrovsky said gruffly. “Who is it?”

  “B-Brian Wilkins.”

  He pulled her away, and they walked back to his office. She felt like being sick as her stomach turned over and thoughts raced through her mind. How long before they break him? Has he already told them about me? Her boss answered that question for her. “This man Wilkins, says he met you at a party.”

  “Yes Sir, that’s right.”

  “What else do you know about him?”

  “He’s an English capitalist, trying to make money out of the Soviet Union.”

  “So you don’t approve of him?”

  “No Sir, I don’t.”

  “What about the woman he was with.”

  “I think they were lovers.”

  “Yes, but what was she here for?”

  “I don’t know, sex probably, that’s all western women think of.”

  He moved closer to her. If you’re not telling me the truth, it will be very bad for you.”

  “I am telling the truth.”

  “I don’t want you to end up standing naked in that cage.” She shivered and the colour left her face. He spoke softly. “I’ll protect you as much as I can, but you must co-operate.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “I’ll tell you when I visit your flat tomorrow night.” She froze with horror as he stroked her bottom.

  “Brian was totally consumed with humiliation now that Sally had seen him. He wanted to bellow with anger, he was in total despair and tears filled his eyes as he thought how hopeless his situation had become. Waves of pain attacked him, the light above bore down on his eyelids and the cold penetrated his body, causing uncontrollable bouts of the shivers. In between he desperately wanted to sleep, but every time he closed his eyes he felt a sharp pain from that stick accompanied by abuse. As he faced another night, he resolved to stay as strong as possible and to think of home, hoping this would take his mind off the constant torment.

  Many miles away Anna cheerfully waved goodbye to Betty and walked out to her car. She turned the key and started on her way to collect Brian from the airport, but a large blue car stopped in front of her, blocking her passage, and a smartly dressed couple got out. Anna became exasperated and wound down her window. The man approached. “Mrs. Wilkins, can we have a private chat?”

  “No, not now, I’m on my way to meet my husband from the airport. So please move your vehicle.”

  “I’m sorry Mrs. Wilkins, but it’s your husband we want to discuss.”

  “Has he been delayed? If so why could you not telephone?”

  “He has certainly been delayed, but we need to talk about it.”

  “Oh, no. For God’s sake what has happened to him?”

  “Please, let’s talk inside.”

  Anna led the way and had a terrible feeling that Brian was in bad trouble. Betty watched as the three grim faced people walked towards the house. She stood by the door and Anna said. “Brian’s been delayed, and these people have come to tell me about it.” She looked at the couple and beckoned them inside. They all sat down in the ground floor lounge and Anna asked. “What has happened to my husband?”

  “He’s been arrested and detained in Moscow.”

  “Oh, my God! What for?”

  “We don’t know. The Soviet authorities just say they are questioning him.”

  “Has anyone seen him?”

  “Our embassy staff have tried, but without success.”

  Betty moved closer to comfort Anna. “Brian’s a strong man and he’ll cope.”

  “I should not have talked him into going back. He did not want to go.”

  “How could you know he would be arrested?

  “I did not, but it is my fault he returned.”

  “Nonsense. It’s probably all a mistake, and he’ll soon be released.”

  Anna looked very seriously at the couple, who said they were from the Foreign Office. “What has Hawkins got to say about this?”

  “Who’s Hawkins?”

  “The man who conned Brian into going in the first place.”

  “We don’t know anyone called Hawkins.”

  Anna rushed to the telephone and dialled the number that Brian had previously recorded in the envelope before he left on his last trip to East Germany, but it proved unobtainable. She returned to the lounge somewhat subdued and said. “I want to go to Moscow. Perhaps they will let me see him.”

  “Please let’s get more information before you make any arrangements.”

  “Very well, but how long will it take?”

  “It’s difficult to say, but we should receive further information within a few days.”

  “I will give you until Monday, and then I will go whether you know any more or not.”

  “We’ll be in touch as soon as we know anything.”

  Anna noted their telephone number and watched them leave. A heavy cloak of depression enveloped her entire body when she thought about the reason for Brian’s detention. Tears flowed when she was alone and realised he could spend the rest of his life in jail. I just could not face the rest of my life without him she said over and over to he
rself. That night she did not even try to sleep, knowing Brian was locked in a cell and her thoughts jumped from one horror to another. She thought of him suffering until his possible execution and William not being able to see his father again, but her worse fear was life without him. He had changed her life so dramatically, that contemplating life without him was too much to bear. Then she taunted herself with guilt for talking him into making the trip.

  In the days that followed Betty, John and Anna comforted each other as much as they could, but were still left with a deep sense of loss, each convinced they would never see Brian again. Anna went to work and announced that his return had been delayed, but did not tell anyone the reason. She spent the day in his office, and at times just sat in his chair to think about him.

  Sally went home shortly after the encounter with her boss, Colonel Pokrovsky, convinced that Brian had not told his captors about her, but that it would only be a matter of time before he would give in. Remembering the state he was in, she thought it could be very soon. Could Pokrovsky protect me she wondered and, if so, why? She found the whole situation sickening and very frightening, but there was nothing she could do except wait and see. She met Vasily that evening and as they walked together he seemed cheerful and did not notice her gloom. “I had a good day today. How was yours?”

  “Terrible, and it could get worse.”

  “Why?” What’s happened?”

  “Let’s find somewhere quiet, and I’ll tell you.” They went into the park in semi-darkness, to a secluded bench. The wind rustled in the trees and bushes around them, and a street lamp fifty yards away shielded a bush, casting a long shadow over them. Sally move close to Vasily. “Just hold me while I tell you the bad news.” He put his arm around her, pulling her gently against him. “Yesterday a message came from England. It said that Jane Smith had disappeared without trace. And today Pokrovsky took me down to the dungeons, and there was Brian half naked in a tiny cell.”

  “Oh my God, that’s a disaster. They’ll stop him sleeping until he cracks and exposes you.”

  “Yes. Then I’ll be tortured until I’m forced to reveal your name.”

  “I’m as good as dead.”

  “There’s another problem too. Pokrovsky says he wants to protect me, and he stroked my bottom as he told me.”

  “The evil bastard. I’ll kill him.”

  “Not a good idea at the moment. Not even after tomorrow night.”

  “What happens then?”

  “He says he’s going to visit me at home.”

  “So his price for protection is to seduce you? That’s diabolical.”

  He held her tight, and neither spoke for a while until Sally broke the silence. “He has total power over my body. He could have me tortured or killed or, I can submit to his demands. I can’t imagine a worse situation.”

  “Neither can I, my love.”

  “There’s poor Brian going through hell in that cold cell, and I got him in to all this. Is there nothing we can do?”

  “I’m thinking about it. There must be a way, but I’m afraid you’ll have to submit to that bastard’s whims tomorrow night.”

  They walked back to Sally’s flat in a state of despair and hopelessness. Vasily did not stay long, but before he left they drank tea whilst contemplating their impending doom. Her last words as he departed were. “Let’s hope he lasts a bit longer.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  On Thursday morning Brian watched through red-rimmed and desperately tired eyes as the guards changed, and the new pair of uniformed men was accompanied by the interrogator. He stared at Brian with steel blue eyes and put a photograph in front of him. It was Sally dressed in farmworkers clothes. “How did you get her out of East Germany?”

  “I didn’t get her out.”

  “Where did you hide her?”

  “Brian just shook his head.

  “So you still won’t tell us the truth? Perhaps you’ll tell me about Jane Smith. Was she with you all of the time?”

  “No. I left her in the car when I was on the farm visit.”

  “Why?”

  “It was muddy, and she only had light shoes on.”

  “How long was she on her own?”

  “About two hours.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

  “You didn’t ask.”

  “And was this the only time she was on her own?”

  “No. I left her in her room for an hour, while I waited to go to a meeting.”

  “So she didn’t go with you?”

  “No. She had a headache.”

  “I see. So why did she come to Moscow?”

  “To be with me.”

  “But she didn’t seem to want you after your return?”

  “No, she didn’t?”

  “You do not seem like a stupid man, so I don’t think she conned you. I think you know why she came here.”

  Brian just shrugged his shoulders again and stared at the floor, his eyes desperately wanting to close.

  “Did Jane Smith receive any visitors at the hotel?”

  “None while she was with me.”

  “I can easily check, of course. And while I do, you can think about telling me the truth about her visit. As soon as you do, you can have a long sleep in a warm bed.”

  The thought of a warm bed had an overwhelming appeal to him, but he did not believe that a confession would result in one. In fact he was certain that as soon as they know the truth, his life would be in even more danger. He managed to eat a few bits of bread and drink some water before being pushed back into his cell. The interrogator disappeared, leaving the two guards and the woman, who studied his body, but became bored after a while. He was getting used to being treated like a freak animal in a cage, and whilst he fixed his eyes on a point in the opposite wall, turned his thoughts to survival and home instead of contemplating yet another painful day.

  Sally was at work the following day and began translating and sorting out papers. She read through a report to a top NATO official, from which it was obvious that the authorities knew a traitor’s identity. A top secret document was enclosed, which she memorised before taking it to her boss. The colonel was in a good mood and smiled as she entered his office. “Well done, Irina. You’ve obviously been able to sort all those papers out.”

  “Yes Sir. It was quite easy.” She put them on his desk and stood back whilst he read the important ones, and placed them in his top drawer.

  He looked up again. “Make a drink for us.” They drank tea sitting in their usual positions, and she hoped he would say if Brian had been made to talk, but he did not mention it and instead he said. “This man, Viktor Kogan, do you know him well?”

  “No. I met him at his flat at one of his parties.”

  “How many times?”

  “Twice only.”

  “What were these parties all about?”

  “It was just a few English speaking people getting together to practice the language.”

  “Are you sure that’s all they were about?”

  “Yes, I’m certain of it.”

  “Do not go to any more of his parties.”

  “No Sir. I won’t”

  In the afternoon they again had tea together, and he sat on the couch with her. “Do you walk in the park on Sundays?”

  “Yes. I like to take a picnic lunch if it’s fine.”

  “Will you join me for a walk this Sunday? If it’s fine, of course.”

  “I would be pleased to, and I’ll bring some food.”

  “That’s splendid. We’ll agree a time tonight.” He moved closer and squeezed her hand lightly, and she wondered what would be his next move. Just at that moment the telephone rang and he jumped up to answer it. She gathered up the tea cups, took them into the kitchen for washing and was drying up when he poked his head a
round the door. “I have to go out straightaway, but I’ll see you later.” She just smiled as she put away the cups.

  He had left when she walked back to his office, and she spent five nerve racking minutes rummaging through his desk drawers before retreating to her own office, and he did not return before she went home.

  That night she ate a light meal and waited. She paced up and down the room thinking about Brian suffering, and wondered if the Colonel’s sudden call away from the office meant that Brian had told them her true identity, and if so, when will I be arrested? She thought. She imagined herself in Brian’s position, standing naked in a cage with guards leering at her, and decided a quick end would be preferable to torture. She checked the contents of her cosmetic bag with a pill hidden in its lining, and transferred the pill to the pendant around her neck, securing the clasp firmly. She was still deep in thought when a knock on the door made her jump. With one hand gripping her pendant and her heart thumping, she walked slowly towards the door which rattled with the second knock before she opened it. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”

  Pokrovsky walked in, slamming the door behind him. “Who did you think it was knocking?”

  “I don’t know.” She said quietly.

  He studied her face as he took off his coat. “You look worried.”

  “No. I’m fine, thank you.” They walked through to the lounge. “Please do sit down, Colonel. I’ll get you a drink.”

  “Yes, please. Vodka, if you have any.”

  She poured two drinks and sat beside him on the couch.

  “Did you think that knock was the police? Coming to get you?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Brian Wilkins has told us a bit more today.”