by Peter Telep
“I could tell you anything I want, and it could still be a lie.”
“But you won’t, because we’re going to trust each other now.” Kasperov reached over and proffered his hand.
Fisher took the man’s hand and shook it firmly. “Very well, then, sir. My name is Sam Fisher.”
25
BEFORE they boarded the chopper, Kasperov wanted to take a moment to speak with the Snow Maiden, and Fisher indulged him, escorting the man back to Briggs’s car, where the Russian agent sat, brooding, her gaze burning through the open window. “Igor, you got fatter,” she said with a crooked grin.
“They told me you were holding my daughter in Sochi.”
“We had fun. We got ice cream.”
“I’d like to kill you right now, but I’m going to do worse . . . much worse. I’m going to hand you over to the Americans.”
She threw back her head and cackled.
“I’m thrilled that amuses you.”
“Igor, that’s no threat. You think they’ll torture me? There’s no extraordinary rendition or black sites. They’ve lost the stomach for it. The Americans are weak now, controlled by a liberal media, a Congress at war with itself, and a president too concerned with appearances. I’ll be going on vacation.”
Fisher shouldered up beside Kasperov to face the Snow Maiden. “You won’t be interrogated by the government. At least not at first. You’ll be interrogated by me. And I have the freedom to get what I need through any means possible. You don’t have to believe me now, but I’ll prove it to you, and the experience will be anything but a vacation.”
“You’re a comedian,” she told Fisher. “Do you have more good jokes to entertain me?”
Fisher gritted his teeth. “When we get back to my plane, you’ll understand.” Fisher turned to Briggs. “Let’s go.”
As they headed toward the chopper with the Snow Maiden clutched by two of Kasperov’s men, Fisher thanked Hector once more, along with the other miners.
“Your sons would be proud of what you did today,” Fisher told the man.
“Thank you.”
They boarded the chopper, with the Snow Maiden in the back row, seated between Anatoly and Briggs.
“Grim, it’s me. We’re taking off with Kasperov. Should be there shortly. Tell the flight crew to get prepped for takeoff.”
“You got it, Sam. Nice work.”
He smiled inwardly. Compliments from Grim were rare gems indeed. “See you in a few.”
The chopper pitched forward and began to rise, the force throwing Fisher back into his seat.
As the pilot wheeled around, taking them across the snow-covered slopes and continuing to lift off, Briggs cursed, then cried, “What the hell?”
Fisher craned his neck—
Just as the Snow Maiden bolted up from her seat a second before Anatoly was finished with her seat belt.
Hunched over in the tight cabin, she made two carefully placed hops, then turned, slamming her back against the side door and getting her hands on the latch.
Fisher’s mouth fell open.
She had timed it perfectly.
While they’d been filing somewhat victoriously into the cabin, their guards down, she’d been working.
She’d studied the door handle, the angles and forces involved, the push-button lock. She’d judged the distance from her seat to the door. She’d guessed about how much maneuverability she’d have and knew she’d need to make her break before Anatoly buckled her in.
As Briggs lunged for her, the side door slid open behind her, the cold air whooshing into the cabin and beginning to howl. She wriggled her brows at Fisher before letting herself fall backward—
Into the air.
Fisher threw off his buckles and came in behind Briggs, the wind nearly blinding now.
“Shut the door!” cried the copilot.
They watched as the Snow Maiden plunged ten, maybe fifteen meters, slamming hard into the snow and plunging at least another meter through the ice crust and into the softer powder beneath.
“Circle back!” shouted Fisher.
As Briggs rolled shut the door and locked it, the pilot banked hard, taking them back toward the Snow Maiden, a mere dot against a sheet of pale white.
They swooped down, and Fisher riveted his gaze on her, searching for any signs of movement.
“That fall must’ve killed her,” said Briggs. “Probably snapped her neck.”
“Yes, she would rather kill herself than be taken prisoner,” said Kasperov. “They’re trained to do that. If there’s no way to escape, then they’ll try everything they can to commit suicide. I guess the days of the poisoned tooth are over, otherwise this could’ve been avoided.”
“I don’t think she was trying to kill herself,” said Fisher. “And I don’t think she’s dead. Just unconscious. We need to go back.”
“Nowhere to land down there,” said the pilot. “That means it’s the helipad or nothing, and you’ll need to hike back up there on foot to get her.”
“And carry her back down,” said Briggs, staring out the window. “She looks dead. She wasn’t the target. But if we need to confirm, then let’s do it.”
“Grim, we’ve got a complication,” Fisher said.
“What, exactly?”
Fisher struggled for the words. “The Snow Maiden accidentally fell out of the chopper.”
Briggs looked at him and winced.
“What?” cried Grim.
“Point is, we’re going to be late.”
“No, no way.”
“Maybe an hour. It’s nothing.”
“Sam, listen to me. We’ve got two jets inbound and they’ll be on the tarmac within an hour. They’re both owned by MCS Charter out of Moscow, a known front company for the GRU. Same company that owns that Gulfstream G650 that I’m thinking must’ve dropped off the Snow Maiden.”
“Shit, maybe she blew an alarm.”
“Or maybe they’re tracking her and she didn’t know it. Either way, we need to get the hell out of here. Now.”
Fisher stared hard at the Snow Maiden’s motionless form as the helo continued to circle overhead. They had nothing, not even the agent’s cell phone to bring back. She had to be operating rogue to head up to La Rinconada with no comm.
Fisher looked at Briggs, then at Kasperov and his girlfriend. He bit back a curse and lifted his voice, “All right, pilot. Just get us back to Juliaca. Top speed.”
* * *
THE Snow Maiden waited until the sound of the helicopter grew faint.
Then she sat up, scowling over the deep aches in her back and shoulders. Was anything broken? She wasn’t sure but she didn’t think so. She blinked hard, and then it finally dawned on her—what she had just done. She began to chuckle so hard that she nearly choked.
Down below, near the helipad, some of the miners who’d been watching the helo lift off began hiking up the slope, toward her.
* * *
GRIM and Charlie were waiting for them as they rushed up Paladin’s rear loading ramp. Kasperov came forward, ringed by his bodyguards, his girlfriend clinging to his arm.
“And who are they?” he asked Fisher.
“The rest of my team.”
Fisher made the requisite introductions, with Charlie shaking Kasperov’s hand and stammering like a groupie. Then, as the loading ramp groaned up behind them, Grim lifted her voice and said, “Mr. Kasperov. We can’t tell you exactly who we are, and we’re going to ask that you and your party forget everything you see here, but nevertheless, I want to welcome you aboard Paladin.”
Kasperov crossed quickly to the SMI table, throwing up his hands, his eyes growing wide and bright. “This . . . is this what I think it is?”
“No,” Grim said with a smile. “And you never saw it.” She tapped a few screens, and abruptly they had a live stream to Nadia’s room back at the safe house. She was watching TV, then turned at the light turning green near the computer monitor.
“Oh my God, Dad?” She m
oved to the video camera, her pale face filling the screen, her bruises beginning to turn purple and yellow.
“Yes, I’m here! What happened to your eye? Did she hit you?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Dad, please, we have to stay with the Americans now. We can trust them. Okay? Listen to me for once.”
“I already have,” said Kasperov. “And I’m so sorry, Nadia. I did this to you.”
“Shut up. You’re always so dramatic. And maybe what happened to us is not such a bad thing. Now you don’t have to complain about the government anymore. You’re free of them, yes?”
“Yes, you’re right. I love you.”
“And I love you.”
Grim lifted her chin. “Nadia, we have to say good-bye for now. We’ll have your father call you when we land in Virginia.”
“All right, thank you.”
Kasperov nodded his thanks and blinked back the tears welling in his eyes.
Grim faced the group. “We’ve got jump seats on the wall toward the back. Everybody needs to buckle in for takeoff.”
Charlie came over to Fisher and slapped him on the shoulder. “Great job, Sam. You and Briggs rock-starred the shit out of this operation.”
Fisher ignored the praise, his thoughts still locked on the slopes outside the mine. “Can you get me a satellite on the mountain where we lost the Snow Maiden?”
“Not sure we got anything within range right now, but we can try.” Charlie rushed over to his station and, as was his wont, banged on his keyboard in a fury that sounded as though the keys might snap off. Screens and access codes flashed by so quickly that Fisher got dizzy. Charlie patched into a satellite that snapped an image of the mountainside.
“Shit, I knew it,” said Fisher.
“Knew what? I don’t see anything.”
“That’s what I mean. She was right there. Now she’s gone. She wasn’t dead.”
“So what? We’re so gone now she’ll never catch us.”
“You tell me how she found us here?”
“I don’t know.”
“You tell me how she survived the fall?”
“Well, that’s easier. Depends on the drop and how deep and hard the snow is. Hell, during World War II the Russians ran out of parachutes and used to put soldiers inside bales of hay and throw ’em out of airplanes so they’d land in the snow.”
“Where’d you read that?”
“In high school. Was the only cool part in the whole book.”
Fisher exhaled in disgust.
“No worries now, Sam. Screw her. We got Kasperov. The Kremlin will take care of her for us.”
“Unless she’s gone rogue. Then anything’s possible.” Fisher swore and shook his head. “I hate loose ends.”
* * *
ONCE they’d left the airport and reached their cruising speed and altitude of Mach 0.74 and thirty-four thousand feet, respectively, Kasperov asked that he and his girlfriend be allowed to rest. They’d barely slept since fleeing Moscow, and while he’d agreed to another conversation with the president, for the time being he needed a meal and a few hours to close his eyes without that constant twitch of fear in the back of his mind.
Fisher and Grim agreed to Kasperov’s request, allowing the man and his girlfriend to sleep in the infirmary. His bodyguards remained outside, where Kobin found a new hobby in harassing them.
While Charlie and Grim continued their intel gathering and assessment, Briggs worked in the armory, cleaning and prepping weapons.
Fisher took a moment to drag Kobin away from his new bestest buddies. “You still in touch with your guy in Lima?”
“He’s looking for payment now. Maybe you can help me grease his palm?”
“Electronic transfer okay?” asked Fisher.
“I’m sure it is.”
“Tell him he’s still on our tab. Got a Russian agent, probably heading out through Juliaca. Need confirmation that she left. Maybe he can help track her.”
“This the Snow Maiden Charlie’s been talking about?”
“Yeah.”
“I heard she’s a real ball breaker.”
“That’s right.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“And Kobin?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad you’re still alive.”
“Wow, Fisher. You’re gonna make me cry.”
“Yeah, in pain, if you don’t shut up. Call your guy. Get me what I need.”
* * *
THE trip back from Peru to Virginia would take over eight hours, and Kasperov did not rise from his slumber for nearly six. Once he was rested and ready, he asked his girlfriend to leave the infirmary so that he, Fisher, and Grim could have a private conversation with the president, whose face glowed from a nearby monitor.
“All right, Mr. Kasperov. I’ll be blunt,” Caldwell began. “A hundred pounds of weapons-grade uranium is stolen from Mayak. Not long after, you suddenly flee your country. Is there a connection? What’re you running from?”
“I need assurances, guarantees that you’ll keep me and my family safe—because what I will tell you will get me killed.”
“You have my word. And behind me is the greatest military machine the world has ever known. What else do you need?”
“Trust. And can you put price on that?”
“No. But you can let us earn yours. What do you have for us?”
“It’s not Treskayev,” Kasperov answered quickly. “I know him. He’s good man, supported by you and your government. But they’ve put gun to his head.”
“Who?” asked Caldwell.
“Men . . . men like me. I have only opinion, no proof, so no actionable intel as you say. But I know who they are. Perov, the arms manufacturer; Yanayev, the aerospace mogul; and Kargin, the investment banker. Mostly ex-KGB, Yeltsin’s drinking buddies back in ’93. When he busted up state financial apparatus, they got special consideration. Now they buy American sports teams, hunt for American wives, and put big pressure on Treskayev. There are more, but these three are troika that lead all others.”
“What do they want?” Fisher asked.
Kasperov snorted. “What all men want: money . . . power. They’ve secretly won sympathy of prime minister, and he’s recruited many of deputy prime ministers, and they in turn have won over federal ministers. Right now, America stands in their way. Their plan is to weaken your government and undermine your economy, and they would do so in three stages. I was to be first stage.”
“Let me guess: a computer virus attack against the United States,” Grim concluded.
Kasperov nodded slowly. “We call it ‘Calamity Jane.’”
“And it attacks our banking system,” said Caldwell.
“Much more than that. It renders GPS systems useless by exploiting systemic problem with cryptographic keying scheme.”
“That’s impossible,” said Grim. “The GPS control segment is encrypted and uses top secret algorithms. It’s managed from five redundant, high-security, and very hard to reach ground stations all over the world. The master control station is in Colorado Springs, with a backup at Vandenberg. You guys can’t get into their systems. No way.”
“Calamity Jane takes all of that into account. It brings down banking system. It exploits vulnerabilities in military computer systems, and it interferes with GPS. Even Chinese have nothing like it. And more you try to kill it, more powerful it becomes.”
President Caldwell closed her eyes, bracing for impact. “How much time do we have?”
“You’ve misunderstood,” said Kasperov. “I refused to release it. That’s why I ran. They asked me to construct it, assured me it would be nothing more than deterrent, and I even convinced myself that creating it would help me to write best software to combat such virus. Keep your enemies close, right?”
“Yeah, but you had to suspect something,” said Fisher. “You had to know that one day, they’d ask you to use it.”
> Kasperov pursed his lips and shook the hair out of his eyes. “Maybe in more limited way and on much smaller scale. I always assumed that ruining America’s economy would ruin Russia’s. Conventional wisdom no longer true for oligarchs. They will take risk and break world’s dependence on your economy. They say clean break is only way.”
“So they came to you, gave you the orders to throw the switch, and you told them to screw off and bolted,” said Fisher. “But why the loud exit?”
“I wanted to go quietly, but I knew my people would suffer. I wanted to give them time for escape. I couldn’t just leave them with nothing.”
“Can the Kremlin gain access to the virus?” Grim asked emphatically.
“No,” said Kasperov. “There is no way.”
“Are you willing to turn it over to us?” asked Caldwell.
“Absolutely not. Men should not wield such power.”
“Maybe you should’ve thought of that before you started banging in your code,” said Fisher.
“Maybe so.”
“You said their plan has three stages. If you’re out, can they still go through with the other two?” asked Grim.
“I would think so.”
Grim’s tone grew more demanding. “And what are they?”
“First, some important background. One of my company’s more recent projects involves hardening thorium reactor control computers against cyber attack.”
“Thorium . . . is that a nuclear material?” asked Fisher.
Grim had already pulled it up on her tablet computer and read from the screen. “It’s a fissile material that can be used for nuclear fuel. They call thorium reactors the ‘clean reactors.’ The stuff is a lot safer to work with than uranium or plutonium but pretty toxic nonetheless, especially if you get it into your lungs.”
“That’s right,” said Kasperov. “Well, we received pressure from government to limit scope of our research—for political reasons, of course. There’s a lot of money at stake here, so I began small investigation, trying to understand why Kremlin wasn’t supporting my work.”
“And what did you find?” Fisher asked.
“It was quite simple. Once hundreds of thorium reactors in Europe go online, Europeans will eventually become fossil fuel independent—and this will destroy Russia customer base. I had no idea my work would help undermine Russian economy.”
