by Chris Hawley
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
IN THE SHADE OF A TREE
Sonia and I were allowed to sit together at the table for lunch. Svetlana sat on the next table and left us alone. We ate a large bowl of mixed vegetables and potatoes with the same course bread we had eaten for breakfast. We felt that our captors wanted to treat us well in return for my cooperation. We talked little. Sonia was almost her normal self again and I was confident that she would be completely well in a day or two.
When we had finished eating, I asked Svetlana if we could take a walk. She went to ask and came back to tell us it was possible, as long as we didn’t go outside the compound. Someone would go with us to make sure we didn’t get lost. Run away, I thought more likely.
The August sun was hot and the earth under our feet baked hard. We walked for some time and then found a tree where there was at least a bit of shade. We sat on tufts of course grass. Svetlana sat under another tree, far enough away for her not to hear our conversation.
‘Sonia?’ I said.
She looked at me with her big blue eyes and waited for me to continue.
‘They are looking for your father, the Russians I mean.’
‘What for?’
‘They want the tunic, to do tests for themselves.’
She looked worried. ‘I hope my father isn’t stubborn and decides to refuse them. You know how fixed he is on getting rich on your story. What might they do to him?’
‘Who knows,’ I said. ‘He might strike a deal with them, you know, the tunic in exchange for money.’
‘My father is not interested in peanuts, Bill.’
‘Right, and the Russians are not going to give much. They have other methods.’
Sonia shivered. ‘I know my father has turned bad but he is still my father and I love him.’
‘Of course. I will talk to Ivan. I will ask him to let you go and you can find your father and put some sense into him.’
‘Do you think they will agree?’
‘It’s me they want. There’s nothing you can give them. I am sure they will agree.’
We got up and walked back towards the main building. Ivan was standing outside, smoking a cigarette in the hot afternoon sun. We walked up to him and we shook hands.
‘Can Sonia go home?’ I asked.
He drew heavily on the cigarette and blew a thin column of smoke into the air. As he considered the question the gentle breeze took away the smoke. He took another draw and another puff of smoke followed the first.
‘It is not possible now,’ he said at last.
‘Why?’ I asked, frowning at him.
‘Because, because she will talk, that is why,’ he said a little testily. ‘We are not yet ready for that.’ He flicked the cigarette end onto the ground and turned to go into the building.
I decided not to pursue the question any more. I didn’t want to make him angry. Sonia and I walked off again and found the same tree as before. We sat for a few minutes in silence. Then I turned to Sonia and looked into her eyes.
‘Sonia, let’s run away!’ I whispered excitedly.
She smiled. “Do you know where we are Bill?’
‘Well, not exactly,’ I admitted.
‘Not exactly?’ she laughed. ‘We have no idea at all. We could be anywhere between Moscow and Vladivostok!’
‘I think we are not far from the border with, what would it be, Poland?’
‘That’s your guess,’ said Sonia.
‘The plane journey was not that long, maybe four hours.’ Then I remembered I had slept. I was so tired I might have slept for at least four hours.’
‘You’re right Sonia, it’s hard to know for sure where we are, but don’t let’s give up!’
‘I’m not ready to trudge for a thousand miles across Europe Bill! Don’t you think it would be easy for them to see we are foreigners?’
‘Shhh! Keep your voice down. Svetlana might hear.’
She continued more quietly. ‘With no money and we don’t speak Russian, or Polish and we don’t know how friendly the people are.’
‘We could try to cross into Poland and find the nearest British Consulate.’ I was still convinced it was a good idea. ‘Just think what an adventure it would be, Sonia!’
‘But Bill, you have made friends with that Russian and he says they will help your Martian friends fight the Zoggs.
‘Ivan may be genuine, but who can tell. They may have their own agenda and we are just the pawns.’
‘That’s true, but if we escape and even if we make it home, which is doubtful, they will only come looking for you again and who knows what they might do next time.’
‘Yes,’ I agreed. ‘But Sonia, there’s another thing that bothers me.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Should we not try to warn the British authorities? I mean, I am British and here I am, giving secrets to a foreign power. They shoot people for that, you know.’
‘What secrets? What you have told him the British don’t know anything about. They are not British secrets: they are Martian.’
‘True Sonia, but somehow I feel like a traitor, helping the Russians to become powerful.’
‘Bill, it’s not the time to be patriotic. You have to see yourself as a citizen of the world. Your mission is to help save the world, not just your own country.’
I looked at her in admiration. I had no idea she was so wise.
‘Sonia, you are talking sense. I feel humbled in your presence.’
‘Bill, don’t joke!’
‘But I’m not: I’m deadly serious, Sonia. You are so wise.’
She blushed and looked down at her hands. I stretched out my hand and placed it on top of hers, squeezing them slightly. She looked up at me and smiled.
‘Sonia, having you here is a great source of strength to me, do you know that?’
‘I’m happy to be of service, kind sir,’ she said.
We sat for a few more minutes and then continued our walk in silence, in an atmosphere of peace. Sonia’s right, I thought. It is time to widen our vision. We must not work for the good of one country only but for the good of humanity. We are citizens of the world. No, not just citizens of the world, we are citizens of the Solar System: not even that, we are citizens of the Universe!
