"L'Amour, Louis - Last_of_the_Breed43" - читать интересную книгу автора (L'Amour Louis)

Now that they were so close, the old man was strong again. His fears seemed to have vanished. "I have money," he said, "in Hong Kong. You will want for nothing. I shall see to it."
"I want to go to America," she said.
"We will see to it," he replied confidently. "Now stay calm. Let me talk."
Lieutenant Potanin stepped from the guardhouse as they drew near. They could see two soldiers standing inside, warming their hands over a stove.
He looked quickly from one to the other. "This may get me into trouble," he said, "but I shall do it." He turned toward the pedestrian gate.
At that moment they heard the sound of a car. It was some distance away but coming fast. He fumbled with the lock, and the car wheeled onto the bridge.
Kyra Lebedev stepped quickly from the car. Stegman got down on the other side. "Dr. Baronas! You are under arrest!"
Evgeny turned so his face was in the light. "I am not Dr. Baronas," he said. "I am Evgeny Zhikarev."
"Ah? So it is you!" She turned to Natalya. "But you are Natalya Baronas, are you not? Where is your father?"
"He is dead. He died crossing the mountains."
"Ah? Too bad. Come now, both of you. You--"
A boot scraped on gravel, and a low, strong voice said, "Let them alone!"
Angrily, Kyra Lebedev turned. A big man in a heavy overcoat faced her. She stopped, suddenly dry mouthed and frightened.
"I am Bocharev," the big man said.
"But we have an order," Kyra protested, "an order for their arrest. The GRU"
"I know all about it. The order has been countermanded. " His eyes were cold. "You may go," he said. "You are not needed here."
Still, Kyra Lebedev hesitated. "But what shall I tell Colonel Zamatev?"
"He has already been informed, as you will hear." He pointed. "Go now! You are not needed here!"
She hesitated no longer. Stegman was already getting into the car.
From an inside pocket, Bocharev took a sheaf of papers and handed them to Natalya. "Your passport, your visa."
He glanced at Evgeny. "This is not your father?"
She explained, and he nodded. "Do not worry. I shall see his body is found and buried properly." He glanced at Evgeny again. "How about you, comrade?"
"I have papers, comrade." Evgeny's voice was trembling. "I--"
"You have assisted this young lady," Bocharev replied. He turned to Natalya. "Sometime, in a moment, remember my son."
"I shall never forget him," she replied. "Nor you."
"Go now, quickly." Bocharev turned to Lieutenant Potanin. "Pass them, Lieutenant. Their papers are in order."
"Yes, comrade!"
Bocharev stood alone, watching them go, his hands thrust deep in his pockets. Then, at last, he walked back to the Volga.
At the end of the bridge a Chinese officer was awaiting them. Natalya turned and looked back, lifting a hand in farewell. She saw the lights of the car go on and saw it turn away.
"There are good men everywhere," she said, recalling another.
"Yes," Zhikarev agreed. "I only wish they had louder voices."
Then they crossed a border into an uncertain future. Natalya vowed silently to reach America, where, she dared hope, Joe Mack would somehow be waiting for her, to share the dream he had inspired.