[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

modern building ahead, still of granite, but with almost slab-sided walls
interspersed with sheets of green glass that seemed to catch and hold the
winter sun. The roof was also slanted more than the older buildings and
shimmered despite the weak light.  Is that the PetroRus building ahead?
 It is, sir. Olaf pulled into a wide stone-paved drive and inched forward
until we were under the archway and just behind another black Volga.
Despite the faint sunlight, the air was chill and damp as we got out of the
sedan.
 How long will you be, sir? asked the driver.
I smiled and shrugged.  A half hour, an hour. I'd be surprised if it were
longer.
Olaf nodded.  I'll be waiting here.
Before we headed toward the modern glass door set in the square granite arch,
I turned to Madley.  If you don't mind, Commander, I'm going to have Christian
do most of the announcing and translating. I'd like you to watch and listen.
Unless it's urgent, save any observations until after we leave.
The commander nodded.
Christian tilted his head quizzically but didn't say anything.
There were four guards in the lobby, not in Imperial Russian uniforms, but in
rich green hard-finished fabric, trimmed in silver. Even without insignia,
they still looked military. The lobby itself had smooth polished walls of a
reddish granite and dark gray stone floors that glistened. There was a desk in
the middle of the lobby, with a single clerk behind it.
I nodded to Christian.  Just tell them who I am and try to explain that I have
a meeting at eleven o'clock with Kyril Kulikovsky. Oh, and make sure that you
get in that I'm his most high excellency Minister Johan Eschbach.
 Kyril Kulikovsky?
 That's right.
Christian marched forward and delivered an impressive-sounding spiel, the only
words of which I recognized were my name and  Columbia.
I stood there and looked bored and above it all.
 He's good, Madley murmured.
The clerk nodded, nodded some more, looked at a clipboard, and then picked up
a handset. He spoke on it and looked vaguely surprised. Then he hung up and
motioned to one of the guards.
Christian turned.  His high excellency Executive Director Kulikovsky is
waiting for you, Minister Eschbach.
The armed guard in green escorted us past the clerk's station and to the far
side of the foyer, where there was a bank of elevators, if three could be
considered a bank. After we entered the elevator, so did he, inserting a key
and pressing the button for the sixth floor.
We got out on the sixth floor and stepped back in time. Although one wall to
the right of the elevator was entirely of greenish glass, the interior wall
was polished cherry, with both a carved chair rail and a matching crown
molding, and three portraits in gold frames graced the wall leading to an
ornate cherry reception desk. The woman behind the desk was blonde, wearing a
black suit, a red blouse, and a warm smile.
The guard stood beside the elevator and watched as we stepped up to the
reception desk, or rather Christian did, explaining once more.
Her smile broadened before she replied, in lightly accented English.  Your
Russian is excellent, and Executive Director Kulikovsky will be with you all
in just a moment.
She hadn't even finished her words before a tall, slender, dark-haired man
appeared, wearing a gray suit that would have easily have graced either
Philadelphia or the federal district.
 Minister Eschbach . . . gentlemen, it is so good to see you. He glanced at
the commander and Christian,  Elenya will find you refreshments while the
minister and I meet.
Page 91
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
With that, and a hidden smile, I followed Kulikovsky through a solid cherry
door and down a short corridor to a windowed office, neither large nor small,
which was furnished in what I would have called Russian modern. I liked the
older and more ornate style better.
The Russian executive sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. I
took the other. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]