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Omsk, he thought. Hell.
"I'd be glad to go, sir," he said.
{IV}
Ethel went upstairs to Mildred's apartment. The place was clean but not tidy, with toys on the floor, a cigarette burning in an ashtray, and knickers drying in front of the fire. "Can you keep an eye on Lloyd tonight?" Ethel asked. She and Bernie were going to a Labour Party meeting. Lloyd was nearly four now and quite capable of getting out of bed and going for a walk on his own if not watched.
"Of course," said Mildred. They frequently watched each other's children in the evenings. "I've got a letter from Billy," Mildred said.
"Is he all right?"
"Yes. But I don't think he's in France. He doesn't say anything about the trenches. "
"He must be in the Middle East, then. I wonder if he's seen Jerusalem. " The Holy City had been taken by British forces at the end of last year. "Our da will be pleased if he has. "
"There's a message for you. He says he'll write later, but to tell you. . . " She reached into the pocket of her apron. "Let me get it right. 'Believe me, I feel I am badly informed here about events in politics in Russia. ' Funny bloody message, really. "
"It's in code," Ethel said. "Every third word counts. The message says I am here in Russia. What's he doing there?"
"I didn't know our army was in Russia. "
"Nor did I. Does he mention a song, or a book title?"
"Yeah-how did you know?"
"That's code, too. "
"He says to remind you of a song you used to sing called 'I'm with Freddie in the Zoo. ' I've never heard of it. "
"Nor have I. It's the initials. 'Freddie in the Zoo' means. . . Fitz. "
Bernie came in wearing a red tie. "He's fast asleep," he said, meaning Lloyd.
Ethel said: "Mildred's got a letter from Billy. He seems to be in Russia with Earl Fitzherbert. "
"Aha!" said Bernie. "I wondere
d how long it would take them. "
"What do you mean?"
"We've sent troops to fight the Bolsheviks. I knew it would happen. "
"We're at war with the new Russian government?"
"Not officially, of course. " Bernie looked at his watch. "We need to go. " He hated to be late.
On the bus, Ethel said: "We can't be unofficially at war. Either we are or we aren't. "
"Churchill and that crowd know the British people won't support a war against the Bolsheviks, so they're trying to do it secretly. "
Ethel said thoughtfully: "I'm disappointed in Lenin-"
"He's just doing what he's got to do!" Bernie interrupted. He was a passionate supporter of the Bolsheviks.
Ethel went on: "Lenin could become just as much of a tyrant as the tsar-"
"That's ridiculous!"
