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“Someone who has given his life in the service of his country deserves—”
“I agree,” Mannberg said. “What is it that you wish us to do?”
Serov dug in his battered briefcase again and came up with a stack of photographs. He handed them to Mannberg, who glanced at them and then slid them across the table to Cronley.
“These are photographs of the identity documents I just showed you. What I’m asking you to do is use them to identify the men now lying in ‘unknown’ graves in the Giesinger Friedhof—or wherever they are—and then to arrange for their Christian burial. By that I mean a Russian Orthodox priest will consecrate the ground in which they lie, and then conduct a proper burial service, which will include the blessing of their tombstones, which will have their names and the dates of their birth and death on them, and be topped by a Suppedaneum—Russian Orthodox—cross.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” Mannberg said.
“I thank you,” Serov said. “It’s important to me that they be laid properly to their eternal rest.”
Cronley’s mouth went on automatic: “But what will happen when the Germans want to reuse the grave site in twenty-five years?”
“A great deal can happen in a quarter century,” Serov said. “We are talking about eternity here, James.”
Cronley worked his way through the photographs and came to the last one.
“Jesus Christ!”
“Your blasphemy tells me you have come to the last photograph,” Serov said. “May I suggest that we finish the Christian burial service business before turning our attention to that?”
Cronley shoved the photographs to Mannberg. He glared at Serov, but he was able to shut off his automatic mouth.
Mannberg looked through the images, then reached the last one.
It showed Colonel Robert Mattingly. He was standing with his hands handcuffed in front of him. His right upper arm held a bloody bandage. His shirt was torn and bloody. His right eye was swollen shut, and there were bruises on his face.
Mannberg met Serov’s eyes.
“I thought you heard me say that what you’re asking of us will be done,” he said.
“I wanted to be sure,” Serov said. “For several reasons. Not only is it important to me that my fallen comrades receive the rites of the Church, but that we establish a relationship built on mutual trust. I’m sure that you will agree that as time passes, we will find ourselves dealing with one another again.”
Mannberg nodded.
“What is it you want, Ivan?” he then said.
“Comrade Merkulov, the commissar of State Security, feels that the defection of Polkóvnik Sergei Likharev is something we simply can’t live with. It sets a very bad, wholly intolerable example for others.”
Neither Cronley nor Mannberg replied.
“Especially—and I must say I admire your being able to do this, James—since you managed for his wife and children to join him. I would love to know how you made that happen.”
Again Mannberg and Cronley said nothing.
“Just before we came here, Comrade Dragomirov received word that Colonel Mattingly has safely arrived in Berlin. As I am aware of your personal affection for him, let me assure you that he has received, and will continue to receive, medical attention for his wound, and the prognosis is that he will fully recover.”
“Is he getting this medical treatment before or after you’re beating him?” Cronley asked.
“Colonel Mattingly showed a great—and frankly admirable—reluctance to accept our hospitality. We are not beating him. At this time, we have no reason to mistreat him in any way.”
Once more neither Cronley nor Mannberg replied.
“There is a difference between Berlin and Vienna in that there is no ‘Four Party Zone’ in Berlin as there is here, no ‘Four Men in a Jeep,’ so to speak. Each of the Allies has its own area. For this reason, Comrade Merkulov has directed that the exchange take place on the border between the Soviet and American zones.
“One of the border markers between our zone and yours is the Havel River, which runs between the Wannsee district of Berlin and the German state of Brandenburg. A bridge, the Glienicker Brücke, crosses over the Havel near the Sanssouci Palace. In the center of that bridge is where we will see Colonel Mattingly and Colonel Likharev and his family returned to their respective homelands.”
