“And what were they saying about my chances?” asked Sasha, falling back on the old political trick of answering a question with a question, although he knew Fiona wouldn’t be fooled.
“Everyone who spoke English was in favor of your standing, as were half of the Russians, although one of them,” she said, taking a card out of her bag, “Ivan Donokov, is certainly no friend of yours. He asked me the strangest question: Had you ever lived in America?” Sasha looked puzzled. “I told him not that I was aware of. I then pressed him on what he thought of your chances should you throw your hat in the ring.”
“And how did he respond?”
“He acknowledged you were probably the front-runner, but said there was a dark horse coming up on the rails.”
“Did he name the horse?” asked Sasha, trying not to sound anxious.
“He thought that an old friend of yours called Vladimir—”
“He’s no friend of mine,” said Sasha. “In any case, that man’s only interest was becoming head of the FSB, and now he’s achieved that, he won’t be looking further afield, just making sure he clings on to his job.”
“That wasn’t Donokov’s opinion. In fact he was fairly sure Vladimir was also gazing across Red Square, his eyes now fixed on the Kremlin.”
“But that’s not realistic.”
“Why not, if he’s got Yeltsin backing him?”
“But why would Yeltsin even consider backing such a flawed individual?”
“It seems Yeltsin’s daughter and son-in-law were about to be arrested and charged with fraud, and Vladimir somehow managed to make the problem disappear. I’m told the video of a call girl caught performing her particular special services on the desk of the prosecutor general’s office is well worth watching.”
“But that’s no reason to back someone for president who’s totally unsuitable for the job.”
“How would you feel, Sasha, if you were president and your daughter was likely to end up in prison for several years?”
“I’d allow the law to take its course.”
“I do believe you would,” said Fiona, “which only proves how lucky they’d be to get you. But are you also willing to sacrifice the Foreign Office, when you could end up with nothing?”
“Did Donokov let you know where he stood?” asked Sasha, once again not answering her question.
“No. But surely if he’s the deputy director of the FSB, he’ll be backing his boss.”
“It doesn’t always work that way in Russia. So did he offer an opinion on my chances?” repeated Sasha, still gnawing at the same bone.
“No, but he did say that if you don’t stand, he wasn’t in any doubt who would be the next president.”
“I can’t think of a better reason to stand,” said Sasha, lowering his guard. He’d never thought for one moment that Vladimir could be a serious candidate, but accepted that if he did stand, it would be a no-holds-barred contest, because wrestling was the one sport Vladimir had excelled in.
“If you do decide to stand,” said Fiona, interrupting his reverie, “I can only hope you win. You’d be sorely missed in the House, and would have made a damned good Foreign Secretary. But Russia is a far greater challenge. And if you were to become president, relations with the West would improve overnight, which can only be good for everyone concerned, including the Russian people.”
“That’s kind of you to say so, Fiona. And now that I know who I’m likely to be up against, I could do with one or two of your particular political skills.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” said Fiona, as the car swept through the members’ entrance and into Old Palace Yard. As Sasha climbed out of the car, the division bell began to ring, so they parted and went their separate ways.
Ironic, thought Sasha as he entered the “Ayes” lobby, that it wasn’t what he’d gleaned at the embassy party that had helped him to finally make up his mind, but a piece of information picked up in the back of a car from the most unlikely source.
* * *
When Sasha told Elena that he would be returning to their homeland to run for president, it was as if she hadn’t heard a word he’d said.
“Of course, Mama, I’d understand if you felt you didn’t want to come with me.”
“I will be going with you,” she said quietly.
Sasha was at first surprised, then delighted, and finally sad when she told him the reason for her change of heart. “I’m so sorry,” he said, embracing his mother. “Uncle Kolya was such a fine man, and we both owe him so much.”