Black Ops (Presidential Agent 5)

"That seems to fit," Castillo said.

"Right after our breakfast, we're going to decorate the Novogodnaya Yolka," Anna said quickly. "Do you know what that is, Charley?"

"No, but I'll bet Lester does," Castillo said, and gestured to Bradley.

"My understanding, Colonel," Bradley began, "is that the Novogodnaya Yolka is sort of the Russian version of our Christmas tree but is symbolic of the New Year rather than of Christmas. It is topped by a star, and decorated with candy and small pastries. Father Frost, sort of a Russian Santa Claus, and his daughter--"

"Granddaughter," Pevsner interrupted. "Ded Moroz's granddaughter, Snegurochka, the Snow Girl."

"Thank you for the amplification, sir," Bradley said. "I didn't know that. Please feel free to correct me at any time."

"You are doing very well, Corporal," Anna said. "Please go on. My husband will not rudely interrupt you again."

Bradley acknowledged that with a nod and went on: "Father Frost and the Snow Girl bring in presents for the good children and leave them under the Novogodnaya Yolka. More or less a variation of presents left under the Christmas tree. That is about the sum of my knowledge, sir."

"Thank you, Lester," Castillo said.

"You're very welcome, sir."

"And since I have been a very good girl for years and years," Svetlana said, looking directly at Anna, "and Ded Moroz and Snegurochka knew how very, very hard that was for me, they brought me my present early. Last night."

Castillo realized he was being groped under the table.

"What was it, Aunty Svet?" Elena asked.

"I promised not to tell; if other girls knew what it is, they'd be jealous. Something I really needed. I'll have to take very good care of it."

Anna's face was frozen.

"And while Anna and the children are decorating the Novogodnaya Yolka," Pevsner said quickly, as if trying to shut off that line of conversation, "I need to have a word with Colonel Munz and Charley. And you, too, Svetlana, unless you'd rather help decorate the tree."

"I told you I've already gotten my present," Svetlana said, giving the present a farewell squeeze. "So I'll go with you."

The maid placed a plate with one solitary pancake on it before Svetlana and a plate with a stack of half a dozen pancakes and four strips of bacon before Castillo.

Svetlana watched as Castillo buttered his pancakes and poured maple syrup over them. She buttered her pancake, put maple syrup on it, and then sawed off a small piece and forked it into her mouth.

Then she reached over to Castillo's plate and transferred two pancakes and two strips of bacon to her plate.

She caught the maid's attention and said, "We're going to need some more of this, if you'd be so kind."

[THREE]

Janos was in the library when Pevsner, Castillo, Munz, and Svetlana walked in, followed by a maid pushing a cart with a silver samovar, a silver coffee thermos, and the necessary accoutrements on it.

Pevsner waited somewhat impatiently for the maid to leave, then gestured to Janos to arrange chairs in a circle around a small low table. When he had, everybody sat down.

Janos then served. He poured coffee for Castillo and Munz without asking, asked Svetlana with a gesture whether she wanted tea or coffee, then poured tea for her and Pevsner.

"Since the circumstances have changed somewhat--" Pevsner began. "God, what an understatement that was!" he interrupted himself, and then went on: "Under the new circumstances, certain things have to be discussed and dealt with.

"I will start with Janos. Svet, Janos has been protecting me and the family for years. We have almost died together. Most recently, I was betrayed and lured to the basement garage of the Sheraton Pilar--near Charley's safe house--where Podpolkovnik Yevgeny Komogorov, whom you know, and several of his friends tried very hard to kill us both. Janos was severely wounded. Only Charley's people kept us alive. The boy who just now delivered the lectures on tree syrup and the Novogodnaya Yolka took care of Komogorov."

He laid his index finger just below his eyeball.

"From at least fifteen meters with his pistol. Bradley is a very interesting young man."

"Why did Komogorov want you removed?" Svetlana asked. She didn't seem surprised to learn of Bradley's skill as a pistoleer.