‘Comrades,’ he began resonantly, ‘it is a great honour for me to stand before you as your candidate. As each day passes, I become more and more aware …’
As Connor scanned the crowd, he once again caught sight of Mitchell. He’d taken another step towards him.
‘Although few of our citizens wish to return to the old totalitarian days of the past, the vast majority …’
Just the odd word change here and there, thought Connor. He noticed that Mitchell had taken another step towards him.
‘… want to see a fairer distribution of the wealth that has been created by their skills and hard work.’ As the crowd began to cheer, Connor quickly moved a few paces to his right. When the applause died down, he froze, not moving a muscle.
‘Why is the man on the bench following your friend?’ asked Sergei.
‘Because he’s an amateur,’ said Jackson.
‘Or a professional who knows exactly what he’s doing?’ suggested Sergei.
‘My God, don’t tell me I’m losing my touch,’ said Jackson.
‘So far he’s done everything but kiss him,’ said Sergei.
‘Look at the streets of St Petersburg, comrades,’ continued Zerimski. ‘Yes, you will see Mercedes, BMWs and Jaguars, but who is driving them? Only the privileged few …’
When the crowd burst into applause again, Connor took a few more steps towards the north end of the square.
‘I look forward to the day when this is not the only country on earth where limousines outnumber family cars …’
Connor glanced back to find that Mitchell had taken two or three more steps in his direction. What was he playing at?
‘… and where there are more Swiss bank accounts than hospitals.’
He would have to lose him during the next burst of applause. He concentrated on Zerimski’s words, to anticipate exactly when he would make his move.
‘I think I’ve spotted him,’ said a plain-clothes policeman who was sweeping the crowd through a pair of binoculars.
‘Where, where?’ demanded Bolchenkov, grabbing the glasses.
‘Twelve o’clock, fifty yards back, not moving a muscle. He’s in front of a woman wearing a red scarf. He doesn’t look like his photograph, but whenever there’s a burst of applause he moves too quickly for a man of that age.’
Bolchenkov began focusing the glasses. ‘Got him,’ he said. After a few seconds he added, ‘Yes, it might just be him. Brief those two at one o’clock to move in and arrest him, and tell the pair twenty yards in front of him to cover them. Let’s get it over with as quickly as possible.’ The young officer looked anxious. ‘If we’ve made a mistake,’ said the Chief, ‘I’ll take the responsibility.’
‘Let us never forget,’ continued Zerimski, ‘that Russia can once again be the greatest nation on earth …’
Mitchell was now only a pace away from Connor, who was studiously ignoring him. In just a few more seconds there would be an extended ovation when Zerimski told the crowd what he intended to do when he became President. No bank accounts supplied by the bribes of dishonest businessmen - that always got the loudest cheer of all. Then he’d be clean away, and would make sure that Mitchell was transferred to a desk job in some mosquito-infested backwater.
‘… I shall be dedicating myself to your service, and be more than satisfied with the salary of a President, rather than taking bribes from dishonest businessmen whose only interest is in pillaging the nation’s assets.’
The crowd erupted into cheers. Connor turned suddenly and began moving to his right. He had taken almost three strides when the first policeman grabbed his left arm. A second later another came at him from the right. He was thrown to the ground, but made no attempt to resist. Rule one: when you’ve nothing to hide, don’t resist arrest. His hands were wrenched behind his back and a pair of handcuffs snapped around his wrists. The crowd began to form a little circle around the three men on the ground. They were now far more interested in th
e sideshow than in Zerimski’s words. Mitchell hung back slightly, and waited for the inevitable ‘Who is he?’
‘Mafya hitman,’ he whispered into the ears of those nearest him. He moved back towards the press enclosure, muttering the words ‘Mafya hitman’ periodically.
‘Let me leave you good citizens in no doubt that if I were to be elected President, you can be sure of one thing …’
‘You’re under arrest,’ said a third man whom Connor couldn’t see because his nose was being pressed firmly against the ground.
‘Take him away,’ said the same authoritative voice, and Connor was bundled off towards the north end of the square.
Zerimski had spotted the disturbance in the crowd, but like an old pro he ignored it. ‘If Chernopov were to be elected, the Americans would be more concerned about the views of Mexico than those of Russia,’ he continued unfalteringly.