The Margin of Evil! by Simon Boxall Page B

went to answer the door.  He was halfway there when the door was flung open.  He felt himself reach for his revolver.
    In burst Anya Trofimov. She held two glasses in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. Georgii stood there transfixed. As always everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Trofimov walked in, she placed the vitals on the table and then dramatically threw off her coat. In the next moment she grabbed a bemused Georgii Radetzky and then manoeuvred him towards the bedroom.
    ' Comrade we still have some unfinished business from 1914 to attend to.'
    Georgii was now in a bemu sed state of amusement and she was now busying herself removing both of their clothes. For the second time in a day the ceiling began to spin, but also Georgii was becoming aware of something else other than himself being subjected to the abject desires of Comrade Trofimov. It was the faint sound of giggling and it was coming from inside the wardrobe. Also the bed was beginning to wobble. The more the bed wobbled, the louder the giggling got; but Trofimov seemed oblivious to everything, as she pinned herself to him, that was going on around her. Then it happened. The leg of the bed gave way and the pair of them fell onto the floor. Georgii was now on top of Trofimov and he noticed that the impact of the fall had caused Trofimov's left eye to roll out of its socket. It was bouncing across the floor in the direction of the wardrobe. She was staring at the wardrobe where the giggling had now reached a feverish pitch. Then there was an almighty 'BANG' and the two kids tumbled out of the wardrobe.
    Trofimov pushed him off, picked up the false eye, and then flounced off into the other room. At the same time she was struggling to rearrange what remained of her clothing and hair. She grabbed the wine the two glasses and then turned to face him with a face like thunder.
    ' Comrade Radetzky! This is the first, and last time you humiliate me!!'  With that she was gone and the door slammed behind her.
    He t urned to face the two children.  Before he could say anything little Anna said.
    ' We've seen plenty of that going on! Pyotr says that's how grownups keep warm at night!'
    Georgii Radetzky lay on his ba ck and looked up at the ceiling and laughed out loud. He looked over at the two kids and thought to himself that it was a great shame that these two had lost their childhood innocence so early. He looked back up at the ceiling, and thought to himself that he had got off 'Trofimov's Hook' rather lightly. Knowing her as he did, and her habit for bearing grudges, next time he might not extricate himself so easily. His mind was racing, he thought about this and that. Eventually he fell off to sleep.
    The next day was a non-starter. Trofimov was already in her alcove when Georgii arrived at his desk. She did as she always had done before; she just gave him the cold shoulder. He knew that she would, so he just went about his business. Really he was just killing time, until he could meet Gerhardt in 'The Immaculate Winter Garden'.
     
    Chapter Six
     
    Georgii Radetzky hurried across town to the rendezvous. He went as fast as his legs would carry him. He slipped and skidded on the ice. Auguste Gerhardt was already there waiting for him.

'Did you bring your field glasses Georgii?' he said.
    ' Yes I did,' Georgii replied.
    ' Right, we will go straight to the Goods Yard.'
    Without further ado, they headed off through the st reets on their way to the yard.  Georgii knew they were going in the right direction, because he could hear the whistles of the trains getting louder and louder. He had noticed that the nearer they got to the railway line less and less people seemed to be milling around on the street. He looked at his Hunter watch, it was only five o' clock. Georgii put the watch away. He looked at Gerhardt, Russia's premier detective was staring resolutely ahead, and not only that, he was now walking in a dogged fashion. On arrival the yard