“It may surprise you to learn that I know quite a bit more about that ship and its crew than you may realize,” he said. “And no, this information was not provided to me by my intelligence people. Let me say I have some firsthand experience in the matter. But before I go beyond that, I must understand what you have learned about this ship.”
“Yes, the mysterious ship. We thought Volkov had built it at first-who else? You have no major ports under your control, nor the industry to build a large capital ship like that in Siberia. There it was, and with a Russian crew-a real mystery when it turned up in the North Atlantic, and then an even bigger mystery when it sailed and fought to support the Royal Navy! It was then that I received a message, one that struck a particular note with me. It was from a man named Fedorov-Captain Fedorov I later discovered, from that very ship. It referenced an incident from my past-very many years ago, but one I could never forget or even truly explain. So I was compelled to learn more, and was delighted when this ship sailed north to Murmansk as it did.”
“And what did you learn from your meeting with this Admiral you mention?”
“Enough to know this ship could never have been built by the Orenburg Federation either. It certainly wasn’t a British ship, nor of any other nationality. It flew the Russian Naval ensign, and by god, it was named in my honor-what a surprise!”
“Then Volsky told you? You have learned the real origin of that ship?”
Kirov folded his arms now, enjoying his little chess game with Karpov. The man was trying to be very cautious here. He suspects everything, but really knows nothing. What should I tell him? If he is, indeed, the man I was told about, then this game can lead only one place. It could go on like this, move after move, check and escape, so why not just end it and come to the heart of the matter. He looked at Karpov, a determined expression on his face.
“Admiral Vladimir Karpov, First Air Commandant of the Siberian Aero Corps… I was told a man by that same name was once a senior officer aboard that ship. Suppose you tell me plainly now, and then we can get to the real questions that need answers between us. Are you that same man?”
Karpov pursed his lips, instinctively defensive, yet he appreciated the other man’s candor, and directness. He decided he would be equally direct. “I am. Before I assumed this rank I was a Captain, but not in the Siberian Aero Corps. No. I was a Captain in the Russian Navy, commander of the battlecruiser Kirov, the very same ship we are discussing. So anything you may have learned about that ship, its origins and true nature, applies to me as well, Mister Secretary.”
Karpov set aside his doubt and worry now. He realized who he was, and the power he had at this moment. Kirov must understand that as well.
“I see… Then you were the man they struggled with, correct? There was a power struggle on that ship, and you opposed your Admiral?”
“Yes, that is true.”
“And it is clear that you did not prevail. Most unfortunate for you, but in appears you are very resilient. How was it that you came to your present post?”
“That is a long story, and one we need not go into here. Yes, I failed in my bid to assume full command of that ship, and we parted company. Call me Lucifer if you will, thrown out of heaven when he thought he could rival God himself. That is my sad fate, but I have made the most of it. Now I rule here, in this little corner of the hell we’ve created of our motherland.”
Kirov smiled. “Then you came from the upper floor as well, right along with Volsky and Fedorov.”
“I don’t understand. Upper floor?”
“Just a metaphor that Captain Fedorov used to explain himself to me. Imagine a simple boarding inn, lost on some forgotten stretch of railway. Imagine the people boarding there all come from different places, which is not that unusual. Yet now throw in a most remarkable twist-say they all come from different pages in the history, different eras in time. The bottom floor houses guests who lived before the revolution, the middle floor is reserved for travelers from this day… and the upper floor? Suppose men from tomorrow board there. Men with ships no one ever heard of, impossible for any nation on earth to build today, and with weapons so potent and advanced they become a most decisive force in little disagreements like this sad war we’re fighting. There, Captain or Admiral if you prefer the loftier title now. Is that enough for you?”
“Fedorov told you all this?” Karpov could not keep himself from leaning forward, the implication of what he was hearing now obvious. He suddenly realized that this story, this metaphor, was very telling. It was not just any railway inn, but a very particular one.
“Then you know about Ilanskiy?”
