The Russian Woman

Chapter 81

Thorne and Jenna were in Thorne's kitchen. He took a chilled bottle of vodka from the refrigerator and poured two double shots, then set the bottle on the counter. He took the stool next to her and raised his glass.

"It's been quite a week," Jenna said.

"I have to hand it to Campbell," Thorne said. "Whatever he did, it worked."

"Lewis told me what happened. Campbell called Tarasov and told him we'd launch our nukes if he went through with his plan to attack."

"He must have been convincing."

"If he hadn't been, we wouldn't be sitting here."

"It's not over yet. We're still at DEFCON 3."

"The Russians are matching us. I don't think that's going to change anytime soon. But the bombers have been recalled and the launch preparations have stopped, so that's good. Lewis thinks Campbell is waiting to see if Tarasov pulls his troops back across the Euphrates before he drops to DEFCON 4."

"What's happening in Moscow?"

"It's hard to know for sure," Jenna said. "There are rumors Tarasov has relieved several senior officers of command. Andropov has replaced Kerensky as Chief of Staff. Fedorov, Kerensky and Mikhailov haven't been seen in days."

"A purge?"

"I think so. We should know more soon."

"What happens if Tarasov pulls back in Syria?"

"The Syrian army will take over the fields. The Kurds are in disarray and no longer a military threat, but al-Khali is weak. There are still a lot of people who want to overthrow his regime. He can occupy the fields, but keeping them might be a different story."

"Iran would like that oil. And the Turks. It's what my old CO would call a fluid situation."

"Carlson wants to know when you're coming back," she said.

"I'm not sure."

"What have you been doing?"

"Not much. Working out. Going for rides. It clears my head."

"That bike is beautiful, but it scares me."

"I've never taken you for a ride, have I?"

"No."

"I'll have to get you a helmet."

Jenna sipped her wine.

"You did it, Mike. You stopped a war."

"I didn't do it. Anya did."

"What was she like?"

Someone I fell in love with. That's what she was like.

The thought brought a sudden feeling of unbearable loss. He looked away from Jenna so she wouldn't see the truth in his eyes, too late. It went through her like a knife. She toyed with her glass, making condensation rings on the counter.

Damn you, Mike.

"She was...Russian," he said. "It's hard to explain. Russians are different from us. They're more intense, emotional. It's as if their history of war and suffering is stamped on their soul. As if they come in with it. It makes them passionate about life."

"That sounds very romantic."

"I suppose it is. Like I said, it's hard to explain. They draw strength from their country, the way they think about it. The Rodina, the Motherland. They're connected to it. It gives them strength."

"You don't think we draw strength from our country?"

"Not in the same way. For them it's visceral. How many Americans do you know who think of the country as their mother?"

"When we were in Kramer's office, Davidson called her a traitor. You said she was a patriot."

"She was. She loved her country. She saw what Tarasov and the others were doing and she knew she had to stop it. She did it the only way she could. The Russians will call her a traitor, but she did it out of love for Russia. She made me promise to tell people that."

Jenna finished her drink and stood.

"I think I'd better leave now," she said.

"Jenna..."

"Don't, Mike. Just, don't."

Thorne watched the door close behind her.