The strange captain leaned over and took Dugan's wrist. He did not grope for the pulse, but found it immediately and ground his fingertips tight against it. From the side of the room the Russian technical sergeant watched the scene patiently. He frowned when he saw what the alleged captain was doing.
The stranger leaned over and looked Dugan-Andreanov directly in the eye. Speaking in English, in a clear friendly tone of voice, he said, "You are a spy sent by the American forces. I have been warned of your coming. You are going to be killed immediately. By myself. Stand up."
Two can play at that game, thought Dugan. He exerted his will to keep his pulse even and looked mutely and expectantly into the stranger's face.
The captain went on, "Do you have anything to say before you die?"
"Hello. Goombye. Sure, Sport, sure. Speak English. Speak English." Then Dugan grinned at the man and waved his glass with his free hand.
The captain dropped Dugan's wrist and turned to Byelov. Still speaking the same careful English which he had used on Dugan, he said:
"The swine does not speak English. Do you think that he is really from our country?"
"How could I tell?" asked Byelov in accented but passable English. "I not see him very long. Just now."
"What are you going to do with him?"
"He is a—" Byelov scratched his head, trying to think of the right word. "He is man who runs away from Red Army. I send him back."