Dorlup cleared his throat. "I wanted some information."
"You sound strange."
"Cold coming on, I think. Vladimir, tell me—what happened to the girl? You know, Anna Myinkov?"
"Why should you be interested in her? Anyway, you know what happened. Don't tell me the living brain of Stalin frightened you so much you didn't even see what was going on?"
"Y-yes. That was it, Vladimir."
Chenkov snorted. "And the mantle of powers is yours. Well, Ruscar said Anna was from some enemy force and since she was his enemy she was also ours. I had a hard time explaining my way out of that one, but Ruscar must have realized I hold enough power here to give him trouble if he tries to give me some. He probably has Anna in the Lubianka Prison and I intend to do something about it, although why you should be interested, I don't know."
Dorlup was a doleful-looking Malenkov, but the features were identical—the tiny eyes, high forehead, thick jowls, petulant lips. Hiding in the dressing alcove, Tedor wondered how long the ruse would hold.
"I was just curious, that's all."
"It seems to me other things should be on your mind. I'm the Chief of Staff, so it's not my problem. But with Ruscar and Stalin—"
"Stalin? I—"