«Larisa Panko belongs to European nobility; she has nice looks and good manners. She is ambitious, wilful and determined. She and Gleb work in the same theatre “Youth”. They are friends, and, what is more, they were once seen kissing. Larisa has already worked for us. She was used for recruiting a foreign agent. It went OK, but she got pregnant. As soon as the Committee found out that she was in a familiar way, it was decided that this fact should be used as an additional pressure factor for the recruited agent. After that Larisa has not been involved in work. I have placed all my bets on her this time, because she is really blue-blooded. In order to ruin Gleb’s wedding with that actress Roshin I will use the director of “Youth” theatre Mikhail Fedorov. He is our active collaborator and I am sure there will be no problems. That’s all from me.» Major Lazarev took the file with the documents from the table and stood up, waiting for instructions.

«Well, on the whole, the plan is good. You will polish the details in the course of the operation. Off you go, down to work.» concluded General Yershov.

The autumn sky hung over Kronstadt. Low, dark gray clouds pressed heavily and breathed moisture. Screaming seagulls deftly maneuvered in the air currents on spread white wings, creating the illusion of confusion and anxiety. Gusts of wind brought splashes of sea water and the smell of diesel fuel. The project 613 submarine was visible at the long pier. In the light of the lanterns, its wet body shone silver.

The girl from radio communications was standing on the pier trying to protect her face from the gusts of the chilling wind. Her nearly black eyes were watching the submarine closely. Finally, people began coming down on the shore.

One of the sailors, short and lean, went straight to the girl. He was buttoning up his pea coat in motion and turning up his collar, trying to protect himself from yet another blast of wind. Surprise and aloofness could be discerned in his eyes, which were colored like the sea on a cloudy day.

«Nelly! What are you doing here? I told you that when I get free, I will call on you and we will go somewhere together,» almost shouted the man, his voice mingling with the sound of the wind and the waves, his low brow furrowed.

«Victor! I really need to talk to you! Now!»

The girl nervously took the young man by the arm and they walked fast to the host of lights on the shore. The sound of their steps was buried in the thunder of the waves beating against the pier and turning into greyish foam. Shrieking seagulls were a part of this familiar cacophony of relentless movement of salty water.

Several sailors who had come ashore from the submarine, exchanging remarks and chuckling, were watching the receding couple. The soggy autumn rear wind stole under their clothes and the sailors hurried to shore.

The low skies were getting darker by the second, making the street lamps along the road near the red brick barrack buildings of Kronshtadt seem brighter. Victor was walking with his head down, protruding his lower lip so that it nearly touched his nose. He always did it when he was displeased. And now he was extremely displeased! He had to solve another one of his girlfriend’s problems instead of enjoying his dinner and a game of chess in the club.

«Nelly, I am very tired, let’s meet and talk tomorrow,» Victor rolled his eyes up languidly, losing all hope of being released.

«No! Tomorrow may be late!»

The girl’s eyes turned into narrow black crevices, and her stiff dark hair looked as if she had been dragged through a hedge backwards. Victor looked at the rolling roaring waves.