His eyes flickered open. “Katya, is that you?”

“Yes, Alex.”

“Good.” His eyes closed again.

She went out, full of energy, dazzled by hope. Ferguson and Svetlana were talking, and stopped, and Svetlana said, “How is he?”

“He’s well, I think, and he’ll be better.” She turned to Ferguson. “What you were talking about-Alexander’s future? Is that a definite offer, slate wiped clean?”

“Absolutely, my word on it.”

“And you can do that?”

General Charles Ferguson smiled, and for a moment there was a touch of the wolf there. “My dear lady, I can do anything,” he said.

Jack Higgins