A few moments later, Chenkov stalked angrily into the study. "See here, Georgi! I saw you not half an hour ago in your quarters and now you bring me here. What is it?" 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--" "Stalin's brain, Georgi. His brain. Ruscar resurrected it, not I. If the war goes badly--it shouldn't, but if it does--the people will have a resurrected Stalin to turn to for faith, and hope. It was a stroke of genius, I think. But right now you and Molotov should be conferring with the military leaders, getting things ready, planning...." "It's arranged," Dorlup said evasively. "It's all arranged." "So quickly? That's preposterous. You don't start a vast war-machine functioning in mere hours. We're planning on quick victory with a sudden, devastating atomic attack on the United States." "I--know." "I know you know, Georgi. You hardly seem concerned. Even Comrade Zhubin pointed out how nervous you seemed today, and Zhubin usually minds his own business. You seem even worse now." * * * * * Dorlup nodded, clearly struggling for words and a way to prolong the conversation. "I--I'm not myself," he said, mopping his brow. "Well," said Chenkov, irritably, "is that all you wanted me for?" Dorlup stood there, fidgeting. Chenkov snorted, began to leave the room. "Just one moment, Comrade Marshal." It was Tedor, who had emerged from behind the drapery. "Eh? By Lenin, what are _you_ doing here Archevski? Am I going crazy? I thought I sent you to find this, uh--Barwan." "You did, Comrade Marshal, but--" "But I told him not to," said Dorlup. "You? What for? Ruscar wanted him brought at once." "I know that," said Dorlup.