Space & Time

Chapter 18- Once KGB, Always KGB

Ivan slowed the boat and subdued their wake across the crystal blue water as they entered

the harbor. Anatoly had already packed all of their belongings and had them topside. The Don

River was a major thoroughfare for commerce. Barges and ships traverse the waterway heavily.

Ivan timed their arrival to be early in the morning to coincide with the heaviest traffic on the

water. Ivan's stolen boat would draw no attention this morning as it navigated the harbor. They

docked inconspicuously at a far pier.

Once Toly tied off the foredeck and aft of the boat, he joined his dad in sanitizing the

vessel. They wiped clean prints and removed any traces of themselves from the boat. When

Ivan felt the job was complete, he ordered Toly to grab the bags and follow him. Stepping off

the boat, the dock was damp with morning dew. They both paused and inhaled the cool air,

knowing the safety and solitude of their boat was gone as they walked away. Ivan knew the city

of Rostov.

Now though, much had changed in the port city since Ivan was last here working as a

KGB operative. "Keep up son" he barked at Toly. "The secret to going unnoticed is to walk like

you belong here. If you continue to stop and gawk at these magnificent buildings and vehicles

we will most likely be stopped and questioned."

Anatoly knew any unwelcome questions from strangers would most likely lead to

violence from his dad so he caught up and stayed with him.

Ivan had found enough money in his stolen goods to get them transportation to his

intended destination. He hoped that in the city of Volgograd he could somehow connect with 

old accomplices and arrange transportation to Moscow. As for setting up a meeting with Rasputin,

he was still working that out.

Outside the harbor, it didn't take long to find a Vandalia Bus station. Ivan and Anatoly

purchased two one-way vouchers for transport to Volgograd. It would be fifty minutes until their

bus would leave. Ivan knew the bus was the least efficient way to travel due to the many stops

along the way but they had little choice. Air travel was out of the question without assistance, so

they would have to be patient. They grabbed a meal at the old diner inside the bus terminal.

Toly looked across the table at his dad, "I am surprised to find the food here is actually

worse than what we suffered with on Mars."

Ivan chuckled as he chewed on his overcooked steak. As they finished the tasteless meal,

Ivan's instincts alerted him they had an observer. He raised the check for their server as a cover

so that he could scan the room. Nothing looked odd. Once the server took the bill, they both

stood and gathered their bags. Ivan also used this opportunity to look at everyone in the room.

They walked over to the gate where their bus was waiting. He whispered to his son, "Toly, these