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'Drink it down, irl like soelass She felt drained of resistance, tired, willing to do anything to finish with this interview and get away soht, so this is what it is like on the interrogation table, and that is the voice the Klebb uses Well, it orking She was docile now She would co-operate

Rosa Klebb sat down She observed the girl appraisingly from behind the motherly mask

'And now, irls Do you enjoy ive you pleasure? Much pleasure?'

Tatiana's hands caain and covered her face From behind them, in a muffled voice, she said, 'Well yes, Comrade Colonel Naturally, when one is in love' Her voice trailed away What else could she say? What answer did this wo,with a ive you pleasure?'

Tatiana shook her head indecisively She took her hands down from her face and bowed her head The hair fell down on either side in a heavy curtain She was trying to think, to be helpful, but she couldn't iine such a situation She supposed'I suppose it would depend on the man, Comrade Colonel'

'That is a sensible answer, my dear' Rosa Klebb opened a drawer in the table She took out a photograph and slipped it across to the girl 'What about this raph cautiously towards her as if it ht catch fire She looked doarily at the handsoine'I cannot tell, Coentle' She pushed the photograph anxiously away from her

'No, keep it, my dear Put it up beside your bed and think of this man You will learn littered behind the square panes of glass, 'would you like to knohat your neork is to be? The task for which you have been chosen froirls in Russia?'

'Yes, indeed, Comrade Colonel,' Tatiana looked obediently across at the intent face that was now pointing at her like a gun-dog

The wet, rubbery lips parted enticingly 'It is a sihtful duty you have been chosen for, Comrade Corporal–a real labour of love, as we say It is aelse Just falling in love with this man'

'But who is he? I don't even know hiive the silly chit of a girl solish spy'

'Bozhi moi!' Tatiana clapped a hand over her mouth as much to stifle the use of God's naazed at Rosa Klebb through wide, slightly drunk eyes

'Yes,' said Rosa Klebb, pleased with the effect of her words 'He is an English spy Perhaps the most famous of them all And froet used to the idea And no silliness, Comrade We must be serious This is an important State matter for which you have been chosen as the instrument So no nonsense, please Now for some practical details' Rosa Klebb stopped She said sharply, 'And take your hand away frohtened cow Sit up in your chair and pay attention Or it will be the worse for you Understood?'

'Yes, Cohtened her back and sat up with her hands in her lap as if she was back at the Security Officers' School Her s Her whole training told her that this was an operation for the State She was noorking for her country Somehow she had come to be chosen for an important konspiratsia As an officer in the MGB, she must do her duty and do it well She listened carefully and with her whole professional attention

'For the moment,' Rosa Klebb put on her official voice, 'I will be brief You will hear more later For the next feeeks you will be most carefully trained for this operation until you know exactly what to do in all contingencies You will be taught certain foreign customs You will be equipped with beautiful clothes You will be instructed in all the arts of alluren country, somewhere in Europe There you will meet this man You will seduce him In this s to the State Since your birth, the State has nourished it Now your body must work for the State Is that understood?'

'Yes, Coic was inescapable 'You will accoland There, you will no doubt be questioned The questioning will be easy The English do not use harsh ering the State We will supply you with certain anshich ould like to be given You will probably be sent to Canada That is where the English send a certain category of foreign prisoner You will be rescued and brought back to Moscow' Rosa Klebb peered at the girl She see all this without question 'You see, it is a coe?'

'What will happen to the man, Comrade Colonel?' 'That is a matter of indifference to us We shall siland The object of the operation is to give false inforlad to have your own ihly trained and intelligent girl such as yourself will be of great value to the State'

'Really, Comrade Colonel!' Tatiana felt i If only she could do it well She would assuredly do her very best But supposing she could not raph She put her head on one side It was an attractive face What were these 'arts of allurement' that the woman had talked about? What could they be? Perhaps they would help

Satisfied, Rosa Klebb got up from the table 'And noe can relax, o and tidy up and ill have a friendly chat together I shan't be a o to waste' Rosa Klebb esture of the hand and disappeared with a preoccupied look into the next room

Tatiana sat back in her chair So that hat it was all about! It really wasn't so bad after all What a relief! And what an honour to have been chosen How silly to have been so frightened! Naturally the great leaders of the State would not allow harm to come to an innocent citizen orked hard and had no black rateful to the father-figure that was the State, and proud that she would now have a chance to repay some of her debt Even the Klebb woman wasn't really so bad after all

Tatiana was still cheerfully reviewing the situation when the bedroo 'What do you think of this my dear?' Colonel Klebb opened her dumpy arms and twirled on her toes like a mannequin She struck a pose with one arm outstretched and the other arm crooked at her waist

Tatiana's mouth had fallen open She shut it quickly She searched for so to say