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"Who would believe you? I venture to say that your name is already on the Soviet liquidation list"

"Then what's to become of me now?"

"You have two choices One, we can set you free after a proper period of time"

"I wouldn't last a week I am well aware of the KGB assassin network"

"Your second choice is to cooperate with us" Nicholson paused, hesitated, then looked directly at Prevlov "You're a brilliant ood brains go to waste I don't have to paint you a picture of your value to the Western intelligence coe of a new task force A line of work you should find right up your alley"

"I suppose I should be grateful for that," Prevlov said dryly

"Your facial appearance will be altered, of course You'll get a cra with our history, sports, htest trace of your former shell for the KGB to home in on"

Interest began to form in Prevlov's eyes

"Your salary will be forty thousand a year, plus expenses and a car"

"Forty thousand dollars?" Prevlov asked, trying to sound casual

"That will buy quite a bit of Bo down to dinner with a wary rabbit "I think that if you really try, Captain Prevlov, you ht come to enjoy the pleasures of our Western-style decadence Don't you agree?"

Prevlov said nothing for several mo and pleasurable life "You win, Nicholson"

Nicholson shook hands and wasin Prevlov's eyes

74

The final hours of the long tow brought a clear and sunny sky with a wandering wind that gently nudged the long ocean swells shoreward and brushed their green curving backs