excerpt
the mirror for signs of misbehaving whiskers and was just putting on his jacket when there was a peremptory rap. From the height and firmness of the knock, he guessed its author. As he opened the door, he looked up expectantly into the six-foot tall, gaunt Ivan Nikolaevich whose square, jutting face was set firmly in a scowl.
“Doktor Professor Chopyk,” he announced firmly in Russian. “Please to step outside.” Chopyk had to remind himself not to be alarmed. For unspecified reasons, the man liked to do his talking in the hall. It gave credence to the theory that there were listening devices in each cabin. “Do you have anything to report to me on the matter of the missing student?” Ivan demanded.
Confound it, Chopyk thought, it’s that lecture again. Whenever a student went off alone—even for an hour—Ivan Nikolaevich would be at his door complaining about the dangers of going about independently. He always used the Russian word for independently, sam-o-stoy-yat-yel-no, sounding out each syllable as if it were a dirty word.
“I know nothing about a missing student,” Chopyk answered honestly. “They are adults, after all, Ivan Nikolaevich, full of energy, curiosity…”
“Hmmm. So.” The cruise director snapped his arms to his sides and stiffened slightly as if preparing for the parade ground. “Breakfast is delayed,” he boomed. “We are waiting for a shipment from Moscow. Please inform your other charges.” Then he turned on his heel and left.
“I was just on my way,” Chopyk murmured to the empty hall.
★
Jennifer padded softly to the stern end passenger deck and looked out over the wide river. Through the railing she caught sight of a figure swimming toward the boat. Soon, the head was lost to her sight. Intrigued, she crossed to the other side to lie on her stomach so that she could hang over the edge of the deck and see more.
There was a splash, and as she watched, the swimmer pulled himself up onto some rungs and scrambled onto the lower deck slopping water over the planks. He was fully dressed, his shirt slicked to his body, and he slung aside a dripping bundle.
She recognized Paul right away. That silly twit. Is he trying to get me in trouble?
Libros Libertad 