Illya was just on the verge of replying when the other man's communicator
sang out. The senior agent pulled the cigarette-case-shaped object from
his pocket and answered, "Solo here."

"I've just heard of the attempt on Mr. Kuryakin's life, and the interesting
conversation you had with a man passing himself off as a Soviet agent,"
Waverly's voice came over the communicator. "How is Mr. Kuryakin, and is he
there with you?"

The younger man leaned in closer to the device and said, "I'm here and well,
sir."

"Glad to hear your voice, Mr. Kuryakin. Mr. Solo, I want the both of you
back at Headquarters immediately."

"We're on our way, sir."


NS/IK/NS/IK/NS/IK/NS/IK/NS/IK/NS/IK/NS/IK/NS/IK


The two men entered through Del Floria's and were advised to go to Waverly's
office without delay.

"Gentlemen, this situation is most distressing," Waverly said by way of
greeting as they entered. "It would appear the KGB was able to send an
operative into our organization without our knowledge, and he probably would
have gone undetected but for the double circumstance pairing the two of you
for this assignment."

"How so, sir?" asked Napoleon.

"He was given two sets of orders and stupidly tried to carry out both. Had
he limited himself to one or the other, he might have not only succeeded,
but remained undetected as well.

"The first set, from his KGB superiors, was an order for Mr. Kuryakin to get
close to Mr. Solo and recruit him as a double agent." He held up a hand to
forestall whatever remark Illya was about to make. "I'm aware of your
loyalties, and have already sent official protests to both agencies. I've
also sent a less-than-official message along other channels that should get
the point across.

"To continue: we're not certain exactly where the second set of orders came
from, but they appear to have been sent from somewhere in the upper levels
of the Politburo. Those orders were to keep Mr. Kuryakin away from the
conference, *by any means necessary*. Since we don't know exactly who, we
can't be certain of why."

"I think I can answer that, sir," the young Russian agent said. "There are
some very conservative and hard-line elements in the Politburo who prefer
political preeminence to scientific fact, and see recent advances in Physics
as 'too Western' and unsuitable for Soviet scientists. They may fear what I
learn as much as anything I might say."

"To the point of blowing you to bits?" asked Napoleon.

"It would seem so," Illya replied.

"Unfortunately, it also means scrubbing you for the conference. As great as
the risk is from THRUSH, the idea of a bomb going off around innocent
civilians is unacceptable," Waverly said.

He might have said more had the telephone not rung at that moment. He
picked up the receiver. "Waverly here." A pause while someone spoke. "I
see. Are you certain of that?" Another pause. "I understand. Thank you
very much." He hung up the phone and turned back to the two other men.
"That, gentlemen, was the head of the GRU himself. He'd heard of the
attempt on Mr. Kuryakin, and has taken action in that regard. He assures me
no further attempts will be made. It would seem he resents anyone trying to
kill one of his people without his permission."

"Then I can go on the mission?"

"For the time being, yes, but any more attempts on your life and you'll be
pulled out immediately." He turned to the senior agent. "Mr. Solo, you'll
be leaving for Princeton as soon as we're finished here. Mr. Kuryakin will
be checking into the hotel with his fellow scientists in the morning. If
there's nothing else, gentlemen, I wish you luck."

"May I speak to you privately?" Illya asked.

Waverly agreed and after Napoleon left, Illya spoke again. "I think, once
this mission is over, I would like to return to London."

"I shall give the matter due consideration, Mr. Kuryakin."

But mentally he was already wording his refusal, and hoping Solo would be
able to change the young Russian's mind.

---

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