hypatia_66

Kismet

Prologue

The American agent telephoned from Vienna with change of plan. He told him that the Russian agent being sent from New York, who would arrive soon, had to be recalled, and when he had gone, he would come to take Pyotr to a safe place with facilities to continue his work.

Pyotr told his children simply that they needed to escape government surveillance and were being helped by an agent from an international law enforcement organisation.

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Part 1. Yugoslavia 

Chapter 1

Naturally reserved, needing no companionship, K preferred solitude; but, somehow, he felt increasingly depressed alone, both in his apartment and in his office. Maybe he was ill. The feeling of lassitude and indifference must be down to flu or some other virus. 

Some of his colleagues who had known him for years knew better. They were aware of at least part of the story and recognised what it was. He generally ignored friendly overtures of sympathy or, worse, pity – which won them only his glare or the polite indifference that prevented anyone from getting too close. But, nevertheless, they were right. Since his partner of so many years had left – with not even a backward glance – he had changed. It wasn’t just anger and humiliation, he was lonely.