Meet Lyudmila

“So this is the place?” Clarke asks Zhukov.

“Yes, sir.” He answers. “You can come with me when I talk to her.”

“I think she might respond better to somebody who is less foreign. Bring Tatya with you.” Clarke tells him. “And Dadonov, keep that one guy away from her for as long as possible.”

“Yes, sir.” The three of us answer one after another. I follow Zhukov towards the front door. He steps up and knocks on the door. It opens to a dark haired woman with a dress and an apron, maybe forty years old. She looks tough and weathered.

“Nikita? Is that you?” She asks, then embraces him. “It has been so long since I’ve seen you!”

“I’m happy to see you.”

“And who is this?” She asks before lowering her voice and leaning into his ear. “Is she pregnant?”

“No, ma’am.” I tell her. “I’m just one of his comrades.”

“That’s a relief.” She says. “Any friend of Nikita’s is a friend of mine. Lyudmila Stefanovna.”

“Tatyana Romanovna. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” We kiss each other on the cheek.

“I wasn’t expecting you to visit.” She turns to Zhukov. “Why have you come?”

“We need your help.”

“And you will have it.”

“Just like that?”

“Yes. After they took my husband from me, I’ll do anything I can to help stop them. Just forgive me, the house is a mess.”

“I don’t think anyone would mind.”

“Anyone? Are there more? How many?”

“Uh, nine. Including us.”

“Nine!” She asks, shocked. “You had better get in here and help me straighten up!”

“And Tatyana, you can bring the others.”