Jack Higgins - Chavasse 02 by Year of the Tiger Page A

moment they registered puzzlement and there was a slight frown, and then Hoffner smiled and held out his hand. “This is a great pleasure, Comrade Kurbsky. A very great pleasure. We don’t often see visitors in Changu.”
    â€œI’ve looked forward to this meeting for some time,” Chavasse said. “May I compliment you on the excellence of your Russian?”
    â€œYou must praise Katya for that, not me.” Hoffner glanced at her affectionately. “When shefirst came here a year ago, I knew no Russian at all.”
    She kissed his cheek. “Come and eat. Comrade Kurbsky must be hungry. Afterwards, there will be time to talk.”
    She had obviously gone to considerable trouble to make the meal into something of an occasion. There were candles burning on the table and the food was surprisingly good. They had a clear chicken soup, mutton, boiled rice and chopped vegetables, Chinese style, and the dessert was tinned pears. There was even a bottle of very passable wine.
    As he rose from the table, Hoffner sighed and shook his head. “I don’t know how she does it, Kurbsky. I really don’t.”
    â€œWhat a hypocrite he is,” Katya said to Chavasse. “Each week he allows poor Colonel Li to win one game of chess, which puts him in such a good mood that he willingly gives me anything I ask for.”
    â€œColonel Li is one of the finest chess players I’ve ever known,” Hoffner said. “He needs no assistance from me when it comes to winning. But I must say he’s very good to us.”
    They went and sat by the fire, and Katya made coffee over a small spirit lamp. She looked very attractive with the firelight gleaming in her fair hair, and Chavasse suddenly felt relaxed and completely at ease.
    He lit one of his Russian cigarettes and as heblew out a long plume of smoke, Katya wrinkled her nose and sighed. “That smell. There’s nothing quite like it. It reminds me of home more vividly than anything else ever could.”
    â€œWould you care for one?”
    She shook her head. “I’d better not. What would I do when you’ve gone?” She poured coffee into delicate porcelain cups and handed him one. “How is Moscow these days?”
    He shrugged. “There’s a lot of new building going on in the suburbs, but otherwise just the same. To tell you the truth, I see very little of the old town. I spend most of my time abroad.”
    â€œA foreign correspondent’s life must be veryinteresting,” he said. “Always new places, new faces.”
    â€œIt has its moments. Unfortunately, I never seem to stay anywhere long enough to really get to know the place.”
    â€œWhat brought you to Tibet exactly?”
    He shrugged. “There’s a lot of interest in Russia about what’s going on here. Besides, a good newspaperman goes where there’s news and the prospect of a worthwhile story.”
    â€œAnd have you found one?”
    â€œMy experience of yesterday will do for a start,” he said. “But I’m really hoping to get something out of the doctor here.”
    Hoffner, who had been listening to their conversation as he lit his pipe, raised his eyebrows. “I’m surprised anyone is still interested in me.”
    â€œYou’re too modest,” Katya said, and turned to Chavasse. “Seventy-four and he still supervises his clinic every day. Did they tell you that in Lhasa? He’s given his whole life to this country, and he could have had a professor’s chair in my university in Europe at any time he wanted.”
    â€œCome now, my dear,” Hoffner said. “You mustn’t try to make me into some sort of plaster saint. I’m anything but that.”
    â€œBut that’s the way some people see you,” Chavasse said. “As a great missionary.”
    Hoffner sighed. “I’m afraid I gave up that side of my activities years ago.”
    â€œMay I