and Kitty was the least dear of his obligations. Peotr was only human, like the rest of them; no paragon of virtue—and after four years of villainy, what possible capacity did any man have for judging right and wrong? Years of filthy habits, slaughter, blood, and death had changed them all. Their finer sensibilities had been forsaken long ago.
“Apollo?” Peotr’s query was one of entreaty, and it broughtApollo’s unpalatable musing to a halt. Peotr’s large, dark eyes anxiously searched the clear, golden depths of his companion’s.
Apollo, who in the chaotic last few weeks had mentally made numerous and what he considered highly practical plans to avoid seeing Kitty again, changed his mind. “You don’t have to ask. I would have done it anyway.” Apollo’s softly spoken words were reasonable, casual; a friend helping a friend.
A deep sigh signaled Peotr’s relief. Quickly reaching over, he grabbed Apollo’s hand and pumped it vigorously. “You don’t know what a comfort that is. A thousand thanks. Sincerely, a thousand!” Still gripping Apollo’s hand, Peotr said, “I hope you don’t think me too coldhearted. Christ, I even prayed last night for the first time in years for some solution to the problem—but logistically it wouldn’t work out, no matter what I tried.”
“Lord, Peotr, don’t agonize. Suata and the children need you. I’ll take care of Kitty.” And with that simple statement Apollo’s spirits soared. Even in the midst of an absolute, bloody defeat, his mood altered felicitously, unbelievably. He’d see Kitty soon!
Peotr managed a small smile now, only a thin reminder of his usual buoyant
joie de vivre
. He released Apollo’s hand. “It may not be as bad as it appears. There’s a possibility Kitty emigrated already. I left instructions with her to leave when conditions became dangerous. We’re so out of touch with the eastern front, I’m not sure how far the Red advance has progressed. Communication has been erratic for the last month.”
“Kitty gone?” Apollo found it difficult to restrain the despondent feeling that overcame him. Immediately he took himself to task for the utter selfishness of that response. Good God, the best thing would be for Kitty to be halfway to Constantinople right now. He was an unfeeling monster to want her still in the midst of this war simply so he could see her again.
“She could be. I’ve no way of knowing.”
“I’ll check,” Apollo said in a quiet, determined voice. “Restassured, if Kitty’s there, I’ll see she embarks for Constantinople.”
“How can I ever repay you?” Tears shone in Peotr’s eyes.
“No need.” Apollo swallowed hard. In all the years of their friendship he had never seen Peotr cry. “Now,” he said with bluff briskness, “we’d better get going or neither of us will outdistance the scouts. I see a patrol starting to move south out of Ekaterinodar already. Is Tolia going with you?” Peotr’s orderly was originally from Petrograd, and many soldiers were attempting to return home.
Peotr nodded. “Between the Cheka and starvation, his family’s all gone. He’s alone now.”
Apollo raised his hand and laid it, gloved and familiar, on Peotr’s broad shoulder. “Better go. See to Suata and the children, and leave Kitty to me.
Bonne chance
.”
“
Au revoir
,” Peotr replied. “I won’t wish you luck. You don’t need it. I only pity any enemy crossing your path.”
Leda stirred a bit and was quiet. Apollo flashed a warm smile and saluted Peotr casually. “See you in Paris this summer.”
Peotr’s face broke into a wide grin. “It’s a date. Stay in happiness, Apollo Alexandrovich,” he said in the old way, then, snapping a salute, he wheeled his mount and struck off to the southeast, Tolia following.
Apollo, Karaim, and Sahin wasted no time in leaving the rise. The Red patrol had spotted them through their field glasses and were breaking cross-country toward the low foothills. The
“Apollo?” Peotr’s query was one of entreaty, and it broughtApollo’s unpalatable musing to a halt. Peotr’s large, dark eyes anxiously searched the clear, golden depths of his companion’s.
Apollo, who in the chaotic last few weeks had mentally made numerous and what he considered highly practical plans to avoid seeing Kitty again, changed his mind. “You don’t have to ask. I would have done it anyway.” Apollo’s softly spoken words were reasonable, casual; a friend helping a friend.
A deep sigh signaled Peotr’s relief. Quickly reaching over, he grabbed Apollo’s hand and pumped it vigorously. “You don’t know what a comfort that is. A thousand thanks. Sincerely, a thousand!” Still gripping Apollo’s hand, Peotr said, “I hope you don’t think me too coldhearted. Christ, I even prayed last night for the first time in years for some solution to the problem—but logistically it wouldn’t work out, no matter what I tried.”
“Lord, Peotr, don’t agonize. Suata and the children need you. I’ll take care of Kitty.” And with that simple statement Apollo’s spirits soared. Even in the midst of an absolute, bloody defeat, his mood altered felicitously, unbelievably. He’d see Kitty soon!
Peotr managed a small smile now, only a thin reminder of his usual buoyant
joie de vivre
. He released Apollo’s hand. “It may not be as bad as it appears. There’s a possibility Kitty emigrated already. I left instructions with her to leave when conditions became dangerous. We’re so out of touch with the eastern front, I’m not sure how far the Red advance has progressed. Communication has been erratic for the last month.”
“Kitty gone?” Apollo found it difficult to restrain the despondent feeling that overcame him. Immediately he took himself to task for the utter selfishness of that response. Good God, the best thing would be for Kitty to be halfway to Constantinople right now. He was an unfeeling monster to want her still in the midst of this war simply so he could see her again.
“She could be. I’ve no way of knowing.”
“I’ll check,” Apollo said in a quiet, determined voice. “Restassured, if Kitty’s there, I’ll see she embarks for Constantinople.”
“How can I ever repay you?” Tears shone in Peotr’s eyes.
“No need.” Apollo swallowed hard. In all the years of their friendship he had never seen Peotr cry. “Now,” he said with bluff briskness, “we’d better get going or neither of us will outdistance the scouts. I see a patrol starting to move south out of Ekaterinodar already. Is Tolia going with you?” Peotr’s orderly was originally from Petrograd, and many soldiers were attempting to return home.
Peotr nodded. “Between the Cheka and starvation, his family’s all gone. He’s alone now.”
Apollo raised his hand and laid it, gloved and familiar, on Peotr’s broad shoulder. “Better go. See to Suata and the children, and leave Kitty to me.
Bonne chance
.”
“
Au revoir
,” Peotr replied. “I won’t wish you luck. You don’t need it. I only pity any enemy crossing your path.”
Leda stirred a bit and was quiet. Apollo flashed a warm smile and saluted Peotr casually. “See you in Paris this summer.”
Peotr’s face broke into a wide grin. “It’s a date. Stay in happiness, Apollo Alexandrovich,” he said in the old way, then, snapping a salute, he wheeled his mount and struck off to the southeast, Tolia following.
Apollo, Karaim, and Sahin wasted no time in leaving the rise. The Red patrol had spotted them through their field glasses and were breaking cross-country toward the low foothills. The
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