"I think we can agree that we are dealing with an extraordinary situation." Grigory Semyonov paced the length of the heirloom Oriental carpet that covered the middle of the office of the Chairman of the KGB. "Whatever is going on in Tbilisi, it's clear that Andropov and the rest of the gerontocracy are incapable of responding to it. Since they will not grant me the necessary authority, our only choice is to take extraordinary action."
Rae stared blankly. The woman smiled as if she thought it made her look friendly. "You should come with me," said the woman. "Don't you agree?" Rae risked turning her back and ran. She saw glimpses of grass growing between cracks, and she felt sick to her stomach. Grass would not stop this woman. She saw a garden ahead, and threw herself toward it. There were vines just visible over the height of the wall, until they grew down and let her climb up. The roses within filled her with relief, and she scrambled down the vines to the ground.
She had not, perhaps, known of this danger, but it was less than some she had read of. Her mouth twitched in spite of herself. Then, she doubted any tale would tell of being pestered by birds. It did not strike the dramatic note desired. And what knight would consent to a quest where he was relentlessly bothered by birds? She heard noise behind her, and froze. After a moments, she realized it was a bird flying over the cart, not landing on it. She wondered if Karlos would attract such birds, or repulse them, if they could see him.
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"You should come with me," said the woman. "Don't you agree?"
Rae risked turning her back and ran. She saw glimpses of grass growing between cracks, and she felt sick to her stomach. Grass would not stop this woman.
She saw a garden ahead, and threw herself toward it. There were vines just visible over the height of the wall, until they grew down and let her climb up. The roses within filled her with relief, and she scrambled down the vines to the ground.
no subject
Her mouth twitched in spite of herself. Then, she doubted any tale would tell of being pestered by birds. It did not strike the dramatic note desired. And what knight would consent to a quest where he was relentlessly bothered by birds?
She heard noise behind her, and froze. After a moments, she realized it was a bird flying over the cart, not landing on it. She wondered if Karlos would attract such birds, or repulse them, if they could see him.