Destiny's Puppets. Henri Mallet

these trees, but from there and at once start hopping and moving right in this direction,» Fedorov stamped his foot slightly in the right spot on the stage.

      «Larisa, my dear, what are you wearing? Pick up your skirts, or they will cover everything on the table when you sit on it.»

      Major Lazarev looked closely at the girl which Fedorov called Larisa. In the photo she had seemed prettier than in person. She had an amazing figure, a perfect poise and graceful movements. But the face is rustic, and the "duck" nose obviously spoiled the overall picture, but bright, expressive eyes attracted and covered all other flaws in appearance.

      «Hard-working, sturdy, talent for dramatic identification, affectionate,» Anatoly’s memory helpfully reproduced Larisa’s characteristics from her personal info file.

      «Hi, the future mom of the Crown Prince,» Lazarev looked closely at the girl, trying to find the right way to approach her at once.

      «And where is the "Prince"?»

      Anatoly called Gleb Svetlov "Prince", because the young man was the grandson and heir of Emperor Nicolas II. Major took a good look at the actors on the stage, but Gleb was not there. He spotted him at once, as soon as he looked in the parterre. Svetlov was sitting next to Roshin.

      «Here are our doves,» Major Lazarev observed with satisfaction.

      He leaned forward a little and began scrutinizing the actors sitting in the parterre. At that moment Fedorov clapped his hands and began giving orders in a sonorous voice.

      «OK, stop sit back. Everybody on stage and let’s run through the whole scene. Sasha, wake up, please, follow the action, the music must merge with it. Igor, no, stay here and only move back … yes, that’s OK.»

      Fedorov went down to the parterre and remained standing.

      «They began!»

      On stage, the actors played the episode, and Lazarev watched what was happening, sitting in the darkened part of the auditorium. The play did not interest him at all, but the acting of those he came here for – really did. A few moments later Svetlov joined the rehearsal – he was saying his lines and moving towards Larisa. Anatoly saw Panko’s eyes light up.

      «She is either a talented actress, which, by the way, is mentioned in her file, or she is interested in Gleb not only as a stage partner. And this is already a very good sign,» Major Lazarev chuckled.

      Even if Anatoly had not seen her dossier, he could clearly see that this girl was blue-blooded. Panko projected such confidence and harmony that there was no doubt that these qualities had been formed in her ancestors throughout several generations. She reminded him of a gracious panther ready to charge. His memory readily reproduced a picture from his childhood story: the prince riding a white noble steed and the fair princess, waiting for him in her ancient ancestral castle.

      «A tough nut to crack… OK, we’ll manage, I have solved harder tasks. If they need this heir at the very top, then, of course, his future will be taken care of. I’ll have nothing to reproach myself for.»

      Meanwhile, the actors finished the scene. Fedorov summed up the results of the rehearsal and let them go and have a rest. Anatoly got up from his place and with a springy gait began to descend in the direction of the stage.

      «Mikhail, would you spare me a couple of minutes?»

      Fedorov cringed away a little as if he had just received a blow in the jaw, but he quickly put himself together and when he was turning to Anatoly there was already a most courteous and surprised smile on his face.

      «And may I ask who you are?» Fedorov threw back his head a little and even in his eyes, of a beautiful steel color, there appeared genuine interest and surprise at the same time.

      «Clever, so talented that you should never believe the expression on his face, loyal to our cause out-and-out,» Major Lazarev at once recollected Mikhail’s dossier and moved a couple of steps closer to his aim.

      Fedorov was looking at the stranger with interest, but his experience prompted him that only an officer of a certain agency can move like a highbred cheetah and talk in the sincere tone of a good Samaritan. «Good afternoon, Mikhail, my name is Anatoly Lazarev,» with a habitual gesture he produced his KGB major ID.

      «Oh, you are from the KGB, hello,» nodded Fedorov, «to what do I owe the honor of your visit? Welcome to my office.»

      Fedorov extended his hand for a handshake and a slight sadness appeared in his eyes. Naturally, Major Lazarev noticed all of this, but he could not understand the reason. He decided that Mikhail was tired and willing to get rid of him as soon as possible, because he wanted to get ready for the evening performance.

      «I’ve got a little request for you,» Anatoly shook the extended hand.

      The men left the auditorium, and, walking through a short corridor, entered the director’s office. Fedorov shut the door tightly, moved the chair to his guest and sat at the other side of the table.

      «I'm listening to you carefully,» he said, sitting down more comfortably.

      «It has become known to us that your actors Tatiana Roshin and Gleb Svetlov,» Anatoly Lazarev began slowly, «are going to be married soon. We think that this marriage is highly undesirable and are asking you to help us ruin their plans.»

      Mikhail was still looking at the major. His face was absolutely expressionless, but there was a storm of different feelings inside and a host of different thoughts were rushing through his head.

      «You say! That is, this wedding does not suit the KGB, wow, the alignment. What is so special about this Gleb?» Fedorov was sure that Roshin had nothing to do with it. He had known Tatiana for ages and her tricks had never interested secret agents. But the fact that KGB cared so much about Svetlov surprised and alarmed at the same time.

      «There was no doubt that Gleb was talented – nobody would argue that, but here the underlying reason was totally different. Well, he would have to ruin this wedding. If a person like a KGB major personally asked for this, then there is no choice at all. He himself did not like much this farce of a wedding,» his storm of emotions was finally subdued.

      « It's clear, how much time have I got?»

      «The sooner, the better. But you understand, you need not just upset the marriage of this couple, you need them to end their close relationship, since Roshina's pregnancy from Svetlov is extremely undesirable. We will also take some measures, but I think your help will be useful to us,» Lazarev's blue eyes were calm.

      «I see. Do I have to contact you after this mission?»

      «No, your activities will be monitored, but, if you need help you can contact me directly,» Major Lazarev handed Mikhail a slip of paper with his phone number.

      «OK, anything else?» Fedorov’s eyes expressed neither annoyance, nor discontent – only a question.

      «He’ll be able to play anybody without any rehearsals – from the forest spirit in the bog to the Byzantian emperor,» Fedorov was immediately charmed with his interlocutor’s extraordinary talent and the way of moving – this guy was really gifted. «Chameleon eyes changing their color from blue to green are not very common. What a unique talent is being wasted,» a thought crossed his mind, «but why wasted? It is actually not. Only such talented and strong people are fit for this hard work unsuitable for a man in the crowd.»

      «No, that’s all.» Anatoly Lazarev got up and extended his hand to say good bye.

      «OK, I’ll do everything as you said. Bye.»

      When the door behind his visitor closed, Fedorov came up to a small mirror hanging on the wall. He saw a handsome man, with the expression of fatigue and light sadness in his eyes because he often had to fulfill KGB officers’ orders in order to get a permission to do what he really liked.

      «Well, that was not the worst offer, we’ll get through it.»

      He looked out into the corridor and saw several actors.

      «Has Tatiana left? Do you know where