The director having barely recovered from the first shock was inflicted with a second – an internationally renowned guest and a group of top-ranking officials. The official who’d addressed the children outside now addressed the headmaster, using the same smile to mask his warning:

—We want to show our visitor that the Soviet education system is one of the best in the world.

The director’s voice had become weak again.

—I wish you’d given me some warning.

Austin stepped forward.

—No warning. No fuss. No ceremony. No preparations. I want to poke around, see what you get up to. And see how things work. Forget I’m even here.

He turned to Leo.

—How about we watch a lesson?

Disingenuous, Leo answered:

—A science lesson, perhaps?

—Is that what your girl teaches? Science?

Upon hearing the claim that a teacher was Leo’s girlfriend, the director stared at Leo. Ignoring him, Leo answered Austin’s question:

—No. She teaches politics.

—Well, we all like politics, don’t we?

Everyone laughed except Leo and the director. Austin added:

&mdah; What was her name? Did you tell me before?

Leo couldn’t remember if he’d mentioned the name Lena or not.

—Her name?

Evidently he didn’t know her name. The director was too scared or too slow-witted to step in and help him.

—Her name…

Leo deliberately dropped the file – let it slip from his hand, the papers falling out. He bent down, picking them, glancing through them.

—Her name is Raisa.

***

The director led the way to Classroom 23 on the second floor, Austin by his side, the officials behind him, stopping occasionally to examine a poster on the wall, or peer into another lesson. During these breaks, Leo was forced to wait, unable to stand still. He had no idea how the woman who’d lied to him about her name was going to react. Eventually reaching the classroom, Leo peered through the small window. The woman at the front was the woman he’d met on the metro, the woman he’d spoken to on the tramcar, the woman who’d told him her name was Lena. It occurred to him, belatedly, that she might be married. She might have children of her own. As long as she was smart, they were both safe.

Leo pushed forward and opened the door. The delegation followed, the entrance filling up with officials, the school’s director with Jesse Austin at the front. The students stood up, amazed, their eyes flicking from Leo’s uniform to their director’s anxious face to Austin’s wide smile.

Raisa turned to Leo, holding a stub of chalk, her fingers dusty white. She was the only person in the room, aside from Austin, who seemed calm. Her composure was remarkable and Leo was reminded why he found her so attractive. Using her real name, as if he’d known no other, Leo said: