At first Zoya had tried to ignore him as much as possible. Since that ploy hadn’t worked she’d decided it was more fun to irritate him.

—I can watch something without being brainwashed.

—Have you ever watched television before? Do you think they haven’t put a lot of thought into the programmes they’re showing you? This isn’t real television that the American citizen will watch – it has been created just for you, along with the contents of that bedroom bar.

In their rooms they had found a small refrigerator stocked with Coca-Cola, strawberry- and cream-flavoured candy and chocolate bars. A note, kindly translated into Russian, explained that the contents were free and were to be enjoyed with the hotel’s compliments. Zoya had moved with lightning speed, drinking the soda before squirrelling away the rest of the chocolate. By the time Mikael had arrived to confiscate the contents none remained. He’d been furious and conducted a thorough search of their room, failing to find anything, since Zoya had lined all the candy and chocolate along the window ledge. Leo would’ve been proud.

Mikael was now working himself into a fresh temper about the television, which he had unplugged as if Zoya would not be able to plug it back again.

— Do not underestimate the power of their programmes. They serve to numb the minds of their citizens. It is not mere entertainment: it is a key weapon in maintaining their authority. The citizens of this country are given idiotic escapism in order to prevent them asking deeper questions.

Though Zoya enjoyed upsetting him, finding him entertaining when he was angry, the joke quickly grew tedious and she moved to the door as a way of hastening his departure. He looked about the room.

— Where is Elena?

— In the bathroom. She is shitting. As an insult to the Americans, you should be pleased.

He was embarrassed.

— You’re only on this trip because of your mother. It was a mistake to bring you. You are quite unlike your sister. Practise your songs. Tonight’s concert is important.

With that, he left.

Zoya slammed the door shut, angry at the comparison he’d made between her and Elena. Like most party officials he ruled by creating divides between people, families and friends. She was closer to her sister than anyone alive and she would not allow any agent of the State to imply otherwise. She pressed her ear to the door to msure he’d gone. He was the kind of man who’d linger and eavesdrop to find out what people thought of him. Unable to hear anything she crouched down, peering through the crack under the door. There were no shadows, just a strip of light.

Passing the bathroom, she called out to her sister:

— You OK in there?

Elena’s voice was faint.

— I’ll be out in a second.