The first thing that caught Hoffman's eye was a gallows. It stood—unoccupied, she thanked God—in the center of a quadrangle cleared of all grass and foliage and demarcated by head-sized boulders.

Other log buildings were under construction; the most ambitious was going to be three stories tall, designed along the lines of an old Russian country house.

Soldiers motioned them to park the truck behind a long, narrow building made of split logs. Mirsky received them informally at a desk in the east end of the long building. There were no walls; other work areas and sleeping slings were open for all to see. Hoffman and Wallace shook his hand and he motioned for them to sit in the canvas chairs. The marines stood outside, solemnly flanked by two Russian troopers.

He offered them tea. "Part of our allotment from your commissary, I'm afraid," he said. "But it is good tea."

"You're making progress with the camp," Hoffman said.

"Let's speak English," Mirsky suggested. "I need to practice." He poured the dark amber tea into three lightweight plastic cups.

"Fine," Hoffman said.

"I can't take credit for the progress," Mirsky said. "You know I was not here when most of this work was done."

"Everybody has been curious. . . .” Hoffman said.

"Oh? About what?"

Hoffman smiled and shook her head. "Never mind," she said.

"No, I insist." Mirsky's eyes widened. "What?"

"Your disappearance."

He looked between them. "I was dead," he said. "Then I was made well again. Does that answer your question?" Before she could reply, he said, "No, I wouldn't think so. Well then, I don't know. It's as much a mystery to me as to you."

"Well, whatever," Hoffman said, relaxing her smile. "We're glad you're back. There's a lot of work to be done."

First on the agenda was a discussion of the unloading of the heavy-lifter carrying equipment and supplies. It had remained docked in the bore hole since the Death; the crew had been allowed to evacuate, but no agreement had yet been reached on disposition of the cargo. In a few minutes, Hoffman and Mirsky negotiated a satisfactory procedure. All armaments would be left in a locked chamber in the staging area, guarded by Russians and NATO personnel; other materials would be delivered to the Russian fourth chamber compound. "We need material to barter as much as we need the supplies," Mirsky said.

The status of the Russian science team was next. Hoffman maintained that team members who wished to remain with the NATO group should be allowed to do so; Mirsky thought in silence for a moment, then nodded. "I need no more people uncertain about my rule," he said, regarding them both with eyes wide and facial muscles taut. He blinked twice, rapidly.

Hoffman glanced down at her notes. "This is going even more smoothly than last time," she said.