“I suppose so, but it’s just a matter of time before you’re all back home with your families, Sergei. Until we can let them know that some of you survived.”

“Joe, it is not that easy. If our suspicions are correct, Admiral Durov will not allow our stories to be believed, nor will he allow our return alive. If they find we survived the attack, that we are telling the truth about what happened, they will try to silence us by threatening our families. If they are not able to do so, they will claim that we have been brainwashed and will try to get us home as soon as they can. This little complication will make Durov more ruthless in his plan. Many will die, I fear. Should we ever be returned to Russia, we will all disappear for ‘debriefing.’” Andropoyov’s tone left no doubt that the debriefing would be a very permanent solution to Durov’s problem. “Such a thing as that is still quite easy to carry out in Russia for someone with Durov’s power and influence.”

Glass nodded. He had watched and studied the country enough over the years to suspect that Andropoyov was not exaggerating. Andropoyov and the remnants of his crew were a risk for whatever the Russian admiral was up to. They were a fly in the ointment that Durov could not allow to exist long enough for someone to begin listening and believing what they were saying. They alone knew the true extent of his treachery. Anyone ruthless enough to willingly sacrifice one of his own submarines and crew for a political end would not hesitate to kill again. Glass could understand Andropoyov’s concern for the families of his crew.

“What do you suggest, Sergei?”

The Russian leaned back in his seat and stared at Glass. “We must remain dead on the floor of the Barents a little longer, until this is all over. We must disappear before you return to your base. Once we arrive there, once we are seen, it is a certainty that Durov will learn that we survived and that we have alerted you to what really happened.” Andropoyov’s eyes were afire, burning into Glass’s as he spoke. “The rescue attempt was unsuccessful. You found nothing but flooded hulks, both your Miami and my Gepard. You saw no signs of Volk. Can you make that happen? It is our only hope for saving many lives.”

Glass thought for a few moments. He didn’t know if he could trust Andropoyov. He could be stalling for some other reason. This could all be some sort of elaborate setup, designed to throw them off about what was going to happen in Russia.

He looked across the chessboard at the Russian captain. This game they were playing was filled with too many gambits for him to follow. The potential checkmate would hold far worse consequences than merely the bruised ego of one submarine captain.