Kolginov produced a memo sheet with instructions for the castle guard. Palcikas signed it, handed it over to the old man, and turned to depart.

Anna Kulikauskas met up with the two officers outside. "That was a good thing you did for my father," she said. "He is somewhat of a student of history."

"As am I," Palcikas said. "Please be sure he submits a full report on the damage, and advise me when my men can come over to rebuild your damaged farm."

"Thank you," she said. "Although I must admit this is a side of the military I have not seen.

Are you sure you're not doing all this because of who I am?"

"I didn't know who owned this farm before I knocked on your door," Palcikas replied. "I give all our people equal attention, and what I do is what I do-I'm not quick enough to put on an act for everyone I see who I think might be an opinion leader. But I hope at least I've changed your attitude about the military-and about myself-a bit."

He knew she was controversial, a firebrand, even potentially dangerous to the continued existence of the Iron Wolf Brigade. Besides being a strong advocate for a completely demilitarized Lithuania and complete neutrality, with no more than regional police units to offer protection, she also advocated no military ties to any other nation or organization. But somehow that didn't really matter now.

"I'm not convinced that all military commanders are as caring and as sensitive as you appear," she admitted. "But yes, I'm willing to look a little harder for the good in everyone, even a man with a uniform and a gun." She paused, her eyes scanning the road that the Byelorussian soldiers used to depart the farm. "Will those Commonwealth troops be back?"

"I don't think so," Palcikas replied. "If they do return, notify my office at once. We must begin assembling a case against them for the government to take to the United Nations. It's obvious there are numerous violations of the transitional treaty. As for the helicopter crash, I will send an investigation team of my own to get your statement and one from your father, and anyone else that was here."

"We saw nothing," Anna said. She looked at her father, who stared at his daughter with questioning eyes, then turned toward Palcikas with defiance. To Palcikas, there was an unspoken message between father and daughter, heard and felt all too much in Palcikas' career: Don't get involved. Stay out of it. If they did see something last night, and the odds were good that they did, they were not going to volunteer the information.

"I would appreciate your cooperation, Mr. Kulikauskas, Miss Kulikauskas. If you have anything that I might find useful, anything at all, please notify me at once. Good day." He and Kolginov departed.

Outside, Kolginov had just finished signaling for the Mil-8 to return. "Well? They give you anything on the crash?"