“See, Renko, that’s an admission that you do know the right answer. Of course the decision is up to Irina. The point is, you and I know what’s best. We just came from Moscow. We both know that even if she goes back, I can protect her better than you. I doubt you’d survive a day back there. So, we’re speaking of an emotional regression, aren’t we? The two of you as poor but loving refugees? With the Soviet embassy trying to deport you? I think you’d need an influential sponsor and, frankly, no one comes to mind but me. The moment you decide to stay you’d have to drop your investigation. Irina would leave you in an instant if she thought you’d stayed for anything else but her.”

“If you know that, why haven’t you told her I was after you?”

Max paid homage with a sigh. “Unfortunately, Irina still has a high opinion of your abilities. She might think you were right. We’re on the horns of a dilemma—you on one horn, me on the other. We’re coexisting. That’s why morality is so beside the point. That’s why we’ll have to work out some arrangement.”

After Max paid the check and left, Arkady went alone through the trees to the Brandenburg Gate, where Victory wore her daytime tint of verdigris. Swifts circled around her, feeding on insects. He slipped among tourists to the meadow. Although his shoes and cuffs were damp, a summer warmth radiated from the ground. The grass had tassels of white flowers and miniature ripples of insects escaping from each footfall. Bees rushed between balls of clover, making up for the downtime of wet weather. A bike path had been laid out; bikers in helmets and skintight outfits rode in single file, flying like flags on a motorcade. Were they aware that they were trespassing on the site of Max’s New Berlin?

Since he had time, Arkady walked along the Ku’damm to Zoo Station. He felt as if he had fallen into an army of East Berliners who had invaded in good order but had fallen apart at the first sidewalk display of running shoes. West Berliners retreated behind the railings of cafés, but even there they were pursued by Gypsies with tambourines and babies. A pair of Russians pushed a rack of uniforms. Arkady picked over an assortment of pieces of the Wall with documents attesting to their authenticity. On another table he found an autopilot and altimeter from a Red Army helicopter. He supposed he might find the entire helicopter if he went up and down the Ku’damm long enough. He arrived at Zoo Station right at noon and called Peter’s number. This time there was no answer.