‘Is it any wonder that the Soviet Union sought to defend itself? To surround itself with allies? That is all the Warsaw Pact is, a buffer against the innate aggression of NATO. What is it you say, one for all and all for one?’ Anatoly paused and smiled, swallowing down another glass of vodka, refilling his glass. John stayed still.

‘So when the Hungarians wanted to leave the Warsaw Pact, we had a duty to protect them from themselves.’ He paused. ‘What would happen if Britain, say, withdrew from NATO? Do you not think the Americans would object?’

‘They wouldn’t invade,’ John said.

‘No?’ Anatoly said, holding up his hand again. ‘Look at history, my friend. Past and present. Puerto Rico. Nicaragua. Costa Rica. Guatemala. Paraguay. Shall I go on?’

‘They didn’t invade,’ John said.

‘True,’ Anatoly said. ‘They used their money to pull strings behind the scenes, to topple any government that was not in their interests. Even in the British Empire.’ He paused. John was out of his depth. ‘British Guiana. Jamaica. The British are supposed to be their allies.’

John held up his hands. ‘I take your point,’ he said, his words slurring. Another vodka would settle his nerves. He reached forward, lifted the glass. ‘Down the hatch.’

‘The only way peace can be secured is to match strength with strength,’ Anatoly said, pulling out another foul cigarette from its packet and lighting it. John could smell the lighter fuel, as if his senses were on fire.

‘We don’t like nuclear weapons,’ Anatoly added. ‘No sane person does. But we have to defend ourselves. It’s a war of nerves, a game of chicken, but if the West don’t believe us, then what is the point?’ He smiled. ‘You are very quiet, my friend. I think it is because you have no answer.’

John looked over Anatoly’s shoulder, at the empty space on the shelf. It was almost dark, though he resisted turning on the light. He wanted the anonymity of gloom. ‘Go on,’ he said.

‘It is simple, comrade.’ John felt his gut twitch. Anatoly was including him in his world. ‘We have the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Perhaps the Americans signed because they are in the weaker position. We can fire a nuclear missile at Washington. Sputnik made that clear. Of course, give them a few months, and they’ll catch up. We could destroy each other. Stalemate. But we would like to develop other missiles, shorter-range, that threaten the United States forces in Europe or Asia, before they attack us…’ He pulled out another cigarette, pointing it at John. ‘You can fire missiles at our cities, and we would like to fire at yours.’ He dragged in the smoke, exhaled. John watched as it unfurled and drifted into the night air.

He sensed Anatoly lean forward, could tell his position by the light of his cigarette, circling in the gloom.

‘We need your expertise to boost our own.’