# 歷史的發展，好像是首先要麻醉這個國家的人民，然後才有可能把他們從歷來的麻木狀態中喚醒似的。—卡爾·馬克思

　　 特雷古波娃穿過走廊，她的腳後跟走廊上發出咔噠聲。她緊握和松開拳頭，呼吸急促而淺。她能感覺到膽汁向喉嚨里燃燒，但她希望自己保持冷靜和鎮靜。

　　 在走廊的盡頭，她看見了他。他弓著腰，背對著她。她不知道他在看什麼，但他全神貫注於此。她心里想，“他一定能看到什麼。”

　　 她向他邁了一步。他聽到她的聲音，轉過身來。他們倆沉默了一會兒。

　　 “這是什麼？”特雷古波娃終於問道。

　　 “愛爾蘭踢踏舞，你不認為那些蘇聯合唱團女孩跳的很好嗎？無論是斯拉夫還是亞洲女孩。”羅曼諾夫放下手指說，大廳中央是蘇聯女子合唱團表演愛爾蘭踢踏舞。

　　 “真的嗎？那……令人不安。”

　　 “令人不安？也許吧，但我覺得這很迷人。”羅曼諾夫把注意力轉向踢踏舞。“說實話，我倒希望你來這里的原因完全不同。”

　　 特雷古波娃凝視著舞蹈。唱詩班繼續在一個圓圈里跳踢踏舞，女高音領唱年輕而豐滿，她的腿很短，手臂很長。踢踏舞演員隨著音樂只半點著頭。

　　 “你不覺得奇怪嗎，她們跳的是那首而不是國歌？”特雷古波娃問道。

　　 “不，她們應該跳性感又有藝術美感的舞蹈。”羅曼諾夫搖了搖頭又指示了特雷古波娃坐在旁邊。

　　 “這不是針對個人的。只是這首歌有著比你所知道的更深的含義。整個表演是一個隱喻。”

　　 “什麼的隱喻？”

　　 “我問你，當我能讓這群女孩們不唱喀秋莎而踢踏舞時候，我能進一步做些什麼？”羅曼諾夫盯著她暗示說。他的眼睛里流露出一種調情而又狡猾的神情。特雷古波娃轉移了視线。

　　 “我明白了。”

　　 “權力導致腐敗和腐朽，如果我讓一個芭蕾舞演員或空姐來代替你怎麼辦？”

　　 “你怎麼能……”特雷古波娃說，但羅曼諾夫舉起手讓她安靜下來。

　　 “我不會。這是不可能的。此外，我對腐敗不感興趣。你是清廉的。”特雷古波娃臉紅了，把注意力轉向了跳舞的女孩們。“我明白了。那麼，它們只是一個……隱喻。”

　　 “沒錯。”

　　 “那麼，一個人究竟是如何變得清廉的呢？”特雷古波娃問道。“你有藥水什麼的嗎？”

　　 “我說過這是一個隱喻，你認為在這個隱喻你代表蘇聯的什麼？跳舞的女孩們又代表什麼？我又代表什麼？決定你的到底是什麼？”

　　 “我對形而上學一無所知……但如果我是你，我會把注意力集中在芭蕾舞演員身上。她們年輕漂亮。你可以試圖腐化她們……或者別的什麼。”

　　 羅曼諾夫搖搖頭說：“仔細想想，暫時不要從個人的觀點看待事物，再回答我。”

　　 “我不明白，”特雷古波娃困惑地說。

　　 “我說的更直白點，決定你是否清廉的是什麼？你不會被抓到監獄判罪的是什麼？”

　　 特雷古波娃沒有回答。她不想承認自己腐敗，不想承認自己會被別人控制，不想承認自己的未來完全掌握在自己手中。

　　 “我想你明白了，有些事情不是你有沒有做，而是你有沒有價值。比如福爾采娃，沒有了赫魯曉夫她什麼都不是。”羅曼諾夫說完盯著她沉默了。特雷古波娃盯著她的膝蓋。她知道討論的方向，她不喜歡這樣。

　　 “在這個大廳里，我們都是被控制的。只是控制者不同。我的控制者是沒有戰勝辦法的，它可以放棄你用一些比如腐敗的理由讓你死去，然後換上那些在跳舞的年輕女孩們，在她們的絲襪上結束這場表演。”

　　 “這是一個相當殘酷的分析。”

　　 “但這是准確的，”羅曼諾夫回答。“那麼，你會怎麼做？你會像這里所有的人一樣被控制和毀滅嗎？”

　　 “不……”特雷古波娃說。

　　 “因此，你是清廉的。”羅曼諾夫舉起手來平息她的抗議。“只要我相信，你就是！但如果你失去了我的信任或者我失敗了？”

　　 “那麼？”特雷古波娃問道，但仍然對他會對她做出這樣的威脅感到震驚。

　　 “然後，你會像蟲子一樣被壓碎。”

　　 他用手做了一個壓倒性的手勢。“和這里的其他人一樣。”

　　 威脅籠罩著特雷古波娃，但這是一場表演。她並不害怕。她可以整晚玩這個游戲。

　　 “那麼，你打算怎麼辦？”羅曼諾夫又問。

　　 特雷古波娃思考了這個問題。她盯著那個男人，想辦法贏得他的信任。令她驚訝的是，她想起了他早些時候說過的話，並決定用它來對付他。

　　 “我會……成為一個更好的領導者，”她說，想起了他的話。

　　 羅曼諾夫睜大了眼睛。“希望如此，你明白失敗的下場。”他又警告著說，她需要回答。

　　 “當我失敗時會發生什麼？”

　　 “你認為蘇聯政治局為什麼要把勃列日涅夫的女兒槍斃？難道只是為了她走私的那些珠寶？”他反唇相譏地問道，用手捂住她的嘴唇，阻止她說話。“他們殺了她就像殺了她父親一樣。他們殺了你……如果你失敗了。你明白規則，不是嗎？”她點點頭。

　　 “很好，你明白如果我失敗了，那些過去對你受賄視而不見的人會把你弄死，就是你真的廉潔也可以造假。如果我繼續統治你才活著，現在，告訴我你是什麼？”他松開手問。

　　 特雷古波娃盯著那只手，想著如何回答。

　　 “我……很忠誠。”

　　 “你很忠誠，還會是一個好母親，而且是我的狗。”

　　 “什麼？”

　　 “我對那些忠誠的人有弱點，”羅曼諾夫回答。“告訴我更多。”

　　 “嗯，你……你很喜歡我，對吧？”她問。

　　 “當然，我會繼續和你一起統治，”他回答。

　　 “很好，很好。你非常……英俊。我的意思是，你看起來像一個好領導，我肯定……我的意思是，你不是真的老了什麼的，但是……”

　　 “我明白，你擔心我太老了？”

　　 特雷古波娃點點頭。

　　 “只要你忠誠，你就不必害怕。在可預見的未來，我將年輕強壯。”

　　 “好吧，我想你很好。”特雷古波娃微笑著，松了一口氣。

　　 “告訴我，你覺得這次演出怎麼樣？”

　　 “我認為……一切進展順利。”“我也是，我想收養你作為養女。”

　　 特雷古波娃微笑著打睫毛。

　　 “我受寵若驚。也許我們應該慢慢來。”

　　 “是的，沒有其他人知道孩子吧？”他撫摸著她的小腹問。

　　 “正確，”她說。

　　 他俯身快速地、熱情地、不加解釋地吻了一下。她感到他的臉頰貼著她的臉，然後他的嘴貼著她的臉頰。這讓她非常吃驚，她發出了一聲小小的叫聲。他笑了笑，退回來。

　　 “你需要學會控制你的恐懼。”

　　 “我的恐懼？”

　　 “害怕被控制，也害怕失敗。” 他說，放開了她。“害怕一切，但最重要的是，害怕自己。”

　　 “我什麼都不怕，”她撒謊說。

　　 “是嗎？那個跳舞的亞洲女孩你覺得怎麼樣？她可能來自西伯利亞。”羅曼諾夫盯著舞蹈的女孩們說，“把她帶到我的臥室。”特雷古波娃看著舞者，她們大多數穿著低胸和很少的衣服，說：“我想我不能帶一個西伯利亞人，更不用說俄羅斯人了。”

　　 “因為你嫉妒還是害怕被取代？”他笑著問道。

　　 “我什麼都不怕，當然也不嫉妒。”她憤怒地回答。

　　 “那就帶那個西伯利亞女孩到我的臥室。”他說，不屑一顧。

　　 “很好。我相信這足夠一個晚上的娛樂了。”他輕蔑地說。

　　 “是的，爸爸……對不起……”

　　 舞蹈解散後，特雷古波娃帶著那個西伯利亞女孩在走廊里前往臥室。

　　 “你叫什麼名字？”特雷古波娃厭惡地問。

　　 “瑪吉。”

　　 “我是特雷古波娃。”她說，握著瑪吉的手。

　　 “羅曼諾夫將成為你的繼父。”他說著，關上了她臥室的門。

　　 她瞪大眼睛盯著他，震驚得睜大了眼睛。他走到她身邊，摟住她，吻了吻她。

　　 “放松點，瑪吉，你多大了？你參加了共青團嗎？”他問，特雷古波娃則去鎖上臥室的門。

　　 瑪吉把他推開了。“我18歲了，你這個養豬的農民！”她憤怒地喊道。

　　 “那又怎樣？愛情在最不可能的地方也會興盛起來。拿破侖喜歡跳舞的女孩約瑟芬。我一直發現，最愛的人往往是最疏遠的人。”他憤怒起身說，特雷古波娃對瑪吉說：“你在做什麼？！他是總書記！”瑪吉盯著他，不知道該說什麼。

　　 “你在干什麼？我以前從未見過你這樣做。你是黨員！記得那是什麼意思嗎？”

　　 “我記得。”瑪吉悶悶不樂地說。

　　 “你表現得像個小女孩。”

　　 “我不是小女孩！”瑪吉說，退後一步。

　　 特雷古波娃安撫說：“他只是來詢問你願意接受一個養父嗎？放輕松。”羅曼諾夫慢慢靠近說：“你應該服從組織。”

　　 瑪吉看著他，她的眼睛因恐懼而睜大。他把手搭在她的肩膀上，“明天早上我會解釋的，你怎麼不睡一會呢？”

　　 瑪吉生了氣，說：“我要去洗手間。” 特雷古波娃打開門說：“當然。我會送她去洗手間。”羅曼諾夫翻了個白眼。“我有重要的工作要做。我不需要照顧化妝間。”瑪吉走了出去，仍然悶悶不樂。特雷古波娃關上了門。

　　 羅曼諾夫靠在牆上思考。他確信他能操縱瑪吉屈服。

　　 洗手間里

　　 在洗手間里，特雷古波娃密切注視著瑪吉，確保她沒有試圖逃跑。她盯著那個穿著低胸上衣和短褲的漂亮黑發女郎說：“小女孩，你知道他想要什麼，你只是個普通的共青團女孩。”瑪吉盯著她，對侮辱感到憤怒。“你認為我剛從卡車上摔下來？你認為我是個沒用的站街女孩？你認為我很丑？”瑪吉問道，聲音提高了。

　　 “我不覺得，我只擔心你會不理智不順從並反抗他，繼續像之前那樣咒罵他。你明白他能幫你爬上象牙塔也要讓你死在這里，沒有警察會管。”

　　 瑪吉瞪大眼睛，緊握拳頭，盯著特雷古波娃。

　　 “如果你今晚溫順的和他睡覺，你的父母可以從集體公寓搬到別墅，你可以進入莫斯科大學，畢業後可以直接到克里姆林宮工作。”她說，聲音平靜。瑪吉目不轉睛地盯著她。特雷古波娃說：“如果你想繼續接受教育，那麼最好遵守。”瑪吉的臉色變得柔和了。

　　 ---

　　 瑪吉盯著鏡子里的自己。她的眼睛炯炯有神，臉頰上有酒窩，嘴巴微微噘起。她的黑發亂蓬蓬的。她撅著嘴說：“我希望我有更多的雀斑。”她嘆了口氣。“我的生活太不公平了。”

　　 “別抱怨。我肯定你的夢里有很多雀斑。”

　　 “我想是吧。”瑪吉仍然撅嘴說。

　　 “現在去睡覺吧，讓羅曼諾夫他感覺你的身體。”特雷古波娃催促說，瑪吉點點頭，走到宿舍，開始脫衣服。她脫下短褲和上衣，走到床前，爬了進去。她盯著天花板說，“我不知道他會怎麼做。”特雷古波娃笑了。“他必須做點什麼。否則，他就無法證明他投入你的時間和金錢是合理的。”瑪吉點點頭。羅曼諾夫從被子伸手過來說：“你是一個快樂的、適應良好的共產主義者的完美例子，過來瑪吉吻我這個老頭。”瑪吉抬起頭，困惑地說：“吻你？為什麼？”羅曼諾夫笑了笑，說：“因為你還淋得濕漉漉的。”瑪吉臉紅了。

　　 “現在過來坐在我身上，你有男朋友嗎？”

　　 瑪吉搖搖頭，盯著地面。“我不知道。”羅曼諾夫笑了。“我讓你決定。現在過來。”瑪吉爬到羅曼諾夫身邊，他用雙臂摟住她。她把臉埋在他的肩膀上，“是、是的。”

　　 “乖女孩。”羅曼諾夫吻了瑪吉說：“我會收養你並教導你，你是我的養女與情人，還是寵物。”

　　 “我寧願做你的寵物。”瑪吉說，聲音變得端莊起來。羅曼諾夫笑了。

　　 “也許你是。如果你服從我，你會的。”

　　 瑪吉身體僵硬點頭，特雷古波娃不悅地問：“這就是你的隱喻？”

　　 “我不是他的走狗，如果你是這麼想的話。”瑪吉說，聲音變得冷淡起來。

　　 “好吧，那我們去睡覺吧。”特雷古波娃打了個哈欠，爬到羅曼諾夫身邊，開始親吻他。

　　 ---

　　 瑪吉從床上爬起來，瞥了一眼鍾。當時是五點半。瑪吉打了個哈欠，伸了伸懶腰，說：“我去多拿些柴火。”

　　 “好的。”

　　 瑪吉走向壁爐，抓起一根木棍，開始攪拌燃燒的余燼。她攪拌並拍了拍灰燼，然後去抓更多的木頭。

　　 羅曼諾夫盯著她的背影對特雷古波娃說：“她很性感，她是一種未來。你與她都是我的寵物，就像社會主義與資本主義對於官僚而言。”

　　 特雷古波娃嘆了口氣，雙手放在肚子上。“我有點討厭成為你的寵物。這是一個很好的改變，我們過去幾年的沉悶常態。”

　　 “當你能從我這里拿到錢與權力時就會更滿意，明天聯系列寧格勒銀行與列寧格勒科學院把一些帳面盧布轉到你的影子帳戶上。”羅曼諾夫伸出手又說：“把櫃子上的紅酒給我。”特雷古波娃遞給羅曼諾夫那瓶酒。他呷了一口，然後笑了。

　　 “是的，像那樣。”他向瑪吉做手勢。“你的小朋友可以和我們一起吃晚飯。”瑪吉凝視著，然後站起來，開始清理桌子上的盤子、杯子和餐具。特雷古波娃看著瑪吉，問道：“你打算怎麼處置她？”

　　 “我不知道。她是寵物，我是寵物主人。”

　　 “嗯，你難道不能把她看作一個潛在的情人、伴侶，甚至是母親嗎？”

　　 “不，她的價值還不配那樣做，瑪吉過來跪在我面前。”瑪吉走向特雷古波娃和羅曼諾夫。“跪下。”瑪吉凝視著。

　　 “現在。”

　　 瑪吉慢慢跪下，抬頭看著羅曼諾夫。他低頭看著她。

　　 “服務你的寵物，明白嗎？服務她。不要問問題。如果你這樣做，你將失去你所贏得的。”瑪吉點點頭，開始親吻羅曼諾夫的腳趾。他笑了。

　　 “這就是最高權力的力量，特雷古波娃，你明白嗎？它能讓任何人變成奴隸。”羅曼諾夫摸了一下瑪吉的頭說：“我覺得你正在變成一個非常無聊的奴隸，特雷古波娃。也許你應該從現在開始試著做一個好奴隸。”特雷古波娃翻了個身，朝羅曼諾夫的肚子打了一拳。“當你打我時，你擊中了目標。這是不能容忍的。”羅曼諾夫站著微笑。“我必須記住這一點。”

　　 ---

　　 格里戈里·瓦西里耶維奇·羅曼諾夫繼續享受他所擁有的權力。他可以有任何他想要的女人。他可以有一千個女人。他可以擁有一個王國。他想做所有這些事情，甚至更多。他瞥了一眼瑪吉。她會服從他的；他看得見。她有一種他喜歡的渴望。她想成為一個忠誠的好臣民。他微笑著想，“多好的寵物啊。”

　　 羅曼諾夫又拿起筆寫下簽名交給特雷古波娃說：“把這封推薦信交給莫斯科大學，讓瑪吉去那里學習。”

　　 特雷古波娃拿著推薦信離開了。瑪吉清理了髒盤子和杯子。羅曼諾夫走回到桌子旁。“那麼，你現在要做什麼，我的寵物？”瑪吉坐在他的腳邊。他撫摸著瑪吉的頭。

　　 “把衣服解開，讓我摸摸你的小乳房。”他伸手去拿瑪吉的襯衫，解開了扣子。瑪吉抬頭看著他。“摸摸我那腫脹的卡布奇諾。”他撫摸著瑪吉溫暖、柔軟的小乳頭。瑪姬呻吟著。“嗯，我喜歡你小乳頭的感覺。”羅曼諾夫站起來，俯視著瑪吉。“你想吮吸我膨脹的卡布奇諾嗎？”瑪吉盯著。“是的你是。”他俯下身子，瑪吉深吸了一口氣。羅曼諾夫的卡布奇諾淹沒了瑪吉飢餓的小嘴。

　　 “啊，對，就是這樣。”他用空閒的手按摩麥琪的頭和喉嚨。他能感覺到瑪吉的小喉嚨為他張開。他把他那腫脹的卡布奇諾抹在瑪吉的小嘴和喉嚨上。

　　 “小寵物，過幾天莫斯科大學會錄取你，你一個月生活費用多少盧布？”

　　 “一百盧布。”

　　 “那咖啡太貴了。”羅曼諾夫笑了。瑪吉吞下了最後幾滴卡布奇諾。

　　 羅曼諾夫再次摸了摸瑪吉的乳房說：“你有銀行賬戶嗎？如果你有，告訴特雷古波娃，她會每月給你轉賬2000盧布。”

　　 “是的，但我沒有。”瑪吉又眨了眨眼。“我得向我父親要錢。”

　　 “你父親養育了一個正直的女孩，讓特雷古波娃幫你辦理帳戶，你在莫斯科還需要一個睡覺的地方，搬到我的戶外別墅吧。”他摸了摸瑪吉的臉說。“作為作為一個好奴隸的獎勵，你將有一張溫暖的床，一頓美味的食物，一座寬敞、美麗、干淨的私人別墅，有足夠的生活費用讓你浪費，一切都是免費的。我還將確保你在莫斯科大學接受完整的教育。我會做到這一切，告訴我你的答案。你想當我的奴隸嗎？”瑪吉抬頭看著羅曼諾夫。

　　 “是的。”

　　 “那麼交易就完成了，你不再是蘇聯的自由公民，你是我的財產。我擁有你。你是我的奴隸。這是成為世界上最有權勢的人之一的唯一途徑。你會毫無疑問地照我說的去做。你明白嗎？”

　　 “是的。”

　　 “現在，舔干淨我的腳趾並記住你是我的女奴。”

　　 他又撫摸了一下瑪吉的臉。瑪吉舔了舔腳趾，讓羅曼諾夫滿意。

　　 “啊，你是個好奴隸。我不會容忍這里的不服從。”

　　 “請不要再做測試了。請不要再做測試了。”瑪吉懇求道。

　　 “你看見這個高大有力的人了嗎？”羅曼諾夫摸了摸瑪吉的頭，盯著她的眼睛。

　　 “是的。”

　　 “你怕他嗎？”

　　 “沒有。”

　　 “這很好，冷靜看著我。我會幫助你，你會服務我，我們是共生共存的關系。”羅曼諾夫指了指他的衣服說：“冷靜下來就幫我穿衣服，要像沙皇的侍女一樣。”

　　 瑪吉臉色蒼白。“你想讓我穿得像個...一個宮廷女士？”瑪吉問。

　　 “如果你願意的話，你美麗的脖子、耳朵與手指都能戴上珍珠與鑽石。”

　　 “哦，不是那樣的，只是……我不習慣穿得像……一個……”瑪吉低頭看著她的鞋子，臉紅了。

　　 “你會習慣，當你能向所有人隱藏你貧窮的鄉村出身時，明白嗎？”

　　 “是的。”瑪吉點點頭。她抓起一雙新的絲襪和吊襪帶，穿上。羅曼諾夫走近一步，著迷地盯著瑪吉的腿。

　　 特雷古波娃推門進來說：“總書記，有報告給你，是克格勃調查勃列日涅夫女兒走私珠寶案件的。”

　　 “謝謝你，特雷古波娃。”他轉向瑪吉。“現在，下樓去打扮一下。”瑪吉站起來，走到門口。她猶豫了一下，回頭看了看羅曼諾夫。他揚起眉毛。特雷古波娃說：“繼續。”瑪吉敬禮後離開了房間。特雷古波娃盯著羅曼諾夫。“現在，告訴我，這份報告是什麼？”“這是所有已知走私者及其聯系人的名單，包括美國人和英國人。”特雷古波娃睜大了眼睛。

　　 “我明白了。”

　　 “這份報告非常詳盡，花了幾個月才完成。”羅曼諾夫坐下來盯著報告揉著眼睛說：“勃列日涅夫女兒加琳娜·勃列日涅娃通過情人向外國倒賣蘇聯珠寶文物，並把知情的一些參與者滅口甚至包括克格勃。”

　　 “報告令人震驚。你確定它是准確的嗎？”

　　 “嗯，這是無法偽造的，但走私物品及其買家的清單可能會被篡改。”

　　 “的確。”

　　 “情況很復雜，如果加琳娜·勃列日涅娃不是勃列日涅夫的女兒，我可以判她死刑。可惜她不是！”

　　 “那我們該怎麼辦？”“我將不得不消除她。”

　　 “除掉？”

　　 “有一些處理這種情況的方法，不涉及謀殺。”

　　 “比如說？”

　　 “我們讓她消失。”

　　 “讓她消失？我們怎樣才能做到呢？”

　　 “有一些秘密的監獄散布在世界各地。哪里有問題，哪里就有解決辦法。”

　　 “那我們能相信誰？”

　　 羅曼諾夫笑了笑，盯著特雷古波娃。“我們互相信任。”

　　 特雷古波娃嘆了口氣。

　　 “好了，跪到我腳邊給我口交。我需要想一下。”羅曼諾夫拍了拍她的臉然後解開拉鏈。

　　 “嗯，我明白了。你要用我的大腦來報仇？”

　　 “如果我打算報仇，那麼是的。”

　　 “我明白了。我跪下了。”

　　 特雷古波娃彎下腰，開始給羅曼諾夫脫衣服。

　　 “嗯，是的......好姑娘。現在，為我口交。”

　　 她俯下身子，把羅曼諾夫的雞巴吸掉。

　　 “好了，這還不算太糟，是嗎？”

　　 “一點也不，同志。”

　　 “現在，你來處理那份報告。”

　　 “當然可以，同志。”

　　 特雷古波娃回到房間，坐在她的書桌旁。 特雷古波娃笑了。“好吧，從那里起來。我需要考慮一下。” 她抓住桌子的邊緣把自己拉起來。

　　 “現在，擦你的臉，把我的女兒帶過來。”特雷古波娃擦了擦嘴唇，然後離開了房間。羅曼諾夫坐在桌旁。

　　 “所以，我要報復勃列日涅娃……把她交給美國人。”他從桌上抓起一個文件夾，盯著里面的照片。他嘆了口氣。“這些是加林娜·勃列日涅娃走私出境的物品，它們在哪里，是誰買的。這些很難追討回來，如果直接清除她會讓蘇聯官僚集團不滿，他們害怕被牽連。但不清理的話，就無法塑造在民眾中的好感。”羅曼諾夫站起來，走到窗前。“我得小心處理這件事。”他凝視著窗外。“還要穩定官僚集團與加盟國的第一書記，繼續默認它們的特權與腐敗交易。”

　　 （列寧成立蘇聯時，為了讓日後其他國家也加入蘇聯而在憲法中加入所有加盟國可以自由脫離蘇聯的法律，這導致蘇聯可以從法律解體的隱患，斯大林掌權後解散與合並其他政黨，采用了黨國一體的狀態防止蘇聯解體。到了勃列日涅夫，蘇聯中央政府與加盟國共產黨形成了一系列默認的規則，蘇聯中央給加盟國第一書記提供包括子女特別教育、容忍腐敗等特權來換取它們對蘇聯的忠誠與壓制地方民族主義。）

　　 “你在想什麼？”特雷古波娃走進房間問道。

　　 “在想你與瑪吉多漂亮，我能擁有你們兩個寵物與養女真幸運。”

　　 羅曼諾夫微笑著走近她。

　　 “哦，你真是個馬屁精。”

　　 “阿諛奉承者？我是你的朋友。我一直是你的朋友。”羅曼諾夫挽著特雷古波娃與瑪吉的腰說。

　　 “好吧，好吧，你是個好朋友。不過我需要你為我做點什麼。”

　　 “什麼都行。”

　　 特雷古波娃親密地把羅曼諾夫的手放進自己的內褲說：“靠銀行轉帳盧布太慢了，為什麼你不試著把列寧格勒銀行股票或者外貿部弄到手里？”瑪吉在旁邊震驚了，羅曼諾夫點頭說：“外貿部不可能，但銀行的股份可以拿到。”

　　 “怎麼辦？”

　　 “靠近卡塔琳娜。我知道她在銀行工作，我知道她在那里不開心。”

　　 “你是什麼意思？”特雷古波娃問道。

　　 “她冒著很大的風險來找我。如果她被抓住，這可能意味著對她甚至可能對我都意味著死刑。”羅曼諾夫又說：“社會意義上的，所以，當她幫我們就能拿到數千萬盧布的時候，怎麼能指望她不違反法律與道德？”

　　 瑪吉盯著地面。

　　 “不過，她在那里不開心。她想去海邊休息一下。如果我們想擺脫她，我們現在就可以。但現在還沒必要，如果有被監察委員會調查的風險，她就會莫名其妙死亡。”羅曼諾夫輕描淡寫地說。

　　 “她不會有事的。只要注意她。她是個聰明的女孩，她會想出辦法幫助我們的。”特雷古波娃說。

　　 羅曼諾夫點點頭看回在旁邊不說話的瑪吉問：“你在害怕這些事情嗎？”

　　 瑪吉抬起頭看著他說：“我有一點，我不習慣。”她低頭看著自己的膝蓋。“但是，我想我能應付。”

　　 羅曼諾夫點點頭。“當你步入這場游戲就應該做，這里面的人都是聰明又狡詐的。如果你聰明又順從，我會保護你並幫你得到你工作一輩子也無法得到的財富，你能靠勞動擁有數億盧布嗎？”

　　 “是的。”瑪吉平靜地說：“我想幫助你。”

　　 “很好。”羅曼諾夫說，“現在去回你的宿舍，再搬到我這里。特雷古波娃會開車幫你，我的寵物。”

　　 “謝謝你。”瑪吉說。她站起來，看著特雷古波娃說：“明天見。”特雷古波娃點點頭說：“回頭見。”瑪吉走出房間，特雷古波娃跟著她。

　　 “她是一個勇敢的女孩。不幸的是，她只是一個實驗。每次，結果都是貪婪和墮落的部分成功了。”羅曼諾夫問道。

　　 ---

　　 “小心駕駛，不要撞到其他車輛。”

　　 “是的，是的。”

　　 瑪吉走到她的住處，特雷古波娃說：“我明天打電話來接你。”

　　 “好的。”

　　 瑪吉走向她的門，打開了門。在外面有一條走廊，她沿著走廊走進了自己的房間。她走了進來，關上門，躺在床上。她看著天花板，想起了羅曼諾夫。

　　 我得聰明點。我不能再傻了，否則結局會很糟糕。

　　 她睡著了，想著她的未來。

　　 過了幾小時，她的舍友阿格拉菲娜開門把她驚醒了。瑪吉搖搖晃晃地坐了起來。

　　 “現在幾點了？”

　　 “睡覺時間到了，瞌睡蟲。”

　　 “哦，我沒想到這麼晚了。”

　　 阿格拉菲娜進來坐到自己的床位問：“昨晚你去那里了？我問合唱團其他人只知道你昨晚排練完愛爾蘭舞就不見了。”

　　 “我在和一個非常重要的人開會。”

　　 “真的嗎？誰？”

　　 “蘇聯中央委員會總書記。他叫羅曼諾夫同志。”

　　 “那個頭發灰白的。”“是的，我與他有一些私事要處理。”

　　 “你從來沒有對唱詩班的其他人說過這件事。他們都很擔心你。”

　　 瑪吉聳聳肩。“隨便吧，阿格拉菲娜我想問一下你，如果你有一個機會能得到一生花不光的財富要做一件你不喜歡的事情，你會怎麼樣？”

　　 阿格拉菲娜想了一會兒。“我會做點什麼來幫助我的家人。”

　　 “是的，我就是這麼想的。”瑪吉說，“現在我要回去了。”

　　 “你要走嗎？”

　　 “是的，我要去列寧格勒，和你聽到我說的那個人一起住。”

　　 “是這樣嗎？”

　　 “是的，我帶你一起去。事實上，我要搬進去了。”

　　 阿格拉菲娜睜大了眼睛。“真的嗎？和總書記一起？”“是的，過來我告訴你，他准備讓我當他的養女與送我上莫斯科國立大學。”

　　 “我不知道哪一個更好。”

　　 瑪吉笑了，“我也不知道，但我猜不是前者。”

　　 “那麼，他付你多少錢讓你做你做的事？”

　　 “他在莫斯科有一所房子，用作作戰基地。這是他在這座城市唯一的地方。”

　　 “多好啊，”阿格拉菲娜說，“住在這樣的房子里，而且有很多錢，一定很不錯。”

　　 “是的，你應該去。這是個不錯的城鎮。”

　　 瑪吉站起來伸了伸懶腰。“這是一個機會，我能得到我以前不敢想的生活，只是…”

　　 “怎麼了？”

　　 “我想，只要對你所擁有的感到高興就好了。”

　　 “你今天下午就要走了。你打算怎麼去那兒？”

　　 “他有個叫特雷古波娃的秘書來接我，她…她的穿著衣服都是特供商店里那種進口衣物。”

　　 “你是說她穿的衣服像個資產階級？”

　　 “差不多，我能感覺到如果我們正常工作的工資是永遠無法購買她脖子上的珍珠項鏈還有手上的玉手鐲。”

　　 “你今天要走嗎？”

　　 “是的。我收拾東西的時候准備好。”

　　 “真的嗎？你要和總書記一起去嗎？”

　　 “是的。”

　　 “你知道這是怎麼回事嗎？”

　　 瑪吉把自己的衣服與樂器放進箱里說：“我做了交易，出賣了一些東西又得到一些東西。”“你打算給他什麼？”阿格拉菲娜問：“除了你自己。”

　　 “我不會給他任何東西。我要確保他……”

　　 “什麼？他擁有他所需要的一切？”

　　 “不，他很快樂。”

　　 “你怎麼知道你能做到？是什麼讓你認為你能滿足他的一切需要？”

　　 瑪吉嘆了口氣，“我不知道。”

　　 “但你得試試，因為你要為他工作。”

　　 “我猜，”瑪吉說，“你問這麼多做什麼？”

　　 “一切。”

　　 “嗯，我想這就是你討價還價得到的免費交易。”瑪吉說著，拿出盒子，關上了。

　　 “我的生活。我需要離開這個宿舍。我欠很多人很多錢。”

　　 “好吧，讓我們看看我能為你買套公寓做些什麼。”瑪吉摟住阿格拉菲娜，擁抱她說：“再見。”

　　 “不，讓我跟你一起去看看吧。”阿格拉菲娜抓著瑪吉的手懇求說。

　　 “別這樣，我最好一個人去。我不會有危險的。”

　　 “但是……”

　　 “再見。”瑪吉轉身說。

　　 “等等……”阿格拉菲娜抓住瑪吉的手臂。

　　 “求你了，我求你了。”瑪吉看著她的手，說：“再見。”

　　 “別走！”

　　 “我必須這麼做。”瑪吉盯著阿格拉菲娜的眼睛說。

　　 “我能猜到你做了什麼，你必須能讓我去！”阿格拉菲娜加重語氣說。

　　 “不是那樣的。”

　　 “那是什麼樣子的？”阿格拉菲娜問道。

　　 “你可以選擇。你要麼原諒我，要麼我再也不和你說話。你自己選擇吧。”

　　 “我會原諒與支持你，但你必須帶我去看他。”瑪吉點點頭，知道她不能帶阿格拉菲娜去見他。

　　 “好的，我會安排一切的，但你必須保證到時候放我走。”

　　 “我保證。”

　　 -----

　　 特供商店最初是斯大林時期的產物，唯一可以在蘇聯合法消費外匯的地方。起初，只有蘇聯特權階層才能在外幣商店購物，例如外交官、軍事專家和運動員。

　　 1965年勃列日涅夫上台開始，蘇聯普通民眾也被允許將手中的外幣兌換成等值的特供商店購物券前往購物。但是，普通民眾很少擁有外幣與外匯，而黑市中的特供商店商品又要高出三～五倍。

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　　 克里姆林宮特供商店內

　　 聽完敘述的羅曼諾夫又詢問說：“你們兩個沒有再向其他人泄露吧？”跟在他後面的瑪吉與阿格拉菲娜點點頭。

　　 “很好。那麼，你們兩個可以走了。”

　　 “但是……”

　　 “但是？我能相信一個連自己舌頭都管不了的人嗎？”羅曼諾夫盯著商店內的首飾看說，“會有下一次嗎？”

　　 “我不知道。”

　　 “那就走吧，我明白了。”羅曼諾夫抬頭看著天花板，“不要再有秘密，不要再有謊言，要有自由。”

　　 “別這樣，我會保證不再泄露的。”瑪吉懇求說，阿格拉菲娜站在旁邊保持沉默。

　　 “這是你的選擇，但要知道：你為了得到你想要的東西而撒謊越多，你的謊言就越有可能被揭穿。自由是唯一的真理。記住這一點。”羅曼諾夫看回商品說：“沒有下一次，現在看看商品，我會買下給你們想要的。”

　　 女仆將各種珠寶交給羅曼諾夫，羅曼諾夫檢查。

　　 “你覺得怎麼樣？”羅曼諾夫問道。

　　 “它們很可愛，”阿格拉菲娜說。

　　 “但價格也很貴，”瑪吉盯著價格咽了下喉嚨說，“我至少需要工作好幾年。”

　　 羅曼諾夫笑了笑說：“但我只需要幾天，而且是合法手段下。”

　　 “但是……”瑪吉開始說。

　　 “我可以馬上給你錢。你的工作是管理這家商店，珠寶一售出，你就會得到全額報酬。我保證。”羅曼諾夫挑選一件鑽石項鏈給瑪吉戴上說：“你只要保持美麗，你感覺怎麼樣？”

　　 “很好，謝謝。”瑪吉低頭看著手中的項鏈說：“多少錢？”

　　 “50000盧布，加上費用。”

　　 “太……太多了。”

　　 “我會支付的，我的女孩。”羅曼諾夫盯著瑪吉的胸說，“你有玲瓏的……乳房。”瑪吉睜大了眼睛，臉紅了。

　　 “太多了，50，000。我可以用它得到更多…”她開始說。

　　 “不，很好。這是一條可愛的項鏈。”

　　 “但是太多了。”

　　 “它很漂亮，穿在你身上會很好看。”

　　 “但是……”

　　 “好了，你以後會得到更多的錢與禮物，只要你記住你是為了我而存在的。”瑪吉笑了。

　　 “謝謝你，總書記。我現在可以走了嗎？”

　　 “當然可以。別在這個房間外這麼叫我。明白嗎？”瑪吉點點頭。

　　 “你需要多少錢？”羅曼諾夫問道。

　　 瑪吉想了一會兒。“500盧布，加上費用。”

　　 羅曼諾夫笑了。“走吧。”

　　 瑪吉離開房間，阿格拉菲娜問羅曼諾夫：“總書記，你會送我什麼禮物？”

　　 “要穿的東西。”

　　 “什麼？”

　　 阿格拉菲娜笑了。“跟我來。”她把羅曼諾夫帶到一個房間，給他看了一件漂亮的紅色連衣裙。

　　 “我做的。請試穿一下。”

　　 “你能把它給我嗎？”阿格拉芬娜盯著地板問道。

　　 “當然，”羅曼諾夫說。“去換衣間，我幫你脫衣服。”

　　 “這……真可愛。”

　　 “你喜歡嗎？”

　　 “是的，我知道。”

　　 “那它就是你的了。”

　　 “你是什麼意思？”

　　 阿格拉菲娜笑了。“到更衣室去。”她看著羅曼諾夫走進房間。他看著阿格拉菲娜脫下她的上衣、裙子和鞋子。

　　 “你的身材與金發很美，就是你有點矮小。”羅曼諾夫開始解開外衣說：“我想要你。”

　　 “是的……”

　　 “我要把你當作禮物，把你當作玩具。你將成為我的女人，我的財產。你明白嗎？”

　　 “我……是的。”“我就知道，跪下舔我的陰莖。”

　　 阿格拉菲娜照他說的做了。羅曼諾夫拉開褲子的拉鏈，走進了她的房間。他開始移動臀部，插入她的身體。

　　 “是的，就是這樣。”

　　 “再用力一點……好嗎？”

　　 “你想要什麼？”

　　 “我要你讓我成為你的情人。”阿格拉菲娜凝視著他的眼睛說。她的眼睛明亮。

　　 “是的……”羅曼諾夫說。“跟我做愛。”

　　 “我會的。”

　　 他慢慢地走進她，感覺到她的緊張。他開始移動臀部，進進出出。

　　 “我不會做慈善，也不需要一個對我沒用的女孩當我的寵物。”阿格拉菲娜說：“我不是你的寵物。我是你的愛人。我會讓你感覺良好，值得你付出我的一切。”

　　 “為什麼？我擁有專制君主一樣的權力，你只是一個普通出身的年輕女孩。你就像一只小母貓對我沒有價值。”羅曼諾夫向她嘴里吐了一口唾沫說。“我是一個偉大的領導者，也是一個好人。這就是為什麼我被選為領導者。你要照我說的去做，否則你會像腳下的螞蟻一樣被壓垮。”

　　 “你想干什麼我就干什麼。”

　　 “我要你再和我做愛。”

　　 “是的。”

　　 “我要你吮吸我的公雞。我要你把我的公雞當韁繩戴著。我要你把你的生命給我。把你的貞操給我。”羅曼諾夫低吼著說，“發出對我順良的聲音！”

　　 “是的……我……順良。”阿格拉菲娜說。

　　 他抓住她的手，把它放到他的陰莖上。“張開。”他強迫她張開嘴，把自己的男子漢氣概壓了進去。他開始動了起來，插入她的嘴里。“糟透了。”他命令道。

　　 阿格拉菲娜開始吮吸，她持續吮吸了幾分鍾。“再來一點？”她懇求道。

　　 “我要你吞下我的精液。”他猛地一推臀部，身子伸進了她的喉嚨。他開始移動臀部，把她拉了進去。

　　 “是的……”阿格拉菲娜說。他們持續了幾分鍾，直到感覺開始消退。“好嗎？”羅曼諾夫問道。

　　 “是的。”

　　 “很好。”他從她喉嚨里抽出來，說，“我感覺很好，你會是一只好母狗。”

　　 “謝謝你。”阿格拉菲娜站著，穿好衣服，准備出發。她看著羅曼諾夫。“你很強壯，是個好領導。我服從你。現在……我們走吧。”

　　 兩人穿好衣服回到特供商店，羅曼諾夫買下阿格拉菲娜挑選了幾件首飾，女服務員注意到了阿格拉菲娜嘴邊的精液。“那是什麼？”她問。

　　 “這是我……感激的象征。”羅曼諾夫咧嘴一笑，“阿格拉菲娜可以走了。”

　　 “真惡心。”她說，厭惡地看著別處。

　　 “她咽了下去，”羅曼諾夫說。

　　 “是的，但還是……不自然。”女服務員抬頭看著他。“你為什麼讓她那樣做？”

　　 “沒有什麼，只是我想那樣做。”羅曼諾夫拿起一枚鑽石胸針問：“你很有趣，敢問這些事情。你叫什麼名字？”

　　 “費奧多西婭。”

　　 “費奧多西婭。多漂亮的名字。”羅曼諾夫微笑地說：“你今天沒有看到我旁邊這位女士和我在一起，這枚鑽石胸針我認為佩戴在你胸前會很好看。”

　　 “我明白了。”她考慮了他的提議，說。

　　 “你不想知道我還能為你做些什麼嗎？”他問。

　　 “也許吧。你能做什麼？”

　　 “好吧，我可以讓你變得漂亮，讓你變得富有，讓你的生活充滿愛和激情。這就是你想要的嗎？”

　　 費奧多西婭想了一會兒，說：“是的。”

　　 “那就到我這兒來。”

　　 “那麼你可以像背叛阿格拉菲娜那樣背叛我？”

　　 “這不是背叛，阿格拉菲娜你可以走了，我要跟費奧多西婭談談。”羅曼諾夫吻了阿格拉菲娜的臉說：“明天再來這里，我會再送你一件手鐲。”

　　 “是的。”阿格拉菲娜低下頭，帶著微笑離開了。他看著費奧多西婭說：“她不會背叛你的。她是個傻瓜。明天，來找我。”

　　 “為什麼？”費奧多西婭問道。

　　 “因為這枚鑽石胸針很貴。”羅曼諾夫把鑽石胸針扣在她胸前笑著說：“我想問幾個問題，你的工資是多少？”

　　 “150盧布。”

　　 “我會給你500盧布給我做點小服務。然後你就可以走了。”

　　 “什麼樣的服務？”

　　 “每周把你工作與生活的一切告訴我，我會每周支付。”他欣賞著費奧多西婭的臉說，“你覺得呢？”

　　 “危險嗎？”她問。

　　 “一點也不。這將是你的固定工資。”他笑著說：“同意嗎？”

　　 “我沒有理由拒絕你。”她微笑著拿起錢包。

　　 羅曼諾夫點點頭說：“我喜歡聰明的人，我問你，你日常用品怎麼樣？說實話？”

　　 “我一無所有。我的現金快用完了，但我有一點定量配給的食物。”費奧多西婭抱怨說：“國營商店買不到任何質量好的東西，服務態度也差！他們居然叫我滾去黑市買東西！但是，黑市價格是商店的至少2倍！”她交叉雙臂說：“我討厭那種生活。”

　　 “我可以給你更多的錢，如果那能讓你快樂的話。”羅曼諾夫又說：“你願意陪一位老人去克里姆林宮餐廳吃飯嗎？”

　　 “我想那會讓我高興的。現在幾點了？”

　　 “八點一刻。”

　　 “太好了，我會去的。”

　　 “再見。”他揮手離開了。

　　 費奧多西婭盯著他說：“多有趣的人啊。”她看回他贈送的鑽石胸針價格說：“如果我靠自己工作得需要多久？”

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　　 克里姆林宮餐廳：

　　 這是一個富人的地方，那里的男女服務員都戴著精致的白色頭飾，穿著精美的衣服，提供昂貴的食物。桌子上擺著精美的瓷器和拋光的銀器，每一張桌子上都點著蠟燭。

　　 羅曼諾夫獨自坐在桌子旁，看起來很無聊。角落里有一個弦樂四重奏，演奏老式音樂。這是一個足夠好的環境，但羅曼諾夫看起來像他想去其他任何地方。他看著手表說，“幸虧你來了，我正要派人來接你。費奧多西婭小姐。”費奧多西婭，一個豐滿的女人，胸脯很大，走到桌邊。她穿著一件細長的長袍，頭發向後梳成一個發髻。她低下頭，坐在羅曼諾夫對面，羅曼諾夫說：“請坐，我正為你保留這個座位。”

　　 “你真好！”她說。“我很高興你決定和我一起吃晚飯。”

　　 “我有很多重要的工作要做，所以我只能花一點時間和你在一起。”他問道，“不介意這里只有我與你用餐吧？”

　　 “一點也不。只是我現在現金有點短缺，所以我想知道你能不能用支票支付這頓晚餐？”

　　 “不要擔心，你只需讓自己享受今晚。”羅曼諾夫點了下紅酒然後看菜單，費奧多西婭猶豫著說：“我可以打包嗎？”

　　 “什麼？”

　　 “我的意思是，我能自己帶食物嗎？我不能在最好的餐館吃飯，但我能吃得起一頓豐盛的晚餐。”

　　 “你的意思是把剩菜打包帶回家？”羅曼諾夫愣了一下才問，然後繼續看菜單。他沉默了很長一段時間，然後問道：“我能相信你不會談論我們的晚餐嗎？”

　　 “當然。”

　　 “很好。”他回頭看了看菜單說，“我選牛排與日本豆腐，你想要什麼菜？”

　　 “你以前沒有來過這種餐廳嗎？你穿的長袍其實很…怪。”

　　 “我不知道……”費奧多西婭說。“你喜歡什麼？”

　　 “一切聽起來都很美味。”

　　 羅曼諾夫點了菜，問道：“你以前沒去過這樣的餐廳嗎？你穿的長袍其實很……奇怪。”

　　 “哦，是的……我想我還沒有告訴你我的故事。”她猶豫了一下說，“我出生在鄉村，我的父母相對來說比較窮，但他們想讓他們的孩子得到最好的，所以他們把我們送到一所私立學校。\"

　　 “我明白了。”羅曼諾夫看著她。“我幼年也出生在一個農民家庭，本來是學習工程師專業後來卻參加了衛國戰爭，戰爭後我一步步才當上總書記。你的出身並不可恥，你父母從事什麼？”

　　 “我父親是個屠夫，但我們總是吃得飽。我們沒有上私立學校，我上的是公立學校。”

　　 “哦，我明白了。你學的是什麼？”

　　 “通常的科目。我數學很好。”費奧多西婭停頓了下。“我父母想讓我當醫生或律師，但我沒有成功之後依靠親戚朋友才當克里姆林宮的服務員。你不會嘲笑我吧？”

　　 “不會，你生活並不好，大部分人都是這樣。”羅曼諾夫盯著她的長袍問：“這件長袍是你最好的衣服嗎？”

　　 “沒有，但這是我僅有的一個。”

　　 羅曼諾夫看起來想再說點什麼，但他只是問：“你准備好點菜了嗎？”

　　 “是的。這里的廚師做了一道很好的意大利飯，我想我要那道。”

　　 羅曼諾夫點點頭。“我要牛排，中等熟，再加上所有的配料。”

　　 費奧多西婭下了命令。她等著食物，然後說：“跟我說說你自己吧。”

　　 “沒什麼好說的。我出生在一個小鎮，通過努力在黨的隊伍中晉升，我得到了這份工作。僅此而已。”羅曼諾夫想了想又說：“跟我說說你的童年。”

　　 “我的童年很無聊。我想我的家庭很無聊。我父親是個酒鬼，我母親是個家庭主婦。因為他的工作，我們不得不經常搬家。這就是我最終來到這座城市的原因。\"

　　 “你小時候到處走動一定讓你很開心。”

　　 “不太可能。我從來不知道會發生什麼。我小的時候，我們搬到了西伯利亞。起初很有趣，但過了一會兒就變得無聊了。我想回到城市。\"

　　 “你想快樂嗎？”

　　 “你可以這麼說。”

　　 接下來的一個小時里，他們聊了很多話題，羅曼諾夫吃完了整個牛排，又點了一份。食物到了，他滿嘴盯著它。

　　 “你一個月最多能有多少開銷與收入？”羅曼諾夫切下牛排問，“我想知道你的處境。”

　　 “很難說。這取決於你的開銷和你在做什麼。我想你心里一定有一個數字吧？”

　　 “是的，是的，我知道。”羅曼諾夫放下刀叉說：“不如，你猜下我有多少財產？”

　　 “好吧。”她環顧四周，然後說：“大約500盧布。”

　　 羅曼諾夫點點頭。“我每月的收入約為1500盧布。你認為我的開支是多少？”

　　 “哦，大約1000盧布？”

　　 “好吧。我的日常開支是我收入的25%，所以這就…”羅曼諾夫若有所思地看著他的牛排。“你真的相信嗎？”

　　 “這是一個簡單的是或不是的問題。”

　　 羅曼諾夫露出一個意味深長的笑容說：“三千萬美元。”

　　 “我認為這是不可能的。”

　　 “想想什麼是可能的？”

　　 “讓你賺那麼多錢。”

　　 “為什麼不可能？”羅曼諾夫握著她的手說：“當你有權力與人脈關系就可以，我問你，單憑費奧多西婭你自己讓你的子女擺脫貧窮嗎？”

　　 “但你沒看到……”她輕聲說，“你有……”

　　 “我有你想要的，你是當一個連晚餐都要打包的服務員，還是一位隨手就能買下一間珠寶店的顯貴者？”羅曼諾夫微笑地說：“現在，只有我們。你自己決定。”

　　 費奧多西婭皺起眉頭，低頭看著她的食物，然後抬頭看著他。

　　 “你認為我愚蠢嗎？”她問。

　　 “不，我認為你性感迷人。所以，我要你得到禮物與財富，站到我的床上。當然，你不願也可以。你可以回歸到一個月為了150盧布工作的環境，最後找一個年輕工人當丈夫與他的家庭主婦。”羅曼諾夫平靜地說：“最後為了幾百盧布省吃儉用，直到變成老太婆。”

　　 “我不上你的床，”她咆哮著站了起來。

　　 “不，那就把這張賬單當作我的服務，我的床，我的規則。”

　　 “我不打算……”

　　 “或者你可以回到你那無聊的生活，我會回到我的生活。”羅曼諾夫示意說。

　　 “同志，你最好規矩點，否則我就得逮捕你。”

　　 羅曼諾夫笑著說：“我想你很難做到這一點。而且我是給你選擇，就像我之前贈送給你的鑽石胸針一樣，接受與拒絕由你決定，奢華還是貧窮？”

　　 “貧窮，”費奧多西婭說，看上去很痛苦。

　　 “很好。你是個叛逆者。我喜歡叛逆者。”

　　 “但是……”

　　 “你自己選擇的貧窮與尊嚴，繼續吃飯，之後我不會再邀請你與贈送禮物。”羅曼諾夫裝作若無其事的說：“除非，你同意奢華與當我的女孩。”

　　 他向她伸出手來。

　　 費奧多西婭低頭看著她的食物。她考慮了自己的選擇。

　　 她可以離開，也可以留下來忍受羅曼諾夫對她的所作所為。

　　 * * *

　　 羅曼諾夫一直在等待她做出決定。他站起來，看著她，說：“親愛的，會是什麼？”

　　 “我不是……”她看著自己的食物，咽了下去，然後抬頭看著他。

　　 “不要想那些痛苦的工作與債務，想想鑽石胸針與錢，你同意的話就可以得到更多。”“會是什麼，親愛的？”

　　 “奢侈品。我想要奢侈品。我從中得到的比……多得多。”費奧多西婭深吸了一口氣，說：“做你的愛人。”

　　 “這是奢侈品，”羅曼諾夫說，為她掏出一個小盒子。“既然你接受了我的提議，我相信你一定有什麼事想問我。”

　　 “是的，”費奧多西婭說。

　　 “那就去問吧。”

　　 “你是怎麼拿到錢的？”她問。

　　 “我接管了列寧格勒銀行，所以我們結束後，這筆錢將記入我的賬戶。”羅曼諾夫說。“我也有一些股票，而且一些部門領導人的妻子也會給我家人送禮物。打開你的小盒子。”

　　 費奧多西婭打開一個紅色的小天鵝絨盒子，喘著粗氣。她舉起一枚小祖母綠戒指。

　　 “即使對你來說，這也太多了。你需要多少錢？”她問。

　　 “我不需要那麼多。但是如果你願意，我可以得到更多。10000盧布聽起來怎麼樣？”

　　 “聽起來，”費奧多西婭猶豫不決。“我不知道你怎麼能得到這麼多。”

　　 “你只需要享受這一切，坐到我腿上讓我看看你戴上戒指的樣子。”羅曼諾夫拍了拍大腿說。

　　 “謝謝你。”

　　 “不要表現得像只害羞的小老鼠。”他抓住她的手，把戒指戴在她的手指上。“高興嗎？”

　　 “非常好。”

　　 “好。現在去坐在我的腿上，讓我們玩得開心。”

　　 費奧多西婭按照命令做了。她坐下來，用雙臂摟住他的腰。

　　 羅曼諾夫撫摸著費奧多西婭的臉。

　　 “你的皮膚太柔軟了。你的頭發太短了，真可惜。”他撫摸她的頭發。“你知道，我想我喜歡你的短發。”他把她的頭發向後梳了梳。“你覺得呢，你會介意把它種出來嗎？”

　　 費奧多西婭的臉色變了。“我...我很抱歉。我不是有意冒犯你的。”

　　 “別客氣。我認為這是一種非常漂亮的款式。它很適合你。”羅曼諾夫看著自己的膝蓋。“你有男朋友嗎？”

　　 “不。”

　　 “那很好，拉開我褲子的拉鏈吻我的陰莖。”費奧多西婭拉開拉鏈，解開褲子上的紐扣。然後她把它們拉下來。羅曼諾夫坐起來笑了。“你很漂亮，是一個真正漂亮的女人。”他把手放在她裸露的屁股上。“我要你和我做愛。”他擠了擠。“我非常想要你。”

　　 費奧多西婭笑了笑，爬上了他的膝蓋。她跨坐在他的腿上，低下臀部。她跨坐在他的腿上，面對著他。她把自己放在他的勃起上，引導它進入她炎熱、潮濕、緊繃的中心。

　　 “是的，就是這樣，”羅曼諾夫說。“我要吸你的奶子。”他把手放在她的小乳房周圍，開始擠壓它們。“你真漂亮，我想把你舔個遍。”

　　 “是的。”

　　 羅曼諾夫把她拉得更近了。他把她的右胸放進嘴里，開始吮吸。他靠近她的另一個乳房，開始吮吸。

　　 “啊，是的，寶貝。就像那樣。”他吸得越來越厲害。

　　 “是的，是的。”她把下巴垂到他的肩上。她呻吟著，搖晃著臀部。她撫摸著他的背，扯著他的頭發。

　　 “你喜歡這個嗎？”羅曼諾夫問道。

　　 “非常喜歡。”她咬著嘴唇。“你會……”她嘆了口氣。“你能為我做點特別的事嗎？”“什麼都行。”

　　 “你…你…你會和我做愛嗎？”

　　 “媽的，我希望我能。”他把她抱起來，深深地吻了吻。

　　 “嗯。”他把嘴唇移到她的耳邊。“我非常想要你。”

　　 她呻吟著。

　　 “費奧多西亞，你不想要我嗎？”

　　 她微笑著搖搖頭。“我更想要你。”

　　 “乖女孩。現在，把你的腿放在我周圍，騎著我。”

　　 她收緊雙腿，引導他勃起。

　　 “是的，騎我。”

　　 她把額頭垂到他的額頭上，呻吟著。

　　 他搖晃著臀部，把她長長的吻引向他的身體。

　　 “乖女孩，騎我。”

　　 她發出一聲長長的低沉的呻吟。

　　 “來找我，我的愛人。”

　　 她騎著他，把他拉得越來越深，直到接近高潮。在費奧多西婭的呻吟聲中，他抬頭盯著餐廳牆壁上油畫里看到一幅美麗的幻影圖像，他變成身穿修士的外袍左手拿著聖經與可蘭經，右手拿著十字架、六芒星、佛珠、法拉瓦哈、生命十字的樣子，而費奧多西婭是一個性感的修女，赤裸著身體，但系著緊身胸衣，跪在他的左邊。

　　 “我……我來了，”她說，氣喘吁吁地騎著他。他目不轉睛地看著一個向全世界傳遞好消息的人。他從她身上下來，把她抱在胸前。“親愛的，你感覺真好。”他吻了她。“我愛你，你知道。”

　　 “我也愛你，”她說。

　　 羅曼諾夫擦了擦汗指著牆壁上油畫說：“那幅油畫你看到了嗎？”

　　 “一個拿著聖經和古蘭經的僧侶，一個修女……一個幻象？”

　　 “這幅畫的標題？這幅畫的標題是‘最後的晚餐’。”

　　 “那幅畫？”

　　 “你聽到了嗎？最後的晚餐。這就是我想象的這一刻的樣子。我看到修士和修女是我和你。我一定有某種幻覺。”他朝她微笑。“嗯，我們不是為世界帶來和平的一對。”

　　 “你在說什麼？”

　　 “沒什麼，我只是想到了一些困擾我事情的答案。”他起身又看了看那幅油畫說：“宗教…可以利用並維護階級統治，意識形態也可以曲解成那樣。”

　　 “什麼？”

　　 “窮人和受壓迫者的宗教可以用來維持現狀。富人的宗教可以用來為偷竊、戰爭和壓迫辯護。”他看著她。“你需要明白，階級統治不是一個抽象的概念。它是以權力的形式形成的，權力可以用來獲取利益或控制。”

　　 “你是說寫《聖經》和《古蘭經》的人用基督和穆罕默德的教義為曾經受他們擺布的人民的壓迫辯護？”

　　 “不完全是。”他滿意於她的回答又解釋說：“最初創始人肯定不是壓迫辯護，基督和穆罕默德最初創造教義時肯定看到了被壓迫的人民而反對猶太教與多神教貴族，否則他們就不會反抗這些壓迫。但與悉達多一樣的是，無論他們本意如何，最後他們的主張都被統治階級利用並被不同國家修改經典來為自己的壓迫辯護與洗腦。”

　　 “你認為這是對基督和先知所做的事情的公正評估嗎？”

　　 “我不認為他們是邪惡的，但他們創建的宗教會被人利用。而且他們的主張會過時，就像馬克思與列寧一樣。馬克思看到了19世紀工人在資本主義國家進行原始資本積累時被殘酷剝削的慘狀而主張社會主義，但最終馬克思的主張怎麼樣了呢？”羅曼諾夫拿起紙巾幫她擦拭身體說：“我希望你不要因為我思考與討論這些而生氣。”

　　 “當然不是，”她說。“我認為重要的是我們……”

　　 “我們自己的生活？”

　　 “是的，我們自己的生活，”她低聲說，“還有我們所愛的人的生活。”

　　 “那就別那麼快就放棄它。”他吻了吻她的前額。“我有事情會交給你的，你如果願意的話，我可以讓你管理一下股票。”

　　 “謝謝，但我不是這個意思。”她站起來，再次面對那幅畫。“你剛才說了一些我不太明白的話。那幅畫……”

　　 “是嗎？”

　　 “這是一個幻象。”

　　 “當然是，”他說。“這是我們的幻象。”

　　 “我不知道那是什麼意思。”

　　 “你很快就會知道的。”他拿起紅酒說：“你願意幫我經營股票的話，和我一起喝了這杯酒？”

　　 “我很樂意幫助你，但這涉及到什麼？”

　　 “這包括喝醉。”

　　 她微笑著嘆了口氣。“是的，我會幫助你的。”

　　 他倒了酒，遞給她。“為了我們的生存。”

　　 他們喝酒。

　　 [newpage]

　　 Tregubova crossed the hallway, her heels clicking on the corridor. She clenches and unclenches her fists, her breathing rapid and shallow. She can feel the bile burning its way up her throat, but she wills herself to remain calm and collected.

　　 At the end of the hallway, she sees him.

　　 \"He must be able to see something.\"

　　 She takes a step towards him. He hears her and turns around. They were both silent for a moment.

　　 \"What is it?\" Tregubova finally asked.

　　 \"Irish tap dance, don\u0027t you think those Soviet choir girls dance it well? Both Slavic and Asian girls.\" Romanov put his finger down and said that in the center of the hall was the Soviet Girls\u0027 Choir performing Irish Tap.

　　 \"Really? That\u0027s... unsettling.\"

　　 \"Unsettling? Perhaps, but I rather think it\u0027s fascinating.\" Romanov turns his attention back to the tap dance. \"And, to be truthful, I was rather hoping you\u0027d be here for a different reason entirely.\"

　　 Tregubova stares at the dance. The choir continues to tap dance in a circle, the lead soprano young and rather plump, her legs rather short and her arms rather long. The tap dancer is only half-nodding in time with the music.

　　 \"Don\u0027t you think it\u0027s strange that they\u0027re dancing that instead of the national anthem?\" Tregubova asked. \"No, they should dance sexy and artistically beautiful.\" Romanov shook his head again and instructed Tregubova to sit next to him.

　　 \"It\u0027s nothing personal. It\u0027s simply that the song has a deeper meaning than you know. The entire performance is a metaphor.\"

　　 \"A metaphor for what?\" \"I ask you, what can I do further when I can get these girls to tap dance instead of singing Katyusha?\" Romanov said suggestively, staring at her. He had a flirty, yet sly look to his eyes. Tregubova averted her gaze.

　　 \"I see.\" \"Power leads to corruption and decay, what if I had a ballerina or a stewardess replace you?\"

　　 \"How could you...?\" Tregubova says, but Romanov holds his hand up silencing her.

　　 \"I wouldn\u0027t. It\u0027s impossible. Besides, I have no interest in corruption. You\u0027re incorruptible.\" Tregubova blushes and turns her attention to the dancing girls. \"I see. They\u0027re merely a... metaphor, then.\"

　　 \"Exactly.\"

　　 \"And how exactly does one become incorruptible?\" Tregubova asked. \"Do you have a potion or something?\" \"As I said it\u0027s a metaphor, what do you think you represent in this metaphor for the Soviet Union? And what do the dancing girls represent? And what do I represent? What is it that determines you?\"

　　 \"I don\u0027t know anything about metaphysics... but if I were you, I would concentrate on the ballerinas. They\u0027re young and beautiful. You could try to corrupt them... or something.\" Romanov shook his head and said, \"Think carefully, don\u0027t see things from your personal point of view for a while, and then answer me.\"

　　 \"I don\u0027t understand,\" Tregubova said, confused.

　　 \"Let me put it more bluntly, what is it that determines whether you are clean or not? What is it that you won\u0027t be caught and convicted in prison?\"

　　 Tregubova had no answer. She didn\u0027t want to admit that she was corruptible, that she would be controlled by others, that her entire future was out of her hands.

　　 \"I think you understand that some things are not whether you do them or not, but whether you have value. For example, Fultseva, without Khrushchev she is nothing.\" Romanov finished staring at her and fell silent. Tregubova stared at her lap. She knew where this discussion was going and she didn\u0027t like it. \"In this hall, we are all controlled. Only the controllers are different. My controller has no way of defeating it, it can give up on you and let you die for some reason like corruption, and then replace the young girls who are dancing and end the show on their stockings.\"

　　 \"That\u0027s a rather brutal analysis.\"

　　 \"But an accurate one,\" Romanov answered. \"So, what will you do? Will you be controlled and perish in the same way as all the others here?\"

　　 \"No...\" Tregubova said.

　　 \"Therefore, you are incorruptible.\" Romanov held up his hand to silence her protests. \"As long as I believe, you are! But if you lose my trust or if I fail?\"

　　 \"Then?\" Tregubova asked, still shocked that he would make such a threat against her.

　　 \"Then, you will be crushed like a bug.\" He made a crushing gesture with his hand. \"Like all the others here.\"

　　 The threat hung over Tregubova, but it was a performance. She wasn\u0027t afraid. She could play this game all night.

　　 \"So, what will you do?\" Romanov asked again.

　　 Tregubova thought about the question. She stared at the man, and tried to think of something to gain his trust. To her surprise, she remembered what he\u0027d said earlier and decided to use it on him.

　　 \"I\u0027ll... become a better leader,\" she said, remembering his words.

　　 Romanov\u0027s eyes widened. \"I hope so, you understand what happens when you fail.\" He added with a warning that she needed to answer.

　　 \"What happens when I fail?\" \"Why do you think the Soviet Politburo shot Brezhnev\u0027s daughter? Was it just for those jewels she was smuggling and selling?\" He asked rhetorically, running his hand over her lips to stop her from speaking. \"They killed her just like they killed her father. They kill you... if you fail. You understand the rules, don\u0027t you?\" She nodded. \"Very well, you understand that if I fail, those who have turned a blind eye to your bribery in the past will get you killed, that is, your true integrity can be faked. If I continue to rule only if you live, now, tell me what you are?\" He asked, releasing his hand.

　　 Tregubova stared at the hand and thought of how to answer.

　　 \"I... am loyal.\"

　　 \"You\u0027re loyal, will still be a good mother, and are my dog.\"

　　 \"What?\"

　　 \"I have a weakness for those who are loyal,\" Romanov answered. \"Tell me more.\"

　　 \"Well, you... you\u0027re very fond of me, right?\" she asked.

　　 \"Certainly, I\u0027ll continue to rule with you by my side,\" he answered.

　　 \"Good, good. You\u0027re very... handsome. I mean, you look like a good leader, I\u0027m sure... I mean, you\u0027re not really old or anything, but...\" \"I understand, you\u0027re worried that I\u0027m too old?\"

　　 Tregubova nodded.

　　 \"As long as you are loyal, you need not be afraid. I shall be young and strong for the foreseeable future.\"

　　 \"Well, I guess you\u0027re good then.\" Tregubova smiled, relieved.

　　 \"Tell me, how do you think this performance is going?\"

　　 \"I think... it\u0027s going well.\" \"Me too, I want to adopt you as an adopted daughter.\"

　　 Tregubova smiled and batted her lashes.

　　 \"I\u0027m flattered. Perhaps we should take things slow.\" \"Yes, no one else knows about the baby, right?\" He asked, stroking the small of her back.

　　 \"Correct,\" she said.

　　 He leaned in for a quick, passionate, and unexplained kissing. She felt his cheek against her face,

　　 \"My fear?\"

　　 \"Fear of being controlled, and fear of failure.\" He said, releasing her. \"Fear of everything, but most of all, fear of yourself.\"

　　 \"I\u0027m not afraid of anything,\" she lied. \"Yeah? What did you think of that Asian girl who was dancing? She\u0027s probably from Siberia.\" Romanov stared at the dancing girls and said, \"Take her to my bedroom.\" Tregubova looked at the dancers, most of them wearing low-cut and very little clothing, and said, \"I don\u0027t think I could take a Siberian, let alone a Russian.\" \"Because you\u0027re jealous or afraid of being replaced?\" He asked, with a smirk.

　　 \"I\u0027m not afraid of anything, and I\u0027m certainly not jealous.\" She answered indignantly.

　　 \"Then take the Siberian girl to my bedroom.\" She said, dismissing her.

　　 \"Very well. I believe that\u0027s enough entertainment for one evening.\" He said dismissively.

　　 \"Yes, Papa... I\u0027m sorry...\"

　　 After the dance broke up, Tregubova led the Siberian girl down the hallway to her bedroom.

　　 \"What\u0027s your name?\" Tregubova asked, disgusted.

　　 \"Maggie.\"

　　 \"I\u0027m Tregubova.\" She said, shaking Maggie\u0027s hand.

　　 \"Romanov will be your new step-father.\" He said, closing the door to her bedroom.

　　 She stared at him, her eyes wide in shock. He walked over to her, put his arms around her, and kissed her. \"Relax, Marge, how old are you? Are you in the Komsomol?\" He asked, while Tregubova went to lock the bedroom door.

　　 Maggie pushed him away. \"I\u0027m 15, you pig farmer!\" She shouted, indignant.

　　 \"So? Love can flourish in the most unlikely places. Napoleon loved Josephine, the dancing girl. I\u0027ve always found that those who are most in love often are the ones who are apart the most.\" He got up angrily and said that Tregubova said to Maggie: \"What are you doing?! He\u0027s the general secretary!\"

　　 Maggie stared at him, unsure what to say.

　　 \"What are you doing? I\u0027ve never seen you act this way before. You\u0027re a member of the party! Remember what that means?\"

　　 \"I remember.\" Maggie said, sullenly.

　　 \"You\u0027re behaving like a little girl.\"

　　 \"I\u0027m not a little girl!\" Maggie said, stepping back. Tregubova said soothingly, \"He just came to ask if you would accept an adoptive father? Relax.\" Romanov slowly approached and said, \"You should obey the organization.\" Maggie looked at him, her eyes wide in fear. He put a hand on her shoulder and said, \"I\u0027ll explain everything in the morning. Why don\u0027t you get some sleep?\" Maggie sulked, and said, \"I need to go to the bathroom.\" Tregubova opened the door and said, \"Of course. I\u0027ll escort her to the bathroom.\" Romanov rolled his eyes. \"I\u0027ve got important work to do. I don\u0027t need to be looking after a primping chamber.\" Maggie walked out, still sullen. Tregubova closed the door.

　　 Romanov leaned against the wall, thinking. He was certain that he would be able to manipulate Maggie into submission.

　　 In the washroom, Tregubova watched Maggie closely, making sure she didn\u0027t try to run away. She stared at the pretty Brunette, dressed in a low-cut top and short shorts, and said, \"Little girl, you know what he wants, you\u0027re just a regular commie girl.\" Maggie stared at her, angry at the insult. \"You think I just fell off a truck? You think I\u0027m some trashy street girl? You think I\u0027m ugly?\" Maggie asked, her voice rising. \"I don\u0027t think so, I\u0027m just worried that you\u0027ll be irrational and disobedient and defy him and continue to curse him like you did before. You understand that he can help you climb the ivory tower also to let you die here, no police will care.\" Maggie stared at Tregubova, eyes wide, her fists clenched. She said, her voice calm. Maggie stared at her evenly. Tregubova said, \"If you want to continue your education, then it\u0027s best to comply.\" Maggie\u0027s look softened. Maggie nodded. \"Okay.\" Tregubova smiled. \"Good girl. Now, go clean yourself up and get some sleep.\"

　　 Maggie nodded, walked into the washroom, and began to clean herself.

　　 ---

　　 Maggie stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks dimpling, her mouth a tiny bit pursed. Her black hair was mussed. She pouted and said, \"I wish I had a few more freckles.\" She sighed. \"My life is so unfair.\"

　　 \"Don\u0027t complain. I\u0027m sure you\u0027ve got lots of freckles in your dreams.\"

　　 \"I guess.\" Maggie said, still pouting. \"Now go to bed and let Romanov him feel your body.\" Tregubova urged. Maggie nodded, walked over to her dorm, and began to undress. She took off her shorts and blouse and walked over to the bed and climbed in. She stared at the ceiling and said, \"I wonder what he\u0027ll do.\" Tregubova smiled. \"He\u0027ll have to do something. Otherwise, he won\u0027t be able to justify all of the time and money he puts into you.\" Maggie nodded. Romanov reached over from under the covers and said, \"You\u0027re a perfect example of a happy, well-adjusted communist, come here Marge and kiss me old man.\"

　　 \"Now come and sit on me, do you have a boyfriend?\"

　　 Maggie shook her head, staring at the ground. \"I don\u0027t know.\" Romanov smiled. \"I\u0027ll let you decide. Now come here.\" Maggie crawled over to Romanov and he wrapped his arms around her. She buried her face in his shoulder and said, \"Y-Yes.\"

　　 \"Good girl.\" Romanov kissed Maggie and said, \"I will adopt you and teach you that you are my adopted daughter and lover, or pet.\"

　　 \"I\u0027d prefer to be your pet.\" Maggie said, her voice turning demure. Romanov smiled.

　　 \"Maybe you are. You will be, if you obey me.\" Maggie\u0027s body stiffened and nodded, and Tregubova asked unhappily, \"That\u0027s your metaphor?\"

　　 \"I\u0027m not his lapdog, if that\u0027s what you\u0027re getting at.\" Maggie said, her voice turning cold.

　　 \"Okay, then, let\u0027s go to bed.\" Tregubova yawned, climbed in beside Romanov, and began to kiss him.

　　 ---

　　 Maggie crawled out of bed and glanced at the clock. It was 5:30. Maggie yawned, stretched, and said, \"I\u0027m going to get some more firewood.\"

　　 \"Okay.\"

　　 Maggie walked over to the fireplace, grabbed some kind of wooden stick, and began to stir the burning embers. She stirred and patted the ashes, then moved to grab more wood. Staring at her back, Romanov said to Tregubova, \"She\u0027s sexy, she\u0027s a kind of future. You and she are both my pets, like socialism and capitalism are to bureaucrats.\"

　　 Tregubova sighed, her hands resting on her belly. \"I\u0027m a little sick of being your pet. It\u0027s a nice change from the dull normalcy we\u0027ve had the last few years.\" \"It will be more satisfying when you can get money and power from me, and tomorrow contact the Leningrad Bank with the Leningrad Academy of Sciences to transfer some account rubles to your shadow account.\" Romanov held out his hand and added, \"Give me the red wine on the counter.\" Tregubova handed Romanov the bottle of wine. He took a sip, then smiled. \"Yes, like that.\" He gestured to Maggie. \"Your little friend can join us for dinner.\" Maggie stared, then got up and began to clear the plates, cups, and utensils from the table. Tregubova looked over at Maggie and asked, \"What are you going to do with her?\"

　　 \"I don\u0027t know. She\u0027s the pet, I\u0027m the pet owner.\"

　　 \"Well, can\u0027t you see her as a potential lover, companion, or even mother?\"

　　 \"No, she\u0027s not worthy of that, Marge come over here and kneel before me.\" Romanov said. Maggie walked over to Tregubova and Romanov. \"Kneel.\" Maggie stared.

　　 \"Now.\"

　　 Maggie slowly knelt and stared up at Romanov. He stared down at her. \"Serve your pet, understand? Serve her. Don\u0027t ask questions. If you do, you\u0027ll lose what you\u0027ve earned.\" Maggie nodded and began to kiss Romanov\u0027s toes. He laughed. \"This is the power of supreme power, Tregubova, do you understand? It can turn anyone into a slave.\" Romanov stroked Margie\u0027s head and said, \"I think you\u0027re becoming a very boring slave, Tregubova. Perhaps you should try being a good slave from now on.\" Tregubova rolled over and punched Romanov in the stomach. \"When you hit me, you hit the mark. That will not be tolerated.\" Romanov stood and smiled. \"I\u0027ll have to remember that.\"

　　 ---

　　 Grigory Vasilyevich Romanov continued to enjoy the power he held. He could have any woman he wanted. He could have a thousand women. He could own a kingdom. He wanted to do all of those things and more. He glanced over at Maggie. She would obey him; he could see it. She had a kind of eagerness that he enjoyed. She wanted to be a good, loyal subject. He smiled and thought, \"What a great pet.\" Romanov again took a pen and wrote down his signature and gave it to Tregubova, saying, \"Give this letter of recommendation to Moscow University for Margie to study there.\" Tregubova took the recommendation letter and left. Maggie cleaned the dirty plates and cups. Romanov walked back to the table. \"So, what are you going to do now, my pet?\" Maggie sat at his feet. He stroked Maggie\u0027s head.

　　 \"Untie your clothes and let me feel your little breasts.\" He reached for Maggie\u0027s blouse and unclasped the clasp. Maggie stared up at him. \"Feel my swollen cappuccino.\" He stroked Maggie\u0027s warm, soft, small nipples. Maggie moaned. \"Mm, I love the feel of your little nipples.\" Romanov stood and stared down at Maggie. \"Do you want to suck my swollen cappuccino?\" Maggie stared. \"Yes, you do.\" He leaned down and Maggie took a deep breath. Romanov\u0027s cappuccino flooded Maggie\u0027s hungry little mouth.

　　 \"Ah, yes, like that.\" He massaged Maggie\u0027s head and throat with his free hand. He could feel Maggie\u0027s little gullet open for him. He rubbed his swollen cappuccino all over Maggie\u0027s little mouth and throat. \"Little pet, in a few days you will be admitted to Moscow University, how many rubles a month do you live on?\"

　　 \"One hundred rubles.\"

　　 \"That\u0027s expensive coffee.\" Romanov smiled. Maggie swallowed the last drops of cappuccino. Romanov touched Maggie\u0027s breasts again and said, \"Do you have a bank account? If you have one tell Tregubova and she will transfer you 2,000 rubles a month.\"

　　 \"Yes. But I don\u0027t have one.\" Maggie blinked again. \"I\u0027ll have to ask my father for money.\" \"Your father raised a decent girl, let Tregubova handle your account, you still need a place to sleep in Moscow, move to my outdoor cottage.\" He touched Maggie\u0027s face and said. \"As a reward for being a good slave, you will have a warm bed, and good food, A large, beautiful and clean private villa with enough living expenses to get you wasted , all free. And I will also see that you get a full education at Moscow University. I will do all of this, just tell me your answer. Do you want to be my slave?\" Maggie stared up at Romanov.

　　 \"Yes.\"

　　 \"Then the deal is done, you are no longer a free citizen of the Soviet Union, you are my property. I own you. You are my slave. That is the only way to become one of the most powerful men in the world. You will do as I say without questions. Do you understand?\"

　　 \"Yes.\" \"Now, lick my toes clean and remember that you are my slave girl.\" He stroked Maggie\u0027s face one more time. Maggie licked the toes to the satisfaction of Romanov.

　　 \"Ah, you are a good slave. I will not tolerate disobedience here.\"

　　 \"Please, no more tests. Please, no more tests.\" Maggie begged.

　　 \"Do you see this big, powerful man?\" Romanov touched Maggie\u0027s head and stared into her eyes.

　　 \"Yes.\"

　　 \"Do you fear him?\"

　　 \"No.\" \"That\u0027s good, look at me calmly. I will help you, you will serve me, we are in a symbiotic and coexistent relationship.\" Romanov pointed to his clothes and said, \"Calm down and help me dress, be like the tsar\u0027s maid of honor.\"

　　 Maggie blanched. \"You want me to dress like a...a court lady?\" Maggie asked.

　　 \"Your beautiful neck, ears and fingers can be covered with pearls and diamonds if you wish.\"

　　 \"Oh, it\u0027s not that, it\u0027s just...I\u0027m not used to dressing like a...a...\" Maggie looked down at her shoes and blushed.

　　 \"Yes.\" Maggie nodded. She grabbed a fresh pair of silk stockings and garters and pulled them on. Romanov stepped closer and stared at Maggie\u0027s legs in fascination. Tregubova pushed the door in and said, \"General Secretary, there\u0027s a report for you from the KGB investigation into the jewelry smuggling case of Brezhneva\u0027s daughter.\"

　　 \"Thank you, Tregubova.\" He turned to Maggie. \"Now, go downstairs and make yourself pretty.\" Maggie got up and went to the door. She hesitated and looked back at Romanov. He raised his eyebrows. Tregubova said, \"Go on.\" Maggie saluted and left the room. Tregubova stared at Romanov. \"Now, tell me, what is this report?\" \"It\u0027s the list of all known smugglers and their contacts, including the Americans and the British.\" Tregubova\u0027s eyes widened.

　　 \"I see.\"

　　 \"The report is very thorough, it took months to complete. \" Romanov sat down and stared at the report rubbing his eyes and said, \"Brezhnev\u0027s daughter Galina Brezhneva sold Soviet jewelry artifacts to foreign countries through her lover and silenced some of the participants who knew about it even including the KGB.\"

　　 \"The report is alarming. Are you sure that it\u0027s accurate?\"

　　 \"Well, there\u0027s no way to fake this, but a list of smuggled items and their buyers could be doctored.\"

　　 \"Indeed.\" \"The situation is complicated, and if Galina Brezhneva were not Brezhnev\u0027s daughter, I could sentence her to death. Unfortunately, she is not!\"

　　 \"So what do we do?\"

　　 \"I\u0027m going to have to eliminate her.\"

　　 \"Eliminate?\"

　　 \"There are ways to deal with this sort of situation that do not involve murder.\"

　　 \"Such as?\"

　　 \"We make her disappear.\"

　　 \"Make her disappear? How can we do that?\"

　　 \"There are secret prisons scattered all over the world. Wherever there is a problem, there lies a solution.\"

　　 \"And who can we trust?\"

　　 Romanov smiled and stared at Tregubova. \"We trust each other.\"

　　 Tregubova sighed.

　　 \"Okay, get on your knees at my feet and suck me off. I need to think for a moment.\" Romanov patted her face then unzipped.

　　 \"Hmm, I see. You\u0027re going to use my brain to get revenge?\"

　　 \"If I\u0027m going to get revenge, then yes.\"

　　 \"I see. I\u0027m on my knees.\"

　　 Tregubova bent over and started undressing Romanov.

　　 \"Hmmm, yes...good girl. Now, suck me off.\"

　　 She leaned in and sucked Romanov\u0027s cock off.

　　 \"There, that wasn\u0027t so bad, was it?\"

　　 \"Not at all, comrade.\" Tregubova smiled.

　　 \"Okay, get up from there. I need to think.\"

　　 She pulled herself up by grabbing onto the edge of the table.

　　 \"Now, wipe your face and get my daughter.\"

　　 Tregubova wiped her lips then left the room. Romanov stayed seated at the table.

　　 \"So, I\u0027m going to get revenge on Brezhneva...by turning her over to the Americans.\" He grabbed a folder from his desk and stared at the photos inside. He sighed. \"These are the items Galina Brezhneva smuggled out of the country, where they are and who bought them. These will be difficult to recover, and to purge her outright will upset the Soviet bureaucracy, who fear being implicated. But without purging, it would be impossible to shape goodwill among the population.\" Romanov stood up and walked over to the window. \"I\u0027m going to have to handle this delicately.\" He stared out the window. \"It is also necessary to stabilize the bureaucratic groups with the first secretaries of the franchise and continue to acquiesce in their privileges and corrupt dealings.\" \"Thinking about how beautiful you and Maggie are and how lucky I am to have both of you as pets and adopted daughters.\"

　　 Romanov smiled as she approached.

　　 \"Oh , you\u0027re such a flatterer.\"

　　 \"Flatterer? I\u0027m a friend to you. I\u0027ve always been a friend to you.\" Romanov said, holding Tregubova and Margie by the waist.

　　 \"All right, all right, you\u0027re a good friend. I need you to do something for me, though.\"

　　 \"Anything.\" Tregubova intimately put Romanov\u0027s hand into her panties and said, \"It\u0027s too slow to transfer rubles by bank, why don\u0027t you try to get Leningrad Bank shares or the Foreign Trade Department?\" Maggie was shocked next to her, and Romanov nodded and said, \"The Foreign Trade Department is impossible, but the bank shares can be gotten.\"

　　 \"How?\"

　　 \"Get close to Katarina. I know she works at the bank, and I know she\u0027s not happy there.\"

　　 \"What do you mean?\" Tregubova asked.

　　 \"She took a big risk coming to me. If she were caught, it could have meant execution for her and possibly for me.\" Romanov added. \"In the social sense, so how can she be expected not to violate the law and morality when she can get tens of millions of rubles just by helping us?\"

　　 Maggie stared at the ground.

　　 \"She\u0027s not happy there, though. She\u0027s looking to make a break for the coast. If we want to get rid of her, we can do it now. But there\u0027s no need for that yet, and if there\u0027s a risk of being investigated by the monitoring committee, she\u0027ll somehow die.\" Romanov said gently.

　　 \"She\u0027ll be fine. Just keep an eye on her. She\u0027s a smart girl, she\u0027ll figure out a way to help us.\" Tregubova said. Romanov nodded looking back at Maggie who was beside him not speaking and asked, \"Are you afraid of these things?\" Maggie looked up at him and said, \"I am a little. I\u0027m not used to it.\" She looked down at her lap. \"But, I think I can deal with it.\"

　　 Romanov nodded. \"When you step into this game you should do it, the people in it are smart and cunning. If you are smart and obedient, I will protect you and help you get the riches you could never get by working your whole life, can you have hundreds of millions of rubles by your labor?\"

　　 \"Yes.\" Maggie said quietly, \"I want to help you.\"

　　 \"Good.\" Romanov said, \"Now go back to your quarters and move in with me. Tregubova will drive and help you, my pet.\"

　　 \"Thank you.\" Maggie said. She rose, looked at Tregubova and said, \"I\u0027ll see you tomorrow.\" Tregubova nodded and said, \"See you later.\" Maggie walked out of the room with Tregubova following her.

　　 \"She\u0027s a brave girl. Unfortunately, she was an experiment. Each time, the result is that the greedy and depraved part succeeds.\" Romanov asked.

　　 \"Drive carefully. Don\u0027t hit other cars.\"

　　 \"Yes, yes.\"

　　 Maggie walked to her quarters, and Tregubova said, \"I\u0027ll call you tomorrow to pick you up.\"

　　 \"Okay.\"

　　 Maggie walked to her door and opened it. Outside lay a hallway, she walked down the hall and entered her room. She walked in, closed the door, and lay down on her bed. She looked at the ceiling and thought about Romanov.

　　 I\u0027ve got to be smart here. I can\u0027t afford to be foolish, or this could end badly.

　　 She fell asleep thinking about her future. After a few hours, her housemate, Agrafina, woke her up by opening the door. Maggie groggily sat up.

　　 \"What time is it?\"

　　 \"Time for bed, sleepyhead.\"

　　 \"Oh. I didn\u0027t realize it was so late.\" Agrafina came in and sat down in her bunk and asked, \"Where were you last night? All I know from asking the rest of the choir is that you disappeared last night after rehearsing the Irish dance.\"

　　 \"I was having a meeting. With a very important person.\"

　　 \"Really? Who?\"

　　 \"General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Soviet Union. His name is Comrade Romanov.\"

　　 \"The one with the gray hair?\" \"Yes, I had some personal business to take care of with him.\"

　　 \"You never said anything about it to the rest of the choir. They were all worried about you.\"

　　 Maggie shrugged. \"Whatever, Agrafina I want to ask you, if you had a chance to get a lifetime of wealth to spend to do something you didn\u0027t like, what would you do?\"

　　 Agrafina thought for a moment. \"I would do something to help my family.\"

　　 \"Yeah, that\u0027s what I thought.\" Maggie said, \"Now I\u0027m going back.\"

　　 \"Are you leaving?\"

　　 \"Yeah, I have a house I\u0027m going to. In Leningrad. With the man you heard me talking about.\"

　　 \"Is that so?\"

　　 \"Yes, and I\u0027m taking you with me. In fact, I\u0027m moving in.\"

　　 Agrafina\u0027s eyes widened. \"Really? With the General Secretary?\" \"Yes, come here and I\u0027ll tell you that he\u0027s going to make me his adopted daughter versus sending me to Moscow State University.\"

　　 \"I don\u0027t know which one is better.\"

　　 Maggie laughed, \"Neither do I, but I\u0027m guessing not the former.\"

　　 \"Well, what does he pay you to do what you do?\"

　　 \"He has a house in Moscow that he uses as a base of operations. This is the only place he has in the city.\"

　　 \"How nice,\" Agrafina said, \"It must be very nice to live in such a house and have plenty of money.\"

　　 \"Yeah, you should. It\u0027s a nice town.\"

　　 Maggie stood up and stretched. \"It\u0027s a chance to get a life I didn\u0027t dare to think about before, just...\"

　　 \"Just what?\"

　　 \"Just be happy with what you\u0027ve got, I guess.\"

　　 \"You\u0027re leaving this afternoon. How do you plan to get there?\" \"He had a secretary named Tregubova who came to pick me up, and she...she was dressed in the kind of imported clothes that are available in special stores.\" \"Pretty much, I could feel that if we worked a normal salary we would never be able to buy the pearl necklace around her neck and the jade bracelet on her hand.\"

　　 \"You\u0027re leaving today?\"

　　 \"Yeah. Get ready while I pack up my things.\"

　　 \"Really? You\u0027re going with the General Secretary?\"

　　 \"Yes.\"

　　 \"Do you know what this is all about?\" Margie put her clothes and musical instrument in the box and said, \"I made a deal, sold something and got something.\"

　　 \"And what is it that you plan to give him?\" Agrafina asked, \"Besides yourself.\"

　　 \"I\u0027m not giving him anything. I\u0027m going to see that he\u0027s...\"

　　 \"What? That he has everything he needs?\"

　　 \"No, that he is happy.\"

　　 \"How do you know that you can do that? What makes you think that you\u0027ll be able to satisfy his every need?\"

　　 Maggie sighed, \"I don\u0027t know.\"

　　 \"But you have to try since you\u0027re going to be working for him.\"

　　 \"I guess,\" Maggie said, \"What are you asking so much for?\"

　　 \"Everything.\"

　　 \"Well, I guess that\u0027s what you get for haggling on a free deal.\" Maggie said, pulling out the box and closing it.

　　 \"My life. I need to swing away from this dorm. I owe a lot of people a lot of money.\"

　　 \"Alright, let\u0027s see what I can do about getting you an apartment.\" Maggie wrapped her arms around Agrafina, hugged her and said, \"Goodbye.\" \"No, let me come with you and see.\" Agrafina pleaded, grabbing Margie\u0027s hand.

　　 \"Don\u0027t, it\u0027s better if I go alone. It\u0027s not like I\u0027ll be in danger or anything.\"

　　 \"But...\"

　　 \"Goodbye.\" Maggie said, turning away.

　　 \"Wait...\" Agrafina grabbed Maggie\u0027s arm.

　　 \"Please. I\u0027m begging you.\" Maggie looked at her hand, and said, \"Goodbye.\"

　　 \"Don\u0027t go!\"

　　 \"I have to.\" Maggie said, staring into Agrafina\u0027s eyes. \"I can guess what you did, and you have to be able to let me go!\" Agrafina said in an aggravated tone.

　　 \"It\u0027s not like that.\"

　　 \"Well, then what is it like?\" Agrafina asked.

　　 \"You have a choice. You can either forgive me, or I\u0027ll never speak to you again. Make your choice.\" \"I will forgive & support you, but you must take me to see him.\" Maggie nodded, knowing that she couldn\u0027t take Agrafina to see him.

　　 \"Alright. I\u0027ll arrange everything, but you have to promise to let me go when the time comes.\"

　　 \"I promise.\" -----

　　 Inside the Kremlin\u0027s special store

　　 After listening to the narrative Romanov inquired again, \"You two did not divulge any more to the others, did you?\" Margie and Agrafina, who were following him, nodded their heads.

　　 \"Good. Then, you two are free to go.\"

　　 \"But...\" \"But? Can I trust a man who can\u0027t even control his own tongue?\" Romanov said as he stared at the jewelry in the store, \"Will there be a next time?\"

　　 \"I don\u0027t know.\"

　　 \"Then go. I understand.\" Romanov looked up to the ceiling, \"Let there be no more secrets. Let there be no more lies. Let there be freedom,\" \"Don\u0027t do that, I\u0027ll make sure it doesn\u0027t leak again.\" Margie pleaded, as Agrafina stood by and remained silent.

　　 \"That\u0027s your choice, but know this: The more you lie to get what you want, the more likely it is that your lies will be uncovered. Freedom is the only truth. Remember that.\" Romanov looked back at the merchandise and said, \"There is no next time, now look at the merchandise and I will buy it to give you what you want.\"

　　 Maid hands over the various pieces of jewelry to Romanov, who examines them.

　　 \"What do you think?\" Romanov asked.

　　 \"They\u0027re lovely,\" Agrafina said. \"But it\u0027s also expensive,\" Margie said as she stared at the price and swallowed her throat, \"I\u0027d need to work for at least a couple of years.\"

　　 Romanov smiled and said, \"But I only need a few days, and under legal means.\"

　　 \"But...\" Margie began to say.

　　 \"I can give you instant money. Your job is to manage this store, and you will be paid in full once the jewels are sold. I promise.\" Romanov picked a diamond necklace to put on Maggie and said, \"You just have to stay beautiful, how do you feel?\"

　　 \"Fine, thanks.\" Margie said, staring down at the necklace in her hands, \"How much?\"

　　 \"50,000 rubles, plus expenses.\"

　　 \"It\u0027s... too much.\" \"I\u0027ll pay for it, my girl.\" Romanov said, staring at Maggie\u0027s breasts. \"You have exquisite... breasts.\" Maggie\u0027s eyes widened, and she reddened.

　　 \"It\u0027s too much, 50,000. I can get much more for it...\" She began to say.

　　 \"No, it\u0027s fine. It\u0027s a lovely necklace.\"

　　 \"But it\u0027s too much.\"

　　 \"It\u0027s beautiful, and it will look very nice on you.\"

　　 \"But...\" \"Well, you\u0027ll get more money and gifts later, just remember you\u0027re there for me.\" Maggie smiled.

　　 \"Thank you, General Secretary. May I leave now?\"

　　 \"Certainly. And don\u0027t call me that outside of this room. Understand?\" Maggie nodded.

　　 \"How much do you need?\" Romanov asked.

　　 Maggie thought for a moment. \"500 rubles, plus expenses.\"

　　 Romanov smiled. \"Go.\"

　　 Maggie left the room, Agrafina asked Romanov: \"General Secretary, what will you give me as a gift?\"

　　 \"Something to wear.\"

　　 \"What?\"

　　 Agrafina smiled. \"Come with me.\" She took Romanov to a room, where she showed him a beautiful, red dress.

　　 \"I made it. Please try it on.\"

　　 \"Will you give it to me?\" Agrafina asked, staring at the floor.

　　 \"Of course,\" Romanov said. \"Go to the changing room and I\u0027ll help you undress.\"

　　 \"This is... lovely.\"

　　 \"You like it?\"

　　 \"Yes, I do.\"

　　 \"Then it\u0027s yours.\"

　　 \"What do you mean?\"

　　 Agrafina smiled. \"Go into the changing room.\" She watched as Romanov went into the room. He watched as Agrafina removed her blouse, skirt, and shoes. \"You have a beautiful figure with blonde hair, you\u0027re just a little short.\" Romanov began to undo his tunic and said, \"I want you.\"

　　 \"Yes...\"

　　 \"I\u0027m going to take you as a gift, keep you as a toy. You\u0027re going to be my woman, and my property. Do you understand?\"

　　 \"I... Yes.\" \"I knew it, get down on your knees and lick my cock.\"

　　 Agrafina did as he said. Romanov unzipped his pants, and entered her. He began to move his hips, thrusting into her.

　　 \"Yes, that\u0027s it.\"

　　 \"Harder... please?\"

　　 \"What do you want?\"

　　 \"I want you to make me your lover.\" Agrafina said, staring into his eyes. Her eyes were bright.

　　 \"Yes...\" Romanov said. \"Make love to me.\"

　　 \"I will.\"

　　 He entered her slowly, feeling her tightness. He began to move his hips, moving in and out. \"I don\u0027t do charity, and I don\u0027t need a girl who is useless to me as my pet.\"

　　 Agrafina said, \"I\u0027m not your pet. I\u0027m your lover. I\u0027m going to make you feel good, and be worth my salt.\" \"Why? I have the same power as a despot, and you are just a young girl of ordinary birth. You\u0027re as worthless to me as a little she-cat.\" Romanov said as he spat into her mouth. \"I\u0027m a great leader and a good man. This is why I\u0027ve been chosen to lead. You\u0027re going to do as I say, or you\u0027ll be crushed like an ant underfoot.\"

　　 \"I\u0027ll do whatever you want.\"

　　 \"I want you to make love to me again.\"

　　 \"Yes.\"

　　 \"I want you to suck my cock. I want you to wear my cock like a bridle. I want you to give your life to me. Give me your virginity.\" Romanov growled low, \"Make a sound of obedience to me!\"

　　 \"Yes... I am... obedient.\" Agrafina said.

　　 He grabbed her hand and brought it to his penis. \"Open wide.\" He forced her mouth open, and he sank his manhood inside. He began to move, thrusting into her mouth. \"Suck.\" He ordered.

　　 Agrafina began to suck, and she continued to do so for several minutes. \"More... please?\" She begged.

　　 \"I want you to swallow my cum.\" He thrust his hips, and his length entered her throat. He began to move his hips, taking her in.

　　 \"Yes...\" Agrafina said.

　　 \"Thank you.\" Agrafina stood, dressed and ready to go. \"What\u0027s that?\" She asked.

　　 \"This is a token of my... gratitude.\" Romanov grinned, \"Agrafina may go.\"

　　 \"That\u0027s disgusting.\" She said, looking away in disgust.

　　 \"She swallowed,\" Romanov said.

　　 \"Yeah, but it\u0027s still... unnatural.\" The waitress looked up to Romanov. \"Why\u0027d you make her do that?\" Romanov picked up a diamond brooch and asked, \"You\u0027re very interesting to dare ask these things. What is your name?\" He turned to Agrafina, and said, \"And you are...?\"

　　 \"Agrafina.\"

　　 \"Agrafina.\" He turned back to the waitress, \"What\u0027s your name?\"

　　 \"Feodosiya.\"

　　 \"So you\u0027re Feodosiya. What a pretty name. I\u0027m Grigory.\" Romanov smiled and said, \"You didn\u0027t see this lady next to me with me today, and this diamond brooch I think would look great on your chest.\"

　　 \"I see.\" Feodosiya considered his offer and said.

　　 \"Don\u0027t you want to know what else I can do for you?\" He asked.

　　 \"Maybe. What can you do?\"

　　 \"Well, I can make you pretty, make you rich, and give you a life full of love and passion. Is that what you want?\"

　　 Feodosiya thought for a minute, and said, \"Yes.\"

　　 \"Then come to me.\"

　　 \"So you can betray me like you did with... with Agrafina?\" \"It\u0027s not a betrayal, Agrafina you can go, I want to talk to Feodosiya.\" Romanov kissed Agrafina\u0027s face and said, \"Come back here tomorrow and I will give you another bracelet.\"

　　 \"Yes.\" Agrafina bowed her head and left with. He looked at Feodosiya, and said, \"She\u0027s not going to betray you. She\u0027s a fool. Tomorrow, come to me.\"

　　 \"Why?\" Feodosiya asked. \"Because this diamond brooch is very expensive.\" Romanov clasped the diamond brooch to her chest and smiled, \"I would like to ask a few questions, what is your salary?\"

　　 \"150 rubles.\"

　　 \"I will give you 500 rubles to do me a small service. After that, you can go.\"

　　 \"What kind of service?\" \"Tell me everything about your work and life every week, and I will pay weekly.\" He admired Feodosia\u0027s face and said, \"What do you think?\"

　　 \"Will it be dangerous?\" She asked.

　　 \"Not at all. It will be a regular paycheck for you.\" He smiled and said, \"Agreed?\"

　　 \"I have no reason to turn you down.\" She smiled, picked up her purse.

　　 Romanov nodded and said, \"I like smart people, let me ask you, how are you doing with your daily supplies? Tell the truth?\"

　　 \"I have nothing. I\u0027m running low on cash, but I have a bit of rationed food.\" Feodosia complained: \"You can\u0027t get anything of good quality in the state stores, and the service is poor! They actually tell me to get lost and go to the black market to buy things! But the black market prices are at least twice as high as the stores!\" She folded her arms and said, \"I\u0027m sick of that kind of life.\"

　　 \"I can give you more money, if that will make you happy.\" Romanov added: \"Would you like to accompany an old man to the Kremlin restaurant for dinner?\"

　　 \"I suppose that would make me happy. What time is it?\"

　　 \"Quarter before eight.\"

　　 \"Perfect. I\u0027ll be there.\"

　　 \"See you soon.\" He waved, and left. Feodosia stared after him, and said, \"What an... interesting man.\" She looked back at the price of the diamond brooch he presented and said, \"How long would it take if I worked on my own?\"

　　 ------

　　 The Kremlin Restaurant:

　　 A place for the rich, with waiters and waitresses who were all wearing elaborate white headgear and fine clothing, and serving expensive fare. The tables were set with fine china and polished silver, and candles were burning on each one.

　　 Romanov sat alone at a table, looking bored. \"Well, it\u0027s a good thing you showed up, I was just about to send for you. Miss Feodosia.\" Feodosiya, a plump woman with a large bust, came over to the table. She wore a long, thin gown, and her hair was pulled back in a bun. She bowed her head and sat down across from Romanov, who said, \"Have a seat. I was saving this seat for you.\"

　　 \"How kind you are!\" She said. \"I\u0027m so glad you decided to join me for dinner.\"

　　 \"I have a lot of important work to do, so I can only spend a little time with you.\" He asked, \"Mind if it\u0027s just me and you dining here?\"

　　 \"Not at all. It\u0027s just that I\u0027m a bit short on cash right now, so I was wondering if you could pay for this dinner with a check?\" \"Don\u0027t worry about it, you just have to let yourself enjoy the evening.\" Romanov ordered the wine then looked at the menu as Feodosia hesitantly said, \"Can I pack?\"

　　 \"Pardon?\"

　　 \"I mean, can I bring my own food? I can\u0027t afford to eat in the best restaurants, but I can afford a good dinner.\"

　　 \"You mean to pack up the leftovers and take them home?\" Romanov froze for a moment before asking, then continued to look at the menu. He was silent a long moment before he asked, \"Can I trust you not to talk about our dinner?\"

　　 \"Of course.\"

　　 \"Good.\" He looked back at the menu and said, \"I\u0027ll take the steak with Japanese tofu, what dish do you want?\"

　　 \"Oh, yes...I don\u0027t think I\u0027ve told you my story yet.\" She hesitated, then said, \"I was born in the country. My parents were relatively poor, but they wanted the best for their children, so they sent us to a private school.\"

　　 \"I see.\" Romanov looked at her. \"I was also born in a peasant family at an early age, I was supposed to study engineer professionally later but participated in the Patriotic War, and only after the war I became a general secretary step by step. Your origin is not shameful, what did your parents engage in?\"

　　 \"My father is a butcher, but we had always enough to eat. We didn\u0027t go to private school, I went to public school.\"

　　 \"Oh, I see. What did you study?\"

　　 \"The usual subjects. I was very good at math.\" Feodosia paused. \"My parents wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer, But I didn\u0027t succeed after relying on relatives and friends before I became a Kremlin waiter. You won\u0027t laugh at me, will you?\"

　　 \"No, you don\u0027t have a good life, most people do.\" Romanov stared at her robe and asked, \"Is this robe your best dress?\"

　　 \"No, but it\u0027s the only one I have.\"

　　 Romanov looked like he wanted to say something more, but he only asked, \"Are you ready to order?\"

　　 \"Yes. The chef here prepares a very good risotto, I think I\u0027ll have that.\"

　　 Romanov nodded. \"I\u0027ll have the steak, medium well done, with all the trimmings.\"

　　 Feodosia placed the order. She waited for the food, then said, \"Tell me about yourself.\"

　　 \"There\u0027s not much to tell. I was born in a small town, and I worked my way up through the ranks of the party, and I got this job. That\u0027s about it.\" Romanov thought for a moment and then said. \"Tell me about your childhood.\"

　　 \"My childhood was boring. My family is, I suppose. My father is an alcoholic, and my mother is a housewife. We had to move a lot because of his work. That\u0027s why I ended up in the city.\"

　　 \"Moving around so much must have made you very happy when you were little.\"

　　 \"Not really. I never knew what to expect. When I was little, we moved to Siberia. That was fun at first, but after a while it got boring. I wanted to go back to the city.\"

　　 \"You wanted to be happy?\"

　　 \"You could say that.\"

　　 They spent the next hour chatting about various topics, during which Romanov polished off the entire steak and ordered another. The food arrived, and he stared at it with a full mouth. \"What\u0027s the maximum amount of overhead and income you can have in a month?\" Romanov asked as he cut down his steak, \"I want to know where you stand.\"

　　 \"It\u0027s hard to say. Depends on your overhead and what you\u0027re doing. I suppose you have a certain figure in mind?\"

　　 \"Yes, yes, I do.\" Romanov put down his knife and fork and said, \"Why don\u0027t you guess how much property I have?\"

　　 \"Alright.\" She looked around, then said, \"It\u0027s about 500 rubles.\"

　　 Romanov nodded. \"I have about 1500 rubles a month in income. What would you say my expenses are?\"

　　 \"Oh, about 1000 rubles?\"

　　 \"Alright. My overhead is 25% of my income, so that makes it...\" Romanov looked at his steak thoughtfully. \"Do you really believe that?\"

　　 \"It\u0027s a simple yes or no question.\" Romanov gave a meaningful smile and said, \"Thirty million dollars.\"

　　 Feodosia blinked. She looked at his expression to see him smirk. \"No.\"

　　 \"I don\u0027t think you understood me.\" Romanov looked around, then leaned in. \"Thirty million dollars.\"

　　 \"I don\u0027t think that\u0027s possible.\"

　　 \"Think what\u0027s possible?\"

　　 \"For you to make that amount of money.\"

　　 \"Why is it impossible?\" Romanov shook her hand and said, \"When you have the power and connections to do so, I ask you, Fyodosia on your own to get your children out of poverty?\"

　　 \"But don\u0027t you see...?\" she spoke softly, \"You have...\" \"I have what you want, do you want to be a waiter who even packs his dinner, or a prominent man who can buy a jewelry store on a whim?\" Romanov smiled and said, \"Right now, it\u0027s just us. It\u0027s your decision.\"

　　 Feodosia frowned, looked down at her food, and then stared up at him.

　　 \"Do you think I\u0027m stupid?\" she asked.

　　 \"No, I think you\u0027re sexy and attractive. So, I want you to get gifts and riches and stand on my bed. Of course, it\u0027s okay if you don\u0027t want to. You can return to the environment of working for 150 rubles a month and end up with a young worker as a husband with his housewife.\" Romanov calmly said, \"Finally saving for a few hundred rubles until you become an old woman.\"

　　 \"I\u0027m not getting on your bed,\" she growled and stood up.

　　 \"No? Then consider this a bill for services rendered. My bed, my rules.\"

　　 \"I\u0027m not going to...\"

　　 \"Or you can return to your boring life and I\u0027ll go back to mine.\" Romanov motioned said.

　　 \"You\u0027d better behave yourself, Comrade or I\u0027ll have to arrest you.\"

　　 Romanov laughed and said, \"I think you\u0027d have a hard time doing that And I am giving you a choice, just like the diamond brooch I gifted you before, it is up to you to accept or reject, luxury or poverty?\"

　　 \"Poverty,\" Feodosia said, looking miserable.

　　 \"Good. You\u0027re a rebel. I like rebels.\"

　　 \"But...\" \"You choose your own poverty and dignity, continue eating, and after that I will not invite you with gifts.\" Romanov pretended as if nothing had happened, \"Unless, of course, you agree to luxury & being my girl.\"

　　 He extended his hand to her.

　　 Feodosia looked down at her food. She considered her options.

　　 She could leave, or she could stay and suffer what Romanov would do to her.

　　 * * *

　　 Romanov had been waiting for her to make a decision. He stood, looked at her, and said, \"What will it be, my dear?\"

　　 \"Don\u0027t think about the painful work and debt, think about the diamond brooch and the money, you\u0027ll get more if you agree.\"

　　 \"What will it be, my dear?\"

　　 \"Luxury. I want luxury. I get so much more with that than... than...\" Feodosia took a deep breath and said,

　　 \"Yes,\" Feodosia said.

　　 \"Then ask away.\"

　　 \"How did you get the money?\" she asked.

　　 \"I took over the Leningrad Bank, so the money will be credited to my account after we\u0027re finished.\" Romanov said. \"I also have some stock, and some wives of department leaders give gifts to my family. Open your little box.\"

　　 Feodosia opened a small red velvet box and gasped. She held up a small emerald ring.

　　 \"This is too much, even for you. How much money do you need?\" she asked.

　　 \"I don\u0027t need that much. But if you want, I can get more. How does 10,000 rubles sound?\"

　　 \"It sounds...\" Feodosia hesitated. \"I don\u0027t know how you can get that much.\"

　　 \"You just need to enjoy this, sit on my lap and let me see you with the ring on.\" Romanov said, patting his thigh.

　　 \"Thank you.\"

　　 \"Don\u0027t act like a shy little mouse.\" He grabbed her hand and placed the ring on her finger. \"Happy?\"

　　 \"Very.\"

　　 \"Good. Now go, sit on my lap, and let us enjoy ourselves.\"

　　 Feodosia did as he was ordered. She sat down and put her arms around his waist.

　　 Romanov caressed Feodosia\u0027s face.

　　 \"Your skin is so soft. It\u0027s a shame your hair is short.\" He stroked her hair. \"You know, I think I like your short hair.\" He brushed her hair back. \"What do you think, would you mind growing it out?\"

　　 Feodosia\u0027s face colored. \"I\u0027m... I\u0027m sorry. I didn\u0027t mean to offend you.\"

　　 \"Don\u0027t be. I think it\u0027s a very pretty style. It suits you well.\" Romanov looked into his lap. \"Do you have a boyfriend?\"

　　 \"No.\" \"That\u0027s good, unzip my pants and kiss my cock.\"

　　 Feodosia unzipped and undid the buttons on his trousers. After that she pulled them down. Romanov sat up and smiled. \"You\u0027re beautiful, a real, fine-looking woman.\" He laid a hand on her bare bottom. \"I want you to make love to me.\" He squeezed. \"I want you so much.\"

　　 Feodosia smiled and climbed onto his lap. She straddled his lap and lowered her hips. She sat astride his lap, facing him. She lowered herself onto his erection and guided it into her hot, wet, and tight center.

　　 \"Yes, that\u0027s it,\" Romanov said. \"I\u0027m going to suck your tits.\" He reached his hands around her small breasts and began squeezing them. \"You\u0027re so beautiful. I want to lick you all over.\"

　　 \"Yes.\"

　　 Romanov pulled her closer. He took her right breast into his mouth and began sucking on it. He moved up to her other breast and began to suckle.

　　 \"Ah, yes, baby. Like that.\" He sucked harder and harder.

　　 \"Yes, yes.\" She lowered her chin to his shoulder. She moaned and rocked her hips. She stroked his back and pulled his hair.

　　 \"Are you enjoying this?\" Romanov asked.

　　 \"Very much.\" She bit her lip. \"Will you...\" She let out a sigh. \"Will you do something special for me?\"

　　 \"Anything.\"

　　 \"Will you... Will you... Will you make love to me?\"

　　 \"Fuck, I wish I could.\" He lifted her onto his erection and kissed her deeply.

　　 \"Mhm.\"

　　 He moved his lips to her ear. \"I want you so much.\"

　　 She moaned.

　　 \"Don\u0027t you want me, Feodosia?\"

　　 She shook her head with a smile. \"I want you more.\"

　　 \"Good girl. Now, put your legs around me and ride me.\"

　　 She tightened her legs and guided his erection into her.

　　 \"Yes. Ride me.\"

　　 She lowered her forehead to his and moaned.

　　 He rocked his hips and directed her long kisses down his shaft.

　　 \"Good girl. Ride me.\"

　　 She let out a long, low moan.

　　 \"Come for me, my love.\"

　　 She rode him, taking him deeper and deeper, until she neared her climax. In the midst of Feodosia\u0027s moans, he looked up and stared at a beautiful visionary image seen in a painting on the dining room wall, where he became dressed in the outer robes of a monk holding the Bible and the Koran in his left hand and the cross, the six-manifold star, the Buddhist beads, the fallawaha, and the cross of life in his right hand, while Feodosia was a voluptuous nun, naked but for a corset, kneeling at his left side.

　　 \"I\u0027m... I\u0027m coming,\" she said, panting from riding him so hard. He kept his eyes open to the vision of a man giving the Good News to the world.

　　 He came down her, holding her close to his chest. \"You felt so good, my love.\" He kissed her. \"I love you, you know.\"

　　 \"I love you too,\" she said.

　　 Romanov wiped his sweat and pointed to the painting on the wall and said, \"Did you see that painting? What do you see?\"

　　 \"A monk holding the Bible and the Koran, a nun... a vision?\"

　　 \"The painting\u0027s title? The painting\u0027s title is \u0027The Last Supper.\u0027\"

　　 \"The painting?\"

　　 \"Did you hear that? The Last Supper. That\u0027s what I imagined this moment to look like. I saw the friar and the nun as me and you. I must have had some kind of hallucination.\" He smiled at her. \"Well, we\u0027re not the pair to bring peace to the world.\"

　　 \"What are you talking about?\" \"Nothing, I just thought of some answers to things that are bothering me.\" He got up and looked at the painting again and said, \"Religion... can be used and maintain class domination, and ideology can be misinterpreted that way.\"

　　 \"What?\"

　　 \"The religion of the poor and the oppressed can be used to maintain the status quo. The religion of the rich can be used to justify theft, war, and oppression.\" He looked at her. \"You need to understand that class domination is not an abstract concept. It takes shape in the form of power, and that power can be used for gain or for control.\"

　　 \"You\u0027re saying that the people who wrote the Bible and the Koran used the teachings of Christ and Mohammad to justify the oppression of the people who were once at their mercy?\"

　　 \"Not exactly.\" Satisfied with her answer, he explained again, \"The original founders certainly did not defend oppression, and Christ and Muhammad must have seen the oppressed people and opposed the Jewish and polytheistic aristocracy when they first created their teachings, otherwise they would not have resisted these oppressions. But like Siddhartha, whatever their intentions, in the end their claims were used by the ruling class and modified by different nations to justify and brainwash their own oppressions.\"

　　 \"Do you think that\u0027s a fair assessment of what Christ and the prophet did?\"

　　 \"I don\u0027t think they\u0027re evil, but the religion they created will be exploited. And their claims will become obsolete, just like Marx and Lenin. Marx advocated socialism after seeing the tragic conditions of workers being brutally exploited in the capitalist countries in the 19th century as they accumulated their original capital, but what happened to Marx\u0027s advocacy in the end?\" Romanov took a tissue to wipe her body and said, \"I hope you won\u0027t be angry with me for thinking and discussing this.\"

　　 \"Of course not,\" she said. \"I think it\u0027s important that we...\"

　　 \"Our own lives?\"

　　 \"Yes, our own lives,\" she whispered, \"and the lives of the people we love.\"

　　 \"Then don\u0027t be so quick to dismiss it.\" He kissed her forehead. \"I have things that I will give to you, and I can let you manage the Stock if you want.\"

　　 \"Thank you, but that\u0027s not what I meant.\" She stood up and faced the painting again. \"You said something earlier that I didn\u0027t quite understand. That painting...\"

　　 \"Yes?\"

　　 \"It\u0027s a vision.\"

　　 \"Of course it is,\" he said. \"It\u0027s a vision of us.\"

　　 \"I don\u0027t know what that means.\"

　　 \"You\u0027ll know soon enough.\" He picked up the wine and said, \"You\u0027ll drink this with me if you\u0027ll help me run the stock?\"

　　 \"I\u0027d be happy to help you, but what does this involve?\"

　　 \"It involves getting drunk.\"

　　 She sighed, smiling. \"Yes, I\u0027ll help you.\"

　　 He poured the wine, handing it to her. \"To our survival.\"

　　 They drank.