A Major-General of Counterintelligence Paukov Innokentiy Nikolaevich sat at his work in the spacious study, which was furnished comfortably, but rigorously. Rigorously, because the luxury didn't stand out so much, and if don't pay attention at an expensive computer on the table, at the selector video communication, using which he could observe the actions of their subordinates, if not to know, what was a price of telephone apparatuses of the new generation, then at the first sight one could have thought that the large room looked quite ascetic. Outside the windows it was June heat, and the passers-by were tapping grudgingly on the hot asphalt, but there was fresh air in the office, the conditioners were working, and the windows facing South were curtained off. Apparently, the sunlight penetrating through these curtains, was not sufficient, consequently as a backlight, fluorescent lamps served. They were incorporated into the ceiling immediately above the table, however, as opposed to the similar lamps in some sewing workshop or in another Russian-Soviet institution, these lamps neither flickered, nor buzzed, but their light was plain, a little pleasurable and a little warm. In the similar institutions the windows are always covered by curtains, it became a custom in the whole world, and one can understand it: against curious watching. Also, the curtains protect against the hot sunshine, but now they executed an additional function: They helped not to see the pedestal, from which the idol was cast down already almost two years ago. Nevertheless, now it was looking at the general from a portrait hanging above the door, so who was entering, quite possible he could have missed it, but perhaps, the owner of the room was receiving some additional forces from this doubtful art.
Yes, almost two years have passed since the former traditional titles and names had been thrown on the dump of history with "ferrous Felix" together. Even this institution was renamed again, however, to name this General "mister", nobody could move his tongue to say so. For the most of the people he was as well as before, that is comrade General, however, if convey meaning of this word from the epoch of the invasion of Chinggis Khan's hordes, it meant the following things: comrade (in Russian - tovarishch) is a friend not on common interests, but on an occasional formed herd. For a few more close people, including the superiors, he was as before Innokentiy Nikolaevich, and for very few, the closest, not because of the position at work, but because of the formed relations, they were allowed a desirable familiarity to name him "uncle Kesha".
The screen lit up and well known Kovalev's puffy face appeared. He was the chief of a department executing a very delicate work, that is controlling almost all the employees of the serious institution.
-Comrade General! Allow me to apply to you. I have an interesting data, however, I can act only after consulting together with you.
-And what? Is this an urgent matter? Does it depend on a few seconds? Are people perishing? Is it possible the leak of a strategic information? Is something from the list I had said, taking place?
-No ways, comrade General!
-Quit it, Grisha, these "comrade General", but come up to me one hour before the end of the time work, and we will talk it.
-Will be done!
Things what the newcomers and the most zealous colleagues thought as considerable, from the point of the General it was an endless duel stretching for decades, of the state against all the rest of the world. If today the "ours" have hit "theirs", then tomorrow "theirs" will strike "ours". Either the information leak in our "camp", or the same thing on their side. Either some our colleagues defect to "them", or some "their" colleagues defect to "us". On the scale of large countries, it was trifles, an exchange of the pricks by pins, sometimes, even it became boring. Sometimes there were blows more heavy, almost knockouts, like that case with Penkovsky long ago, but similar blunders could take place also in "their side". Only on the scale of a half century it was seen more clearly who ultimately takes possession of an advantage. Unlikely these passing little fortunes and misfortunes would help to get rid of these changes, which were crawling here inexorably.
In the eighties, the General ascertained with sadness that "their" propaganda doesn't need absolutely to lie, but it's enough to tell the truth known by all the world, excepting "our" the most foolish and downtrodden narrow persons, but "our" propaganda has to handwave, using very doubtful arguments like the "right to work" and the very cheap metro. He felt, soon there will be nothing to say, but a stupidity, as one day the radio of socialist Albania had bragged that "now in every home the electric lamp shines".
However, the General who thought practically and sensibly, he had to grieve not long. He watched cautiously at the whirlwind of changes, and when as if a smoke, because of the disturbance of the environment had blown away and it became clear then the "second Nuremberg" was not going to be, he understood that the state, without which he couldn't exist, will not go anywhere, especially his institution. What is a great matter that a few departments carried out functions of a secret political and then they were dissolved? A configuration of his dear institution has changed, but the institution itself stands as well as before, in the same manner a lot of departments work under his authority, even if it's time to change a way of working, for him it was no problem.
The only thing he had to do, this is to execute a monotonous work, for every "A" to be able to set off an appropriate "B". Of course, one must not turn a blind eye to all kinds events and ignore them, however, he had not to inhibit some emotions, just because they already didn't appeared long ago. In spite of his sixty years old, he did exercises in the morning, ran for several miles, so being heavy set, at the same he was vigorous and agile. But at work, if he would be without the general's uniform, he could be taken for a usual clerical assistant.
As usual, the subordinates came in plain clothes and put on the uniform only in some special days. At the designated time, coming up to the door, Kovalev adjusted his tie, coughed to clean his voice and knocked.
-Come in, Grisha, don't be shy.
Innokentiy Nikolaevich, - started to talk Kovalev, but the omnipotent boss immediately has interrupted him:
-How long I have to explain? Call me "Uncle Kesha", sit down and calmly tell me what is it with you, and I'm going to listen you. It's interesting to me. It's very interesting.
Kovalev felt like a cat what is petted. He depended from the omnipotent General fully and totally, and apart from him, there no were any other standards of truth and couldn't be. His mood depended in full from chief's relation to him, and all the rest of things, either his family, or the private life - all this relegated into the background. Also now, the timidity has gone away, and he has begun to tell:
-Well, uncle Kesha, I kept silent long, because one must be able to work independently, otherwise, what an employee would be who needs a caretaker at every step? However, things are starting to take on enough increasing prevalent. Do you remember Kashin?
-Of course, I remember him, what a question? - "Uncle Kesha" answered with astonishment. - His department oversees the foreigners, sometimes leads the unofficial surveillance over persons with the diplomatic immunity. Go on.
-He has charged his deputy with almost all the work. Certainly, the last is happy to try, he hopes, it will be reckoned to him in future, and he doesn't make a mistake, especially if his chief will lose his seat.
-Does it mean, the chief has charged his deputy with all, but at the same time he has walked to the taverns, also to look for women, hasn't he?
-If so, I wouldn't come up to you, we ourselves would solve this and wouldn't bother you. However, in leisure he goes in for neither taverns, nor women, to say more exact, he goes in for women, but completely for another purpose. In a nutshell, he is building his own intelligence network. There are two persons led by him and devoted to him, they are colleagues from his department, that is our employees in an enough mediocre post. Likely, he has succeeded to encourage them, promising bright prospects. They recruit the people off the street. One didn't still succeed to learn, by what measure these people are chosen, however, in general, they are women seeking love adventures. Almost all of them were in bed with him. These women are a part of the network, which does the main job. Another part of the network finances them. This is a not great mafia group enjoys a privilege, they even use the certificates of our Security Service, which were issued illegally to a few of them. This fact greatly facilitates to do the business for whole their group. Surely, they more prefer our colleagues over them instead their "brigadiers". They don't particularly strain the situation in terms of the criminality, likely, because of our colleagues's influence. In general, they earn on racketeering, now such a "business" takes place usually without conflicts. Businessmen willingly pay them, because they feel with them, like behind a stone wall. This setup couldn't be without agreement with the criminal authorities, certainly, our watching confirm it. Information leak cannot be through them, because they are kept known nothing. This part of them, I'm repeating, is created only for financing the network doing the main work.
The main their work is collecting data on the abnormal phenomena, and this main part of the network study our methods of intelligence work, in general, to collect data, also, the surveillance, the martial arts, but the last is studied very superficially. Sometimes, there are given tasks to watch out for an object which represents nothing in fact. Such tasks are given for training and testing abilities. Their job is payed not expensive, but themselves subordinates think differently, being accustomed to poverty. It seems, they consider Kashin enough lavish. Enticing by money, they undergo by cautious and correct, so to speak, intimidate. The emphasis is on the fact that nobody says in clear, but they "guess" that in case of the disobedience more likely they could be liquidated.
-That's very, very interesting things... Are they succeed so a three-way?
-No, sometimes they use our colleagues who suspect nothing. Not always they are told about the person they monitor. They are ordered, they watch over the object, but who is this object, this is a matter of the superiors, they know. However, they involve often our uninitiated colleagues when it's not enough the people or they need to use the equipment, the cars. Strangely enough, Kashin manages to lead his business so that the suspicious activity isn't at all a parasite upon the work of our Committee. Already it was verified, when they receive a serious task, he is able to interrupt suddenly all the functioning of his private boiler room, you understand me, and to switch on action demanded by our Service. Just a virtuoso.
-Yes, yes... A good premium is owed to them for such a work, - Major-General smiled ironically. - Well, go on.
-It's clear, the scale is large, but what about direction? He is dangerous! Dangerous for whole the Service!
-Because of what? Whether he is because of the information leak?
-Naturally.
-But did you think well? He possesses the secret information as well as any other chief, and any of them, it is impossible to exclude this, has the possibility to give his knowledge to a foreign intelligence service and because of this to hit us so that we would not soon be recovered from it. Such cases took place and as a rule, those traitors didn't play a similar strange game so brazenly. If he is going to serve us so, then he is an original person supremely, however, got a talent, I'll give him that. And what if we slaughter the hen, which lays golden eggs? What about this, Grisha?
-But he can... - Grisha became pensive.
-Not more probably than any other of us.
-He teaches.
-And what? Do you think women will begin to use our methods to survey their lovers, don't you? But one has to teach them during a few of years in order they would become dangerous really.
-But what if?.. You said rightly, he's talented. What if he discovers such things, and they would blab about it, or he would...
-Who they? All of them at the same time would blab, wouldn't they?
Kovalev felt, in front of the high authority he loses the ability to think straight.
-Uncle Kesha, it seems, I'm bothering you in vain, am not I?
-No, no, Grisha. If you only knew how right you are doing, because you have bothered us! On the word "have bothered us," he did an ironic accent. - If he discovers such things, he will not stand up on a square to recite his discovery to illiterate old women who are hurrying in a shop to buy some food. I want to ask you about something another. Like a teacher in a school, what an assessment you would give to the general condition of your subordinate departments of our Service?
-I would give them "good".
-Wonderful! Usually, you don't make mistakes in this matter. It means, the people and the instruments of restraint aren't overloaded. Well, look, Kashin is a fishhook to catch a golden fish, more importantly the fish we need. As soon as she is caught, the worst thing may occur if it's given to the other side, do you understand me? It must not occur. The "fish" must belong to us. And if they are working under our unseen control, in fact, they will be working for us, and it doesn't matter, what they are planning. While the atmosphere in your subordinate departments is assessed "good", I allow you to occupy till a half of the resources, you understand me, either the people, or other tools, of course, in a case of the necessary. Neither talking must be missed, either of the hero of the occasion, or all his subordinate people, including the recruited persons. If their talk even a little is similar to allegorical speech, it's necessary to fix, to rewrite and bring to me, and I have experts in the allegorical communication.
-And what about the mafia wing, which finances them?
-It is necessary to become sure, whether are they informed about something or not.
-I dare ask, must I stay in ignorance? I'm surprised, how much attention is going to be payed them.
-Dear, Grisha. First of all, there are the economic considerations which take place. Now every child knows from the press, we had such department, in all probability, not in vain. In spite of the fact that all these matters with the diablerie are still studied a very little. But do you imagine how much "eats" such a department. After all, you are perfectly aware, how expensive is this pleasure. However, while everything is calm with your work, while you are working at the idling speed, go solve it! And then it will not be necessary to get into the treasury, to create a brouhaha around the exotic department, this would only provoke information leak. But in the given case needful department exist and at the same time it doesn't exist. It is like the Perpetuum mobile, consuming nothing, but the entrepreneurs pay the expenses, thinking as if they pay to the mafia. Let it doesn't embarrass you, Grisha. Times are different now. It's a time of the pragmatic approach. And don't worry. Patriots don't sleep, - and he slyly winked at Kovalev.
-You are genius, uncle Kesha.
The general was very flattered with such a compliment and even didn't try to hide it.
-I'm just on my own place, - answered he, smiling proudly.
The both parted in a good mood.
Next chapter: http://la-flagellation.blogspot.ru/2017/11/the-teleportation-part-1-chapter-15.html
Yes, almost two years have passed since the former traditional titles and names had been thrown on the dump of history with "ferrous Felix" together. Even this institution was renamed again, however, to name this General "mister", nobody could move his tongue to say so. For the most of the people he was as well as before, that is comrade General, however, if convey meaning of this word from the epoch of the invasion of Chinggis Khan's hordes, it meant the following things: comrade (in Russian - tovarishch) is a friend not on common interests, but on an occasional formed herd. For a few more close people, including the superiors, he was as before Innokentiy Nikolaevich, and for very few, the closest, not because of the position at work, but because of the formed relations, they were allowed a desirable familiarity to name him "uncle Kesha".
The screen lit up and well known Kovalev's puffy face appeared. He was the chief of a department executing a very delicate work, that is controlling almost all the employees of the serious institution.
-Comrade General! Allow me to apply to you. I have an interesting data, however, I can act only after consulting together with you.
-And what? Is this an urgent matter? Does it depend on a few seconds? Are people perishing? Is it possible the leak of a strategic information? Is something from the list I had said, taking place?
-No ways, comrade General!
-Quit it, Grisha, these "comrade General", but come up to me one hour before the end of the time work, and we will talk it.
-Will be done!
Things what the newcomers and the most zealous colleagues thought as considerable, from the point of the General it was an endless duel stretching for decades, of the state against all the rest of the world. If today the "ours" have hit "theirs", then tomorrow "theirs" will strike "ours". Either the information leak in our "camp", or the same thing on their side. Either some our colleagues defect to "them", or some "their" colleagues defect to "us". On the scale of large countries, it was trifles, an exchange of the pricks by pins, sometimes, even it became boring. Sometimes there were blows more heavy, almost knockouts, like that case with Penkovsky long ago, but similar blunders could take place also in "their side". Only on the scale of a half century it was seen more clearly who ultimately takes possession of an advantage. Unlikely these passing little fortunes and misfortunes would help to get rid of these changes, which were crawling here inexorably.
In the eighties, the General ascertained with sadness that "their" propaganda doesn't need absolutely to lie, but it's enough to tell the truth known by all the world, excepting "our" the most foolish and downtrodden narrow persons, but "our" propaganda has to handwave, using very doubtful arguments like the "right to work" and the very cheap metro. He felt, soon there will be nothing to say, but a stupidity, as one day the radio of socialist Albania had bragged that "now in every home the electric lamp shines".
However, the General who thought practically and sensibly, he had to grieve not long. He watched cautiously at the whirlwind of changes, and when as if a smoke, because of the disturbance of the environment had blown away and it became clear then the "second Nuremberg" was not going to be, he understood that the state, without which he couldn't exist, will not go anywhere, especially his institution. What is a great matter that a few departments carried out functions of a secret political and then they were dissolved? A configuration of his dear institution has changed, but the institution itself stands as well as before, in the same manner a lot of departments work under his authority, even if it's time to change a way of working, for him it was no problem.
The only thing he had to do, this is to execute a monotonous work, for every "A" to be able to set off an appropriate "B". Of course, one must not turn a blind eye to all kinds events and ignore them, however, he had not to inhibit some emotions, just because they already didn't appeared long ago. In spite of his sixty years old, he did exercises in the morning, ran for several miles, so being heavy set, at the same he was vigorous and agile. But at work, if he would be without the general's uniform, he could be taken for a usual clerical assistant.
As usual, the subordinates came in plain clothes and put on the uniform only in some special days. At the designated time, coming up to the door, Kovalev adjusted his tie, coughed to clean his voice and knocked.
-Come in, Grisha, don't be shy.
Innokentiy Nikolaevich, - started to talk Kovalev, but the omnipotent boss immediately has interrupted him:
-How long I have to explain? Call me "Uncle Kesha", sit down and calmly tell me what is it with you, and I'm going to listen you. It's interesting to me. It's very interesting.
Kovalev felt like a cat what is petted. He depended from the omnipotent General fully and totally, and apart from him, there no were any other standards of truth and couldn't be. His mood depended in full from chief's relation to him, and all the rest of things, either his family, or the private life - all this relegated into the background. Also now, the timidity has gone away, and he has begun to tell:
-Well, uncle Kesha, I kept silent long, because one must be able to work independently, otherwise, what an employee would be who needs a caretaker at every step? However, things are starting to take on enough increasing prevalent. Do you remember Kashin?
-Of course, I remember him, what a question? - "Uncle Kesha" answered with astonishment. - His department oversees the foreigners, sometimes leads the unofficial surveillance over persons with the diplomatic immunity. Go on.
-He has charged his deputy with almost all the work. Certainly, the last is happy to try, he hopes, it will be reckoned to him in future, and he doesn't make a mistake, especially if his chief will lose his seat.
-Does it mean, the chief has charged his deputy with all, but at the same time he has walked to the taverns, also to look for women, hasn't he?
-If so, I wouldn't come up to you, we ourselves would solve this and wouldn't bother you. However, in leisure he goes in for neither taverns, nor women, to say more exact, he goes in for women, but completely for another purpose. In a nutshell, he is building his own intelligence network. There are two persons led by him and devoted to him, they are colleagues from his department, that is our employees in an enough mediocre post. Likely, he has succeeded to encourage them, promising bright prospects. They recruit the people off the street. One didn't still succeed to learn, by what measure these people are chosen, however, in general, they are women seeking love adventures. Almost all of them were in bed with him. These women are a part of the network, which does the main job. Another part of the network finances them. This is a not great mafia group enjoys a privilege, they even use the certificates of our Security Service, which were issued illegally to a few of them. This fact greatly facilitates to do the business for whole their group. Surely, they more prefer our colleagues over them instead their "brigadiers". They don't particularly strain the situation in terms of the criminality, likely, because of our colleagues's influence. In general, they earn on racketeering, now such a "business" takes place usually without conflicts. Businessmen willingly pay them, because they feel with them, like behind a stone wall. This setup couldn't be without agreement with the criminal authorities, certainly, our watching confirm it. Information leak cannot be through them, because they are kept known nothing. This part of them, I'm repeating, is created only for financing the network doing the main work.
The main their work is collecting data on the abnormal phenomena, and this main part of the network study our methods of intelligence work, in general, to collect data, also, the surveillance, the martial arts, but the last is studied very superficially. Sometimes, there are given tasks to watch out for an object which represents nothing in fact. Such tasks are given for training and testing abilities. Their job is payed not expensive, but themselves subordinates think differently, being accustomed to poverty. It seems, they consider Kashin enough lavish. Enticing by money, they undergo by cautious and correct, so to speak, intimidate. The emphasis is on the fact that nobody says in clear, but they "guess" that in case of the disobedience more likely they could be liquidated.
-That's very, very interesting things... Are they succeed so a three-way?
-No, sometimes they use our colleagues who suspect nothing. Not always they are told about the person they monitor. They are ordered, they watch over the object, but who is this object, this is a matter of the superiors, they know. However, they involve often our uninitiated colleagues when it's not enough the people or they need to use the equipment, the cars. Strangely enough, Kashin manages to lead his business so that the suspicious activity isn't at all a parasite upon the work of our Committee. Already it was verified, when they receive a serious task, he is able to interrupt suddenly all the functioning of his private boiler room, you understand me, and to switch on action demanded by our Service. Just a virtuoso.
-Yes, yes... A good premium is owed to them for such a work, - Major-General smiled ironically. - Well, go on.
-It's clear, the scale is large, but what about direction? He is dangerous! Dangerous for whole the Service!
-Because of what? Whether he is because of the information leak?
-Naturally.
-But did you think well? He possesses the secret information as well as any other chief, and any of them, it is impossible to exclude this, has the possibility to give his knowledge to a foreign intelligence service and because of this to hit us so that we would not soon be recovered from it. Such cases took place and as a rule, those traitors didn't play a similar strange game so brazenly. If he is going to serve us so, then he is an original person supremely, however, got a talent, I'll give him that. And what if we slaughter the hen, which lays golden eggs? What about this, Grisha?
-But he can... - Grisha became pensive.
-Not more probably than any other of us.
-He teaches.
-And what? Do you think women will begin to use our methods to survey their lovers, don't you? But one has to teach them during a few of years in order they would become dangerous really.
-But what if?.. You said rightly, he's talented. What if he discovers such things, and they would blab about it, or he would...
-Who they? All of them at the same time would blab, wouldn't they?
Kovalev felt, in front of the high authority he loses the ability to think straight.
-Uncle Kesha, it seems, I'm bothering you in vain, am not I?
-No, no, Grisha. If you only knew how right you are doing, because you have bothered us! On the word "have bothered us," he did an ironic accent. - If he discovers such things, he will not stand up on a square to recite his discovery to illiterate old women who are hurrying in a shop to buy some food. I want to ask you about something another. Like a teacher in a school, what an assessment you would give to the general condition of your subordinate departments of our Service?
-I would give them "good".
-Wonderful! Usually, you don't make mistakes in this matter. It means, the people and the instruments of restraint aren't overloaded. Well, look, Kashin is a fishhook to catch a golden fish, more importantly the fish we need. As soon as she is caught, the worst thing may occur if it's given to the other side, do you understand me? It must not occur. The "fish" must belong to us. And if they are working under our unseen control, in fact, they will be working for us, and it doesn't matter, what they are planning. While the atmosphere in your subordinate departments is assessed "good", I allow you to occupy till a half of the resources, you understand me, either the people, or other tools, of course, in a case of the necessary. Neither talking must be missed, either of the hero of the occasion, or all his subordinate people, including the recruited persons. If their talk even a little is similar to allegorical speech, it's necessary to fix, to rewrite and bring to me, and I have experts in the allegorical communication.
-And what about the mafia wing, which finances them?
-It is necessary to become sure, whether are they informed about something or not.
-I dare ask, must I stay in ignorance? I'm surprised, how much attention is going to be payed them.
-Dear, Grisha. First of all, there are the economic considerations which take place. Now every child knows from the press, we had such department, in all probability, not in vain. In spite of the fact that all these matters with the diablerie are still studied a very little. But do you imagine how much "eats" such a department. After all, you are perfectly aware, how expensive is this pleasure. However, while everything is calm with your work, while you are working at the idling speed, go solve it! And then it will not be necessary to get into the treasury, to create a brouhaha around the exotic department, this would only provoke information leak. But in the given case needful department exist and at the same time it doesn't exist. It is like the Perpetuum mobile, consuming nothing, but the entrepreneurs pay the expenses, thinking as if they pay to the mafia. Let it doesn't embarrass you, Grisha. Times are different now. It's a time of the pragmatic approach. And don't worry. Patriots don't sleep, - and he slyly winked at Kovalev.
-You are genius, uncle Kesha.
The general was very flattered with such a compliment and even didn't try to hide it.
-I'm just on my own place, - answered he, smiling proudly.
The both parted in a good mood.
Next chapter: http://la-flagellation.blogspot.ru/2017/11/the-teleportation-part-1-chapter-15.html
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