Novikov Apartment -Sunday January 9, 1905

Svetlana sat up immediately in her bed. Her eyes were darting around frantically searching the room. It was dark. Very dark. Finally her heartbeat slowed and she realized she had been dreaming. Hugging her knees she tried to remember what had given her such a fright.

It had been all so real and so terrifying but it hadn’t started out that way. She had been walking in a meadow admiring the flowers. The red carnations had been everywhere and Svetlana picked a handful of them.

She looked around and noticed she was alone. However soon her father and her brother walked into the meadow. She was so happy to see them together. For as long as she could remember they had despised each other. But now as they entered the meadow she could see a comradeship between them.

“Svetka, do you have our flowers?” Her father asked?

Instinctively she handed each of them a red carnation. They both placed the flower in the lapel of their jacket.

Svetka felt as though she should place a carnation in her hair so she could be like her father and brother. As she started to tuck a flower behind her ear her brother stopped her.

“No, these flowers aren’t for you. You still love the Tzar.”

“So does father.”

“Not anymore.”

“Why not? What do these flowers mean?”

Her father spoke for the first time. “These are our revolution flowers. The Tzar must die for what he did.”

“No papa,” Svetka said in alarm. “The Tzar loves us.”

“Run along home to your momma, you live with her now.”

She turned and saw her mother waiving to her. She turned and ran towards her and as she did so the meadow was transformed into a city block. Angry men were shouting and armed with guns. Her father and brother were leading the way. Soldiers were approaching. She knew they were both going to be killed by the Tzar’s men. That is when she woke up.

At least it was just a dream she told herself. As she closed her eyes to go back to sleep she saw red carnations. She opened her eyes again and thought maybe I will just stay awake until morning. As she lay awake in bed staring at the ceiling she softly hummed her favorite tune.

The Banks of the Neva River - St Petersburg - Sunday January 9, 1905

The Neva river was frozen thick enough to walk across. Andreev looked out across the river as he wondered if Markov would arrive. The Neva paled in length in comparison to the Volga, Ural, Don, or so many other rivers in Russia. Andreev however admired this 46 mile waterway that flowed from Lake Ladoga into the Gulf of Finland. So many great events had occurred along its shores. Peter the Great had picked this river to host the capital of Russia. The Neva was the focal point of the city of the Tzars. Any decisions determining the fate of Russia would be made with the Neva as the backdrop. Despite its short length its importance was immense. If a river like that could run an empire surely a local police officer could also rise to significant stature.

“You don’t have him then?” A voice broke the silence and Andreev’s thoughts.

“Markov, you are late, and how could I arrest Gabon when you were telling everyone close to him I intended to?” Andreev said sourly.

“The hour is affecting your thoughts, perhaps you should sleep now.”

“You don’t deny it.”

“You have formed your opinion, I won’t waste time discussing it.”

“Then why are we here?” Andreev said tersely.

“Straight to the point, as always. I respect that, although it can be dreadfully dull. All business all the time.”

“Your decorum leads me to believe you are starting to align yourself with the revolutionary cause.”

“I know who I am and where my loyalties lie.”

“Says the man who lives two lives.”

“Before you say something that you will regret or that will further strain this relationship if you want to question the loyalties of someone taking money from the Okhrana perhaps you should look at Yevno Azef.”

“He is playing the same game you are.”

“Yes, I bet you think he is just some low ranking member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party.” Markov smiled.

“No, he is probably a respected member, he gets results. We have made many arrests thanks to his actions.”

“He is a snake. He is trying to create his own personal fiefdom. He is consolidating his power. The arrests you make are his biggest rivals. Azef should be executed.”

Andreev laughed. “Executed because he is more successful than you?”

“Executed because he leads the terrorist wing of the SRs. The murder of Plehve last year was his handiwork. He planned it and he ordered it. He is no friend of the government.”

“You think Azef ordered the murder of the Minister of the Interior?” Andreev said incredulously.

“I know he did and I know he has another assassination planned in the near future in Moscow.”

“A double agent who wants to destroy the government and the organization he has infiltrated. It makes no sense. It’s rubbish.”

“Ignore my warnings if you want but another government official will die at the hands of Azef if you do.”

“All of that is out of my hands anyway. In theory Plehve would have been Azef’s boss and Grigory Gershuny would have been Azef’s boss and now one is dead and the other has been sentenced to death. Can any man really be so treacherous?”

“I assure you Azef is.”

“Hmmm, well nothing can be done about that tonight anyhow. Next week I will take a deeper look at this. We have something far more pressing at present anyway. Where is Gapon and what are his plans?”

“He will march in disguise in the second or third row of the procession leaving from the Narva branch.”

“Coward,” Andreev sneered.

“He also escaped detection by leaving in disguise last night. He knows that we want him arrested.”

“So where is he now?”

“Probably sleeping at Maxim Gorky’s apartment.”

“Ahhh, how sure are you of this?”

“65-75% sure. He was definitely there, I just don’t know if he will stay the night.”

“If only it hadn’t been Gorky. I can’t go there if there is a chance Gapon won’t be there. Will you be marching with Gapon in the morning?”

“No, his branch will be the least militant. I will go where the revolutionaries are. If any barricades pop up, that’s where you will find me.”

“I sure hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Then tell your superiors to be better.” Markov said as he started walking out onto frozen ice of the Neva river.