The Ice Curtain by Robin White Read Free Book Online

took off the raincoat and draped it over the back of a chair and sat.
    â€œPerhaps I can tempt you with something from the kitchen.”
    Volsky hadn’t eaten a real meal all day. He eyed a hillock of black caviar set in a bowl surrounded by ice. The roe was fat and glossy, as big as ball bearings. “You can tempt me with some answers,” he said as he dredged a piece of bread through the caviar and popped it into his mouth. “I have a friend who says that in Russia they’re rarer than diamonds.”
    â€œIt’s an odd thing to say.”
    â€œI find he’s usually right.”
    Petrov filled his own glass, took a sip. “I’ve heard you have some thoughts about the state diamond stockpile.”
    That was fast. How?
Volsky wondered. He’d only arrived this afternoon. “I have no thoughts.” He loaded his toast with a thousand rubles’ worth of roe, ate it, then said to Petrov, “I only have demands.”
    â€œDemands?” Petrov took a sip of vodka. “What sort?”
    â€œYou’ve blocked an agreement with the diamond cartel for almost a year now.”
    â€œIf two parties disagree, which one is guilty of blocking?”
    â€œI don’t care. What matters is that the cartel isn’t buying our diamonds. That means no money is going to my miners.”
    â€œ
Our
diamonds?
Your
miners? You’re the Siberian Delegate. Not the delegate from Mirny. You don’t speak for them.”
    â€œI’ll fight for them. Winter’s coming in case you forgot.”
    â€œYou traveled all the way here to beg?”
    â€œTo inform. It’s time for you to do your job before any more miners die.”
    â€œSomeone died?”
    Volsky stared at the Prince of Diamonds, then said, “Ask your friends in Kristall what happened in August. See if they’ll tell you the truth. Fifty dead, and it’s just the start.”
    â€œI heard nothing about an accident.”
    â€œWho said it was an accident?”
    Petrov looked disappointed, as though a puppy he’d petted had turned around and nipped. “I’m sorry, but mine safety is not my responsibility. My job is to obtain the most value for the stones so that your miners, as you would say, can live.”
    â€œWhat have you obtained for them lately?”
    â€œListen. I understand your concerns,” said Petrov. “I share them. But I’m like a general. I have compassion for my troops, but I must never hesitate to use them to win the war.”
    â€œLet another week go by without sending the miners their pay and you’ll have a
real
war.”
    Petrov’s expression hardened. “Forgive my bluntness, but the sale of Mirny diamonds is not your affair, Delegate Volsky.”
    â€œThe survival of the people who dig them
is
. They’re already rationing electricity. Do you have any idea what it’s like when the lights go off in the middle of a Mirny winter?”
    â€œI’m sure that life will become more normal when . . .”
    â€œWhen there’s
no fucking heat and no fucking electricity
because some fat-faced prick in Moscow is keeping four million carats under his warm ass?”
    Petrov looked surprised. “Who gave you that number?”
    â€œTbye ne nuzhna znat.”
It wasn’t necessary for Petrov to know. “Now
you
listen. I’m going to Mirny in a few days to bring them their money. Every ruble they’re owed. I’ll do it with your help or over your head. It’s up to you which it will be.”
    â€œYou don’t need to make threats. The miners will be paid.”
    â€œAll right.” Volsky crossed his arms over his barrel chest. “When?”
    â€œEventually.”
    â€œEventually we’ll be dead.”
    Petrov wagged his finger at Volsky. “I have more faith in Siberians. You know how to survive. Fishing, trapping, the
dacha
garden. You’re good at making do. Making do is