Maid of Baikal: A Novel of the Russian Civil War

For that reason, Lebedev explained, Kolchak had endorsed Archbishop Sylvester’s proposal to have Zhanna examined by a panel of learned clerics who would evaluate the communications she received from her Voices. The examination might take up to a week, during which Zhanna would be given room and board in the monastery wing at St. Nicholas Cathedral. If the panel found that she was of sound mind, derived her inspiration from the Holy Spirit, and in no way contradicted church doctrine, she would be cleared for service.

But from the Chief of Staff’s demeanor, it was clear that he aimed to place Zhanna under a heavy burden of proof. Nor was it likely that Archbishop Sylvester would take her side. Yet, far from objecting, Zhanna seemed buoyed by the opportunity to present her case, regardless of how badly the deck might be stacked against her. Ned, while saddened that she might soon reach the end of her mission, admired her for her willingness to be tested. For that reason, he resolved to let the clerics shoulder the blame if they sent the girl packing. Ned would miss her, to be sure, but now that she had delivered her message to the Admiral, she had done her part. Surely, Omsk was no fit place for an innocent young girl like Zhanna.

* * *

The clerical examination was scheduled to begin a week later. On Ned’s next trip to Omsk from Beregovoy, he arranged to attend the first day’s hearing, which was to be held in a small chapel tucked inside one of the wings of the St. Nicholas Cathedral. According to Ivashov, Governor Volkov had already forwarded to Omsk the results of his own investigation into Zhanna’s background. Based on interviews with women in good standing in Zhanna’s home town, and with respectable neighbors of her uncle in Irkutsk, Volkov had declared Zhanna a good Christian who regularly attended church services and displayed sound character. Having received no derogatory evidence as to her morality, the Archbishop instructed the clerics to focus their attention on the girl’s doctrinal beliefs, and on her claims to receive messages from saints and angelic beings.

Ned, Ivashov, and Paladin entered the chapel moments before the panel filed into the room. They took seats toward the rear, since most benches were already occupied. The audience included Russians of every class, as well as a few journalists and photographers seated up front. Several rows ahead of him, Ned recognized Yulia and her friend, Madame Timiryova, and felt a pang of discomfort when he considered what confidences the two women might be sharing about their respective lovers. Could something that Yulia knew about him come back to haunt him, perhaps through the Stavka? Or, by the same token, might the sort of thing that Madame Timiryova told Yulia about the Admiral provide him with reportable intelligence?

Ned turned his attention to the nine examiners on the raised dais at the front of the chapel. They included Archbishop Sylvester, two bishops, four priests of lesser rank, and two civilians with trimmed beards whom Ivashov identified to Ned as professors of theology. Zhanna entered the chapel last. A young Orthodox monk led her to a well-worn wooden chair facing the dais, where she sat a few feet below the level of the panel, requiring her to raise her head to face them. She was dressed in the same faded jacket, baggy trousers and stained blouse that she had worn to meet the Admiral, but the radiant look in her violet eyes and her short haircut drew all attention to her face.

Archbishop Sylvester opened the proceeding with an invocation, a statement of purpose, and a requirement that each examiner either approve or disapprove Zhanna’s proposed role as Kolchak’s special counsel, without abstention. Sylvester then turned the proceedings over to Father Yegor, the chief examiner, a lean figure of about forty in monk’s garb, easily distinguishable by his gaunt cheeks, perpetually furrowed brow and bloodshot weasel eyes.

The first question Father Yegor posed to Zhanna was this: “Zhanna Stepanovna, do you believe in God?”

“In truth, more than you do,” she shot back. The audience gasped.

Father Yegor looked startled, then turned to Archbishop Sylvester, as if for guidance.

The Archbishop admonished Zhanna, “I must warn you not to insult members of this panel, young woman, or the result will certainly not be to your liking. You may proceed, Father Yegor.”

“Pray, tell me in what language your Voices speak to you,” the chief examiner asked Zhanna, leaning forward and rubbing his hands together. “Do they speak proper Russian?”

“Better Russian than yours,” she replied.

This time the room erupted in laughter, prompting the examiner to fold his arms and look at the Archbishop with a dismayed expression. The latter, apparently wishing to avoid further loss of dignity by Yegor or the Holy Church, rolled his eyes and nodded to the elderly bishop on his right to take up the questioning in Yegor’s place.