Читаем Maid of Baikal: A Novel of the Russian Civil War полностью

Maid of Baikal: A Novel of the Russian Civil War

“The Supreme Ruler promised no such thing, captain,” Lebedev replied firmly. “He instructed Dieterichs to listen to the girl and find a suitable way to put her to use. He did not place her at the head of an army.”

“If I may ask, then, general, in what way would you propose to employ the girl?” Ned pushed. “Her following grows daily, and she attracts masses of new recruits, many of them seasoned veterans. Why not also put them to good use?”

For a moment, Lebedev seemed at a loss for words. He shook his head as a horse might do to dislodge a fly and let out a loud snort before responding.

“If the Supreme Ruler were, by some wild caprice, to send that girl anywhere in the vicinity of the front lines, an out-of-the-way spot would need to be found where she and her flock of icon-kissers could do no harm. But, I can assure you, there is no place for them on the Ufa-Samara axis or at Perm.”

Only then did Ned remember Zhanna’s remarks to Ivashov during her uncle’s dinner at Irkutsk. She had said that the Stavka had put too much of its strength in the north and that the war must be won in the South, by way of Uralsk. Could this be the out-of-the way sector where the Maid might be destined to make her mark?

* * *

Upon leaving the Stavka, Ned and Colonel Ward boarded the colonel’s droshky for the ride back to the British Military Mission. En route, both men expressed astonishment that the spring offensive was already underway and anxiety over its prospects. General Lebedev’s unwillingness to accept British heavy weapons for fear of weakening his personal position came as a disappointment to both of them, and they resolved to find a way around it.

“Neilson has just returned from a trip across the Caspian to Novo-Rossiysk and has inspected British weapons warehoused there,” the colonel confided. “It’s a crying shame. General Denikin is getting more equipment than he can put to use. Much of it is sitting idle or out of commission, awaiting parts or repairs. And the AFSR is vastly overstocked on certain weapons, like trench mortars, that few Russians have been trained to use.”

“How difficult would it be to ship some of this equipment a short jaunt across the Caspian to General Tolstov’s Cossacks at Guryev?”[29] Ned inquired. “I agree, it seems a terrible waste for the Siberian Army not to share in these riches when they are needed so desperately along the Urals.”

“The Royal Navy’s Caspian fleet has limited tonnage, but they do make occasional trips to Guryev to resupply the Ural Cossacks, so I suppose a step-up in deliveries is possible,” Ward noted. “But that would require approval on all sides, and we have already heard General Lebedev’s views on that question.”

“Perhaps it might be arranged privately, between the British Military Mission and the AFSR,” Ned suggested. “In such case, Lebedev’s approval might not be required at all, given that the Ural Cossacks enjoy functional autonomy in their theater of operations. And, surely, General Tolstov would never turn such arms away. To retake their home city of Uralsk, his Cossacks will need every weapon they can lay their hands on. A few armored cars could make an enormous difference.”

“Your point is well taken, captain, but I don’t see how we can put such a plan in motion without Lebedev getting wind of it,” the colonel fretted. “If any of our messages found their way to the Stavka, the Chief of Staff would have us both packed out on the next train to Vladivostok.”

“Quite so, colonel,” Ned agreed. “But it so happens that I’ve been ordered to Novo-Rossiysk in a few days for meetings on the wireless project. While I’m there, perhaps I could have a discreet word with the right people.”

Ward brightened at the suggestion.

“Splendid idea,” he replied with a crooked smile. “Will you need backup at Beregovoy during your absence? I could send Neilson again to fill in for you. He is on good terms with Madame Yushnevskaya and could be brought up to speed rather quickly.”

“John would be the perfect man for the job,” Ned agreed with a smile. “I’ll speak to him.”