Codename Anastasia

Chapter 45 - Contrabass Solo: Don't Touch What's Mine

Zhenya’s helicopter landed in a meadow near Moscow. The day was quite warm although there was still a little snow left in places where the sun didn't reach. The ground where the snow had begun to melt was covered with mud as if ready to cling to his clean shoes.

Zhenya looked at his feet and immediately gave up trying to cross the mud. He decided to wait for the appointed person at a nearby stable. Dozens of horses were tied inside. Thanks to high-quality food and regular care, they all have shiny coats.

When Zhenya appeared, the normally polite horses became visibly agitated. It is unknown whether it is because they are wary of strangers because of their sensitive temperament or because that visitor is Zhenya.

As Zhenya slowly moved through the central aisle, nearby horses scratched their hooves against the floor in surprise while some raised their front legs in excitement.
The innermost position is a horse with dark brown fur whose ransom alone is equivalent to a supercar.

Zhenya held the fence with both hands and looked at it. It didn't buck up like other horses but iust hesitated and backed away a bit.

"Is this it?"

Suddenly someone was approaching the entrance. It was his brother, Bazim, who summoned Zhenya to this place.

Bazim calmed the aggressive horses and approached. His hands became more serious as he stroked the brown horse that Zhenya was observing.

“It won’t eat anything. It's been several days.”

It's like worrying about an anorexic child. Since the listener was Zhenya, it didn't seem like he was discussing or looking for advice on getting his favorite horse's appetite back. It was just like a sigh. Normally Zhenya wouldn't care but for some reason today he suddenly came up with a solution.

"Because it always eats delicious food, it is full. You let it eat things it doesn't like and then occasionally throw something it likes. It will be obedient and run after you."

It's absurd. He gave advice to a horse lover when he himself had never even raised a blade of grass. And that method is not breeding but abuse.

"Are you raising tigers?"

"Well, it's the same."

Another vague answer. Zhenya smiled strangely as if thinking about something.
Bazim didn't know what he was doing or where he was. He asked again.

"Where have you been living lately? I heard you don’t even go to headquarters.”

"That's not what I'm really curious about."

He avoided the answer and smirked, his eyes curling up as if mocking.

Bazim looked towards the entrance for a moment and sighed. He opened his mouth again in his voice low.

"What did you do to him? Don't tell me you took care of him yourself?"

"Let's see."

"In that case, bring the body here."

Bazim added. In fact, that seemed to be the real purpose of summoning Zhenya to this place.

"Can we announce Anastasia now?"

One person or another is just because of Anastasia. Zhenya burst out laughing as if what he said was silly.

"Suddenly you told me to give up my life?"

"I'm asking you to give it to me. There are rumors that the Americans have obtained the blueprints of 'Anastasia'. I don't know if it's true, but of course the Kremlin is very worried. And because you're still keeping that Korean spy, so I lost face. The senators also agreed that we should punish him as an example. The president also wants to reaffirm your loyalty. This may be generosity. The end of the Kremlin."