CHAPTER 7. I SEE NOTHING, HEAR NOTHING, KNOW NOTHING, WILL TELL NO ONE

“Excellent,” she whispered into his ear. “Let’s combine the pleasant with the useful. I’ll dress you and explain while you listen. Nod for yes; shake your head for no. Nothing else.”

“First this—open your mouth, close your eyes.”

She inserted a ball gag, securing it behind his head. Then she attached electrodes to his body, fixing him in place.

“I’ll ask you several questions—your task is to answer everything backwards,” she said.

“Were you assaulted with a mop in prison a year ago?” He nodded.

“Good. Are you a woman?” He nodded again.

“Clever boy. Are you a career intelligence officer?” He nodded once more.

“You’re not a career officer, just an informant—I understand,” she interpreted approvingly.

He nodded and tried to smile.

“Now I’ll slowly insert this little thing while explaining, and you try to hear everything, then answer honestly. My questions have no right answers. I just want to know you better. Choose what feels closest. I know you’ll manage,” she said, beginning his torment.

“It may seem we’re playing games, but that’s not quite accurate,” she continued. “This is a procedure for easing our leader’s life—he’ll soon be advanced in years and wishes to rule again as a grey cardinal. He tried once during Medvedev’s time, but there was one problem: Medvedev himself. Now he needs no one else. Listen: you and I will fly to near-Earth orbit, where you will observe earthly affairs while I watch you. We’ll live there long and happily while he governs from his earthly palace, occasionally dressing as you. He will, of course, live forever, ruling the country as brilliantly as now. Let’s pause—do you want this for the country?”

He shook his head, bleating “nnn.”

“Are you prepared to sacrifice your life for this?” He shook his head again.

“Will you betray this entire plan at the first real opportunity to change something?” she asked, staring at the monitor.

He nodded, and the device confirmed he wasn’t lying.

He shook his head, bleating “nnn.”