Page 99 of Spymaster

“Where were you assigned before Gotland?” asked Harvath.

The man took another drag before replying. “Let me see,” he said, compiling a list in his head. “Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Belarus. Many places.”

Three of the countries jibed with what Sergun had told Vella. That was a good start.

“And what was your job when you were in those countries?”

“My job was to do whatever they asked me to do.”

“For the most part, what was it that they asked you to do?”

“I recruited spies and built espionage networks.”

The Russian took another puff on his cigarette and then indicated by nodding his head that he wanted it removed from his mouth.

Reaching out, Harvath took it and set it on the edge of the table.

“Is there anything to drink?” Kuznetsov asked. “Perhaps you have some more coffee?”

“You may have some water, but first you need to answer some more questions for me.”

“I am in much pain. Can you give me something for it?”

“Yes, I can,” said Harvath, “but not yet.”

“What are the questions you want to ask me?”

“Who is your superior?”

“Colonel Oleg Tretyakov,” the Russian replied.

Harvath took a sip of his coffee, but kept his eyes locked on Kuznetsov’s face. By all indications, he was absolutely telling the truth.

“And Tretyakov is the one who sent you to Gotland?”

“Yes.”

“For what purpose?”

“To recruit spies and build an espionage network,” the Russian replied.

“And what was the ultimate goal of this network?”

“To assist the Russian military in a potential overtaking.”

“Overtaking?” asked Harvath.

“Invasion,” said Kuznetsov, clarifying what he meant.

Nodding his head toward the cigarette, he indicated his desire for another puff. Harvath picked it up and allowed the man to take one, and then returned it to the edge of the table. He wanted a clear, unobscured view of his face for his next question.

“Are you familiar with the anti-NATO attacks that have happened in multiple European countries?”

The Russian nodded. “Yes, I am.”

“What can you tell me about them?”

“First I would like some water. Please.”