8Perm, Russia
August 1888
As the sun set over the city of Perm, Stephen Morrison, Yuri Kodarov, and Sergeant Amos Johnson sat on the long porch of the Kodarov dacha. The beautiful house, located north of the city on the northernmost bend of the Kama River, was their final destination of the day. Even the normally taciturn Johnson had loosened up on the journey thus far and seemed to be enjoying their travels immensely. They sat in wicker chairs, drinking vodka delivered to them by the servants who attended to their every need.
The journey to Perm had begun with a long train ride on the newly constructed first leg of the Trans-Siberian Railroad. It afforded ample time for Stephen to read, and he and Yuri had lengthy discussions over the merits of the books that Yuri had given him. Morris
