“Vladimir, I was told I could find you here in conference with someone, they didn’t know who. They—Vladimir!” Malenkov looked at Dorlup. His small eyes bulged.
Chenkov’s mouth dropped open. “This is impossible!”
“Vladimir, please. Please. I see it now. I see it all—” Malenkov had grown pale staring at his duplicate. “You have this double. You and Ruscar. You plan to do away with me and keep a figurehead instead. Vladimir, please, I can listen to reason. I can make my rule a partnership, a triumvirate if you wish.” Malenkov was blubbering. “I could smell it in the air, this plot, this intrigue, this—I knew something was afoot. Something I didn’t know what. All hands were turned against me, all—”
Tedor ran to the door, closed it, locked it.
“Vladimir, I beg of you—”
“Oh, shut up! I don’
