Negotiating with Nikita

I’ve been working on some notes for a novel. It’s coming along nicely, and I thought a sneak preview might be in order.

Move over, Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, and Robert Ludlum — here comes Freund!

THE SITUATION

The action is set in the near future. Disarmament talks having failed, mutual paranoia inexorably intensifies, East and West mobilize their forces, a Libyan terrorist shoots a Liechtenstein archduke — and we’re in the midst of World War III.

Arthur Leggup, a peacetime lawyer whose forte is negotiating deals, is serving as a captain in the U. S. Army. Entrusted with a secret mission behind enemy lines, he is captured by the Soviets and taken to KGB headquarters in Borscht, a Russian village near the Finnish border.

Incriminating papers are found in Leggup’s wallet. From these, Nikita Comcleansky, the local KGB operative, deduces that Leggup possesses top-secret information about a daring American plan to sabotage the Stolichnaya vodka distillery — thereby causing a booze shortage that will panic the Russian populace and turn the tide of war. Comcleansky confronts Leggup, who denies knowledge of the plan. The Russian doesn’t believe him and is deter­mined to uncover the scheme.

In fact, Leggup does have the information the Reds seek. He wants desperately to remain silent but is worried that he won’t be able to withstand KGB torture and will spill the beans. And Comcleansky, who resembles Ivan the Terrible, isn’t making things easier:

“Tell us plan. Captain, or we be forced to pull it out by other means.”

Leggup glances around uneasily. The small room is filled with electric shock devices, Bunsen burners, a medieval rack, assorted hypodermic needles, and six copies of “Das Kapital.”

Suddenly, Arthur hits on a stratagem. He will attempt to negotiate with Nikita!

LET'S BARGAIN

“Just a second,” says Leggup to his captor. “Let’s not rush things. I’ve got a problem here.”

“You betcha you got problem,” rumbles Comcleansky, his tone menacing.

Arthur ignores the threat. “Let’s assume, solely for purposes of argument, that I do have the information you seek. If you torture me, I won’t reveal it, even though the pain be excruciating.”

“You think you big hero. Captain, but let me tell you. . . .”

“On the contrary,” Leggup interrupts. “The reason I wouldn’t talk is because once I provide the information, you’ll have no further use for me. And that’s like signing my death warrant. I’m no hero; I just want to stay alive.”

“You much mistaken, Captain.” Comcleansky’s smile is almost benevolent. “Tell us plan, and you sit out war in comfort, in very fine Soviet POW camp.”

“Forgive me,” says Leggup, “but I simply can’t accept your verbal assurances on that point — I’ve seen too many World War II movies! However, if there were a way to provide me with an ironclad guarantee of survival, then I’d seriously consider giving you the information without the need for torture — assuming, hypothetically, that I had such information — since, all things being equal. I’m not eager to have my torso disfigured.”

TWISTING THE SCREWS

What’s this? Is Leggup turning traitor? Not a bit. In fact, he has concocted some realistic-sounding but un­helpful information to feed to his captors, if they rise to the bait — an “all’s fair” gambit he would never stoop to in private practise. (Unfortunately, he hasn’t yet figured out what to do when the Soviets discover his tale is phony. But first things first — right now, his main job is to make it out of the room with the rack.)

Well, well, Nikita Comcleansky thinks to himself, is interesting proposition. But fast-talking Captain sounds like soldier who can’t handle torture. We try a few small electric shocks, see if he cracks early. Nikita’s face glows with anticipation. If soldier boy strong, then we pretend to cut deal with him later on. . . .

“Wait a minute,” Leggup interrupts Comcleasky’s reverie. “I know what you’re thinking: “Let’s torture this guy a little first, just to see if he can handle it. We can always make a deal down the road.’”

— “Nyet, nyet,” protests Nikita, caught in the act —

“But, you must understand. Comrade Comcleansky — I hope you don’t mind if I address you by name — that if you don’t negotiate with me now and instead start in with the needles, then I’ll know you’re not trustworthy. There­fore, I won’t be tempted to take any deal you offer later on, because I’ll be too afraid you’ll welsh. Once you begin the torture, that’s it. This is the only moment you have any credibility at all.”

LET'S PUT IT IN WRITING

Well, Nikita isn’t convinced that Leggup wouldn’t still take a deal at a later point — after a few volts of electricity and a dreary chapter or two from Marx’s tome — but, on the other hand, the Russian can’t be sure that Arthur doesn’t mean what he says. And since Leggup — unlike most of these stoic, John Wayne-type captured Americans — seems willing to provide information, Comcleansky decides it can’t hurt to start down the bargaining path.

So, Nikita proposes to give Arthur a written document guaranteeing Leggup long life if he provides the desired information.

“Sorry,” says Leggup, “but that’s not good enough. No offense intended. Comrade, but your people haven’t always treated signed agreements with total sanctity. I need something more.”

Comcleansky, fuming at the national insult, whacks his bearskin gloves across Leggup’s cheek. But, he muses. Captain has a point. They proceed to discuss other possible variants — including Nikita’s offer to have the document countersigned by Yuri Gagarin, Olga Korbut, and the stepson of Shostakovich — but none does the trick.

THE NEUTRAL STAKEHOLDER

“I’m sorry,’’ says Leggup, “but these written guaran­tees just won’t do. I have an idea, though. If my geography is correct. Borscht is right near the Finnish border town of Selhinki. Finland has managed to stay neutral in the war. Why don’t we get the mayor of Selhinki involved? He can act as a kind of escrow agent or third- party stakeholder. Deliver me into his custody, and then maybe we can do business.”

Well, it Just so happens that Comcleansky knows the mayor of Selhinki, an elderly gentleman named Paavo Mekko, from pre-war war days. Mekko is a straight shooter, meticulous in his neutrality. So, somewhat to Arthur’s surprise, Nikita doesn’t reject out of hand the notion of involving Mekko in some way. In fact, he sends a car to bring the mayor of Selhinki to Borscht.

Arthur is delighted; his tactics have borne fruit. Nikita obviously can’t be sure Leggup will talk if tortured, or that once torture starts, making a deal will still be possible.

WHO HOLDS THE GOODS?

But Comcleansky isn’t naive, so naturally he’s con­cerned about being fed some false dope by Leggup. And if that happens, he doesn’t want to have given up control of his prisoner before taking a crack at the torture route. So Comcleansky takes the position that he will turn Leggup over to Paavo Mekko, but only after it has been proved that the information Leggup provides is true.

That’s bad news for Arthur, since what he’s planning to reveal obviously won’t pass muster. He has to squelch this concept fast.

“No, no,” says Leggup. “The information I’m going to give you is correct. [Unfortunately, Leggup has long since passed the point at which he can pretend that no information existsf But if I’m not in Finnish custody, it would be too easy for you guys to back out of the deal — and the Finns would lack both incentive and the means to pry me loose.”

The reference to the Reds welshing prompts a sharp kick from Nikita’s left boot, bruising Leggup’s skin. Arthur winces, but continues:

“Here’s what I suggest instead. Turn me over to the Finns at the time I give you the plan. In about a week, you’ll know that it’s correct. And you’ll have an agreement with Mekko that if the information proves to be incorrect, the Finns will deliver me back to the KGB.”

Leggup’s proposal leads to considerable discussion back and forth. One particularly thorny issue is how to determine whether the information is correct. Leggup takes a firm position that this can’t be based solely on the Soviets’ say-so and suggests some impartial arbiter — a kind of international CPA. Comcleansky jabs at Leggup’s groin with his swagger stick.

CONCOCTING A LOOPHOLE

Meanwhile, Leggup has another concern. Assume, mirabile dictu, that he’s successful in persuading Nikita to turn him over to the Finns. Since Leggup knows his information will prove flawed, the mayor of Selhinki — who by now has arrived at KGB headquarters — might then feel duty-bound to return Leggup to the KGB. Arthur needs to work out a loophole in advance. So he asks for permission to speak to Mekko alone, citing as his reason the need to ascertain whether he can trust the Finnish official.

Comcleansky is suspicious but confident that Paavo Mekko won’t do anything crooked. He allows Leggup and Mekko to stand alone in an open field, away from any bugging devices. [For the movie version, I envision first a long shot across the frozen steppe — a la David Lean’s “Dr. Zhivago” — zooming slowly into a tight close-up of the two figures conversing, their breath clearly visible in the frigid air. . . .J

Leggup realizes it would be a mistake to let Mekko know that the information he proposes to give the KGB is false — Mekko might righteously refuse to be involved in a deal in which the Reds are being duped. So Leggup takes the following tack:

“Look here, Mayor, I’m worried that the KGB will claim that my information is false, just to get me back as a prisoner. I want to have an understanding with you that if the Soviets make that claim. I’ll be permitted to present my case to a Finnish court and let the judge decide whether or not I’ve lied.”

“This is fine with me,” says Mekko, delighted to be taken off the hook.

Although no agreement has been reached on when Finnish custody is to begin, Leggup has already started thinking about the wording of the document. He will volunteer to draft the language — knowing the clear advantage that being the draftsman provides. His provi­sions will require the Finns to return him to KGB custody if he has given the Soviets “false information.” In fact, Leggup intends to give the KGB information that is true, but irrelevant — having nothing to do with the Stolichna- ya plot. With the ambiguity of the contractual language, plus his deal with Mekko to refer matters to a Finnish court, Leggup figures he can drag things out for at least a year — by which time, he’s hopeful, the war will have ended.

BREAKING THE IMPASSE

But now, matters have slowed to a crawl. The parties are at an impasse. Comcleansky, suspicious about the information he will get, remains reluctant to turn Leggup over to Mekko until the information is proven correct. Leggup, knowing his information won’t please the KGB, can’t afford to remain in Soviet custody until the moment of truth. But how can he persuade the Reds to release him pending the determination? He needs a creative rationale.

“Aha!” Arthur’s face lights up, as he ponders his new tactic. He requests a meeting with just Nikita; Paavo Mekko is excluded.

“Here’s my problem,” says Leggup to Comcleansky when they’re alone. “I’m concerned about you guys, sure; but I’m just as worried about the American authorities. Hell, this is treason! Think what they’ll do to me if they discover I’ve squealed to you.”

Leggup now has Comcleansky’s attention; Nikita hadn’t previously considered this aspect.

“Let’s say we do it your vfay,” Leggup continues, “and wait until the information proves to be correct — which it will — before you release me. Then, when Mekko and I arrive in Selhinki right after the event, and Mekko writes his report to the Finnish authorities about what has happened — well, sure as I’m sitting here, the American ambassador will figure out what went on.”

Captain is right about that, thinks Comcleansky.

“From the standpoint of the Americans not catching on,” Arthur goes on, “It’s much better to let me go with the mayor of Selhinki now. Since he won’t have to return me to you (because the information will be true), his report won’t have to deal with that contingency — and I won’t have to face a U. S. firing squad.”

Comcleansky is silent, assessing the possibilities.

“In fact, Nikita — I hope you don’t mind me getting personal — I feel so strongly about this point that I’m going to make it a condition of our deal. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a real deal-breaker.”

An interesting point, thinks Comcleansky, as he idly runs his gloved hand along the length of the rack, simulating the creaking sounds of a stretched human body. Still, am not yet convinced. . . .

So — what do you think? Does Nikita relent? Can Leggup make it into Finland? Will the Stolichnaya distillery be destroyed?

Buy the novel.