arger than most
Westerners seem to realize. Originally it was the whole city. The
Kremlin walls are more then two kilometers long. In them are a great
deal more than just government offices. Among other things, the
Kremlin has one of the greatest museums and probably the largest in
the world."

"What I meant was, with the space emissaries there, will tours still
be held?"

"They _are_ being held. It would be too conspicuous to stop them even
if there was any reason to." She frowned and shook her head. "Just
because you will be inside the Kremlin walls doesn't mean that you
will be sitting in the lap of the extraterrestrials. They are probably
well guarded in the palace. We don't know to what extent."

Hank said, "Then how can you help me?"

"Only in a limited way." She pulled a folder paper from her purse.
"Here is a map of the Kremlin, and here one of the Palace. Both of
these date from Czarist days but such things as the general layout of
the Kremlin and the _Bolshoi Kremlevski Dvorets_ do not change of
course."

"Do you know where the extraterrestrials are?"

"We're not sure. The palace was built in the Seventeenth Century and
was popular with various czars. It has been a museum for some time. We
suspect that the Galactic Confederation delegates are housed in the
_Sobstvennaya Plovina_ which used to be the private apartments of
Nicolas the First. It is quite define that the conferences are being
held in the _Gheorghievskaya sala_; it's the largest and most
impressive room in the Kremlin."

Hank stared at the two maps feeling a degree of dismay.

She said impatiently, "We can help you more than this. One of the
regular guide-guards at the facade which leads to the main entrance of
the palace is a member of our group. Here are your instructions."

They spent another fifteen minutes going over the details, then she
shot a quick glance at her watch and came to her feet. "Is everything
clear ... comrade?"

Hank frowned slightly at the use of the word, then understood. "I
think so, and thanks ... comrade." He, as well as she, meant the term
in its original sense.

He followed her to the door but before his hand touched the knob, it
opened inwardly. Paco stood there, and behind him in the corridor was
Char Moore.

The girl turned to Hank quickly, reached up and kissed him on the
mouth and said, in English, "Good-bye, dollink." She winked at Paco,
swept past Char and was gone.

Paco looked after her apprec