Snow Wolf

A

Saarinen smiled, a rakish smile."According to the Helsinki office, it couldn't be better for a covertdrop. Strong winds tonight, followed by a heavy cold front with @ a threat ofsome cumulonimbus cloud across parts of the Gulf of Finland, possibly down to athousand feet from five, expected by tomorrow evening. That kind of cloud cangive snow and hail and even thunderstorms, and we'll have to try and avoid theworst of it, if that's possible."

He shrugged. "Flying through heavysnow cloud isn't a pleasant way to travel for the passengers because it can getpretty rolling up there, only it's less likely the Soviets will have their Migspatrolling the airspace in such extreme conditions, but of course I can'tguarantee that. Let's just say I'd be optimistic." He smiled again,looking- as if he were actually about to enjoy the bad-weather flying and thedanger involved.

Stanski lit a cigarette. "Isn't thattaking a risk, flying in such bad weather? besides other aircraft?"

"I'm not worried about getting blownout of the sky by the latest military jet fighter in clear weather. Thosemachines are the fastest thing in the skies, even faster than anything theAmericans have got right now."

"But the way I Understand it, inreally bad snow, the Mig pilots keep above the cloud because they're not yetfully used to operating the new on-board radar. However, there's a radar unitat the airbase itself, another in the main Soviet Army headquarters in Tondybarracks, just outside Talli

Massey crossed to the window and lookedout at the frozen bay. Up here in the north he knew a man was lucky if he saw acouple of days of weak sunshine in winter. The twilight had a depressingeffect. He looked back at Saarinen. '['he man was a very capable pilot, but hewas also plainly crazy to be so enthusiastic, considering the dangers. Masseywondered if some of the shrapnel in his leg had lodged in his brain as well.

"OK, Jan, so what's the schedule'?When can we get under way?"

Saarinen sat on the edge of the table."The cloud is expected due southeast of here by eight tomorrow night. Ifthe weather boys are right, it should give us cover as far as the coast ofEstonia. If we leave at twenty-thirty, then according to my prediction weshould meet the cloud about twenty miles out on the coast. The route -we takeis this." He pointed to the red line on the map. "Almost straightacross the Baltic to the drop area. I know the frequencies of the Russianbeacons and I can use them for more exact navigational reference when we getnear Talli

Massey frowned. "And what happens ifthe weather really is bad, like you say?"

"Don't worry. I'll pick it up. I cango in low, to within five hundred feet of' the ground if necessary. I should beable to make out the lights of Talli

He swun" his leg off the table andsaid to Massey, "Come on, I'll show your friends the little beauty that'sgoing to take them into the jaws of hell."

Saarinenen led them out across the woodenpromenade to the hangar.

It was @ a converted boat shed, and therewere two sets of double wooden doors, one each at the front and rear of thebuilding. Saarinen swung them both open to reveal a short, stoicly-looking single-engineaircraft with high wins, painted all white. It had no markings and its landingwheels had been replaced with combination skis and wheels, so that it couldtake off' and land on ice or a runway. The engine cowling @and propeller had athick woollen blanket thrown over them. Saarinen ran a hand lovingly over theedge of the starboard wing "A beauty, isn't she'? The Norseman C-64 lighttransporter, Canadian design, as used by the American Air Force during the war.I picked her up for next to nothing at a military surplus auction in Hamburg.She's ideal for cross country flying and can fly at a hundred and forty knotswith up to eight passengers. But in these temperatures she needs to be lookedafter like a baby. You've got to keep the engine warm, turning it over severaltimes a day, otherwise the oil freezes and the engine metal cracks from severecold."

He looked at his watch. "Almost timeBetter stand well back."

They stood well beyond the open reardoors of the hangar and Saarinen pulled off the heavy blanket over the enginepropeller. He hefted himself with relative ease into the cockpit swinging hisfalse leg in last. He started the engine, pulled the throttle and idled for tenminutes before closing down the engine and climbing out.

"Well, that's it for another fourhours. Now it's time to get myself warm. Like most sensible Fi

He looked over at Stanski and A

Stanski said, @"Thanks for theoffer, Ja

"What's next on the agenda?"

"We'll go over the weapons, clothesand papers for Everything you need for the drop and afterwards. But in themeantime, there's nothing to do but wait."

"Then how about I take A

"What kind of diversion had you gotin mind?"

"A drive into Helsinki and back, ifwe could borrow Ja

He looked over at Saarinen. "Howabout it, Ja

The Fi

"A last taste of freedom before wego. Jake, I think you owe us the price of a good di

Massey took out his wallet and handedStanski some Fi