Free Zugzwang by Ronan Bennett

rook on its correct square – g4 – when I realised there was nothing accidental about its placement. I saw now that it was a very strong move.
    How on earth …? Kavi. The Cossack must have done it while I was waiting, eyes closed, for the thrust of his knife. There I was thinking he was going to kill me; instead he was considering a chess move.
    There was a knock at the door.
    â€˜Your daughter is here,’ Minna said, looking quite flustered, ‘and also –’
    Catherine pushed past and entered.
    â€˜Catherine? Why are you here?’ I said. She had never before appeared at my office without prior arrangement.
    â€˜Because I told her to come.’
    The voice was Lychev’s. The policeman came in behind her, as silently as the breeze. Two uniformed and armed gendarmes followed rather more noisily.
    â€˜I have come to ask you and your daughter some questions,’ Lychev said in his nasal monotone.
    I reached for the telephone but one of the gendarmes intercepted me.
    â€˜There will be no calls to your friends, Spethmann,’ Lychev said, pushing his fringe out of his eyes. He was holding a leather bag. It gave off a faintly chemical smell.

Eight
    Lychev ordered the gendarmes to remain with Minna in the outer office and then heaved the bag on to my desk; it was evidently quite heavy.
    â€˜How was the wine at the Imperial Yacht Club?’ he asked slyly. ‘I hear they keep an excellent cellar.’
    Catherine looked at me. The Imperial Yacht Club? What had I been doing at such a place? Sensing her reaction, Lychev went on in the same crafty tone: ‘Didn’t you know your father has friends in high places? He only has to click his fingers and archdukes, generals and Baltic Barons snap to do his bidding.’
    â€˜Don’t be ridiculous,’ Catherine told him.
    Turning his pale eyes on me, he said, ‘You didn’t tell Catherine about your friendly little chat with the Mountain?’
    Catherine turned to regard him. They were about the same height and equally slight, but Catherine seemed to dominate the space between them.
    â€˜The Mountain?’ Catherine said.
    â€˜I understand Colonel Gan himself was also at the club last night?’ Lychev continued in the same heavily ironic tone. ‘Did you and the colonel discuss ways to stop the terrorist bombings? Did he try to recruit you as an informer for the secret police?’
    â€˜Do your superiors know you are here, Lychev?’ I demanded.
    He ignored me and, getting down to business, addressed Catherine. ‘I must ask you if you know a man by the name of Yastrebov?’
    â€˜Do not answer him, Catherine,’ I said. ‘He has no authority to question us. When his superiors find out he is here, he will be in a great deal of trouble.’
    â€˜Do you know a man by the name of Yastrebov?’ he repeated.
    I protested again but Catherine turned to me and asked, ‘Is this the same person you asked me about this morning? Because if it is, I’ve never heard of him.’
    â€˜He was a revolutionary, a terrorist,’ Lychev said, ‘a very dangerous young man.’
    Catherine gave a contemptuous laugh. ‘In the view of the police, every worker in Russia is a terrorist and every Jew a revolutionary.’
    â€˜I have reason to believe you knew Yastrebov,’ Lychev went on, ignoring her provocation.
    â€˜I can assure you I did not,’ Catherine replied.
    â€˜Just so there is no mistake …’
    Lychev turned to the leather bag and slowly undid the two enclosing straps. The chemical odour became more noticeable.
    â€˜There can be confusion over names,’ he said. ‘After all, what is a name? Documents and identities are easily forged. The revolutionary organisations have whole departments dedicated to their manufacture. Names can be changed. Physical features, on the other hand, may be modified and disguised but they are not so easily