As he looked down at the expectant faces gazing up at him, he tried not to let their adulation sway his judgement, although he knew that an opportunity like this might never happen again, and that he needed to take advantage of it. He leant forward until his lips were almost touching the microphone, and there followed a stillness he realized could only last for a few moments before the spell would be broken.
‘It is my father, not I, who should be standing here receiving your acclamation. He risked his life defending this city against our common enemy, for which a grateful nation awarded him the Defence of Leningrad medal. But now we face a more insidious enemy, who has no morals, no scruples, and whose only interest is self-interest. These were the men who murdered my father because he wanted to set up a union to protect the rights of his fellow workers. Greedy, selfish men who represent no one other than themselves.’
The hush that had fallen over the crowd was almost palpable.
‘My fellow countrymen, I have not returned to the land of my birth to seek revenge, but to follow in my father’s footsteps. Inspired by your belief in me, my only wish is to serve you. I will therefore allow my name to go forward for the highest office in the land, and seek to become your president.’
The storm of applause and cheering that followed must have been heard in the centre of Saint Petersburg. But like Mark Antony, Alexander knew there was nothing more he could say, as the time had come for him to march onto the battlefield. He had sown the seeds of revolution, and would now have to wait for them to take root. As he quietly left the stage his followers continued to chant, ‘Kar-pen-ko! Kar-pen-ko!’
Standing alone at the back of the crowd was a smartly dressed, heavily built man who didn’t join in the applause. The recently appointed head of the secret service dialled a number on his mobile phone, but had to wait for some time before he heard a voice on the other end of the line.
Donokov held his phone high in the air so his boss could better hear the acclamation of the crowd.
‘I was about to issue a press release,’ said the Prime Minister, ‘expressing my deep sorrow on learning of the tragic deaths of Alexander Karpenko and his family. An heroic figure, who would surely have become our next president, and played a major role in the building of a new Russia, if I recall my exact words.’
‘A little premature, I would suggest,’ said Donokov. ‘But be assured, Prime Minister, it is under control. I shall not make the same mistake a second time.’
‘Let’s hope so for your sake,’ said the Prime Minister as he continued to listen to the exuberant crowd in the background.
‘I am confident,’ said Donokov, ‘that it shouldn’t be too long before you are able to issue a more up-to-date press statement.’
‘That’s good to hear. But I shall still wait until after I’ve delivered the eulogy at the funeral of my old school friend, before I announce I will be standing for president,’ said Vladimir Putin.