“No. Sasha and several others from my NKVD team will be going on board.”
“In the circumstances, do you not think it wise to accompany the goods yourself? This is, after all, the largest part of our transfer to you. Soon, in Moscow and in your banks in France, you will hold safe for us our entire gold resources – the fourth largest gold reserves in the world.”
“Just so, sen?r, but I am quite happy that Sasha and his men, together with our comrades of the merchant marine and security party aboard, will be able to get the gold safely to its destination.”
Mendez Aspe’s colleague angrily spat something out in Spanish, which Grishin failed to follow. Mendez Aspe patted his colleague’s shoulder soothingly. “My colleague is not happy about this transfer, Colonel. Nor are many other of our colleagues in government circles. But then, as I have told him many times, what choice do we have? Your great Generalissimo Stalin is the only one who is prepared to arm us in our struggle with the vile Generalissimo we ourselves have spawned and who threatens our democracy and lifeblood with his fascistic plans. Naturally, your Sen?r Stalin wants payment for this help and if the Spanish gold reserves represent our only viable security for credit, it is only natural that such security be provided. Is that not so?”
Grishin licked the sticky remnants of brandy from his moustache. “High finance is not my thing, Sen?r. All I know is that your government authorised the transfer and my superiors asked me to handle the shipment. Anything else is above me.”
“Come now, Colonel. You are one of the two top NKVD men in Spain. I think you are being far too modest. In any event, the decision has been made and it is pointless for us now to second-guess the decisions of our superiors. Let us hope that our Republican cause is soon victorious and these treasures of Spain can be returned swiftly to their home, after deduction, of course, of the relevant consideration payable to your government.” Mendez Aspe leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes for a moment. “Wonderful treasures there are too. You, I believe, have seen nothing but the boxes, but I had the chance to view some of these magnificent items before they were shipped out of Madrid. There are not just boring nuggets of gold and silver, but marvellous treasures of Spain’s truly golden age. Not just coins, but artefacts of surpassing beauty. Aztec and Inca jewellery and ornaments whose artistry defies belief.” He opened his eyes and his cheeks flushed. “The permanent removal of such pieces would be a crime beyond… beyond…” His words trailed away as someone knocked at the car door window.
Grishin wiped the condensation from the glass. “Here’s Sasha. We’d better get out.”
Sasha introduced the two Russian auditors and their three Spanish counterparts. For several minutes these men compared their paperwork, while Grishin and the two civil servants stood aside and made small talk. It had at last stopped raining and there was a patch of bright blue sky above them. Grishin noticed that the auditors’ voices were becoming louder though he couldn’t hear what they were saying. Eventually, Sasha rejoined them. “There’s a small discrepancy, sir.”
Grishin raised an eyebrow.
“Our people say that we have loaded 7,900 cases, but the Spaniards say that it’s 7,800 cases.”
“That’s the figure that tallies with my manifest, is it not?”
“Yes, sir.” Sasha handed Grishin the manifest so that he could check for himself.