Leonid opened his eyes, orientated himself briefly and then brushed back his dishevelled hair. Next to him he noticed Staff Sergeant Winter asleep. He nudged the sleeping man who, upon waking, sleepily asked, "What time is it?"

Leonid turned to the bedside table, looked at his wristwatch lying there and answered, "Just after half past ten. But lie still, today is Sunday, no duty. And I also asked our priest last night whether he was planning to leave the room today before his 5 p.m. appointment with Piatnitskaya. He didn't and that's why I also have a few more hours."

Winter looked down at Leonid and then rubbed his head with his left hand, "I'm amazed at how little my head spins. Must have been a lot of vodka yesterday."

Leonid smiled, "Russian vodka is a quality product, you don't get a headache from it. Have you forgotten everything else; from last night?"

Winter's first response was to pull the unprepared Leonid down to him on the cushion and kiss him, "Of course not. I wish this day would never end; we could stay here together forever. Maybe there is a way that" Abruptly Leonid got up, got out of bed and went to the window. Without looking at him, he said to Winter: "It was the second and penultimate time we met like this."

Winter straightened up in bed and looked towards the window in confusion. "What do you mean, the second to last time? No one could have overheard anything. As well as your boss and the priest get on, his visa will surely be extended, then they need you here as an interpreter. And my lieutenant colonel doesn't have the slightest suspicion, he even thought it might be useful if you showed me around the city a bit and then, for security reasons, I stayed here in the hotel and didn't go back to the embassy. He's probably even hoping that I'll get some additional information through you." Leonid turned back to the bed and enjoyed Winter's sight. Then he sat down on one of the comfortable armchairs and thought. Finally he said, "I should have told you something before we made love the first time. I live by certain rules that I never break."

Winter frowned worriedly, "If you want to tell me now that you wanted to spy on me and that's why you seduced me; if you want to go on to say that you're sorry now because you suddenly feel something for me after all, then say it straight out. I am a soldier and appreciate clear words more than delaying talk. And that you, as an interpreter, surely also work for the secret service, is as clear to me as you must be aware of my mission to sound you out."

Leonid shook his head, "The rules I spoke of have nothing to do with my profession. You can imagine that women and men often approach me. Partly I put it on them, partly my beauty and charm work by themselves. I can't turn it off, that's just the way I am."

"Well, your self-confidence is second only to your beauty," Winter teased, getting more and more restless and wrapping himself up with the blanket.

"I know, Thomas, but hear me out. Normally I tell every woman and man before I sleep with them that it's just for once. In a way, I also see it as a socialist service and a form of justice."

Winter jumped out of bed and stood stunned, "Now tell me this is a joke! I have never felt the way I do towards anyone, not even my fiancée back home. I have embarked on something with you that I have never had the courage to do my whole life. I risked the end of my career and the social ostracism I would face if anyone ever found out I loved a man. And you talk about justice and socialism to make it indirectly clear to me that I am one of your many trophies? I would have preferred it if you had seduced me on the orders of your government. How could I have been such an idiot?"

With these words, he began to search for his things. First, he found a shirt, then a jacket. Leonid came up to him, grabbed him tightly and pulled his head up so that he could look him straight in the eyes, "I'm sorry that it's such a big problem for you to love men too. I have a very different attitude to sexuality. I see it as an extended form of conversation; as a dialogue that brings pleasure to both, but doesn't commit them to anything. The more often you meet, however, the more an emotional bond appears alongside the physical effect. And that makes you vulnerable, blackmailable and weak. But you still haven't let me finish: In addition to the first rule of only sleeping with someone once and explicitly telling him or her so beforehand, there are two more. People with whom I want not only the fleeting pleasure of an encounter, but who appeal to me in a fascinating way, not only physically but also spiritually, with such people I sleep three times. The first time in the intoxication of curiosity to feel the body of the other in every fibre, to grasp the other in the literal sense. The second time in the pleasure of entering a familiar land, of returning to a familiar home. It is nowhere near as explosive as the first meeting, but it is satisfying in a way that makes me forget everything for a short time: My past and my future, my state and my job, all the other people I have slept with before and will sleep with later; just everything. Falling asleep like that in someone's arms is one of the greatest feelings possible for us humans. The third time, and if it's any consolation, this has only happened to two people in my life, the third time is an ecstatic form of saying goodbye. It is the desperate attempt to once again sum up and surpass the first two encounters. But the third time is also the separation, and that will not only cause the highest pleasure but also the deepest despair. I will do everything to make it a special encounter for you that you will never forget; and I will never forget it either. But afterwards we will meet again as we did before our first sex. And we will never talk about that experience again. This third time is the admission of our mortality: we are bodies that grow, blossom and wither. And no love in the world can stop that. And no love in the world can make the other live even one second longer. All this pain is summed up in this third and final act. Lifted up and completely transcended for a moment. And after that it must be forgotten, otherwise the pain becomes unbearable."

Winter stood there completely perplexed, lowering his shirt and jacket. After some silence he said in a hoarse voice, "I wish I had just left this morning and not had to hear what you just said now. I can't decide if you're a complete megalomaniac block of ice who believes what he's saying himself, or if you're a fucking sadist who's making fun of me and my feelings."

Leonid let Winter go, "Neither: I may have underestimated the depth of your feelings at first, but I see them before me now with a clarity that makes me suffer agony. Even the way we made love for the first time, back then on the train from Lviv to Moscow, was so different from the countless times before. That's why I talk to you so honestly. That's why I don't just throw you out the door and continue on my tried and tested path. And that's why I want to enjoy the third time with you in an incredibly special, sober way. And before you ask or try to persuade me to plan a life together, I have to tell you the third rule I live by and from which the first two are derived: Never build a relationship on good sex, because that becomes routine at some point even with the most beautiful partner, but on deep trust, a shared plan for the future and a realistic perspective for something great that you can achieve together. And the person I am connected to in this way I met 6 years ago. And since then I have been connected to him in a way that nothing can destroy."

The shirt and jacket slipped from Winter's hand to the floor. For a moment his knees buckled, and Leonid was about to support him when he angrily pushed his hands back and hit him in the face with his fist so hard that he fell back: "You're out of your mind! You tell me calmly that you've had a wife or husband for six years; and in the same breath you boast that you've probably slept with every man and woman in all of Moscow? Are you out of your mind?"

Leonid stood up and replied calmly, "I told you that because I care about you. If you knew him, you could understand me. He is very much like you in many ways. I met him in the military. He understands me and my needs and ideals, he"

There was a knock at the door of the hotel room so hard that Leonid and Winter flinched in fright. Reflexively, Leonid pushed Winter onto the bed and threw the blanket over him. Already the knocking was repeated, even louder. Leonid ran to the door and wanted to open it a crack. But no sooner had he turned the key than Aleksandra pushed the door open with a force that resulted from another attempt at knocking. She almost stumbled into the room and turned around in confusion. Leonid tried to assume his posture before realising that he was still naked. Aleksandra didn't even seem to notice. She was wearing a navy uniform with the insignia of a captain. In her hand she held a travelling bag. After a moment of orientation, she pushed the door shut, hastily placed the bag on the bed, opened it and took out parts of a uniform.

"Comrade Shakhlikov, you will put on this uniform right now. We don't have much time. There has been a coup and Comrade Khrushchev has been captured by the coup plotters. Doctor Erath is in the greatest danger, and we will take him out of the country immediately on the highest orders. He will be disguised as a Thuringian officer, you will be his adjutant and interpreter. A plane is waiting at the military airport to take us to Weimar."

Noticing Leonid's hesitation, Aleksandra hastily added: "I am informed of your function and task in the KGB and inform you that I am authorised by the highest authority to give them orders in this matter. I work for the same service. Your commander is Colonel Erenzov of the II Main Department. Your last assignments for the secret service were in Vladikavkaz, Tallinn and Odessa." With these words she tossed Leonid the uniform, which he now recognised as belonging to the National People's Army of the People's Republic of Thuringia.

It was only a split second for which he turned his worried gaze to the bed, but it was enough to alert Aleksandra. She pulled her pistol from its holster, took the safety off and pointed it at the pile of bedspread: "Who's there? Come out at once!" As there was no response, Aleksandra pulled the blanket away in one move with her left hand, exposing Winter lying on the bed.

Aleksandra's face reflected confusion; Winter made no attempt to cover himself in the face of the gun pointed at him. "What is going on here?" asked Aleksandra directly. Quick-witted, Leonid replied, "Comrade Captain, Staff Sergeant Winter doesn't understand Russian. It is best if he gets dressed and leaves the hotel immediately. He won't be able to tell anyone anything."

Undeterred, Aleksandra kept her gun pointed at the naked Austrian, "He has seen me in uniform; he knows you are involved too. We can't let him go."

Winter looked from Aleksandra to Leonid in confusion. The latter's eyes widened in horror. Seconds of silence passed. Then Aleksandra said, "We're changing the plan. Since you are about the same stature, give him this uniform. Tell him to put it on immediately. You will put on your Russian naval uniform. Do you have it here or in your flat?"

Leonid exhaled with relief, and Winter also relaxed slightly when he saw Aleksandra secure and holster her weapon. "Once again, do you have your uniform here? I'm not the least interested in who you spend your free time with. All that matters now is that we get to the airport with Doctor Erath as soon as possible. And that's why I need you as an interpreter."

Leonid composed himself and replied, "Comrade Captain, I have my uniform and my identity card here. But how does Thomas, how does Staff Sergeant Winter get through the airport checkpoint without ID?"

Aleksandra reached into her pocket and pulled out two Thuringian passports. "You get dressed immediately and tell him I need his passport. I'll have to improvise a little with the photography, but due to the chaotic conditions, the checks won't be that accurate today. Meanwhile, he should also put on his uniform. The second pass is for Doctor Erath. You will drive the car parked behind the hotel. I'll get you on the plane, even if I have to make a phone call first."

Leonid translated and emphasised that Winter was not allowed to ask any questions. Winter hesitantly handed Aleksandra his passport, which he had taken from his jacket lying on the floor. When Leonid gave him the uniform, he shook his head: "I can't put on someone else's uniform. I have to see Lieutenant-Colonel Bruschek immediately. I won't say anything about this encounter. You have to explain it to her. I can't become a traitor!"

Leonid spoke briefly to Aleksandra and then answered Winter: "We have a coup going on right now. All diplomatic staff have been put under house arrest; the embassies have been surrounded by troops of the coup plotters 'to protect the diplomats'. There is no way for you to return to the embassy unnoticed anyway. And your superior will have other thoughts at the moment than where his sergeant is. Put on the uniform, please. An intelligence officer of her rank is not to be trifled with. It's a miracle you're still alive." He tossed the uniform to Winter and he reluctantly began to put it on.

Meanwhile, Aleksandra carefully removed Winter's photograph from his Austrian passport and Leonid's picture from the fake Thuringian passport. Finally, she pinned Winter's photograph into this passport and looked at it from the distance that the guard at the airport entrance would have to the ID. She swayed her head uncertainly.

Winter had dressed in the meantime and was fastening the last buttons of his uniform jacket. Leonid had also put on his navy uniform and his cap. Winter looked at him in amazement, still trying to understand the situation. At least, he thought, I now know for sure what I had only suspected until now: both are in the secret service. But whether they were on the side of the coup plotters or the overthrown government, Winter couldn't tell.

As if it had been arranged by an invisible hand, Johann put down his prayer book just at the moment when there was a heavy knock on his door. Confused, he looked at his watch, got up and went to the connecting door to Shakhlikov's flat. Another knock was quicker than he could open. Finally he looked in amazement at the unusual trio: Aleksandra in a military uniform, as was Leonid and also Winter, but wait, Winter was not wearing an Austrian uniform.

"Come in," Johann said politely as the three of them already pushed past him into the spacious room and he closed the door. At Aleksandra's beckoning, Leonid began to speak while Winter opened the bag and took out another uniform. "Doctor, certain political circumstances have arisen that necessitate your immediate evacuation. It is not possible to take you to the Austrian Embassy, so Comrade Piatnitskaya will take you personally to Weimar. You will be safe there. Staff Sergeant Winter will also accompany you. Please put on this uniform. We have also prepared an appropriate passport for you. These measures are unfortunately necessary, and time is short."

Johann looked confused first at Aleksandra, then at the uniform. Finally he turned to Shakhlikov: "This is a Thuringian uniform? Surely I can't wear a communist uniform! It goes against all my principles. And last but not least, everyone would immediately see that I have never served. Thomas, you have to make him understand! Mr. Shakhlikov, please translate this for Doctor Piatnitskaya!"

Before Leonid could say anything, Winter stopped him: "Johann, now is really not the time to think about principles. You can do that in Weimar, or even better in Austria. We have often talked about the fact that it could become very uncomfortable here if the political climate changes. I think the most uncomfortable situation possible has occurred. Leonid, do you still have vodka in your cupboard? Go get it!" Leonid looked at Winter in confusion:

"Thomas, what are you up to?"

"Doctor Erath will be a drunken Thuringian officer who is no longer master of his senses. No one will take offence if he does not then greet in a militarily correct manner. Everyone will laugh and think that once again someone was not up to Russian drinking habits. Tell your boss and get the booze!"

While Leonid translated Aleksandra, Johann protested vehemently, "I never drink alcohol outside of mass, certainly not schnapps. I will not take part in this charade. If we stay here in the hotel, we'll be safe, won't we?" When Leonid had translated that too, there was another knock at the door.

As Johann turned to the door, Aleksandra took the opportunity to inject him with a small syringe through his shirt and inject the contents. Confused, he grabbed at the painful spot and then slumped down, caught by her with the presence of mind. Together with Winter, she laid him on the bench. Aleksandra went through Shakhlikov's room and brought in Olga, who was carrying a suitcase.

Aleksandra literally pulled her into the room and closed the door. "Aleksandra, what is going on here? What are you wearing? And why are there umpteen different uniforms in your wardrobe in the flat? Do you know what's happening on the streets? Tanks are driving everywhere? What is this?"

Aleksandra took the suitcase from Olga's hand, put it on the bed and opened it. Without paying attention to the two men, she took off her uniform jacket, shirt and skirt and began to put on the uniform from the suitcase. Winter looked puzzled at the unconscious Johann, Olga and Leonid looked even more puzzled at Aleksandra, who now shone in the gold of an air force major general. In front of the mirror she checked the fit of her uniform and adjusted the little ship on her head. She turned to Olga: "I couldn't let you in on it, but it doesn't matter now. You were always raving about adventures; and how boring my life was compared to yours. Well, mine was so exciting that I wasn't allowed to tell you about it. Although you're the person I trust the most, apart from Wladi."

"You, you're an agent?" stuttered Olga, stunned. Aleksandra nodded. "And the dead priest on the bench, you killed him? But why now, after you'd been looking after him so carefully for four months that I already believed you had something together? And you, Leonid? Were you in on it all along? Is that why you were so upset when I came to this flat after our tryst? Fear of punishment from the KGB? You are definitely a better lover than agent!"

Aleksandra frowned, "You've been in this flat before, Olga? Comrade Shakhlikov, I'm not interested in your private life, but this is unforgivable. We'll talk about the punishment for this official misdemeanour later!" At this, her gaze slid from Leonid to Winter and then to Olga, with Winter looking uncomprehendingly around.

"And, Olga, Doctor Erath is not dead. He just wasn't easily convinced to be evacuated. I gave him a sedative that I got from Doctor Bodin. There is no danger to his health. The putschists want to prevent the course of opening, which includes Doctor Erath's stay, by all means. We will bring him to Weimar as a Thuringian officer. For that we will now put this uniform on him."

Olga was still confused, but composed herself, "Aleksandra, I slept with Leonid to dispel the rumours about you and him."

Aleksandra was only half listening as she hurriedly unfolded the Thuringian uniform, "You chose a very unselfish way to support me. Thank you very much. But we can talk about that when all this is over. Ilya won't hear anything from me. Now, however, time is of the essence!"

Without hesitation, Aleksandra bent down and undid Johann's belt, then pulled off his trousers. Meanwhile Shakhlikov took off his shirt. Johann's limp body was wrapped in the Thuringian uniform. "Leonid, you take him to the car together with Staff Sergeant Winter. His passport and money must remain here at all costs, as well as his robe and all personal belongings." Shakhlikov translated for Winter, who now nodded with relief and joined him in picking Johann up and carrying him out.

Aleksandra took one last look around the room. She was about to turn around when her eyes fell on Johann's breviary, which lay closed on the table. She hesitated for a moment, then took it. As if to apologise, she said to Olga: "This book is apparently very important to him, it won't be noticed because no one will search the luggage of a major general. Olga, please, you must take the suitcase and the travelling bag to my flat. I will let you know from Weimar that we are all right. You will recognise my message, even if it is encoded in a way that only you can understand."

Slowly Olga's torpor lifted, "Aleksandra, I will help you, of course, even if I understand next to nothing of what is going on here. But do you really think you'll be safe in Weimar? And how are you going to get there anyway?" Aleksandra put the book into a small handbag she had taken out of the travel bag, then packed the travel bag into the suitcase and gave it to Olga. "There is a plane waiting at the military airport to take a Thuringian officer back to Weimar. I will accompany him there. My rank will impress the guard enough to let us through, despite the chaotic situation. The pilot of the machine is on our side."