A quick synopsis of Stillness (your free online novel) for those who are just joining.
Book I
We meet Reuben Stone, an American expatriate living in Moscow shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. He is a former CIA agent who does unspecified work for an American phone company. He spends his evenings studying the movements of gangsters who frequent his hotel and practicing his Russian with Ksenia, a cocktail waitress in the casino. One night he is awakened by the sound of explosions.
At the office the following day, Reuben learns the reason for the explosions from his co-worker Sergei, who is ex-KGB and who is apparently keeping tabs on Reuben's movements. The two men talk about Reuben's painful recent past. Sergei gives Reuben advice in matters of romance.
Reuben meets Pasha, Ksenia's brother. Reuben and Ksenia spend the day together at an old Soviet exhibition, where not everything is as it seems. Just when things are starting to heat up between them, they get a surprise.
Pasha takes Reuben and Ksenia to a private "club," which is heavily guarded by armed men. Reuben negotiates with Pasha to let Ksenia go; as she is leaving, he gives her instructions for meeting him later and getting him help if he needs it. Reuben enters the "club" with Pasha only to realize that it is occupiued by the same gangsters whom he has been observing at his hotel.
New! Read it!
Posted by Phil at September 4, 2003 05:52 AM | TrackBack