“So now,” announced Dr. Starova, checking her tiny wristwatch, “we run for train!”
They scarcely had time to pick up their bags before Dr. Starova was marching smartly toward the platforms. Sophie, seeing that Delphine was struggling, took one of her suitcases and Marianne the other. They set off after the elegant figure of their host, feeling awkward and out of place, trying to get past commuters and travelers who were not in the habit of moving to accommodate three hobbling schoolgirls.
“Where’s she going?” Delphine said. “Why aren’t we taking the Metro?”
“Just don’t take your eyes off her,” Marianne replied, her breathing shallow. “If we lose her, I don’t get the feeling she’ll come back for us.”
“Quick!” Dr. Starova called over her shoulder as they reached a platform. “The train is leaving. We must not miss him. Next train tomorrow!”
The girls immediately upped their pace, almost breaking into a run as the woman strode alongside an old-fashioned-looking train, which seemed to go on for miles. Eventually, Dr. Starova thrust her tickets at a uniformed guard standing at the farthest door, fluttering them like a fan under his nose and laughing coquettishly. He waved them on without looking once at the tickets.
“We are just in time!” she said, smiling at them all.
The girls struggled up the steps with their bags, Dr. Starova doing nothing to help.
“Turn right! Second compartment!” she called. “Hurry!” She stepped lightly up behind them, banging the door shut.
The train jolted, then began to move.
“Hurry!” Dr. Starova urged, pushing past them. “We must find our carriage!”
Sophie felt a delicious combination of fear and excitement. This was not the glamorous sleeper she had imagined, but it would do. She was on a train in Saint Petersburg. Who cared if she wouldn’t have time to put chocolate cats under her pillow as she did in her fantasy Russian journey? After all, they wouldn’t be traveling very far; soon they would be in Dr. Starova’s home, enjoying Russian food and meeting the rest of the Starova family, including Natalya, the math prodigy.
“Watch it!” Marianne turned to Delphine as they tried to maneuver their suitcases along the narrow corridor. “I needbothmy legs!”
“Too slow!” Dr. Starova pushed past them and disappeared into a compartment ahead.
The girls struggled on. They had to stop to let another passenger pass, but finally they caught up and put their bags down. They were in a cramped cabin with four narrow red seats and a small drop-down table.
Dr. Starova drew the curtain behind them. “We good!” she said.
Delphine got out her phone. “Would you mind if I took a photograph of your coat? My mother is a fashion editor in Paris and she likes me to send her pictures of things that have caught my eye. Is it vintage?”
Dr. Starova took off her coat and folded it carefully. “No photographs. I stop them many years ago.” Then she took Delphine’s phone out of her hand and turned it off.
“You can’t do that!” Delphine said.
Dr. Starova shrugged and handed it back. “But if I let you take photograph, I must let everyone take photograph!” She smoothed her claret wool skirt over her hips before sitting down.
The train was picking up speed. Dr. Starova reached into her handbag and brought out a jeweled compact, an old-fashioned-looking thing that nevertheless seemed exotic and precious in the bare train carriage. She snapped it open, ran her tongue over her teeth, arched her eyebrows, pushed a curl back from her forehead, and pursed her lips. “Every hour men want photograph … It must stop!” She snapped the compact shut. “So!” she said. “This your first time in Russia?”
The girls nodded.
“Voy gavaritye parruski?”
The girls stared at her.
“What did you say?” Sophie asked. She thought the last word might be something to do with the word forRussian, but didn’t want to risk looking silly.
“That funny.” And then the woman laughed. A short, sharp laugh, like a slap. “You not understand Russian?”
Marianne looked stung. “I have memorized the alphabet,” she said.
“And we are very keen to learn,” Sophie added quickly.
“Youtwo are,” muttered Delphine.
“Of course!” Dr. Starova was still smiling, but her eyes had assumed a more watchful expression. She stared out of the window at the blizzard and the black night. The train was now rattling along at high speed. She turned back to the girls.
