Chapter 8

“Be that as it may, you trusted me with that information. Now here’s something else nobody at headquarters knows: my middle name is Lee. For Robert E.”

Nikoloz had to think about the significance of that fact. “Was that not one of your Civil War leaders?”

“Right. The one on the losing side. I was raised south of the Mason-Dixon Line. And if you spread that around, you really will be a dead Russian. I’ve had enough Southern jokes to last a lifetime.”

“Who would I tell? I do not even know where this line may be.”

“Never mind. All you need to know is that my folks are from the Deep South and that knowledge is hush-hush.”

Nikoloz was puzzled. He still did not entirely understand American culture. “You realize that I will be researching this ‘Deep South’ and “Mason-Dixon Line.’ I have no idea why this should be a secret.”