The lights of the secret Siberian city were visible on the southern horizon, reflected from the snow-heavy clouds above. They turned the sky from the black of night to an infinite grey - a shade that Agent 23's eyes refused to focus on.

Agent 23 turned to her companion. "How far do you reckon we've got to the rendezvous?" As soon as the water vapour in her breath hit the cold air, it froze, turning into small particles of ice.

Yuri thought for a moment. "Ten, maybe twelve kilometres."

"Not bad," Agent 23 replies. "We should make it on time."

Yuri shook his head, the motion barely visible under his thick hood. "No. It is obvious you are not used to the taiga. It will take three, maybe four hours to get to where Borsov should be. If he is one time, he will have been waiting for us for at least an hour."

"But he should be alright?"

"Maybe." From the tone of Yuri's voice, Agent 23 suspected there was more bad news. "By that time the temperature will have dropped to twenty degrees below."

Agent 23 had to think and convert the temperature Yuri had just told her from Celsius to Fahrenheit. "That's cold."

Yuri nodded before continuing, "We must then find Borsov and get him to the extraction point. If we go get there before dawn, the temperature will have dropped even further. The cold will sap the power in the radio beacon's battery, reducing its range. If it is too cold, then the metal in the harness for the skyhook apparatus may be too brittle. If that is the case, then - !" Yuri made a gesture that left Agent 23 in no doubt of the possible consequences.

"And if we wait for the temperature to rise, the plane will have to come for us in the daylight. That will mean the air defences will be more likely to see it and shoot it down."

"Exactly."

Agent 23 used her ski poles to raise herself into a standing position. "That minor detour has cost us dear, then. It might even jeopardise our mission. If we're going to salvage anything, then we will have to push ourselves. Hard."

Yuri stood up, brushing the snow from his parka. "You understand the seriousness of our situation? Good. Then we should stop talking about it and go." He picked up the reins of the sledge from the ground, and attached them to his belt.

Agent 23 waited for him to secure the reins. Then, she and Yuri turned towards the grey glow and started their journey south, dragging the sledge behind them.