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is more frequent since the country’s independence.”
    “Thanks for the tip,” she said.
    “Don’t mention it. The modern name of the country is derived from the term ukraina in the sense of ‘borderland, frontier region, or marches,’ ” he said. “Not that you care, but these meanings can be derived from the Proto-Slavic root kraj -, meaning ‘edge, border.’ In Russian, a modern parallel for this might be—”
    “The Russian word okraina ,” she said. “Meaning ‘outskirts’ and kraj meaning ‘border district.’ I speak Russian fluently.”
    “Your language skills are the major reason you’re here,” he said.
    She sipped some water.
    “But why do I make the point?” he asked. “Because Ukraine has always been exactly that. A border district. A frontier. A dangerous unruly place. Europe ends there and Asia begins. Asia begins there and Europe ends. One could put forth the theory that civilization sometimes ends there and chaos begins.”
    Alex smiled. Cerny was coming across as a windbag, but at least he was an entertaining and knowledgeable windbag.
    “Now,” he continued, “I’m not so dumb as to think that you don’t pick up rumors within the government, same as everyone else,” he said. “Particularly with a fiancé who is employed by the Secret Service. So you probably knew already about the visit.”
    “I’d heard a few rumors,” she admitted.
    “Of course you have,” he said. “In any event, the intent of the trip is to bolster the pro-Western regime elected in the pomaranchevya revolutsia , the ‘Orange Revolution’ of 2004 and 2005. A secondary intent is for the president to look good here at home. We should get a good reception there.” He switched gears again. “I also note in your c.v. that you’re a member of a Christian church.”
    “That’s a private matter, but yes, I am.”
    “Then this should appeal to you. The Orange Revolution was widely supported by the Christian churches of the region.”
    “Fine, but it’s not just a Christian thing,” she said. “Anything that threw off the old-style Soviet way of doing things would have its appeal to any fair-minded people, wouldn’t it? Religious freedom is for everyone, or did I misread the Constitution?”
    “Point well taken,” he allowed. “You’re rather a live wire, aren’t you?”
    “I like to believe in what I’m doing, particularly if I’m doing it for my country. I might be a little strange in that respect.”
    “I can respect that,” he said. “So let me refresh your memory on events from southeastern Europe from the past few years. The Orange Revolution.”
    Cerny spoke without notes. Alex listened intently, matching Cerny’s official account of events with what she remembered from the news.
    The Orange Revolution was a series of protests and political events in Ukraine from November 2004 to January 2005, in the immediate aftermath of the run-off vote of the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election.
    The 2004 presidential election in Ukraine had featured two main candidates. One was sitting Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, supported by Leonid Kuchma, the outgoing president. The opposition candidate was Viktor Yushchenko, leader of the Our Ukraine faction in the Ukrainian parliament, also a former prime minister.
    The election, which Cerny had observed personally, was held in a highly charged atmosphere, with Yanukovych and the outgoing president’s administration using their control of the government for intimidation of Yushchenko and his supporters. In September 2004 Yushchenko suffered dioxin poisoning under mysterious circumstances. While he survived and returned to the campaign trail, the poisoning undermined his health and altered his appearance dramatically.
    “To this day, Yushchenko’s face remains disfigured,” Cerny added without emotion. Orange, he continued, was originally adopted by the Viktor Yushchenko’s insurgent camp as the signifying color of his election campaign.