Act 4
If Act III was the story of Sonia, then Act IV is surely the story of Martin.
After graduating from Cambridge he goes home to his uncle's where he endures his uncle's skepticism that he has learned anything useful -- or even anything at all -- but also receives his mother's unquestioning love.
His mother did not pester him with the tedious talk of which Uncle Henry was so fond; she did not inquire what occupation he would choose, feeling as she did that this would somehow work out by itself. She was satisfied with the happiness at hand - of his being with her now, healthy, broad shouldered, tanned...
Life moves along slowly as the seasons change and, finally, almost a year after graduation he can wait no longer and decides to visit Sonia. Almost needless to say, he comes up no higher in her estimation than before at college, even through several visits with her. Once however, he finds common interest in a shared reverie about an imaginary Zoorland, which they together create in imaginary detail and whose imaginary customs and laws they study.
He supports himself by teaching tennis and serving easy balls to learners until his arm hurts. Later he travels southward and works as a day laborer and in the fields where he becomes tanned and robust physically. Seeing a house for sale, he even thinks of settling right there, but Sonia will have none of it and reacts with both scorn at that thought and with emphatic annoyance that he keeps "pestering" her.
Through his travels, however, he learns that he can present himself as any of a number of different nationalities, including English, and be accepted unquestioningly by the local people. He views this talent as useful training for that dangerous mission that has lain dormant as an idea for about two years, but which finally and slowly begins to reassert itself again in his thinking.
He arrives back home to his mother's great joy and, in response to her query, he answers in a placating way
"You've come for a long, long time now," she kept repeating..
"Generally speaking, yes. I'll just have to go to Berlin on business in about a fortnight, then I'll return."
He seeks out Gruzinov who is famous throughout the émigré community
.....the mysterious Gruzinov..... who, according to information Martin had gathered, emerged as man of great adventures, a terrorist, a very special spy, and the mastermind of recent peasant revolts against the Soviet rule.
Martin asks him about routes through Latvia to the Russian border and advice on crossing the border over into Russia. Martin says he is asking on behalf of "a friend of his," a charade that Gruzinov surely recognizes and sees through. Finally Gruzinov hands the map back to Martin with meaningful advice
Tell Nicky to stay at home and find something constructive to do. A nice fellow I'm sure, and it would be a pity if he lost his way.
Martin is annoyed at the advice and, more than ever, resolves to pursue his plan.
Good-byes are said to his mother and uncle for his "short business trip" to Berlin, and he heads off to carry out his clandestine project to secretly cross the border over into Russia.
It has been a long time in the coming -- and in the telling -- but finally Martin has his mission in his head and is embarked on it with clear conscience and at peace with himself.
Peder
