That leaves us with the one weak spot I agree with: the fate of Natalia. Personally, and after many years of reflection, I think it would have been best to have had Alekhin kill her half way through the book. Joe and Alekhin have almost no connection or history of real enmity. They need to be emotionally set against one another to be true antagonists. This would do it.
NO! NO! NO! NO! :7:7:7

I saw the enmity/competition between Joe and Alekhin right from the start a cultural one Yakut versus Sioux. Zamatev saying no one had escaped Alekhin and Joe summing him up as an immediate threat and challenge to be remembered and dealt with. The sub plot of the innocent Lithuanians transported to Siberia is resolved with Natalia's escape.
If Natalia was killed then Joe's focus would have shifted from escaping and defeating Alekhin and Zamatev to a murder / revenge story.

Les
Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a full minute of happiness you'll never get back..


:7