I
It was late in the day when the ship
finally pulled up into the cluttered and dirty industrialized town of
Vladivostok. A short young man with
brilliant red hair peaking out of his newspaper cap peered over the edge of the
ship as the crew dropped the gate and slid up the metal planking. He would have surprised the most agile of men
by his dexterity as he flew onto the planking in his tattered black suit. His single undone white button on his once
white shirt flashed as he seemed to float down to shore.
When his feet landed on the shore he
looked around hesitantly. He looked
frightened, and yet he appeared confident.
His beady eyes flashed as if looking for someone. Without a backwards glance, he straightened
up and walked securely up the street, only to be waylaid by another shifty man
in a black uniform. It was the crossing
guard.
“Identification and papers.” The man yelled hastily as he rushed to grab
the smaller but extraordinarily quick young man. The young man looked up courteously.
“Oh, of course, my good comrade. I hadn’t noticed you there. I was on my way to the station itself for disembarking
procedures.”
“I’m sure you were.” The guard looked unconvinced. He took the badly beaten papers the young man
handed him.
“Ah, yes, you’re the one they was
looking for. Bukharin is it? Those party blokes’ll love ta have a talk
with you.” Kolya shrugged his shoulders. After years of detainment and imprisonment
and having even been detained in Japan en route, he did not expect preferential
treatment from the new government.
“Did they happen to say what they wanted
me for?” The guard shuffled through some
pockets in his uniform.
“Awww, yes here it is.” He said whipping out a folded paper. Kolya unfolded it and smiled.
“Yep, sounds about right.”
“Well good then I have the right man;
you’ll come with me, yes?” Kolya
shrugged.
“Well, that depends on if you believe
there shouldn’t be internationalist agitation among the soldiers.”
“Ha, not gonna drag me into no political
debate. No siree. But I bet them party folks’ll love to have a
chat with you about it.” Kolya smiled
again.
“I’m sure they will.”
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