11.1 Sibir of Siberia

“An English lady with short blonde hair,” uttered General Silayev trying to explain it to a young KGB agent, “carrying five pieces of luggage in a green Alpine crossed the Checkpoint four days ago. She works for JP Morgan. She met this man, we do not know how, but they’ve flown to Moscow on Interflug from Berlin.”

Lev Vassiliev glanced at the photograph he was shown and read the name on the back, “Walter Schmid!”

“Walter! Walter!” he cried to correct the agent’s mispronunciation, “The ‘A’ stands like a pyramid. He’s an Austrian-born banker in East Berlin and their medium of communication is English because the lady doesn’t speak German. That’s why you are chosen for the job. They have booked a Trans-Siberian tour from here to Vladivostok, then a Soviet ship from Nakhodka to Yokohama from In-Tourist. We don’t know where they are going next. Mister Schmid is doing this in secrecy without his wife knowing. And for the fact, this lady came fully prepared with five pieces of luggage, we understand this trip is pre-planned. They are staying at Hotel Metropol. Get the details and I want you to board the train. It is our job to find out. Do I make it clear?”

“Very clear, sir!”

USSR wished to attract tourists in the post-war era, new resorts opened in places like Crimea, hotels were upgraded with essential facilities and more promotional campaigns took place.

An evening in a bar could end up in mass brawls and petty crime of pickpocketing, vodka-drinking crowd, prostitution and dissidents would vie to take advantage on foreigners. For these reasons, authorities maintained certain tourist hotels under meticulous watch to keep the notorious crowd out as well to keep their eyes on tourists and their actions for most of them fall under suspicion as they happened to be journalists and diplomats. While tourism brought much needed foreign currency, interactions took place between the visitors and communities in money exchange and procurement of valuables.

For instance, hotel staffers would know the KGB agents in their presence and with a wink of an eye they’d step aside and inform the agent where a certain guest had gone. More deeper roots linked KGB with tour operators and hotels. Lev Vassiliev was involved in this sector since he joined the KGB in 1959.

Meanwhile, Dorothy Langton and Walter Schmid climbed the mirrored elevator carpeted in ruby red to the third floor and entered the Executive Suite that came with a view of the Teatral’naya Square. Most conveniently, that evening they would attend an opera show right across at the Bolshoi Theatre. This room embraced a classic décor with a liberal use of dark wood, floral printed carpet and upholstery, crystal chandeliers, original paintings on the walls and the sheer size of the room dwarfed the majestic bed. Shades of brown, gold and green, brass mirrors and a writing table. A separate living space with television, a minibar, coffee and tea amenities. A bathroom lit bright with deep soaking tub.

The opera brought its richness in every aspect of the ballets and theatricals based on the triumph of the Revolution. A splendid display of excellent scene effects and spotlights, direction and talents. The whole Moscow experience took them to the early 20^th century. After the opera, this couple took a stroll in the Red Square at midnight pass the great Kremlin walls and the Arabian Nights Basilica. A big red star made of high-grade stainless steel and artificial ruby illuminated on a high steeple against the ink sky and the buildings inside the walls floodlit in yellow.

Breakfast next morning in the grand dining hall under the leaded glass accompanied by music, they tried a buffet with blini pancake, caviar and salmon, seasonal fresh fruits, egg dishes and freshly baked pastries. Again, this restaurant was evocative of the imperial circa in its rich claddings.

That day they paid a visit to Sokolniki Park and an automobile exhibition at the metro which was deepest underground.

On their third day, 1^st of May, Schmid decided to have a beer at the beer bar on the ground floor which was a small bar by the northwest corner with marble columns, curved ceiling and leather chairs. Lev Vassiliev was there when they entered. There were six or seven customers by the counter. All the bars at the hotel served imported and original beverages but this bar particularly had Schuter’s East Berlin beer and he wanted to have a ‘Red Star’. The phone rang and the barmen answered. He came towards Lev and told him, “There’s a call from your office.”

“What do they want? I cannot answer here,” said Lev Vassiliev.

“He said it’s very important. You must talk.”

Lev stepped up to the counter and answered the telephone. Lean tall Schmid stood by the counter and his twenty-nine-year-old girlfriend sat on a stool. Schmid was sixty-seven years old and dressed casually this afternoon.

He was told to report back to office immediately. Lev hurried out of the bar and walked to the KGB offices that stood quarter of a kilometre from the hotel. When he went in, he was told to report to the KGB Headquarters right across the street.

General Silayev passed him another photograph. “This man is an IRA professor,” briefed the General, “He’s on the train in the Stolypin Wagon. He is exiled to Siberia. These Irish scholars are highly educated. Maybe a PhD in music but make no mistake, these guys are highly trained to make a bomb out of balanda and use any kind of tool they get their hands on to escape. He can shoot you right in the eye. Don’t be fooled. He must not get away.”

It was a mugshot taken within the last few days of a man named William Murphy and the scent strong on the print.

General continued, “You keep an eye on him and check at every stop. He’ll be transferred at Krasnoyarsk. If you don’t have time, make a call from Irkutsk when you stop at Baikal. Do I make it clear?”

“Very clear, sir!”

“Did you obtain visa to Japan?”

“Yes sir, and 200 dollars.”

“What time is the train?”

“Eight-fifty in the evening.”