8.3 State Identity

On his timeline, Adams obtained a translation of the Népszava Page 9, dated 11^th October 1964, and called a home number in Budapest to reach a correspondent by the name of Miklós Tamás who was an illustrator at the National Library of Foreign Languages responsible for the publication of the monthly titled Nagyvilág launched to make foreign literature available in translation on certain terms and principles. Therefore, these offices were under strict observation. Miklós Tamás would have to return a call from a safe line.

Finally, when he did on that Saturday which was 17^th October 1964, John Adams came to learn about the killing of Jaco Ferre and that he was an executive of Catai Tours – a Spanish company gone bankrupt. Those names of Gábris Hajnal and Jair Sivils were mentioned in their telephone conversations. Adams called an agent in Spain to obtain information about Catai Tours, Jaco Ferre and Jair Sivils. In the meantime, Jaco Ferre’s corpse remained in Budapest. Though Jair Sivils was said to be a fugitive, his name did not appear in the Interpol listings.

A week later, he received mail from both agents. Ricardo Cárdenas from Madrid sent him company history of Catai Tours, profiles on Jair Sivils and Jaco Ferre, and other useful content such as a summary of the case filed for bankruptcy, brochures and photographs.

Miklós Tamás posted the Népszava paper dating back to 11^th October and copies of Esti Hírlap and Magyar Nemzet that came out on 8^th October. A black and white picture of Nyolc Hotel appeared in Esti Hírlap and Gábris Hajnal was mentioned in the article that accounted Jaco Ferre’s death. She was described as a ‘prostituált’ and so Adams dropped the subject as a matter of unimportance. There was no picture of hers.

At that point information poured in tonnes and John Adams learnt everything there was to know but it didn’t take him beyond that point to understand a reason behind Jaco Ferre’s mysterious death and a devised story published on Népszava. Clearly, there would be a motive and someone who did it. The author who wrote the article was a Lászlófi István and John Adams found out that this guy was a dedicated Marxist. This guy did not even exist or he was exiled to a very different world.

Formerly, Népszava was an independent paper published by the Socialist Democratic Party of Hungary (MSZDP). It dissolved in 1956 and dived underground. In the split up, Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party (MSZMP) led by the newly appointed leader János Kádár took over the state as the ruling communist party of the Hungarian People’s Republic.

Therefore, Miklós Tamás was entirely helpless to forward any other information and John Adams came to his own conclusion like any other American would do at the time following a year after the assassination of John F Kennedy – The Communists.

Then on 26^th April 1965, John Adams read an FBI report about American by the name of Tyler Friesen gone missing in Armenia. It read, “Sandra Friesen (wife of Tyler Friesen) received only a single call since he left for Europe, from Hotel Neo in Budapest on 8^th March.”

He called the Consular Affairs in Washington DC and obtained the source of information coming from the American Embassy in Moscow.

John Adams called Bobby Strauss, “I want to ask specifically about Hotel Neo. Is that the correct address? Are you sure it’s ‘Neo’, not ‘Nyolc’?”

“I believe so,” said Strauss, “I called his wife who gave me the address, that is how she pronounced.”

“Did she tell you why he went to Europe?”

“He was working on a book.”

“Who called from Armenia?”

“He was staying at Hotel Zamanak.”

“Thank you.”

John Adams checked the Interpol and the name of Tyler Friesen appeared under the Yellow Notice. Bobby Strauss told him that Moscow offered to assist in search of the missing person. In other words, they were literally denying any form of involvement. Friesen was kidnapped at gunpoint by the Blue Beret, reports claimed.

Tyler Friesen was a writer with a parttime job at Mount Vernon Public Library. He scribbled two addresses that he would visit – 120 Roxanne Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY and 119 Cox Street, Hartford, CT.

He informed the departments of his interest in Tyler Friesen and any development should be reported to his desk. John Adams called Miklós Tamás to find out if Tyler Friesen actually stayed at Hotel Nyolc on his visit to Budapest in March 1965.

In few hours, Miklós Tamás reported that Tyler Friesen stayed at the hotel and was involved with Gábris Hajnal. She was taken to the Rendörség for interrogation shortly after he left Budapest. Hajnal was quizzed by the Rendörség following Jaco Ferre’s murder in 1964 as well. She was released on both occasions.

“Do me a favour!” cried Adams, “Get me her bio and a photograph. Send me a Xerox.”

“A Xerox! It’s not available,” returned Tamás.

“Send me in the mail.”

“Do you want me to interact with her?”

“Is she really that good-looking? No.”

Soon after that John Adams gathered some piles of paper and rushed to Lt Colonel Rolnik’s office. There was no Robert D Maxwell but his name appeared on the paper with an FBI identification along with Jaco Ferre’s dead body because commies framed it. There must be a reason. And now this Tyler Friesen who could be a spy or a defector probably was his lead.

He received two photographs of Hajnal Gábris in the mail. One of the images caught her standing beside a school bus with kindergarten children. She appeared six foot tall but the bio says she’s 5’ 2”. She wore high heels and a mass of hair framing a small face and a thin figure. In the other picture, which was a close-up of her face, she was actually smiling at the photographer.

General Howe attended the public flight demonstration at Edwards Air Force Base of the XV5A Vertifan prototype manufactured by Ryan Aeronautical Company. A VTOL jetfighter that could operate vertical take-off and landing. It could manoeuvre just like a helicopter, swing sideways, hover in midair and moreover cruise at a speed of 500 mph.

Five hundred army generals and navy admirals, including the press, watched a well-documented show on that day, the 27^th of April.

Admiral Sharp of the Indo-Pacific Command saw its capability to land on a ship as the flight demonstrated landing in the desert and hovering over water. It showed its potential for rescue missions by lifting a dummy.

“What do you think of this baby?” he asked the MACV Commander General Westmore.

“The lift fan system is taking the entire payload of the aircraft, there is no space for transport. I can’t wait for the Iroquois and Cobra to stage a performance. There is nothing like a Huey for the forces in Vietnam.”

“You’re dumping a hundred thousand gallons of napalm every day. What do you think, General Howe?”

“I agree with the gentleman,” said General Howe.

“Are we going to see them any time soon?”

“Expect around November. All our resources are diverted to support forces in the Dominican.”

“I see!” uttered the Admiral, “Another Cuba and the commies are taking over. What is your plan then?”

“I’m going to Dallas,” replied the General, “I have two days left before I leave to Geneva for a conference, home of the conventions.”

This day ended in a fatal accident when one of the aircrafts plunged to hit the ground in a crash. Its pilot ejected after hitting the ground. Everett was killed.

General Howe returned home in East Dallas, four kilometres from Dealey Park where President Kennedy was shot virtually one and a half years ago. He sat beside his desk to go through the mail and picked up a Western Union telegram in the tray.
10=WUX ALBUQUERQUE NMEX 1965 APR 23 PM 3 45

LT GEN ALLAN HOWE

5107 THE OLD COTTAGE RD DAL TEX

HEARD FROM NEW YORK. LODESTAR HAS GONE SUPER NOVA IN THE CAUCASUS. DWARFED BY HAYK. REPORTED MISSING.

ANNE SEILWINDE

He paused to think briefly. His mind returned to the meeting with Tyler Friesen. Could there be any harm coming from it if he mentioned his name? On the balance, it wasn’t an underground job and the price he quoted was too high. Tyler Friesen had become useless. Obsolete. He sought to play hero. General Howe crumpled the message and dropped it into the bin.