Godunov and Tesslov had been successful with their visit to the Anhalter station repair facility. Two of the locomotives were in a fairly good running shape but guarded by a group of soldiers and a sergeant from the second Ukrainian regiment. The commanding officer of the regiment was a colonel with the name of Igoshin. It was the same officer that Godunov suspected of organizing the sham operation of the medical and food depot along the Oder River.
However, the fake operation had not provided any evidence linking it directly to a specific regiment. Only the total absence of any clues together with the overly neat arrangements in the depot pointed to some fastidious mastermind.
“Take me to Colonel Igoshin,” demanded Godunov approaching the sergeant.
“Colonel Igoshin is with the regiment in Potsdam and I cannot abandon my post.”
“How long have you been here?” Godunov asked in a conversational tone.
“We arrived about ten hours ago.”
“What are your exact orders?”
“To guard the operational locomotives until further orders are issued.”
“Where have you been stationed during the past ten days?”
“With my regiment.”
Godunov liked that the sergeant didn’t volunteer any detailed information. He had no beef with a soldier doing his duty; however, he could not allow the sergeant to report back to the colonel.
“I have to retain you for further questioning. Right now you are suspected of theft and of plundering German assets.” The Kommissar signaled the military unit from Marshal Zhukov to take the sergeant and his soldiers into custody.
“Wait”, exclaimed the sergeant. His face had turned white and he felt weak in his stomach. To be arrested by a political officer was beyond his imagination. “I am not a thief. Please hear me out. I might have some useful information.” He could hardly talk fast enough to be heard before he was led away.
Godunov smiled to himself. It was always the same. As soon as a soldier, or even an officer, was arrested by the NKVD and faced with the prospect of lifelong hard labor in Siberia, his memory improved. A few days of solitary confinement performed wonders.
“You will get your chance.” The Kommissar turned away without looking back. He was satisfied with the arrest. It had bothered him that there was someone in the officer corps who seemed to be ahead of him. First the penicillin, then the replacement parts of machinery and now a train with airplane components. It was not only an insult to his intelligence but it was also his duty to stop this individual. To top it off, it was also severely hampering his own ambitions.
Sure, the trip to Switzerland with gold coins and precious stones had been successful but it was not nearly enough to secure his goals. Besides, some of the loot didn’t even belong to him except that he would get a substantial reward (he called it a commission) for transporting it to a secure place.
A few hours later the engines arrived in Dessau. The Kommissar placed Major Tesslov in command to take the train to Podberez’ye and reported the successful mission to Marshal Zhukov.
“Excellent work,” beamed the Russian marshal. “Premier Stalin will arrive tomorrow for the conference in Potsdam and I will personally report to him about your outstanding service and recommend you for a recognition.”
Marshal Zhukov was more than pleased that his little problem had been solved.
Two days later Godunov established temporary quarters in Potsdam. The party officials in Moscow had requested that he stay close to Premier Stalin during the conference. Officially he was supposed to provide additional security for the military commanders, but unofficially he was to report about the western mood during the negotiations.
“Here are your initial test papers.” Pajari handed a whole bunch of paperwork to Harold.
“What kind of test?” They had just barely arrived in their new surroundings and Harold was hoping to get some time off to visit with his father and to see his friend during the next week.
“The Kommissar plans on sending you to a military cadet school,” Pajari explained. “Don’t worry too much about the general questions about your background. It is only a formality.” He helped Harold to move a desk in front of a window. The new quarters were extensive and provided separate rooms for sleeping and studying. Even Alex had a room for himself but slept in front of Harold’s door.
“What ever happened to Kete?” Harold asked Pajari. He had not seen Alex’s buddy for some time.
“Kete is on an assignment in Simferopol. He is taking care of a personal matter for the Kommissar and I expect that he will join us again.”
Harold wanted to ask another question regarding Simferopol but left well enough alone for the time being. However, he wondered what had happened to Godunov’s shipment and he had to smile when he thought back to the time when he and his friend had arranged the valuable transport.
“Is there any chance I can see the Kommissar?” He still hadn’t thanked Godunov for the release of his father.
“He will be very busy during the conference, but I will let him know that you wish to see him.”
During the following days Harold was unable to leave Potsdam. The conference was in full swing and every day was filled with news and rumors. On the third evening, Godunov reported that Stalin was not in a good mood. The Premier was convinced that the western chiefs had delayed their move through France and the conquest of Germany on purpose. This had cost the Soviets millions of casualties while the western powers had taken their sweet time.
“I wonder how this will end. President Truman is trying to steer us toward declaring war on Japan and this will cost us additional fatalities.”
Godunov was also in a bad mood. He had been told that if the Soviets entered the war against Japan, he would be transferred to Manchuria. A vast, vast difference from Germany and an assignment he was not looking forward to.
A day later he had more news. “We agreed on a border adjustment. Russia will receive the eastern part of Poland and in return, Poland will receive a major portion of Germany. In fact, all of the German territory east of the Oder River will now belong to Poland.”
Some of Godunov’s reports were not so interesting to Harold. They centered on the various war reparation payments Germany was to provide to the Allies. It shocked him to hear that the Soviets demanded that Germany dismantle their second railroad spurs. They would be sent to Siberia to advance their rail system. Germany had a fully developed two spur system so that the trains could pass each other. By contrast, Russia had entire territories without any rail connections at all.
“Truman mentioned today, but only in passing, that the Americans had a new kind of bomb. Our intelligence service knows about it and it seems that the weapon is still in the experimental stage. Stalin thinks that if it was operational, the Americans would use it against Japan. Instead, the Western Allies pressured us again to join their war.” Godunov reported a day later. He seemed disturbed by way the conference had progressed.
“Do you think that the conference will break apart?” Pajari asked a few days later when the Kommissar seemed to be fully disheartened. It was by now the end of July and the conference had begun on the 17th.
“No, not really. But the lack of a common enemy in Europe makes the negotiations very tough. Personally, I fear that Stalin has been pushed to the limits of his patience. The time will come when we will hardly talk to each other anymore.”
Four days later, on the second day in August, the conference came to an end and the Kommissar announced the next morning that the Soviets would declare war against Japan. “I am not sure about the date, but I am ordered to be on the Manchurian border within a few days.”
He turned to Harold. “Pajari will drive you tomorrow to visit your father and to see your friends. You may stay for a day or two and I will send the Captain to pick you up before I have to leave.”
Harold had thanked the Kommissar a few days before and extended his hand to thank him once more.
“No need to go on, Harold. Your father’s release was more due to his apparent innocence than to my efforts,” he lied to Harold. In truth, he had nearly overextended himself in his struggle to secure freedom for Herr Kellner. In his opinion, Harold’s father had simply been very good at his job but innocent of real war crimes. He couldn’t help but think that if Herr Kellner was truly a war criminal, what would that make him? He was not too comfortable with the answer.
He had grown fond of Harold and he was certain that there was no future for a young man in Germany. Godunov wanted to give the boy some peace of mind before he took him to Russia.
*****
Harold jumped out of bed the next morning. “Alex, come on, we might see KaKa today.” He yearned to find out how his father was doing and he also hoped that Karl would be there. He was not disappointed.
Pajari had been driving and before Harold could knock on the door it opened and Karl stood in the entrance. Both boys grinned at each other as they shook hands and exchanged their greetings. The Germans are not much for hugging but Alex didn’t share their inhibitions. He lifted Karl off the ground and embraced him with tears in his eyes and it took a while before he let go of him. Karl’s eyes were also moist from happiness.
“Welcome home,” said Frau Becker as she led Harold to see his father. Herr Kellner laughed and cried as he recognized his son. He was in a much better shape and state of mind than a few days ago.
He wouldn’t let go of Harold’s hands and asked over and over again if Harold would stay with him. It was a very emotional reunion and much more heartfelt than a few days ago. Harold was amazed at his father’s recovery and felt bad that he would have to leave him again, but, for a day they shared their feelings and memories.
“How have you been doing and why are you in Berlin?” Harold asked Karl after he had reported about the events of the past weeks.
“I am searching for a Lehrstelle, (apprenticeship) but I was unable to secure one in Westphalia. I didn’t have much hope that my chances would be any better in Berlin, but it gave me the excuse to visit with the Becker’s and to possibly see you.”
“How did you manage to pass through the Russian zone?” asked Herr Kellner.
“Not much to it,” laughed Karl. “I bribed the guards and once you are in Russian territory, it is relatively easy to enter West Berlin. But, I heard that the Soviets are about to tighten up so I might not be able to do this again.”
“How is the food supply in western Germany?” Herr Becker wanted to know.
“Well, it is rationed, but we don’t go hungry,” Karl answered.
They talked way into the night and awakened to the news, the next morning, that the Americans had detonated an atom bomb over Hiroshima.
“Stay with us,” implored Karl when Pajari showed up at noon on the next day to fetch Harold. “Come with me to West Germany. In due time we will find an apprenticeship together.”
“No,” answered Harold. He took Karl to the side so that his father couldn’t hear him. “I have a chance to make it big and I intend to pursue it. Besides, I don’t want to be taught by someone who might have been a Nazi. Did you hear about the horrors of the concentration camps?”
“Yes, of course,” answered Karl. “But the papers make it out as if the Nazis only murdered the Jews and other minorities. We both know that they also murdered their own countrymen.”
Harold shook his head. “Karl, we are not discussing who they murdered. We are talking about how we might be taught and that we may be brainwashed again by former Nazis and I want no part of it. Once is enough, thank you.”
Karl looked at his friend. He knew that their ways would part forever and he feared that they might never see each other again.
“How do we stay in touch?” he asked.
“Give me your parents’ address and I will find a way to contact you. And, once I have an address of my own, you will be the first to know it.” Harold had to fight to keep his emotions in check.
“Alright,” said Karl. “If all else fails we can still keep in contact through the Beckers. And, if it means anything Harold, I worry about you, all alone in Russia.”
Harold had to swallow hard. “It means more to me than you can imagine. But don’t forget, you gave me a friend. Alex has not left my side since we parted and I fear that you will be more alone than I might ever be.”
Karl looked sadly at his friend. “Time will tell, Harold, but if you ever need me…I’ll be there.”
Harold hated parting, especially from his father. His only consolation was the fact that his father was on the way to getting back to normal. He tried to make it as short as possible and for a moment he found fault with Alex who took the longest time letting go of Karl’s hands.
“Step on it” he whispered under his breath to Pajari and then turned to his friends and his father. “I’ll be back,” he shouted as the Captain accelerated.
*****
Godunov was all packed up and almost ready to leave by the time they reached Potsdam. It was the 8th of August and the Soviet Union had declared war on Japan. The Kommissar had successfully used his influence to delay his departure to Manchuria. On the next day, August 9th, the Americans detonated another atom bomb over Nagasaki.
The papers claimed that the second bomb was used to prevent further bloodshed; that it was used to force Japan’s hand. Somehow, Harold did not believe this to be true.
He had seen the combat readiness of the Soviet troops in Eastern Germany and Godunov had told him that they had not flinched when the first atom bomb detonated. However, when the Nagasaki bomb dropped, the Russian tanks turned around and the Soviet troops headed east. Harold saw it with his own eyes.
Truman had played a strong hand and Stalin blinked.
This was the reason, Godunov explained, that he was given a few days to visit with his daughter on the Crimean Peninsula. He took Harold along to enroll him into a Russian military cadet school.