MOSCOW, 2025
In the 15th underground level of a Central Moscow government building, a Russian secret committee convenes under dim lights. Cigarette smoke drifts over a massive oval table as men in dark suits murmur over glasses of dark liquid. Among them is
Mironow — officially “retired,” unofficially indispensable. He is tasked with keeping the Alaska meeting under control, whatever it takes.
I am Special Agent Mironow, former General KGB Markow.
Both my names are fictional.
CHINA, 1991
…We drove out beyond the bridge. Here, near the old stone bridge, a small detachment with two machine guns was holding the defense protecting our Chinese helpers.
Some of our men took up positions at the bridge, while others were sent further along the line as a screen and reconnaissance unit. I was in charge of a group of Chinese track workers which already began to unscrew and dismantle the rails.
RUSSIA, 1992
In April 1992, having finished our duty in China,
I returned home, to my dear Mother Russia. I did not have a chance to enjoy my quiet life, however, because in August, just after 3 months of fishing and hunting in Vologda lake area…
A beautiful summer day was drawing to a close. The crimson sun was already low on the horizon. The domes of the churches glowed golden, and a cool breeze blew from the gardens.
I was getting ready to drink my evening tea on the terrace, when suddenly a leather-clad motocycle riding courier stopped by at me house and handed me a telegram: I was being sent on another dangerous mission…
CHINA, 1991
…At that moment, the train passed the Mclaugh crossing and began a long climb up the Terracotta Mountain Range. I looked through the wide-open door at the fading day, at the pale yellow disc of the moon, at the sheaves of gaolyan rice floating past,
and thought how nice it would be to be out in the field right now, lying in the fragrant grass, and then returning to my parents’ house to snuggle up to a mug of cold chicken broth… But I understood that all this was now in the past and no one could
bring it back…