Moscow Area, Karasko Airfield
September 23, 1943, 1100 hours
The flight from the Novgorod area was a unique experience for Vladimir. He did enjoy the feeling of soaring over the ground like a bird, but a few times, the bumpy air made him feel like his stomach was on the verge of emptying.
They had flown from a makeshift airfield just across the Soviet lines west of Novgorod. The journey from Lubicz had been uneventful. They had traveled mostly during the day once they had dressed like the local peasants. But when they met the partisans that would take them across the front lines, they had to move at night.
Along the way, Vladimir had met the people that made up the Soviet travel network in that area. If all went well in Moscow, he would meet them again on his return trip to Rastenburg. If all went well ...
Ever since Lubicz, Vladimir and Marya had spent the quiet moments talking. They did not talk about spy rings, double agents or prison camps. They spent the time talking about their youth, their families, the weather, and their favorite foods - anything but their lives since the war began. Basically, they spent the time cementing the friendship that was born that night in Lubicz.
Vladimir had noticed a change in her. When they would talk, he noticed a wonder in her eyes, as if she was looking at the world for the first time. She would become Svetlana instead of Marya. She was interested in his experiences in Moscow as a youth, and what normal people, as she called them, were doing in Moscow before the war broke out. She asked many questions about his family, and Vladimir noticed that she was particularly interested in the stories he told about meeting his wife, and when his son was born. Vladimir realized that by listening to him tell of his experiences, she was trying to capture something that she had never had, and might never have.
As the plane descended for its landing at Karasko airfield, near Moscow, Vladimir noticed that even the personality he knew as Marya was changing. It was a homecoming for both Marya and Svetlana.
"How did you enjoy your first airplane flight?" she asked him as the plane taxied to a halt.
"It was very different," he replied. "I liked it. I wouldn't mind doing it again."
"You will get a chance," she said. "When you return to Rastenburg, you will go back the same way you came."
"If I return to Rastenburg," he said softly.
Marya smiled. "Please do not worry," she told him. "Things will be fine. You should be excited. You are almost home!"
Vladimir grinned broadly. "I will believe it when I get there," he said. "Right now, I feel that this could be a dream, and I will soon wake up to find that I am still in Stalag 13."
After they got off the plane, they were escorted to a waiting car for the drive into Moscow. Marya was informed that they were being taken straight to see Lavrenty Pavlovich himself. Vladimir was suddenly worried. He was being taken to see Beria, the head of the NKVD.
Marya, as if sensing his worries, patted his hand. "Trust me, Volodya," she said softly.
The car made its way through the city towards Lubyanka Square. It entered the compound and parked behind the main building. The three travelers were taken into the building and up to the third floor, where the NKVD head had his office. When they entered the office, Vladimir saw that Beria was expecting them, and was standing beside his desk. He seemed surprised to see three people coming to see him. He motioned the three into the room and dismissed the accompanying guard.
"Hello, Svetlana Viktorovna," he said formally. "I was expecting you to return one person." Beria glanced at Vladimir as he spoke.
"Hello, Lavrenty Pavlovich," she replied. "I have returned the scientist Igor Illyich Zagoskin, as ordered. This is Vladimir Ivanovich Minsky, formerly a prisoner in Luft Stalag 13 and member of Papa Bear's team."
Vladimir noticed that Beria perked up at the mention of Papa Bear. Vladimir also noticed that Zagoskin had assumed a very resigned stance, as if he expected to be taken away any second.
"Very good, Svetlana Viktorovna," Beria said. "Please tell me about Zagoskin."
Marya related the story of Zagoskin's work for the Germans. Vladimir was familiar with the ending of the story, since Colonel Hogan was involved in the rescue. But Vladimir learned that his initial assumption was not correct. He thought that Zagoskin had defected and offered to help the Germans. It turned out that his family had been abducted by the Germans to force him to help them, and when he wouldn't, they abducted him as well.
Beria listened to Marya's account. When she finished, he turned to Zagoskin. "Igor Illyich, you were successful in sabotaging the German rocket facility," he said. "Good work. We have been waiting for Svetlana Viktorovna to successfully return you to us so that you may return to working with our program."
Upon hearing this, Zagoskin perked up. "Da, Tovarish Beria," he replied excitedly. "I am ready to begin work."
Beria nodded. "Good. You will now be taken to the research facility," Beria said. He picked up the phone and summoned the waiting guard to take Zagoskin away. When they were gone, Beria commented, "He didn't seem to realize that his days as a free man were over. He will work for us as a prisoner."
The way Beria said that sent a chill down Vladimir's spine. He began once again to be worried about his own fate.
Beria turned to address Vladimir. "So you were a member of Papa Bear's team?" he asked. Vladimir nodded. "Tell me about it," Beria requested.
"Da, Tovarish Beria," Vladimir replied. He proceeded to tell of his initial capture by the Germans, how he ended up at Stalag 13, and his activities with his friends from Barracks 2. Then he told how Hochstetter took him, how he was rescued and accompanied Marya back to Moscow. He left out the fact that it was Marya that alerted Hochstetter to his presence at Stalag 13.
"Laverenty Pavlovich," Marya spoke up. "There is something else I wish to discuss."
Beria nodded, and Marya proceeded to tell him of her wish to have Vladimir join the organization, as he already had experience inside of Germany. Beria seemed interested in her proposition. She told him that she thought that Rastenburg would be a good location for Vladimir because of the proximity to Hitler's Wolfsschanze.
When she finished, Beria did not say anything. Vladimir watched him closely for any reaction. The longer he was silent, the more Vladimir's worry grew.
Finally, Beria nodded. "We are aware of the activities of Papa Bear," he said. "Svetlana Viktorovna has kept us informed. I am impressed Vladimir Ivanovich."
"Spasibo Tovarish Beria," Vladimir replied. A wave of relief washed over him.
"I will consider your proposition, Svetlana Viktorovna," Beria said. "If you both would please return here in," he paused, consulting a calendar on his desk, "three days time. I will consult with Iosif Vissarionovich on this and inform you of the decision."
Vladimir was surprised. Stalin himself would be consulted about this? He was barely able to utter a "Spasibo" in response.
"Spasibo Laverenty Pavlovich," Marya replied. "We will return in three days."
They left Beria's office and walked along the corridor of the third floor. Vladimir was still in a daze. As they walked, Marya chuckled softly.
"You didn't expect this, did you," she stated. Vladimir shook his head. "As I said before, trust me, Volodya."
He smiled back at her. "I do, Sveta, I do," he said.
"Now, let's get you some credentials for entry into the building," she said. "We will also need to coordinate your work in Rastenburg."
"Shouldn't we wait for confirmation?" he asked.
"When will you learn to trust me, Volodya?" she asked with a smile on her face. "We will talk in three days. Now, you have a home to return to. Go!"
Home! I can go home!
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Vladimir climbed the steps leading to the entrance of the building where he lived. He was nervous. It had been over two years since he had seen his family. He wondered how much they had changed. His son, Sasha, would be almost five years old now.
He entered the building and climbed the stairway leading to the fourth floor. With each step he climbed, his anxiety rose. He felt the same way he did on his wedding day.
He entered the fourth floor communal kitchen area and saw a man and woman sitting at one of the tables having their evening meal. He did not recognize either of them. They stared at him with suspicion. He smiled at them as he walked by, but they did not smile back – strangers were not to be trusted, it seemed.
He stopped in front of the door and found that he had lost his nerve. Why was he so nervous? This was his home, his family. He was happy to be here, and he knew they would be happy to see him. So why was he so apprehensive?
Then he looked down at his clothes. With everything that had happened that day, he had forgot that he was still wearing the clothes that the partisans had given him to wear while crossing the front. Now he knew why the people were looking at him suspiciously. But it was too late to do anything about it now. Besides, he had clothes just on the other side of the door, unless Natasha had given them away.
He reached for the doorknob and stopped. No, it wouldn't do to go barging into the flat. He hadn't lived there for two years. He could hear the rumble of talking and the occasional clinks of dishes. His family would be having their evening meal at this time. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. He heard someone walking towards the door. In a moment, the door opened ...
And there was his wife Natasha. Immediately he felt the world around him melt away. For that moment, he was not aware of anything else except his beloved Natasha.
He saw her glance at the strange man in her doorway with a slight frown on her face. She didn't recognize him. Then he saw a look of recognition on her face followed by shock, as if she was looking at a ghost. Her eyes opened wide. Then she let out a hair-raising scream.
"VOVOCHKA! It's you!" she screamed. Then she leaped into his arms, sobbing for joy and smothering him with kisses. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. He was hardly aware of the greetings he was getting from the rest of the family.
He pulled away from her and wiped the tears from her face. "Vovochka," she said. "You are not dead."
He smiled at her warmly. "Nyet, Natashenka. I am not dead," he said. "In fact, right now I feel more alive than I have in two years."
He greeted everyone, his mother and father, his sister, his two nephews. He felt sadness to hear that babushka had died a year ago. He found out that his sister's husband was also in the army, fighting on the Ukrainian front. Then he saw his son, little Sasha, standing shyly across the room.
Natasha motioned him over. "Sashenka, come say hello to your papa," she said to him. He walked over to her, looking at Vladimir the whole time.
Vladimir knelt down. "Sashenka, it is good to see you," he said.
Sasha's eyes were big as he stared at Vladimir. "Are you really my papa?" he asked timidly.
"Da, Sashenka," Vladimir said. "I am your papa."
Sasha looked up at his mother. Nathasha nodded to him. "I really have a papa?" he asked her. She nodded again. Suddenly his face lit up and he ran to Vladimir. "Papa!" he cried as he wrapped his arms around Vladimir.
As Vladimir hugged his son, he looked up at Natasha. Tears were streaming down her face. He picked Sasha up as he stood and said, "It is good to be home."
----------
As they ate, Vladimir told everyone the tale of his capture by the Germans. He skipped much of the story, deciding that he didn't want to tell them about the worst of his treatment. He told them about being a prisoner of war, avoiding much of the details of the operations at Stalag 13. In the end, he simply said that while in the prison camp, he helped the local underground. Skipping his escape from camp, he told them about the journey across German territory with Marya and Zagoskin and crossing the front to get home.
His nephews listened intently and asked him many questions. He answered most of their questions, until his sister told them to keep quiet so that everyone could hear the whole story. Vladimir caught the looks from his wife, and he could tell that she knew he wasn't telling the whole story. He smiled at her – he would tell her everything later.
"Are you home to stay?" his mother asked.
"Nyet," he replied. "I must return to Lubyanka in three days."
At the mention of Lubyanka, the room got quiet. The adults knew that meant NKVD headquarters. They also knew the NKVD attitude towards former prisoners.
Quickly he shook his head. "Nyet, do not worry," he said. "It is nothing like that." He told them of his new assignment, if it were to be accepted. "Marya and I must report to find out where to go next," he said.
At the mention of Marya, Vladimir thought he saw a frown emerge on Natasha's face. But it lasted only a split second and was replaced by a large smile. "Then you have three days to spend with us!" she exclaimed.
Vladimir nodded. "At least three days," he said. "And I want to enjoy every minute of them!"
After they had finished eating, Vladimir said he needed a bath to take away the several weeks' worth of German countryside that he had brought back with him. When he returned from the communal bath, he felt like a new man. He also found Natasha alone in the flat.
"Where is everybody?" he asked.
"It was your mama's idea," she replied. "They are giving us tonight alone in the flat. They are all staying with neighbors."
"We have the night to ourselves?" he asked. She nodded. "There has always been someone else close by. The last time we had the flat all to ourselves was after we were married."
"I know," she replied. "I think that is what your mama had in mind."
A mischievous smile spread across Vladimir's face. "And what do you have in mind?" he asked.
Natasha just smiled. Vladimir walked over to her, picked her up and carried her to their bed. He turned out the lights and forgot about the rest of the world.
Yes, It's good to be home!