The Russians are Coming!, 14 Months in the Life of the Town

The situation was stupid and absurd. He could not go back to his wife, but could not compel himself to go to a motel. Besides, he hoped Marina would be back any second, and he did not want to miss her.

Suddenly a light lit up his car, and at first he did not understand what had happened.

«Hey, you!» David heard. «Get out of the car! Slowly.»

David obeyed. The policemen trained his flashlight on his face, recognized him, and went close.

«Dr. VanStein?» Jeff Menard asked him, astonished. «What are you doing here?»

David did not reply.

Whispering, his partner nudged Jeff with his elbow, and the policemen looked at Marina’s apartment. David felt his cheeks blush.

Jeff’s partner chuckled, but Jeff did not smile, as he was thinking about Vera. He could understand the feelings of David. Recalling the incident on the birthday party, he realized what had happened to David.

«Let’s go,» Jeff said to his partner, and they left.

All alone, the professor stood there for a long time until he felt cold, then he sat in the car again.

* * * * *

Day was breaking, and David thought about his work. Glancing for the last time at Marina’s dark apartment, he drove away.

He had breakfast in the first open coffee shop and drove to the University.

When he entered his office he saw a small letter on his desk. He understood everything even before he read it.

«It was going too far. Goodbye. I don’t want to be a reason for unhappiness of someone. Don’t try to find me. And I won’t reply anyway. I’m young and independent. Don’t worry about me. I’m sure I will find my real love. And you already have it. Marina.»

David heard someone enter the laboratory. His boss gazed at his face and only could shake his head.

«David,» the chief said very softly. «Go home. Now. We don’t have much work. Take the day off. Okay?»

And David nodded with gratitude.

* * * * *

He did not remember how he drove home.

Near nervous breakdown he entered the house and stood in the middle of the living room, looking around and trying coming back to his senses.

«Daddy?» he heard, and winced. Hannah came close to him.

«Mom said you’re going to leave.» Her voice quavered, and a painful feeling of guilt fell on David. He called himself a bastard. He was surprised. Why he had never noticed how much his firstborn girl looked like him? Her worried eyes searched his face, and David saw clearly – all her life depended on his answer.

«Is it true?» Hannah frowned trying not to cry, and David put his hand on her head.

«No, honey,» he said as tender as he could. «Daddy stays.»

He heard a gasp. Megan flung herself to him, threw her arms around his neck, and David embraced her.

«Forgive me,» he whispered.

«Let’s never talk about this again,» she pleaded.

«I promise.» David felt the small arms of his child timidly hugging him. «I swear,» he specified, seeing Dylon toddle into the room.

The VanSteins felt as if they had all been cured of a serious disease, and they were all happy that it was finally over.

Chapter Twenty – Three: A Hero

Today Lana planned to see her father, and Oleg was driving her in his Jeep.

It was the zenith of the summer, and the short night, hot and enchanting, had just ended. The sun looked out impartially from the magic line where earth meets sky, and this early serene morning cast pacifying and romantic thoughts over everyone.

Everything seemed as cloudless as this day’s bright blue sky, and Lana could not imagine anything that might change this mood.

They were stopped at a red light when suddenly a small dark blue truck, such as farmers prefer to use, swept past the Jeep, scratching the door on Oleg’s side and knocking off the mirror. The Blue Truck did not stop. It hit a red minivan and continued along the road. Oleg cursed.

«Did you see the registration number?» asked Lana, shocked. He gazed at her, and an idea came to him.

«Let’s get that bastard’s butt!» Oleg laughed, pushing the gas pedal. His car was much better than the other driver’s, and Oleg had no doubts about catching him.

In Russia, Oleg never paid attention to the speed limit. He had official contacts. But here, in the U.S.A., he did not want to have any trouble, and usually he would drive very carefully. Now he was enjoying the feeling of high speed. The law was on his side, and he could show himself a hero, catching a criminal.

Lana looked over at her lover. The bright orange light from the blazing sunrise passed through the car, emphasizing the manliness and handsome face of Oleg, flushed with anger and bold courage, and his red hair seemed a flame.

«The God of War, Mars himself, is beside me!» Lana thought in awe.

Chasing the offender, Oleg was smiling, recalling many similar situations in Russia. The calm and peaceful life in this small town was pretty boring for him, and only his plans for Lana held him here. He missed the active life in Moscow, and this episode was a kind of relief for this energetic man.

«Left!» screamed Lana, and Oleg cursed, as the Blue Truck swerved into a side alley and an oncoming green sedan did not allow him to follow the stalked vehicle.

However, Oleg was already familiar with the environs. He continued the pursuit taking the next street, and saw the Blue Truck leaving the town. It moved down a high, steep slope and Oleg glanced at Lana. «Hold on, my love!»

He aimed his vehicle at the truck, and the Jeep stormed downhill, hurtling through the air when it hit rough patches of ground. Oleg guffawed, «Short cut!»

Squealing with fear and excitement, Lana clung to the door handle and dash. She felt part of an avalanche, and, panicking, she thought, «He’s crazy! He’s simply crazy!» Drunk with emotion, she wished this pursuit would never end.

They neared the truck and flew along the road.

Many times the hunted driver tried to shake off his pursuer. He dropped his speed, accelerated, changed direction, but, deftly moving the Jeep, Oleg did not allow him to get away. Clenching his teeth, concentrating hard, he played this deadly dangerous game forgetting about everything, even about the wide-eyed Lana, stiffened next to him.

It was not an easy task, as Oleg had to pay attention to other cars on the road, and a few times he barely avoided a crash.

The driver of the Blue Truck was not careful. A few times he hit other vehicles, and Oleg was simply surprised at the sturdiness of this truck, capable of such speed after those collisions.

Oleg became angry, as he had not expected the chase to last so long. He bashed the Blue Truck to push it off the road, but the vehicle whirled and moved away.

Getting close, Oleg sent his Jeep straight into the running board of the truck, and this impact caused both cars to spin around. An eighteen-wheeler roared past, too close to the Jeep, and the frightened Oleg felt sweat break out over his body.

The Blue Truck lost the road, knocked down an enclosure, then managed back to the highway, trying to get away.

«If I had my gun,» dreamed a furious Oleg, thinking about the firearm he carried in Moscow. «I’d quickly teach you how to respect me!»

«Where are the damn police when you need them?» thought the vexed Lana, feeling dizzy.

The truck changed routes again, and the pursuit doubled back to the city limits.

* * * * *

Sitting in his police car, Jeff Menard was peacefully drinking coffee, when he saw a blue truck. The vehicle flew by his cruiser, and Oleg’s Jeep shot after it.

Jeff choked, threw out his paper cup and, turning on the siren, he pulled after the speeding vehicles. He reported it, and kept his eyes on the cars.

Oleg continued chasing, and finally found a suitable place to finish the pursuit, as it had started to fatigue him. He moved his car closer to the truck, and glanced at Lana. «Do you trust me, honey?»

«Yes,» she replied, impressed. «I do.»

«I’m going to stop this bastard, but it will take a hit on your side.»

«I trust you,» she repeated setting her arms and legs, and her muscles strained.

It was not the first time Oleg had done this. He sharply turned his car, and the vehicles hit each other. He did it so skillfully that the Blue Truck merely ripped off the door of his car, then veered into a ditch.

Oleg stopped. He saw the oncoming police cars. Lana looked at him with adoration. Suddenly the driver of the Blue Truck appeared from the ditch holding a baseball bat, and hit it on the window on Lana’s side. The girl squealed.

Oleg grabbed his tire-lever and rushed outside. Their weapons crossed, but Oleg had much more experience in fighting, and he swatted the bat away.

«Freeze!» Oleg heard and dropped the tire-lever. Lana rushed to him, and, sobbing, she fell onto his chest.

«You are a real hero,» she whispered into his ear, and he smiled smugly.

* * * * *

It was 4:36 p.m. already when Lana and Oleg finally reached the building site. It was a special place where Mr. Limpson usually tested all the innovations.

The couple entered and saw Lana’s father talking with Ruslan Grafinsky, and Oleg became concerned. But when they came closer, he heard it was a discussion about Ruslan’s modernization plans.

«With that combination of pulleys,» Ruslan explained with enthusiasm in his voice, «the crane would elevate a weight at least twice as heavy as now. You’ll see, observe.» They saw Oleg and Lana, and Ruslan fell silent.

«Daddy!» The girl hugged her father. She briefly told him about the pursuit. She laid it on thick and Oleg felt himself a true hero. Yet he noticed the skeptic look on Mr. Limpson’s face, and he interrupted Lana, «My love, it was nothing.»

«It was an act of heroism,» she replied, delighted.

«It was an act of boyishness.» Mr. Limpson snorted. «So, Mr. Merkulov, you risked the life of my daughter, eh?»

«Dad,» the girl drawled unpleasantly. Mr. Limpson glanced at her, then back at Oleg. «I want to talk with you, Mr. Merkulov. Lana, stay here.»

The men walked away, and the girl stood next to Ruslan.

They both were disappointed and irritated. Ruslan wanted Mr. Limpson to see the demonstration of his innovation, while the girl wanted to know what her father and Oleg were talking about.

Ruslan sighed and signaled the crane’s operator. The engine roared to life and the sheaf of slabs started rising.

«Mr. Merkulov,» Mr. Limpson addressed Oleg, when they went out of earshot from Lana. «I am a man also, and I can understand that a pretty girl, like Lana, can easily catch the interest of a male. Don’t take it as an offense, but for an experienced man it’s not difficult to turn the head of a young thing. You have done it. Great. But I’d like to know what you think about the future. I’ll be open with you. You are not the ideal husband that I wish my daughter to have. However, not the worst, I have to admit. But you’re married, and it makes me concerned. So, could you explain the situation to me?»

«I’ll be open with you, too.» Oleg smiled as nicely as he could. «I love your daughter crazily. I never imagined such feelings could ever exist. But I don’t want anyone to think I’m doing it because of her money, so I didn’t propose to her, and it’s all up to her. About my wife. We don’t love each other, but we are good friends. She has a student visa, and I can stay in the United States only because I’m her spouse. I can’t leave the U.S.A. Lana is here. She is the breath of my life. I can’t live without her, like a plant can’t live without the sun.»

«Oh, what a talker!» Mr. Limpson thought with vexation. «No wonder my poor girl fell for that.»

«Vera is a good person,» continued Oleg. «She has no one in her life, and she kindly agreed not to divorce me right now. But she’s able to do it any moment if I ask her about it. We already have separate budgets. Our divorce would be just a few formalities. So, I repeat, everything depends on the feelings of your daughter. She is an idol and goddess to me. If she says so, I’m ready to jump into the center of a volcano.»

Controlling himself, Mr. Limpson closed his eyes for a second. «If that bastard utters one more gibberish phrase,» he thought. «I’ll hit him.»

Gazing at her father and Oleg, Lana slowly walked in the direction of them, hiding herself from their view. She heard Ruslan shout something, but, having been buried in her task, the girl paid no heed and even the loud «pomp!» did not take her attention.

Suddenly someone hurled her aside, and she fell, rolling over. Next the ground shook with a powerful blow, and a cloud of dust hid the world around her.

Coughing, Lana barely sat up, looking about in bewilderment. Ruslan bent over her, and she saw her father and Oleg running toward them.

«I’ve almost killed your daughter, Mr. Limpson,» Ruslan explained helping her get up. «It was my fault. The crane did elevate the weight, but the cable wasn’t rated for the double load.»

Everybody looked at the pile of broken slabs, and at the scraps of the cable above them.

«I’m fired, Mr. Limpson, aren’t I?» Ruslan asked calmly.

«It was human error,» Mr. Limpson replied, hugging the shaken Lana. «And all is well that ends well. Would you like to hear more proverbs?»

«What an opportunity I’ve just missed!» Oleg said to himself. «Her pop’s smart, but I bet that dimwitted thing doesn’t even realize that this damn Ruslan saved her life.»

As if confirming this thought Lana addressed him. «Oleg, take me home, please. I don’t feel well.»

«Take care!» Mr. Limpson kissed his daughter and turned to Ruslan. «Okay, let’s try again.»

They started talking, and Oleg took Lana to his car.

The businessman paused, then addressed Ruslan. «Thank you for rescuing my daughter.»

«You’re welcome,» he quietly replied, and Mr. Limpson gazed at the young man.

«I think you like my daughter, don’t you?»

«Yes, I do,» Ruslan voiced indifferently. «I’m straight. I like girls, not males.»

«I mean, you risked your life for her.»

«Once, in Moscow,» Ruslan grinned, looking at the businessman with a challenge. «I saw a crow entangled in the phone wire. I climbed up, cut the wire and freed the bird. I spent fifteen days in jail because of that, Mr. Limpson. But I wasn’t sorry. If I see a living being in trouble I try to help no matter who it is.»

«Come on.» Mr. Limpson snorted. «I’ve been watching you for a long time, dear Ruslan. I bet you want to sleep with Lana, eh?»

«If I want to sleep with a slut,» retorted the Russian. «I’d rather use a professional prostitute.»

Shocked, Mr. Limpson barely maintained control of himself.

«We are talking about my daughter,» he finally exhaled.

«Really?» Ruslan did not move his eyes aside. «I thought we were talking about someone who doesn’t care with whom they sleep. Sorry, but it’s the softest word that I know to call such a person.»

«I’m forbidding you, Mr. Grafinsky, to talk about my daughter like this!» roared the incensed businessman, then he sighed. «I believe my poor girl truly loves that damn bastard, and you have no right to blame her for that.»

«Then don’t provoke me, Mr. Limpson,» answered Ruslan in almost a whisper. «You started this talk, not me.»

The businessman hissed in a deep breath, and continued in a regular manner. «Very well, Mr. Grafinsky. What else did you want to show me?»

Chapter 24: Relief

Marina Aleksandrova drove her car away from the town.

She had withdrawn all her money and closed her bank account. She left her security deposit for her apartment, and now she was free as a bird. However, she thought about David and Joe and she felt sick at heart in the utter hopelessness of the case.

«I won’t give up,» she whispered to herself. «I don’t know, Fate, why do you send me these ordeals. Are you trying to test my limits? Great! God help me, I won’t give up…»

* * * * *

Marina stopped at the rest area, filled her car up and went to Wendy’s for lunch.

She wanted to order a salad, fries and orange juice as usual, but something had changed within her, so she chose a combo with chicken nuggets instead.

She sat at a free table, opened the box, and, taking out a piece, looked it all over, then slowly bit about half of the nugget.

Yes, it was what she wanted. The crunchy sound and spicy taste cheered her up, arousing in her wounded soul some foggy dreams and light hope. She took a sip of her soda and enjoyed, feeling sweet bubbles tickling her tongue and throat.

She closed her eyes, and when she looked again, a man was sitting across from her at the table and smiling. His eyes roved over her dreamy face.

«Definitely, it’s good weather today,» he started. Marina stared wildly at him, and suddenly she hysterically guffawed.

People in the hall looked at her. She saw the smile of the man fail, and, the embarrassed Marina quickly left the restaurant and got into her car.

Here she cried thinking, «I need to control myself better. I’m crazy. Why did I react like that? Yes, it was exactly the same phrase from my favorite Russian story, The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. But as I remember, the flirted heroine did not laugh boisterously.»

After calming down, she slowly drove away.

* * * * *

She was driving and driving, and smiled, seeing the landscape become different. Covered by forests, some hills appeared on the plains, and the first mountains came into view on the horizon.

The soft crepuscule overtook the daylight and Marina thought about staying the night.

To her unpleasant surprise the first motel had no room. «No vacancy’ she saw on the next one, and suddenly she guessed it was because tomorrow would be Independence Day and people had gathered for the celebration.

Marina swerved from the interstate and moved her car along a local road. She passed a town, and here she finally found a place for the night.

It was not a real motel building; the owner just placed a few small mobile homes in shape of the letter U, and Marina liked his cleverness. She reserved one of these trailers, and, taking a soda, she sat on the steps, adoring the beauty of this cloudless night.

A man of middle age was sitting on the porch of the next house and he addressed her, «Nice evening.»

Marina nodded continuing to drink. She was afraid he would flirt with her, but he just silently kept his eyes on the sky, and the girl calmed down.

«It would be polite if I say something as a reply,» thought Marina, but she was not in the mood for any kind of conversation, and did not compel herself to utter a sound.

«No need to talk if you don’t want to,» the man said, and his understanding touched the girl.

«Sorry,» she murmured. «It’s not you. I’m just tired, that’s all.»

He nodded.

«Look at the sky,» he told her, and Marina gazed upward.

The magic twinkling of the bright summer stars captured her completely, and, melting into their shining, Marina did not feel the tears running down her own face. For the girl, his monologue seemed as if not from a person talking to her, but from her guardian angel, or the voice of her mind.

«When I look at star stained sky,» he slowly said. «I always think how trifling all our problems are compared to the Greatest Mystery of Creation. How all our reasons to be upset are insignificant in front of the countless number of other worlds. How miserable is all our suffering in the eyes of the Eternity of the Universe. Am I right?»

Marina could not reply.

He sighed. «Good night, sweetheart. I wish you luck. It seems you really need it.»

Stiffened, Marina did not notice where the man had gone. She closed her eyes, and suddenly she believed, believed to the bottom of her soul, that she could be triumphant, and she would be for sure.

«Thank you,» whispered she, but no one was near her, and, becoming confused, the girl went into the trailer and fell asleep even before her head touched the pillow.

* * * * *

The sun was still invisible and just pinked the edge of the sky when Marina left the motel, continuing her escape from the past. Thinking about that strange man, who was talking to her last night, she walked around his trailer a few times, but dared not knock or leave a thank you note.

Sighing, she got into her car. The firm conviction that her happiness was not far away still was in her heart, and she was only sorry that she could not say thanks to the man who made her believe.

* * * * *

Driving, Marina kept her eyes at the road and noticed a hitchhiker. The young man was, about twenty years old, carrying a backpack and a guitar. He held up a sign with the name of his destination, but she did not read it, just stopped to pick him up. It did not matter to her where she went. He smiled, and threw his stuff onto the back seat. Their instruments hit each other and made a sound, and the youth said, «Wow.»

«Do you play the guitar?» he asked Marina, getting into the front seat.

«Yes, I do,» she smiled. This active guy looked so young, naive, and ingenuous that the girl sensed motherly feelings for him despite the fact they were about the same age.

«What a coincidence!» he exclaimed, overjoyed. «Will you play with me?»

He sang, but Marina only shook her head, for this song was unknown to her.

«You don’t know the camp’s anthem?» he wondered. «Are you going to the camp for the first time?»

«What camp?» Marina kept smiling.

Now it was his turn to be astonished. «I thought you read my sign…»

Marina snorted. «I’m a free person.» She sighed. «A little vacation. By the way, buddy, in this state it’s prohibited to travel by auto stop.»

«Really? Damn!» He scratched his head. «I come here every Independence Day, but nobody ever told me that. Thanks. Oh, sorry. My name is Pit, Pit Niles.»

«Marina Aleksandrova,» she replied.

«Marina?» he repeated. «Aleksandrova? Are you Russian?»

«Yes.» The girl was surprised. «How did you guess?»

«I know a Russian girl. If you would like to go with me to the camp, I’ll introduce her to you. An American family adopted and raised her, but she told me her original last name was Aleksandrova.»

Marina’s heart stopped for a second as she thought about her lost sister.

«It can’t be Masha; it’s just impossible,» her inner voice argued. «Don’t cherish this foolish hope. Russia is the biggest country in the world. Thousands of children had been adopted by foreigners.» Nevertheless, she could not keep herself from asking: «What is her first name?»

«Loo.»

Marina’s dreams were cast down. «Maybe her adoptive parents gave her another name?» she thought, trying to hold hope, and she asked Pit, «Is she a brunette?»

The image of her sister stayed in her mental vision. She clearly remembered Masha’s dark brown straight hair.

«No, she’s a curly-headed blonde, like you.»

«This is not her.» Marina felt depression. «Another joke of my Fate.»

Sighing, she drove away her thoughts about Masha. She addressed Pit, and began to inquire about the camp.

* * * * *

It was a typical summer camp. The tiny houses were placed in a semicircle near a lake, and the forest surrounded them.

Preparing for the night bonfire, the young people were pottering about in the middle of the central area. They greeted Pit and Marina with screams of delight. Marina tried to trash her memories and be happy with the present.

Soon the communal merriment took her in, and the girl sincerely forgot about all her troubles.

* * * * *

She was helping with firewood when she heard, «Marina!» and she looked back. Pit came close to her, with a blonde girl next to him.

«Here is Loo.» Pit smiled, and the girls shook hands.

«Do you speak Russian?» asked Marina.

«Sorry, I don’t,» Loo replied. «I was just four when I came here.»

«Do you know?» Hesitating, Marina searched the young girl’s face. «Do you have any relatives in Russia?»

«I had an older sister. But all that I know is that she had been sent to a different orphanage. My adoptive parents love children very much. They have some money – they are owners of three day care centers. They are sponsoring the local orphanage. I’m thankful for them. They sincerely tried to find my sister. It was not their fault that all their efforts didn’t bring any success.»