Helena Halme - The Red King of Helsinki - Lies, Spies and Gymnastics

Pia let her hands drop, ‘I’m supposed to attend the final training session at ten, and then we’re all transported to the Myllypuro hall in a bus. The competition is due to start at one o’clock.’ Pia looked at her mother but she averted her eyes.

‘Ok, I’ll be there whatever you decide,’ Iain said.

Standing side by side, the two women watched as Iain walked wearily out of the kitchen and out of the flat.

The morning was beautiful. When Pia woke for the second time that Monday, she couldn’t believe the strength of the light filtering through her closed Venetian blinds.

Maija was already dressed. She had even put on her make-up and looked polished in her work suit.

‘I’m coming with you to the rehearsals and then the Tournament,’ she said.

Pia ran up to her mother and hugged her hard. ‘I knew you’d understand!’ She gave her mother a light kiss on the cheek, careful not to disturb her make-up.

‘But what about your job?’

‘I’ve phoned in sick.’

Pia looked at her mother. She was glad she’d told her everything.

‘It’s quarter past nine, so we haven’t got that long.’ Maija handed Pia a cup of coffee. ‘I’ve also spoken with Iain. He’ll be at the Myllypuro hall waiting for us. Hopefully that’ll be enough.’ She sighed.

‘Did Iain say anything about Anni?’

Maija paused briefly before replying, ‘No, but we spoke only a few words.’ She added, ‘C’mon, Pia, you only have half an hour!’

Pia had an unreal feeling. It was strange being at home this late on a Monday morning. She’d been given the day off for the Tournament while the rest of the class would already be listening to another boring lecture from the Old Crow. She looked out of the window. The street was quiet. The sun reflecting on the newly fallen snow was blinding. How could anything be dangerous on a bright and beautiful day like this? She started eating the rye bread and cheese her mother had laid out for breakfast. Pia wasn’t in the least bit hungry, but knew she needed to eat in order to have the strength to carry through the programme.

Leena woke after a sleepless night. Iain and she had talked until the early hours. Had she made a mistake telling Iain everything? She peered at the large window in her living room and saw the sun was shining through the long thin curtains. It was in this room that Vadi had confessed his love for his daughter. Leena remembered how touched she had been.

‘My daughter, Leena, my daughter crying in sleep every night. I must do something, I must get her out!’

Leena now wondered if any of what Vadi had told her was true. If this Alyona even was his daughter. Iain knew about the defection, but not that he was going to be accompanied by his daughter. But why would Vadi make up such an elaborate lie? The whole forced schooling of talented gymnasts, how Alyona was made to train even when ill with exhaustion or injured. How the Tournament proved the perfect opportunity to get Alyona over the border to Finland and then to London. He had even told Leena he’d send for her when they had both settled in England. Or had Leena just been fooling herself? Thinking about it now, she couldn’t remember when he had actually said she would join them in London. Leena put her head in her hands. She looked at her watch by the bed. Just before nine. This won’t do! She got up to have a hot shower.

The girls looked nervous. The gym hall was bathed in strips of bright light from the windows near the high ceiling. Pia Mäkelä had come with her mother. Leena went over and shook her hand. She was a copy of Pia, just a little older.

‘Miss Joutila,’ she said and there was a chill in her voice. But Leena didn’t have time to think about that now. She needed to concentrate on preparing her girls for the Tournament.

The group of five girls looked smart in their sky-blue competition costumes. The cuffs and collar had thin white edgings on them. Leena had designed the costumes herself to reflect the colours of the Finnish flag. ‘Helsinki Lyceum’ was discreetly embroidered over the top left breast of each girl’s suit. The three girls with long hair had it up in a tight ponytail, just as Leena had told them to. Leena frowned at Pia’s leg warmers. They looked shabby. She’d have to remove them before the routine. All that was left now was to get through the programme as well as possible.

Leena clapped her hands together and shouted, ‘From the top, start with the front roll, on my signal!’

When they had run though the whole of the ten-minute programme the third time, there was clapping from behind Leena. Other parents must also have decided to come to the rehearsals. Leena turned around to see who was being so enthusiastic.

The man clapping and whooping loudly was Vladsislas. He was now walking towards Leena, with a big grin on his face. He was wearing the long black coat and boots.

‘Vadi,’ Leena whispered. She felt the eyes of the girls and Pia’s mother drill into her as Vadi took her hand and shook it.

‘Vladsislas Kovtun, I am from the Friendship Committee. We met in Moscow some time ago.’

‘Yes, yes, I remember,’ Leena said. His touch made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She was afraid he’d notice her body shaking with the fury she felt. She needed to keep breathing. She must stay calm.

‘I am here to offer you our best wishes.’

‘Oh, yes, of course.’ Leena was thinking hard. Why had he come? And why the elaborate pretence? Surely he remembered Pia had seen them together in the classroom only a week ago? Was the man losing his mind? Leena saw Pia and her mother exchange looks. They had moved closer together and Mrs Mäkelä was holding Pia’s hand.

‘Are you not going to introduce me to all the ladies?’ Vadi said, smiling. He turned around and started walking towards Pia and her mother, who were now standing apart from the group of girls, near the exit of the gym hall. Pia’s mother had her arm around Pia, as if to protect her from the Russian. Vadi offered his hand. For a painfully long moment Pia and Mrs Mäkelä stared down at Vladsislas’ hand, refusing to touch it. Leena walked over to the group and said, ‘I’m sorry, Mr Kovtun. We are in the middle of rehearsals. Perhaps you’d like to sit down and honour us with your opinion of the routine?’ Leena pointed to a slatted bench. Vadi let his hand drop, and with a forced laugh, said, ‘Yes, of course.’

Leena checked her watch and saw they’d only have time to practise the whole programme two more times. They needed it. Pia had been slow in the start and they had overrun by thirty seconds. They couldn’t afford to do that in the competition.

‘C’mon girls, let’s carry on!’

When Pia entered into her front roll, Vladsislas came close to Leena and whispered. ‘I talk you in private?’

Leena felt the man’s warm breath on her neck. She felt sick, but made herself turn her face towards the Russian and say, ‘Yes, of course.’ She watched Pia finish at the end of the mat and move into the correct position for a back flip. She looked at the large clock on the far wall of the hall and gestured with her head towards her office by the changing rooms. As she walked, she could hear her heart pounding in her ears. She hoped the man following her didn’t notice how nervous she was. Be strong, you can do it, she repeated to herself.

Once inside the small office, Vladsislas pulled violently at Leena’s arm and said, ‘I warn you!’

‘What are you talking about?’ Leena forced herself to look puzzled.

‘Yesterday at hotel, I warn you, not say word!’

Leena freed her arm and sat down. She crossed her legs slowly. She had dressed carefully that morning. Just because she was the gymnastic teacher didn’t mean she had to wear her normal tracksuit. She’d finally chosen a short, black skirt and matching suit jacket with a simple white shirt. She was also wearing her best high-heeled Palmrooth boots. She noticed Vadi’s eyes wander from her heels to the top of her thighs.