Tom Smith: The Secret Speech

— So, you found me…

Raisa’s words trembled with anger:

— I’m here for Zoya.

— Where’s Leo?

— I’m alone.

— You’re lying. But we’ll find him soon enough. This is not a large city.

— Let Zoya go.

— You speak as though I stole her. The truth is I rescued her from you.

— Whatever problems we had as a family, we love her. You don’t.

Fraera hardly seemed to register the observation:

— Zoya wanted to join me, so I allowed her to. She is free to do whatever she likes. If she wishes to go home with you, she can. I won’t stop her.

— It’s easy to win a child’s favor by allowing them to do whatever they want and telling them whatever they want to hear. Give her a machine gun; tell her she’s a revolutionary. It’s a seductive lie. I don’t believe she loves you for it.

— I don’t ask her to. You and Leo, on the other hand, you demand love. You’re both obsessed with it. And the truth is that she was miserable living with you, whereas she’s happy with me.

Over Fraera’s shoulder, at the end of the corridor, Raisa could see an injured man spread on the kitchen table. There were no doctors, little equipment to speak of, bloody rags and pots of boiling water.

— If you stay here, you are going to die. Zoya is going to die with you. Fraera shook her head:

— Concern for her well-being is no proof that you’re a parent. The fact is, you’re no more her mother than I am.

RAISA AWOKE. The room was dark and cold and she shivered, pulling the thin bedding around her. It was night. The city was quiet. She hadn’t expected to sleep but as soon as she’d lain down her eyes had closed. There was a plate of meat and potatoes on the floor, deposited while she’d been asleep. She reached out, pulling the plate closer. Only now did she notice the door was open.

Standing up, walking forward, she glanced into the hallway. The corridors were empty. To escape would be a matter of leaving the apartment, descending the stairway, then exiting to the street. Was it possible that Zoya had opened the door and broken the lock, wanting to help while at the same time concealing her involvement? The enterprise demonstrated stealth and skill, yet it was based upon a false assumption. Raisa wasn’t here to escape: she was here to bring Zoya home. Zoya would understand that. The method was inconsistent with her character, circumspect while she was bold and brash.

Uneasy, Raisa stepped away. At the same time a shadowy outline appeared in the door. It was the figure of a young boy. He spoke in a whisper:

— Why don’t you escape?

— Not without Zoya.

He sprang forward, wrapping a leg around hers, uprooting it and forcing her to the floor, her cry stifled by his hand. She was on her back, pinned down. Raisa felt a knife against her throat. He whispered:

— You should’ve run .

She repeated, speaking through his fingers:

— Not without Zoya.

At the mention of Zoya’s name she felt his body tense, the blade press against her neck. Raisa asked:

— You… like her?

There was a shift in his position. His grip around her mouth loosened. She was right. This was about Zoya: the boy was worried about losing her. Raisa said:

— Listen to me. She’s in danger. You are too. Come with us.

— She’s not yours!

— You’re right. She’s not mine. But I care about her a great deal. And if you do too you’ll find a way to get her out of here. You hear the difference between my voice and Fraera’s voice, don’t you? You hear that I care? You know that she doesn’t.

The boy removed the knife from her neck. He seemed uncertain. Raisa guessed his thoughts:

— Come back with us. You’re the reason she’s happy, not Fraera.

The boy got to his feet, hurrying out, shutting the door and then opening it again. Remembering the lock was broken, he whispered:

— Pretend you were trying to break out. If you don’t they’ll kill me.

The boy disappeared. Raisa called out:

— Wait!

The boy reappeared:

— What’s your name?

He hesitated:

— Malysh.

LEO COUNTED AT LEAST THIRTY TANKS, a column advancing along the main boulevard into the city. A deployment of this size, mobilizing at six in the morning, meant a full-scale Soviet invasion was imminent. The insurgency was about to be wiped out.

Leo hastened down the hill, running back to Karoly’s apartment. Climbing the stairs, two at a time, he reached the top floor landing, pushing open the door. Karoly was seated at the table, reading a leaflet. Leo explained:

— The Soviets have mobilized over thirty tanks. They’re entering the city. We have to find Zoya and Raisa immediately.

Karoly handed him the leaflet. Impatient, Leo glanced at it. At the top there was a photograph. It was of Leo. Karoly translated the text:

— This man is a Soviet spy. He is disguised as one of us. Report his whereabouts to the nearest revolutionary stronghold.

Leo placed the leaflet down:

— If Fraera’s looking for me, it’s proof that Raisa has been captured.

Karoly remarked:

— Leo, it’s no longer safe for you to go outside.

Leo opened the door, ready to go:

— No one is going to care about one Russian spy when there are Russian tanks on every street corner.

The door to the apartment opposite was ajar. A slice of the neighbor’s face was visible. They held eye contact. Then the neighbor shut the door.

TWO VORY ENTERED RAISA’S ROOM, grabbing her by the arms, leading her into the hallway, out the front door, and onto the balcony. The courtyard below was crowded. Fraera stood at the center. Seeing Raisa arrive she waved her men aside. They parted, revealing Leo and Karoly on their knees, their arms bound in front of them like slaves ready for sale. Zoya was in among the crowd of onlookers.

Leo stood up. Guns were directed at him. Fraera gestured for them to be put away:

— Let him speak.

— Fraera, we don’t have much time. There are over thirty T-34s in the city right now. The Soviets are going to crush this resistance. They’re going to kill every man and woman and child holding a gun. There is no chance of victory.

— I disagree.

— Frol Panin is laughing at you. This uprising is a sham. This isn’t about the future of Hungary. You’re being exploited.

— Maxim, you see everything upside down. I am not being exploited: I am exploiting Panin. I could never have done this on my own. My revenge would have finished in Moscow. Instead of merely being able to take revenge on the men and women involved in my arrest, as I originally planned, he has presented me with an opportunity to take revenge upon the very State that destroyed my life. Here, I am hurting Russia.

— No, you’re not. The Soviet forces can lose a hundred tanks and a thousand soldiers and it won’t matter. They won’t care.

— Panin has underestimated the depth of hatred here.

— Hatred isn’t enough.

Fraera turned her attention to Karoly:

— You’re his translator? An appointment arranged by Frol Panin?

— Yes.

— You have instructions to kill me?

Karoly considered, then replied:

— Either myself or Leo was supposed to kill you. Once the uprising began.