AK 239: The Enemy Is Already Here

We Russians are used to an entire subtext of thought and communication that is far more important than the spoken or written word.

Subtext.

It’s all subtext.

“So do you believe the Americans are in any way a threat to Russia?” I read word for word.

The smooth talking president goes right into his dance,

“Not militarily, of course, Olga. We could wipe out NATO’s military in Eastern Europe in ten minutes. But we are increasing our patrols around any U.S. vessel or aircraft near our shores. We don’t want confrontation but we are fully prepared to defend our lands!”

But President Mironovich: Aren’t the Americans just reacting to our placing of ships and planes very close to NATO forces? This was the question I desperately want to ask but I didn’t want to end up like some of my colleagues:

Jailed or murdered!

So I didn’t ask the question.

The heavy hand of government had returned to Russia. But a few friends, more courageous than I, still question the absolute authoritarianism of crazy Ivan’s new Russia.

However, today, I wasn’t about to be one of them.

I quickly return to my script provided by my boss,

“Mr. President, are we doing all we can to counter these maneuvers by NATO and America?”

“Of course our brave boys will counter any aggressive moves by the West. I fear it’s only a matter of time before someone, either intentionally or accidentally, fires something at us in which case we will have no choice but to defend ourselves. And then there’s no telling where that could lead, Olga.”

I’ve become a puppet of the state. TV-12 is owned by the Russian government, which means President Mironovich was asking and answering his own preplanned script.

I was nothing more than window dressing.

Nothing would be broadcast over the air that now wasn’t directly approved by the crazy little man himself. A modern day Stalin or Lenin seems to be where we’re heading with this man.

The president continued, “We want to be friends with NATO and America and find it puzzling that they would provocatively place military assets so close to our lands. We are the largest country in the world and want peace but if someone attacks us, like they did in World War II, then we will defend ourselves and prevail!”

I pretend to be pleased with this, “I’m sure our listeners will be happy to know you have spent so much time working to protect the people of Russia from NATO and American aggression.”

“The people of our great civilization must now prepare for the worst. You must now stock up on food and water and prepare for maybe not having electricity or heat. I shall meet with NATO and the Americans to head off any possible conflict. But rest assured if they want to attack us we shall defend our people.”

Chills went up and then back down my spine. Is this madman trying to provoke a war?

Bokan Mountain, Alaska

^{Christmas Eve}

It was dusk and it was only 4:00 p.m.! The days are short and the nights are long and cold in an Alaskan winter.

I ran back to Jennifer with the only thing I could quickly find:

Ferns.

I hope she’s still alive.

As I peek into the log, I’m met face to face with her Glock.

Yep, she’s alive.

“Probably won’t fire anyway,” I joke.

“Let’s play Russian roulette and find out?” says Jennifer.

“Russian roulette with a Glock? That I want to see.”

I now realize she’s covered herself with moss and all of her clothes are neatly folded nearby.

“Me Tarzan, you Jennifer?” I joke.

She’s not amused.

“No? Doesn’t work for you?” I say.

What the hell was I thinking?

I reach into my pocket and pull out my Glock.

“I give the Glocks about a ninety percent chance of firing.”

Jennifer playfully points her gun in my general direction and says,

“Let’s find out.”

I push the gun aside and get serious,

How’s the wound?”

“I think it stopped bleeding,” says Jennifer as she looks at my ferns.

“Plan on making a call with those?”

I ignore her, “There’s nothing around here. They must have a jamming device on the mountain.”

Jennifer confidently says, “No. No way. How would they get it up there? Unless…”

“Unless what? I ask.

“Unless that Russian sub is closer than we think.” Jennifer continues, “I blame myself. I should’ve turned our boat around as soon as Jack Tanner told me the story. Thanks to me, Jack and Mike are dead.”

“Don’t blame yourself.”

“You’re the one ta talk,” she says accusingly.

“Those are definitely Russian Special Forces. I overheard them speaking Russian. I didn’t show you but there were twenty-two suitcases on that barge filled with at least one million dollars each.”

Jennifer is truly shocked,

“What?” Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was trying to when we played: Shoot the large yellow targets!”

Jennifer is thinking but all that comes out is:

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all of this.”

“Your office will know you’re missing, right?”

Jennifer sighs, “Probably not. I was supposed to go to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for a month. They might think I left early.”

“Aren’t you suppose to check in after field work?” I ask.