—— ‘Russian’s Amazing Story’ ——207occupied by two middleaged men. The men were talking loudly
in a language that was unfamiliar to me.
‘Why are those two staring at you,’ whispered Tanya. ‘It looks
as if they’re coming over.. .’
And at that point I heard Russian spoken behind me.
‘My colleague from New Zealand and I are journalists. I’m
from the Soviet Press Agency and I’m escorting our guest. Our
guest is interested in you. He saw you were wearing the badge of
the Journalists’ Union and medal tabs, and he would very much
like you to answer some questions.
‘Please do. Come over to our table.’ Yevgeni Alexandrovich
Pozdnyakov, Soviet Press Agency correspondent, beckoned his
colleague over. We introduced ourselves.
‘Our guest asks why you have so many decorations and medals.
And what are they for?’
‘I had to fight the Nazis at one time, and that’s what the
decorations are for,’ I replied. ‘And there aren’t as many as it appears.’
‘You were a journalist during the war?’
‘No, I was a sniper at the front. It was near Leningrad, during
the blockade.’
‘Would you be able to relate a few episodes of battle from your
life at the front?’ asked Yevgeni Alexandrovich as he translated yet
another question from the foreign visitor.
‘I’ l l t r y.’
The foreign visitor listened with great attention, sometimes
interrupting, asking a question of his own and listening further.
We talked like this for probably about an hour. The visitor
bowed, thanked me warmly and squeezed my hand for a long time.
The next day we bade farewell to the sea and arrived at the
airport. It was still early and there was still plenty of time before
our plane took off.
And suddenly I heard:
‘Oh, Mister Nikolaev! Good morning’
Looking round, I saw our two acquaintances from yesterday at
the Pearl Hotel.