“Will you come with me, please?” he suggested.
“Where?” I asked.
“To the Smolny Institute.”
“But why?”
“Because I have orders to detain all officers returning from the front,” he replied.
“But I am only going home!” I tried to argue.
“Yes, I understand. But as an officer you will also understand that I must obey orders. They will probably release you.”
He hailed a cabman and we drove to the Smolny Institute, the seat of the Bolshevik Government. It impressed me as a strongly garrisoned fortress. There were armed sentries everywhere. Accompanied by Red Guards I was led inside. There were Guards at every desk. I was taken before a sailor. He was very rough and brusque.
“Where are you going?” he demanded curtly.
“I am going home, to a village near Tomsk,” I replied.