May Day was celebrated throughout the Soviet Far East. The great victory against Germany and Japan, which Russia had won all by herself despite the treachery of England and America in standing idly by, was celebrated with pomp and magnificence. Pictures of Stalin were shown in all the major cities. Important officials made speeches; that is, some important officials did. But several of the most important officials of all did not make speeches. They spent the day at the telephone.
CHITA: SECRET POLICE HEADQUARTERS
The more-than-regional commanding officer of the police troops, whose duty it was to make sure that the workers did not revolt against Socialism, was thoroughly tired of being kept waiting. Finally the phone rang. He snatched it up.
"Yes. Yes. Yes. Entirely local. I know. Say no more on the telephone. There was nothing political to it. Evidence of espionage. What? All right. Tell the Vladivostok office to handle it. Put extra men on the American Consulate and all that sort of thing."
He put the phone down. His next-in-command awaited expectantly. The commanding officer deigned to talk:
"Terribly serious."
"Yes, Comrade Commander."
"N.K.A.R."
"You don't say!" The subordinate let his jaw drop in amazement. He had known of it long before the boss, but there was no point in repelling the boss' confidence. The telephone operator had already told him.
The commanding general lit a cigarette and then smiled. "But it's internal. Some of their Material got away—"