Impending Plans

'Well, what to become of you comrade Lee Chen?' Turned to her the head commissar, while sitting beside her in the car as if he was reading her thoughts. They were seated in the rear seat riding westward on the road to Sontay, to the old fox's village or rather his refuge. 'Doesn't it bother you? I think I read it on your face all along the meeting.' He added and turned round to watch her.

Gasping with widening nostrils, she drew a deep breath of air, then glanced at the driver and at the other man who sat beside him. But these two men it seemed, must have been deaf, mute and even blindexcept to very few vital issues, the head commissar's safety, his orders and of course to the road ahead. No wonder my deep anxiety showed on my face, I was frightened to death by the heavy bombardments. She thought excusing herself and hastened to answer the head commissar. 'Well yes, I'm very bothered by that question comrade commissar.' She admitted, looking straight into his eyes.

'You're to stay with us and be part of our unit, or would you rather return to your old job?'

'No! I'm glad to join your unit comrade commissar!' She answered without a second thought, treating the other option as if it were a threat not a generous offer.
The old man chuckled with satisfaction, he did not have the slightest intention of giving her up. 'Very well then, but there're many things you'll have to learn yet. We might send you abroad in a short while from now.'

'Oh...!" She uttered with much relief. 'Where to and for how long?' It was the first time that she has seen him laugh and powerful as he was, almost unreachable, she felt quite at ease in his company. Well, all of a sudden I'm an integral part of his unit! Praised be the gods! And soon enough I might become one of his closest associates! She sat in her corner swept with joy, though she was wise enough to take good care not to touch his body in any way - not even inadvertently. He is old enough to be her grandfather and the only signs of affection he did show her were of the parental kind. If he would entertain some other thoughts... Well then, he would certainly like to make the first move himself.

'It hasn't been decided yet...' He added as if he was thinking aloud. 'But then, you'll have to be prepared for it still. In any case, the main idea is to send you to Moscow, to the right school.'

'Moscow?' She echoed after him, utterly surprised. '...It sounds like the other end of the world; just like being sent to the North-Pole!' Moscow didn't appeal to her at all, and she did not think she had to conceal her thoughts from him, not at that stage. He was wiser and much more experienced than her and pouring out her doubts in his ears, proves her faith in him.

'What did you expect then?' He asked intrigued.
'I thought of China, I know many party members who had been trained there; not in their Capital or its surroundings, but in the southern provinces of our neighbor country, not too far from our mutual border.'

'That's quite true, most of our party cadres were trained in China including myself, and many more are still being trained over there.' He admitted and went on without a pause. 'We owe too much to our Chinese brethren, we wouldn't have driven away the French, and reached our independence without our Chinese brethren's support; the constant flow of ammunition and supplies, their wise advice...

Do you see, our debt to our dear Chinese brethren is a too big a debt, and in a way too risky! Well then, as we're very keen on preserving our independence, we must tighten our ties with the leader of our world, the Soviet Union, as a counter balance to our Chinese brethren's influence. Otherwise we might end up as another Chinese province... But that's not the point!' He added decisively as if he were scolding himself, for meandering thus. 'The reason we prefer Moscow to Beijing in your case, is first of all a matter of proficiency.

The Russian's progress in certain respects, which are our very interest are admirable and crucial - as far as we're concerned! As Europe and the Western Hemisphere is going to be your domain, the sooner you'll get adapted to it the better!' He watched her for a few seconds, waiting for a reaction of any sort, trying to detect her feelings. But she stood his intent gaze without changing her expression. 'We hate and despise our enemies and fight them with rage, but there are more subtle ways to fight them; by living among them for instance, and by undermining them within their own homes and hearts...

Any Asian would be too conspicuous in a European society, and vice versa any European would be too conspicuous among us. Now then, as for you comrade Lee Chen, you're a true and most reliable party member; but you could easily pass as one of them! Your help to our war efforts in such a case, being just one individual out there with your talents, could be worth a thousand folds more than anything you contribute the party in your present situation! With your experience you're almost a professional in your own way, but after becoming one you would be able to rid yourself of faults and prejudices, which did haunt you not too long ago.'

There is one more thing he didn't add, that I'm part of that barter he was speaking about in the meeting... Thought Lee Chen Woe quite composed, she didn't consider it as some kind of a betrayal; she knew right away that her way to the top is being paved with the support of one of the most powerful persons she ever met.