The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

Chapter 3The Main AdversaryEarly morning on Friday, Starostin got a call at home from “the Anarchist.” Thiscodename, for the purpose of his reports to the Center, was given by Starostin to anAmerican who had been his buddy for nearly half a year.“Hi, Valery, it’s me—I’m already here. I returned from the United States via Londonyesterday.”“So, how’s the weather in London? Foggy, rainy, cool?” asked Starostin, still drowsyafter a hot, stuffy, sleepless night.“No, the weather is more like here—hot and humid.”“So we’re not the only ones suffering.”“Valery, could we meet tonight? I brought you greetings and some gifts from theStates.”“Say no more. I already know. You brought me a ‘hello’ from Langley—an offer that Icannot turn down, along with a million dollars cash in an alligator-skin suitcase?”“I would be pleased to make you happy that way, but my ‘hellos’ and gifts areconsiderably more modest.”“Okay, let’s meet tonight at the entrance to the zoo, at 7:15,” said Starostin. Valeryliked the Anarchist. He was an interesting person. The American had graduated fromHarvard during the turbulent 1960s (for the West), and had studied both Russian andPersian. He could have begun a career as a Sovietologist. However, he turned down an offerto work for the government for political reasons. During his college years, he explained, he209