JOURNEYS Mennonite Stories of Faith and Survival in Stalins Russia, John B. Toews, 1998

ay engaged in experiments and writing reports. I asked that he supply me with all the neces¬ sary materials and documents, which I locked in a primitive iron box. I pretended to be extremely busy throughout the day. To¬ wards evening the driver arrived with the mail and the provisions. Through the window I watched Zvyagin walk towards the driver with his outstretched hand but the driver refused to give him the ISLAND IN THE STEPPE 123 mail. When both arrived at my office the driver handed me my mail. When Zvyagin complained I explained that new regula¬ tions were in effect. If there was anything for him I explained, I would pass it along .... Disappointed and suspicious he left the room. I locked the door and curtained the window. Then I emp¬ tied the contents of the sack on to the table. There was a letter from Madame Korneva. My hot tea had just arrived and over its steam I opened the envelope. Arsenty Pavlovitsch! Gather the last evidence against Berg as soon as possible. Let it consist of the following: First, obtain a letter signed by all the workers stating that he supplies whisky for the camp; that he skims cream from the milk and makes butter for himself; that he forces women to sleep with him. Secondly, report on the milk production. Falsify the forms and exaggerate the figures. If necessary destroy old records and substitute the false ones. Third, list the number of calves which have died and give reasons which make him appear as a saboteur or at least as an unreliable worker. Fourth, write a report on his counter-revolutionary views gleaned from your conversations with him. It does not have to be factual, say anything you wish. The more pointed the accusations the better. I need the material by morning. We’ll take them to Somov together. I'll send a note to Berg saying I sent for you. The letter was signed Korneva. I carefully put everything back into the envelope including the receipt from the slaughterhouse. I sealed the envelope and removed the lock from my door. Zvyagin came by and collected his mail all the while averting my glance. He took the letter from Korneva, read it in silence and showed me the slaughterhouse re¬ ceipt. His hands trembled. “What’s the matter with you? Are you experiencing a malaria attack?” “Korneva wishes to see me in the morning and I have to pre¬ pare some documents for her,” he said hesitantly. He walked over to the chest with the documents but it was locked. “Please give me the key Abram.” “No.” I retorted. “I have to work on a report all night long and I need them. Korneva can wait for a day.” It was pitiful to see. He began to plead and beg for the docu- 124 JOURNEYS ments. I lost patience. I grabbed him by the shoulders, turned him around and pushed him in the direction of the door. “Get going. You are really getting to me. You are sick. Lie down and in the morning I’ll send a note saying you became ill.” I pushed him out a