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

nd locked the door. He continued to beg but finally left. I had to think of Fortunatov’s warning: “Offense is the best defense.” Yes, he was right and I decided to attack. What would Zvyagin do now? His access to the documents was barred. In all probability he would run to consult with Korneva. I walked out to the yard. The moon shone brightly. I found the night watchman and asked him to saddle my horse and tie it be¬ hind my office. “If you see Zvyagin let me know.” I was on good terms with the watchman, a Turk, since I had helped him [escape] when one of the northern transports was being assembled. I went back to my room and began to prepare a report on Korneva and Zvyagin. I wanted to establish the facts about my innocence in the event of sabotage charges .... There was suddenly a knock on the door. I opened and was met by the heads of the milkers and calf workers. They were agi¬ tated and claimed that Zvyagin was walking through the barracks of our farm seeking signatures for a petition in which I, as head of animal husbandry, was slandered. A few cattle herders who joined them claimed no one had signed. Yet all knew what would hap¬ pen if he got enough signatures. It was midnight and no one was sleeping. I read them my report and asked them to sign it. They did so without hesitation and even added several unsavoury facts about Zvyagin. We parted. Now two cow herders reported that Zvyagin had vanished. The Turk likewise came running and in his broken Russian reported “Zvyagin has left for Manshin.” I got on my horse and followed him. It was a full moon and when he caught sight of me he tried to hide in the bushes. I soon found him and demanded he return to camp. When he resisted I forced him back with my riding whip and ordered the Turk to watch him .... Exhausted I fell asleep fully clothed. Next thing I knew the Turk was shaking me: “You may want to kill me, but Zvyagin has escaped.” What now? I ate breakfast, saddled my horse and rode to Manchin where I reported the disappearance of the prisoner Zvyagin. Korneva and Zvyagin were no longer in Manshin. They were with Somov. I stood there wondering what to do. A guard called Hanyukov confirmed their meeting with Somov. I showed him my report ISLAND IN THE STEPPE 125 and explained what had happened. He was furious. He sided with me and also signed my report noting “I confirm everything.” He was one of the few who regarded prisoners as people. He called another guard who also signed my report. Both were party members and so their signatures were of immense importance. Hanyukov did more. He drafted a report in which he recalled Korneva standing with some laborers and bragging that she had Somov in her hand. She implied they had a special relationship and that he did anything she asked. The guards also reported other cases in which she slandered the camp leadership. Hanyukov made several copies of this report and gave one to me. “Use you