Patting Dmitri on the head, Tom was amazed the kids understood each other. “I’m glad you two had a good time.” Remembering his alibi, he suggested, “How about we pick up a couple of sodas on the way back?”
Peter yelled out, “Yay!”
After getting the drinks, Tom rushed the boys along in hopes Dmitri wouldn’t be missed. But the situation looked grim as they approached. Yakov and one of the Soviet agents were questioning Maria aggressively. Tom assumed the interrogation was in regard to Dmitri’s whereabouts. The agent appeared to be forcibly gripping Maria’s arm.
Tom hurried over and called out innocently, “What’s up?”
Both men shot Tom a cold stare. Anne, sitting across from Maria, had a concerned look on her face, confirming that something serious was going down.
Tom raised his drink in the hope of calming the situation. “Kids were thirsty. So I took them for a soda.”
Dmitri ran over to his mother’s side and hugged her.
Lifting the cup higher, Tom said in a smart-alecky tone, “You know. Coca Cola.”
No one answered or smiled. Yakov gave Tom a nasty glare, as if he had undermined the commander.
Tom continued with his sarcastic attitude. “Don’t you have Coke in the Soviet Union?”
Yakov turned away in disgust, saying something to the agent before leaving in a huff. The agent let go of Maria and escorted Dmitri in the direction of his father.
Tom answered his own question, “I guess not.” Peter was at the end of the table drinking his soda and watching the people. As Tom took his seat, he looked over at Anne curiously. “What was all that about?”
“They’re upset that Dmitri wasn’t here. Even though I told them you took the boys for drinks, Yakov was convinced you took them to the rollercoaster.”
“Wow, they’re making a big deal out of this.” Tom started to get up. “I’ll go straighten it out.”
Anne stopped him. “We have other problems.”
Tom sat back down. “What?”
“Apparently Maria has been having contractions over the last few hours. Because she barely speaks English, I’ve been having a hard time understanding her. I don’t think she’s told anyone. As close as the contractions appear to be coming, I’m afraid she could have the baby at any moment.”
The worried look on Maria’s face confirmed the gravity of the situation. “Damn, let’s get her to a hospital.”
“I think she’s afraid to ask, worried it could affect Viktor’s position on his flight.”
Tom stood up. “Bullshit. Nothing’s going to happen to Viktor’s slot. Let me go talk to Yakov.”
With a strong grip, Anne pulled her husband back down. “Tom, don’t. She doesn’t want you to.”
Maria moaned softly and bent over in agony.
Tom’s heart rate increased seeing the expectant mother hurting. He couldn’t just sit idle. “We’ve got to do something.” Tom reached over and gently took Maria’s hand. She squeezed. After the pain subsided, she looked up with helpless eyes.
Tom wasn’t going to chance this sweet lady giving birth in the park, regardless of the consequences. “Tell you what. I’ll sneak her out of here to a hospital.” He patted Maria on the hand and said encouragingly, “Don’t worry, Maria, all will be okay.”
Thinking for a moment, Tom looked at the Flight to the Moon attraction and got an idea. He turned to Anne. “I’m going to let Viktor know what’s going on.” He stood up. “Then I’ll recruit help and we’ll sneak her out of here.”
Not waiting for agreement, Tom nonchalantly walked toward Viktor, who had his arm around his son. Viktor seemed to be getting reprimanded by the Soviet agent. After the man left, Tom approached, pointing to Dmitri. “Viktor, I’m sorry about taking the boys. They really wanted to go on that ride.”
“I know. All be fine.” Viktor said something in Russian to his son and patted him on the back. Dmitri put his head down and slowly walked back toward his mother.
Leaning in close, Tom whispered, “Viktor, Maria is having contractions.”
The soviet tilted his head, not understanding.
Tom pointed to his stomach. “Maria is in pain, baby coming.”
Grasping the emergancy, Viktor immediately headed for his wife.
Tom caught the cosmonaut before he could step away. “Viktor, wait.”
Viktor looked over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow.
“Maria is afraid to say anything. She thinks it might affect your standing on the mission.”
Victor angrily shook his head. “Ve have doctor, but he be in hotel with sick general.”
“Look, even if a doctor was here, you still wouldn’t want her to have the baby in the park. She’s pretty far along and needs to get to a hospital. Will your superiors allow her to go?”
Viktor shrugged in despair. “If no doctor, I not know.”
“Then let me take care of it so you don’t chance losing your flight.” Tom looked around to double-check no one was listening before leaning in. “I’ll sneak her off to a hospital. Once she’s safe, I’ll make sure someone gets you. You just pretend you have no idea what’s going on or where she is.”
Viktor tightened his mouth. “Thees best?”
“Yes, I believe so. This is best.”
Viktor looked back toward his wife. “Okay. I go kiss her. Take care my Maria.”
Tom patted the cosmonaut on the back. “Don’t worry, I promise everything will be fine. I’ll take good care of your wife and future baby.”
Viktor graciously bowed. “Spaseeba, comrade.”
Knowing spaseeba means thanks, Tom flashed a confident wink before the two separated in opposite directions. Tom slipped unnoticed through the crowd toward the Flight to the Moon entrance. He maneuvered up to the Disney employee taking tickets at the podium. “Excuse me. May I see the person in charge?”
Continuing to take tickets, the worker answered without looking up. “Is there something wrong?”
Tom fired back, “Yes, there is. Please get your boss.”
The man halted the line and squinted hard at Tom. After a motionless beat, he picked up a handheld microphone off the podium and turned away so as not to be overheard. After a few moments, the man spun back, pointing to a small, isolated area. “Please wait over there. My boss will be here momentarily.”
As the employee resumed taking tickets, Tom moved over to the area. He leaned up against the wall as he watched the people shuffling by, some doing a double take when they saw him, possibly recognizing him. He grinned at the irony of the situation. These people were passing a man who flew the actual version of the fantasy space mission they were about to take.
Finally, a Disneyland manager appeared. He wore thick, black-rimmed glasses, his greasy black hair pressed tightly to his head. He spoke with crisp precision. “Hello, I’m Dennis. I understand you have a problem?”
Tom decided to play on his celebrity. “Hi, Dennis, do you know who I am?”
Raising an eyebrow, Dennis slowly looked Tom over. “You look familiar. Are you one of the astronauts visiting?”
Tom moved in close so the others couldn’t hear. “Yes, I am. I’m Tom Novak.”
With a skeptical look, Dennis took a step back. “From Apollo 16?”
Tom raised both hands. “Yep, that’s me.”
The man’s expression relaxed. “Geez, didn’t you just walk on the moon?”
“I did. Last month, in fact.”
Dennis wheeled in disbelief. “Gosh, I can’t believe it. A moonwalker right here in front of Flight to the Moon.”
Tom paused to look around before saying in a hushed tone, “I need your help.”
The man sprang to attention. “Copy that, Commander. How can I be of service?”