Lu Chan went on, “As he expected, it took approximately seven months to complete the negotiations for the equipment and arrange for its transport. I was in Hanoi again shortly before.
“We were not in contact until immediately before he left for Moscow. He indicated that there would be another assignment to Hanoi and it would be his last before he could escape. I assured him he would be provided with weather updates on his return.”
Fred and Neil were listening intently as Lu Chan quietly told the story of Chernakov’s preparations to defect.
“When he came back to Hanoi in January, we met briefly at China’s military Headquarters to discuss some matters regarding U.S. prisoners. The General was very cautious in our meeting. He told me he had had a conversation with GRU Chief, Yuri Karpov before leaving Moscow, Karpov told him of a suspected defection of a very important high level person. Chernakov said the information had been given Karpov by a contact in a cell group he had been working with in Paris. His contact was a woman from Saigon.”
“Lia Duprè,” Neil interrupted; her name was Lia Duprè.”
Nodding, Lu Chan continued, “Two days later, Chernakov contacted me—it was brief. He told me Karpov was at the Soviet Embassy in Hanoi. He was to meet him that afternoon.
“I gave him the information and the location where he would rendezvous with Thayer and he committed it to memory. He would be picked up the next morning by a Chinese supply truck, I would be the driver. The destination was an abandoned airfield in Laos.”
The embassy was quiet when Chernakov arrived and was escorted into an office where Yuri Karpov waited. “Good afternoon, Comrade General,” Karpov smiled, “You are surprised to see me here so soon after we last talked; yes?”
Thoughtfully, Chernakov nodded, “Yes, Colonel; I find it surprising that you are here, considering the topic of conversation at our last meeting. Either the reason you are here is more important or you found the defector or perhaps you found that the information was incorrect. In any case, you wanted to meet with me today; how can I be of service?” Chernakov asked calmly.
The GRU chief studied Chernakov a moment before answering, “Yes, Chernakov, it is important; the information is correct. The defector is the reason I am here.”
Chernakov winced internally at Karpov’s announcement, though outwardly he remained reserved and business-like. “I am very interested in your discovery, Comrade,” he said.
“You should be General; you will find it very interesting. It was a process of elimination that led me to my conclusion. There are a few in our country that would cause some concern should they decide to leave; artists particularly make good propaganda for the West. They are often used by the American press and Hollywood. Naturally they cause embarrassment. We have been very watchful of our performers—they are not allowed to travel easily.
“Then, there are those who work in embassies and the United Nations in the U.S., but they have no reason to defect. They are able to enjoy the decadent capitalist lifestyle in their assignments. Besides, many of them have much to hold them in USSR, families, spouses and children.
“So I asked myself who is well known; what kind of person would be a large coup for America…? Who would stand out on the world stage as a great loss for USSR? Who has no one to hold him? Then I know, Chernakov, it is you!
“For all the reasons we send you here to Hanoi and to Bejing and Havana to negotiate; and to state our interests to the West and NATO countries. You who are a hero to our people… of all possibilities, Chernakov, it is you.”
Karpov had stood with his back toward Chernakov and whirled around pointing his finger in Pyotr’s face he stated again, loudly this time, “It is you!”
Also standing now, Chernakov inhaled deeply and looked down into the watery eyes of the GRU chief, speaking slowly and with restrained anger, “You know Colonel, some situations can withstand the strain of false accusations, however, I will tell you this is not one of them.
“Although I consider myself to be a somewhat modest man, I believe my service to my country speaks for itself and let me assure you that this accusation will not be forgiven by me and certainly not by the Politburo or I doubt by Brezhnev himself.
“I want you to know, Karpov, you have overstepped your authority and it will not be forgotten!” Chernakov saw a moment of doubt register on Karpov’s face.
“I am leaving now, Colonel; I have some military business to attend to with some of our Chinese and North Vietnamese Comrades, that will take me on another journey into Laos regarding some American prisoners; this meeting is over.
“One more thing, I insist Karpov, that any further discussion of this matter be delayed until we are once again in Moscow and it can be brought before the Party,” Chernakov stated offensively.
Karpov was clearly stymied for the moment, though unconvinced by Chernakov’s attack; his words were that of a gambler hedging his bet, “Perhaps you are right, Chernakov, the Party should deal with this.”
As Lu Chan related Chernakov’s story of his encounter with Karpov, Wellman and Klein listened without interruption until then Neil commented, “Apparently Karpov wasn’t willing to let that happen.”
“That’s correct,” Lu Chan agreed, “He had determined that Chernakov was now a liability. Either way, Karpov was on trial… if Chernakov returned to Moscow and accused him, Karpov would be at best demoted and at worst sent to Siberia for ‘retraining’. On the other hand, if Chernakov defected Karpov would be held responsible for not seeing it coming. There was only one thing to do and that was to kill Chernakov.
“The General had figured it out too, so it was not a total surprise when the next morning Chernakov found himself under military guard at Karpov’s orders.
“When Chernakov met the supply truck he was accompanied by the guard. Apparently, word of the rendezvous point had reached Karpov and the guard was to make certain that Chernakov died.
“As I told you, I was the driver of the truck. It was a long ride and we were a short distance from the airstrip when the guard indicated we should stop; I pretended not to understand and he became very angry and pointed his gun at me. Chernakov ordered me in Chinese to stop. The guard ordered Chernakov out of the truck and told him to raise his hands. As he raised his weapon to shoot the General, I fired a short burst at him, killing him. The General jumped back into the truck and we went on to the airstrip. He got out and ordered me to leave him.”
Lu Chan was remembering his last words with Pyotr Chernakov, he said sadly, “He thanked me and told me to leave him there—we heard the helicopter in the distance and I saluted him and left at his direction. That was the last time I saw General Chernakov.” Lu Chan added, “He was one of the finest soldiers and bravest men that I shall ever know.”
Wellman and Klein were silent as Lu Chan concluded the last chapter in Chernakov’s life.
Drawing a deep breath Fred asked, “Where will your next assignment take you?”
Lu Chan smiled, “Back to Southeast Asia and possibly into China. I must leave soon; I am making a brief stop in Seattle where I have some unfinished business.
Seattle
Friday afternoon
Ramsey was shaken by Carr accosting him in his office and later by the rash encounter with Detective Savalza and Andrew Kincaid. It was very clear that Kincaid knew something about GCI. “How and what did he find out? I’d better call Tokyo and then Coleman.”
Ramsey dialed Coleman’s office at DIA. “Brad I had an unpleasant meeting with Harrison Carr this morning; he knows about the break-in in Bangkok. He was contacted by Schneiderman. Zurich wants closure on this thing, Brad, Harrison also.”