Life Goes On - 44. More Adventures in Russia

Saturday morning Vladek and Aiden took the metro to Ploschad Revolyutsii station where they would meet Dimitri in the hall between the two platforms. Exiting the train they walked through archways to the center hall. The archways leading from the main hall to the platforms had bronze statues of heroes of the Revolution and Soviet wars. A smiling Dimitri was waiting for them. Vladek then departed to take a train to spend the day with his family as Dimitri and Aiden exited to begin their sightseeing adventure starting with the area around the Kremlin (Kremlin means ‘fortress within a city. This walled area built in the 1400s contains the seat of the Russian government, five palaces, four cathedrals and the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation.) Aiden was unable to enter the Kremlin because he needed identification to pass through the gate. Upon arrival at the hotel he and Vladek were required to surrender their passports to the hotel to have them registered with the police. The passports had not yet been returned. However, even if he had his passport he would not have carried it while roaming the city as required by law. Fedor’s advice was to carry a photocopy of the passport and visa and keep the originals in a safe place. It was rumored that police might ask for identification and then threaten to take the passport unless a bribe was paid. The photocopy would prove the holder was an American and there would be no incentive to have it confiscated for unknown offenses. Since Red Square with Saint Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s tomb was on one side of the Kremlin and the beautiful Alexander Gardens were on the opposite side it was an interesting area to visit. Following a tour of Lenin’s tomb where the lifelike body (or as rumored a wax figure) of Lenin was on display and a visit to St. Basil’s, often used as the symbol of Moscow and / or Russia, they walked to the Alexander Gardens on the opposite side of the Kremlin.

After showing the flower garden where he and Fedor had met Dimitri told Aiden said they would have a very special tour. They walked down a stairway opening from the sidewalk in the garden into an underground room. Aiden suddenly realized they were in an underground foul smelling public toilet. Along the wall to the right was a long trough where two men were pissing. Doors along the left wall appeared to be toilet stalls. Most the doors were open and he could see the interior of the dirty stalls which did not have porcelain toilets, just a hole in the floor. Dimitri walked over to the trough and standing near one of the two men opened his pants and pissed. Aiden joined him. Then glancing to his left he noted that the man who had been there since they arrived was not pissing. He was stroking a very impressive Russian dick. Looking in the other direction past Dimitri he noted that the other man just stood there holding his dick. When someone was head coming down the stairs both men leaned in to hide their exposed dicks. Upon realizing it was not a guard they relaxed and continued, one stroking, the other holding. The new arrival stood at the end of the urinal and did his business and quickly departed. Dimitri leaned into Aiden and whispered, “It might not be safe, either from a physical or disease situation to get involved. Robberies are as common as blow jobs. I want to show you something else.” They zipped up and Dimitri led him to the far end of the room. The last stall door was closed tight and the second last one was slightly open. Dimitri pushed the door open. A kneeling man was in the stall with his face against the wall toward the last stall. When he turned to see who had opened the door the dick that he had been sucking stuck out of the glory hole. He smiled and motioned for Aiden to come in. Aiden smiled back but did not enter. Then looking through the crack between door and frame of the last stall Aiden could see a man leaning against the wall. Then to his surprise he saw that this man, who had his dick sticking through the hole, was being fucked by a third man. Demitri then whispered, “I have never seen so much activity down here. Usually you are lucky to see a guy jerking off at the trough or maybe see someone through a stall wall hole. You certainly saw it all today. Let’s get out of this shit hole.”

Back at ground level they sat on a bench facing the toilet entrance noting men entering and exiting. Some returned soon after entering having just a piss. Some were there much longer.

They continued their stroll along wide boulevards, narrow winding streets, through public gardens and past numerous historic buildings. Dimitri gave a running commentary explaining the sights. Their final destination was the Arbat. This wide pedestrian street had been for centuries one of the most prestigious areas of Moscow to live. Aiden later learned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (completed in 1953, one of the Stalin seven skyscrapers) where Fedor was employed was at the far end of The Arbat. In 1992 this was an interesting area to stroll. (Today the street has become a major tourist destination with its many street performers, street artist, souvenir shops and places to eat and drink including The Hard Rock Café, Dunkin Donuts and of course a busy McDonald's.) As they ambled through the area Dimitri suggested they go to his and Fedor’s apartment for a drink and snacks. Aiden accepted the offer assuming the visit would include more than light refreshments.

While Aiden used the toilet Dimitri brought out snacks. A thirsty and hungry Aiden was pleased to see the table loaded with food and drink: beer, bottle of vodka, bottle of water, basket of bread, plate of salami and cheese and a cake. As they drank and ate Dimitri walked around and stood behind Aiden. Putting his hands on the visitor’s shoulders he said, “If you would like to do more than eat and drink I could make a suggestion.”

Reaching back and placing his hand on the Russian’s, “And what do you suggest?”

He leaned forward and tweaked Aiden’s nipples, then leaned in more as his hand reached the crotch while his own hard dick was pressed against the back of the American’s head. They were soon standing and helping each other undress. To Aiden’s pleasure he saw the fine body of the Russian wearing the light green bikini briefs with a bulge pushing out and a wet spot. The Russian handed his guest a condom as he laid on his back. Following a long fuck with numerous timeouts when close Aiden pulled out, ripped off the condom and with hands on his hips and a smile on his face leaned forward and shot into the eager open mouth. He then swallowed the Russian’s cock immediately receiving a mouthful.

Following a quick cleanup they walked to a wide boulevard and were soon on a trolleybus headed for a visit with Vladek’s family.

The family warmly greeted Dimitri. Vladek introduced him as the friend of the officer at the Russian Embassy in Washington who helped them navigate the visa application process. While sharing light refreshments as Aiden (with translations by Vladek) and Dimitri recounted most of the day’s activities Boris and Katrina had many questions about Aiden’s impressions of Moscow. Later that evening in the privacy of their hotel room Aiden shared his adventure at the toilet and later romp in Dimitri’s apartment.

Vladek replied, “много русских мужчин, мало времени.”

“What did you just say?”

“So many Russian men, so little time.”

Sunday afternoon following the Moscow Philharmonic performance at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall Vladek treated his family to pastries and coffee in the café at the hall. At a nearby trolleybus stop he said goodbye to his father, Katrina, brother and sister-in-law who were going home. Vladek, Aiden and Dimitri bought flowers and vodka at a kiosk as gifts for their dinner hosts and entered the nearby metro station.

Forty minutes later they were ringing the buzzer at the building. Taking the lift to the third floor they were greeted by a smiling Andrei (rainbow man) and another slightly older gentleman. Andrei led them through the door to his apartment. As soon as the door was closed and before anyone introduced themselves Andrei and then his partner kissed each guest in the Russian way, cheek to cheek, three times. Standing in the entry the three removed their shoes and put on guest slippers and then were ushered into the main room where two additional guests waited. Each introduced themselves: Andrei a chemical engineer who appeared to be in his early thirties, Oleg, his partner, slightly older but just as handsome, a school administrator followed by the two guests, Miron – a professor of economics and his partner Kostya (short for Konstantin) – a linguistics professor with a speciality in
English. Much to Aiden’s relief Kostya was fluent in English and Miron could with difficulty carry on a conversation.

The drinking, eating and most important conversation began with their arrival at 18.00 (6pm) and lasted until 23.30 (11.30 pm). If it were not that the metro shut down sometime between midnight and 1:00 the party would have lasted longer. During the course of the evening all learned the background of the others and how they met their partner / friend. Vladek, still concerned about the possible repercussions from his army desertion in 1947, forty-five years earlier, told his new friends the same made up story he had told Fedor at the Russian Embassy in Washington about his opportunity to go to the USA. The story being that after official discharge from the Soviet army while stationed in Berlin he had been the interpreter for an American business man planning a joint venture with the Soviet factory. He was invited to go to the USA to help with the arrangements. Although the Soviet Union and USA had been allies during World War II, as soon as the war ended the nations drifted apart and the cold war developed. Vladek then told his new friends more than he had told Fedor at the Embassy in Washington. While he was sitting at the table working as an interpreter for the Soviets and the businessman he caught the business man starring at him. He thought he detected an erotic stare. They were sitting opposite each other at the table. Vladek returned the stare. Soon he felt a foot against his shoe. He pressed back. The businessman, Walter Alan, licked his lips as he pressed back against Vladek’s foot. Walter then sat up and leaned forward at the table with his hands hidden. Next Vladek felt the foot of the shoeless American rubbing up his leg. Vladek then while carefully examining a document with one hand directed the foot to his crotch and rubbed it against his now hard dick. Their work session for the day soon ended and Vladek accepted the American’s invitation to examine more documents back in his hotel room. At twenty-seven years of age Vladek enchanted the fifty year old American. Vladek did not return to his room that evening. He remained a good friend of the American who was married and father with two daughters until his death twenty years later. This made up story by Vladek did have one element of half-truth. He had had a relationship with an American Army Major, Alan Walters, not a businessman Walter Alan. It was Major Walters who had helped him escape and settle in the USA. Vladek remained friends with the married Major visiting him at his farm in Pennsylvania.

Andrei and Oleg had met five years earlier during an intermission of a performance of Swan Lake at the Bolshi. Andrei had taken his mother and Oleg was there with a boring friend. At the first intermission the four by accident shared a table at the buffet. Andrei and his mother had coffee and pastries while Oleg and his friend beers. At the second intermission Oleg searched for and found Andrei while his friend had gone to the toilet. Mother had stayed at her seat. The two had a brief conversation and they willingly exchanged phone numbers. The rest is history.

Kostya and Miron had met while students at university twenty years earlier. Kostya explained that at age nineteen both were naive about sex, or at least man sex. However, both knew they were attracted to men but did not understand why. Both had by accident discovered a cruising toilet at the university. “One day I was sitting in a stall peeping through a hole in the wall watching a man jerking off in the next stall. This of course got me started and I was soon matching the other, stroke for stroke. Then suddenly to my shock as I had my eye at the peep hole I saw the eye of the other guy peeping back. I leaned back but could not resist continuing my jerkoff. As I unloaded into a piece of paper the other called out ‘awesome’. I was mortified. When I with great embarrassment left the stall there was a man my age standing by the door. The guy walked with me as we left the toilet room. He said, ‘I caught you looking at me and I really enjoyed looking at you’. He suggested I go to his room and we could watch each other do it. That was fifteen years ago and we still enjoy watching each other. Actually we enjoy a lot more than watching but that is private between us.”

While these stories were interesting the highlight of the evening was the discussion and follow up of Vladek’s story about his teacher at his special German language school in Moscow when he was a teenager prior to the war. “I fell in love with one of my teachers, Franz, the first time I had him in class. A few months later Franz invited me to sleep in his room on one of the upper rooms of the school building so I would not have to commute two hours each way by cold, dark trams in the winter. Then one exceptionally cold night Franz heard me shivering in my bed, a mat on the floor, and suggested we share his bed for warmth. We shared a lot more that night and were soon lovers. Franz was a German teaching German here in Moscow. I later learned he had escaped from Berlin where he had gotten involved with one of his students. He was discovered giving this student, the son of a Nazi official, a blow job. With the help of a Russian friend who worked at the Soviet Embassy in Berlin he escaped to Moscow. He had met this Russian friend while cruising in the Tiergarten Park in central Berlin. He had a satisfying life in Moscow until the beginning of World War II. The day the German army marched across Poland toward Russia all Germans were rounded up. I assume they were sent to camps in Siberia. By then I had been assigned to be an interpreter for General Valery Karasyovl. I was not only his aide, I was his bed partner. At my request the General made a phone call that day that may have saved Franz’s life. I do not know what happened to him. He was my first love. Did he go to a death camp? Was he sent someplace where he could survive? He would be in his 80s if alive today.”

At this point Miron commented, “Possibly our friend Maxim could help you find out what happened to Franz. He is a manager at the Ministry of Internal Affairs where he is in the records division. He often entertains us with information he has discovered about various individuals. While he will not reveal names he told about a situation concerning an acquaintance of his, we assume sex partner, who was accused of some political crime. Maxim arranged for his friend to attend the same concert as a top official of his Ministry. His friend followed the official into the toilet. While they stood next to each other pissing the friend made a comment about the concert. As he made the comment he moved back so his dick was exposed. Normally a man would be looking straight ahead and not notice the exposed dick of a piss mate. The young man had been told otherwise. As the official turned his head the young man played with himself. The official suggested they meet at the bar. While the official’s wife talked to some lady friends he bought his new friend a beer. Within a week, with all evidence of whatever bad political activity lost the young man not only had a new job but also a private apartment that had suddenly became available in a Ministry controlled building. Three years later the official continues to meet the young man at his apartment. Meanwhile the young man has a lover who is willing to participate in the romps with the official.”

“While our friend is considered a harmless, hardworking bureaucrat he has the ability to let’s say, ‘get the job done’.” Miron took a small address / phone book out of his man purse and was soon calling Maxim. After a brief conversation he handed the phone to Vladek. After hanging up Vladek stated that Maxim was extremely friendly. He had given him all the information on Franz Eberhardt - born about eighty years earlier in Germany and worked in Moscow 1936 – 1941.

When Vladek and Adiden returned to the hotel Tuesday evening following a day with Father that had included a visit to the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts with the largest collection of European art in Moscow the desk clerk handed them a message.

‘I can get you tickets for the football game. You will be happy with the results. Please call me, Maxim.’

Vladek was confused with the message. And then it dawned on him. Maxim did not want anyone to know he was searching information on a German. Turning to Aiden he said in Russian, “Good news. We are going to see the game.” This comment was made for the benefit of the desk clerk. Then in English, “Did you understand me? Maxim can get us tickets.”

As they walked to the elevator Vladek explained, “Maxim sent me a coded message. He has good news. But, not wanting anyone to know our business he told me to call him about a football game.”

Back in the room Vladek called Maxim. “I got your message. Good news. You have just what we wanted. When can we meet to get the tickets?” Maxim replied that he could come to the hotel and meet them in the lobby in an hour. While it was extremely unlikely anyone was reading their messages or listening in on their phone conversations the thoughts of Soviet spying continued and everyone was careful, just in case.

An hour later Vladek and Aiden were in the lobby waiting for the man they had never met. Miron had described him as tall, thin, balding about fifty with thick glasses. When a man meeting this description entered Vladek smiled as the visitor looked around the lobby. Casually Vladek approached him, “Maxim?” The man smiled, “Vladek?” They shook hands and Aiden introduced himself. The Russian’s understanding of English was limited so they just smiled.

“Could I buy you a drink at the bar? Or would you prefer light refreshments in our room?”

“It would be easier to get to know each other in the privacy of your room.” Maxim said with a grin. Vladek was not sure what the man meant by saying ‘get to know each other in the privacy of your room’. Was he hinting to a sexual encounter or just interesting conversation? Either way Vladek would make this man happy.

Up in the room Maxim took a paper out of his man purse. “I think I have found your man. He was a school teacher and is a pensioner living in Irkutsk.”

Vladek took the paper. The Soviet government had accumulated detailed information on this German. He had worked on a farm during the war, moved to Irkutsk, lived with Ilya Filippov who had died seven year ago. Both his phone number and address were listed.

Maxim stayed for three hours discussing life in Russia and USA with Vladek while Aiden smiled. He made no innuendos about sex so there evening consisted of conversation and vodka. He probably would have stayed later except that the metro would soon shut done after midnight.

As soon as Maxim departed Aiden asked Vladek when he would call Franz. He replied, “The time difference between here and Irkutsk is five hours. So if I call him at 6:00 tomorrow morning it will be 11:00 there. I will ask at the hotel front deck how a long-distance call can be made. So my friend, I need my rest. Since our evening with Maxim was interesting and uncorrupted maybe the lips you did not use while he and I talked could find an object of desire.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

Following helping each other shower Aiden finally had an opportunity to use his lips following by another night of bliss in Moscow.

Early the next morning after consultation with the desk clerk, Vladek was in a small phone booth holding a phone, waiting for an answer.

“Hello.”

“May I speak to Franz Eberhardt?”

“Just a minute. Grandpa, there is a phone call for you.”

Vladek immediately thought to himself. ‘How could Franz be a grandfather?’ Then he thought about the three children of his friends David and PT in Ohio and the two sons of a gay couple in Pennsylvania who Tom Kowalski had met while in the Army. These gay parent families had been created when the biological parents died (in the Ohio) or abandoned their children (Pennsylvania).

Vladek was brought back to reality when a familiar voice said, “Why do you want to speak to Franz Eberhardt?”

“Franz, I recognize your voice. This is Vladimir Melnikov, your student in Moscow of more than fifty years ago.”

“OH MY GOD, is it you VLADEK?”

“Yes”

Since both assumed the conversation, especially a long distance call by someone with a USA passport, might be monitored neither would give any damaging information. This is just the way it was.

“After the war I was the translator for meetings between the USSR government and American businessmen. I went to the USA to help further the interests of the USSR in the negotiations with the Americans. However, it soon became apparent that the Soviet / USA partnership as allies during the war would not continue into the future. I stayed in the USA, completed my university training and became a professor at an American university. It was not until the breakup of the USSR that I could return or have any contact with my family. My mother passed away and my father still lives in the same apartment in Moscow. You were called ‘grandpa’ by the man who answered the phone. Tell me about yourself. We only have a couple more minutes for this conversation.”

Franz briefly told about being sent to a farm in Siberia, moving to Irkutsk after the war with a soldier who had been sent to manage the farm after losing a leg in the Battle of Stalingrad. He was able to return to teaching and his friend got a position at the railroad station. They adopted two little boys who had lost their parents and would have lived on the streets without a new home. Those boys, Pavel and Piotr, married and he has four grandchildren, two boys and two girls. Three of the grandchildren are married and he has five great-grandchildren. One grandson is not married. Grisha, is a botanical researcher at Irutsk State University. He visits frequently to make sure the old man is alive and well and was the person who had answered the phone.

Vladek concluded, “It is wonderful to hear your voice and know you are, as you said, ‘alive and well’. I think this phone conversation will soon be cut off. I will call you again before I leave Russia.” The phone went dead.

Aiden was waiting for Vladek outside the phone booth. He could see the tears in his loves eyes and feared there had been sad news.

Vladek said, “Let’s take a walk.” Once outside he continued, “It is all good news. Franz is healthy and well. He and his friend adopted two war orphans. He has two sons who are married. He has four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. I am so happy for him. Irkutsk is one of the largest cities in Siberia and near beautiful Lake Baikal. Since we both knew there was the possibility of our call being monitored or recorded we were both careful about what we said. I am so happy I could kiss you but that might get us in big trouble as we stroll down проспект Мира (prospekt Mira or Peace Street).

They walked in silence. Then Aiden spoke, “You should visit Franz.”

“That would be impossible. I do not have enough money to buy an airplane ticket and the train would take days each way. We only have ten more days until we depart for the USA.”

“Ask Pavel to return some of the money you gave him. He will not spend the $4,000 immediately and you plan to return in September or October. You could give him more money then. There is an Aeroflot office at the hotel. Let’s see if it is possible to fly to Irkutsk on short notice. You go alone. I am sure Dimitri, Kostya and Miron (friends of rainbow man) will look after me. In fact, Kostya had suggested I visit his office at the university. As a Professor of Linguistics with a speciality in English he is interested in meeting with an American.”

“Are you sure you are comfortable staying alone here in Moscow?”

Following some good natured banter about what Aiden might do with the Moscow friends and what Vlad might do with his first love they visited the airline office. Vladek was able to book a flight to Irkutsk in two days, Thursday, with a return flight the following Monday. Between the two they had enough cash to pay for the tickets. Hopefully Pavel would be able to return some of the gift money Vladek had given him. If not they would live on tea and bread the remainder of their Moscow visit.

By noon they had completed the arrangements. Vladek booked another call to Irkutsk and this time Franz answered. The old friend was thrilled that his best student ever would visit. He told Vladek that he hoped to have someone meet him at the airport. If no one was there after thirty minutes he would have to take a taxi to his apartment.