Chapter One: Bozhe, Tsarya khrani!*
“
... Shortly after one o'clock, the prisoners left their rooms. The Tsar carried the heir in his arms. They were both dressed in soldier's shirts and wore caps. The empress and her daughter wore neither coats nor thats, which was strange, some may think, if they were to be moved to another destination, as the Bolsheviks had told him. The emperor, carrying ghis heir, preceded them. The Empress, her daughters and the others followed him down. Yurovsky, his assistant and the two Chekist accompanied them. I was also present. hey did not weep or cry. Having descended the stairs to the first floor, we went out into the court, and from there to the second door (counting from the gate) we entered the ground floor of the house.
Yurovsky led the way into the room that adjoins the lumber-room and ordered chair to be brought. His assistant brought three, which were given to the Tsar, the Tsarina and the Tsarevich. The Empress sat by the wall, where there is a window, near the black pillar of the arch. Behind her stood three of her daughters, Tatiana, Olga and Maria. The Emperor and his son sat side by side almost in the middle of the room. Dr Botkin stood behind Alexei. The maid, a very tall woman called Demirova, stood at the left of the door leading to the store room by her side stood one of the Tsar’s daughters, the Grand Duchess Anastasia Two servants stood against the wall on the left from the entrance of the room.
The maid carried a pillow. The Tsar’s daughters also brought small pillows with them. One pillow was put on the Empress’ chair, another on the heir’s chair. It seemed as all of them guessed their fate, but not one of them uttered a single word. At this moment eleven men entered the room: Yurovsky, his assistant, two members of the Extraordinary Commission, and seven Letts [operatives of the infamous Cheka or secret police]... Yuovsky ordered to one of my men to leave, saying, ‘Go on to the street, see if there is anybody there, and wait to see whether the shots have been heard.’ Then Yurovksi told them that there were rumours in Moscow that they had been killed, so they were going to be photographed prior to the travel, to end those rumours.
We left the Romanovs alone. Outside, we could hear an engine noise. Then, after the final instructions, Yurovski just said, “enough waiting, let’s go”, and, with him leading us, we returned into the room, armed with rifles and pistols, and we formed a killing rank. Then Yurovski took a paper out of his pocket and began to read
For crimes against Russia, the Soviet had sentenced you to death... Your life is finished.
I could see the shock on the Czar's face. He rose up and asked repeatedly "what? what?" Then, when Yurosvky raised his gun I levelled mine against his neck. Yurosvky never knew that he was going to die.I doubt that he ever had time understand before he was thrown into darkness. In a matter of seconds my men shot the would-be killers turned into cattle to be slaughtered. They had time to fire a bullet or two, though, and when the smoke vanished, I could see the Czar bleeding from a wound on his shoulder. One of the servants, Trupp, lied in a pool of blood.
Now it was just a question of reaching the White lines...”
Thus mistery began, Phillip thought. The Imperial family was saved. Now they had to reach the White lines. Only that...
Then a terrible noise took him away from his notes. With a scared look on his face he searched around, while his mind returned in a hurry from the past. Phillip just left the notes over the table and then he saw that the phone had erupted into life. Phillip looked at it as if it was some kind strange animal.
When he heard the happy voice of his cousin Ducky, Phillip began to turn back from the past in which he had been sunk for the last weeks.
-What the fuss happens with you, Phil? Still dealing with that book of yours?
Phillip raised his head, confused, and asked, perplexed:
-Which one do you mean?
From the other side of the line a perplexed silence followed. Then, a silly laugh and the amused voiced of his cousin asked:
-What the heck do you mean by that? Are you writting more than one, you fool?!?!
- Actually, erm, yes -Phillip answered, scratching his neck-. Two books, more or less related... You know, Duckie... I can't help...
-Your eccentricities begin to worry me...
-Ecccentric? Who? Me? Should I remember who has shocked the family by his wedding? By they way, now that I mention the devil... Shouldn't you worry about your new wife, Käthe?
-Oh, -Duckie asked, baffled- she can take care of herself, don’t worry. And of the whole US Marine Corps, I can tell you that.
Phillip raised, searching for something. In the bed, his cat kept sleeping as if the fate of the world depended on it.
-What did you told me about her, by the way? That she was a lecturer from what university? I don't think it was that but...
-What are you talking about, Phil? A lecturer? -Duckie's voice proved that he was absolutely lost at Phillip's question- She' still doing her dregree! History, actually.
-Oh, then, you told me about something beginning with "l".
-D'oh... -a few seconds of silence.
-Hello? Are you still there, Duckie?
-Yes, I am... well... she... I told you that she... is, well, she is...
-Uh? -Phillip was lost at this point. He was quite familiar with Duckie's hability to make a mess of everything, but Phillip felt a bit amiss in that particular moment.
-The first lesbian lady in the fam, you see.
-Oh, I see... -Phillip had his eyes wide open while he imagined the angered face of his auntie, Duckie's mother- I see... that does make sense for the fam to be... Wait! She's keen on girls, then!
-Thank you for showing me the benefits of having a degree... -the amusement in Duckie's voice was a bit painful for Phillip's ego- By the way, me too. I like lassies, my boy. And you too, if I remember correctly, oldie Phil...
-Of course I ... Wait! that doesn't matter now, you fool! Ok, let's see, if you're not a girl, and you’re just a man... I know I’m making sense because I understand what I’m saying, but...
-What? You lost me some sentences ago, Phil...
-Ok, let’s go to the point: how the hell have you married her, if she just likes women?
-I'm just the exception, so to speak... -there was something in the tiny voice that came from the other side that made Phillip to feel unsure of his cousin's sincerity.
-Well, Duckie, tell me please you're not blackmailing her...
-Go to hell, please...
-Ok, ok... I hope that you're going to explain me that, later on, in calm and relaxed way...
- Of course! When our honeymoon is over, Käthe and I will pay you a visit.
Then the line went mute and Phillip, thinking about the chances of meeting again with his mad cousing and his new wife just could utter a single word.
-F.....
Then Mephisto, the cat, made the world know that he was hungry. With a resigned sigh, Phillip got up and went to the kitchen. The Romanov's enigma would have to wait a bit.
* God save the Tzar, the national anthem of the late Russian Empire.
PS: Can any mod correct the silly mistake in the title of the AAR, please? Thanks a lot.
