Читать книгу Hoodwinked - the spy who didn't die - Lowell Ph.D. Green - Страница 4

CAUTION DICTATES that I not reveal my name until I can be assured that my family’s lives are not at risk for what is revealed in this account. I will identify myself simply as “N.”

When you do what I do as long as I have, you develop a kind of sixth sense to sniff out nutcase phone calls. This caller doesn’t sound whacko, but I have to admit his story is about as off-the-wall wild as anything I’d ever heard. Crazy I mean, and yet! And yet! Check the facts as I have, do the research, and you will be astonished to learn that many of the events he relates here are a matter of recorded history. The more I dig into his claims, the more I come to realize that this man at the other end of the phone is either the world’s best actor or, just maybe, he is telling the truth!

“I can’t meet you,” he says, “I’m not even in your country. And by the way, do not try to trace this call; far smarter people than you or I have made sure you can’t.” The voice sounds tired, too old for stupid games, very serious, quite formal, with just a hint of an accent. Hungarian I think, maybe Czech, and something else I just can’t quite place. You can tell almost immediately that he is educated, cultured and well-read.

“You’re going to get some tape recordings in a few days,” he says, “listen carefully to them please. They tell what I think you will find to be a shocking and fascinating story. You’ll probably find it hard to believe, but if you listen to them all, I think you will agree this is a story the world needs to hear.”

Before I can say anything, he adds hurriedly, “I know, I know you’re wondering why I’m sending the tapes to you and listen, I don’t blame you if you think I’m just a crazy old man, but give me a moment and let me explain.

“I’ve been reading your column and blog on the Internet for a long time now here in my safe little hideaway and am convinced you’ve got enough guts and I hope enough curiosity to at least listen to what I’ve got to say and then tell the world about the lies you’ve all been fed.”

He’s got me intrigued so I let him continue.

“I’ve got to be honest with you, it’s my wife who has finally convinced me it’s time to set the record straight. ‘Stop watching all those stupid old black and white movies,’ she nags me, ‘and instead of reading all those books, why don’t you write one? Your story is far more interesting than anything I see on the shelves around here.’

“She’s probably got a good idea, but let’s be perfectly frank, the calendar says I don’t have enough time to write a book. Over the years I’ve jotted down a few notes and kept a few records and my memory, thank heavens, is still very good, so I have this idea that I’ll tell you my story, complete with all my “dirty laundry,” and hopefully you will finish the job for me.”

Experience has taught me that the best question is often silence so I pause for several seconds. There’s a long sigh and he continues. “She’s right you know, I’ve let the lies go unchallenged far too long.” There’s another brief pause. “If you do what I hope and pray that you do—compare my story with the known facts—you can’t conclude anything other than what I am about to tell you is the truth, the absolute truth: Every word of it.”

I’m about to ask him his name when he hangs up!

I never talk to him again. A series of recorded tapes arrives three days later, carefully boxed and delivered by hand to the security desk at my office building.

I take them home and hole up there for a few days, unable to stop listening. His “Western” expressions puzzle me at first and make me suspicious, but when I learn he’s spent much of his life in the West and is a great fan of old Hollywood movies it all makes sense. When I finish, I am absolutely gobsmacked! And I know what I must do.

Here, with my occasional comments, and a few slight revisions to grammar and tense for clarification, is the story they tell.

Signed, “N”

October, 2009

Photograph of Dumbarton Oaks mansion, 3101 R Street NW, Georgetown, Washington, DC, USA