The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

“He told me to pick up my cleats from the trunk of his car and to stop asking himquestions. Besides, he said that he was in charge of preparing the ambassador’s body to besent to the United States. He also said that Dubs was murdered not by terrorists, butdeliberately by Afghan policemen. By the order of Amin or Taraki.”“But why?”“He didn’t say anything about it. I don’t think he knows. In general, I think he doesn’thave all of the information.”“Who knows everything?”“Possibly Turko, but I don’t play American football with him.”“Did you see him at the embassy?”“No. I would never be received by him—he is too intelligent for me.”Starostin needed a tangible result. He really wanted to write a report that would besuitable to send to the Center after the meeting. That’s why he decided to summarizeeverything that the Anarchist had said in regards to the murder of Adolph Dubs.“So, based on the results of conversations with Malinowsky, Marik, and otherembassy staff, you believe that the killing of the ambassador was the result of a failedsecret operation prepared by some country’s special services? Is that the case?”“Oh, those smart shaluny (‘rascals’)” exclaimed the Anarchist theatrically in Russian.Having finished their dinner about forty minutes before the curfew, the two wentoutside. The Anarchist took a taxi to his hotel. Starostin, inhaling the clear, frosty air, slowlywalked to where his car was parked. The stars shined overhead. The endless, stormy life ofthe sky continued. He saw a bright shooting star split the sky.322