The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

the remaining food and drink to be sent for expert analysis. All of the Afghans weredetained, but the “cook” Mikhail T., and the dieticians, managed a timely escape from thepremises.Having been brought back to his senses after several hours, Amin opened his eyesand asked the doctors with surprise, “How did this happen in my home? Who did this?” Hedid not receive a response, though the silence didn’t last long. When it was 7:30 p.m., andall was dark outside, several explosions shook the palace walls. Bits of plaster began to fallfrom the ceiling. Glass shattered. The screams of guards and servants came from all around.Almost right away, tracer bullets pierced the dark of the night, raining on the palace fromall sides. The roar of explosions was constant.Everything that existed until that moment suddenly ceased. The wall of fire that fellupon the palace clearly signified a massive coordinated assault. But what was it? Abetrayal? A Parchami uprising? A rebel attack? A nightmare?Amin lifted his heavy head from the pillow. Two people were beside his bed: hiswife Patmana and Faqir, the minister of the interior, who had just arrived from Kabul.Seeing the minister, Amin quietly spoke. “Faqir, it seems that I am going out of my mind.”Shooting and grenade explosions rattled the ground floor of the palace.“Give me a submachine gun,” asked Amin weakly, and attempted to rise.“Whom are you going to shoot?” asked his wife. “The Soviets?” She had understoodeverything.Almost all forces that had by then been transferred to Kabul—the Muslim Battalion,the Zenit unit, the battalion of paratroopers that was headed by Vostrotin * , and Group* Later, general, hero of the Soviet Union, deputy minister, and deputy of the State Duma716