The Secret Speech

Are the people he arrested, the families he destroyed — are they okay? They doted on him as if he were a child. Worse than concern was their parental pride, excited by every story, hanging on every word he had to say. The displays of affection were sickening: kisses, embraces, jokes. Both Stepan and Anna were willing and eager participants in Leo’s conspiracy to pretend that they were a normal family, planning day trips and visits to the shops, the restricted shops, rather than those with long queues of people and limited supplies. Everything was nice. Everything was comfortable. Everything was designed to conceal the murder of her father and mother. Zoya hated them for loving him.

Anna asked:

— Reprisals?

She repeated the word as if the concept were nonsensical and baffling, as if no one could possibly have any reason to dislike her son. Zoya couldn’t help herself, stepping into the discussion and directing her words at Anna:

— Reprisals for arresting so many innocent people! What did you think your son was doing all these years? Haven’t you read the speech?

In unison Stepan and Anna turned to her, shocked by the mention of the speech. They didn’t know. They hadn’t read it. Sensing her advantage, Zoya twisted her lips into a smile. Stepan asked:

— What speech?

— The speech about how your son tortured innocent victims, about how he forced them to confess, about how he beat them, about how the innocent were sent to the Gulags while the guilty lived in apartments like this.

Raisa crouched down in front of her, as if trying to block her words:

— I need you to stop. I need you to stop right now.

— Why? It’s true. I didn’t write those words. I was read them as part of my education. I’m only repeating what I was told. It’s not for you to censor Khrushchev’s words. He must have wanted us to talk about it, otherwise he wouldn’t have allowed us to read it. It’s not a secret. Everyone knows. Everyone knows what Leo did.

— Zoya, listen to me…

But Zoya was in midflow, unstoppable:

— You think they shouldn’t know the truth about their wonderful son? The wonderful son who found them this wonderful apartment, who helps them with the shopping — their wonderful murdering son.

Stepan’s face went pale, his voice quivered with emotion:

— You don’t know what you’re saying.

— You don’t believe me? Ask Raisa: the speech is real. Everything I’ve said is true. And everyone is going to know your son is a murderer.

Anna’s voice was a whisper:

— What is this speech?

Raisa shook her head:

— We don’t need to talk about it right now.

Zoya wasn’t about to back down, enjoying her newfound power:

— It was written by Khrushchev and delivered at the Twentieth Congress. It says your son, and every officer like him, is a murderer. They acted illegally. They’re not police officers! They’re criminals! Ask Raisa, ask her if it’s true. Ask her!

Stepan and Anna turned to Raisa:

— There is a speech. In it there are some critical things about Stalin.

— Not just about Stalin, it’s about the people that followed his orders, including your son, your murdering son.

Stepan walked up to Zoya:

— Stop saying that.

— Stop saying what? Murderer? Leo the Murderer? How many deaths do you think he’s responsible for, aside from my parents?

— That’s enough!

— You knew all along! You knew what he was doing for a living and you didn’t care because you liked living in a nice apartment. You’re as bad as he is! At least he was willing to get blood on his hands!

Anna slapped Zoya, a stinging blow:

— Young girl, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You speak like that because you’ve been spoiled. For three years you’ve been allowed to get away with anything. You can do whatever you want and have whatever you want. You’ve never been told off. We’ve watched it happen and said nothing. Leo and Raisa have wanted to give you everything. Look at you now, look at what you’ve become — ungrateful, hateful, when all anyone is trying to do is love you.

Where she’d been smacked, Zoya felt her skin burn hot, a sensation which spread through her body, every part of her stinging from her fingertips to the back of her neck. She reached out and scratched Anna, digging her nails in as deep as they could go, tearing as much skin as she could:

— Fuck your love!

Anna retreated, crying out. But Zoya wasn’t finished, lunging at her, fingers arched like claws. Raisa caught hold of her waist, spinning her away. Uncontrollable, Zoya’s anger sought a new target, redirected toward Raisa. She bit her arm, sinking her teeth as far as they’d go.

The pain was so intense Raisa felt lightheaded, her legs about to buckle and give way. Stepan grabbed hold of Zoya’s jaw, prising it open as if dealing with a savage, rabid dog. Blood streamed from the deep teeth marks. Zoya was twisting and thrashing. Stepan threw her to the floor where she fell, teeth bared and bloody.

A knock on the door: the guards had heard the commotion. They wanted to come in. Raisa examined the bite — it was bleeding heavily. Zoya was still on the floor, eyes wild but no longer seeking a fight. Stepan hurried to the bathroom, bringing back a towel, pressing it against Raisa’s arm. There was a second knock. Raisa turned to Anna, who was standing in almost exactly the same position as when she’d been attacked, dumbstruck, scratches down her face, four bleeding lines.

— Anna, get rid of the officers, tell them they don’t need to interfere.

Anna didn’t react. Raisa had to raise her voice:

— Anna!

Anna opened the door, turning her injured face away from view, ready to reassure the guards. Expecting to see two officers, she was startled to find four standing outside as if, like bacteria, they’d divided and multiplied. The two new officers were wearing different uniforms. They were members of the KGB.

The KGB agents stepped into the apartment, taking in the scene before them, the girl on the floor with bloody teeth and bloody lips, the woman with a bleeding arm, the elderly woman with a scratched face:

— Raisa Demidova?

Despite the element of grim farce, Raisa tried to keep her voice steady and calm, the towel around her bite marks turning red:

— Yes?

— Your daughter needs to come with us.

Their attention was fixed on Zoya.

Raisa’s plan had failed. Iulia, or the director of the school, had betrayed her. Despite her injury, despite everything that had just happened, Raisa instinctively, protectively moved in front of Zoya.

— Your daughter smashed a portrait of Stalin.

— That matter is being taken care of.

— She needs to come with us.

— She’s being arrested?

Seeing that the two KGB officers were determined to carry out their orders, Raisa addressed the timid militia, the officers Leo had sent to protect them: