Communism -- Soviet Union; Mongolia -- Description and travel
“Search those two! They must be commissars!” commanded the Baron and,
turning to the other four, asked: “Are you peasants mobilized by the
Bolsheviki?”
“Just so, Your Excellency!” cried the frightened soldiers.
“Go to the Commandant and tell him that I have ordered you to be
enlisted in my troops!”
On the two to the left they found passports of Commissars of the
Communist Political Department. The General knitted his brows and slowly
pronounced the following:
“Beat them to death with sticks!”
He turned and entered the yurta. After this our conversation did not
flow readily and so I left the Baron to himself.
After dinner in the Russian firm where I was staying some of Ungern’s
officers came in. We were chatting animatedly when suddenly we heard the
horn of an automobile, which instantly threw the officers into silence.
“The General is passing somewhere near,” one of them remarked in a
strangely altered voice.
Our interrupted conversation was soon resumed but not for long. The
clerk of the firm came running into the room and exclaimed: “The Baron!”
He entered the door but stopped on the threshold. The lamps had not yet
been lighted and it was getting dark inside, but the Baron instantly
recognized us all, approached and kissed the hand of the hostess,
greeted everyone very cordially and, accepting the cup of tea offered
him, drew up to the table to drink. Soon he spoke:
“I want to steal your guest,” he said to the hostess and then, turning
to me, asked: “Do you want to go for a motor ride? I shall show you the
city and the environs.”
Donning my coat, I followed my established custom and slipped my
revolver into it, at which the Baron laughed.
“Leave that trash behind! Here you are in safety. Besides you must
remember the prediction of Narabanchi Hutuktu that Fortune will ever be
with you.”
“All right,” I answered, also with a laugh. “I remember very well this
prediction. Only I do not know what the Hutuktu thinks ‘Fortune’ means
for me. Maybe it is death like the rest after my hard, long trip, and I
must confess that I prefer to travel farther and am not ready to die.”
We went out to the gate where the big Fiat stood with its intruding
great lights. The chauffeur officer sat at the wheel like a statue and
remained at salute all the time we were entering and seating ourselves.
“To the wireless station!” commanded the Baron.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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