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Return to Unknown Connections- click on green buttonChapter one
It was the first cold day of the early Fall, 2002. A man drove his car to the guard post which limited access to the Kremlin. His papers were examined, and he received a perfect salute from the guards. Vice Admiral Vasilli Ivanovich Petransky, Soviet Navy (retired), was a frequent visitor to the forbidding fortress where the Russian senior officers of both political and military factions frequently met for business, and on some occasions, for social reasons. This was a social occasion.
Since the fall and dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989, the Russian bear had been ill at ease. The once mighty military organization had fallen into disuse. It was not as it once was. The United States of America had turned from a dangerous enemy to a potential ally and even friend. There was still mis-trust about the American motives, and at times worry about the American actions, but there was also a grudging understanding of the American position by the senior Russian military caste. This was reciprocated by the Americans. They began to understand the Russian point of view, once the tension of possible nuclear war had been relieved, if not entirely removed. There were now frequent interchanges between similar parts of the corresponding services. It was felt that understanding between men and women of similar interests and backgrounds would be of value to everyone. This night there was a reception for some retired American naval officers who had specialized in oceanography and related fields. Vice Admiral Petransky was asked to meet, greet , and host Vice Admiral Richard Wilson, USN (retired). As Vice Admiral Petransky, dressed in civilian clothes, entered the building, and then walked through the familiar doors and passageways, he absently rubbed the two right ear lobes that was a characteristic of the male side of the family for several generations. It was a habit with all the Petransky men. He arrived at the reception rooms, and then greeted old colleagues and friends. The Russians waited for the bus to arrive with its load of American naval officers, some still on active duty, and some, like Vice Admiral Petransky, retired.
The wait was not long. After about 15 minutes, a group of about 20 men and women were escorted into the room, and given a round of applause. It was the Russian habit. All the Russians were lined up in a receiving line, in order of rank. The Americans were bundled into the same sort of line, and they were introduced to each other. As the lines shuffled by one another, and appropriate introductions were made, the two Vice Admirals finally met. They looked at one another with some surprise. Vice Admiral Richard Wilson also had a double right ear lobe. He starred at Vice Admiral Petransky with some amazement, and smiled. Vice Admiral Wilson had taken Russian for several years, and while not fluent in the language, could speak and understand Russian at a reasonable level of expertise. Vice Admiral Petransky could also operate in English, but not quite as well as Wilson could in Russian. “I see that you have a double right ear lobe,” said Vice Admiral Wilson. “I thought that this was a special trait of only my family. I have never seen this particular characteristic on any other man, either in the United States or here in Russia, I find my host has the same split right ear lobe that my family has. That is indeed a very strange coincidence.”
“I think it is also amazing,” said Vice Admiral Petransky. “The same characteristic is in my family, and in all my years I have never seen this before on any other man or woman. Maybe we are related?” and he laughed. They both told each other a little about their families. Petransky came from the area of St. Petersburg, and his family had lived in Kronstadt as long as he could remember. Wilson said that he was a Texan, born and bred, and also had no family roots in Europe or Russia as far as he knew. The men simply laughed off the fact that both had split right ear lobes as a very unusual occurrence, and began to discuss other things. In the course of the evening they found themselves drawn to each other. They had similar views about art, music, naval matters, current and recent history, hobbies and interests. They genuinely found each other of great interest. Both men were polished and substantial. They had both come up through the officer corps during the Cold War, and had both had extraordinary naval careers in their respective services. After two hours of making the rounds of the diplomatic reception, Vice Admiral Petransky felt that he wanted to know more of this American with the split right ear lobe: he did something that was very unusual for him. He invited the American admiral back to his apartment. Wilson found the idea very appealing, and immediately accepted.
They left the reception, and Petransky drove to his apartment. It was not far from the Kremlin. They parked, and they entered an old building, where they walked up three flights of stairs. On the Third Level, Petransky took out his key and opened the door to a very spacious, but old fashioned apartment. His wife, Uliana, was there, and greeted her husband, who then introduced his American visitor. She took their hats and coats and put them in the front closet. The apartment had a very spacious living room, with old fashioned over-stuffed couches and chairs. There were antimacassars over each chair, and old fashioned lamps. It looked exactly like it was: a room right out of the early 20th century. The decor was in consonance with the general apartment layout. In the corner of the room on one wall were snapshots of the Petransky family. They were hung with precision, and was quite an extensive collection. It caught the eye of Richard and he said to Vasilli that the collection seemed to be quite substantial.
“Yes,” said Vasilli. “It is one of my hobbies. I do my own developing and printing. We have a small room that I have turned into a darkroom. I like taking pictures of different peculiar shapes, and to please my wife, I also take many pictures of my son and grandson. Here, let me show you some of them.”
Richard followed his host to the picture wall, and looked at the work in several pictures. It was clear that Vasilli was an accomplished amateur. Richard looked at the pictures for a few moments, making the appropriate comments, and then turned back toward the room. As he did so he noticed another small picture, carefully framed and in a place of honor. His eye took in the picture with amazement. He walked over a few steps and starred at the picture with increasing amazement.
“That is a picture of my great grandfather and great grandmother, taken at the time of the marriage in 1880,” said Vasilli. “It is one of the few things that have remained in the family since that time.”
Richard turned toward Vasilli with great care, and said, “I have exactly the same picture in my house in Annapolis.”
The two men starred at each other, and both felt their split right earlobes simultaneously.
Vasilli finally spoke. “I think it is time for a drink.” Richard nodded.
Vasilli filled two small glasses with Russian vodka, and then handed one to Richard. Both men raised their glasses and toasted each other, and then the picture. Then they sat down and began to talk in earnest...