A Day in the Office
Konstantin Ivanovich Gey sat back in his chair and took a long drag on his cigarette. Swivelling around, he looked out of his office window and into the snow covered streets outside the Kremlin. There were very few people out, and those that were wandering the streets walked quickly, with their eyes pointedly away from the Kremlin H.Q. Gey smiled cruelly and turned back to his table. Picking up one of the many documents littering his already dirty desk, he frowned as he read the latest report.
“More and more reports about these damned lazy farmers” he growled, as he reached for his half-empty glass of Vodka. Downing the rest in one go, Gey then turned and shouted out the door for more. Turning his attention back to the document he saw that the farmers were not only failing to meet the quota, but some had the nerve to avoid going to collectivized farms! One small farming community, the town of Obkin according to the document, had actually dared to stage a protest against the plan! Gey’s face mottled in rage as he puffed angrily on his cigarette. “Those idiots!” he suddenly screamed, “Do they not see that they are directly aiding the kulaks!” While Konstantin was still spluttering with rage his personal aide, Aleksandr Pavelovich, quietly entered the office, and cleared his throat.
Gey stopped, mid-rant, and raised an eyebrow at Aleksandr. “Your drink Comrade-Commissar.” Pavelovich said smoothly, as he replaced Gey’s empty bottle of Vodka with a full one on the table. Gey stared at Pavelovich, seemingly torn about something, before shrugging and bluntly stating “Aleksandr, what is your opinion on this bloody town?”
Pavelovich looked at Gey with blank expression, before taking the proffered document and quickly scanning it. “Well Comrade-Commissar” he began, “it is clear to me that they are aiding counter-revolutionary forces, and are obstructing the work that Comrade-Secretary Stalin has ordered, and the work that you are desirous of doing.” With a pleased nod, Gey took another drag of his cigarette before asking, “And what is your suggestion on what we should do to them?”
Pavelovich again looked at Gey, this time with a condescending expression, “Well they are obstructing progress, so we should liquidate them.” Gey sighed, and shook his head. “You are not thinking about the bigger picture. If you ever want to be more than an aide you must learn to do this.” Pavelovich lost his look of contempt, and anger flashed across his face, “Well Comrade, what is your plan.” He asked impudently. Gey stared at Pavelovich until the man broke eye contact and looked down at the floor.
“My plan, Aleksandr, is to have all men from the ages of 16 to 45 liquidated. Half of the remaining men and boys will be sent to the collectivized farms, the other half will be sent to work in the mines in Siberia. As for the women and girls, they shall be split likewise. It is best to crush resistance swiftly, while keeping the people working. Divide and conquer is the maxim I shall apply here. You are dismissed Aleksandr.”
Pavelovich nodded, his face ashen white, and quickly exited the room. As soon as the door was closed behind Pavelovich, Gey counted to 30. As soon as he reached 30 he burst out laughing, and clutched at his sides as he recalled the terror and anger on Pavelovich’s face. Still laughing, Gey topped up his glass of Vodka, and wrote out a death notice for Aleksandr Pavelovich for disobeying and disrupting the chain of command and for supporting and encouraging counterrevolutionary ideals and ideas, as well as many other charges that came to mind.
“Heh” Gey thought with a smile as he sipped his Vodka, “I am sure Aleksandr will do well... farther east. He could learn much of what respect means.”
Turning his attention back to the many documents cluttering his desk, Gey thought to himself “Divide and conquer. It always works.”
((Here is a short look into the slighty unbalanced mind of Konstantin Ivanovich Gey. An interesting character I feel!
))
Edited to remove the offending word. - Avindian
