Chapter 20 Summary

As a young Soviet marine during World War II, Aleksandr Yakovlev nearly died when he was wounded outside of Leningrad. He was saved, because Soviet marines have a tradition that they will not leave dead or injured comrades on the battlefield. Four of Yakovlev's comrades lost their lives trying to retrieve him. The fifth was successful. After his recovery, he joins the Communist Party and is an active and loyal member. Like many other Soviets, Yakovlev is loyal to the Party and Stalin, despite the fact that his father was nearly one of Stalin's millions of victims. During the Stalin regime, Yakovlev's father is tipped off by his former civil war commandant, that the Party is coming for him. He disappears for a few days and avoids death, or at least a prolonged prison sentence.

During the Khrushchev era, Yakovlev is one of...