The treasure of Galdan

by Andrej Andrejew

  “Are you sure it was exactly like that?”

  “No, I am not”

  “But this is very important. What if this person has been, God forbid murdered? This might be registered and if you will be arrested with a passport of a victim then it will look not good for you.”

  “How could I have missed this! You are absolutely right. But what can I do now?”

  “Perhaps I could help to check this through my channels. But coming back to your further plans, do you really have no idea where to go next?”

  “I don't. Was thinking perhaps America would be a good option?”

  “As far as I am aware, unfortunately the immigration authorities of the United States are quite strict. With this damaged passport I don't see any chance. They will get in touch with the Swedish consulate and quickly figure out that this is not your passport.”

  “How about England?”

  “Not much better. And, in view of your Soviet origin...”

  “I understand. Then do I have any options?”

  “Perhaps Argentina or Brazil? Or maybe Australia? Australia might actually be a good idea.”

  “I will think about it. There is one more thing I would like to tell you.”

  “Please, tell me”

  Voronov has told pater Seamus the whole story of the treasure found in the ruins.

  The priest was silent for a minute and then said

  “I don't see anything bad in what you have done. After all you have found it. One the one hand the treasure belongs to China but on the other to whom could you hand it over? Who is nowadays a trustworthy official representative of the Chinese Republic? You could hand it over to the authorities here in Hong Kong but...”

  Pater Seamus paused again and then lowered his voice

  “I will be honest with you. I don't believe that Hong Kong will be spared by the war. The people here don't want to hear about it. They firmly believe that Japanese would never dare to attack British Empire. But unfortunately the odds are quite high they will. Therefore I believe it would be better if you keep it for a while. Just please promise not to sell it.”

  “I can promise that.”

  “Very good. Then please leave this passport with me and come back in three days. I will think about possible options to get you out of here”

  5

  Having checked the story of Mikhael Holmlund through the Swedish mission, pater Seamus has decided to Help Voronov to get to Australia. There was a regular connection between Hong Kong and Manila with the onward connection to Sidney. The possibility that the Australian authorities will arrest him or turn back the way he came was very low. He has advised Voronov to surrender to the Australian authorities immediately upon his arrival. This was the only chance, though without guarantee to be able to stay in Australia. Furthermore, he could provide a letter to the local Irish Catholic Mission which could guide through the first steps.

  A few days later Voronov left for Manila. It the first sea voyage in his life. He has bought a cheap ticket for a four persons cabin. The other co-travellers were one Canadian and one American planning to travel onward to San Francisco and one Dutch who wanted to continue to Manado in Dutch East-Indies. The identity check on the arrival at Manila has been superficial. Voronow has been asked whether he will stay at the Philippines or travel onward. Having seen his passage ticket to Sidney the official had waved him trough.

  The onward steamer to Sidney left two days later. Whereas on the upper deck the fresh sea breeze was quite pleasant, in the cabin it was hot and humid. With some exceptions the main bulk of the passengers were Australians and Americans. After passing New Guinea the sea became stormy and Voronov was badly affected by sea sickness. Add to this the mediocre food and it was understandable that he was really looking forward to come ashore.

  At the arrival in Sydney he has been intensively questioned about the purpose of the journey. As advised by pater Seamus he told that he was a Swedish engineer in charge of the maintenance of steam engines. This worked. He has found the Irish Catholic Mission where he had a warm reception after he has handed over a letter from pater Seamus. He left his luggage there and on the next day went to the main police office.

  Sidney, April 1938 – September 1944

  1

  At the entrance of the office he has asked a young officer for the person in charge of the foreigners. The officer has guided him to the room on the second floor where an elderly gentlemen was sorting some papers.

  “Today is really hot” said the gentlemen “let me first take a gulp. How can I help you?”

  “I would like to surrender myself to the authorities”

  The official looked stunned.

  “Are you a wanted criminal?”

  “Actually not, but apparently I have entered Australia illegally.”

  “When did you enter Australia, at which port and where are you from?”

  “I have arrived yesterday from Manila, actually from Hong Kong”

  “But how have you managed to slip through the border control at the port of Sidney?”

  “I went through the border control and showed a Swedish passport there. However...

  However this is not my real passport.”

  “I am afraid I don't understand you story. Please describe everything from the very beginning.”

  After Voronov has finished telling the whole story the official remained silent for a while.

  “I am afraid I have to evaluate this act as illegal trespassing while using fraudulent identity documents. This is punishable by the Penal Act and may result in deportation or imprisonment. Also, you cannot request the stay permit in reference to the “white-alien” act since this would require your obtaining of appropriate visa prior to entering the territory.”

  “I sincerely regret violating the law but hope that the authorities will understand my predicament”

  The official went to the neighbouring room and made a call. He came back after more than twenty minutes.

  “Sir, you will be guided to another room now where y photo of yours will be taken. Furthermore you have to fill several forms and put everything what you have told me in writing. When this all is done, we will decide on further action.”

  The whole procedure took about four hours. In the late afternoon he was led to the office again. This time another two persons was present.

  “Do you have your Soviet passport with you?” asked one of the both.

  “No, we had to hand our passports over to the chief engineer of the site”

  “Any other document with your identity?”

  “I do have a restricted area entry permit from the Almaty military commandment. There is even my photograph on it.

  “Almaty, where is that?”

  “It is in Kazakhstan, in the Soviet Middle Asia”

  “Oh, I see. Well this is still better than nothing. Please give it to me.”

  Then another of newly arrived officials took the word

  “Have you served in the Red Army and if so, have you been involved in any hostile activities against the British government?”

  “I am an engineer sir. I have constructed military sites but have never held a weapon in my hands.”

  “Which sort of military sites?”

  “Air fields sir”

  “Could it be possible that these airfields had a purpose of threatening the British Empire. Perhaps in India?”

  “I have never been told about the purpose but cannot imagine that. As far as I am aware the range of the planes starting from these airfields is not enough to reach India”

  The official took some notes.

  “I may have more questions concerning that later. But for the beginning I think it is enough.” Then both of them left leaving Voronov alone with the first official.

  The official took a straight posture and said:

  “Mister Voronov, I put you in the custody on charges of illegal entry and usage of illegal travel documents. Presumably after a day or two the immigratio
n office and other concerned authorities will evaluate your case and make a decision.”

  He made a phone call and Voronov has been led to the basement where he has been issued a blanket and locked into a cell.

  The whole situation did not scare him but it was his first experience of being behind the bars. The meal served in the evening was not bad but the air in the cell was hot and humid. He could not sleep for the most of the night.

  On the next day he has been transferred to a prison. Now he had to share the cell with five other persons. Interestingly one of them, a French who immigrated to Australia in 1929 spoke some Russian. Eugène, as he introduced himself has served in the intervention group of Entente Cordiale operating in the southern Russia during the Civil War. Nobody spoke about the charges on which they have been arrested. Apparently all the inmates of the cell did not have yet their trial and didn't want to disclose anything which may harm. It was not unusual that the police put their agents among the prisoners thus it was better to keep the mouth shut.

  Two days later the prison official has opened the door of the cell and asked Voronov to follow him. Accompanied by two police officers he has been led to a car and brought to an office building in the city. After an hour or so he has entered a room with three man behind a table with a young typist lady at the right. Behind the table a man in a gorgeous uniform was looking at Voronov from a portrait on the wall. “Must be a British king” - he thought.

  From the three men the one sitting in the middle started to talk.

  “Are you Mister Nikolay Voronov born in 1905 in Tomsk in the Russian Empire now the Soviet Russia?”

  “Yes sir, this is correct”

  “We have reviewed your file. Can you confirm that you have not committed any criminal offence in the Soviet Russia and are not aware about the reason why you should be arrested upon your return?”

  “I confirm sir”

  The judge gave a nod to the typist. The sound of the typing machine reminded Voronov of the Kazakh steppe when in summer it was full of grasshoppers.

  “Could you confirm that you have never committed or have never been involved in any hostile activities against the subjects of His Majesty the King-Emperor or his allies?

  “I confirm sir”

  “Can you confirm that you do not bear any evil intent or plan any activities harmful to the security and well-being of the crown and British commonwealth?”

  “I confirm sir”

  “Can you confirm that you have truthfully answered all questions and have not deliberately hidden any information?” Voronov's thoughts were racing. The only piece of information which he omitted to tell the police was about the treasure but at the same time he hast told them the address of the Irish Catholic Mission. What if they have searched his luggage? Pausing just for two seconds he said:

  “I confirm sir”

  “We will resume the hearing in 15 minutes, please kindly wait outside”

  After 15 minutes which felt like several hours Voronov has been called back to the room.

  “Mister Voronov” said the chairmen “taking into account your unsolicited surrender to the authorities and sincere cooperation with the enquiry we do not see any need for further keeping you in the custody. From now on your case will be processed by the immigration office. Until further notice you must not leave Sidney and have to report to the immigration office every week. Please be warned that any violation of the imposed restrictions will have consequences according to applicable law.”

  Voronov complied with the restrictions. After two months he was allowed to look for a job and he really needed to find one. He has sold all his gold coins in Hong Kong for US dollars. But this money could not last for long. After all he came to Australia just with a few pieces of clothes and had to start from scratch.

  The colleagues in the harbour where he worked for the logistic office treated him well. Some drawbacks came 1939 when the Soviet Union invaded Finland and stroke a deal with Germany. Voronov had to endure some saturnine comments since for them he still was a “Red Russian”. This all changed rapidly with Japanese invasion of French Indochina in 1940, British territories in the South East Asia 1941/1942, Pearl Harbor and the start of the war between England, USA and Germany. Voronov suddenly became an ally. Now it was a turn to the worse for Germans, Italians and other Axis allies. Some of them have been interned and the others put under surveillance. The war against the Soviet Union troubled him a lot. The mortal danger in Almaty was quickly forgotten. He regretted not being able to contribute to the victory of his country. Having learned from the newspaper that the Leningrad was encircled by the Germans, he worried a lot about his cousin Alexey who lived there.

  On a rainy day in August 1942 in the evening somebody knocked at the door.

  “Good evening mister Voronov, sorry for disturbing you. May I come in?”

  “Yes, sure. May I ask in which matter... I think we have met in the past but I am not sure...”

  “. Yes, we have met before indeed. It was at the police station shortly after you have arrived in Sidney. I am major Summers by the way.”

  “Oh, of course! Now I remember”

  After a small talk and questions about how Voronov was settled in Australia major Summers explained the matter.

  “I remember you have mentioned you being involved in the construction of the air fields, haven't you?”

  “That's right, for several years”

  “I have remembered your name since recently we a looking for such specialists. And this quite urgently”

  “Would it be here, in Sidney?”

  “No, it would be on some Pacific islands or may be in the East-Indies. I think for today this scope of information is enough. If you are interested, please come to this address tomorrow at nine.”

  “Well, I have to check with my superiors in the harbour. My duty starts at eight.”

  “Let me take care of that. Your superiors will not object. So, can I interpret it as yes?”

  “Yes, I will come”

  “I am glad that you agreed. See you tomorrow then. And sorry again for disturbing you at a late hour.”

  On the next day Voronov has found a three storey building under the provided address. The brass plate at the entrance read “Royal Australian Air Force. Coordination Unit Sidney” The sentry made a call and major Summers picked him up. The entered a room with a huge table. Another four uniformed persons were present. Voronov was sure some of then were not Australians.

  “Please take a sit mister Voronov” said major

  “May I introduce: colonel Wise from the Royal Australian Air Force, major Logan from the US Air Force, major Perry from the British Royal Infantry and lieutenant adjutant van de Hulst from the Dutch Royal Infantry”

  “Nice to meet you gentlemen. I am Nikolay Voronov, a civil engineer”

  “Let's come straight to the point. First of all I have to inform you that from now on whatever you here from us or discuss with us is a war secret and must not be shared with anybody.

  I will try to summarise the point very briefly. You see, our planes, especially the bombers have to fly long distances to reach the area of combat. There is no solution for that since heavy bombers cannot operate from the carriers. At this time point we are loosing too many of them. And this not only because they are lost in combat but sometimes due to minor damage inflicted by the Japanese flack or even some technical problems. Usually in such case a plane would manage to reach the base but not if it is 400 miles away.

  That's why we decided to build a few airfields on some islands where the damaged planes could land and be repaired.”