==== d83e31 - Prologue (Статус: completed) ====

The engineer, Bob, hadn’t ridden the rails hobo-style since his escape from a massacre in D.C. over a year ago. In the west, the distances were too vast, and the trains too sparse, so he traveled in Pullman coaches. He lacked a hobo’s knowledge of California’s railway lines but had studied maps, noting the lines converging on the Golden Gate. He was working on constructing a bridge across the Golden Gate and was to meet Dawn, who had sent a telegram with a meeting time.

Bob reflected on a childhood incident where he was kicked in the face while milking a cow and had an X-ray, which revealed the defensive nature of teeth. He compared this to the forts and gun emplacements guarding the entrance to San Francisco Bay. As he walked down Lombard Street, he saw the bustling materials depot and logistical complex that had grown around the old fort since January. Despite the country’s depression, there was a significant effort to build the bridge. Bob’s heart thrilled at the sight, despite his disdain for the country.

Bob boarded a boat with workers and arrived at the site of the south tower, where underwater blasting and dredging were underway. The boat then ventured out to the north tower, where riveters were working. Alcatraz, recently acquired by the federal government to become a maximum-security penitentiary, was visible. Riveters disembarked at the north tower, and Bob, avoiding carpenters, walked to Sausalito and found a diner to wait for Dawn.

Dawn, now calling herself Aurora, arrived. She had grown and matured, exuding a cool self-possession. They avoided displays of affection and pretended she was a job applicant. Aurora mentioned that she was known as "Dawn" in a recent news article from North Dakota, but the interest had waned. Bob noted her tired appearance and asked if she still had her violin, which she had lost in a fire.

Over breakfast, Bob updated Aurora on recent events, including the new management of Alcatraz and his contacts with the International. They discussed the bridge project and Bob’s potential move to the area. Aurora expressed her desire to leave the country and return to the Soviet Union via Yokohama and the Trans-Siberian Railway.

On the ferry, they talked more freely. Aurora observed the incoming fog and the construction of the bridge, which Bob had helped design. Aurora suggested that Bob consider a larger project, building socialism in the Soviet Union. Bob had mentioned his company’s contract to build the world’s largest steel mill there. Aurora offered to be his translator, but Bob hesitated, saying, "Oh no." Aurora, fluent in Russian, insisted, holding out her hands in invitation.

==== d83e38 - 1 (Статус: completed) ====

On Christmas Eve, 1933, in Magnitogorsk, Soviet Union, Aurora stands on a rickety scaffold high above the Industrial Lake, surrounded by the icy structures of Blast Furnace #4. She closes her eyes, momentarily transported to her past in Montana, but the cold and the sway of the scaffold quickly remind her of her present reality. The Workers’ Shock Brigade, a group of underfed men and Aurora, are tasked with clearing ice from the scaffold. Comrade Griaznov leads the way, struggling to break through a wall of icicles with a hammer that shatters, raising suspicions of sabotage. Comrade Fizmatov, an elderly Ukrainian engineer, explains the hammer’s brittle failure due to the extreme cold, diffusing the tension. Shaimat, a Tatar, clears the path with a rock, and the brigade continues their work.

The group reaches the top of the blast furnace, where they find a frozen welder who had died while trying to stay warm with his welding machine. Shaimat accidentally dislodges the body, which falls to the concrete foundation below. Despite the grim conditions, the workers press on, driven by the urgency of their task and the Agitator, Tishenko, who keeps them motivated with his energy and rhetoric.

Later, in Dining Room #30, Aurora reflects on her decision to leave America, which she found problematic, and her current life in Magnitogorsk. Shaimat, concerned about her health, checks if she has lice, a common issue in the harsh conditions. Aurora reassures him, sharing her experience of sleeping on the floor to avoid lice in America. Shaimat compliments her Russian, noting that she speaks like someone from St. Petersburg, to which Aurora reveals that she indeed grew up there.

==== d83e43 - 2 (Статус: completed) ====

Dawn, a young girl in Petrograd during 1920-1923, becomes aware of her dual identity as Dawn and Aurora. In the old place, America, she was Dawn, the sunrise. In the new place, Petrograd, she is Aurora, named after the battleship that signaled the start of the Revolution. Her family moves into a *kommunalka*, a communal apartment, where tensions and strict divisions between men and women are prevalent. Her mother, Mama, leaves for Montana, and her father, Papa, becomes deeply involved in revolutionary activities.

Aurora's daily life is marked by the strict routines of the *kommunalka* and her school, where she learns to be a good little comrade. She befriends Veronika, a machine gunner in the Red Women’s Death Battalion, who teaches her about the revolution and warns her about the dangers of trusting strangers. Aurora also develops a routine with Grisha, the streetcar conductor, who ensures she gets to school safely.

One day, while playing in the street, Aurora narrowly escapes being hit by a car. Grisha rescues her and takes her home, leading to a stern warning from Veronika about the dangers of trusting strangers. Aurora's experiences at school and in the *kommunalka* are filled with revolutionary games and the constant presence of political tension.

The highlight of Aurora's year is the reenactment of the Storming of the Winter Palace, a grand spectacle that reenacts the revolution. She watches in awe as the event unfolds, with thousands of participants and elaborate sets. The event is a powerful symbol of the revolution and a source of pride for her and the other children.

As the winter deepens, Aurora's life is further complicated by the disappearance of Antonio, one of the men in the *kommunalka*, and the nightly raids by the Chekists, the secret police. One night, the Chekists raid their neighborhood, and Aurora witnesses her friend Grisha being taken away. Despite the fear and uncertainty, Aurora remains resilient, continuing to navigate the complex and often dangerous world of post-revolutionary Petrograd.

==== d83e48 - 3 (Статус: completed) ====

In January 1934, in Magnitogorsk, Aurora recounted her story to Shaimat, her frequent dining companion, over several days. She preferred dining with Shaimat, a Tatar, in Dining Room #30, despite the meager servings, because he respected her boundaries and shared stories about his sister. Other Westerners, who often probed her past, made her uncomfortable. One day, Tishenko, known as the Agitator, interrupted their conversation, curious about her excellent Russian and English skills. Aurora explained that she was born in America in 1916, named Dawn, and brought to Petrograd at four, where she was renamed Aurora after the famous battleship. Tishenko was surprised to learn that she was eighteen, not sixteen, and that she had a separate American identity, Dawn Rae Bjornberg, which she had "killed off" to make a clean start. She claimed Dawn died in a bank robbery in North Dakota. Tishenko, exasperated by the complexity, delved into her early life, learning that her mother spoke English to her until returning to America in 1921. Aurora spent three years with little English exposure but rejoined her father on a trip to America in 1924, where she lived among her mother's people in Montana and Wyoming, learning to rob banks and play polo.

==== d83e54 - 4 (Статус: completed) ====

In 1924, Dawn and her father, Papa, stayed in Seattle near the Pike Place Market, where Papa mingled with his revolutionary friends and Dawn evaded truant officers by hiding in the market’s nooks. One day, while hiding under a counter, Dawn met two Russian women who led her to a Russian Orthodox church. After the service, she used a dropped penny to send a postcard to her mother in Montana.

Weeks later, Papa and Dawn boarded a train to Chicago, passing through Everett, where Papa pointed out the site of a violent labor dispute. On the train, Papa reminisced about his days organizing workers, while Dawn observed the bourgeois passengers with fascination. They encountered a restless cowboy who eventually engaged Papa in a conversation. Papa's demeanor changed, and he instructed Dawn to gather her things. The train screeched to a halt, and the cowboy revealed himself as a part of a group, including Dawn's mother, who had come to take her home. Dawn, recognizing her mother, ran to her with tears, and her mother welcomed her back.

==== d83e59 - 5 (Статус: completed) ====

In January 1934, Aurora receives a typewritten note excusing her from her translating duties and inviting her to the infirmary. Concerned about surveillance, she walks through the harsh conditions of Magnitogorsk, guided by the sun and landmarks, and meets Comrade Fizmatov, a metallurgist with a peculiar name. He explains that "Fizmatov" stands for "Physics and Mathematics." They part ways, and Aurora continues to the hospital barracks, where she undergoes a thorough examination. The doctor notices needle marks on her arms, which Aurora attributes to a medical crisis involving morphine.

Aurora is then taken to another facility, where she realizes she has been committed to a psychiatric hospital. During an interview, Dr. Stasova focuses on Aurora's claims about polo and tommy guns. To explain, Aurora recounts her family's involvement in the whisky trade and her experiences on polo ranches. She also describes her encounters with wolves and her occasional presence during liquor deliveries to Chicago, where she occasionally saw submachine guns.

Dr. Stasova, intrigued, listens as Aurora details her family's criminal activities and her mother's illness, which led her to stay in Chicago with her father. Aurora's narrative reveals her deep connection to her family's revolutionary past and her efforts to navigate a complex and dangerous world. Dr. Stasova notes Aurora's explanations, hinting at a deeper understanding of her patient's background and the broader context of Soviet psychiatry.

==== d83e64 - 6 (Статус: completed) ====

In June 1932, Chicago's Communist Party Central Committee mobilized, but the police had given up trying to stop veterans from hopping eastbound freights. The railways added empty boxcars to clear the yards of Bonus Marchers. Papa, a veteran and Communist, led his group, including Dawn, his daughter, who was sewing a red banner. They encountered a cop and a bull who checked Papa's papers and warned him against causing trouble.

Later, Papa explained to his committee that maintaining the appearance of being veterans was crucial to their movement's survival. They discussed concerns about Commander Waters, the leader of the Bonus Expeditionary Force, possibly purging Communists under pressure from authorities. They also planned to find alternative locations in D.C. for their activities.

On the train, Papa and Dawn discussed her role in the movement. He tasked her with obtaining Tommy guns and hand grenades from her relatives in Chicago, using money he had hidden. They arrived in D.C. and joined the Bonus Army, where they were met with an organized reception. Dawn helped set up camp and volunteered at the Salvation Army tent.

Papa sent Dawn to Fort Myer to gather intelligence and connect with Billy Bach, a former stable hand and now a soldier. She learned about the cavalry and polo teams, and Billy invited her to watch *Scarface* and to a polo match. The film's depiction of machine guns and tear gas influenced their plans. Dawn also began playing polo with a women's team, gaining the attention of Ida Colquhoun, a wealthy supporter of the Bonus Army.

Papa was pleased with Dawn's progress, but she felt torn between her revolutionary duties and her personal interests. She continued to communicate with Billy and the Lady Blues while working on the submachine gun project. On the day of the polo match and ball, Dawn prepared to support the Lady Blues and attend the event, balancing her multiple roles and responsibilities.

Conveying twenty-four ponies from Northern Virginia to Fort Myer was a significant undertaking, managed by the girls' fathers' stable hands and additional help from Fort Myer. Dawn, the narrator, had a busy morning managing the logistics and personalities involved, including the high-strung parents and high-ranking officers. Blanche, the number three player, withdrew due to health issues, and Katherine, the understudy, took her place. Dawn, dressed in old jeans and a khaki shirt, helped Katherine with basic polo moves and exercised the ponies, all while under the watchful eye of Billy and curious cavalrymen.

The opposing team included Colonel Nunn, British officer Gatacre, Lieutenant Asquith, and Mrs. Pierce. Dawn noted Asquith's poor riding skills and the cavaliers' lack of concern, attributing their indifference to the changing times and the rise of mechanized warfare. The match was decorous, with moments of fine play, and personalities began to stand out. Patricia's nimble pony and strategic play impressed, while Irene, the Lady Blues' back, focused on defending against Asquith. The final seconds of the fifth chukker saw Katherine's fumbled shot and a collision with Irene, resulting in Irene being hit in the face and needing medical attention.

The match was halted due to the injury, and the crowd's attention shifted to Irene. Dawn, who had seen worse, was more interested in the crowd's reaction. Major Patton, impressed by Dawn's riding, offered assistance, and Mrs. Pierce, recognizing Dawn's skills, invited her to play Irene's position. Dawn accepted and took Irene's place at back. She felt a strong sense of impending doom but wanted to make the most of her freedom on the horse. During the game, she intercepted a pass, made a strategic pass to Adele, and later unhorsed Asquith with a daring move, causing a commotion.

The match ended with Asquith's injury, and the crowd's attention turned to the drama. Dawn, feeling overwhelmed, slipped away to cry, but was comforted by Major Patton, who recognized her as a "magnificent woman" and offered his assistance. She attended a ball later, where she encountered various high-ranking officers and received praise for her performance. Major Patton, in particular, expressed his admiration and concern for her future.

That night, Dawn returned to Camp Marks to find her father and others beaten and in a state of distress. She learned that they were planning a revolutionary act and had received a shipment of weapons. Dawn, tasked with bringing a sample back to her father, cleverly hid a tommy gun in a violin case. As the situation at Camp Marks escalated, Dawn witnessed the arrival of General MacArthur and his forces, who were preparing to disperse the Bonus Army. She found her father dead from tear gas in Camp Glassford and, determined to escape, rowed a boat to Potomac Yards. She then asked the workers there about the next westbound freight, planning to head to Chicago.

==== d83e69 - 7 (Статус: completed) ====

In January 1934, Aurora, recently relocated to a jail complex in Magnitogorsk, was interrogated by a man named Shpak. Dressed in a suit and tie, Shpak introduced himself and asked Aurora if she was "Aurora or Dawn." Aurora confirmed that Aurora was the name under which she intended to live in the Soviet Union. Shpak, identifying himself as someone who determines people's true identities, clarified that he was not a bureaucrat or psychologist but likely an OGPU agent.

Aurora, noting the presence of armed guards outside, observed that the setting was a temporary jail, not a psychiatric facility. Shpak confirmed that she had been cleared of mental health concerns by Dr. Stasova. He explained that her story, initially deemed bizarre by Comrade Tishenko, had been verified, including details about her father's martyrdom and her interest in Bonnie and Clyde.

Aurora explained that she had "killed" Dawn to close her file with the federal police, particularly to evade Silent Al, who had infiltrated her cell in Washington and knew everything about her. Shpak inquired about her reasons to believe Silent Al was still pursuing her, to which Aurora responded that she had recognized him in Chicago, where she had lived in a communal apartment and attended a scientific balloon launch at Soldier Field.

Shpak, intrigued by her mention of the balloon launch, confirmed that this event was covered in the press and indicated that her story was being further verified. He also mentioned that her account of giving birth to a "monster" was raising eyebrows but was corroborated by Dr. Stasova's obstetrical evidence. Shpak then asked Aurora to elaborate on her activities in Chicago during 1933.

==== d83e74 - 8 (Статус: completed) ====

In June 1933, Chicago's Century of Progress World's Fair is a spectacle of futuristic architecture and technological marvels. Dawn Glendive, a young woman with a complex past, lives in a communal house filled with German Communists and American radicals. She wakes to the sound of a distressed beekeeper and ventures out in a robe and slippers to investigate. The beekeeper's distress over stolen beehives and bees leads Dawn to the fair, where she decides to explore and work as a promotional model for a shoe salesman, A. T. Green.

Dawn, dressed in a costume inspired by a fair poster, sells shoes and navigates the fair’s bustling crowds, encountering a mix of visitors from various backgrounds. She attends a lecture by physicist Niels Bohr, which she finds incomprehensible, and notices a persistent young man, Dick, who joins her for a soda after the lecture. Dick, a Brooklyn native, tries to explain Bohr’s theories, and Dawn, intrigued by his earnestness, begins to form a connection with him. The fair, with its blend of scientific wonders and carnival attractions, becomes a backdrop for Dawn’s personal and political explorations.

==== d83e79 - 9 (Статус: completed) ====

In February 1934, in Magnitogorsk, Aurora is surprised to see Dr. Oleksandr Fizmatov in an OGPU interrogation cell. Fizmatov explains that he has brought her food, warm clothes, and hygienic supplies, and that he is not an OGPU agent but a political prisoner who is allowed to visit her. He reveals that his sons, Proton and Elektron, are in town and have been questioned by Comrade Shpak about recent developments in physics, which are related to Aurora's story. Fizmatov mentions that X-ray exposure might have affected her health, particularly her reproductive system, leading to the "monstrosity" she gave birth to in Fort Sickles. Aurora is initially overwhelmed by this information but finds comfort in the scientific explanation.

The next day, Shpak brings Aurora back to the interrogation room. After a long wait, he enters with another man, who remains in the hallway. Shpak signals to Aurora to focus on him. He confirms that the recent findings about X-rays help explain the "monstrosity" she described. Shpak then asks Aurora about her decision to leave Chicago in August. She explains that she began experiencing pregnancy symptoms in July and planned to go to Montana to stay with relatives. She stayed in Chicago until August 5th to see a scientific balloon launch before leaving.

==== d83e84 - 10 (Статус: completed) ====

Dawn traveled from Chicago to North Dakota in August 1933, exhausted from a balloon launch and a long day of packing. She claimed she was visiting Montana but knew she was likely never returning. At Union Station, she manhandled her heavy trunk onto the train, ignoring the offers of help from porters and Germans. During the journey, she felt a subtle internal pop, a sign of something wrong. By the time she reached North Dakota, the pains in her pelvis became severe. A woman named Blanche Baker, who had boarded the train at Grand Forks, noticed Dawn's distress and stayed with her.

Dawn's condition worsened, and she was taken off the train at a small town called Fort Sickles, a former military fort turned Indian agency. She was admitted to a makeshift clinic run by Mrs. Kidd and her husband, Reverend Kidd, where she underwent a painful and questionable medical procedure. Mrs. Kidd, who had been giving Dawn drugs, revealed that Dawn's trunk and papers had been taken to the bank's vault.

Dawn was arrested and jailed, accused of attempted abortion. Mrs. Kidd and Reverend Kidd planned to adopt her to intercept her veteran benefits. Dawn realized the depth of their desperation and the danger she was in. During her arraignment, she met her mother's half-cousin, Reggie Walker, who had come to help her after receiving a telegram from Blanche Baker. Reggie revealed that Mrs. Kidd had killed her first husband and would likely kill Dawn if she agreed to their adoption plan.

Dawn confided in Reggie, explaining her situation with the feds and Silent Al, a G-man who knew too much about her. She proposed a plan to rob the bank, retrieve her papers, and burn down the Kidds' house, faking her own death to escape. Reggie, understanding the gravity of the situation, agreed to help her.

==== d83e89 - 11 (Статус: completed) ====

Shpak, seated in a leather armchair on a Persian rug over the ice of the Ural River, addresses Aurora, who is naked and being tied to a bed frame. He explains that his investigation is under intense pressure due to the arrival of important visitors, including Sergo Ordzhonikidze, the head of the People’s Commissariat of Heavy Industry. Shpak describes his challenge of producing results quickly while ensuring Aurora remains unblemished. He proudly outlines his inventive method, using a block and tackle to suspend the bed frame over a hole in the ice.

Aurora, immobilized and increasingly vulnerable, asks Shpak what he wants to know, emphasizing her cooperation. Shpak, unperturbed by her questions, focuses on the meticulous preparations. The ice house, free from surveillance, offers him privacy. He demonstrates a hand-cranked winch, explaining that a single cut of his pocketknife could make her disappear without a trace.

As Shpak cranks the winch, Aurora's body is gradually submerged in the icy water, causing excruciating pain. He demands to know how she knew they were interested in balloons. Her ears go under the water as he continues to lower her, her last words unheard.

==== d83e94 - 12 (Статус: completed) ====

In Chicago, July 1933, Dick and Dawn engage in a playful yet complex conversation at a soda fountain, using physics concepts to explore their relationship. Dick, drawing parallels between quantum mechanics and their interaction, explains how knowing one quantity precisely means losing information about its complement. Dawn, initially amused and intrigued, enjoys the rare moment of conventional courtship, though she is aware of her unique background and the rarity of such experiences. As Dick fidgets and diagrams atomic structures on the zinc counter, Dawn watches him with a mix of fascination and patience. Their conversation shifts to the Bohr atom, germicidal lamps, and the scientists at the fair, including Niels Bohr, Robert Millikan, and Arthur Compton. Dick’s enthusiasm for physics is evident, and Dawn, though less familiar with the names, appreciates his passion. When the soda jerk comments on Dick's energy, Dick demonstrates a transition between states, much like an electron. Concerned about the effects of the germicidal lamp, Dawn suggests they leave, and they walk the Midway, bathed in neon lights. Dick shares his background and his family's trip, and they discuss the blurred lines between science and philosophy. Despite the distractions, they have a meaningful conversation, and Dick expresses his preference for spending the evening with Dawn over attending more lectures.

==== d83e99 - 13 (Статус: completed) ====

In Magnitogorsk, February 1934, Shpak refines his technique of drowning and resuscitating Aurora, using a winch to control her immersion in a river. He observes her reactions, learning when to lift her head out of the water to prevent irreversible damage. To keep her conscious and cooperative, he alternates between dunking her and allowing her to warm by the stove. The threat of a knife, which could sever the rope and send her to a watery grave, looms over her.

After each session, Aurora experiences moments of hazy consciousness and violent shivering, followed by brief periods of warmth and relaxation. During these intervals, Shpak smokes his pipe and reviews documents, questioning Aurora about her loyalty and past. He suggests that her return to the Soviet Union could be seen as either a sign of her revolutionary sincerity or a cover for espionage. 

Aurora compares Shpak to her father, who had sent her to Fort Myer to gather intelligence but later accused her of being manipulated by General Patton. Shpak, amused, delves into his notes, noting that while she finds Patton abhorrent, she agrees with his assessment of the United States, feeling there is no place for her there. Shpak emphasizes the advantages of their private conversation, suggesting that they can alter the wording of her statements without anyone knowing.

Aurora, wary of the trap, refuses to agree, recognizing that such an admission could be used against her. The conversation seems to stretch over an indeterminate period, with Aurora struggling to recall important details, such as the recent 17th Party Congress in Moscow and the possibility that important figures might be inspecting Magnitogorsk.

The session is interrupted by the squeal of the pulley, and Shpak prepares to lower her again. Aurora, too exhausted to beg, pleads in a conversational tone that she is telling him everything. Shpak, curious, asks how she knew they were interested in balloons.

==== d83e104 - 14 (Статус: completed) ====

In July 1933, in Chicago, Dick and Dawn stand on the Midway, discussing cosmic rays and X-rays. Dick explains the scientific theories of Compton and Millikan, using the shoe store's X-ray machine as a teaching tool. They share a spontaneous kiss, and Dick, a Jewish atheist, reveals his scientific passion, while Dawn, a Communist, maintains her political identity. They break into the shoe store, where Dick disassembles the X-ray machine to demonstrate its inner workings. Despite the potential for intimacy, Dick remains focused on the science, and Dawn leaves, agreeing to meet him the next day at Navy Pier.

The next day, Dawn and Dick watch the arrival of Air Marshal Italo Balbo's air armada at Navy Pier. The planes, emblazoned with Fascist symbols, perform a flyover, and Balbo, a prominent Fascist leader, lands and is greeted by a crowd of supporters and VIPs. The crowd on the pier becomes chaotic as people try to board lake steamers to reach the Century of Progress. Dick and Dawn narrowly avoid a confrontation with two men who turn out to be special agents. Dawn, recognizing one of the agents, pulls Dick belowdecks to avoid being recognized. In a dark, secluded space, she kisses him, seeking both safety and connection.

==== d83e110 - 15 (Статус: completed) ====

In February 1934, in Magnitogorsk, Aurora, while being intermittently dunked in an ice house, becomes vaguely aware of Shpak’s words. She ignores him, unable to focus on anything but hallucinations and memories. During one lull, she hears another man’s voice and the sounds of a car idling outside. The door opens, and a man, who had previously peered at her through a jail door, takes Shpak’s place. He sits informally, his hands in his coat pockets, and Aurora realizes he is pleasuring himself. He acknowledges her awareness and makes lewd comments about General Patton, which she refutes. After his climax, he disposes of the handkerchief in the stove and reflects on the cultural significance of the Ural River, which divides Europe and Asia. He concludes that Aurora is neither crazy nor a spy, noting her unique story and physical appearance are too distinctive for a fabricated identity. Checking his watch, he announces he will have her released, as they are late for dinner.

==== d83e115 - 16 (Статус: completed) ====

In late summer 1933, Dawn observes the departure of Air Marshal Balbo and his flying armada from Chicago, an event that marks the climax of the Century of Progress exhibition. She spends her last days with Dick, a young man she has been intimate with, before he leaves town. Dawn reflects on their relationship, her growing suspicions of pregnancy, and the changes in her perception of the fair.

She contemplates her future, considering options like leaving for Montana or traveling to the Soviet Union for an abortion. Meanwhile, she watches the preparation for a scientific balloon launch at Soldier Field, a massive event involving hydrogen-filled cylinders and a magnesium sphere. The balloon, named "Century of Progress," is launched but experiences a technical failure, causing it to descend rapidly. The crowd panics, and Dawn, along with a group of German Communists, rushes to the crash site, where they find the sphere and the aeronauts, Jean Piccard and Tex Settle, being examined by medical personnel.

Amid the chaos, Dawn decides to leave Chicago. That night, she boards the Empire Builder, heading towards an uncertain but determined future.

==== d83e120 - 17 (Статус: completed) ====

In February 1934, Aurora arrives at Magnitogorsk’s Central Hotel after being tortured by Shpak, who was ordered to leave no visible marks on her. She finds a luxurious private room and bathes, though her throat and lungs still feel damaged. She dresses and goes to the hotel’s restaurant, where she joins a dinner with several key figures, including Sergo Ordzhonikidze, Vissarion Lominadze, and Lavrentiy Beria, the man at the head of the table. Also present are Dr. Oleksandr Fizmatov and his sons, Proton and Elektron, who are studying at Moscow University.

The dinner begins with a series of toasts, including one to Comrade Stalin, before Beria reveals the real purpose of the gathering: balloons. Aurora, who witnessed the failed American balloon launch in Chicago, is asked to recount her experience. She explains the scientific aims of the balloon, which is designed to study cosmic rays at high altitudes, a topic of great interest to the Americans but which failed due to a defective valve.

Beria then turns the conversation to the upcoming Soviet balloon launch, with Proton set to be one of the aeronauts. The discussion shifts to the scientific importance of cosmic rays, with Elektron explaining the concept of neutrons and their role in nuclear transmutation. The conversation delves into the potential for these particles to unlock vast amounts of energy, akin to the power of stars.

Ordzhonikidze, a practical man concerned with industrial output, questions the practical applications of this research. Elektron and his father explain the theoretical and experimental advancements being made in nuclear physics, emphasizing the potential for groundbreaking discoveries. Beria and Ordzhonikidze, intrigued by the possibilities, agree to leave the scientific exploration to Beria’s jurisdiction, while Ordzhonikidze focuses on the steel mills. Beria, looking at Aurora, suggests that the scientific pursuits are as important as the industrial ones, though in different ways.

==== d83e125 - 18 (Статус: completed) ====

Dawn, a young woman in Fort Sickles, North Dakota, in September 1933, declines a public defender and decides to represent herself in court. Despite the prosecutor’s warnings, she insists on pleading guilty. Her friend Reggie, who plans to help her escape, visits her in jail. They discuss a family reunion, which is a code for a planned bank robbery and her rescue. Dawn spends her days in jail, reading a dime-novel western and a poem by Bonnie Parker about Bonnie and Clyde.

The day of her arraignment arrives, and Dawn is led to the courtroom. The proceedings are delayed, and she becomes anxious. When the trial finally starts, three federal agents identify her. Reggie, one of the federal agents, and two confederates are in the courtroom. Gunfire erupts outside, and Reggie shoots one of the federal agents. Dawn, realizing the plan is in motion, vaults over the railing and crawls across the courtroom floor to avoid the gunfire.

Reggie and his men provide cover as Dawn escapes the courthouse. They meet at a city park where horses are waiting. Dawn, now on horseback, rides into the woods with a hundred feet of rope. She crosses the river and arrives at the Reverend Kidd's house, which is empty. She changes into the Reverend's clothes and retrieves a hidden violin case containing a tommy gun. She assembles the weapon and prepares to burn the house down.

The plan is to create a diversion, making it seem like the gang is trapped inside the burning house. As night falls, they set the house on fire and escape through the basement, using ropes to climb down the cliff and cross the river. They meet up with the rest of the gang and drive away, evading the pursuing law enforcement. Dawn stands up and confronts Mrs. Kidd, who arrives in a car, aiming her tommy gun to ensure her escape.

==== d83e130 - 19 (Статус: completed) ====

Aurora had never been on an airplane before, and the novelty and the fact that she was still alive made her giddy during the first hour of the flight. This feeling was extraordinarily silly given that she had been abducted to an unknown destination by Lavrentiy Beria, the head of Stalin’s secret police, and his expert torturer, Shpak. The other Georgians were left behind in Magnitogorsk to build blast furnaces, while Proton and Elektron, deemed unworthy, did not get seats on the plane. Aurora’s father, with years left on his sentence, remained behind as well.

Aurora was notified early in the morning to be ready in half an hour. Despite the previous day’s physical strain, she managed to get dressed and make her way to the lobby. A black Mercedes was waiting, and she dozed during the drive to the airfield. Upon arrival, she was helped into the plane, a beautiful and well-engineered aircraft, and settled into a seat, avoiding conversation with Shpak due to the engine’s noise.

The flight took them to Kazan for a refueling stop, where Aurora used a surprisingly modern and clean toilet. They continued to Moscow, landing outside the city. The final destination was a dacha, a country estate, where they were met by Veronika. Beria, after confirming Aurora’s identity, asked her to assemble a Thompson submachine gun and then to shoot Shpak. Aurora, conscious of the watching soldiers, assembled the gun and, with deliberate precision, machine-gunned Shpak, aiming to ensure he knew he was being killed. Afterward, she set the gun down and asked Beria if he now believed her story.

==== d83e135 - 20 (Статус: completed) ====

In February 1934, Aurora, an OGPU informant posing as a translator named Svetlana, is summoned to meet Scott Gronsky, an American journalist, at a bathtub in Moscow. Despite her initial reluctance, she agrees, maintaining her cover as a frumpy ex-student. They meet, and Aurora reads press releases to Scott while he bathes, both aware of the monotony and futility of their task. Scott, facing expulsion from the Soviet Union, decides to travel to Ukraine to report on the famine. Aurora, recognizing the importance of his mission, agrees to accompany him, though she must report to her OGPU superiors.

On their journey, the train becomes increasingly empty and the railway personnel more suspicious. They encounter a woman trying to show them a bundle, which turns out to be a dead baby. The train staff quickly cover the windows, and Scott and Aurora are left to process the shocking sight. They continue to Ukraine, where they witness the derailment of a train due to poor ballast, and later, a farmhouse filled with dead people. These experiences solidify Scott's resolve to report on the atrocities.

Back in Moscow, Aurora is summoned to a meeting with Lavrentiy Beria and Nikolai Zhirkin. Beria acknowledges her experiences in Ukraine and assigns her a new task: to influence the reporting of Owen Crisp-Upjohn, a British journalist. Aurora is tasked with gaining his trust and ensuring his writings support Soviet interests. She devises a plan to involve Owen in a Red Army women’s polo team and the upcoming balloon launch, both of which she believes will appeal to his interests.

During the balloon launch, Aurora observes Owen and the other journalists, noting the Soviet propaganda efforts. The launch is a success, but the balloon later crashes, and the aeronauts are presumed dead. Aurora meets with Dr. Oleksandr Fizmatov, the father of one of the aeronauts, who reveals that Owen had spoken to him about the crash, offering condolences. Fizmatov emphasizes the importance of the scientific work they were doing, particularly in the field of neutrons and alchemy, hinting at its significance to Aurora's future tasks.

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In March 1934, Aurora arrives at a makeshift polo field south of Moscow, bringing a trunk filled with Owen’s literary works, dictionaries, and supplies. The Red Army cavalry, all men, is already setting up camp and stables. Despite the men’s initial wariness, they have been sternly instructed to accommodate Aurora and the other women, who are forming a women’s polo team. The team, consisting of Aurora and three other skilled but inexperienced riders, begins practicing, using the men’s equipment and ponies.

Aurora reflects on her conversation with Beria, who had asked if she wanted a Red Army women’s polo team to exist. She recalls a childhood memory of crabs in an aquarium, symbolizing the struggle to escape oppressive conditions. Aurora sees herself as one of the crabs, determined to climb out. She decides to embrace the challenge, leading the women’s team in their training.

Owen, a British writer, arrives with a diplomat and a journalist. He immediately dubs the site "Polostan" and is eager to see the unique polo setup. Aurora and her team begin practicing visibly but unobtrusively during a men’s match. Owen, intrigued, approaches them, despite his minder’s protests. Aurora, now with red hair, introduces herself as "Katya" and engages Owen in a playful but serious game of polo. Owen, captivated by her riding skills and banter, joins the women’s game, playing intensely and joyfully.

As the final chukker approaches, Aurora reveals to Owen that the entire setup is an OGPU operation and that she needs his help to escape. Owen, initially surprised, quickly understands the gravity of the situation. He agrees to help, asking how he can assist. Aurora instructs him to fall in love with her, write her letters, and continue showing interest. Owen, now committed, agrees to do as she asks. They both return to the game, riding together with a renewed sense of purpose.