The Girl on the Trans-Siberian Railway

By Lev Lenoir

This book is based on a true story with some modifications and name change of characters due to privacy.
When a young African man, who experienced unspeakable harshness, violence, crime, conditioned love, the wrath of the Russian Mafia as a student in St. Petersburg, Russia, just after the collapse of the Soviet Union, decides to return to the country he never forgot with the idea of taking the Trans-Siberian railway - his life changed profoundly. Thomas Kusulu, who studied medicine in St Petersburg, had always dreamt of travelling on the world’s longest rail line. It was an adventure he couldn’t afford while he was a poor struggling student.
Seven years later, he saved enough money to make the trip. What he finds is a Russia changing after the fall of Communism – the first signs of Western commerce and free market values. But he also finds a few old friends in Moscow and spends three happy days reminiscing about the past and whooping it up in booming clubs with hot Russian girls.
He buys his train ticket from Moscow to Vladivostok – a seven day trip. He started this adventurous journey that changed his life forever. This enticing and thrilling story will be yours to discover.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lev Lenoir
• Release date: Feb 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310556210

Lev Lenoir

Lev Lenoir is a Canadian immigrant who has lived in three different continents, living in one of the poorest areas to the most civilized, economically stable, and prestigious cities in the world. He decided to write this story based on a true life situation and some of the scenes described are as he experienced them himself, making the story well explained and in detail. He studied in Russia just after the collapse of the Soviet Union and has a great deal to share about that society during that era and the difficult transition to democracy.

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The Girl on the Trans-Siberian Railway

By Ryelav Lenoir

Copyright 2014 Lev Lenoir

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Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter One

Thomas Kusulu was a young guy from West Africa. He was a bright student who came from an average African family. His father was a post man, and his mother an office clerk. They both worked hard and did their best to give their seven children, including Tom, the best education any child could wish for. By sending their children to prestigious boarding school, they taught them how to live with necessities, and not luxuries.

Tom had always aspired to be a petroleum engineer, but his father had a different plan, he insisted Tom should go into medicine. This was not because he himself loved medicine or because he thought Tom may be good for medicine. It was just because of the mentality of the society they were living in. Having a child as medical doctor was very prestigious for the parents, even if he couldn’t make a living out of it. Growing up as a humble African boy, he accepted his father's wish. Moreover, he had no choice because his father could not afford to pay for engineering studies while medicine was more feasible. Tom had always wanted to continue his education abroad and was determined to accomplish that mission, no matter what. Going to Europe for studies was not all that easy, for a boy who came from an average family in Africa in the early 1990s.

Travelling to Europe for study was only possible for those with rich parents, which was not the case for Tom. Moreover, there were eight other siblings for whom Tom's parents should cater for but Tom stood firm and tried to work his way out initially before turning to his parents for support. Tom left his small town to live in the capital after high school, where the embassies of various countries were located, so that he could easily access information about studying in different European countries. While living in the capital, he enquired from the different foreign embassies about studying in their respective countries. Tom lived in a time without modern technologies, making the process of applying for courses slow, difficult, and exhausting. After three years of struggle and countless applications Tom finally got admission into a German University to study medicine. He came back with the news to his parents and they celebrated. Tom's parents handed him their life savings to pay for his flights and other essential expenses, to enable him to travel to Germany.

***

As Tom excitedly arrived in the capital on a hot Sunday afternoon, coupled with thirst, he sat down in a bar at the bus station for a drink. He was unaware that he was being followed by thieves who knew he had a huge amount of cash with him. In excitement, Tom’s father had told a friend about Tom’s determination and success, alerting him to the knowledge of his money. The friend was impressed because out of his nine children, none had been able to make it even to the level of having an elementary school certificate. With a view to encourage his own sons, the friend shared the success story of Tom and how he was on his way to Germany with his family's savings, to his children. He was unaware that two of his sons had become members of the underworld and were insulted and jealous of Tom’s success. They therefore developed a plan, and subsequently followed Tom to steal that money.

Back in the bar, Tom placed his small travelling bag on the floor beside him, leaving the money inside. The two men who followed him found themselves a comfortable seat and ordered a drink. Tom did not know them, only for the fact that they were travelling in the same bus. The bar was crowded in such a way that the music and ambiance would not let anyone leave earlier than normal. So, Tom stood up and went to the bar counter to order a second drink leaving his bag on the floor, only to find it missing when he came back. Tom quickly realised his foolishness; leaving an unsecure bag in a busy bar. He could not believe that he was experiencing this tragedy; he felt his world had come to an end. After trying to conduct some unsuccessful searches with bar officials, Tom returned back home to his parents and gave them the heartbreaking news. His parents though blamed him seriously, understood that such things do happen. Tom had to stay and work for another three years to raise enough money, by farming and selling the produce to help his parents. He was determined to make his dream come true again. Unfortunately Tom was unsuccessful in a new application to the German University.

***

Chapter Two

With the help of a family friend who studied in Russia, Tom finally acquired an admission to study medicine in Russia. In the 1990s little was known of Russia, but for the harsh communist system of government. Though Tom was going to travel to Russia six years after the fall of the Soviet Union, not much had changed from the communist era. Russia was known for little except their extensive knowledge in aeronautics and nuclear weapons. So, Tom ensured he was well prepared for his journey.

His Mom played an integral part in his preparation. She gave him a pink female winter coat, and a blue balaclava which exposed only one’s eyes and nose when worn. She bought them from a dealer selling second hand goods from Europe. Tom was very concerned at first about the colour of the coat and design. It was a feminine coat it was clear in the design even for someone who has never been in Europe. Eventually, he was convinced by his mom that in Europe, especially during winter, you have to do anything to survive the cold, even if it comes to putting blankets on your body to move in the streets and winter coats are unisex.

Obviously, Tom had to believe her. He has never been to Europe or knew anything about winter. Moreover, because he was leaving a country with plus thirty five degree weather to arrive in a country which was at minus thirty five degrees during the month of December, there wasn’t a reason to pay too much attention on winter coat design. Tom landed in Moscow in December 1997, and the weather that day was -32 degrees. Arrangement had been made by the family friend who encouraged Tom to study in Russia for someone to pick him up and take him along to St Petersburg. As Tom stepped out of the plane the windy cold struck him, which made him quickly get back into the plane for his winter gear. He put on the pink coat, with his balaclava head wear. His mom forgot to buy him a pair of gloves so he took out some socks from his bag and used them as gloves. Tom was dressed in the most awkward manner possible and even though he realized it, he couldn’t do much about it. Even an elderly Russian homeless lady would dress better than how Tom looked in the pink coat!

Considering the advice of a medical doctor, Tom took all his medications, including that of Malaria which he was to take continuously for two weeks once he landed in Russia. It was a confirmation to kill any parasites that he may have carried with him. As Tom lined up for the customs control, he knew he had come to a land that would require him to have endurance and courage to survive. This was evident from treatment he received from the airport officials; their lack of foreign understanding and consideration made them rude and angry. Their cold approach upset all passengers. When it was Tom’s turn to open his luggage for checking, he walked towards the customs officer which provoked mocking laughter.

He asked Tom in some average English to remove his balaclava. As Tom was displaying his belongings one by one, the officer noticed the packet of medication. When asked what it was, Tom replied that they were his drugs. Asked again, Tom remained steadfast in his response. The officer assumed the drugs must be cocaine, and could not believe how someone carrying drugs would openly admit it in front of authorities without any fear. Tom was taken to a special room with his belongings, and he was questioned again. Tom said they are my malaria drugs. The officer then continued, oh your medications. Tom nodded his head in acceptance and there was great relief laughter from the officers. They knew the word drug only in relation to cocaine. They did not know that in English, medications were also known as drugs.

***

Tom passed through customs, and came out to the main hall of the airport expecting to see the person waiting for him holding his name like a sign board. He saw many visitors holding papers with names of the people travelling, but none were for Tom. After spending the night at the airport and trying to phone home to no avail due to a bad network, Tom decided to continue his journey to St Petersburg alone; he had no other choice. With only his bag, his university admission letter and some American dollars he had with him in cash, he left the airport. During that period in Russia, the American dollar was more important and valuable than the local Russian ruble in the country, as nearly all transactions were in US dollars.

Tom did not know a word in Russian, but he had no choice. As he came out of the airport, taxis were waiting outside. One could see cap drivers running towards travellers proposing rates and asking their destination, making the environment very busy for a first time traveller like Tom. Tom stood for a moment confused, the language barrier was a bigger problem than he had imagined. Those drivers who could manage to speak English, did it in such a way and with such a strong Russian accent that made Tom wonder if they were speaking a modified Chinese language. Tom courageously approached one driver and handed him his admission letter which included his university address. As the driver read it he turned to Tom and said go Sank Peterrbuk? Tom answered yes St Petersburg.

The driver indicated with his hands that St Petersburg was too far and said Maskva here meaning, you are in Moscow. Tom said, Yes I know. That was the best English the driver could speak. He then told Tom to sit in the car. Tom got into the car, sat down and the driver instead of taking Tom to the train station for him to take his train for Saint Petersburg he took Tom to the subway station instead. Tom had never heard or seen the subway in his life. As they got into the subway station in Moscow, Tom saw the subway wagons and passengers getting in and out. Because the wagons were not much different from that of a train, Tom thought that they were in the train station and were about to leave for Saint Petersburg. The Moscow subway station had a circular line that connects to all the other lines of the subway. When you get into the wagons on that line you would keep going round until the subway closes, of course if you don’t get out where your connecting line is. The taxi driver shouted at Tom Hey Negrr now you sit down train. Out no! Out yes, 12 hours Sank Peterrbug. Tom was smart enough to understand that he should sit in the wagon and should not get out, and he was to get out only after 12 hours, that would mean he was in St Petersburg.