The Girl on the Trans-Siberian Railway

By Lev Lenoir

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312057111

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

The Girl on the Trans-Siberian Railway

By

Lev Lenoir

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.

If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher. In such case the author has not received any payment for this stripped book.

The Girl on the Trans-Siberian Railway

Copyright © 2014 Lev Lenoir

All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The copying, scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

The Girl on the Trans-Siberian Railway

By

Valerie Lenoir

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

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. He had taken two hundred dollars for his taxi fare and train ticket. The distance from the airport to the subways was just 2 kilometers, which was supposed to be 5$ and the subway ticket was 5 cents. Tom was very happy for what he thought was help from a very kind taxi driver. So he sat down in the wagon on the circular subway line and looked at the clock hanging up in the wagon to calculate the time that he would get out in St Petersburg. The train travelled continuously and Tom was wondering which station or town they had arrived each time the train stopped at different stations to collect passengers and to let out passengers out. Tom was also wondering which type of passengers were getting in and out without any luggage if really they were travellers, but could not find an answer. So Tom sat in the wagon with his eyes always on the clock so that he shouldn’t miss out the St Petersburg station as he was told by the cap driver.

Exactly after 12 hours 2 minutes Tom came out at the next station. He started suspecting that something was not right because that station had nothing to tell someone that it is a railway station with travellers. No one had any luggage; moreover, it was too small to be a railway station. As Tom stood in the hallway of the station wondering what to do and trying to locate his way out the streets of `Saint Petersburg` as he thought, he felt a heavy slap on his spine. He screamed and turned to the direction of the slap. But in the process of turning three guys spat on his face. The boys were in a group of about 12, with no hair on their heads, dressed in military boots with green jackets of the same colour. These were ‘skin heads’ well known in Russia for attacking non-whites.  Tom was surprise that nobody uttered a word to these guys to stop them. Everybody was passing by as if nothing was going on. Luckily Tom spotted a police officer standing at the far end of the station and he ran towards the officer trembling with fright and pain. He could not explain what was happening to him, but the police officer could understand from his reaction that something was wrong and that Tom was in danger. As he tried to question Tom in Russian, all Tom could do was to point to the group of `skin heads`. The officer saw the skin heads, and at once understood that the situation was crucial. So he took Tom, went into the police office at the station and tried to calm Tom down with some water to drink. The officer then tried the best he could to interview Tom in English, and after some struggle and reading Tom’s admission letter, he understood he was destined for Saint Petersburg. He told Tom that for him to help him out, Tom had to pay two hundred dollars for the service; he went further to let Tom understand that he had been duped by the taxi driver who brought him from the airport and that he was still in Moscow and just in another subway station. Tom accepted nodding his head. But put in his hands in his pocket and came out only with a hundred dollars and went on his knees handing the money to the police officer indicating that, that was all he had got. The Police officer stared at Tom for a few seconds then took the money and asked Tom to wait in the office. He left again and returned with a man in his 50s. This was a taxi driver the officer had asked to take Tom to the Train station which would enable him to travel to St Petersburg. So the officer then accompanied Tom together with the driver outside the subway station into the taxi. The driver then helped Tom to buy a ticket from Moscow to St Petersburg at the train station. Of course, any money he demanded to pay for a service on behalf of Tom, Tom would hand the driver 100 dollars bill. And, he was never given a balance, so he thought everything in the train station was a $100. Tom had parted with $600 in no time. He was left with only two hundred dollars remaining in cash. So, when the driver was about to leave, he asked for money again to pay for a seat for Tom to sit, and wait for his train. Tom was brave enough to indicate in action that the money transfer was over. The cheeky driver wanted Tom to pay for a seat which was free to all waiting passengers! The driver had even taken a hundred dollars note from Tom to pay for toilet services that Tom used, which would normally cost 25 cents. The driver left after making a large profit from Tom.

Well, at this point Tom was still grateful to be alive despite all the horrible things he had heard about Russia and the unsympathetic racist guys; that driver could have drove him anywhere collect his money and dump him. Tom got into his train wagon for the eight hour journey to St Petersburg, and he at least had the time to sleep in the comfortable beds of the krasny strela Red Arrow Express train.

It was December and Russians were travelling to various areas to celebrate the turn of the New Year with loved ones.  Tom arrived at St Petersburg at 5am and had to follow the same procedure he did when he was in Moscow. He went out of the train station approached a taxi driver, handed his admission letter containing his university address and the driver offered to drive him to the campus. Tom had learned a lesson already from the Moscow taxi driver, and needed to do some currency exchange first.

Tom approached a nearby currency exchange counter and luckily the cashier was able to speak some understandable English. Tom converted a hundred dollars bill into Russian Rubles. When the taxi made the short journey to drop Tom at the campus, Tom took out 50 rubles (that was 10 dollars) and handed it to the driver after taking his bag from the cab.

As he handed the money to the driver, the driver started following and shouting, Hey!! Negrr (that is how Russians pronounce Negro) dola-dola-dola. Tom responded no dola, dola finish. The driver continued with racist insults but Tom wasn't concerned. He knew he had done the right thing to balance what he had lost in Moscow; this battle was just the beginning. He continued his way into the university campus. He showed his admission letter to the security and he was let into the campus. It was 5:30am and the campus was still closed, so Tom had to wait in the corridor connected to the main entrance of the campus for the Dean of foreign students who would be able to give him the necessary directions. Tom’s seating place was where every single student would pass whilst walking to their faculty building. Tom sat down in his `most stylish winter dresses` of the pink feminine coat, balaclava and socks on his hands as gloves.  By 7am the students had started arriving; Tom was the topic of the whole university campus that day. Every student had noticed Tom in his spectacular dressing. Tom could not understand why he was being pointed and laughed at by every passing student, despite the fact that he saw many black students in the campus. Little did he know that his dressing was a special dressing and the most awkward dressing they had ever seen on someone. The school officials arrived and assigned someone to help Tom get accustomed with the campus. He was taken to the university hostel. He was assigned a room meant for two people, but the other partner was not expected to arrive until a month’s time. Tom’s room had a broken window glass and the authorities did not notice it for repairs before assigning the room to Tom. Tom himself also did not notice the hole in the window, but he kept wondering why the room was so cold, despite the fact that the heater was working very well. He was sleeping with his pink coat, socks on his hands and feet as well as the balaclava with all the blankets he could afford, because his room felt even colder than the streets.

***

Chapter Three

The time, weather and climate difference, were difficult for Tom to adapt to. He would start sleeping at 3pm thinking it was night time already. Because, during the winter period the darkness in St Petersburg like most other European countries in the northern hemisphere experienced such changes. Tom assumed it was night time already, and thought people must be preparing to sleep or be already sleeping. But, he could still hear students, especially the Indian students rattling their pots in the hostel kitchen singing some of the songs one can hear when watching Bollywood movies, and cooking with spices which Tom could smell in his room.

Tom would fall asleep at 3pm to wake up again at 9pm thinking it was morning already, but the campus would be still dark. He had no watch with him and he did not know how to get one. Tom had to stay in the hostel for another month because foreign students were divided into groups to start the Russian language classes and Tom’s group had some delays; so he had to wait for the others. Tom was infected by pneumonia even before he could start his language lessons. However, Tom had a slight change of luck when he met an Egyptian student in the hostel; the student was of great help as Tom could now communicate in English.

The Egyptian student was completing his third year of study at the university. He was the one who noticed how Tom was coughing and also noticed that he was complaining with his temperature. He took Tom to the university hospital where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and had to be in bed for two weeks. It was only after catching pneumonia that the university officials checked Tom’s environment and it was noticed that his hostel room had a hole in the window. Soon after, classes began and Tom caught on very well with the Russian Language.

***

The Russians had a very intuitive way to teach their language. The foreign students were placed with a roommate who could not understand a word in English, so that the foreign students were forced to use Russian language whether they liked it or not for communication with their roommates.  So, Tom was placed with a typical Russian guy from one of the villages in the eastern part of country. They were both communicating initially only by using the dictionary, but within 3 months things were going in the right direction and the dictionary was hardly used. Even then both of them needed to use a lot of hand and leg gestures to finally transmit their messages. If you were to see them speaking, you would no doubt think that they were practising Karate. Life started getting interesting for Tom, as the preparation course year was always the best for every foreign student. There was less academic work in the preparation year, and Tom’s language teacher encouraged her male students to visit night clubs, and try to date Russian girls as she believed that was the best way to help improve their language skills.

During one of Tom’s nightclub visits he came in contact with a Russian guy called Anton who offered him a drink. Tom thought that Anton must be a nice guy and was pleased that he was fluent in English. When Tom saw a Russian girl and wanted to try his luck to see if he could date her, he asked his new friend Anton to help