14Petrograd, Russia
July 1917
The early morning July sun started to pierce through the thin curtains in his office as the new prime minister, Alexander Kerensky, continued going over his paperwork. He remained very concerned over the recent demonstrations in Petrograd and the growing influence of the Bolsheviks. We were lucky this time, he thought to himself. Those ruffians nearly pulled off a coup the other week. At least we drove that scoundrel Lenin into hiding, somewhere outside of Russia, I am told. We need to be better prepared. His personal secretary opened the door, interrupting his thoughts, and announced, “They’re here, Prime Minister.” Kerensky stood and ordered that the new arrivals be brought into the office.
Colonel Eugene Kobylinsky, a tall and distinguished-looking membe
