One night, listening in secret to the BBC on his shortwave radio, Nikolai learned that London had expelled three of his former colleagues. These were KGB officers working under diplomatic cover. Nikolai saw an opening. He approached Lieutenant General Masirov about the gaps in London that the ejection would cause.
"I would like to spy for the Premier in London."
Two days later, Masirov summoned him to his office and greeted him with the news he needed him in London to rebuild the Soviet team. "Would you enjoy working in my department?"
Semenov stammered. He would like nothing better.
"Then leave it to me."
Masirov invited Nikolai to have lunch with him in the General's office on Tuesday afternoon. Nikolai jumped at it.
An aide brought a menu.
"You have a menu?" Nikolai asked. He'd always known the KGB to be Spartan in its benefits to its officers. Here was a menu?
"I have a menu. My doctor says lean meats, no fats, rarely fruits for the acid."
"Impressive. I usually bring my lunch from home. Some cold cuts or leftovers."
"Nikolai, I want to be clear with you about what you know and don't know. For example, you were taught how to approach a contact, correct?"
"I was taught how to approach a contact, ask them for lunch, suggest a menu item, and pay the bill without looking at it. As the Americans say, I learned to razzle-dazzle."
"Well, that's all good. So, what can we do to enhance your recruitment in London?"
"Keep me away from useless tasks in the station."
"Such as?"
"Stamping documents, RECEIVED!"
Lieutenant General Masirov waved a cautioning finger. "Don't let me down. Always remember the town in Siberia where the toilets don't flush, and the water is carried from the river."
"I remember," Nikolai promised.
Finally, the KGB's Fifth Department gave Nikolai the all-clear to travel to London. On March 28, 1962, he boarded the Aeroflot flight to London. It was difficult saying goodbye to his mother. But in a way, he thought maybe she knew she wouldn't see him again. She was very wise and had seen his behavior at home.
She was right. If his work for Britain succeeded, he would eventually have to defect and never return to Russia.
Nikolai's mind was freighted with details accumulated from months of intense scrutiny of documents in the KGB archives as the plane took off. Then the months with the GRU, tightening the seam around the top-secret missile system and plans. Written notes of what he had uncovered would have been far too dangerous. Instead, in his head, he carried an entire war plan. He brought memorized details of the missile system and Soviet army and Khrushchev's date to deploy them in the West.
Operation Anadyr. Did the West know of it?
25
It was on Nikolai’s second assignment in London that General Anatoly Anchev started softening beyond anything Nikolai had experienced in the KGB. Not only was he even more appreciative of Nikolai’s excellent results, but he’d proven his loyalty by coming back to the KGB London again and working under Anchev.
He started using Nikolai as a sounding board, but many times it was just small talk over tea. The general liked his Typhoo tea strong with milk and sugar, while Nikolai forewent the sugar but enjoyed it just as strong, seeping the bag until the water turned a dark amber.
“Say, have you heard?” Anchev started casually, "we’ve just received a pouch from Philby.”
Harold Adrian Russell Philby, also referred to as Kim Philby, was a British intelligence officer and a double agent for the Soviet Union. Since World War II, he’d been working with the Soviets with a group of five spies. He was one of KGB London’s best sources.
Nikolai asked, “What is he telling us now?”
Anchev’s voice grew excited. “Nothing except a map of all British missile silos encircling London. Moscow’s delirious with joy.”
Nikolai joined in the celebratory words and praise for Philby, all the while knowing he had to contact MI5 in the next hour and let them know what Philby had divulged to the Russians. They would be horrified.
But Anchev wasn’t finished. “And speaking of missiles… Would you like to see something exceptional?”
“If you think it’s safe.”
“I’m the rezident. I decide what’s safe.”
Anchev then proceeded to show Nikolai photocopies of two highly classified documents, giving the full order of battle between Soviet and American forces once the Americans became aware of missiles in Cuba.
“What missiles?”
Anchev hadn’t yet gone far enough, but Nikolai had to act like he didn’t know. “Operation Anadyr. Khrushchev is preparing to establish Luna missiles in Cuba.”
Nikolai’s jaw hit the floor. The items he’d memorized back in Moscow at the GRU headquarters came rushing to mind. It had all been true then. World War III was possibly on the horizon.
“Bozhe!” Nikolai said softly. “My God! Where did these come from?”
“Moscow. Special courier chained to his wrist on military aircraft. Directly to me. Handed personally to me. There are no restrictions on KGB eyes. You’re the first to see them.”
“I’m thinking other staff should be excluded,” Nikolai said.
“Posh! If you’re trusted, they’re trusted, too. Our people must be aware. We say every day we’re fighting a war. Well, here it is!”
“Yes, it’s a war, indeed,” said Nikolai, out of words.
Nikolai was on fire to learn the documents’ authenticity, but he came across as calm, almost dismissive on the outside. “This is what you wanted to show me?”
Anchev’s mouth tightened, and his whole face became a boil of anger. “Isn’t it enough, Semenov?”
“Impressive. Very impressive.” It was all he could do not to yawn. But on the inside, he saw himself running madly for the safe house. Then he wondered if he could make copies of the war plans. Now, that would be the cherry on the cake. But he doubted it. He didn’t even know where Anchev would hide the plans. Probably in the basement safe, guarded around the clock.
Standing at Anchev’s desk and studying the war plans, Nikolai let his eyes wander across the rezident’s desk. There were letters—one from someone called Lana—and a plan to dry-clean his way to an important meeting with the GRU, plus a list of all KGB agents in London. Nikolai saw his name there and saw that he was rated a 5 and that 5 topped the ratings. Most of the others were 4s.
He made up his mind at that moment. He swallowed hard. “Should something happen to you, Comrade Anchev, what should I do with these war plans?”
“Do? Take them into custody. Top-secret custody. No eyes.”
“Where will they be kept, in case I need to retrieve them?”
Anchev raised his gaze from the war plans, looked Nikolai in the eyes, and stood upright. “Comrade, I think we should talk about something else. Top secret is top secret.”
“Certainly. I just want to do my best job for you, comrade.”
Anchev weighed the moment in his mind, then his face relaxed. “There are plans in place for that. Alinsky will take over in my absence.”