On this day in 1989: an excerpt from Of Our Own Device
"It turned out the Station had reached an agreement with the author of the two letters dropped in Jack’s car and as a result two ops had been scheduled—one was a cash drop-off and the other a collection.
Jack stared at the COS, struggling to hold back his incredulity. The Company didn’t usually pay unknown sources whose identity together with the authenticity of the information hadn’t been established. So how in the hell had the COS managed to get this approved?
...
“When are the ops?” Jack asked all business like, fighting the urge to hold back his breath.
“The drop-off is on November seventh and the collection is on the ninth.”
“In four days?” He swallowed, sweat breaking under his arms and his collar. “Isn’t it too short a notice to re-staff an op?” he asked, fully aware that it wasn’t like the Station had a choice.
“It is. That’s why you’re going to Frankfurt for a two-day op briefing tomorrow.”
No! Not possible. He needed to fix the new C-Day protocol tomorrow...
“Can I go on Sunday? There’s something big brewing in East Berlin tomorrow and I need to be there… It’s my job too, David. History is in the making and I must be there. I’ll be all set by Monday noon. You know me, David. I can do it.”
Rolston watched him closely for a few moments, thoughtful, then nodded. “Alright. First flight to Frankfurt on Sunday. You can pick up your ticket at the airport three hours before the flight… So, history in the making, you say?” Rolston smirked. “Do they say if they’ll be taking down the Wall one of these days, too?”
“Who knows, David? With these mind-boggling events and changes spiraling out of control, the way I see it, it’s totally possible.” Jack didn’t really think it was possible, at least not in the immediate future, but he wasn’t prepared to discuss politics with the COS tonight.
“Right… Well, book me a front row seat while you’re at it.” David’s tone was mocking, but not unkind.
Jack departed the safe house a few minutes later, leaving the COS to his next conference call with HQ.
The “big thing” the next day was a massive march in East Berlin organized by prominent artists and intellectuals officially sanctioned by Egon Krenz’s new regime. It was the largest of all public demonstrations thus far, drawing nearly a million people to the streets of East Berlin and culminating with a series of speeches made by the party leaders as well as the opposition on Alexanderplatz. The crowd was surprisingly subdued despite Ergon Krenz’s brow-raising announcement the previous day that he was retiring five older members of the Politburo and planning to implement political and economic reforms.
But what had blown Jack away was the appearance on the improvised stage of Marcus Wolf, the notorious Stasi’s chief for more than 30 years before his retirement two years ago. And what did he say in his little speech? That over- reliance on security services should be done away with because it creates fear among the people.
Un-fucking-believable! If that wasn’t a revolution, Jack didn’t know what else was."
Alexanderplatz, East Berlin, November 04, 1989
Marcus Wolf speaking at the demonstration in East Berlin on Nov 4, 1989
Jack stared at the COS, struggling to hold back his incredulity. The Company didn’t usually pay unknown sources whose identity together with the authenticity of the information hadn’t been established. So how in the hell had the COS managed to get this approved?
...
“When are the ops?” Jack asked all business like, fighting the urge to hold back his breath.
“The drop-off is on November seventh and the collection is on the ninth.”
“In four days?” He swallowed, sweat breaking under his arms and his collar. “Isn’t it too short a notice to re-staff an op?” he asked, fully aware that it wasn’t like the Station had a choice.
“It is. That’s why you’re going to Frankfurt for a two-day op briefing tomorrow.”
No! Not possible. He needed to fix the new C-Day protocol tomorrow...
“Can I go on Sunday? There’s something big brewing in East Berlin tomorrow and I need to be there… It’s my job too, David. History is in the making and I must be there. I’ll be all set by Monday noon. You know me, David. I can do it.”
Rolston watched him closely for a few moments, thoughtful, then nodded. “Alright. First flight to Frankfurt on Sunday. You can pick up your ticket at the airport three hours before the flight… So, history in the making, you say?” Rolston smirked. “Do they say if they’ll be taking down the Wall one of these days, too?”
“Who knows, David? With these mind-boggling events and changes spiraling out of control, the way I see it, it’s totally possible.” Jack didn’t really think it was possible, at least not in the immediate future, but he wasn’t prepared to discuss politics with the COS tonight.
“Right… Well, book me a front row seat while you’re at it.” David’s tone was mocking, but not unkind.
Jack departed the safe house a few minutes later, leaving the COS to his next conference call with HQ.
The “big thing” the next day was a massive march in East Berlin organized by prominent artists and intellectuals officially sanctioned by Egon Krenz’s new regime. It was the largest of all public demonstrations thus far, drawing nearly a million people to the streets of East Berlin and culminating with a series of speeches made by the party leaders as well as the opposition on Alexanderplatz. The crowd was surprisingly subdued despite Ergon Krenz’s brow-raising announcement the previous day that he was retiring five older members of the Politburo and planning to implement political and economic reforms.
But what had blown Jack away was the appearance on the improvised stage of Marcus Wolf, the notorious Stasi’s chief for more than 30 years before his retirement two years ago. And what did he say in his little speech? That over- reliance on security services should be done away with because it creates fear among the people.
Un-fucking-believable! If that wasn’t a revolution, Jack didn’t know what else was."
Alexanderplatz, East Berlin, November 04, 1989
Marcus Wolf speaking at the demonstration in East Berlin on Nov 4, 1989
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