Self-Review – Courier to the Soviets

Let’s Look at Courier to the Soviets

A Courier to the Soviets was the kind of short story I rattled off quickly in 2021, in response to a single prompt word—declaration.

I wrote this story during the third quarter of 2021.

Background

Upon looking at my prompt (I write these myself), I decided that the way I was going to interpret the word would be like a customs declaration. So, this would be as opposed to a declarative sentence or the like.

Plot for Courier to the Soviets

It’s 1961. Soviet operative Priscilla Hughes has a relatively easy job ferrying documents, money, secrets, microfilm, and other helpful articles from New York to Moscow.

A true believer in the other side, she has no qualms about spying for Khrushchev or batting her eyes at Castro. She has a routine, to fly from Idlewild to Madrid to East Berlin to Leningrad and then to Moscow. And then back again.

But things go south—literally—when she’s sent to Havana in mid-April of 1961.

Characters

The characters are Priscilla, her Parisian contact (Louvre Twelve), an unnamed contact in America, a supervisor (perhaps two; I don’t go into a lot of detail these these) to send her places, and a contact in Cuba.

Memorable Quotes

The fellow in front of her had his briefcase searched. An orange. A bottle of sangria. A pair of plastic castanets that were probably intended for a daughter or a niece.

The customs official took the alcohol and the orange and led the guy to the side.

Priscilla watched as he reached into his pocket, maybe for a few bills so he could get his bottle back.

“Miss Hughes?”

“Oh, yes. Here.” She put her train case on a table separating her from a customs agent.

“Just coming back from Madrid?”

“Yes. Spain’s a lovely country.” Which she had only seen from the airport, as she’d changed planes for the fourth time. Moscow to Leningrad. Leningrad to East Berlin. East Berlin to Madrid. Madrid to Idlewild.

“I gotta ask you, miss. Any fruits or vegetables to declare? Any liquor?”

“No, and no.”

He never opened the case, just returned it to her. She got her overnight case from Baggage Claim and hailed a taxi.

“Islip airport,” she said to the driver.

“One airport to another, eh? That’s gotta drag anyone down. But you look fresh as a daisy.”

No small talk. I’m not in the mood. She ignored the cabbie and just stared out the window as the cab pulled on to the Southern State Parkway.

With relatively light traffic, the cab made it to Islip in around 45 minutes. The cab got her to the departures area, the driver even carrying her luggage for her.

Once he was paid and gone, she took her stuff and walked to the arrivals area.

Rating for Courier to the Soviets

The story has a K+ rating. While nothing happens on screen, Priscilla is definitely thinking of seducing nearly any guy she sees.

Takeaways

I really enjoyed writing what was essentially an anti-hero character. I don’t honestly want readers to empathize with her, or root for her to win anything. But if they decide to, I won’t stop them.

I meant for Priscilla to be a kind of jetsetter character, almost like the kind of woman the very real Frank Abagnale, jr. would have met. But unlike Abagnale, she’s a traitor.

And, since her time coincides with that of MJ Tanner, she could conceivably run into the main character from The Duck in the Seat Cushion. But Priscilla would probably dismiss MJ outright, thinking she’s just some dumb hayseed.

And let’s face it: you underestimate MJ at your own peril.

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Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then check out my other blog posts about my shorter works.

Short Stories

Finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.