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Photo - Where Katalin grew up in Hungary
Katalin
Rath - The Ice Cold of Fear! - A true story from not so long ago
Budapest
1974. Autumn was passing into winter and the cold was increasing
each day. But, in the hearts of two very young people was the heat
of excitement. Katalin and Ferry were getting ready to flee.
Their native Hungary had become too small for their dreams and they
needed more. They needed freedom. But, legally
leaving the east was no easy thing. Permission
was needed. But how?
The
answer was relatively simple.
Having
just completed their medical studies, a trip to Leningrad was nothing
unusual. Many students did it. And, to this end, Katalin
and Ferry had joined the Hungarian communist youth organization KIS.
And, because Katalin and Ferry were two party members, the ministry
of the interior had automatically approved their application
for travel to Leningrad and a two-day trip to Helsinki. A
ministry stamp
on their already KIS approved application forms had been nothing more
than a matter of form.
If KIS says yes, then everyone else says yes as well.
But
there was something that neither KIS nor the ministry of the interior
had known. KIS had only approved
a journey to Leningrad. By using a very special pen, Katalin had
carefully added the trip to Helsinki herself. A dangerous thing to
do. And, it, if discovered, would have meant life behind bars for
Katalin and Ferry.
And,
there was one other risk too. A top secret risk. Katalin and Ferry
had two essential documents to take with them. And, these were their
future success; these were their medical Diplomas. But, how to hide
them in their luggage? Katalin decided the best way of doing
so was by sewing them into the lining of one of their cases.
And that's what she did. And this painstaking work was hard
and took a very long time. The stitching had to be real and
old and perfect as well. And, this was the hardest of all.
And,
the test was not long in coming.
At
the airport, everyone's cases were being thoroughly controlled and,
to Katalin's dismay, the entire lining had just been ripped out of
the woman's case who was in front of them at the check. This, too,
could happen to them. And, sure enough, their luggage, too, was
thoroughly searched. But, Katalin's stitching stood up to the test.
Katalin and Ferry were through. And they and the rest of the group
took their seats on the afternoon flight to the north. Leningrad was
waiting for them.
And,
despite being constantly followed in Leningrad, Katalin and Ferry
enjoyed every moment. Soon communism would be a thing of their pasts.
The west was just hours away. And, then came the next test. Their
short stay in Helsinki. But, what to do with their luggage? They
were being carefully watched! Two big cases for just one night in
Helsinki? Definitely suspicious. They had to go down to essentials.
Katalin
kept a cool head. She'd had an idea. As scheduled, Katalin and
Ferry joined the rest of the group going to Helsinki in the hotel
lobby. And, all they had with them was just one plastic bag. Enough
for a very short visit. And then, just as the group was leaving,
Katalin's and Ferry's plastic bag broke and their belongings fell on
the ground. Quickly, Katalin fetched one of their empty cases, and,
in front of the group, put in their belongings. Perfect for shopping,
she grinned. Thirty minutes later their train pulled out of the
station. And, Katalin and Ferry didn't look back. Leningrad and the
east were now firmly behind them and all had been so very easy.
Helsinki and freedom were now very close. Katalin and Ferry closed
their eyes and relaxed to the rhythm of the tracks. Katalin slept.
But
then, with the border in sight, the train suddenly stopped with a
jolt and a screech! Katalin and Ferry woke up. Border guards and
dogs were waiting to board. The Russians were leaving nothing
to chance. And, once again came the feeling of freezing cold
fear! And, as the guards and their dogs made their way through the
train it became obviously clear that this time, things were
going to be nasty!
But,
once again they were lucky. And, once again, it was the people
before them that got all the attention. And then, having controlled
and searched the entire train, the guards and their dogs
disappeared. The train would soon be moving again. Finland was now
very close. They could see it quite clearly. Soon they would
touch it as well.
But,
soon took longer to come than expected. Nothing happened. The train
just stood there and waited. The train didn't move. Ten minutes
passed. An hour went by. Two hours went by. What was happening?
Nobody knew and nobody dared ask. The risk was too great. Freedom
was just down the road. But, would they ever get there? Everyone
was nervous. And then, with a
jolt and then
another jolt, the train started moving. Slowly at first, then
faster and faster. But, still the silence remained. No one believed
they were moving. And then, all of a sudden, they saw Finish plates
on the cars. They had gone over the line and passed into freedom!
They had arrived. And then the cheering broke out!
And
the rest was relatively easy. Katalin and Ferry waited until the
group was about to leave for the station before jumping. They
simply slid away from the group and walked round the corner. And
then, just to make sure, Katalin and Ferry hid in a park. And then,
after dark,, Katalin and Ferry made their way to the port and then
to Sweden by ship. And, there they stayed for almost a year.
And,
Katalin and Ferry did everything from cleaning toilettes to serving
in restaurants. There was nothing below them. And then they moved on.
Both became dentists, and Katalin became a celebrated artist as well!
And
Hungary?
Now
living in Vienna, Hungary has
become part of their every day life once again. Family is
family and the ice cold of fear is a thing of the past! Now is the
future they dreamed of. Escaping was then. Now they are home!
Katalin
and Ferry came out of the cold and into the west, and then, back
again to the east. Katalin and Ferry – They took the risk and
succeeded.
..
Selected
Vocabulary
approved
– bewilligt
blessings
– Segnen
brake
into - einbrechen
close
– eng/knapp
escape
– Entkommen
essential
– unentbehrlich
fear
- Angst
flee
– Flehen
Guardian
Angel – Schutzengel
jolt
– Stoß
jumping
(jump/jumped/jumped) – springen
leaving
nothing to chance – nichts der Schicksal überlassen.
luggage
– Gepäck
lining
– Futter
matter
of form – Selbstverständlichkeit
naked
– Nackt
obviously
– offensichtlich
painstaking
- sorgfältig
permission
- Erlaubnis
plates
– Kennzeichnen
pretence
- Anschein
risks
- Risiko
scheming
– intrigieren
stamp
- Stempel
stitching
– Nähte
suspense
– Spannung
thoroughly
– genau
to
this end – zu diesem Zweck
Where Katalin grew up in Hungary!
