There was hot summer days in Moscow in the August of that year. Gary was practically alone in his lab at the Lebedev Physical Institute of the Soviet Union Academy of Sciences (more known as FIAN), August is the month when nearly all associates are on vacations. Gary asked permission to take his vacation early in July. He received his Ph.D. for the investigation of the laser-produced plasma related to the creation of the microfusion reaction, in fact a very small nuclear bomb that can be contained inside the vacuum chamber. He was a well-known scientist, experimentalist, inventor, group leader not only in the USSR, but in many labs around the world as well. His works were published in many scientific journals and presented by him on a number of international conferences. The reason to be early from the vacation was justified by the needed preparation for Gary’s travel to the UK in Essex University for the participation in joint experiment at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory on their one-of-a-kind laser facility.
Gary worked very hard to construct a path out of rotted atmosphere in deeply corrupted Soviet society, where practically everyone accepted the rules of life without good faith in power structures. This was applied to the scientific community as well, in full capacity. Scientists tried to get permission for travel outside the USSR, using conferences or joint works as a reasons. But a major purpose was to buy as much items as possible abroad and afterwards to resale them, when back home. It was essentially important to have a “right” officer at the planning department of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, who would push one’s papers ahead of other contenders. And Gary had one, who worked for Information Office (actually preparing reports for KGB). Leon, that was his name, immediately recognized Gary’s ability to collect and analyze new achievements of leading foreign laboratories, and used to send Gary’s reports to his superiors.
Leon called to Gary in one of the hot August days to inform Gary that there is an opening in the Academy budget, which can be used for long term joint work at the UK laser laboratory under the Great Britain Royal Society. Gary already had two month-long trips there, successively participated in their experiments and published a couple of papers in well-known international physics journals. Gary obviously was the best candidate for that fund, but he must move quickly before that news comes to the usual receivers, professors and academicians. He had to obtain the blessing of Nikolay Basov, director of the Lebedev Physics Institute, get signatures from the Office of Finance, and then wait and pray that Leon can push the papers through the Academy’s bureaucracy.
Serafima Yakovlevna, the most trusted secretary of N.G.Basov, Nobel prize winner, inventor of laser, now a director of the Lebedev Physical Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences, she guarded Basov’s office with extreme loyalty to her boss, stopped unwelcome visitors, graciously allowed to a few chosen (by her) scientific associates be aware of the daily schedule of the director and his current attitude. She knew some personal facts about people, who worked for Basov, knew, for instance, who had powerful, influential relatives, which could help Basov in his affairs in high places. Gary was one of her favorite young scientist, she liked him not only for his father, Deputy Minister of the State nuclear weapons program, but just for Gary’s intelligent character.
In August of 1990 Gary decided that time to use his warm relationship with Serafima had come. He came to the boss office in the section deserted by all surrounding Basov deputies and advisers due to boss summer absence. Serafima was there, she faithfully came to work in case her boss recedes to stop by and check the mail. Gary entered her office and after a couple pleasantries asked about personal favor to let him know when Basov appears in the Institute. Serafima agreed without even asking about the reason, perhaps because she was sure that it wouldn’t be a secret for a long time after the meeting.
Luckily for Gary the moment he was waiting came on the next day. Serafima called him, saying “Nikolay Gennadievich just entered the office”. Gary didn’t waste time, ran over steps to the management floor, thanked Serafima and knocked on the door of his boss. In his speech Gary went directly to the core of his request, he knew that if somebody also jumps into the office his chances would be ruined. He said
“It was already three years as the science in the Institute was in bad condition, scientists being forced to get their contracts anywhere possible, often far from real physics. I on the contrary, got very credible partners in the UK, who wanted continue to conduct experiments with my participation on their advanced laser facility. Data, which I gathered there were analyzed by me and results presented in our joint articles in international journals and conferences, keeping Lebedev’s respect high as before. Now there is an rare opportunity to joint to their long term laser investigation, because they just sent an invitation for me, and this is Academy one year exchange program. We must send the paperwork from the Institute to Academy in one week. Please support me”. Gary knew that Basov didn’t like long speeches, that one was short.
Basov said something about his concerns with my such a long absence, but finally found a side way, saying, “Okay, I will sign the paperwork under one condition, my deputy Lev Feoktistov would also agree”. Gary fled from Basov’s office, Feoktistov was not a huge problem, comparing to what he just achieved. Remember, Lev Feoktistov was that guy in the plane from Ural secret town to Moscow in 1966, who gave Gary his personal advises how to get through the exams at the Moscow State University, he was kind of God Father, and now Gary’s direct superior.
August of 1991 was entered in the history as a beginning of the Soviet Union crash. The coup against the Communist party leader Mikhail Gorbachev, though some historians think that he organized it himself, brought troops with tanks onto the streets of Moscow. Gary had to pass tanks at the both sides of the Metro Bridge on his way to and from work. But nothing can stop Gary on his final way to the free world. He already had train tickets with departure on August 31 for himself, Nata and his daughter Lisa, now 16 years old. His son Alex had to stay back home as a KGB guarantee against no return incident, hostage, in other words. Well that problem Gary would solve later, and for the time being Alex would continue his study at MGU with major in computer science.
Gary was among first email users in Lebedev Physical Institute, thanks to his friendship with Nick, who since graduation from the University became FIAN chief network supervisor. That gave Gary direct connection with his British friend Tom from the Essex University, who was his official host on the part of the Royal Society. In the middle of August Gary received an email that his visa was approved by the Home Office on London and the British Embassy in Moscow should be ready to stamp visa in Gary’s passport. Unfortunately, the coup gave Academy bureaucracy “excuse” to avoid their offices. After he saw the clerk responsible for his trip Gary decided to take the matter in his hands. He called to the Embassy and asked to confirm the visa readiness. First day rude female voice, obviously KGB staffer, refused listen to him, but on the second day, due to the chaos even in that suppressive Soviet department, polite English woman assured Gary that his visa was ready to pick up.
Gary came to the Academy chief supervisor of the foreign affairs department, again using the chaos and disorganized old Soviet government structure, and demanded immediate attention to his problems. Chief was obviously nervous, not knowing which side in the coup was going to win. So he was unusually polite and complained on absence of his workers, but recommended to meet personally Academy courier Vladimir and tell him that he, the chief supervisor gave Gary priority in service. Vladimir listened Gary and said that to get all visas, including transit ones through Germany and Belgium in one week instead of regular two, we needed a car and 5-6 bottles of cognac and vodka. Next day morning Gary came to the Academy building with his car and big brief case full of cognac and vodka. Vladimir knew all the key persons in the embassies and got all the visas on August 30, one day before the departure.
Morning of September 2, London. Gary gave £10, all he had at the time, to Nata and left to register at the Royal Society. Nata and Lisa were left for themselves on a London street. It was an excitement explosion of words from their mouths, how they described to Gary their walk around on London streets. “We bought toothpaste in the pharmacy!!!” – so much happiness was in that shout. Nata said, “do whatever possible, but we never return back”.
It was a hard time in England during their 15 months stay, it was survival time and at the same time it was happy time. The job, Gary had dreams to get, was ended even before start, Europe was in the middle of economic crisis, France and UK could not agree who would be the host country for the most powerful laser construction. So Gary had to take any payable assignment at the Essex University, Lisa in her 16 years old worked illegally at old restaurant “Rose and Crown” during late evening shifts to avoid possible tax inspection. Nata posted an advertisement on the University billboard about giving tutoring in Russian literature and language (luckily, there were many students with needs in improvement their skills in Russian). Still all three felt great in their new homeland.
Just received their visas to America
Gary was sending letters around the world, applying to the various scientific job openings, and, finally in April of 1992 he received a letter from his good friend at Lawrence National Livermore Laboratory with a tentative job offer. Mike explained that due to the crash of the Soviet Union, Americans were interested in collecting former Soviet scientists together with various know-how, they could bring. It couldn’t be a better offer, Gary had admired LNLL for many years, reading all their annual reports, which they sent to his boss. Still it took very long time before Gary, Nata and Lisa stepped on the American soil in November 1992. It was Thanksgiving, which had a special meaning for them, new life just started.