fajny tekst

[al-kochol-8]

Late in the evening of Sunday, March 1, 1953, the members of the new
Presidium met in Stalin's office at the Kremlin. This was a typical
time for a meeting with Stalin. ...

Lazar got right to the point. He proposed that a committee be
appointed to study the case of the doctors who had been arrested and
charged with "this so-called plot."

"There has been no evidence offered against them, and they have been
languishing in prison these past couple of months."

Stalin, who previously had taken control of the matter, still had
not set a trial date or determined exactly what he wanted to do with
them.

That was only part of the two-pronged attack. Lazar also demanded

that Stalin immediately revoke his orders on the deportation and
killing of Soviet Jews.

Stalin was shocked. He bolted upright in his chair, his eyes wide,
disbelieving what he had heard. Lazar didn't hesitate. He quickly
called for a vote. One by one right hands were raised around the
desk. Only Beria and Khrushchev stepped back. They would have no
part in such a decision. Lazar looked at his onetime protégé. The
short, bald man {a reference to Chruszczow} averted his gaze and
instead stared at Stalin.

Stalin's face turned beet red. He rose from his chair and slammed
his right fist onto the desk. "Huyisosy" - 'cocksuckers,' he
screamed at the top of his lungs. "Huyisosy. Uyobvay" - 'Get the
fuck out!' "Pasasis huy" - 'Suck a prick!' He was ranting.

The members backed up. Only Lazar held his ground.

"If we do not leave your office freely, the Red Army will occupy the
Kremlin."

{this would indicate that Kaganovich had already liased with the
heads of the military: a coup was under way}

Stalin shot a glance at Beria. Lavrenti cowered in a corner. His
hand was upturned, his head shook from side to side.

Stalin came around to the front of the desk. He was shaking visibly
now. Spittle appeared at the corners of his mouth. He poked a finger
hard into Lazar's chest. "At yibis at mina - 'Get the fuck away from
me.' At yibis at mina. Kurva - 'whore' - ku..., ku...."

He turned to reach for the button to summon the guards, but Mikoyan
and Molotov pushed his hand away. Stalin fell backward, tripping on
the edge of the carpet. He collapsed like a sack of potatoes, his
head hitting the side of the desk. He lay motionless, his eyes
riveted to the ceiling, saliva dripping into his mustache. The
others in the room were paralyzed, looking in horror at their
master, who was crumpled up at their feet. Stalin began to groan.

Bulganin rushed to him. Molotov wheeled toward the medicine cabinet.
Lazar picked up the lead crystal paperweight from the desk and
hurled it against the glass door of the cabinet. It shattered.
Voroshilov stood by the door to deter anyone from leaving or
entering. Only Beria wanted to escape.

Lazar reached in for a bottle, gripped the one with the clear
liquid, and slapped it into Molotov's hand. Bulganin cradled
Stalin's head in the crook of his arm. His eyes were fixed straight
ahead as if he were in a catatonic state. Molotov held the bottle to
Stalin's lips. Bulganin squeezed the leader's cheeks. His mouth
opened and Molotov poured the liquid in.

{p. 265} Stalin drank from the bottle automatically. There were only
two swallows left. He finished and closed his eyes. Bulganin
continued to hold his leader's head in his arms. He was rocking him
gently. Stalin's breathing started to return to normal. The redness
in his face faded.

Each one in the room looked at the other. Some had tears in their
eyes. No a single word was spoken. It was nearly over.