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plowed through this mud, people began running from all directions. Here it was 6 o'clock in the morning, and they were up already, the farmers. And then we discovered that our general was a great hero. I mean, they practically fell on their faces in front of him. And he picked up Mina, this big man, in his arms like a little baby and he carried her, marching through the mud. At each step you had to pull your leg out of the mud and came to one of the most elaborate of the huts there-- thatched Russian houses you've seen in “Dr. Zhivago.” And we went in. We put Mina down on a bed--everybody concerned. They were all falling all over her. She was practically out cold. The general fussed over her. He said I was his friend, so they fussed over me, and they made us breakfast--a platter of fried eggs--and they asked if I wanted tea or coffee. I made the terrible mistake of saying coffee. So they brought me some mud. I've never tasted anything like it. And they all sat there watching.

They were probably wondering if you liked it.

So I had to say, “Horosho” (I think that's “very good” in Russian). I put on such a convincing act I had to drink a second cup. I nearly died. It was awful stuff. But Mina revived. And, oh, everybody was so happy to see the general. They hadn't expected him, of course. And we went back to the plane, and up we went. Five minutes later Mina was just as sick as she'd ever been. But we got out of the storm, and we got to Moscow. And as we got out of the plane Mina swore, “I will never get