Episode 12: Fodor's Guide to Havana, Chapter 2

Minister Govera, so good to have you in Moscow.

Chairman Krusechev, it is in honor. Please call me j All of Kuba appreciates the invitation.

Please heavy seat. I wanted to offer my personal congratulations on defeating the Americans in the Bay of Pigs. It did a great deal for our casts and offered the world necessary hope.

We are aligned in the same mission. Chairman, so I speak for the people when I ask for your help. Soviet support is necessary to help protect Kuba from further American invasions. I worry without your support we will not be so fortunate next time.

Then rest easy, comrade. With Soviet weapons and Cuban courage, the Americans wouldn't dare another attack. We have prepared the arms agreement between our countries for your signature. It's all here, sixty thousand troops, medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles and thermonuclear warheads.

With these warheads, the Americans will finally fear us. Yes, German, I suggest we announce this agreement to the world all the press conference and issue a public warning to the United States and the world that communism is protected in the Western hemisphere and it will survive.

While certainly a worthy battle cry, I fear if we announce our union prematurely, the United States will have no choice but to act No. Instead, we should maintain total secrecy until the missiles are properly deployed and plans put in place before revealing the true nature of our partnership.

But what if they discover the missiles and mission and attack us in turn?

You have my word, the Soviet Union will come to Cuba's aid if that were to occur. But Kennedy boy has proven to be weak. You will only actively feels you must. That's why keeping it a secret is the best course of action.

Understood, We keep it a secret until we are ready. Then, if the Americans think they can squash us like a bug, millions will taste our deadly sting.

How far can your camera lens reach?

Pretty far? That's another OR twelve with the NU extract to it an R twelve.

It's a single stage, road transportable, surface launch, storable, liquid propellant fueled missile that can deliver a megaton class nuclear weapon over twelve hundred miles away.

Don't get too excited about it.

Sorry, It's like seeing King Kong in person. Yep, and that's another R fourteen the range of twenty eight hundred miles.

My god, and according to my father's maps, the Soviets are building nine more of these sites. Look see here. These symbols must designate the missile type and payload.

That means six sites for medium range missiles and three for intermediate range ballistic missiles. That's enough to turn the entire United States into a nuclear wasteland.

The let's finish taking these photos. Go get Flosta and get the hell off this island.

You're right, Okay, that's enough, I got it. Let's go, But I have to meet Olek first. Why his intel was right, which means his life is in danger. We have to get him out with us.

Okay, do you know where to find him?

Yes.

The Necropolis.

The Cemetery of Christobal Cologne, also known as the Necropolis, was founded in eighteen seventy six in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana, Cuba. Named for Christopher Columbus, the cemetery is famous for its elaborately sculpted memorials and is estimated to have more than five hundred major mausoleums in historical and architectural terms, The necropolis is one of the most important

There is something so creepy about cemeteries at night, especially this elaborate and huge.

We could get lost wandering around, fall into a crypt.

Getting lost. That's hard to imagine.

Where are we meeting oleg We're.

Meeting him by the Cuban Baseball monument.

Which one, but there are two monuments in the cemetery. They sure love their baseball in Cuba.

It's the one for the Hall of Famers. I think Oleg enjoys the irony of it being the American pastime.

Hum a spy with a sense of humor. You know, the real irony is that many Cuban players are better than American major leaguers. Jose Mendez once pitched twenty five consecutive scoreless innings in three straight appearances against the Cincinnati Reds.

You're just a fountain of fun facts, aren't you?

Sorry? Just a baseball fan. Oh there it is up.

Ahead, Hello again, Did you find what you were looking for?

Oleg?

We confirm your intel. They have short and intermediate range missiles armed with thermonuclear warheads.

I've been told Khrushchiev approved the mission himself, though he will never admit it. He knew America had the upper hand, as they could launch missiles from Turkey and Italy to destroy the USSR before he had time to react.

Well, with these missiles, he now has the upper hand.

Correct. If the United States chooses to launch a nuclear weapon against the Soviet Union, there would be time for a retaliatory nuclear.

Strike mutually assured destruction, and all that's left of the world has charred ashes.

Now you see why I had to get the information out.

Which is also why we need to get you out with us. If they find out what you've done, your life is in danger.

Ssh.

Do you hear that?

What those are?

Corridors?

Shit?

I see flashlights there at the edge of the cemetery.

You should go now.

It's neither of that. They'll kill you if they.

Catch you, it will all I've been for nothing better than me than millions.

Go.

Thank you, aleg, good luck. I surrender.

I am an armed I am an arm too long?

Stop run stop, stop for me.

Do you know where you're going?

I have an idea gene. The design of the cemetery is set along a cross, and on each axis there is another cross formation in the center, so that's five crosses in total. The two main avenues give rise to the central cross. Each of the four resulting spaces, called barracks, are subdivided in turn by two other streets that intersect at right angles.

Stop.

It's so very interesting.

That has to help us.

The cemetery is laid out roughly on a north south asis, parallel to the Amandaris River and against the street grid of Vedado. If we can you south, we should enter by the riverside exit and therefore freedom Oil.

We're right, I see them head, We're out. I think we've lost them.

Now let's go get Glosta and get off this island.

We better hurry. Oh, it won't give us up right away.

But it's only a matter of time before they learn everything they want to know from.

Him, jam and Krushchev.

I hate the field report on operation and the deer proceeds.

If Marshall serge and in.

July missile construction specialists under the guise of machine operators, irrigation specialists and agricultural specialists first or in Cuba. Since then, a total of forty three thousand troops have been transported in to establish and defend the launch sites and install s seventy five Divina surface to air missiles at eight different locations. To shield the ballistic missiles from potential attack from the United States, All launch sites have been concealed

What was the KGB agent's.

Name Oleg Vladimirvitch Penkowsky.

Then we must prepare for an American response, place your men on high alert, and prepare weapons for final deployment.

Yes, sir.

Poasa, we're back there you are.

I've been worried sick. Radio Havana, Cuba just announced the military has been put on alert of Maxima, which can't be good.

What did you find in case they're listening.

It's worse than we imagined. There's enough nuclear weapons on the island to obliterate America.

Did you get the proof we need? I have photos and locations. Now we need to get this evidence to the CIA as soon as possible and.

Can get the hell out of here.

Expecting someone no fit.

Maybe they were listening. Then you're fowar door.

It's me Javier, Oh, Javier, I'm glad to see you. I wish I came with better news. I just receive a call that Castro is taking over the Nazional Hotel as his military headquarters. Right now, Yes, and media demente.

And do you know why did something happen?

I don't know, but as I told you, they have been constructing tunnels and adding guns to the coast of battery outside the hotel for months though, so Castro must be preparing for something big.

He's going to.

Be transferring hundreds of soldiers in personnel to the hotel, will be surrounded.

How are we going to get out of here?

Javier, go back a second. You said he was building tunnels. See miles of them under the hotel and along the coast.

That's it, of course, the tunnels. Okay, my father's maps, see these trails were missile sites, but the coastal tunnels he drew were for Castro's defensive positions beneath the hotel. He plans on using the guns above to defend the coast from invasion, and the tunnels below as the headquarters to ride out any potential nuclear attack.

My god, I think you're right.

He's turning this hotel into a military installation.

Then we need to get out of here right now.

We'll never make it to our extraction team or Guantanamo. But I have a fishing boat hidden in a cove below the hotel as an emergency plan. B. If we can make it to the boat, we can take it the ninety miles to Miami.

How we can't just.

Walk out of the lobby, not anymore.

You're right, but we could take these tunnels Castro's tunnels exactly. We can use their own pathfinder maps against them. If I remember correctly, one should lead out just below the Malesson that's.

Only a couple hundred yards from the boat.

Then let's do it.

Javier, come with us. It's not safe for you here anymore.

Yes, we have room for one more on the boat.

Which as Grassis, but I cannot leave. My family is here and so is my hotel, no matter what they do to it. But I promise you can trust my discretion. A good hotel manager respects his guest privacy.

Thank you Haveavier.

I hope to see you all again soon under better circumstances.

We hope the same. My friend.

Jane, what are you doing?

Why did you punch him?

My deepest apologies, Javier, just trying to save your life. Now you can say you were kidnapped by the Americans. You tried to stop us, but we knocked you out. Hopefully the shiner will help convince them it's true. No hard feelings, I.

Hope, no problem sor just write me a nice review in your book next time.

Next time we take you and your family back with us. That's a promise. Thank you, senor.

No, thank you have here here. Put some ice on it. We should get a move on.

Yes, see go the tunnel access is in the basement. I will hold them off. Okay, come on.

This way to the service stairs.

The tunnel is over here.

It looks freshly dug and into the sewers.

Wonderful.

There might be soldiers down there, so let's be quiet and stick together.

This tunnel should take us through the water treatment plant and out toward the coast.

Lead the way.

This place has more tunnels than an ant hill.

And every inch lined and powered.

Castro and his whole army could stay down here left of this juncture.

Cots back you in the shadows. Don't make a sound.

That was close?

How much further?

Just around this corner, then let's move it.

I have never been happier to see the ocean and smell fresh air.

Great work leading us out, Jeane.

You should thank my father.

I do. Now follow me.

The boat is this way here behind the rocks.

What well, it's not the Queen Mary, but it has a motor.

As long as it's not the Titanic. Come on, help me get it in.

The water.

Climb in, I'll push it off.

Didn't you think that's for us.

Let's not stick around to find out. Start rowing.

I'll get the motor. They've turned on the such lights. Got it. Hold on, we just have to make a pass that out clumping.

Before being spotted too late. Get down. Well, I'm not going to make it go faster.

We don't have to make it to Miami.

Just half that out cropping.

The USS Independence is anchored on the other side, two miles out.

They fire anywhere close and it would be an active war. Good floor.

Where almost Jeane, there's a flare on the floor below.

You fire it in the direction of.

That night got it? Fire away?

Come on, sailors.

Hello, Hello, come, they see us? Who is saved?

Good evening, my fellow citizens. This government has promised has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet military build up on the island of Cuba. Within the past week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western hemisphere.

Huh. Great speech. Let's hope the right people were.

Listening and that they're smart enough to avoid mutually a sure destruction.

What a horrible phrase.

Hopefully the blockade and international outcry created by the surveillance footage will be enough for cooler heads to prevail. Rebecca, come in.

Hello, Rebecca, I see your photos made it into the President's hands.

Things are moving fast.

Everyone's working overtime. Do you know how much longer we'll be staying here in Miami? Not much longer, but it is as safe as any place right now.

Don't tell me they're planning another invasion. What have you learned with the photos?

A and intel?

The CIA has been able to determine that the Soviets have grossly exaggerated their nuclear stockpile. The US still has the strategic advantage.

You mean we can nuke them more and that's supposed to make us feel better.

No, but it does mean JFK isn't going to order an immediate invasion, and he's going instead to continue to use both military and diplomatic pressure.

And after the speech, he just gave. There should be a global outcry sounds promising. Any word on.

Oleg Unfortunately, we've heard through the channels that after he was captured, he was tortured and executed.

Oh no, that's horrible.

He was a true hero. He sacrificed himself to protect millions.

And his sacrifice won't be forgotten. I will make sure of that. But I do have better news about another hero we met along the way. Who Why don't you give this number a call and I'll see you both.

Later for dinner.

All right? Thanks?

Oh and one more thing, Jean, that last pathfinder map from your father. We believe the trail is located in the mountains near Cambodia. The Viet conger using it to move weapons and soldiers. We could use your eyes on it when you have a chance. They're calling it the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

You got it.

See you later.

Hello, bobosh Baton tackle Jivago.

Is that you, Jean, Jean.

It's so good to hear your voice, my boy. The name is Babash now, by the way, Stanley Barbash, I'm still getting used to it.

Then, how have you been, stan They placed.

Us in a small town on the Pacific coast, like smelling the ocean in the morning and watching the sunset.

How was your nephew adjustin.

It's Michael now, and he's doing great, already enrolled in school and wants to play American football and go to American college, then become an astronaut like John Glenn.

The American Dream. He's a smart young man. I'm sure he'll achieve anything he sets his mind to.

Thank you, Jean for everything. I wish your story had the same ending. I was very sorry to hear about the death of your father. He was a great man and a great friend, and he loved you very very much.

They never caught the killer, but Martin thinks the Soviets killed him rather than risk losing him to the Americans. I'm sure they would have done the same to you if given the chance.

Yes, it's true that the Soviets will kill without hesitation or provocation, especially if they think it is in the service of the state. But I also warn you to watch those closest to you. Your father worked with Martin for many years and said he was also a man who cannot be trusted. The information your father held could have hurt many people. Not just the Soviets, and those people would also have reason to kill him before that information got out.

Are you saying you think Martin had my father killed?

Geane? All I know is there were only two sides that knew where your father was, and opportunity creates thieves and murderers. Stay safe, my boy, and trust no one.

Who was that just an old friend of my father?

Huh?

What did you want to give me? His condolences and a few words of advice.

Oh good, I was worried you were going to say it was Martin. Pack your bags, it's off to a new adventure.

No. I think we've had enough adventures for a while.

Not enough.

Never thought i'd say it, my love, But the only place I want to go with you is home. But for now, the bedroom will have to.

Do, Jean.

Travel isn't always pretty. It isn't always comfortable or easy. Sometimes it hurts, or it even breaks your heart. But that's okay because it's the journey that changes you. You take something with you that never leaves, and hopefully you leave something good behind in return.

Fodor's Guide to Espionage is created by Lars Jacobson, Written by Lars Jacobson, and Sabrina Jaglain and directed by Sabrina Jaglain, produced by Lars Jacobson and Sabrina Jagulain, and executive produced by Noel Brown for iHeartRadio, Fodor's Guide to Espionage stars Ethan Korn as Eugene Fodor, Leliah Symington as Vlasta Fodor, and Jackie Emerson as Rebecca Ralston, with additional performances by Chase Mullens, George Rivera, Matt Linton, Dylan McCollum, Gabe Greenspan,

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