The Soviet students ranged in age from twelve to twenty-three and were drawn from every region. They were to be partnered with an exact match of American students drawn from across fifty states. On stage the two nations would be intermingled, standing side by side, hand in hand, performing before the world’s media and diplomatic elite. It was a crude political exercise and on occasion the preparations had descended into farce: there had been discussions about whether the weight and height of each student needed to be balanced to avoid one set of students appearing more substantial on stage. Despite these absurdities, Raisa thought the premise admirable. She’d originally been asked to nominate a selection of students who’d best represent the country and had enthusiastically become involved with the planning. Unexpectedly she’d been asked to head up the tour. Her only stipulation had been that she’d didn’t feel comfortable leaving her daughters behind. Elena and Zoya had therefore been included. While Zoya found representing her country problematic – she had no love for the State, with a rebellious spirit that she could barely manage to control – she was shrewd enough to appreciate that the opportunity to travel would almost certainly never arise again. Furthermore, it was unthinkable to decline such an offer. She wanted to become a surgeon at a prestigious hospital. She needed to appear a model citizen. They’d witnessed the repercussions to Leo when he’d declined to work as a secret-police officer. In contrast to her older sister, Elena had no qualms about the trip: she couldn’t have been more thrilled and had begged Raisa to take the position.

The airliner made its descent, the gentle rocking briefly muting the excitement of the passengers. Several gasps could be heard among the group of students and some of the teachers. Considering their inexperience as travellers, they’d remained remarkably calm during the flight. As they passed through the patchy cloud, Elena took hold of Raisa’s hand. Whichever way she looked at it, today was a remarkable moment. Not only had Raisa never dreamt that one day she would visit the United States, she’d never imagined she would have a family of her own. Her situation had been so desperate as a teenager – a refugee during the Great Patriotic War – that her ambition had been no grander than to survive. Even today she found it a miracle that she’d been fortunate enough to adopt two daughters that she both admired and loved.

Touching down, the cabin remained in a state of stunned silence, as if sceptical that they’d made the transition from the sky to the ground. They were now on American soil. The pilot announced:

—Look out your window! On the right-hand side!