Jackson turned back to Miriam and reluctantly said, “Okay, but make it snappy! You got two minutes.” “Thank you! Thank you!” Miriam said excit...dly as she hurried back into the bedroom. She shut the door and quickly turned the lock on the doorknob. She looked at the genie who was smiling broadly and standing in the same spot where she had left him. “You handled that nicely,” he laughed. “I'm glad that you're amused,” she frowned. “Now here is my last wish. My head is spinning and I can't think. Both of us were in tears, and we stopped outside the door to dry our eyes before going in. Granny was sitting in a chair at the window that looked over one of the flower gardens planted around the privately owned facility that felt more like a home than most places I'd visited.Brad had asked me to speak first and when I did, she turned around and there was a big smile on her face as she said, "Agnes! I'm so glad to see you! It's been ages!"I glanced at Brad to get a clue as to who Agnes might. Her gaze traveled around the room, missing nothing… the light colored walls, the white cabinets, the copper pots hanging on the wall above the dinette… it was homey, solid, comforting… everything she had been missing in her life. What was she willing to give in order to keep something like this, she wondered. What a difference from what they had left behind, especially the fear. She looked at the small, lonely cactus sitting above the kitchen sink by the window, always amazed how plants like it. Nevertheless, news of the war was scarce and Russian involvement barely mentioned. Already, Cold War rules were being observed.So, at the time, he had no idea that American and Commonwealth prisoners were being held by the Koreans and, indeed, some had found their way into Russia under the 'care' of the KGB.The branch line cut deep into the Stanovoy Khrebet leading to the mines at Chulman. From there a road of sorts led the 800 kilometres North to Yakutsk, believed to be one of the coldest.