The coldest winter in memory had clamped a frozen grip upon all life in Estonia. Mihkel while battling the bitter cold knew that the record cold would ironically be the key to his plan’s success. The following morning in pitch darkness he, accompanied by his son Jack, would depart the Royale’s hiding place. From there they would drive the it across the frozen edge of the nearby Gulf of Finland with his sights on reaching Finland and freedom. Through all of this Mihkel knew his journey would be haunted by a well connected Soviet army officer obsessed with having the Royale for his own.

FINAL EPISODE – In Search of the Lost 7^th Royale Part 3 (Episode 20 – A Snowball’s Chance)

Soviet Icebreaker “The Lenin”

ESTONIA 1987

Petrov felt in his bones the Super Auto hiding somewhere near Neeme. He just had to get back to that desolate village. His intuition rewarded him. What he found set his Super Auto passion on fire. It also befuddled him. Right in front of him, fresh tracks in the snow. First tank tread tracks, then marks of tires with snow chains. Maddeningly he realized it had just been there. His mind raced with “how could this be?” themed thoughts. He also realized the “why” did not matter if he located the “what”. He followed the tire marks to the edge of the Gulf. He scream out loud and to no one in particular, “This is crazy.” Then, in the distance he saw it. A spot of light. He jumped in the car and together with the three soldiers attempted to chase the dot of light. Immediately the car just spun like a top.

Soviet MiG-23

Now, acting like a wild man, a frantic Petrov had the soldiers push the sedan back towards the shore. In a comic scene the soldiers slipped and fell and pushed as, all the while, Petrov screamed. Finally the car gained traction at the shore line. With frozen soldiers shivering in the car, Petrov raced back to the house of Peeter Oja. Banging on the door he demanded entry to use Peeter’s phone. Having lost control of his better judgment, he pulled every string he had. He called in every favor owed him and mentioned every story that someone did not want told. He woke his friend the admiral together with the admiral’s girlfriend. Petrov passionately sold him on an opportunity to do something big and get the promotion the admiral so richly deserved. All the admiral had to do was order a plane to bomb the ice to stop an “enemy of the people” from escaping across the frozen Gulf of Finland. Unfortunately, the admiral, half in a sleepy fog with the young woman snuggled on his chest, advised Petrov that a dangerously low ceiling had grounded all flights. “Damn it,” screamed Petrov, “Send an ice breaker and cut him off.” “Interesting,” replied the awakening admiral. “And who is this enemy of the people?” Trust me pleaded Petrov, “You will be famous.” “Okay Yuri, replied the sleepy admiral, “I have a husky older ice breaker ‘”The Lenin”’ close by. I can send it.” Pleased with his success, Petrov set about assembling the men and resources needed to retrieve “his” Super Auto. By now, Petrov had lost any command of rational thinking. He had become Captain Ahab and the Bugatti his white whale.

GULF OF FINLAND 1987

An ominous cracking sound emanating from the ice beneath the Bugatti’s chain wrapped tires sent shivers through their spines. Mihkel and Jack comforted themselves by noting that cracking did not necessarily mean breaking through. The words “I hope” went unspoken. Mihkel drove at a slow deliberate pace. In light of the dense cloud cover and barren landscape, navigation had to rely solely on Mihkel’s and Jack’s orienteering skills, which were considerable. Jack, armed with his compass and map applied his best “Kentucky Windage” to charting a path to a shore line in some part of the free world.

For Mihkel, vivid memories of his beloved and noble dog team and his escape across this same frozen expanse in the bitter winter of 1940 flooded back. At times the triumphant recollections of the past adventure overshadowed the very real and deep concerns presented by the present one. A kind of calm conviction had fallen over both father and son; Or it might better be described as a fatigued numbness born of the months of relentless emotional strain and, now, the inevitability of a fast approaching conclusion. However mixed their emotions, their focus never departed from the challenge of successfully traversing this frozen desert of ice. Then they saw it.

In the distance, a hulking Soviet ice breaker named “The Lenin” haltingly smashed the unusually thick Gulf of Finland ice as it plowed across from the east with its spotlights slicing the darkness as it scanned its surroundings. Continuing on its present course it would cleave the line Jack had plotted for the Royale’s escape route. The Lenin, a 440-ft. nuclear powered ice breaker usually patrolled the arctic ice that presented greater challenges than the normally more moderate ice cover in the Gulf of Finland. For a number of years it had been the pride of the Soviet Northern Fleet. However, chance would find The Lenin in the Gulf and, now, it towered as a powerful force determined to frustrate Mihkel’s plan. Clearly, It would be a race, plain and simple. Mihkel had to pass to the west of the ice crushing Soviet juggernaut before it cut a channel preventing his escape to Finland and freedom.

Mihkel could not safely increase his speed considering the enveloping darkness, the limited range of his spotlights and the frequent irregularities in the ice surface that needed to be avoided. Worse, it seemed impossible that the Soviet ship had not yet sighted the running lights of the Royale. Locating the escaping “enemy of the people” would considerably improve the Soviet ship’s ability to plot an optimal interception course. Mihkel observed that the attack angle of the ice breaker had changed to shorten the distance that the ship would have to travel to cut off their escape. With their chances for success clearly diminishing, both Mihkel and Jack felt the time had come to break radio silence. Jack reached for the Nokia mobile phone. He punched in Valentina’s number. She picked up on the first ring. Jack as calmly as possible briefed her on their situation. Clearly the ice breaker had been a game changer. He let her know their intended course had not changed from what they discussed when planning, but now everything had become fluid. Suddenly the phone signal started to break up. The Soviets had been listening in and had heard enough. Valentina’s voice signal deteriorated into incomprehensible static. The Soviets had succeeded in jamming the signal leaving father and son truly on their own. With no other option, Mihkel continued on the course Jack had plotted.

As the great ship loomed ever larger, its searchlights swept ever closer towards the point where it would pass across the Royale’s path. Then it happened. A great rift in the ice opened up ahead of the Royale. Like a crack in a windshield it literally ran across Mihkel’s field of vision from east to west. Spanning the distance from the icebreaker’s bow it cut off any path to Finland. “Game, set, match,” observed Jack with dejected resignation.

Just then an odd sound came from the Royale’s dashboard. “What the hell is that?” snapped Mihkel. With a bemused incredulity Jack responded, “I think it’s the police phone.” Jack remembered Viktor’s fascination with it. Jack recalled considering whoever outfitted this car in the late 1930s had really thought of everything, but then gave it no more thought. Jack picked up the hand set and heard Valentina’s voice. No time to explain she instructed. Jack gave a quick update describing how the Soviet ice breaker had cut off their escape. Basically he and Mihkel had run out of options. Valentina replied, “I disagree.” She continued saying, “Do you have your lights on.” Jack ever the wise-ass responded, “You bet we do. Wouldn’t want that big Soviet ice breaker to miss us.” Valentina continued saying, “Do you have a flashlight?” “Yes,” answered Jack. Valentina with the conviction of a drill instructor said, “I know it is brutally cold but stand outside and, shortly, you will hear something coming toward you. Just wave your flashlight at it. No questions. Just do it. Trust me.”

Jack stepped outside. In a few bitingly cold moments he heard a loud rhythmic sound coming in low and fast. Looking towards Mihkel, Jack uttered in disbelief, “Jesus.” Stirring up a bone chilling swirling storm of snow a Sikorsky Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopter hovered, then, it set down a short distance from the Royale. Sliding back the cockpit window Ed “Wonderfalk” Sikes yelled to hook up the car as the helicopter’s side door opened and John Taylor brought out rigging cables. The biting cold made it too difficult and painful to talk. Talking could wait. Jack knew exactly what to do. This Bugatti had been designed with four jack points to facilitate rapid tire changes during a race. Each jack point consisted of a 10-inch long high strength steel bar attached between two gusseted chassis mounts. With a cable affixed to each of the four jack points everybody scrambled on board except Jack. He remained on the ground to make sure the load hung properly. With the grace of an Olympic gymnast the Super Stallion with Wonderfalk at the controls lifted the Bugatti. With the Royal suspended from the cables and hanging flat and steady a few feet off the ground, John tossed down a rope ladder which Jack climbed. Now sealed up and airborne the big chopper turned north and, with its priceless cargo firmly secured, headed across the frozen international waters towards Finland and freedom.

ESTONIA 1987

“What? What helicopter? Shoot it down! No, don’t shoot it down! No, Shoot it down!” spit flew out of Petrov’s mouth onto the mouthpiece as he screamed uncontrollably into the phone at the admiral.

Ripped from the joy of arranging the capture of these pirates absconding with his Bugatti, Petrov could not believe some helicopter had snatched away this treasure from closing grasp. He fumed. While he bellowed at no one in particular, he stood amidst the Soviet Army detail assigned to him. He drew numerous uncomfortable glances as he ranted saying, “Our planes are grounded yet some “Buck-a-roo” zooms in under our noses and snatches this prize. What kind of cowardly Soviet pilots do we have who fear a few clouds?” Soldiers in his detail, first imperceptibly then more obviously, began putting distance between themselves and Petrov.

FINLAND 1987

As a bottle of brandy circulated through the helicopter warming faces  produced the jubilation of great victories and the raucous laughter born of death defied. Naali, the Arctic Fox, and Wonderfalk, clearly, had added to their legends. Shortly the coast of Finland came into view greeted by the hearty cheers of all on board. Suddenly the helicopter slowed to a hover. A forest clearing came into view. Out from the woods emerged a large truck with a canvas topped bed. Four men jumped out of the truck, pulled back the canvas cover and removed the metal ribs that supported the canvas. Wonderfalk skillfully hovered above the truck. He positioned the Bugatti squarely over the truck’s bed. Then, like placing a baby on a blanket he gently lowered the 7^th Bugatti Royale onto the truck where the four men each released one of the cables. Then Mihkel, Jack and John quickly hauled in the cables and by the time the chopper had turned to leave, the truck had disappeared.

After a matter of minutes, the helicopter with Wonderfalk at the controls approached the far end of a quiet snow topped meadow. Once there he put down near a waiting car. John Taylor directed Mihkel and Jack out of the helicopter to the car where Valentina waited. With a quick exchange of warm hugs mixed with Valentina’s tears the three departed quickly with Valentina at the wheel. She explained that all would meet up after Ed had returned the helicopter to the Finish National Geological Survey facility upon completing John Taylor’s “government approved” aerial review of various geological features.

After driving through a forest to the end of a meandering country road, they pulled up to a small but handsome stone cottage. It belonged to a retired General in the Finish Defense Forces. The General’s service to his country dated back to the Winter War of 1939 to 1940. From firsthand experience the General held Mihkel and Ed in the highest regard. Nothing would be too much to ask if requested by the legendary Wonderfalk and Naali, The Arctic Fox. Like the General, a legion of senior and influential members of Finish society felt the same way about Mihkel and Ed. That deep reverence had helped facilitate the favorable and expeditious treatment of a number of accommodations made in the name of Wonderfalk and the Arctic Fox. The availability of a heavy lift helicopter, the off-loading and disappearance of an unregistered car flown onto Finish soil and confirmation of Mihkel’s and Jack’s legal entry into Finland represented but three examples.

The five co-conspirators; Mihkel, Ed, Jack, Valentina and John seated near a very warm and welcoming fire in the cozy cottage, hosted a recounting of everyone’s role in the Great Escape. Stories of heroism, close calls and lucky breaks filled the air like a dense flock of birds. The magnificent cooperation of their valiant Estonian and Finish co-conspiratorial accomplices, some free some not, resided at the heart of much of the retelling.

Amidst the exhaustion and exhilaration reality slapped Jack in the face.  “Where’s the car?” Jack bellowed.  Ed’s response froze all in stunned silence. “I doubt you’ll ever see it again,” said Ed. “What?” they responded as one. “I sold it,” said Ed, suddenly assuming his persona as the savvy classic car broker. The room dithered like a bee hive that had lost its queen. Ed continued explaining, “I reached out to two quite secretive Swiss car collectors, brothers actually, with a passion for Bugattis and anonymity. Quite an appealing combination I thought considering our circumstances. I had dealt with them previously. Anyway, as I suspected, Hans and Fritz, their last name is Schlumpf, jumped at the chance.” Ed continued, having correctly read the troubled looks swirling about the room, “What you have achieved has been a great accomplishment but the challenge of selling a car, one that, let’s be honest, has been pilfered from behind the Iron Curtain, is fraught with many serious problems. Some involve the authorities who despite how much Mihkel is loved and respected, may not view this situation in the kindest of lights. Selling to the Schlumpfs eliminated all of these potential problems.” After a painful silence Mihkel spoke, “I have and continue to trust Ed with my life. Whatever he has done I support. My goal has been to contribute to my father’s dream of creating a technical trade school in a free Estonia. I hope this will help. How did we do?” Ed responded by explaining that the Schlumpfs were known as shrewd negotiators. He explained how they knew well the precarious situation in which his client, Mihkel, found himself. He added that the Schlumpfs, who had lost their Bugatti collection, desperately wanted this car and the secrecy that surrounded it. So Ed said, “We settled on a price that we agreed would be fair to both sides.” Ed paused for effect. He then said, “How does $8.5 million sound.” Outside the cottage a sudden explosion of screams and joyous laughter echoed through the otherwise silent snow trimmed woods. A startled Siberian Jay took flight from a nearby tree.

EPILOGUE

MOSCOW 1987 – The Soviet Union denied published reports of a maritime incident in the frozen Gulf of Finland during the “Big Freeze” OF 1987.

MOSCOW 1988 – Intense and classified scrutiny by the badly embarrassed Soviet Politburo focused on what had internally been described as unauthorized use of the People’s ice breaker “Lenin.” The admiral responsible received the significant amount of intention that he craved; unfortunately, all of it bad. He was subjected to a humiliating demotion which could have been far worse. However, he defended himself by declaring to have been following the directions of Colonel Yuri Petrov who claimed to be speaking on behalf of the Soviet KGB hierarchy.

SIBERIA 1988 – Colonel Yuri Petrov was reinstated into active duty in the Red Army. Assigned to the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs, he would oversee troops guarding the Northeastern Siberian labor camps. He would do so until the collapse of the Soviet Union 1n 1991.

ESTONIA 1991 – Estonia departs the Soviet Bloc to become a free and independent nation.

FINLAND 1992 – Because of their past financial problems and fear of the Royale’s seizure by the French Government, the Schlumpf brothers hid their newly acquired 7^th Royale at an isolated location in Finland known only to them. Hans Died in 1989. Fritz died in 1992. Neither brother ever revealed the location of the Royale. To this day no one knows of its location. That remains a story to be told another day.

ESTONIA 1993 – Mihkel Oja together with his wife Beth and son Jack were joined by Valentina and John Taylor and Ed “Wonderfalk” Sikes for the ribbon cutting to open the OJA Technical Training Institute in Tallinn. Viktor Karmään was announced as its Director.

© Copyright 2023 Burton Hall

With the this the conclusion of the “The Lost 7th Royale,” I would greatly appreciate any and all comments as to the quality of its content and its ability to hold your interest.