Asking a question Quote by Jonas Jonasson
““Allan realised it was only a matter of time before he and Herbert were stopped along the road and checked out properly. Not even a marshal would be allowed just to roll into the capital of a country at war without somebody at least asking a question or two. So Allan spent a couple of hours instructing Herbert as to what he should say – just one sentence in Russian, but a very important one: ‘I am Marshal Meretskov from the Soviet Union – take me to your leader!’ Pyongyang was protected at this time by an outer and an inner military ring. The outer one, twenty kilometres from the city, consisted of anti-aircraft guns and double checkpoints on roads, while the inner ring was virtually a barricade, a front line for defence against land attack. Allan and Herbert got caught in one of the outer checkpoints first and were met by a very drunk North Korean soldier, with a cocked machine gun across his chest. Marshal Herbert had rehearsed his single sentence endlessly, and now he said: ‘I am your leader, take me to… the Soviet Union.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden” (fictional)
A desperate ruse where two men impersonate a Soviet marshal to bypass strict military checkpoints in wartime.
In simple terms: A fake identity used to get past security.
Key Takeaway
Know when and how to use deception wisely.
Themes
deception
war
identity
survival
Mood
tense
strategic
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- military travel
- border crossing
- espionage
Key Concepts
political strategy
risk management
Questions to Reflect On
- What are ethical limits of deception?
- How can one prepare for high‑risk impersonation?
A Different Perspective
Deception can backfire if discovered.
