Friday, August 14, 2009

The Kluch "ключ" Lady

In the old Soviet days when you stayed at an Intourist Hotel, there was a Kluch or Key lady on every floor. You gave her the key to your room when you left and you retrieved the key when you returned. She was KGB. She was a very low level KGB but she recorded your comings and goings. in detail If you were in the slightest suspected on some infraction of the rules, you were warned. There was always a safe in your room, and if you were not well enough trained in the ways of the KGB, you might think of leaving something of value in the safe. When you returned to your room, if the Key Lady suspected something, the KGB would have your safe opened, a bit ajar, nothing touched, but you now knew that they were watching.

Well thanks perhaps to some readers, I am now on the White House mailing list from Mr. Axelrod, my safe, to use the metaphor, has been opened, nothing touched, but it is clear that there are key ladies afoot watching and reporting.