Summary

In Chapter 10, the story turns to Margaret Thatcher, who is ever grateful for the efforts of Gordievsky. Although she did not know him by name, she made sure that the British had an escape plan for him, and if he ever needed to, he would be able to defect to Britain. Thatcher was re-elected in 1983 despite Russia's collusion efforts, and her focus turned toward the Cold War.

In September of 1983, a Korean Airline plane strayed into Soviet airspace and was shot down. Ronald Reagan denounced the Russians, claiming the act stemmed from "the joy of total self-righteousness" (177). The U.S. upped their defenses, and obviously the Soviets perceived this as an indication of a potential attack. Incompetence of two pilots almost sparked a nuclear war. Thankfully, tensions eventually dispersed, in large thanks to Gordievsky, whose information was...