It’s funny the things that stick in your mind. The one detail about

Stalin’s death that I always remember is from the account in Khrushchev’s

memoirs. I know, I know, the old peasant needs to be taken with a large

grain of salt, but this one rings true. The Politburo is round Stalin’s

bedside. When it becomes clear that the old rogue has breathed his last,

first out of the door is Beria, who was confident that everything would now

come to him. Khrushchev heard him going off down the corridor, shouting out

triumphantly to his valet: “Khrestyalov! My car!”