Due to historical events, however, Sidonia's publishing activities eventually became redundant. Then Mr. Mrkvicka subjected them to an unexpected interpretation. As a writer who kept concocting crime stories modelled on American thrillers, I was regarded by the Party with keen suspicion. Her publishing lists were always submitted to the Central Committee of the Communist Party for their okay. The article further revealed that Sidonia flew regularly and secretly to Prague, to report to her StB bosses.
Czech wisdom has it that there is a grain of truth in every piece of nonsense.
According to this maxim, the slight admixture of the genuine gives even the boldest feats of imagination the ring of authenticity. Anonymous letters soon began to arrive, recommending that Sidonia leave Toronto. After Mr. Mrkvicka's revelations and the publication of several addenda to the evil lore of the List in his paper, Sidonia's old Prague friend Julie wrote us that the only way to disprove the accusation was to sue the Ministry of the Interior. We were waiting at the airport before boarding a plane to Prague when Jirousek, a member of the Toronto branch of the Association of Political Prisoners of the Communist Regime, approached us and rolled up his sleeve to show Sidonia scars from cigarette burns on his forearm. I thought Sidonia would die of shame.