Lina Zilionyte
Born for Freedom is a story written from the viewpoint of Lucy, a six-year-old girl, who was born in Lithuania under the Soviet occupation. Through the heroine’s eyes the reader comes to know her native village and what social-political changes took place in the country in the 1960’s, the time when the terror-stricken nation tried to reconcile with its recent postwar past.
Lucy faces the first challenges of her childhood when she begins to attend elementary and high school. She is torn between the ideologically saturated school and home where old values and traditions prevail. She learns to cover up her true belief and masters to perfection to live with a double face, the feature she carries over into adult life.
Thirst for knowledge and strong will takes her to Vilnius where she studies foreign languages at the university. She remains unshakable to the core regarding her personal convictions and refuses to join the Communist Party. Brought up in the national spirit, she knows what it means to be deprived of freedom as a nation and as a Lithuanian. With her unbending spirit, she is about to climb to the heights of her career as a translator when inevitable happens. During the interview with the chief of the KGB, Lucy has to make a choice: either she becomes a Party member and joins the ranks of the Soviet spies abroad or she quits her favorite job. She chooses the latter.
The refrain to be free because I was born to be free is not only the main theme of the novel but also Lucy’s driving force through her life. Her dream to become free comes finally true when she arrives in Chicago. However, her new country and the unknown future take her into another whirlpool of adventures.
Lina Zilionyte was born in Alytus, Lithuania, in 1956. She studied philology at Vilnius University and received B.A. in English language and literature in 1979. She worked as a translator and teacher of English in Vilnius until her emigration to the United States in 1985.
In her second motherland Lina Zilionyte settled in Washington, D.C., where she worked as a radio broadcaster, journalist, and translator. In 1988 she entered a graduate school at University of Maryland and received M.A. in Linguistics in 1991.
In 1992 the author went back to Europe and lived in Denmark. There she established her company which offered translation/interpretation services for Danish and Lithuanian governmental institutions and entrepreneurs.
In 2000 Lina Zilionyte returned to the United States. She lives in Washington, D.C. and works at the Library of Congress. She is married and has one son.
‘And you’re attending the German language courses at the Academy of Sciences, aren’t you?’
‘That’s correct. One forgets the language if one doesn’t use it,’ Lucy said having no sense where this talk might lead her to.
‘Marvelous!’ the man exclaimed changing his crossed legs. ‘We need such enthusiastic people!’ and he stroked his fly.
‘Well...’
‘I understand, you’re young and impatient,’ the unknown continued, laughing. Lucy saw his big mouth resembling a dark hole with two rows of straw-yellow teeth. ‘I’ve got something just for you, comrade Ankute. In West Berlin. We need someone young and charming. A woman. Then you might also be sent to London...’ he said, his expression dreaming. ‘I himself was a soviet agent for eighteen years. You know, twice I wasn’t lucky. They’ve got me. But I was freed in exchange for another spy...’
‘Sorry, what are you talking about?’ Lucy asked, her mouth dry, her stomach revolting, hands beginning to sweat but clenched tight. For a moment she stared at the man in utter shock.
‘I’m talking about the job for you as a Soviet agent abroad!’ the unknown drawled.
‘Comrade...’
‘Tarkuvenas,’ he added, unwillingly.
‘Comrade Tarkuvenas, I’m not a member of the Party. And secondly, I didn’t apply for such a job,’ Lucy said in a small anxious voice.
‘That’s not a problem! You can become a Party member in an overnight. You can apply now, can’t you?’
‘But I will not, comrade Tarkuvenas,’ Lucy said, her voice surprisingly calm. She managed to compose herself in a second. She regained her self-confidence. That was the most important thing during discussions with the KGB. Only spasms in her lurching stomach seemed to be rather painful. Her heart was also racing. The only concern she had at the moment was the door: was it still open or closed.
