Intrigue, drama, and fear – all in a frozen Siberia. Not the most hospitable place to face the greatest challenge of your life! And with KGB and Russian Mafia the chasers, it’s only your life that they’re after!

GENRE: Spy/Action/Thriller.

VIRTUES/VALUES: Patriotism. Courage. Resolve. Hope. Sacrifice. Redemption. Trials.

SYNOPSIS: With his cover blown during the surveillance of a top Russian mafia boss, CIA HQ orders a return to safety in the US Embassy in Moscow. MIKE, American cowboy by upbringing and CIA deep cover operative by profession, and his spy cell on stakeout in Siberia begin a hasty operation to extract themselves from their hunter/killer mission. Under orders to go their separate ways, Mike begins a life and death race to the nearest safe-house 6000 miles away in Potevka, and away from the pursuing mafia and KGB assailants. Not realizing at first his own operatives and country have abandoned him to a “convenient” death at the hands of the enemy Mike is blindsided by the treachery and barely escapes the pursuit of his first would-be killers only to stay just ahead of one sure death after another.

Mike’s journey begins via the decidedly unsafe Trans-Siberian Railroad. Sharing the train with peasants, refugees, soldiers and livestock, the odds become painfully clear – his battle of endurance will likely end in a silent death. With days to go, no food, no weapons and bloodied, battered and bruised from his encounter with the Mob, he can expect no help from his fellow passengers in the climate of distrust and recrimination gripping Russia as communism crumbles and crime takes over.

Starving, Mike finally arrives in Potevka. Driven by visions of food, new weapons, identity papers and a peaceful sleep, his expectation of safety is turned upside down when he discovers the CIA “safehouse” has been intentionally stripped of all supplies and communication. Now beyond starving, delirium and extreme fatigue set in, as he spends the next few days struggling for survival and beset by the dark thoughts of his past, a failed marriage, and his failure in being part of his son’s life.

Caught in a blizzard while out trying to beg food from villagers, attacked by wolves, paranoid at being reported and at the point of total despair, a package mysteriously arrives to his cabin. It’s addressed to him with no return. Gripped by the fear that somehow someone has given up his secret location Mike, suspecting the box to be poisoned or rigged to explode, reluctantly must open it to find of all things, a Christmas care package. Shaking with uncontrollable emotion he devours the food inside. He has strength to continue his flight but no idea if he’s being “set up” for a bigger fall or where this package came from.

As his journey to safety and sanctification in the US embassy continues he is relentlessly pursued until love from an unexpected source helps him cling to sanity, resilience and resistance needed to survive the treacherous trip home.

Pursued literally through the gates of the Embassy and into the clutches of his covert bosses who are convinced Mike is a double agent he must continue to fight for his freedom and prove the “mole” inside the CIA is not him.

Finally vindicated, his love of family and patriotism help him look forward to a bright future, a future he thought gone forever during his journey on a train to Potevka.

SOURCE: Original. Based on the book ‘A Train To Potevka’. Author: Mike Ramsdell.