[ it may be a rhetorical question, but he answers it nevertheless, with a smile on his face ]

Oh, I don't know. I suppose some of us might be checking up on old enemies as well.

[ for him, at least, the line tended to blur at times. again, he debates internally with himself on what exactly to reveal. in the end, he decides to go with the "official story". ]

This guy, he is... was, an American agent who I ran into years ago. He was sent in on a covert operation to kill my commanding officer, when I was only twenty.

[ a pause. ]

In the end, despite my best efforts, he succeeded. And not only did he get a medal of honour from the President, but our government also named him a Hero of the Soviet Union. Said he did the country a "public service".

[ he tries to not sound like he admires the man too much. but hey, sometimes "enemies" become friends. ]