IRON CURTAIN A COLD WAR FAIRY TALE THE GENTLY, WOODED HILLS FRAMING 
THE EAST GERMAN VILLAGE OF MUPPERG ARE IDEAL FOR A SUNDAY 
STROLL BUT DISFIGURED BY A FEARSOME SCAR THE 500-YD.-WIDE DEATH STRIP 
SEALING OFF EAST FROM WEST . GUARDED BY GREPOS (COMMUNIST BORDER 
POLICE) WITH ORDERS TO SHOOT ANYTHING THAT MOVES, THE NO MAN'S 
LAND IS SOWN WITH MINES AND FOOT TRAPS, EVERY ONE TIGHTLY 
LACED WITH THREE ROWS OF BARBED WIRE . TO BLOND LITTLE 
PETER EICHHORN, 2F YEARS OLD AND TODDLING THROUGH THE WOODS BESIDE 
HIS TWELVE-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, THE COLD WAR DID NOT EXIST . HE 
WAS AWARE ONLY OF THE GRASS TICKLING HIS LEGS, THE FUN-CRUNCH 
OF DRY LEAVES, THE SCENT OF PINE NEEDLES, THE ZIGZAG FLIGHT 
OF A BUTTERFLY . SUDDENLY, DURING AN UNGUARDED MOMENT, PETER DASHED 
OFF, BENT ON EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY . BY THE TIME HIS 
BROTHER NOTICED AND BEGAN SEARCHING FOR HIM, THE TINY TOT WAS 
BEYOND RECALL, HAPPILY LOST IN THE THICKETS AND FOREST LEADING TO 
THE DEATH STRIP . THREE HOURS LATER, ON THE OTHER SIDE 
OF THE EAST-WEST BARRIER, A WEST GERMAN COUPLE ENJOYING AN AFTERNOON 
WALK CAME UPON A LITTLE BOY CURLED UP IN THE GRASS 
SOUND ASLEEP . HIS FACE WAS DIRTSMUDGED, HE HAD LOST ONE 
SHOE, THERE WAS A SCRATCH ON HIS CHEEK BUT OTHERWISE HE 
SEEMED ALL RIGHT . THE YOUNGEST EAST GERMAN REFUGEE EVIDENTLY HAD 
CROSSED THE IRON CURTAIN WITH THE EASE OF BR'ER RABBIT SKIPPING 
THROUGH THE BRIAR PATCH, SOMEHOW MISSING THE MINES AND THE GAZE 
OF THE GREPOS . WHEN HE WOKE UP, HE COULD ONLY 
SAY : " ICH HEISSE PETER (MY NAME IS PETER) . 
" THAT NIGHT THE BOY'S FRANTIC FATHER, A SMALL FARMER, TELEPHONED 
ACROSS THE BORDER FROM MUPPERG, ASKING IF ANYONE HAD SEEN HIS 
LOST SON, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BOY WOULD BE RETURNED 
SOON . TAKEN TO AN ORPHANAGE IN COBURG, THE RUNAWAY HAD 
A PARTY THROWN IN HIS HONOR, WAS SHOWERED WITH LOLLIPOPS, BANANAS, 
TOYS AND CLOTHING RARE LUXURIES FOR AN EAST ZONE CHILD . 
TWO DAYS LATER, BUNDLED INTO THE INTERZONAL TRAIN AND STUFFED WITH 
GOODIES, PETER WAS RETURNED, PAST EMBARRASSED GREPOS TO HIS PARENTS AND 
A COMMUNIST WORLD HE DOESN'T YET UNDERSTAND . 