Chapter 141:
Chapter 141
Leningrad was bustling with people who were rebuilding the ruins left by the war. Among them, Nikolai muttered blankly.
“Haha…”
“Why are you laughing like that? It’s not funny.”
Nikolai let out a hollow laugh. The cold winter wind blew through his collar, but he was not shivering because of that.
He was in Leningrad now. With his comrades. But his purpose for coming here was different from theirs.
“Me, of all people… becoming an officer?”
Many people had died in the course of the war. And among them were a huge number of lower-ranking officers. Most of the recruits and junior officers had died in their first battle, leaving a huge gap in the army.
Someone had to fill that gap, so Stavka selected soldiers who showed courage and talent and trained them as officers.
Of course, they called it ‘training’, but they couldn’t just give a uniform and a rank to someone who knew nothing and say, ‘You’re an officer from today!’ The Northern Front Command, which had recaptured Leningrad, decided to gather the selected soldiers and conduct training.
Nikolai’s squad members, the platoon political officer, and the captain who somehow didn’t fit in. They all left the unit and went to the officer training course with Nikolai to congratulate him.
“Long live Nikolai Pyodorovich, the hero of the people!”
“Ura! Ura!”
“Captain, you have to come back!”
The subordinates wiped their tears, unlike the grim men they were, and the captain grabbed his wrist and cheered loudly. The soldiers passing by also wondered what was so funny and whistled and cheered at the bunch of bumpkins.
The people who had returned to their hometown after a few months just passed by and clapped their hands with a laugh.
The citizens of Leningrad sincerely respected the soldiers who had fought with all their might to reclaim their hometown.
“Woohoo!”
All of that was just awkward for Nikolai. He was a soldier who knew nothing, but he stole the merit of Bolozhov, the sergeant, and received a medal, and became a captain. And now he was going to become an officer like this.
‘Can someone like me become an officer?’
He often asked himself that. He had only stolen a few merits.
The humble Nikolai only thought of Bolozhov’s merit, but he didn’t realize that he had also destroyed several tanks afterwards.
And the squad members liked him. They said he would be a good officer if he became one, and they encouraged him with a laugh.
‘But that doesn’t mean it’s okay to become an officer.’
An officer needed leadership, but something like the recognition of the squad members was not a proof of leadership.
He had passed the officer selection written test with a fairly good score.
But that was not a quality of a good officer either. Maybe many of the people who had been commissioned before the war had taken harder tests and gotten better scores.
Were there only good officers? Not at all. There were cowards and bastards galore. There were countless incompetent ones.
But still, the world gave them officer ranks and the authority to order the soldiers to go out and fight and die.
“Hahaha, it would be trouble if you leave us out!”
“Hey, doctor!”
Suddenly, a jeep came and stopped, and a familiar face appeared.
The stone-faced doctor who had pulled out his teeth opened the door and jumped out, greeted the captain, and grabbed Nikolai’s hand.
Nikolai shook his hand nervously.
“I heard the news! Congratulations. I hope you become a good officer!”
“Ah! Thank you.”
“Well, that’s it… We should get out of here, we’re unwelcome guests. Let’s go, everyone!”
The doctor shook his hand vigorously and dragged the soldiers away. As they climbed onto the jeep, the soldiers waved their hands.
“Captain, take care!”
“Write to us!”
“Huh? Oh… yeah! You guys too, take care!”
But, why did he come…
Something warm and moist came into his hand in the winter wind. Something pulled him hard.
“…!”
“Did you miss me?”
There was a brief silence. Nikolai couldn’t think of what to say. He probably forgot to breathe.
Katya looked at him with moist eyes and rosy cheeks.
And then, awkwardly, she said a short word.
“…”
What should he say? What should he say to her? The countless sentences he had read in the books he had read poured down on him like shooting stars.
Not knowing what to say, Nikolai hugged Katya.
“I’m… glad you’re okay…”
“Yeah…”
How long had it been? Nikolai couldn’t even guess, and he hugged her and counted the days with his fingers.
It had only been a few weeks, but it felt like decades had passed. Did Katya feel the same? He didn’t know. He wanted to ask, but what should he ask?
She seemed to feel his heart pounding. She kissed his cheek, and slipped out of his arms. She bounced like a nimble fawn and grabbed his wrist.
“Come on! Don’t just stay here! Let’s go somewhere!”
There wasn’t much for young lovers to enjoy in the city that had been swept by the war. But Nikolai and Katya were happy enough with each other’s presence.
They laughed at the sound of their boots hitting the pavement, and Katya hung on Nikolai’s arm.
They enjoyed the wind that blew, and the green leaves that sprouted from the branches.
They were happy with everything.
“Hey, soldiers! How about a painting before you go?”
“What?”
“Ha! Hahaha! Sure!”
A street painter with a beret who was drawing the cityscape called out to the couple. While Nikolai was confused, Katya burst into a cheerful laugh and dragged him to the painter’s canvas.
“Wait a minute… Do I have any money…”
“Nah, what money? I’m doing this because you look nice. Don’t worry and sit down over there and strike a pose.”
“Thank you!”
Katya quickly sat on a small stool and grabbed Nikolai’s wrist, who was rummaging through his pocket. He was pulled along and ended up in a rigid posture, staring straight ahead.
“No, not that… something more… like a couple’s painting?”
“Huh? Oh…”
“Like this?”
Katya jumped up again and hung on Nikolai’s neck, kissing his cheek. The painter with a bushy white beard laughed heartily and stroked his beard.
“Just wait a moment. Stay like that! Good! Just like that!”
“Ka… Katya?”
“Shh! He’s painting.”
Smack. Katya kissed Nikolai’s cheek again. A sweet and fragrant scent tickled his nose.
Nikolai decided to be brave.
“Heh… You’re bold for young folks, aren’t you?”
The painter chuckled as he saw Nikolai turn his head and kiss her. His brush moved on the canvas as if to capture the moment.
“Here! Here it is. Hahaha!”
“Thank you!”
Nikolai carefully put the painting in his trunk and bowed to the painter.
“I appreciate it! Thank you for protecting the city. Young friends. With you, the future of our Soviet Union is bright!”
***
The days were short in the northern country in winter.
And the nights were long with young blood boiling.
Morning came in an instant and the two lovers prepared to say goodbye.
“Nikolai?”
“Hmm?”
Katya smiled brightly and kissed his cheek. The scent of soap brushed his nose.
Farewell. It was time to say farewell. She was going back to the battlefield. Even if they were the most indifferent to the world’s affairs, they couldn’t ignore the clouds of war looming again.
And Nikolai, he would be in the rear for a while. He didn’t know where he would be assigned next.
They had met by a miraculous chance on the front where millions of people came and went, but would that miracle follow them again?
“…”
Could they meet again alive?
Nikolai thought of his fallen comrades. Too many people had died in less than a year.
He didn’t want to die. But…
“…You have to survive…”
“Yeah…”
His little brother Kacha, who had flown away like a young bird in his hand. Katya seemed like she would fly away too at any moment.
The war devoured people like a hungry beast that never knew enough.
What about tomorrow? The day after?
***
“You’ve grown quite handsome, haven’t you?”
“Thank you, comrade captain.”
Among the many people who met and parted on the train station platform, the last one to see him off was surprisingly the captain.
He was a good man. Nikolai thought so. He taught him how to read and write, how to do math, and gave him the opportunity to become an officer. He smiled like a kind older brother from the neighborhood.
Good people were rare in these times.
“Hey, can I give you some simple advice?”
“Huh? Oh, sure.”
He glanced at Katya and whispered quickly, as if not to disturb the young couple’s time. Nikolai strained his ears to hear what he was going to say, curious about his subtle expression.
“The bravest officers die first. The cowards survive. Like me.”
“…”
He smiled bitterly and patted Nikolai’s back. Survive, he said, for that female comrade’s sake.
The cowards always threw others into the mouth of the war and survived. The brave ones charged forward, forward, for those bastards and died.
Katya looked at him with a questioning expression.
“…I’ll write to you.”
“Send me one every day. I’ll settle for that.”
[The train to Moscow, the train to Moscow is about to depart. Passengers, please board immediately.]
She tried to smile, but she couldn’t hide the redness in her eyes. Don’t go, stay with me. She whispered as she hugged him, but now she was trying to send him off with dignity.
The train started to move, spewing smoke and noise. As people said goodbye to their families, lovers, and friends, Nikolai shouted and waved his hand.
“Katya! Take care! I’ll come back for sure!”
Katya waved her hand with a forced smile, her eyes filled with tears. He couldn’t hear what she was saying, but he could tell by her lips.
‘Come back alive.’
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