"Sasha flew into the grove, shouting" Germans! Germans! "to preempt their." The company commander ordered to move beyond the ravine, there to lie down and not a step back. The Germans had suddenly shut up by that time. And the company, which took up the defense, also fell silent in anticipation that a real battle was about to begin. Instead, a young and triumphant voice began to fool them: “Comrades! In areas liberated by German troops, sowing begins. You are waiting for freedom and work. Drop your weapons, light cigarettes ... "

A few minutes later the company commander unraveled their game: it was intelligence. And then he gave the order "forward!"

Sasha, although for the first time in two months that he was at war, ran into so close a German, but for some reason he did not feel fear, but only anger and some kind of hunting rage.

And such luck: in the first battle, a fool, he took the “tongue”. The German was young and snub-nosed. The company man indulged with him in German and ordered Sasha to lead him to the headquarters. It turns out that Fritz did not say anything important to the company. And most importantly, the Germans outwitted us: while our soldiers listened to German chatter, the Germans left, taking a prisoner from us.

The German walked, often looking back at Sasha, apparently afraid that he might shoot him in the back. Here, in the grove along which they walked, many Soviet leaflets were strewn. Sasha raised one, straightened it and gave it to the German - let him understand, it’s a parasite that the Russians are not mocking the prisoners. The German read and grunted: "Propaganda." Sorry, I didn’t know Sashka German, I’d talk ...

None of the commanders were at the battalion headquarters - everyone was summoned to the brigade headquarters. But they didn’t advise Sasha to go to the battalion commander, saying: “Yesterday, Katya killed us. When they buried, it was scary to look at the battalion commander - the whole blackened ... "

Still, Sashka decided to go to the battalion commander. That Sasha with the order ordered to leave. Only the voice of the battalion commanders was heard from the dugout, but the Germans seemed to be gone. Silent, infection! And then the battalion commander called to himself and ordered: the Germans - at the expense. Sasha’s eyes darkened. After all, he also showed a leaflet where it is written that prisoners are provided with life and return to their homeland after the war! And yet - he had no idea how he would kill someone.

Sashkin’s objections further infuriated the battalion commander. Talking with Sasha, he already laid his hand unequivocally on the handle of the TT. The order ordered to fulfill, to report on the implementation. And the orderly Tolik had to follow the execution. But Sashka could not kill unarmed. Could not, that's all!

In general, we agreed with Tolik that he would give him the watch from the German, but now to leave. But Sashka nevertheless decided to lead the Germans to the brigade headquarters. This is far from dangerous - they may even consider a deserter. But let's go ...

And here, in the field, Sashka caught up with the Fritz battalion commander. He stopped, lit a cigarette ... Only the minutes before the attack were just as scary for Sasha. The captain’s eyes met directly - well, shoot, but I’m right anyway ... And he looked sternly, but without malice. I finished smoking and, already leaving, threw: “Take the German to the brigade headquarters. I cancel my order. "

Sasha and two more wounded from walking did not receive food on the road. Only food certificates, which can be bought only in Babin, twenty miles from here. Toward evening, Sashka and his fellow traveler Zhora realized that today it was impossible to get to Babin.

The landlady, whom she knocked on, let out the night, but there was nothing to feed, she said. And they themselves, while walking, saw: the villages were desolate. No livestock can be seen, no horses, but nothing to talk about technology. Tight will collective farmers spring.

In the morning, waking up early, did not linger. And in Babin they learned from the lieutenant, also wounded in the arm, that the food station was here in winter. And now - they transferred it to no one knows where. And they are a day of non-ramsha! Lieutenant Volodya also went with them.

In the nearest village, they rushed to ask for food. My grandfather did not agree to give or sell food, but he advised: to dig up potatoes on the field, which has remained since the fall, and to fry the cake. The grandfather allocated a frying pan and salt. And what seemed like inedible decay was now going down the throat for a sweet soul.

When they passed by potato fields, they saw how other maimed ones were swarming there, smoking with bonfires. They are not alone, so they feed like that.

Sasha and Volodya sat down for a smoke, and Zhora went forward. And soon an explosion thundered ahead. Where from? Far to the front ... They rushed along the road. Zhora was ten paces away, already dead: apparently, behind a snowdrop, he turned off the road ...

By the middle of the day they got to the evacuation hospital. Registered them, sent to the bathhouse. There would have to stay, but Volodka was eager for Moscow - to see his mother. Sasha decided to hit the road home, not far from Moscow.

On the way in the village they fed: it was not under the German. But it was still difficult to go: after all, a hundred miles were drowned, and the wounded, and on such a grub.

We had dinner at the next hospital. When they brought dinner, the mother walked across the bunks. Two spoons of porridge! Volodka had a big quarrel with his superiors for this annoying millet, so much so that the complaint came to him by the special police officer. Only Sashka took the blame. What a soldier? They will not send further forward, but it is all the same to return there. He only advised the special agent Sasha to get out faster. But Volodya the doctors did not let go.

Sasha went again to the field, making potato cakes on the road. There were decent wounded there: there wasn’t enough guys to eat. And he waved to Moscow. He stood there on the platform, looked around. Will I reveal? People in civilian clothes, girls banging with heels ... as if from another world.

But the more strikingly different this calm, almost peaceful Moscow was from what was on the front line, the more clearly he saw his work there ...