Burning Moscow

　　 Not long after we ran in the forest, we were blocked by a swamp. When I saw the swamp, my heart sank. I thought that the group of prisoners of war officers who ran away last night were caught in the swamp because they didn't know the way and would be captured by the Germans again. If the Germans catch up at this time, we will have no choice but to catch it.

　　 Just when I was anxious to get angry, Vaskov pulled out the dagger stuck in his boots, cut two branches from the tree beside him, and scraped them carefully. Seeing him unhurriedly cutting the branches and leaves on the branches, I asked him strangely: "Feijia, what are you doing?"

　　 Vaskov stopped his work, looked up at me blankly, and said, "Lida, don't you see it? I'm cutting the branches."

"My warrant officer, don't cut the branches to play. Let's find our way and get out of here. Maybe the Germans will follow you soon." When I was in a hurry, I inadvertently called him intimate." Feijia" became "Warrant Officer Uncle".

　　 Vaskov began to cut the branches again, and said, "Lida, don't worry, the way to leave is ready. When I cut these two sticks, we will set off."

　　 "Where is the road?" I looked around to see where I could get around this swamp.

　　 Vaskov pointed at the swamp with his hand holding a dagger, and said, "It's here."

　　 I frowned and looked at the vast ocean in front of me, very dissatisfied with Vaskov’s vague answer, and said, "No way, Uncle Warrant Officer, do you say we are going through the middle of the swamp?"

Vaskov handed me a shaved wooden stick, then pointed to the marsh ahead with another stick and said, "Lida, we will walk over here now." Seeing I hesitate, He reminded me, "Did you forget that when we were chasing the Germans who sneaked into the back of our army, we also passed through the swamp in order to take a shortcut."

　　 Hearing what he said, I remembered that in the novel there was indeed a plot of crossing the swamp in order to cut corners, so I stopped saying anything, and obediently followed him into the swamp.

Holding a wooden stick in his hand, Vaskov stepped into the waist-deep muddy water. As he walked, he kept admonishing: "Leda, be careful. Be sure to follow me. Make one step steady, and then take the next step. Half way. You can't go wrong, otherwise you will lose your life."

　　 A few days ago, I led my troops to break through. In order to get around behind the German positions, I walked through the swamp with the guerrilla guide, so I walked more skillfully today.

He looked back and saw me closely behind him, smiled and nodded, and said admiringly: "Good job, Lida. At this speed, we can cross this swamp in ten minutes at most to reach the front Forest. Out of the forest, there is a small village there. When I passed there last night, I saw our troops stationed in the village."

　　 Hearing that I can't go far, I will be able to find my own troops. The big rock in my heart can be considered as letting go. While I was holding a wooden stick in the mud, I chatted with Vaskov, "Feja, I just heard you say that you belong to the Sotnikov guerrillas, where is Sotnikov now?" , Has it also highlighted the heavy encirclement?"

Vaskov shook his head without looking back, and said, "I don't know where he is. Ten days ago, I was ordered by him to find another guerrilla unit and discuss with the commander of that unit. Cooperate with the Second Assault Army’s breakthrough. Who knew that the guerrillas had been wiped out when I got there. I hurried back to return and found that they were all moved. Then I wandered around in the forest for a few days. Sotnikov could not be found."

"I saw Sotnikov a few days ago. He led his troops to assist the 327th Division to break through. Because our offensive was frustrated, he also sent a guide to lead my troops through the forest and swamp to Germany. They were caught off guard from the rear of the people, and they successfully broke through the enemy's defense."

　　 "Through the forest and the swamp?!" Vaskov stopped, standing still and repeating my words to himself. I didn't expect that he would stop suddenly and slammed into him. The huge recoil made me sway, and then I fell back. Fortunately, his reaction was quick and he grabbed me, otherwise I would fall into the water again.

　　 After I regained my feet, he did not let go of my arm, but anxiously asked: "Is the guerrilla who took you through the swamp called Michelin."

　　 I nodded vigorously, and replied, "Yes, that young guerrilla is called Michelin."

　　 "Where is he now?" Vaskov asked again.

I shrugged and said, "I don’t know. He took us to the back of the enemy’s line of defense. He also participated in the battle to seize the position. After the battle, I don’t know where he went. Maybe he died, maybe he followed. The 327th Division jumped out of the siege.” Speaking of this, I suddenly remembered that I had heard Michelin say that his captain was a soldier who was very familiar with forest swamp, could it be Vaskov in front of me, so I asked tentatively: You are the captain that Michelin said."

Vaskov touched the back of his head with some embarrassment, and smiled shyly and said, "Yes, I am his captain. In the Sotnikov guerrillas, he and I know how to get in the swamp. Find a way."

　　 Unconsciously, we walked to the edge of the swamp. As soon as Vaskov stepped on the hard ground of the isolated island, he immediately fell over, stretched the stick towards me, and said, "Lida, grab it."

　　 I grabbed the stick, matched his movements, and stepped onto the solid ground. I softened and fell to the ground. I had not eaten or drank for more than a day, and walked so far. It is pretty good to be able to hold on till now. I rolled over and lay on my back on the floor exhausted, and I didn't even have the strength to speak.

　　 Vaskov walked over, squatted by my side, and asked with concern: "Lida, can you continue walking?"

　　 I waved my hand and said weakly, "Feijia, let me rest for a while. I haven't eaten anything for more than a day. Now I am tired and hungry, and I can't go anymore."

　　 "My God, look at how sloppy I am. I forgot to ask if you have eaten anything." Vaskov said as he took out the paper-wrapped bread from his arms, opened it and handed it to me. I saw that there were sliced ​​black rusks in the paper bag. I grabbed two slices and stuffed it into my mouth.

　　 While I was eating, Vaskov sat quietly beside me, without saying a word. When I finished eating, he hesitated to ask: "Lida, I want to ask you something, I wonder if it is appropriate?"

　　 "Ask, Feijia."

"I remember you used my pistol and shot yourself in the head. I thought you had sacrificed, and took that gun to find the Germans desperately. I didn't expect to see you alive again today. This is incredible."

"It's nothing strange, Feijia." I had prepared this reason for resurrection for a long time, but I didn't expect it to be used now. "At that time, I was seriously injured when I pulled the trigger on my head. My hand was weak, and the recoil of the gun caused the bullet to deviate from the position and grazed it from my brow bone. Maybe you saw my face covered with blood and thought I was sacrificed, but I was still alive.” At this point, I Raising his hand to lift the hair on his forehead, show him the scar on the brow bone, "Look, there is another scar here."

Vaskov lowered his head, carefully examined the scar on my head, and said confidently: "This is really the blessing of the Virgin Mary, allowing you to survive even with such severe injuries. Then you again. Where did it go, why is it now appearing in the 2nd Assault Army and being captured by the Germans?"

　　 I sat up and began to tell him what happened after I was injured and hospitalized, and told him roughly. Even so, it took more than an hour.

　　 Seeing that the physical strength is almost restored, we set out to go out of the forest again to join the troops stationed in the small village.

As soon as he was about to leave the forest, Vaskov stopped without warning, and said to me embarrassedly: "Lida, I didn't do what you asked me to do~www.wuxiaspot.com~I I apologize to you here."

　　 "What did I ask you to do? What is it? Why don't I have any impression?" When I said this, I felt guilty. I really don't know what Lida asked him to do during his lifetime.

Vaskov was a real person. Seeing me with a blank face, he quickly explained, "Didn't you ask me to find your mother and son Alik? After I was wounded and discharged from the hospital, the city was already occupied by the Germans. Passed by. After several inquiries, I learned that when your mother fell in the city, she escaped with her child and went to Leningrad...."

Hearing this, I added: "I already know about my mother and son going to Leningrad. I also went to the place where they lived to find it. Unfortunately, shortly after the opening of the ice transportation line, they It was evacuated to the rear, and then his whereabouts were unknown."

Unexpectedly, Vaskov went on to say: "I also went to find them in the city. I heard from the neighbor that they were evacuated, and a female soldier went to look for them. I guess that female soldier is you, right?" I nodded in agreement. , He went on to say: "I learned from a comrade in charge of the evacuation that the groups of evacuated residents were in nearby villages and settlements. However, after searching for a long time, I still couldn’t find out their whereabouts. ."

Hearing that Lida’s mother and son were in a nearby village or residential area, I grabbed Vaskov’s clothes and asked in amazement: “You said they are in the area nearby. Is the news accurate?” Because of my excitement, my voice seemed a bit trembling and hoarse.

　　 "Yes, Lida." Vaskov told me with certainty, "That's what my comrades told me."