Red Moscow

Although Sokov knew about the disgraceful things done by the Soviet army in Berlin and various parts of Germany, Hoshenfeld did not know. He even asked Ernst in confusion: "You are staying well in Berlin. How about running to Frankfurt?" What to do? I heard that Frankfurt was bombed by the Allies and the environment is probably no better than Berlin."

Hearing the questions his cousin asked, the muscles on Ernst's face twitched violently. If he were elsewhere, he would definitely tell the other person the truth without hesitation. But at this moment, Sokov stood next to him. Even if he had some friendship with him, he did not dare to speak ill of the Soviet troops who occupied Berlin in front of Sokov.

After hesitating for a while, Ernst said with a wry smile: "Cousin William, it's a long story. I'll tell you in detail when I get home."

"Is my home still there?"

"Yes, you are lucky that your home was not damaged during the war and I live there today."

"What about my wife and children?" Hosenfeld asked: "Where are they now, and do they live there?"

"No." Ernst said with some embarrassment: "I heard from my neighbors that they left Berlin two days before the Battle of Berlin. As for where they went, I don't know very well."

"It's been half a year since the war ended, haven't they come back yet?"

"No." Ernst answered very simply this time: "After I followed the Soviet army into the city, I moved into your original home, but unfortunately, I never saw your wife and children. ”

Through Agelina's translation, Sokov understood what the two brothers were saying, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Since Hossenfeld's wife and children have not returned to their original home for so long, there is a big problem. The probability is that something happened on the way. For example, the transferred refugees were bombed or shelled by the Soviet or Allied forces, and an accident occurred. If they were safe, they would have returned to their homes long ago.

After Agelina finished translating for Sokov, she looked at Hosenfeld and whispered to Sokov: "Misha, I think Hosenfel is quite pitiful. Do you want to help him again?"

"What should I do?" Hearing what Agelina said, Sokov couldn't help but smile bitterly. He said in his heart that you really regard me as an omnipotent superman. I don't even know where Hosenfeld's wife and children are. I don’t know, even if I want to help, I don’t know where to start: “Agelina, I just arrived in Berlin, I don’t know anything about the situation here, and I don’t know many people. Even if I want to help, I don’t know where to start. How to help."

"Don't you have a good relationship with Marshal Zhukov?" Agelina suggested: "How about you go find Comrade Marshal..."

"Stop, stop!" Sokov quickly raised his hand to stop Agelina: "Comrade Marshal has so many things to deal with every day, how can he have time to take care of such a small matter."

At this time, the major who had gone to the military representative's office came back, and with him came a lieutenant.

The major introduced to Sokov: "Comrade General, this is the military representative from Hamburg Station."

"Hello, Comrade General." After the military representative raised his hand to salute Sokov, he said respectfully: "I received a call from Moscow yesterday and learned that you came this time with a batch of weapons and ammunition. Let me be responsible for receiving it. I wonder where the weapons and ammunition are?"

After Sokov told the military representative where the box he lived in was located, he continued: "When we were in Warsaw, we were attacked by bandits. I used part of the ammunition. After you received the ammunition, remember to contact Moscow. Say."

"Okay, Comrade General." the military representative said, "I will truthfully report the use of ammunition to Moscow."

"Comrade General, it's getting late. We have to go see the Marshal as soon as possible." When the major said this, he glanced at Ernst, who was standing side by side with Hosenfeld, and said with some embarrassment: "Now there is one more person. I’m afraid I can’t fit in the car.”

Seeing that the major mistakenly thought that Ernst was here to hitchhike, Sokov quickly explained: "This is Ernst, a translator in my former army. And the Hosenfeld I brought here is His cousin. Hosenfeld will go home directly with Ernst and won’t share the same car with us.”

When the major heard what Sokov said, he felt much more at ease. He was ordered to pick up Sokov and Agelina. Even if he didn't say anything about the addition of an outsider, he was always feeling awkward in his heart. Now that I heard that this stranger who appeared out of nowhere was not in the same car as me, it was natural that he wished for it. He quickly called Sokov to get in the car again: "Comrade General, please get in the car. Don't keep Comrade Marshal waiting too long."

Sokov asked Agelina to get in the car first, then walked up to Ernst and Hosenfeld, and said to Ernst: "Ernst, where do you live? Leave me your address. I'll wait for you." When the time comes, I’ll go see you.”

Ernst did not dare to neglect, and quickly took out a pen and paper, wrote an address, and handed it to Sokov: "Comrade General, this is the address of my home. Of course, it is also the address of my cousin's home. We welcome you at any time. Be a guest."

Sokov nodded, put the note into his coat pocket, then waved to the two of them, turned around and got into the car nearby.

Seeing Sokov getting into the car, Agelina asked curiously: "Misha, when do you plan to go to Hosenfeld's house?"

"I don't know." Sokov answered simply: "I don't know what kind of work Marshal Zhukov will arrange for me and whether he will have time, so I can't tell when I can visit Ernst and Hosenfeld."

"By the way, what is Ernst doing now?" Agelina asked.

Sokov was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. He had just been chatting with Ernst for so long that he actually forgot to ask him what he was doing now. Even if he worked as a translator in the Soviet army, with the end of the war, his superiors may have arranged a new job: "I forgot to ask him what job he is doing now. But it doesn't matter. I will visit him at home another day. , it’s never too late to ask.”

Ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of a majestic building.

The major sitting in the passenger seat turned to Sokov and said: "Comrade General, we are here!"

Sokov opened the car door, got out of the car, and did not walk far. Instead, he turned around and held Agelina's hand, helped her out of the car, and then entered the building with the major.

Along the red carpeted corridor, he came to a room door and stopped. Sokov looked inside and found that it was an office connected to the inside and outside. There were many officers waiting to be received in the outside room, and a lieutenant colonel without a hat sitting at the door of the office inside.

The major walked over, saluted the lieutenant colonel, and reported respectfully: "General Sokov is here!"

The lieutenant colonel saw Sokov and Agelina following the major. He quickly stood up and said to Sokov with a smile: "Comrade General, you are finally here. Comrade Marshal has been waiting for you for a long time." After that. , he picked up the phone on the table and said into the receiver, "Comrade Marshal, General Sokov and Agelina are here!"

After hearing Zhukov's reply, he quickly put down the phone and said to Sokov with a smile: "Comrade General, Marshal, please come in." Then, he quickly came to the door, pushed the closed door open, and ducked He went to the side and made a gesture of invitation to the Sokovs.

Sokov walked into the room and saw a huge desk opposite the door, and Marshal Zhukov was sitting behind this desk busy. He quickly walked two steps and came to the desk, raised his hand and saluted: "Report to Comrade Marshal, Sokov has been ordered to come and report! I follow your order, please give instructions!"

Zhukov stood up slowly and said with a smile: "Misha, you are here!"

He came out and shook hands with Sokov, then asked him and Agelina to sit down, and then said: "Misha, I have invited you many times, hoping that you can come to Berlin to help me, but you can't." I was rejected by you. If it weren’t for Comrade Agelina’s help this time, I’m afraid you would still be hiding in Moscow and refusing to move.”

Sokov laughed dryly and said with some embarrassment: "Comrade Marshal, I have clearly replied to you. If I am to direct the war, I may be of some use. But I want to help you rebuild Berlin. , please forgive me that I can’t do it.”

"You don't know how to learn. No one is born with it." Zhukov said disapprovingly: "Don't worry, I will arrange for someone to teach you how to do it."

Now that Zhukov has said it to this extent, if Sokov refuses again, it will be disrespectful, and I am afraid Zhukov will immediately fall out. After hesitating for a moment, he said slowly: "Comrade Marshal, thank you for trusting me so much. I decided to try it first. If I do well, I will continue to do it; if I don't do well, I'll get out of here." , so as not to cause unnecessary trouble to you.”

"Just agree." Zhukov saw that Sokov was willing to stay and give it a try, and a smile appeared on his face: "The Allies invited me and people from the International Red Cross to go to the prisoner of war camp by the Rhine River for inspection. I recently I'm too busy with work and can't get away, so I'll let you go instead."

"A prisoner of war camp by the Rhine River?" Sokov was stunned after hearing this, and then asked: "What are you going to check there?"

"Someone reported to the International Red Cross that there were abuses of prisoners of war in the Allied prisoner-of-war camps along the Rhine River." Zhukov continued: "But the Allies firmly denied that similar situations occurred, so they invited the International Red Cross We will go to the prisoner of war camp with personnel from the Soviet Union and France to inspect.”

When Sokov heard this, he began to wonder in his mind that the Allied prisoners of war camp had been established on the Rhine River for half a year, and it was unknown how many German prisoners of war had died in it. Since they asked the International Red Cross and the Soviet Union and France to send people to inspect, they must have made thorough preparations. Even if they went, you would only see what the other party wanted you to see, and you would not be able to understand the prisoner of war camp at all. the real situation.

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov felt that Zhukov did not participate in the inspection of the Rhine prisoner of war camp, not because he was too busy, but for other reasons, so he asked tentatively: "Do you think there will be mistreatment in the Allied prisoner of war camp?" Is there a case of prisoners of war?"

Unexpectedly, after Zhukov heard this, he sneered and said in a disdainful tone: "This form of inspection is nothing more than a formality. Do you think the Allies can really let you know the real situation in the prisoner of war camp? So tomorrow you will act as my Deputy, when you go to the Rhine Prisoner of War Camp on my behalf, remember to read more and speak less, and it is best not to express any opinions. "

"Understood, Comrade Marshal." Sokov nodded vigorously and replied: "I will never express any opinions when I go to the prisoner of war camp for inspection tomorrow."

After a pause, Sokov asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, shall I go alone tomorrow?" He looked at Agelina next to him and continued to ask: "Don't you even give me an interpreter? That way At first, I couldn’t understand what the German prisoners of war were saying.”

"Ask Agelina to go with you tomorrow." Zhukov waved his hand and said carelessly: "Not only is she proficient in German, French and Polish, she even speaks good English. With such an all-around translator by her side , you have nothing to worry about.”

Sokov looked at Agelina in surprise and asked: "Agelina, how many languages ​​do you know?"

"In addition to the languages ​​spoken by the marshal, I also understand Latin and Italian." Agelina replied with a smile: "I should be a translator for you, there should be no problem."

"That's good, that's good." Sokov turned to Zhukov and asked: "Then when will I meet up with the International Red Cross people tomorrow?"

"We have agreed to set off at nine o'clock tomorrow morning," Zhukov said, "but you must arrive at the Brandenburg Gate before eight-thirty to meet the International Red Cross officials and representatives from France who are waiting there. , and then, accompanied by U.S. military representatives, went to inspect the prisoner of war camp on the Rhine River.”

After handing over the task, Zhukov picked up the phone on the table and said into the receiver: "Come in."

The next moment, the door rang, and the lieutenant colonel who had just been sitting behind the desk outside the door opened the door and walked in. He stood upright like a wire pole, waiting for Zhukov to give him an order.

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Zhukov pointed at Sokov and Adelina: "Are the rooms arranged for General Sokov and Comrade Adelina ready?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, we are ready." The lieutenant colonel glanced at Sokov and Agelina, and asked solemnly: "Take them there now?"

"That's right, take them there now." After Zhukov said this, he turned his eyes to Sokov again and said: "Misha, you must be very tired after riding the train for two days, go and rest first. I will send someone to pick you up early tomorrow morning."

Sokov agreed loudly, raised his hand to salute Zhukov, then turned around and walked out of the office with Agelina.

Arriving at the office outside, Sokov asked the lieutenant colonel in a low voice: "Comrade lieutenant colonel, do you know where we live?"

"We will arrange for you to stay at the Adlon Hotel." The lieutenant colonel said: "The hotel is located opposite the Brandenburg Gate. It is one of the most famous hotels in Germany. Although it was damaged by artillery fire during the Battle of Berlin, after After half a year of repairs, most of the rooms are now ready to accommodate guests. ”

Although Sokov had never heard of the Adlon Hotel, since it was the accommodation arranged by Zhukov's people, the environment must be good. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, will you accompany us there, or will you arrange for someone else?"