Red Moscow

When Kopalova came to Sokov's carriage, Seryosha followed him in with his luggage. He put his luggage in the corner and said with a smile: "Kopalova, you and Misha must have not seen each other for a long time, and you must have a lot to say. I'm in the box next door. If anything happens, just call me. ”

After Seryosha left, only Kopalova and Sokov were left in the box.

After a brief silence, Kopalova asked: "There was a major just now. Where is he now?"

"It's in the box next door," Sokov replied. "Like Seryosha, he felt that staying here might affect our nostalgia, so he left."

"How many people are there in the box next door? Can they fit in?"

"In addition to Seryosha and the major, there are also two of my guards. It is a private room for four people and can be fully accommodated. Don't worry."

Kopalova, who was sitting opposite Sokov, stood up, walked over and sat down next to Sokov, and rested her head on Sokov's shoulder: "Misha, you promised me many things, but once None of the documents were fulfilled. Tell me, how should I punish you?"

Hearing what Kopalova said, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. When he was in Moscow, Kopalova made an appointment with him to see a play and even bought the tickets, but he failed to make the appointment. He laughed dryly and explained in a pale tone: "Actually, I didn't break the appointment on purpose, but because something happened at home and I really couldn't get away."

"By the way, according to the time calculation, Asya should have given birth." Kopalova sat up, tilted her head and asked Sokov: "Is it a son or a daughter? Can I be the child's godmother?"

Sokov did not expect that Kopalova would suddenly ask about his sad past. After the corners of his mouth twitched violently a few times, he murmured: "No, the child is gone."

Kopalova was stunned after hearing this, and then asked: "What's going on? Why is there no child?"

"On New Year's Day, Asiya went back to her parents' home in Khimki. Unexpectedly, on the way back, she encountered a car accident and was seriously injured." Sokov said sadly: "Although she survived after rescue, , but the child in her belly is gone.”

"Misha, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." Kopalova really didn't know about Asya's miscarriage. When Sokov said this, she immediately realized that she had asked a question she shouldn't have asked, and quickly raised her hands He stroked Sokov's face and said apologetically: "I shouldn't have brought up your sad past."

"It's okay, it's all over." When he talked about the child, Sokov naturally thought of Karina. He didn't know that the other party's due date was more than two months away, and he didn't know whether he could successfully give birth to the child. Don't have any more accidents.

"Misha, I heard something about you."

"About me?" Sokov asked in surprise, "What is it?"

"It is said that when you visited Marshal Zhukov on New Year's Day, you met Comrade Khrushchev. You told him that Ukraine will suffer from a severe drought this year, which may even cause food supply problems." Kopalova looked at Sokov asked: "Misha, is this happening?"

Sokov did not expect that even Kopalova knew what he said when he wished Zhukov a happy new year. Presumably his remarks also reached Stalin's ears. If what I said does happen in the next few months, it may be okay. If the weather were good and the food harvest was good, he might be accused of "spreading rumors" and imprisoned in Lubyanka prison.

Thinking of this, he asked cautiously: "Kopalova, can you tell me where you heard this rumor?"

"I also heard what people in the newspaper said." Kopalova explained to Sokov: "When I wanted to know more about the source of the news, others refused to tell me." Maybe she was worried that Sokov was too preoccupied. , and specifically added, "You also know that our reporters have a very wide range of sources of information. We have special channels to learn about information that ordinary people don't know."

Sokov smiled slightly and asked: "Kopalova, since you said that you have special information channels and can understand some situations that ordinary people don't know, then let me ask you if you know that after I went to Vienna, What position will it hold?”

"Tch, you think I really don't know." Kopalova said disdainfully: "I was in the dining car just now. There were many people around. I can't spread your story around to avoid leaking the secret. In fact, I got in the car I knew before that you were appointed as the commander of the 4th Guards Army. At that time, I was still wondering whether I would need to check each box after the train departed to see if I could find any trace of you. I didn't expect my luck. It’s so nice that I met you in the dining car.”

Sokov frowned, remembering what Kopalova said about the leader of the interview team, who arranged for her to be in the same box with three strange men. He wondered whether this was because Kopalova was deliberately looking for someone to get close to him. excuse.

"Then why did the leader of the interview team arrange for you to be in the same box with three strange men?"

Hearing Sokov's question, Kopalova was stunned for a moment, then understood what Sokov meant, and quickly explained: "Misha, don't get me wrong, I'm in a box with three strange men. It was the negligence of the person who booked the tickets in the newspaper's logistics department that made such a stupid mistake." Then he said, "But that's fine, I can move in with you legitimately."

Sokov deliberately teased her: "Aren't you worried that something will happen if you and I live alone in the same room?"

"What could happen?" Kopalova said: "Don't forget, the two of us were in love a year before the war broke out. We did everything we should and shouldn't do. I also What to worry about?”

Hearing what Kopalova said, Sokov broke into a cold sweat. Although he took this body, he did not inherit the memory of the original owner. Therefore, what happened between him and Kopalova suddenly remained unknown. clear. He planned in his mind that he would find an opportunity to sneak out later and ask Seryozha to see if he knew anything, otherwise he would be too passive.

"Kopalova, how long can you stay in Vienna this time?"

"It's hard to say." Kopalova shook her head and said: "There are two theories in the newspaper. One is that after covering the military exercises, the interview team returned to Moscow; the other is that the interview team is based in Vienna as a newspaper. If it’s the latter, I might have to stay in Vienna for a year or two before I have the chance to return to Moscow.”

"Ah, you want to stay for such a long time?"

Kopalova put her arms around Sokov's neck and asked with a smile: "Misha, if you want to stay in Vienna for a long time, and I invite you out to dinner, movies, and operas, will you still refuse me?" ”

"Maybe, probably, maybe." Sokov didn't expect Kopalova to ask this suddenly, and he didn't know how to answer in a hurry: "We'll see what happens then."

Kopalova chuckled, loosened her arms around her neck, stood up and walked to the opposite bed to lie down. She said to Sokov: "I was busy all night selecting photos yesterday, and now I'm a little sleepy. I'll sleep for a while and wait for food. Call me again at dinner."

Sokov was looking for an opportunity to sneak out of the box and find out about the situation from Seryosha. Hearing what Kopalova said at this moment, it was as if someone was giving you a pillow when she wanted to fall asleep. She suddenly felt happy and nodded quickly and said: "Well, you have a good rest. I will call you again when it is time to have dinner."

When he saw Kopalova covering herself with a blanket and turning sideways inward to sleep, Sokov did not rush to leave the box, but took out a book to read.

After reading for almost half an hour, Sokov felt that Kopalova must have fallen asleep, so he put down the book in his hand and walked out of the box quietly.

Arriving at the box next door, Sokov opened the door and was immediately hit by the smell of smoke inside. He took two steps back, fanned his hands in front of him to disperse the smoke, and said dissatisfiedly: "How many cigarettes did you smoke? I thought the box was on fire."

Seryozha came out of the box first and said apologetically: "Misha, I'm so sorry. We forgot to open the window when we were smoking, and the whole box was filled with smoke."

Vaserigov also came out, straightened his body and asked: "Comrade General, do you have any instructions?"

"I have no instructions for you." Sokov said: "I just came to see Seryosha and asked him something."

Seryosha did not expect that Sokov came here specifically to see him. He glanced at the closed door of the box next to him and asked tentatively: "Should we go in and talk, or should we talk somewhere else?"

"Let's go to the dining car," Sokov said. "There shouldn't be anyone around here."

The two came to the dining car, where there was no one except a female conductor.

Seeing the two of them looking for a place to sit down, the female conductor hurriedly came over and asked politely: "What do you two want?"

"Two cups of coffee." Sokov told the other party: "One cup of black coffee, no sugar cubes; one cup of milk coffee, two sugar cubes."

Soon, two cups of coffee were placed on the table. The conductor guessed that the two of them must have something important to talk about, so he retreated to the other end of the carriage.

Sokov pushed the black coffee in front of Seryosha and said, "Seryosa, I asked you to come out because I have something important to ask you."

Seryosha took the black coffee and asked in surprise: "What important thing?"

"What was my previous relationship with Kopalova?"

"What kind of relationship can it be? Of course it's a couple relationship." Seryosha looked at Sokov and said: "You have asked this question before. I explained it to you in detail, why have you forgotten it again?"

"Yes, I forgot again." Sokov said with a wry smile: "I don't know why, but I seem to be very forgetful now. There are many things that I completely forgot about when I turned around."

"You and Kopalova were lovers during college. We originally planned to get married on October Day in 1941. Unexpectedly, with the outbreak of the war, your wedding was postponed." Seryosha said while drinking coffee. While telling Sokov what happened that year: "After you joined the army, because of your outstanding performance, you were appointed as the squad leader of the Khimki town guard squad just three months later.

Shortly before the start of the major counterattack, the town of Khimki was bombed by enemy planes, and you were also stunned during the bombing. When you wake up, it will be as if you are a different person. You used to call Kopalova every other day, but since that day, I have never seen you call Kopalova.

I thought there was some problem between the two of you and quietly broke up. It was not until the Battle of Stalingrad that Kopalova followed several reporters into the city for interviews, and met you again. I can see that the way she looks at you is affectionate, and the way you look at her, apart from being amazed by her beauty, is completely like looking at a stranger. "

Sokov scratched the back of his head and said: "Seryozha, I'm not afraid of making fun of you. Since I was stunned by the German bombing, I have lost a lot of memories. For someone as important to me as Kopalova, I I actually remember nothing about it.”

"Misha, I was just telling the major that you are going to Vienna this time to serve as the commander of the 4th Guards Army, and the newspaper's interview team will stay for a long time. Maybe there will be something between you and Kopalova. Something else will happen. I also reminded him that it’s okay to know this in your heart, but you must not let Asiya know about it when you return to Moscow, otherwise it will cause you a lot of unnecessary trouble. "

"Seryozha, I know Major Vaserigov. He is a very strict-mouthed person. Even if he knew that there was something going on between me and Kopalova, he would not tell Asya. You know this? You can rest assured." Sokov picked up the coffee and wanted to take a sip. He found that it was too hot and put down the coffee cup again: "Seryozha, I thought about it. With my authority, I can appoint you as a lieutenant-level officer. . When you get to Vienna, do you want to stay with me, or go to the grassroots army? "

"If possible, I still want to stay by your side." Seryosha said: "You also know that during the entire war, I basically stayed by your side. There were very few opportunities to go to the front line. There were not many at all. There’s a lot of combat experience to speak of.”

"Since you want to stay by my side, then do as you wish." Sokov said: "When we arrive in Vienna and I officially take over the position of commander of the group army, I will arrange a suitable position for you. "

"Misha, thank you." Seryosha's eyes turned red when he heard this, and he said gratefully: "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to return to the army."

After the two finished their coffee and slowly walked back, Sokov asked again: "Are you going to live in the box next door with the major and the others, or go back to the original box and live with us?"

"I'd better stay in a box with the major and the others." Seryozha showed a smile that everyone knew: "This way, I will leave enough space for you. No matter what happens in the next journey, you You don’t have to worry about anyone interrupting your story.”

Sokov returned to the box and was surprised to find Kopalova sitting on the bunk reading a book. He was startled: "Didn't you say you were sleeping? Why are you up?"

"I stayed up all night. Although I was very tired, my mind was in a state of excitement. I couldn't fall asleep, so I just got up and read for a while." Kopalova looked at Sokov and asked: "Misha, what are you going to do? place?"

"Seryosha and I went to the restaurant and had a cup of coffee."