Steel Soviet Union

I couldn't speak, the intense pain crawled all over my body like ants, and my consciousness was wandering between darkness and light.

I felt as if my feet no longer belonged to me. I could barely feel their existence, and I couldn't use any strength. I could only let myself collapse on the gunner's seat like a rag doll. I feel myself being emptied out little by little, as if something is disappearing from my body.

Will I die here? Just like the countless martyrs and comrades in the same car with me?

I once thought that I was not afraid of anything. I was already ready to sacrifice, just like my brother and my father did to sacrifice their lives for this great Patriotic War.

But I was wrong. It was not until I was walking on the edge of dissipation of consciousness that I realized that the fear of death swept through my body like a bucket of ice water being poured from my head.

Reason tells me that I should not tremble, grieve, or fear for sacrifice, but my body and my thoughts are not controlled by reason, like a bursting flood. I never thought that my instinct would be so afraid of death. I thought that my passion for the motherland and my extreme hatred for the Nazis could defeat and erase all of this, but this was not the case.

It once again proved my ignorance and youth, just as I once did not understand why Andre admired Comrade Sir and Commander so much.

Maybe some things are just like this for me, and I can only understand them if I experience them personally, but I obviously have no chance to admit it anymore.

"If I don't want anyone to die, someone will save me."

The "last words" I whispered with all my strength were so weak, but who could have imagined that it would actually come true.

"There's someone alive! There's someone alive, hurry up! Hygienist, doctor! Over here, come over here! Someone come up and give me a hand, hurry up!"

"Be careful! Oh my gosh, her feet are almost rotten. Be careful when you carry her out."

"Here, get on the stretcher! The car is set up and ready to pick up people, hurry!"

I could feel that there were many comrades around me who were busy trying to save my life. I wanted to say something and tell them that there were other comrades lying in a pool of blood in the car, but what I heard before I spoke was the most miserable thing. ’s narration ending.

"Is there anyone alive in the car?"

"It's gone. The commander, loader, and driver all died, and only the gunner survived. We have to find a way to get the body out of the car. Several people are a little stiff, so hurry up."

"Okay, I'll go find the rope. I'll be back soon. Wait for me here."

I'm the only "lucky one" and that's how it ends.

But I didn’t even know what to say for a moment, I didn’t know how to express my state of mind at the moment, I couldn’t see anything, and I didn’t even know whether I was half-awake or dreaming.

Until the words of the military doctor rang in my ears.

"Your consciousness is gradually recovering, but don't try to open your eyes to see. Your eyes are injured and require follow-up treatment. I will give you an emergency bandage first, and arrange for surgery immediately when you get to the hospital. Hold on."

I don't know what's going on with my eye, I just feel it hurts.

I could feel layer after layer of bandages being put on my head, and my fear was wrapped around my heart layer after layer like these bandages. I never even thought about losing my light one day. How to face it.

"Doctor, my eyes, please save my eyes! I can still fight, I still have my hands, I can still control the main gun, I can't lose my eyes!"

I was so emotional at that time that I couldn't even say that I grabbed the doctor's hand tightly. It might be more accurate to say "pinch".

"Please believe in us, believe in the medical team of the leader, and hold on to yourself too! Comrade!"

"Carry it away, quickly! Send it to the ambulance quickly, it's not far from here! Move quickly!"

Someone was carrying me forward, but I had lost anything to hold on to. Only fear seemed to linger in my hands with nowhere to rest. I lost my vision and touch. I had never felt so helpless until I The only remaining hearing heard that extremely familiar name.

"Comrade Commander is here, please brace yourself and pay attention!"

"Comrade Commander is talking to the doctor, let's keep walking, don't stop!"

Maybe I will lose my light? Maybe I'll just leave the leadership division? Maybe I will spend the rest of my life with disabled legs and blindness? To spend the rest of your life surrounded only by coldness and loneliness, and then die alone?

At that moment I felt an unprecedented fear. I was afraid of darkness, of loneliness, of being forever separated from everything I knew. I have lost all my close relatives, even my mother died in the ruthless bombing by the Germans. I don’t want to lose the only thing that can make me feel warm.

I have to do something, otherwise I will regret it for the rest of my life, even if there is no result, I still have to do it.

"Comrade Commander, I want to see you, Comrade Commander, I am here!"

Gradually regaining a part of my consciousness allowed me to shout with all the strength I could muster. I hope all this will have an effect, and I hope I will have no regrets in the countdown to my possible military career.

Just like when I was selected as a leader, luck favored me again, and my desire when I was lonely and even desperate was once again fulfilled.

"Yes, I am here, I am Malashenko."

"Don't be afraid, Comrade Commander is here, I'm right by your side."

I still couldn't see anything, there was only endless darkness in my bandaged eyes.

But at that moment I was no longer afraid. What I held in my hands was the warmth that I had been looking forward to but had never had. Those strong hands with the gloves off tightly grasped my raised hand. His left hand was inseparable even though the stretcher was still moving without slowing down at all.

"Comrade Division Commander, I didn't do a good enough job. I failed to defeat the enemy I faced, resulting in the loss of precious tanks, and I failed to save any comrades."

"No, you did a good job, Ekadina. I saw with my own eyes that you used the main gun to hit the enemy hard. The enemy died, and the enemy's iron can also died. This is what a tank soldier should do and I have done it before and am still doing it now. You are my comrade, my comrade-in-arms, and the most important person to me. Don’t give up hope! Come on!”

I don't know how I mustered up the courage at that moment, but when I heard "get in the ambulance" and the door opened, I knew I couldn't hesitate any longer. This might be the first time in my life that I said this face to face. Last chance, it doesn't matter even if I can't see his face, because I can feel him beside me, and that's enough.

"Comrade Teacher, you have always been my role model and the force that makes me move forward and persevere. Please don't abandon me. I have nothing left. My diary is filled with photos of you cut out from newspapers. , you are my only hope and reason to continue fighting.”

"I, I, like you, I fell in love with you, Comrade Commander. You are irreplaceable in my heart. Please don't leave me behind. I can still fight. Please don't drive me out of the leadership division."

Malashenko, who had sent the person all the way to the ambulance, really didn't know what to say. This situation was really embarrassing and unexpected.

Now he is no longer holding the little girl's hand, it is the other girl who is holding his hand and not letting go. She is lying on the stretcher that is almost being sent into the ambulance compartment, crying and shouting, excited. It makes people feel a little helpless.

But even so, Malashenko still tried his best to comfort him. He knew how scary the current situation was for a girl who was only 23 years old. Even if she was the "excellent gunner" that Kurbalov mentioned by name when he was chatting and reporting.

"Don't worry, Yekakina, you will be fine. When you get to the field hospital, you will be treated with the best field medical conditions in the entire Red Army. I will personally ask Karachev to save your eyes. An excellent gunner will never be able to Lose the light.”

"I promise you that no matter what happens, you will not be ordered to leave the leadership division. I will definitely go to the hospital to see you, rest assured, heal your eyes, and then return to the team to join the battle. I guarantee there will be a chance! The comrades of the leadership division will always wait for your return!”

Although the result was a bit difficult to end and some troubles occurred, fortunately, Malashenko finally calmed down the emotional girl and got her into the car smoothly.

And stood there, looking at the dusty ambulance with its accelerator pressed down, speeding away towards the field hospital. I couldn't calm down for a long time, and I was really thinking about something I had never thought about before.

"Tsk, tsk, the heartthrob comrade is causing trouble again. I asked you, can you get your marriage done as soon as possible? You don't know how many little girls you will harm in your unmarried state, why can't you imitate me? My son can even help his mother. Collecting clothes."

To say that Iushkin is not the only one who usually doesn't keep his mouth shut, there is also Lavrinenko who is even more lax. Saying this at this time directly makes our Comrade Ma's beard crooked with anger.

Well, I haven’t shaved in more than half a month and I do have a beard, but it’s not that dense.

"I said you can't say something humane? Is this the time to say something like this? It ruins the scene! The atmosphere has been completely ruined by you Sukka! Besides, can you blame me? Your eyes saw me hooking up. Did you see me sending love letters to others? Do you know that you have to be reasonable in everything?”

Malashenko turned around and walked away while talking. I don't know when Lavrinenko got an opportunity and ran to Malashenko's side. He was following him all the way, chatting as he walked.

"Ah, right, right, right, you didn't hook up with the little girl, and you didn't write a love letter to anyone, but you can't stop people from thinking about it. You're in charge of the military, how can you still control your brains and thoughts? How can you, a great hero, control your thoughts? What about girls who are not married and have no children? What if they have a fiancé? Some teachers like you even have a lover."

"I'm not saying that, just like you, who else can girls miss you if they don't want you? If you don't blame you, who else can you blame? If you don't believe it, go to the field hospital and ask about it yourself, ask Karachev, and take a look. There are so many girls in the area who regard their comrades as their dream lovers and romantic partners. When I picked up the diary and hugged it, eight of the ten photos fell out of it, including those of their comrades, and two of them were of their parents. "

"you!"

"What am I? What I am saying is the truth. Since the fact is a problem, we must face it bravely and actively solve it. We cannot delay or leave it alone. Isn't this what Comrade Political Commissar has always taught us?"

I wanted to refute something, but as soon as I opened my mouth, I just felt speechless. I didn't know when to speak, and I couldn't close my mouth half-open. It was really embarrassing.

At the end of the day, Malashenko could only wave his hand and forcefully put the matter behind him and move on.

"I don't have time to talk to you about all this. This is a war, not about the love between children."

"Go and tally the casualty report. I will see it after dinner. Oh, by the way, speaking of dinner, send someone to ask how the preparations are. Tell the political commissar comrades not to go down to eat, and the troops at the front will eat on the spot. , Bring the food while it’s hot, I’ll ask you if it’s late and the soldiers are hungry.”

Seeing that Malashenko's "disregarding" attitude was rising again, what else could Lavrinenko say, knowing that he had offended his uncle? Then you can only salute and say "Yes, Comrade Senior", then quickly recognize the situation and run away, and then beat the Comrade Senior into silence. If you fail to keep up, you may be punished by cleaning the toilet.

After sending Lavrinenko away, Malashenko, who was thinking about something in his heart, couldn't help but stop and look back at the direction where the ambulance just left. After sighing, he was speechless and choked. , continue to lead the team forward.

marry?

Damn you, I wish this marriage would be so easy.