In order to ensure that Rokossovsky would not be harassed while he was hospitalized, Stalin sent a company of internal guards to protect him. They were on duty in platoons, taking turns, and in the corridors and in the wards next door, sentry posts were arranged to ensure Rokossovsky's safety.

Borisova learned that Rokossovsky was hospitalized, and after finishing the work at hand, she hurried to the hospital. But as soon as she reached the floor where Rokossovsky lived, she was stopped by a second lieutenant at the top of the stairs. The other party said to her expressionlessly: "I'm sorry, comrade woman, no idlers are allowed to enter and leave here. ”

Borisova hurriedly took out her ID and handed it to the second lieutenant, and at the same time said: "Comrade second lieutenant, I am Borisova, director of the Industrial Bureau, and I am friends with Marshal Rokossovsky. ”

The second lieutenant didn't accept the document handed by Borisova at all, but said dryly: "I'm sorry, Comrade Director, no matter who you are, I can't let you in without being notified, please forgive me!" After saying that, he raised his hand and saluted Borisova, turned around and walked away. As soon as he left, two armed fighters of the Internal Guard came up and blocked Borisova, preventing her from continuing her forward.

Borisova saw that in addition to the two fighters in front of her, there were many fighters in the corridor, and even if she had passed here, there were still many hurdles to break in front of her. So instead of trying to break through, she turned around and went down the stairs. I thought to myself, who should I ask for help and take myself to Rokossovsky?

Coincidentally, Borisova had just left the hospital, and Serova had also walked into it. However, she, like Borisova, ran into a wall in front of the internal guards. The second lieutenant on duty, regardless of whether she is a movie star or not, whether she is the wife of the famous poet Simonov or not, is just one sentence: "I'm sorry, I didn't receive notice and can't let you in." ”

Although Serova was not able to enter the ward to visit Rokossovsky, she did not leave in a gloomy manner like Borisova, but took out her phone book, found a phone, and called the big people she knew. I found a few people, and when they heard that she wanted to visit Rokossovsky in the hospital, they politely refused, saying that they were incapable.

Just when she was about to be disappointed, she suddenly saw a name: Lunev. As far as she knew, this person was in a high-ranking position in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he might be able to manage these officers and soldiers who were protecting Rokossovsky. She took a chance and made a phone call to Lunev. After the other party heard that it was Serova calling, he said with some excitement: "It's you, Comrade Serova, I didn't expect you to keep my phone number." ”

"Yes, Comrade Lunev. Ever since you gave me your phone number, I've been careful to keep it. Serova, who was anxious to see Rokossovsky, said humbly: "I am in a little trouble now, and I hope to get your help." ”

"What's the matter?" Lunev said cheerfully: "You might as well talk about it and see if I can help you solve it." ”

"That's right, Comrade Lunev." Serova said euphemistically: "I heard that Marshal Rokossovsky was hospitalized in the Sechenov Medical Academy and wanted to visit him, but at the top of the stairs he was blocked by the fighters of the guards. ”

Hearing Serova say this, Lunev hesitated for a moment and asked: "Comrade Serova, do you know what part of the troops on duty they are?" ”

"Judging by their clothing, it should be from the internal affairs army." Serova asked tentatively: "Comrade Lunev, can you help me?" I just wanted to visit Marshal Rokossovsky. ”

"Is it the Internal Guard? That's easy to do. Hearing that it was an internal guard unit under his jurisdiction, Lunev's heart suddenly became much more steady, and he said into the microphone: "You call me again in half an hour, and I will take care of this matter." ”

"Thank you, Comrade Lunev." Hearing that Lunev was willing to help her, Serova was overjoyed and hurriedly said: "I have a new movie coming out in the near future, and I will definitely send you a few tickets then." ”

After sitting in the hospital cafeteria for half an hour, Serova called Lunev again, and the other person said to her on the phone: "Serova, the commander of that unit is called Belkin, I have already greeted him, and when you go up later, just give your name, and he will take you in." ”

When Serova went upstairs this time, she found that it was no longer the second lieutenant standing at the top of the stairs, but a captain in a blue hat. When he saw the beautiful Serova appear, he couldn't help but show a surprised expression on his face, but he quickly returned to normal, stepped forward and asked Serova: "I'm Captain Belkin, is it Comrade Serova?" ”

"Yes, I'm Serova." Serova replied to the captain with a smile: "I want to visit Marshal Rokossovsky, I don't know if it's okay?" ”

"Comrade Serova, I've been waiting for you here for a long time." Captain Belkin said politely: "Please come with me, and I will take you to the ward of Comrade Marshal." ”

The captain took Serova to the ward, pointed to the door with his hand, and said to Serova: "Comrade Marshal is inside, I'm sorry, I can only give you half an hour." Serova nodded, thanked Captain Belkin, pushed open the door to the ward, and stepped inside.

Rokossovsky was sitting on the bed, watching a stack of battle reports from the General Staff. When he heard the door knocking, he thought it was a nurse, so he didn't care. Unexpectedly, he heard a familiar voice and shouted timidly: "Koschika, I've come to see you!" ”

He raised his head and looked in the direction where the voice came from, and when he saw clearly that it was Serova, he was stunned at first, and then exclaimed: "Serova, it's you here!" He put the telegram in his hand on the bedside table next to him, rolled over and got out of bed, and without even having time to put on his shoes, he walked quickly to Serova and gave her a warm hug.

Serova leaned her face against Rokossovsky's broad chest and said with tears in her eyes: "I heard that you are hospitalized, so as soon as today's movie is finished, I rushed over." Now that I'm okay, I'm relieved to see that you're okay. ”

Rokossovsky didn't know how heavily guarded the corridor was, so he didn't know how difficult it was for Serova to come here to see her. After beckoning Serova to sit down on the edge of the bed, he helped her pour water and asked with a smile: "Serova, you just said that you have been making a movie recently, I don't know what the name of the film is?" When it's released, I'll go and see it. ”

"Conquer Berlin!"

When he heard the name of the film, Rokossovsky's hands trembled and he poured a lot of water on the ground. However, he quickly stabilized his mood, walked over with a glass of water and handed it to Serova, and said: "But our army is still far from Berlin. ”

"Sooner or later, we will conquer Berlin," Serova said with some emotion, "isn't it, Koschika?" ”

"Yes, sooner or later our army will conquer Berlin, and I believe that this day will not be too far off." Rokossovsky couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when he thought that he couldn't personally lead the troops into Berlin, but he still pretended to be very casual and asked: "What role did you play in it?" ”

"Teacher!" Hearing Rokossovsky's question, Serova proudly replied: "I played a young female teacher in the film, and this is an amazing role. There were several actresses in the studio who wanted to play the role, but the director finally gave me the role. ”

After the two chatted for a while, Serova's expression suddenly dimmed: "Koschika, I married Simonov, you won't blame me, right?" ”

When Rokossovsky heard the news of Serova's marriage to Simonov, he was indeed disappointed. But after thinking about it, even if he likes Serova again, he can't marry her, and instead of delaying her life, it is better to let her find her own happiness. Thinking of this, he shook his head and said, "When I heard the news at the time, I was angry with you. But then I thought, you can't be too selfish, you have the right to choose your own happiness, and I should respect your choice......" Serova listened to Rokossovsky's words, and threw herself into his arms, not speaking but crying vigorously.

I don't know how long later, suddenly someone knocked on the door outside, and then a man's voice sounded: "Comrade Serova, the time is up." ”

Hearing the sound from outside, Serova remembered that Captain Belkin had only given her half an hour, quickly wiped a handful of tears, stood up and said to Rokossovsky: "Koschika, you have a good rest, I will come to see you another day." With that, he quickly kissed him on the forehead and left.

Rokossovsky has stayed in the ward since he entered the hospital and has not left the house, not knowing that in the corridor outside the door, there are many soldiers of the Internal Guard standing guard. He opened the door and walked out, but as soon as he had walked a few steps, he was stopped by a soldier, who said respectfully: "Comrade Marshal, you need to recuperate, please don't walk around." ”

Rokossovsky, who was blocked from getting there, became angry all of a sudden: "I'm tired from lying in bed and want to walk around, do you still dare to block my way?" ”

The fighter was taken aback by Rokossovsky, quickly took a step back, stepped aside and said: "Don't dare, we are just ordered to keep you safe." ”

Rokossovsky snorted coldly and walked towards the staircase. This time, it was a second lieutenant who stopped his way. The second lieutenant once stopped Borisova and Serova, who were visiting Rokossovsky, and when he saw the marshal coming over angrily, he thought that he was looking for himself to settle accounts, and he trembled with fright. But he was deeply afraid that Rokossovsky would go downstairs directly, so he could only block the way and ask tremblingly: "Comrade Marshal, do you want to go out?" ”

"I think it's too stuffy in the ward and I want to go out for a walk." He didn't want to embarrass the second lieutenant too much, so he ordered, "You can take two people with me." ”

Hearing Rokossovsky say this, the second lieutenant quickly nodded his head in agreement, called two soldiers, followed Rokossovsky, and went down the stairs and walked in the garden next to the building.

While walking, Rokossovsky thought to himself: since Serova knew the news of her hospitalization, with Borisova's identity and status, she would not have known the news of her hospitalization, why didn't she come to visit her, what happened? While he was thinking wildly, he saw the ensign accompanying him, and when he drove the sick number for a walk in front, a flash of inspiration suddenly flashed in his mind, and he immediately figured out the reason.

But in order to find out what he really wanted, he still shouted at the second lieutenant: "Comrade second lieutenant, come to me." ”

Hearing Rokossovsky shouting about himself, the second lieutenant hurriedly trotted over, nodded and asked: "Comrade Marshal, do you have any instructions?" ”

"Ensign, I'll ask you." Rokossovsky looked at the ensign and asked, "Is there anyone else who came to visit me besides Serova, but was stopped by you?!" ”

"This ...... This ......" The second lieutenant couldn't help but panic a little when he heard that Rokossovsky really asked about it.

When Rokossovsky saw his expression, he knew that there must be someone who was visiting, but he was blocked by the ensigns, so he snorted heavily and said in a stern tone: "Say! ”

The second lieutenant was frightened and quickly replied, "Actually, two women came today and wanted to visit you. After one of them was stopped by me, I don't know what to do, but when she came again, Captain Belkin actually sent her to your hospital room himself. ”

"And another?" When Rokossovsky heard that two women had arrived, he thought with a hint of luck: the other person might be Borisova.

"I think about it," the second lieutenant tried to recall, wiping the sweat from his forehead, "if I'm not mistaken, there is another woman who is also quite beautiful, she says that she is the director of the industrial bureau, and her name is ......" The second lieutenant was too nervous to remember Borisova's name.

"Is it called Borisova?" Rokossovsky asked.

As soon as Rokossovsky reminded him, the second lieutenant immediately remembered that the first woman who was stopped by himself was not called Borisova? He nodded vigorously and said in an affirmative tone: "That's right, that's right, it's called Borisova." ”

"When did she come?"

"About two hours ago." Seeing that Rokossovsky had been digging into the roots, the second lieutenant simply poured beans into a bamboo tube and said everything he knew: "After she was stopped by me, she stood in the corridor and looked at the ward where you were staying for a long time, and finally left disappointed. Not long after she left, a second woman came......"

"Second lieutenant," Rokossovsky heard that Borisova was leaving disappointed, and immediately could not sit still, and hurriedly ordered the second lieutenant: "Prepare a set of civilian clothes for me, and I will go out immediately." ”

"Comrade Marshal," the second lieutenant panicked a little when he learned that Rokossovsky was going out: "If you leave the hospital, your safety may not be guaranteed." ”

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Rokossovsky urged: "Stop grinding, hurry up and find me a set of civilian clothes." ”