Since the appointment order was issued by the Supreme High Command, Meretskov had no right to cancel or change it, even if he was a general. It seems that by tomorrow at the latest, I will have to obediently report to the 2nd Assault Army.

In the evening returned to the command with Meretskov. In the command headquarters, he said in a regretful tone: "Major Oshanina, after today's battle, it is estimated that many commanders have the same idea as me, and want to leave you in the front army headquarters or take up a position in the combat unit. But no, Major, I can't leave you behind, and although I'm a general, I can't disobey the orders of my superiors. ”

On the way here, I thought about it carefully, and for the commander of the day, he couldn't remember me at all, and it was probably because of Vlasov's repeated insistence, in order to give himself a face, he personally issued this order. This matter must be explained clearly to Meretskov, otherwise he will become wary of me in the future. I organized the vocabulary in my head for a moment before I spoke, trying to be measured and convincing at the same time: "Comrade commander, I think I should be able to give you an explanation for this order. The commander of the 2nd Shock Army, General Vlasov, was the commander of the 20th Army during the defense of Moscow, and I was his chief of staff at that time. Perhaps he had just arrived in a new environment and urgently needed to find a capable helper, so perhaps he thought of me and issued this order through the Supreme Command. ”

"Come on, Major Oshanina, I already understand what is going on." Meretskov stood up and said in a resolute tone, "But an order is an order, and it is not allowed to be discussed." In addition, you must know that you are not going to other troops, but to the 2nd Shock Army, which also belongs to the sequence of our Volkhov Front. I am very pleased with the leadership and bravery you have shown in today's battle......"

"Comrade commander, what is the current situation on the side of General Vlasov?" I asked softly.

"The situation is terrible, Major Oshanina," Meretskov replied, sighing, equally softly. "Although we blocked the crazy attack of the Germans today, we may not be able to stop it next time. This long and fragile supply line is in danger of being cut off at any moment, and you have to prepare for the worst. ”

This last sentence made me worry about my future, but on the surface I had to remain calm and pretend to be indifferent and replied: "Please rest assured, Comrade General, even if the troops are cut off, we will break out of the encirclement." ”

Meretskov was very satisfied with my attitude, he nodded and said: "God forbid, as is usually said." Don't be sad, maybe, it won't be long before you're back. I'll be glad if you come back. General Yakovlev and Colonel Koshevoy would have been happier. Well, go for it! ……”

I saluted and turned to leave, thinking to myself that I didn't know how to go to the 2nd Assault Army, and Meretskov would definitely not ask about such a trivial matter, who should I inquire?

He was thinking about going out, but was stopped by Meretskov again, and he asked from behind: "How to go to the 2nd Assault Army now, do you know the way?" ”

"I'll go outside and ask somebody."

"Why do you need to ask someone? I'll arrange a car for you and let the driver take you there, understand? What time is it? He looked at his watch. Ten thirty o'clock. It's getting late, so let's go to the signal corps's dormitory for the night. Tomorrow at dawn I will leave, let's say at six o'clock. I will arrange for the car to be waiting for you outside. That's it, I won't send you tomorrow. Major, go and rest! ”

At six o'clock in the morning, I showed up at the door of the headquarters building and looked around to see several cars, a sedan, a jeep, and a truck, parked in the parking lot opposite. I didn't know that the car was taking me to work, so I stood at the door and waited to see if any car would come by on its own initiative.

Unexpectedly, a car actually drove up, and a jeep quickly stopped in front of me. The door opened, and the driver got out of the car, saluted me and reported: "Hello, Comrade Major! I've been ordered to take you to the train station, so please get on the train. ”

"The train station?! Why do you want to go to the train station? I asked curiously.

"Comrade Major, because you have to take a narrow-gauge train to get to the station of the 2nd Assault Army." A familiar voice came, and then the door opened in the back, and another soldier stepped out of the car. One look at his epaulettes, I immediately recognized it as Lieutenant Akhromeyev, who fought alongside me yesterday.

"Hello, Lieutenant!" I didn't expect to meet an acquaintance here, so I quickly stretched out my hand to him. When shaking hands, he asked curiously: "Are you also going to the 2nd Assault Army?" ”

"It's not." The lieutenant's reply surprised me very much, what are you going to do in my car if you don't go the same way. When I was upset, he continued, "I have been ordered to escort you to the train station, please get on the train." ”

I nodded, walked around the front of the car, opened the passenger door and sat in. Then the driver and Akhromeyev got up, and the car started.

As soon as the train started, I couldn't help but ask, "Can any of you tell me why we are going to the railway station, not the 2nd Assault Army?" ”

"Comrade Major, let me answer this question." Akhromeyev, who was sitting in the back row, took the initiative to speak. "A dozen kilometers away from the headquarters of the Front, there is a small railway station. Supplies, ammunition, and grain were all transported by road, and then transferred to a narrow-gauge train there, and after passing through a forest, they were transported to the 2nd Assault Army. ”

I always thought that transportation tasks were done by road. In the bumpy car, I suddenly remembered one thing, about my order, when I was at the Fedyuninsky headquarters, I saw that the signature was the signature of General Meretskov of the Volkhov Front, why did the general personally see it yesterday and say that it was issued by the Supreme Command? Thinking of this, I quickly took the order out of my pocket and looked at it again. After a closer look, I realized that I had been negligent, and that the order was indeed issued by the Supreme Command, and that it was signed and issued by Meretskov, so it is no wonder that I saw his name at that time, and as a result, I always mistakenly thought that the order was issued by him.

The small train station in the forest is quickly there.

After the fighters on duty at the checkpoint checked our documents, they let us go.

The station is small, with only one railroad track, and a stuffy tank car is parked. In addition to a few soldiers on duty, there was also an officer wandering around with a cigarette in his mouth.

The jeep drove up to the officer's side and stopped, Akhromeyev opened the door and walked down, chatting with the officer.

The officer hurriedly threw the cigarette butt in his hand to the ground, and after stomping on it with his foot, he came to my car window, straightened up and saluted, and reported loudly: "Report to Comrade Major, I am Captain Deomily, and I am responsible for escorting you to the 2nd Assault Army to take up your post and obey your orders. ”