After leaving the checkpoint, there was a long time, no one in the car spoke, and the car drove forward silently.

I inadvertently looked up and saw the driver smiling inexplicably in the rearview mirror. I couldn't help but ask strangely: "Comrade driver, what are you laughing at?" ”

"Comrade Major, you are really remarkable." The driver replied unexpectedly: "I really didn't expect you to be a general, and you are the only female general in the history of our army." ”

I smiled bitterly and replied, "What female general?!" That's all in the past, I'm just a major now. After speaking, I turned my head to look at the political commissar Xijin next to me and said, "Comrade political commissar, in order to avoid similar misunderstandings again, can you replace my military ID card as soon as possible?" ”

After listening to my words, the commissar nodded in agreement.

I looked curiously out the window into the darkness, but it was dark except for a small area in front of me illuminated by the headlights, and I couldn't see anything of interest. I wanted to ask Higgin, but I found that he was recuperating with his eyes closed, so I asked the driver instead: "Comrade driver, how long will it be before we reach Lake Ladoga." ”

"Comrade Major, we are already driving on Lake Ladoga." The driver said without looking back.

The car drove on the ice of Lake Ladoga for a few more minutes, and the biting cold wind blew into the car from time to time. I shivered with the cold, and even my teeth chattered. I can't help but wonder in my heart, I was frozen into this virtue when I sat in the car, how could those soldiers who stayed on duty on the ice withstand such a severe cold?

I looked around, and finally found that the cold wind was blowing in through the unclosed window of the commissar's side. I wanted the political commissar to roll up the window, but I was embarrassed to disturb Higgin, who was closing his eyes and recuperating. When he was in a dilemma, the political commissar opened his eyes, looked around and said, "What's the matter, why is it so cold in the car?" Where does the cold wind come from? ”

I raised my hand and pointed to the window next to him and said, "Comrade Political Commissar, it's your window that is not closed tightly." ”

Hearing me say this, he quickly shook the handle and closed the window tightly. As soon as the windows were closed, the cold wind stopped pouring in, and I suddenly felt much warmer in the car.

"Comrade Oshanina," he said with concern, "I really didn't expect it to be so cold on this lake, you should pay attention to keep warm, if you get frostbitten, you will be in trouble." ”

I nodded, and was about to say Xie Luxie, when suddenly I saw the outline of the anti-aircraft gun installation next to me, or more precisely, the towering barrel, because the rest was blocked by a chest wall made of snow. A statue of anti-aircraft guns towered over the breastwork made of snow, and behind it flashed a faintly recognizable tent in the distance, which I thought was probably where the anti-aircraft artillery men were staying.

I pointed outside and asked, "Is that where we're going?" ”

The commissar looked out of the car window, and then asked the driver of the car: "Is there a camp for the women's anti-aircraft artillery company?" ”

The driver stopped the car steadily and replied: "Yes, Comrade Political Commissar." We've arrived at our destination. ”

The three of us got out of the car, and the driver volunteered to be our guide in front of us, walking along the breastwork that covered the anti-aircraft guns in the direction of the tent.

"Stop! What do you do? Suddenly, a female soldier's vigilant voice came from the front.

The sudden sound startled all three of us, and I instinctively aimed my assault rifle in the direction it came from, and almost pulled the trigger.

After a short silence, the driver stepped forward and said loudly: "Don't be nervous, comrade soldier, we have come specifically for your commander. ”

"Hey!" Although he heard the driver say this, the voice on the other side still seemed a little nervous, "You all stand still, stay away from our military equipment, and don't come, otherwise, I will shoot." ”

I was relieved to hear that the other party was a sentry on duty, and I lowered my gun and walked slowly towards her position, and at the same time said, "Comrade soldier, don't be nervous. My name is Oshanina, and I am the new commander of your anti-aircraft artillery battalion, and I have come here to find your commander. ”

Hearing my voice, the other party seemed to be relieved, and then said timidly: "Then the others stood still and didn't want to move, so you walked over slowly." ”

I turned to Higgin and the driver and said, "Comrade Political Commissar, you stay here first, and I'll go over and have a look." Then he walked unhurriedly in the direction from which the sound came.

I walked a few meters away from the female soldier and stopped, and seeing that I had stopped advancing, the female soldier on duty turned on the flashlight, shook it in my face, and then heard a dry voice report: "Report Comrade Commander, the soldier Krascina is on duty, waiting for your instructions." ”

"Keep on duty." By the time I had said this, I had already walked up to her side and asked, "Where is the commander of your company?" ”

She pointed to a tent with light twenty meters behind her and said, "Comrade commander, company commander and instructor are all in that tent. ”

"Okay, I've got it. Keep on duty. ”

"Yes!" Krascina replied loudly, picked up her gun and walked back and forth in front of the anti-aircraft artillery position.

I beckoned Higgin and the driver to come over, and then we walked together to the tent.

Walking outside the tent, the driver tried to open the curtain and go in, but I stopped him. I stood outside the tent and politely asked, "Can I go in?" ”

There was silence in the tent at first, and then a woman's voice sounded: "Come in!" ”

I lifted the curtain and walked in first, followed by the commissar and the driver.

There were two female officers in the tent, both wearing military caps, and the instructor with blonde hair sat opposite the door, while the other officer sat with his back to us, although her rank could not be seen, but it was supposed to be the female company commander.

When the young instructor saw us entering, he quickly stood up, gave a military salute to several of us, and reported to Shikin dryly: "Report to Comrade Brigade Political Commissar, Orlova, instructor of the women's anti-aircraft artillery company, report to you and listen to your orders." ”

The female officer, who sat with her back to us, also stood up, a slender young woman with a medal pinned to her chest and her black hair tied up in a smooth bun at the back of her head, and she also saluted us, and at the same time she solemnly reported: "Report to Comrade Political Commissar, Lieutenant Kirianova, commander of the women's anti-aircraft artillery company, to report to you and listen to your instructions." ”

Commissar Higgin returned the military salute and then introduced me to me, who was standing next to them: "Hello, girls! Let me introduce you to Major Oshanina, the new commander of the 2nd Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion, and you will be under her command from now on. ”

Krascina first shook hands with me and politely said: "Hello! Comrade Major, it's a pleasure to meet you! ”

And Lieutenant Kirianova, who was standing in front of me, stood there motionless, staring at me intently, the corners of her mouth twitching, as if she had seen some long-lost relative.

Krascina beside her gently tugged at the corner of her clothes and quietly reminded her: "Hey, comrade company commander, what's wrong with you?" ”

Lieutenant Kirianova suddenly jumped up and hugged me tightly, shouting excitedly: "Is that you, Leda? My dear, I always thought you were sacrificed, but I didn't expect you to be alive. That's great! ”

When I was first hugged by the lieutenant, I was stunned for a moment, but when I heard what she called me and what she said, I immediately remembered that she was the Kirianova who served as the deputy platoon commander of the women's anti-aircraft artillery platoon of the 171st Command. At that time, she was still a sergeant, but she didn't expect to see her for a few months, and she also became an officer.

I didn't expect to meet an acquaintance here, and I knew an acquaintance when I first crossed. When I hugged her tightly, I couldn't control my emotions anymore, and tears couldn't help but flow down my face.