After returning from the secret base, I became a forgotten person, and no one appeared in my room except for Dr. Sergei, who came to the ward every day, the nurse who took eye drops, and the guards who stood guard outside the door.

After almost a week, not only did Crochkov not come, but even Bezikov, who was closest to me, there was no trace, what does this mean? In the face of this abnormal situation, I couldn't help but start thinking about it, pondering and pondering in my heart, repeatedly recalling every word I said to Ustinov in the base that day, and found that I didn't say anything wrong at all, and I shouldn't have fallen into the fate of being hidden, but why didn't anyone come to see me?

Just as I was about to fall into despair, there was a sound of footsteps at the door. It was Beziakov who came, and the thought immediately crossed my mind, and then I raised my elbow and looked impatiently at the door.

When I saw the few people who appeared at the door, I sighed in my heart, lay down again in disappointment, and then asked casually, "Dean Osimenen, is there something wrong?" ”

Osiminin walked up to me, leaned down and said to me respectfully: "Comrade General, after this period of treatment, Dr. Sergei and I have agreed that you can be discharged. Don't know what you mean? ”

When I heard that I could be discharged from the hospital, I cried out "thank God" in my heart, and I said that if I lay down in bed like this, I guess my people are about to fall apart. Hurriedly sat up and asked nervously, "Comrade Dean, I don't know what I can do to go through the discharge procedures?" ”

Osimmenin said with a smile on his face: "Comrade General, as long as you are willing, you can go through the discharge procedures at any time. After saying this, he also explained to me, "If it weren't for the recent shortage of beds in the inpatient department, even the corridors would be full of patients. Totally allows you to stay here longer. ”

I had already discovered the shortage of beds in the inpatient department, and I wanted to recuperate for two more days, and then ask when I would be discharged from the hospital after the vision of my eyes was fully restored, since now Osiminan took the initiative to bring it up. I said logically, "Then I'll arrange for someone to help me go through the discharge procedures." "After that, I called Yushchenko's name out loud.

As soon as Yushchenko walked in, I immediately instructed him: "Comrade Captain, you will follow Comrade Dean to the office in a while and help me go through the discharge procedures." ”

Osimmenin waited for me to finish Yushchenko's order, and the smile on his face grew: "Thank you, Comrade Oshanina. By the way, I think I need to remind you that your wounds are now completely healed. But for three months, it's best not to do strenuous exercise. ”

"I remember, Comrade Dean." Since I was in a hurry to leave this place where I had been staying for more than half a month, after saying this to Osiminans, I hurriedly urged Yushchenko: "Comrade Captain, the time is not early, hurry up and go with Comrade Dean to complete my discharge procedures." ”

After Yushchenko and Osiminin left, I was discharged from the hospital. I was worried about where to go. If I'm okay alone, I can go to Zhukov with a cheeky face. He asked him to arrange a place for me to stay, but now that there are eight guards besides me, it is not so convenient to arrange accommodation.

When he was worried, he heard a rush of footsteps coming from outside the door. I said in my heart that this Yushchenko's actions were quite quick, and he came back after completing the formalities so quickly. Because I'm packing my things. So without looking back, he asked, "Have all the formalities been completed?" ”

"Procedures, what procedures?" When the newcomer heard my question, he couldn't help but ask in confusion.

Hearing Bezikov's familiar voice, I couldn't help but rejoice in my heart, it seems that Zhukov still hasn't forgotten me. Finally sent Zikov to me, and this time there must be some important task. Thinking of this, I straightened up, turned around, and asked Bezikov with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, long time no see, how are you doing?" ”

When Bezikov saw the officer I was lying on the bed, he asked tentatively: "Are you planning to be discharged from the hospital?" ”

"Yes." I nodded and gave him an affirmative answer, "Dean Osiminen has just arrived, and he said that my eye wound is almost recovered, and I can be discharged from the hospital and go home to recuperate." ”

Bezzikov turned his head and glanced at the door, then asked, "Then where are you going?" ”

I was worried about where I was going next, but when he asked, I hurriedly followed his words: "Colonel, if you don't ask about this, I'm going to ask you for help." If you look at eight or nine of us, it's impossible for us to sleep on the streets. ”

"Sleeping on the streets?!" When Bezikov heard me say this, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "What the hell, you're a general now, and with your rank, who has the right to let you and your men sleep on the streets." Don't worry, I'll take care of the accommodation, and I'll arrange it for you later. ”

Now that the accommodation matter has been settled, the stone in my heart has fallen to the ground. Seeing Bezikov's hurried look, it is not like he came to catch up with me, and there should be some important task. So, after a moment of silence, I asked, "Colonel, you came here today, I don't know what is going on?" ”

"Alas, not for the current war situation." Bezkov sat down on my bed, looked up at me and said: "The Germans, having defeated our Southwestern Front and the Voronezh Front, concentrated their superior forces and pressed towards Kyiv. ”

Hearing that the situation in Kyiv is not optimistic, I can't help but worry about my old subordinates who stayed there: "Colonel, how is the situation there, can you withstand the German offensive?" ”

Bezikov shook his head slowly and said: "The situation is not optimistic, although we have two tank corps, one infantry corps and three infantry divisions there, but compared with the strength of the German army, we are still at a disadvantage. In addition, the Germans still have much more tanks, artillery and air supremacy on the battlefield than we do, and in my analysis, it is a miracle that General Rybalko and they were able to hold out there for a week. ”

"What is Comrade Marshal going to do?" Thinking that if Rybalko and them were to be encircled, all that awaited them would be captured or killed, I couldn't wait to ask: "Is he going to send reinforcements, or will General Rybalko withdraw from Kyiv before the enemy's encirclement is formed?" ”

"Withdraw from Kyiv?" After listening to my words, Bezkov looked at me with a strange look. "According to the intentions of the superiors, no matter how big the sacrifice is, you can't easily give up Kyiv." The troops drawn from Rokossovsky's Central Front a few days ago were bombed and blocked by the Germans on their way to Kiev. After several days of heavy fighting, they had to withdraw to the point of departure for the attack. ”

After listening to Bezikov's words. My heart sank as I feared for the fate of the tens of thousands of troops left near Kyiv. You must know that in the Battle of Kiev in the early days of the Great Patriotic War, more than 600,000 Soviet troops became prisoners of the German army, and now we only have a few tens of thousands, and it is really easy to withstand the onslaught of more than 200,000 German troops.

After a long time, I said in a heavy tone: "Colonel, General Rybalko they lack sufficient supplies in case they are surrounded by German troops. They will soon run out of ammunition and food, and even if the Germans do not attack, starvation can make them ineffective. ”

In response to my statement, Bezikov nodded and said approvingly: "Lida, you are right. At that time, hundreds of thousands of people did not wait to block the enemy rushing to Kyiv, and wanted General Rybalko's tens of thousands of men to block the enemy's onslaught and firmly hold Kyiv. Unless a miracle happens. ”

As we spoke, Yushchenkochen hurriedly walked in from outside. As soon as he entered the door, he said to me in a loud voice: "Comrade General, the discharge procedures have been completed, can we go?" After speaking, he found that there was still Bezkov present in the house, and he hurriedly stood upright. Say hello to Bezkov.

Seeing that Yushchenko had returned, Bezikov stood up, straightened the belt around his waist, and then said to me: "Okay, Lida." Comrade Captain also returned. Let's go. ”

"Colonel, I don't know where to go?" Yushchenko asked with a blank expression.

"Zhukov asked me to find you a few vacant houses near his headquarters, and you will live there then." After saying this, he said to me, who was still wearing a hospital gown: "Lida, you hurry up and change your clothes, Captain Yushchenko and I are waiting for you outside." With that, he took Yushchenko and walked out, not forgetting to close the door.

The house that Bezkov arranged for us was on the same street as Zhukov's headquarters, and it would take at most seven or eight minutes to walk. When arranging a room for us, Bezikov also specially introduced to me: "The residents of this street were almost all evacuated to the rear one after another when the German troops were approaching the city of Moscow. After our headquarters moved here, for the needs of work, we temporarily requisitioned all the vacant houses here to house our commanders and fighters. ”

"Colonel," seeing that after Bezikov had arranged everything, he had the intention of leaving, I hurriedly stopped him and asked: "I don't know what I can do to see Comrade Marshal?" ”

Bezikov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then said: "You rest here first, and I will go back and ask the marshal for instructions to see when he can meet you." With that, he nodded at me and walked out.

Seeing the back of Bezikov leaving, Yushchenko walked up to me and asked in a low voice: "Comrade General, the place to live is settled, what should I do with food?" ”

"Food?" I looked at Yushchenko and said puzzledly: "You can go to the street and buy what you want to eat, and you don't need to ask me for instructions." ”

Hearing me say this, Yushchenko's face showed a look of embarrassment. He muttered to me: "Comrade General, you don't know that when you were hospitalized, we were all stained with your light and ate the food in the hospital. But now that we're out of the hospital, we need to find a new place to eat. You must know that the city now implements a rationing system, and without the ration card issued by the city, even if you have money, you can't buy anything. ”

I waited for him to finish speaking, and immediately understood the reason for his embarrassment. But in the current situation, I can't solve the problem of ration certificates for them, so I can only wait for Bezikov to come back later, and let him think of a way.

Seeing that Yushchenko was still standing in front of me waiting for my reply, I waved my hand at him and said, "Captain, you take your people to clean the room first, and as for the ration card, when Colonel Bezikov comes back, I will ask him to help you solve this problem." ”

Although I said it very easily, I was very worried in my heart, after all, there are very strict regulations for the issuance of ration cards, and even with the help of Bezikov, it is not easy to get enough ration cards.

As soon as Bezzikov appeared in the afternoon, I immediately took him by the hand and told him about the fact that we did not have a ration certificate. After listening to this, he was silent for a moment and said: "Lida, at present, the city is very strict with the management of ration cards, even if I go out, the other party will not be able to give me two more ration cards, and you have eight or nine people now, and it is impossible to want one ration card per person." ”

When I heard him say this, my face suddenly showed a look of worry, if I didn't have a ration card, and I couldn't buy anything with money, then wouldn't my subordinates have the possibility of starving to death? We were about to beg Bezikov again to help us think of a way, but he said first: "In this case, I will get you three ration cards first, so that you can go and get the necessary food." As for the rations for the rest, I can send for you to bring a little. ”

Although it was difficult to be satisfied with such an arrangement, I also knew in my heart that this was the maximum help he could provide to us for the sake of my face, and I hurriedly thanked him on behalf of all the people.

As soon as I finished speaking, he took my sleeve and walked out, and at the same time said, "Let's go, Leda, I'll go to the headquarters, and Comrade Marshal will be waiting for you there." ”

Yushchenko was the only one who left the room with us, and the rest of the fighters stayed at home to clean up.

While on the way, Bezikov said to me with a worried face: "Lida, the situation in Kyiv is even worse than we thought. According to the latest information, the transportation line between us and them has been cut off by the Germans, and in two days they will be completely starved of food. Comrade Marshal asked me to call you over to hear if you have any good ideas. ”

Hearing Bezikov say this, I couldn't help but smile bitterly, and said in my heart that I am not a god, the troops are besieged by the Germans, and famous generals like Zhukov are helpless, can I come up with any good solutions?

Bezikov dragged me into Zhukov's office, walked to Zhukov, who was looking at the map, straightened up and reported: "Comrade Marshal, I have brought General Oshanina. (To be continued......)