After listening to the phone, the person who answered the phone said: "Comrade Major, please wait a moment, I will go and inform the general immediately." Then I heard the sound of the microphone resting lightly on the table, and the sound of hurried footsteps fading away.

It wasn't long before there was a rush of footsteps coming from the microphone, as if several people had entered the room at the same time. Immediately, a familiar voice came from the microphone: "Major Oshanina, hello! I'm Commissar Higgin. ”

I quickly straightened up and greeted him: "Hello! Comrade Political Commissar. ”

"I heard that you have something important to report to General Shilov?"

"Yes, Comrade Commissar. A very important thing, a matter related to the safety of the ice transport line. I didn't know why Shirov didn't answer the phone, so I cautiously asked, "Is General Shilov there?" ”

"What a coincidence, Comrade Major. Ten minutes ago, the general received a call from the headquarters of the Front Army and rushed to attend an important meeting, but it is estimated that he will not be able to return for a short time. If there's anything important, you tell me it's the same. I'll tell him when he comes back. ”

When I heard that General Shirov was not there, I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed. However, Political Commissar Shikin is also one of the persons in charge of the ice transportation line, and the effect of reporting to him is the same, so I said straight to the point: "Comrade Political Commissar, I have a plan to strengthen night air defense, and I would like to report to you and Comrade General. ”

"It's just wonderful. Today, the general and I are worried about this matter, and it is for this reason that the headquarters just now summoned the general to the meeting. Higgin's voice sounded a little excited, but he immediately gave me another precautionary shot: "But let me remind you, Comrade Major, that it is unrealistic to ask the Front to send you additional air defense units, or to provide you with equipment such as searchlights and flares. ”

When I heard what he said, I immediately replied confidently: "Please rest assured that the air defense plan I have proposed does not require any additional manpower and no technical equipment, and can be accomplished only under the current conditions." As soon as these words came out, not only was there no sound in the microphone, but even Kirianova and Orlova in front of me were surprised.

When Kirianova opened her mouth to say something, Shikin's voice came from the microphone again: "Tell me and listen!" ”

I waved my hand at Kirianova and signaled her not to speak, and then I said to Shikin: "Comrade commissar, the reason why our army's transport convoy suffered heavy losses last night was mainly due to the sound of many car engines during the night transport, which drowned out the sound of enemy aircraft engines from far and near. As a result, enemy aircraft can easily spot the lights of our transport vehicles at night and serve as targets. By the time the driver of the convoy heard the sound of the enemy planes, the enemy planes were already strafing and bombing the convoy, and in this way, losses were inevitable. ”

"You have a point!" Higgin immediately confirmed my statement, "Go on, what do you think we should do to prevent it?" ”

"In order to ensure the smooth flow of ice transportation lines and reduce unnecessary casualties and material losses. I propose to set up anti-aircraft posts on the ice transport line. It is to send one or two fighters every kilometer to stand guard and monitor the sky, keeping them away from the road, so that they can not be disturbed by the sound of cars. As soon as they heard the sound of enemy planes, they fired their guns into the air and informed our troops of the moving transport convoy with the sound of gunfire. When the driver heard the gunfire alarm, he immediately took anti-air measures, that is, turned off the headlights or pulled over to the side of the road, and waited for the enemy plane to pass before continuing to move. ……”

As soon as I said this, I suddenly heard a loud "pop" in the microphone, as if the sound of someone slapping the table with his hand, startled me. I didn't know if I had said something wrong, so I stopped and waited quietly for the other party's reply. After a while, Higgin's excitedly slightly pitched voice came from the microphone: "Great! That's great! Major Oshanina, you are fantastic! Your suggestion is good, I will call and report to General Shilov right away. ”

Putting down the phone, I habitually wiped my forehead, wiped the sweat that did not exist, and couldn't help but say in my heart: I can't imagine that I actually handed over the method of the volunteers to deal with the American army to the Soviet army to deal with the German army, but this is also a helpless thing, if the problem of night air defense is not solved, my own life will not be guaranteed.

As soon as I looked up, I saw Kirianova and Orlova still standing in front of me dumbfounded, and hurriedly stretched out her hands and shook them a few times in front of their eyes, and shouted: "Hey, what's wrong with you two?" ”

It was only at the sound of my voice that the two of them woke up from their lost souls. Kirianova grabbed my hand, shook it vigorously, and said, "Lida, it's not easy for you to come up with such a wonderful solution. I used to think that you could be a general, but by luck, now I know that you are really capable. ”

"Alright, okay, don't be a nymphomaniac here." I patted her gently on the shoulder with my free hand, "I estimate that after Political Commissar Hikin reports my proposal, the air defense post of this ice transport line will be set up by this evening at the latest." You and Orlova should go to the company and arrange for the men to serve as air defense posts. ”

"It's good." She let go of my hand, saluted me with Orlova, and turned to walk out. When I got to the tent door, she suddenly stopped, turned around and asked me, "Leda, what do you mean by being a nymphomaniac?" ”

Her question stopped me. Although this word is used quite frequently in later generations, it should still be a coined word today. I was thinking about how to answer her when a rough male voice came from outside the tent: "Excuse me, is Major Oshanina of the anti-aircraft artillery battalion here?" ”

Who will be looking for me? Instead of answering Kirianova's question, I walked past her out of the tent to see what was going on. Outside the tent stood two male soldiers, because the collar of their military coats was open, so it was easy to see the ranks: a lieutenant colonel, a second lieutenant. The second lieutenant is the one I knew, the one who had just directed the soldiers to push the truck.

I walked up to the lieutenant colonel, stood up and saluted him, and reported: "Hello, comrade lieutenant colonel. I am the commander of the anti-aircraft artillery battalion, Major Oshanina, are you looking for me? ”

The lieutenant colonel returned the salute and introduced himself: "I am Lieutenant Colonel Harpy, the commander of the road escort team, and I have come to you on a special trip. ”

When I saw the second lieutenant, I knew the origin of Lieutenant Colonel Harpy, but I still asked politely: "May I ask you for me, is there anything you can do?" ”

Lieutenant Colonel Harpy pointed to the north and said in a somewhat unkind tone: "Comrade Major, I would like to ask you to explain, what are you doing when you asked my soldiers to push a broken truck into a snowdrift away from the road?" ”