Yumashev did not immediately agree, but looked down at Khrulev, and when he saw him bowing slightly, he immediately said loudly to the officer: "Then there is no need to say, immediately invite the American pilot in." Seeing that the officer turned around to leave, he shouted in the back again, "By the way, is the interpreter here?" ”

The officer paused and replied with a smile: "Of course, the interpreter and the American pilot are waiting outside the door." ”

"And what are you still standing here?" Yumashev smiled and waved at the officer, urging, "Hurry up and invite our American guests in." ”

"Yes!" The officer smiled in agreement, turned and walked out of the room.

When the American pilot, dressed in a brown-colored short-haired jacket and wearing a boat-shaped cap, appeared at the door, Khrulev immediately stood up and took the lead in walking towards the pilot. When I got up, I glanced at the teacup in front of me, and quickly took a big sip, but I didn't expect that the first feeling in my mouth was bitter, and then the feeling was very bitter, no wonder those commanders just now put the sugar cubes in the small plate in front of them into the cups when they drank tea, it turned out that the tea of the navy was much more bitter than the tea we usually drink.

I put down my glass and walked behind Khrulev and Yumashev with a bitter look on my face towards the American pilot at the door. Still far away, Khrulev opened his arms and greeted him warmly: "Welcome, our American friends!" ”

The officer, who was standing behind the pilot, promptly translated this sentence to him and told him about Khrulev's identity. After hearing this, the pilot raised his hand to the general's badge on Khrulev's shoulder and saluted an American-style military salute, and then opened his arms and hugged Khrulev tightly.

Yumashev, on the other hand, bypassed the two of them, walked to the door, whispered a few words to someone outside, and then walked back again. Standing next to Khrulev, smiling at the warm embrace he had with the American pilots.

After the pilot and Khrulev were separated, the interpreter told him about Yumashev's identity. So he also saluted Yumashev and hugged him, showing great affection. After parting, Yumashev triumphantly said to the pilot: "My friend, in recognition of your bravery and tenacity in today's air battle. We have decided to award you with a medal for bravery. ”

After hearing this, the pilot nodded to him with a smile and said politely: "Thank you, thank you, sir!" ”

When he walked up to me, the interpreter was about to introduce me to him, but he raised his hand to interrupt the interpreter's words, raised his hand to salute me, and said in stiff Russian: "Hello." General Oshanina, it's a pleasure to see you here! ”

Although the pilot's Russian sounded awkward, I didn't pay attention to these details, but wondered why he was able to call my name and rank, and I probably didn't have met him when I was at the airport in Alaska.

Just when I was puzzled, the American pilot spoke again: "Sir, you may be strange. Why we have never met, but as soon as I see you. Will you be able to call your name and rank accurately? ”

I nodded my head and looked at the tall and handsome American guy in front of me, wanting to hear what he had to say to me.

A smile appeared on the face of the pilot, this time he did not pass the interpreter. Instead, he said directly to me in broken Russian: "Sir, my name is Warren, Warren. Henry! ”

When I heard the surname Henry, a familiar name popped into my head: Victor. Henry. Thinking of this, I asked tentatively, "Warren." Don't know about you and Victor. What is Colonel Henry's relationship? ”

"Father," Warren replied blandly. "My father."

"I see!" When I heard that the American pilot in front of me, who had saved his life, was actually the son of Colonel Henry, a US naval officer I knew, I was overjoyed, and quickly held his hand and asked with concern: "You haven't seen Colonel Henry for a long time, have you?" ”

"Yes, sir, we haven't seen each other for almost half a year."

"Second Lieutenant, thank you for saving us today." When Khrulev heard that the pilot was the son of Colonel Henry, he also hurried to our side and said to Warren: "Maybe I can ask the comrades who are still in Washington to think of a way to get you a leave to visit your family, so that you can go home to meet your father." ”

Warren did not show joy after hearing this, but said in a steady tone: "Thank you, sir! No, no hassle at all. At a time when thousands of officers and soldiers do not have such an opportunity, I do not think that I can accept such a holiday. Maybe my father will not be happy to see me, but he will be disappointed by my selfish attitude. ”

"Your father is good, and he has a good education for you." Khrulev made such a conclusion with a smile.

I remembered that Henry once said that his two sons, one in the submarine force and the other as a carrier-based aircraft pilot on the USS Hornet, I couldn't help but ask curiously: "Second Lieutenant Warren, I heard your father say that you were a carrier-based aircraft pilot on the aircraft carrier Hornet, why did you go to the air base in Alaska again?" ”

"Comrade Oshanina, I think I can explain this to you." Without waiting for Warren to answer, Yumashev interjected: "The Hornet was unfortunately hit by a Japanese torpedo during the Battle of Santa Cruz in October last year and sank to the bottom of the sea. ”

"Yes, sir." Warren went on to say: "During the naval battle, the Hornet was hit by three bombs and two torpedoes, while two Japanese planes crashed into the deck. The ship's aviation gasoline depot was set on fire, and the bridge and deck were severely damaged, and the engines were unable to operate.

The fleet commander ordered the Northampton to remove the Hornet from the battlefield, but due to technical problems such as broken cables, the towing did not begin until a few hours later. On the way back, the maintenance crew successfully repaired the engine, but it was also discovered by the Japanese fleet, and the Northampton immediately cut the cable to avoid the attack of enemy aircraft. In the ensuing attack, the Hornet was hit by a torpedo and two bombs, and although it was unable to move forward due to the engine being damaged again, it never sank.

In order to prevent the Hornet from being captured by the Wa Kingdom, after the captain gave the order to abandon the ship, the two destroyers received the order to sink the Hornet. However, the ship was hit by nine torpedoes and more than 400 rounds of five-inch shells, and still failed to accelerate its sinking.

When our army is out of the battlefield. The Japanese fleet, which followed behind, sent two destroyers in an attempt to tow the Hornet away. However, due to the large displacement of the Hornet, the two destroyers of the Wa Kingdom could not pull it at all, so they fired four torpedoes at the Hornet again, causing the Hornet to sink completely to the bottom of the sea.

And some of our carrier-based pilots on the Hornet were assigned to other aircraft carriers. The other part was assigned to naval aviation, and I was assigned to the air base in Alaska. ”

Warren had just finished telling the fate of the Hornet when I saw Deputy Commander Frolov appear at the door, still holding two delicate little boxes in his hands. From the appearance, I immediately recognized the box that was specially used to hold the medal.

Khrulev took a box from Frolov's hand, opened it, took out a shining medal for bravery from it, and hung it on Warren's uniform. He then extended his hand to Warren and congratulated him on the Soviet medal he had received.

Warren shook hands with Khrulev and immediately let go. Then he said in a low voice, "Sir." My companion also has a share of this medal, but unfortunately his whereabouts are unknown now, and it seems that he is more than lucky. Otherwise, he can enjoy the same honor. ”

"Second Lieutenant, don't worry." Khrulev looked at the American pilot in front of him and said amiably: "In addition to the fact that you can get this medal, your companions also have a share." By the way, there's something I was going to tell you later, but it's okay to say it now. Your companion is not dead. Our sailors have found him at sea and will soon be able to send him here to meet you. ”

"What. What do you say, sir? When Warren heard the good news, he excitedly grabbed Khrulev's arm, shook it vigorously and asked: "You said that Second Lieutenant Guy is still alive and not dead?" ”

"Yes, Captain Warren." Khrulev smiled and said to him: "Our sailors found him on a reef in the sea. There were no injuries on his body, but he was almost freezing. Our sailors lifted him onto the speedboat and wiped him with vodka for at least half an hour before he relented. Rest assured, a little longer. He'll be here too. ”

Warren nodded, turned sideways to me, and said, "Sir, you may not know, but Ensign Guy is lucky. As early as the Battle of Midway, the Hornet took off 15 'Avenger' torpedo bombers to form a formation to attack the Japanese fleet, because there was no fighter escort, and the fuel was about to run out, they were all shot down by Zero fighters and anti-aircraft artillery fire during the attack, and all 30 pilots were killed except for Second Lieutenant Gay. ”

When Khrulev and Yumashev listened to Warren's words, they couldn't help but sigh with emotion, saying that this second lieutenant Guy was really fateful, and he escaped death on Midway last time, and after being shot down by Japanese planes this time, he could still survive, I really don't know whether to say that he was lucky, it's not bad.

After Khrulev and Yumashev did not speak, Frolov walked over and asked: "Minister, commander, the remains of the two American pilots and the rescued pilot, we plan to transport them back to Alaska by transport plane tomorrow, is it okay?" ”

"No problem, General Frolov." Khrulev rushed ahead of Yumashev and replied: "Find two good coffins, settle the body of the American pilot, and send the rescued pilot back to Alaska." Speaking of this, he turned to Warren again and said, "Second Lieutenant Warren, when the time comes, I can only trouble you to fly back together." ”

"I don't have any ammunition or fuel on my plane, can you give me some more?" Warren waited for Khrulev to finish speaking, and asked cautiously: "Otherwise, I will not be able to return to the base in Alaska at all." ”

"Aviation ammunition may not match, and there is no way to supplement this." He was answered by Deputy Commander Frolov: "But there is no problem with fuel, I will have your plane refilled after overhauling it." ”

"Thank you, thank you, sir." Warren politely thanked Frolov.

While everyone was waiting for the arrival of Second Lieutenant Guy, I greeted Khrulev and called Warren aside to talk to him about his family. I tentatively asked, "Warren, is your brother's wife's name Natalie?" ”

"Yes, sir." Warren replied in the affirmative, and then he told me what he knew: "Natalie, with her two children, and her uncle, was supposed to return to the United States via Palestine, but was detained when she left Italy. Their current whereabouts are unknown, but according to people familiar with the matter, they may have been sent to concentration camps. ”

"Have you ever heard of the Nazi concentration camps?" I didn't know how much he knew about the death camps, so I asked very tactfully, "Do you know that their lives in the camps can be safe?" ”

My question puzzled Warren, and he looked at me blankly and said, "Natalie, they are not prisoners of war, they are just civilians, if there is any sin, it can't be because they are Jews." And her uncle was a famous Jewish writer, and I believe that even if he was imprisoned in a concentration camp, he would not be embarrassed. ”

Seeing that he didn't know anything about the concentration camps, I didn't want to trouble him, so I could only vaguely say, "If that's the case, it would be better." ”

"Report!" A familiar voice came from the door, and I quickly turned my head to look in the direction from which the voice came from, and saw that Senior Captain Smurray, who had sent me and Khrulev to the headquarters, was standing at the door, and I could vaguely see several people standing behind him.

"Come in, Comrade Captain." Frolov took the place of Yumashev and gave the order: "We have been waiting for you for a long time, hurry up and bring our American friends in." ”

Captain Smurray agreed, leaning to the side, leaning against the open door, and swaying his head outside. Then I saw two sailors wearing beanie caps, supporting a man in a Soviet overcoat.

"Dear Second Lieutenant Guy, is that you?" When Warren saw this person's appearance, he immediately screamed, and quickly stepped forward, and said at the same time: "Did I see you, or your ghost?" ”

Ensign Guy, who was supported by the sailors, smiled bitterly and said: "Of course it's me, don't forget, my life is big, even if you die, God may not accept me." ”

After the two comrades-in-arms who had experienced life and death embraced, Khrulev smiled and said to Second Lieutenant Guy: "Mr. Ensign, in order to thank you for your bravery and tenacity in today's air battle, I have decided to award you and Second Lieutenant Warren a medal of bravery each, not only in recognition of your achievements, but also in gratitude for your saving grace to us. (To be continued.) )

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