When I hugged Kirianova tightly, I couldn't help but think of the scenes I had when I first met her.

It was only that day that I transformed into Leda, dragging my wounded body, trying to stay awake, and staggering forward behind the line of captives and the warrant officers escorting them.

Waded through the creek with difficulty. It's almost out of the forest. I felt that I was getting more and more tired, and I couldn't hold it anymore, but I didn't dare to stop, because I knew that once I fell, I would never be able to get up again. The only thing you can do is to follow the warrant officer in front of you and continue to walk forward until you reach your destination.

In the silence of the forest, only heavy steps sounded.

The dawn here is silent.

Suddenly, from the surrounding forests, hills, and riverbanks, countless Red Army soldiers appeared. They shouted and poured out to us. In the forefront, in addition to Major Rostov, the immediate boss of Warrant Officer Vaskov, there was another female soldier, Sergeant Kirianova, the deputy platoon commander of the anti-aircraft artillery company of the 171st Guards Command, and the two saw that our small detachment pursuing the Germans had not returned for a long time, so they specially brought a large force to search for us in the forest.

I remember fainting as soon as I reported the results to Major Rostov-on-Don.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying on a makeshift stretcher, and several male soldiers were carrying me through the dense forest, while the deputy platoon leader, Sergeant Kirianova, was next to the stretcher, secretly wiping tears as she went.

"Kirianova," I had just called out to her in a weak voice, and she immediately bent down and grabbed my right hand and asked me with concern, "Lida, how are you feeling?" ”

"I'm not going to die, I'm dead, who's going to take care of my mom and son Alex." Although this is not what I want to say, I can't help but say it, and it seems that Lida's body is not my own decision.

Kirianova nodded while wiping her tears and comforted me: "Lida, no, no, no, you will not die." Hold on a little longer, and we'll be back at home soon. ”

Later, Vaskov and I were sent to the military hospital in Leningrad by the major. After I recovered from my wounds, when I inquired about the whereabouts of the warrant officers and female soldiers, I learned that the 171st Lane Camp had been occupied by the Germans, and the troops defending the vicinity had also been scattered, and I had completely lost contact with them. Unexpectedly, I was overjoyed to meet my former superiors in the tent of the women's air defense company on Lake Ladoga today.

"Comrade Company Commander," the instructor next to me interrupted my recollection, she tugged at the corner of Kirianova's clothes, and reminded in a low voice: "Comrade Company Commander, Comrade Brigade Political Commissar is still here." ”

After I separated from Kirianova, while she was still wiping her tears and tidying up her clothes, I first stabilized my emotions and explained to Shikin apologetically: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commissar, I beg your pardon. I did not expect to meet Comrade Kirianova here. She had previously been my platoon commander, and then I lost contact with her after I was wounded in battle and taken to a hospital in Leningrad. I didn't expect to meet her here today, so I apologize for my momentary gaffe. ”

Xijin smiled and said, "It's a good thing that old comrades-in-arms are reunited." Anyway, I've already sent you to your destination, and I don't have anything to do here. I won't delay you in catching up with the old days, but this time I'm going back to the city. ”

"Comrade commissar," said Kirianova, holding him around, "it is dark and the road is not easy to walk, so you can rest with us for the night." There's an empty tent right next to it, so you can stay there tonight with your comrade driver. ”

The political commissar looked at his watch, shook his head and said, "No need, it's only eight o'clock, and it's just the right time to rush back at this time." ”

At this time, I found out that the driver was not there, and just wanted to ask the political commissar, the driver had already walked in with a curtain open, still carrying my luggage. He put his luggage on the ground and said, "Comrade Major, I have brought your luggage. Without waiting for me to reply, he turned around again and said, "Comrade Political Commissar, the car has not been turned off yet, shall we leave now?" ”

Higgin nodded and said, "Okay, let's go." He shook hands with us one by one before opening the curtain and leaving with the driver.

After the commissars were gone, Kirianova pulled me to the table and sat down, and asked curiously: "Lida, where have you been all these months, why haven't you heard from me at all?" ”

Instructor Orlova echoed and said, "Yes, Leda, you can tell us about it." I often heard Comrade Company Commander mention you, and I heard her tell me that you had shot down German planes and that you had followed Warrant Officer Vaskov to pursue the German devils who had infiltrated the rear of our army. When you return from your mission, you are seriously wounded, and after being taken to the hospital in Leningrad, she has completely lost your news. ”

I smiled slightly, digressed the subject, and said, "This is a long story, I'll tell you about it later." Comrade platoon commander, after I recovered from my wounds in the hospital, Marshal Tovoroshilov inquired about your whereabouts, and the result was that the 171 meeting had been occupied by the Germans, and not only did you and Warrant Officer Vaskov have not heard from you, but even Major Rostov, who was in charge of commanding us, is missing. Can you tell me what happened during my hospitalization? ”

"Marshal Voroshilov?" The instructor looked at me with adoring eyes and asked with some surprise: "You have actually met Comrade Marshal himself?" ”

"Yes. I've seen it more than once. I replied lightly, and said in my heart that if you knew that I had even seen Stalin himself, I guess you would faint in excitement at once.

Kirianova pushed a cup of hot tea in front of me and began to tell the story of what happened when I left the 171 camp: "Shortly after you and Warrant Officer Vaskov were taken to the hospital in Leningrad, the Germans launched a new offensive. Although our warriors fought tenaciously and fought for the enemy's territory, they were unable to stop their attack. After the capture of the railway junction where Major Rostov was located, almost a company of fighters, breaking through the enemy's encirclement, escorted the wounded major to retreat to the 171 Lodge. As a result, the Germans followed and engaged in a fierce battle with us. Being outnumbered, after half a day of fighting, except for me and a few fighters who escaped from the encirclement from the lake, the rest of the fighters, including Major Rostov-on-Don, all died heroically. ……”

Seeing the pained expression on Kirianova's face as she recalled the past, I gently patted the back of her hand and asked in a low voice: "Do you know the whereabouts of Warrant Officer Vaskov?" ”

She shook her head instinctively, then nodded vigorously. This contradictory expression of hers confused me, and I asked strangely, "Do you know anything about Comrade Warrant Officer?" ”

She suddenly looked embarrassed and a little flustered, and Huo Di stood up and replied to me, "I have heard some news about him, but I can't be sure whether it's true or not. ”

"Whether it's true or not, let's hear it." To be honest, I was still very concerned about the whereabouts of the first person I saw after crossing over.

"It is said that Comrade Warrant Officer, after being discharged from the hospital, was transferred to a temporary unit and took part in the battle for the defense of the Pulkovo Heights, having already died in the battle. It is also said that after being discharged from the hospital, Comrade Warrant Officer went directly to the railway junction station, took part in the battles there, and after most of the troops broke through, he also broke through the encirclement and joined the guerrillas. ”

Although I did not know the exact news from Kirianova's mouth, my heart was relieved, because at the end of the novel, Comrade Warrant Officer also went to find Lida's son and raise him as an adult. Although Vaskov's whereabouts are unknown at this moment, he has his own natural appearance and will definitely live a good life.

While I was thinking about it, I heard Orlova's voice again: "Comrade Major, you must know that you used to be a subordinate of Comrade Company Commander, and now you have the rank of major, there must be many legendary experiences in it, so tell us your story." ”

"yes, Leda." Kirianova also said: "I haven't seen you for a few months, you have actually become a major, there must be many stories in it, just tell us about it." ”

Seeing that it was difficult to resist, I had no choice but to cough and start telling my story to the two of them.