When I heard Stalin say this, I immediately understood that the purpose of his meeting with me was about to be revealed. Faced with an unknown fate, my heart couldn't help but beat faster again. I hurriedly took two steps forward, stood just a step away from Stalin, and quietly waited for him to announce my fate.

After taking another puff of his cigarette, Stalin removed his pipe from his mouth, looked at me and said slowly: "Lida, some time ago I heard Zhukov say that you, your husband and children were separated in the war, right? ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." I don't know why Stalin suddenly asked about it, but I reported to him truthfully: "My husband, Captain Oshanin, was seriously wounded during the defense of Moscow and was sent to the rear, and he has not been in contact with him since. As for my son Alik, after the breakout of Lyuban, I asked a wounded nurse to take him to the rear, and there is no news of him now. ”

"After you entrusted Zhukov with the husband and children you were looking for, he used to look for them through the relevant departments. But unfortunately, although it took a lot of twists and turns, in the end I still didn't hear anything. As he spoke, Stalin was about to get up from his seat, and I hurriedly stepped forward to take his arm and help him get up from his chair.

He limped to Beria's side, put a hand on the latter's shoulder, turned to me and said, "Fortunately, Comrade Beria learned about this and promptly mobilized his subordinates to assist in the investigation......"

Although Stalin had not finished speaking, I had already guessed what he was going to say later, and Beria must have known the exact whereabouts of Oshanin. Don't look at Zhukov as a good hand at commanding wars, but if you ask him to help find someone, it does feel a bit of a trust. But if Beria had come forward to find someone, he would have been able to dig it up even if the person was hiding underground.

I didn't speak, just looked at Stalin silently. Wait for him to say the rest of the story. Stalin was silent for a while, and sure enough, he said what I had guessed: "Through the efforts of Comrade Beria, I finally found out the whereabouts of your husband and children. ”

At such a time, it is impossible for me not to say a word, so as soon as Stalin finished speaking, I could only ask stubbornly: "Comrade Stalin." Don't know where they are? Still alive? ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Oshanina." Beria helped Stalin back to his desk and sat down, then straightened up and said to me: "They are all alive, and at the moment they are all in the Kuibyshev region." Your husband, Captain Oshanin, is in the garrison headquarters in Syzran, and your son is in the children's home in the city of Togliatti. ”

After Stalin waited for Beria to finish, he added: "Lida, you have been on the battlefield for more than a year, and it is time to rest for a while." So be it. I will give you half a month's vacation, and you can go to Kuibyshev to see your husband and children. ”

"Comrade Stalin," to tell the truth, I did not want to see Oshanin at all in my heart, so I can only politely refuse this kindness to Stalin: "At this time, after all, it is a period of war, when thousands of fighters have no chance to reunite with their families, and I do not think that I have the right to accept the holiday." Maybe after I meet Oshanen. He will probably not be happy, but will be disappointed by my unnoble use of power. ”

I thought I was saying that. Stalin will no longer insist that I go to Kuibyshev, after all, I still have the task he has given me unfinished. Unexpectedly, Stalin's reaction this time was beyond my expectations, and he said with some stubbornness: "No, Leda, you have to go to Kuibyshev." Don't forget, you're not just a military man. At the same time, we are a wife and a mother, and we have no right to separate a child from his mother for a long time. ”

Stalin's words were harsh and in an unquestionable tone. I didn't want to offend Stalin because of such a thing, so I could only nod. Say: "Well, Comrade Stalin, I obey your orders. ”

"Since you don't have a specific position in the army now, there will be some inconvenience when you get to the place." When Stalin saw that I had agreed to go to Kuibyshev, he continued: "Although Beria has prepared a special pass and a business permit for you, I am still not at ease, so I asked him to send a few more staff members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with him, so that even if there is any trouble, it can be solved in time." ”

Beria waited for Stalin to finish speaking, walked up to me, took out a folded envelope from his pocket, handed it to me, and said: "This is a special pass and a business travel permit, if you encounter an interrogation on the road, you can take it out and show them, I believe that no one will make it difficult for you." As for the staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they are under your command, and if there is anything you want them to do, you can just tell them. ”

Although my heart is still wary of Beria, I am still very grateful to him for all he has done for me. After taking the envelope, I took the initiative to reach out to him and politely said: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Minister of Internal Affairs!" ”

I straightened up and faced Stalin and asked, "Comrade Stalin, can I go?" ”

"Wait a minute, Leda." As if remembering something, Stalin said thoughtfully: "When you deal with local comrades, if you encounter something that cannot be solved, you can turn to the local security services for help." At this point, Stalin turned his head to look at Beria and said in a negotiative tone, "Beria, do you think you can prepare a power of attorney for Leda so that she can mobilize the power of the troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs if necessary?" ”

When Beria heard Stalin's order, an embarrassed expression appeared on his face. Stalin, who was observant of his words, immediately noticed the strangeness on his face, and immediately raised his voice and said: "Why, do you still suspect that after Leda has the right to mobilize troops, she will do whatever she wants and do things that are not good for us?" ”

"No, no, Comrade Stalin." Beria was taken aback by the discolored Stalin, and hurriedly defended: "I was considering whether I should go back to the office to write this power of attorney to her." ”

"What office do you return to? Write right here. Stalin said to him in a stern tone: "Do your subordinates dare to disobey orders when they see your signature?" ”

Reluctantly, Beria took the pen and paper handed to him by Stalin, leaned down and wrote the letter of authorization allowing me to move my troops. After writing, he handed it to Stalin first, and only after the other party nodded in approval did he tear the page from the notebook. He handed it to me with an unhappy face, and at the same time said in his mouth: "Comrade Oshanina, this is a letter of authorization that allows you to transfer the troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and I hope you will not live up to the trust that Comrade Stalin placed in you." ”

I don't understand why Stalin had the whim to ask Beria to prepare such a Rausch document for me, but since Beria had already handed me the power of attorney. If I don't take it, I won't be able to. I quickly took the power of attorney from Beria's hand with both hands, thanked Stalin first, and then thanked Beria.

When I returned to my accommodation, I searched the map and finally found Kuibyshev, which later became the Samara region, and found that it was more than a thousand kilometers from Moscow. But thanks to the train that leads there, I don't have to ride around the muddy roads in a jeep.

Early the next morning, someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to report to me. They were a group of four. One captain and three fighters. Seeing me appear, the four of them raised their hands in unison and saluted me, and the captain also reported loudly: "Comrade General, Captain Dolnikov of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reports to you." We are responsible for acting as a guide and keeping you safe, at your command, please instruct! ”

I looked at the young captain in front of me, and I couldn't help but secretly cry in my heart, this captain was actually another person I knew. When he was at the Red Blesno subway station, he ordered the killing of many traversers. He was still a second lieutenant at the time. But now he has the rank of captain.

Thinking of the captain's ruthlessness, my attitude towards him was naturally not very enthusiastic, and I asked coldly: "Comrade Captain, do you know me?" ”

"Yes, Comrade General." Unexpectedly, he replied without changing his face: "I once met you when I was at the Red Blesno subway station. At that time you were still a lieutenant colonel. ”

"Good memory." After I said that, I then asked, "Where should we go next?" ”

"Of course it's the train station, Comrade General." Dolnikov did not pay attention to my cold attitude, but still said respectfully: "The distance from Moscow to Kuibyshev is more than a thousand kilometers, and it will take at least three days to reach it by car. And the train only takes a day and a half. ”

Dolnikov arranged for me a separate sleeping car, and he and Yushchenko each took three fighters and lived in the compartment next to me, so that any movement could appear in front of me in time. The rest of the fighters stayed in ordinary carriages.

I lay on the sleeper of the train and closed my eyes, wondering what I would say if I saw Oshanen. Although I have inherited a lot of Leda's memories, I don't know much about some details, and maybe after a day or two with Oshanen, the flaws will be revealed.

But after thinking about it for a long time, I didn't come up with a good solution, and finally fell asleep unconsciously.

When I was sleeping soundly, the sudden brakes of the train woke me from my sleep. I sat up and looked out the window to see the railroad tracks surrounded by heavily armed men who were pointing their guns at our train.

Hell, what the hell is going on here? Seeing the soldiers outside aiming their guns at the train, I didn't dare to probe out casually, in case any of the soldiers trembled and accidentally pulled the trigger, they would send me directly to Marx. I was thinking about how to find out what was going on outside, when there was a sharp knock on the door, accompanied by Yushchenko's anxious voice: "General, general, open the door." ”

I walked quickly to the door and pulled it open. When he saw Yushchenko and Dolnikov and several fighters standing at the door, he asked them: "What happened outside, why did it suddenly stop, and why did so many commanders and fighters surround our train, and what is the reason?" ”

Before they could reply, I heard shouting outside the car. After listening intently for a moment, he heard that there was more than one person shouting: "Everyone get off the bus immediately, everyone get off the bus immediately...... so that such shouts can be heard one after another.

"What are we going to do?" After hearing the shouts outside, Yushchenko asked me with a serious expression: "Do you want to get out of the car or stay in the car?" ”

Instead of answering right away, I turned my gaze to Dolnikov and asked: "Comrade Captain, can you tell me, what exactly happened?" ”

Dolnikov turned his head to look out the window, then said hesitantly: "Comrade General, I can't confirm. But judging from this movement, it may be the pursuit of German spies or deserters, right? Do you need me to check with the outside commander? ”

"No need, Captain." I waved my hand at him and said lightly, "Let's get out of the car and take a look, and things will be figured out." ”

"Comrade General, with your identity, you don't need to get out of the car at all." Seeing that I was going to get out of the car, Dolnikov hurriedly dissuaded: "I'll go and call the commander." ”

"Get out of the car!" I didn't talk to him too much, just said a simple word, and walked down the hallway towards the car door.

I got off the train and looked left and right for a moment, and saw that there were quite a few people gathered outside the train, most of them military. The common people were huddled together, while the soldiers consciously lined up in neat phalanxes one after another.

I walked over to one of the soldiers who was on guard and asked, "Comrade soldier, what's wrong?" ”

When the soldier saw me coming towards him, he hurriedly pointed at me with his rifle with a bayonet, and gave me the command: "Stop, don't move!" If I go any further, you're welcome. ”

I stopped, looked at the dutiful warrior with a smile on my face, and thought about how to ask him. Yushchenko and Dolnikov, who were next to them, were in trouble, and both of them shouted at the fighters at the same time: "Comrade soldiers, who do you want to be polite to, tell us clearly." ”

The soldier was just an ordinary soldier, and when he saw the two lieutenant officers firing at him, he looked a little flustered, and replied incoherently: "There is an order, let us be a guard here, here, and be on guard, and if anyone tries to escape, escape, or cross my cordon, our cordon, shoot, shoot." ”

"Comrade warrior," I saw that the soldier was frightened enough, and several soldiers around him, although they had guns in their hands, but they looked dazed, in order to make him less nervous, I asked in a friendly way: "Which army are you from, who is the commander, and where is he now?" ”

The soldier may have seen the rank on my shoulder clearly at this moment, hurriedly put away his gun and stood upright, gave me a gun salute, and respectfully reported: "Report to Comrade General, I can't tell you the number of the unit for the time being. As for the commander of the troops, please wait a moment, he may be here soon. (To be continued.) )