Our detachment, following the guides of the Sotnikov partisans, made a rapid march south through the dense forest.

After walking for a while, the gunfire on the battlefield was inaudible. It is also unknown whether Colonel Anchufeev ordered the troops to stop the attack, or whether it was too far away for the sound to be heard.

The effect of Hojo Tani's special training on the Seventh Company by the devil instructor was shown in the rapid march. The soldiers of the 7th Company were well-trained, and although the march was fast, the troops always maintained a neat formation, and no one in the ranks exchanged words except for the sound of hurried footsteps and heavy breathing. But it was hard for me, and although the guards had carried the assault rifle that I had never left with me, I marched empty-handed, and I was still at the bottom of the whole group. I trotted behind the group, stopping every distance I had to put my hands on my waist and gasp for a moment. When my breath had subsided, I trotted all the way up again.

After about two or three kilometers, a swamp appeared on the left side of the forest. Over the swamp there was a damp, rancid, suffocating smell. As we approached, large groups of mosquitoes flew up from the surface of the water, and as we went farther, they fell back to the surface.

I don't know how long I walked, but the team in front of me suddenly stopped. Seeing that the troops had stopped advancing, I didn't know what was going on, so I ran straight to the front of the line to ask what was going on.

I trotted up to Diomi and asked him breathlessly: "Comrade Captain, what's the matter?" Why do you want the line to stop. ”

Diomi pointed forward and replied: "Comrade Major, Comrade Guide said that through the swamp here it is possible to go around behind the enemy's positions. ”

I looked at the boundless swamp in front of me, turned to look at the guide standing next to me, and asked in an uncertain tone: "Comrade Mikelin, are you sure you can pass here?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander, I have walked this road a few times, and I can pass it completely."

"Comrade Captain," I choked with exhaustion, and sat down on a fallen tree trunk beside me, and instructed Daiomi "Let the warriors follow the guide and pass this swamp quickly." ”

Mikolin cautiously explored the way in front of him with a stick in his hand, and Diaomi led the warriors in a column and slowly moved forward behind him.

After all the soldiers of the Seventh Company had entered the swamp, I stood up, took off my boots, and carried them in my hands, ready to step into the swamp with me. The guard next to me grabbed me and said, "Comrade Major, let's help you over." ”

With a wave of my hand, I threw his hand to the side and said disapprovingly, "No, I can walk on my own." With that, he stepped into the swamp. I didn't expect the mud in this swamp to be too soft, and as soon as I stepped on it, my feet immediately sank straight down. I hurriedly leaned back, trying to retract my foot, but I didn't expect my foot to slip and fall directly into the mud puddle next to me, and the boots in my hand were thrown out. Several guards rushed up and pulled me up, and some picked up the boots that had been left behind.

I was embarrassed in public, and my face was flushed with shame. I didn't dare to be reckless, so I could only obediently let the two guards carry me one after the other, and carefully pass through this swamp.

Coming out of the swamp, I held on to a tree, put my feet in the water, washed the dirt off my feet, found a dry place to sit down, wrapped myself in a footcloth, put on my boots, and went after the team ahead of me.

I raised my hand and looked at my watch, and found that it was already ten o'clock in the evening, and it was not dark at all, and in broad daylight, we could not carry out a sneak attack on the German positions, so that the sneak attack battle would become a tough battle, and even if we were all killed, we would not necessarily be able to take down the German positions.

I ran to the front of the line, called the guide, and asked: "Comrade Mikolin, how far are we from the enemy's position?" ”

The guide looked around for a moment and replied: "Comrade commander, we are about a kilometer away from the enemy's position, and in fifteen minutes we should reach our destination." ”

I turned to Diomi who was walking next to the guide and gave the order: "Comrade Captain, the troops stop advancing, let the fighters rest in place, and eat to replenish their strength. ”

"Yes!" Diomi never compromised on my orders, and immediately gave the order to stop the troops.

After seeing the soldiers disband, they each found a place to sit down, took out dry food, and ate it in a kettle. I, Daomi and the guide, also found a grassy area and sat down, and took out the bread we had brought with us to eat.

After resting for about ten minutes, Diaomi suddenly asked, "Comrade Major, when are we leaving?" ”

I looked up at the sky and replied, "Wait, when it's dark, we'll go." ”

"It's dark?!" The guide was surprised and said, "I'm sorry, comrade commander, can I understand that you are not planning to carry out a sneak attack on the enemy's position today?" ”

"Comrade Mikolin," his words made me feel very unhappy, if I didn't attack, I toiled for hours in the forest, and I passed through the swamp, did I come for a tourist? So the tone of the speech was also very polite, "What do you mean by that?" ”

Mikelin may not know why my attitude suddenly became bad, and hurriedly defended: "Comrade commander, haven't you heard of the White Night? ”

"White Nights?" Listening to this word, I couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and asked rhetorically, "What does it mean?" I don't understand. ”

This time it was Captain Diomi who answered my question, and he said: "Comrade Major, the meaning of white night is that there is no night today, it is all day. If we have to wait until it gets dark, maybe we'll have to wait a few days. ”