A truck was parked next to the checkpoint at the checkpoint, and it looked familiar from a distance, like the same hitchhiker it had just ridden. Hitchhiker, why stop at the checkpoint and not leave? It is important to know that the driver's documents are complete, and the lieutenant who checked the car will be released immediately after inspection. Could it be that Captain Kushelev, who came to relieve the siege, was called by the driver? As soon as I thought of this, my heart suddenly became hot, and I secretly sighed that there are still many good people in this world. I couldn't help but speed up my pace, wanting to find the driver immediately and ask what was going on.

Several fighters in short fur coats and submachine guns were pacing back and forth by the railing, and when they saw our large group of people passing by, they hurriedly stood up and saluted us, and at the same time raised the railing.

I walked briskly over to the truck and saw that the cab was empty. I casually took one of the soldiers closest to me and asked in a loud voice: "Comrade soldiers, where did the driver of this car go?" "I'm worried that the driver will be detained by the people at the checkpoint for speaking for me.

"Comrade Major, please don't get excited. He was still in his truck when I left. "Captain Kushelev was afraid that I would get angry, so he hurried over to persuade him. Then he looked around and shouted: "Azarov, Azarov, where did you go?" ”

"It's coming! Here it comes! Don't scream, I'm coming. A familiar voice came from the snow-covered earthen hut-like bunker on the side of the road, the door was pushed open, and out of the room came a young black-haired soldier without a military cap, muttering: "Hell, Captain Kushelev, I just entered the house to have a cup of hot tea, and the water was not yet boiling, when I heard you shouting outside." ”

Hearing the captain call the driver's name, I realized that his name was Azarov, and judging from his attitude towards the captain, the two undoubtedly knew each other, so Azarov played a key role in the captain's coming to relieve me. I called his name in a friendly voice: "Hello, Azarov! We meet again. He put down the pockets he was holding and reached out to him with his free hands.

"Hello, Comrade Major. It's great that we're seeing each other again so soon. Azarov shook my hand vigorously and whispered: "I am an old friend of the commander of the checkpoint, Captain Kushelev, do you need me to help you get a pass?" Otherwise, even if you enter the city, you will be in trouble with the patrols, and they may actually arrest you as a deserter. ”

"Thank you for your kindness, no need. I guess the person who came to pick me up will arrive soon. Xie Lu thanked you for your help, if it weren't for you, I guess I would still be confronting the soldiers at the checkpoint. ”

The captain walked over, patted the driver on the shoulder and said, "Okay, Azarov." I've already taken Comrade Major over, and I'll take care of the rest. I said, you've been here long enough, should you drive the grain to the warehouse right away, maybe the staff there will be waiting for you. ”

The driver shook my hand vigorously again, let go and saluted me, saying, "I'm leaving, Comrade Major, good luck." "Turned around and got into the car, sat behind the wheel, waved at me, and drove away with a smack of gas.

Watching the car drive farther and farther, the captain and another tall soldier walked up to me and said, "Comrade Major, this is the driver who has come to pick you up." You see, it's better to leave now, or to go inside the house to warm up before leaving. ”

I glanced at the tall man, nodded and smiled at him, reached out and shook it gently, and then replied to the captain: "Thank you for your kindness, Comrade Captain." But the generals and commissars should be in a hurry, so I'd better leave immediately. ”

"Then please get in the car, Comrade Major." The tall driver led me to the black sedan parked on the side of the road, opened the back door, and when I got into the car, I walked around the back of the car, got into the cab, and started the car.

After the car started, the driver handed me a brown paper document bag as he drove and said, "Comrade Major, this is what Political Commissar Hikin asked me to hand over to you." ”

I took the document bag and opened it, and there was a military ID, a business trip card, and a temporary pass. I opened my military ID card and looked at it, and the rank inside had been adjusted to major.

Since it was daytime, I looked at the sky from the window from time to time. The driver noticed my strangeness in the rearview mirror and reminded me: "Comrade Major, after entering the city, you don't have to worry about air raids. ”

"For what?" Seeing the dilapidated buildings on both sides of the road, I couldn't help but ask.

The driver sneered and gritted his teeth, "Damn fascist bandits have besieged our city, trying to destroy us with hunger and shells, so they are reluctant to drop their precious bombs on our city again." ”

The driver pulled the car to a stop in front of a three-story marble building, then turned to me and said, "Here we are, Comrade Major." The offices of the generals and commissars are on the second floor. "I thanked him and got out of the car with my luggage and weapons.

When I walked to the entrance, I was stopped by the soldiers on duty at the door, and one of the older fighters politely asked me: "Comrade commander, is there anything I can do for you?" ”

"I was ordered to meet General Shilov and Commissar Shikin."

"Please show your ID." The soldier did not open up to the net at all because of my high rank, and still had a businesslike attitude.

I handed him the new military ID card along with the business trip card, he opened it and looked at it carefully, and then shouted inside: "Comrade lieutenant, please come out for a while." ”

I couldn't help but smile bitterly when I heard that there was another lieutenant in charge here, and it seemed that there were the most lieutenants in the Soviet army, and the number was even the sum of the two ranks of captain and second lieutenant.

The lieutenant on duty ran out, took the document from the soldier's hand, looked at it, handed it back to me, and at the same time saluted, saying: "Hello, Major Oshanina." General Shilov and Commissar Shikin have been waiting for you, and I have been ordered to take you to them as soon as you arrive. Please come with me! ”

I followed the lieutenant into the building.

When I walked to the second floor, I found a big hole in the middle of the stairs, and if the lieutenant hadn't pulled me in time, I would have fallen. Walking through this dangerous staircase, the lieutenant explained to me that although this building was the office building of the Transport Line Command, it did not escape the fate of being shot during the German shelling, and the hole in the staircase was blown out by the direct hit of the German shell.

The lieutenant led me to a room at the end of the corridor, and at the door sat an officer on duty. The lieutenant who brought me here gave a few words to the lieutenant guarding the door, saluted me, and turned to leave.

The lieutenant at the door whispered: "Comrade Major, please wait, I will report to the general immediately." Then he got up and walked to the door, knocked lightly twice, opened the door, stood straight outside the door, and reported loudly to the people inside: "Comrade General, Major Oshanina is here. ”

I heard someone inside say, "Please let her in." ”

The lieutenant agreed, then turned sideways and stepped aside to make a gesture of please.

I placed my assault rifle and food bag on the table, tidied up my military appearance, and strode into the room. Almost at the same time, I heard the lieutenant in the back gently close the door.

When General Shirov saw me enter the house, he quickly stood up and walked out from behind his desk. I hurriedly stood up and saluted, and reported loudly: "Comrade General, the commander of the anti-aircraft artillery battalion, Oshanina, has been ordered to come, please instruct." ”

General Shilov did not return the salute, but removed my hand from my forehead, shook it vigorously, and said in a continuous voice: "Major Oshanina, welcome to you." Please sit down, order whatever you want, and treat it as if it were your own home. There is a stove in the house, and you can take off your military coat. ”

I hung my coat and hat on the coat rack by the door and sat down in a chair with a back next to my desk.

Shilov sat back at his desk, picked up the phone on the desk, dialed a number, and said: "Is it Comrade Political Commissar?" Major Oshanina has arrived, so come over now. ”

Hanging up the phone, and without waiting for me to speak, he picked up the microphone of another red phone and started dialing. As soon as the phone called, he immediately got up and said with a solemn expression: "Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army. Major Oshanina has arrived and is currently in my office. ”

When I heard him report my arrival to Hozin, I was secretly surprised, what was the matter, my arrival, actually to alarm the commander of the front army?

Putting down the phone, Shirov did not sit down, but put his hands on the table, leaned over slightly and said to me: "Let you come back to the city, it is the intention of the commander of the Front, General Hozin." ”

"For what?" I asked, puzzled.

"I don't know, maybe the commander wants you to work at the headquarters."

Hearing Shilov say this, I couldn't help but panic a little, and quickly stood up and said: "Comrade General, I don't think the work of the command is suitable for me, and I am still willing to stay at the front." ”

Shilov raised a hand, pressed it down, motioned for me to sit down, and continued: "While you are waiting for the commander and the political commissar Shikin to come, can you tell me what you think about the ice transport line?" ”