,*APT] #c 

#aheeahee 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,BESIDES ,VEL5*IIK1 FIVE O!R SOLDI]S ( MY PLATOON  
W]E W>M+ !MSELVES AT ! FIRE4  

,9 ! BE/ PLACE1 PROTECT$ FROM ! W9D1 ON A CASK1  
SAT ! GUN-S]GEANT ( ! PLATOON1 ,MAKSIMOV1 SMOK+ A  
PIPE4 ,9 ! POSE1 ! LOOK1 & ALL ! MOTIONS (  
?IS MAN C\LD BE OBS]V$ ! HABIT ( COMM&+ &  
! CONSCI\SNESS ( HIS P]SONAL DIGNITY1 EV5 9DE-  
P5D5TLY ( ! CASK1 ON :I* HE WAS SITT+1 &  
:I*1 AT A HALT1 =M$ ! EMBLEM ( AU?ORITY1 & (  
! NANKE5-COV]$ FUR HALF-COAT4  

,:5 ,I CAME UP1 HE TURN$ HIS HEAD T[>D ME 2 BUT  
HIS EYES REMA9$ FIX$ UPON ! FIRE1 & ONLY MU*  
LAT] DID !Y FOLL[ ! DIRECTION ( HIS HEAD1 & RE/  
UPON ME4 ,MAKSIMOV WAS A FREEMAN 2 HE WAS POSSESS$ (  
SOME MEANS1 HAD TAK5 9/RUCTION 9 ! S*OOL ( !  
BRIGADE1 & HAD PICK$ UP SOME 9=MATION4 ,HE WAS  
DREADFULLY RI* & DREADFU,UY LE>N$1 AS ! SOLDI]S EX-  
PRESS$ !MSELVES4  

,I REMEMB] H[ ONCE1 AT GUN-PRACTICE ) ! QUAD-  
RANT1 HE EXPLA9$ TO ! SOLDI]S :O W]E CR[D+  
>\ND HIM ?AT ! LEVEL WAS 0 NO?+ ELSE ?AN ?AT IT  
ORIG9ATES BECAUSE ! ATMOSPH]IC QUICKSILV] HAS ITS  
MOTION40 ,9 REALITY1 ,MAKSIMOV WAS F> FROM BE+  
/UPID1 & HE KNEW HIS WORK V]Y WELL1 BUT HE HAD AN  
UN=TUNATE PECULI>ITY ( SPEAK+ AT TIMES PURPOSELY 9  
SU* A WAY ?AT IT WAS TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO UND]/&  
HIM1 & SO ?AT1 AS ,I AM CONV9C$1 HE DID NOT UND]-  
/& HIS [N WORDS4 ,HE WAS ESPECIALLY FOND ( !  
WORDS 0 ORIG9ATES 0 & 0 TO CONT9UE10 & :5 HE  
9TRODUC$ HIS REM>KS ) 0 ORIG9ATES 0 & 0 CON-  
T9U+10 ,I KNEW 9 ADVANCE ?AT ,I %\LD NOT UND]/&  
A WORD ( :AT FOLL[$4 ,! SOLDI]S1 ON ! CONTR>Y1  
SO F> AS ,I WAS ABLE TO OBS]VE1 LIK$ TO HE> HIS 0 ORIGI-  
NATES10 & SUSPECT$ ?AT A DEEP MEAN+ LAY BEH9D IT1  
?\<1 LIKE MYSELF1 !Y DID NOT COMPREH5D A WORD4  
,!Y REF]R$ ?IS LACK ( COMPREH5SION TO !IR [N  
/UPIDITY1 & RESPECT$ ,F$OR ,MAKSIMY* ! MORE =  
IT4 ,9 %ORT1 ,MAKSIMY* WAS A SAGACI\S COMM&]4  

,! SECOND SOLDI]1 :O WAS TAK+ (IF ! BOOTS FROM  
HIS R$1 MUSCUL> LEGS1 WAS ,ANTONOV1 ! SAME BOMB>DI]  
,ANTONOV1 :O 9 ! YE> '#c#g1 HAV+ BE5 LEFT ) TWO  
O!RS AT A GUN1 )\T PROTECTION1 HAD KEPT UP A FIRE  
AGA9/ A NUM]\S 5EMY1 &1 ) TWO BULLETS 9 HIS  
HIP1 HAD CONT9U$ TO ATT5D TO ! GUN & LOAD IT4 0 ,HE  
W\LD HAVE BE5 A GUN-S]GEANT LONG AGO1 IF IT W]E NOT  
= HIS *>ACT]10 ! SOLDI]S W\LD SAY ( HIM4 ,9-  
DE$1 HIS WAS A /RANGE *>ACT] 3 9 HIS SOB] MOOD  
!RE WAS NOT A QUIET]1 PROMPT]1 & MORE PEACEFUL  
SOLDI] 2 BUT :5 HE BECAME 9TOXICAT$1 HE WAS AN  
5TIRELY DIFF]5T MAN 3 HE DID NOT RESPECT ! AU-  
?ORITIES1 BRAWL$1 F\<T1 & WAS AN ALTOGE!R USE-  
LESS SOLDI]4 ,NOT MORE ?AN A WEEK BE=E HE HAD  
GONE ON A SPREE DUR+ ,BUTT]-WEEK1 &1 9 SPITE ( ALL  
?REATS1 P]SUASIONS1 & CALLS TO DUTY1 HE CONT9U$ HIS  
DRUNK5 B\TS & BRAWLS UNTIL ! FIR/ ,MONDAY 9 ,L5T4  
,BUT DUR+ ! :OLE FA/1 9 SPITE ( ! ORD] = ALL  
M5 9 ! DIVISION TO EAT MEAT1 HE LIV$ ON NO?+ BUT  
H>DTACK1 & 9 ! FIR/ WEEK HE DID NOT EV5 TAKE !  
PRESCRIB$ DRAM ( BR&Y4 ,H[EV]1 IT WAS ONLY NECES-  
S>Y TO SEE ?IS UND]SIZ$ FIGURE1 BUILT AS ?\< ( IRON1  
) HIS %ORT1 CROOK$ LEGS & %9+1 :ISK]$ FACE1  
TAKE 9TO HIS MUSCUL> H&S ! BALALAYKA1 :ILE UND]  
! 9FLU5CE ( LIQUOR1 &1 C>ELESSLY CA/+ HIS GLANCES  
TO BO? SIDES1 /RUM SOME 0 LADY'S 0 SONG1 OR1 TO SEE HIM4  

HIS OV]COAT1 ) ! DECORATIONS DAN<NG FROM IT1  
?R[N OV] %\LD]1 & HIS H&S ?RU/ 9TO !  
POCKETS ( HIS BHIE NANKE5 TR\S]S1 /ROLL D[N !  
/REET1 -- IT WAS ONLY NECESS>Y TO SEE ! EXPRESSION (  
MILIT>Y PRIDE & CONTEMPT ( EV]Y?+ UN-MILIT>Y1  
:I* WAS DISPLAY$ 9 HIS FACE AT SU* A TIME1 9  
ORD] TO UND]/& H[ UTT]LY IMPOSSIBLE IT WAS =  
HIM TO KEEP FROM FI<T+ AT SU* A MOM5T AN IMP]TI-  
N5T OR EV5 9NOC5T ORD]LY1 :O GOT 9 HIS WAY1 OR A  
,COSSACK1 A FOOT-SOLDI]1 OR SETTL]1 9 G5]AL ONE :O DID  
NOT BELONG TO ! >TILL]Y4 ,HE F\<T & WAS TURBU-  
L5T NOT SO MU* = HIS [N AMUSEM5T1 AS = ! SAKE  
( SUPPORT+ ! SPIRIT ( ! :OLE SOLDI]HOOD1 ( :I*  
HE FELT HIMSELF TO BE A REPRES5TATIVE4  

,! ?IRD SOLDI]1 ) AN E>R+ 9 ONE E>1 BRI/LY  
MU/A*E1 A %>P1 BIRDLIKE FACE1 & A PORCELA9 PIPE  
BETWE5 HIS TEE?1 :O WAS SQUATT+ NE> ! FIRE1 WAS  
! >TILL]Y-RID] ,*IK94 ,! DE> MAN ,*IK91 AS !  
SOLDI]S CALL$ HIM1 WAS A JOK]4 ,WLIE!R 9 BITT] COLD1  
OR UP TO HIS KNEES 9 MUD1 = TWO DAYS )\T FOOD1 9  
AN EXP$ITION1 ON P>ADE1 AT 9/RUCTION1 ! DE> MAN  
ALWAYS & EV]Y:]E MADE FACES1 PIR\ETT$ ) HIS  
FEET1 & DID SU* FUNNY ?+S ?AT ! :OLE PLATOON  
RO>$ ) LAU<T]4 ,AT A HALT OR 9 CAMP !RE WAS  
ALWAYS >\ND ,*IK9 A CIRCLE ( Y\NG SOLDI]S1 )  
:OM HE PLAY$ C>DS 2 OR HE TOLD !M /ORIES AB\T  
A CUNN+ SOLDI] & AN ,5GLI% MILORD1 OR IMITAT$ A  
,T>T> OR A ,G]MAN1 OR SIMPLY MADE HIS [N REM>KS1  
:I* CAUS$ !M NE>LY TO DIE ) LAU<T]4 ,IT IS  
TRUE1 HIS REPUTATION AS A JOK] WAS SO WELL E/ABLI%$ 9  
! BATT]Y ?AT IT WAS 5\< = HIM TO OP5 HIS M\?  
& W9K1 9 ORD] TO PROVOKE A G5]AL RO> ( LAU<T] 2  
BUT !RE WAS REALLY SOME?+ TRULY COMICAL & UNEX-  
PECT$ 9 ALL HE SAID & DID4 ,9 EV]Y?+ HE SAW  
SOME?+ ESPECIAL1 SOME?+ ?AT W\LD NOT HAVE OC-  
CURR$ TO ANYBODY ELSE1 & :AT IS MORE IMPORTANT1 ?IS  
ABILITY TO SEE SOME?+ FUNNY DID NOT FAIL HIM UND] ANY  
TRIAL4  

,! F\R? SOLDI] WAS A HOMELY Y\NG LAD1 A RECRUIT  
( ! LA/ YE>'S DRAFT1 :O WAS N[ = ! FIR/ TIME  
TAK+ P>T 9 AN EXP$ITION4 ,HE WAS /&+ 9 !  
SMOKE1 & SO CLOSE TO ! FIRE ?AT IT LOOK$ AS ?\<  
HIS ?READB>E FUR COAT W\LD SOON IGNITE 2 BUT1 NOT)-  
/ANC,UNG ?IS1 IT WAS EVID5T1 FROM ! WAY HE SPREAD  
! SKIRTS ( LIIS COAT1 FROM HIS SELF-SATISFI$ POSE ) HIS  
>*+ CALVES1 ?AT HE WAS EXP]I5C+ GREAT PLEASURE4  

,&1 F9ALLY1 ! FIF? SOLDI]1 SEAT$ A LITTLE DI/ANCE  
FROM ! FIRE1 & :ITTL+ A /ICK1 WAS ,UNCLE ,ZHDANOV4  
,ZHDANOV HAD SE5 MORE S]VICE ?AN ANY O!R SOLDI] 9  
! BATT]Y 2 HE HAD KN[N !M ALL AS RECRUITS1 & !Y  
CALL$ HIM UNCLE1 FROM =CE ( HABIT4 ,IT WAS REPORT$  
?AT HE NEV] DRANK1 NOR SMOK$1 NOR PLAY$ C>DS 7NOT  
EV5 NOS,M71 NOR EV] SWORE4 ,ALL HIS TIME :I* WAS FREE  
FROM MILIT>Y S]VICE HE SP5T 9 PLY+ ! %OEMAK]'S  
TRADE 2 ON HOHDAYS HE W5T TO *UR*1 :5EV] IT WAS  
POSSIBLE1 OR PLAC$ A KOPECK TAP] BE=E ! IMAGE1 &  
OP5$ ! PSALT]1 ! ONLY BOOK :I* HE C\LD READ4  
,HE ASSOCIAT$ LITTLE ) ! SOLDI]S 3 HE WAS COLDLY RE-  
SPECTFUL TO ?OSE :O W]E HI<] 9 RANK BUT Y\NG]  
9 YE>S 2 HIS EQUALS HE HAD LITTLE *ANCE TO MEET1 S9CE HE  
DID NOT DR9K 2 BUT HE WAS ESPECIALLY FOND ( RECRUITS &  
Y\NG SOLDI]S1 -- HE ALWAYS PROTECT$ !M1 READ !  
9/RUCTIONS TO !M1 & FREQU5TLY AID$ !M4 ,EV]Y-  
BODY 9 ! BATT]Y CONSID]$ HIM A CAPITALI/ BECAUSE  
HE WAS POSSESS$ ( TW5TY-FIVE RUBLES ) :I* HE  
WAS PREP>$ TO ASSI/ ?OSE :O REALLY NE$$ ASSI/ANCE4  
,?AT SAME ,MAKSIMOV1 :O WAS N[ GUN-S]GEANT1 TOLD ME  
?AT :5 HE HAD >RIV$ T5 YE>S AGO AS A RECRUIT1 & !  
OLD] SOLDI]S1 :O W]E GIV5 TO DR9K+1 DRANK UP )  
HIM ALL ! MONEY HE HAD1 ,ZHDANOV1 NOTIC+ HIS UN=TU-  
NATE PLI<T1 CALL$ HIM UP1 UPBRAID$ HIM = LIIS CONDUCT1  
EV5 GAVE HIM SOME BL[S1 READ LUM ! 9/RUCTION AB\T  
! BEHAVIOR ( A SOLDI]1 & S5T HIM AWAY1 GIV+ HIM  
A %IRT1 = ,MAKSIMOV HAD GOT RID ( HIS1 & HALF A  
RUBLE 9 MONEY4  

0 ,HE HAS MADE A MAN ( ME10 ,MAKSIMOV W\LD SAY (  
HIM1 ) RESPECT & GRATITUDE4 ,HE HAD ALSO HELP$  
,VEL5*UK1 :OM HE HAD PROTECT$ EV] S9CE HE >RIV$  
AS A RECRUIT1 AT ! TIME ( ! UN=TUNATE LOSS ( !  
OV]COAT1 & HE HAD AID$ MANY1 MANY MORE DUR+ HIS  
TW5TY-FIVE YE>S ( S]VICE4  

,IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPECT 9 ! S]VICE A MAN :O  
KNEW HIS BUS9ESS BETT]1 OR A SOLDI] :O WAS BRAV] &  
MORE PRECISE 2 BUT HE WAS TOO MEEK & RETIR+ TO BE PRO-  
MOT$ TO ! RANK ( GUN-S]GEANT1 ?\< HE HAD BE5  
BOMB>DI] FIFTE5 YE>S4 ,ZHDANOV'S ONE PLEASURE1 &  
EV5 PASSION1 WAS SONGS 2 HE WAS ESPECIALLY FOND ( SOME  
( !M1 & HE ALWAYS GA!R$ A CIRCLE ( S+]S FROM  
AMONG ! Y\NG SOLDI]S1 &1 ?\< HE C\LD NOT S+  
HIMSELF1 /OOD BEH9D !M1 &1 PUTT+ HIS H&S 9TO  
! POCKETS ( HIS FUR COAT1 & CLOS+ HIS EYES1 EXPRESS$  
HIS SATISFACTION BY ! MOVEM5T ( HIS HEAD & *EEKS4  
,I DO NOT KN[ :Y1 BUT = SOME REASON OR O!R ,I DIS-  
COV]$ MU* EXPRESSION 9 ?IS EV5 MOVEM5T ( !  
*EEKS UND] HIS E>S1 :I* ,I HAD OBS]V$ 9 NOBODY  
ELSE BUT HIM4 ,HIS SN[-:ITE HEAD1 HIS MU/A*E DY$  
BLACK1 & HIS SUNBURNT1 WR9KL$ FACE GAVE HIM1 AT FIR/  
SI<T1 A /]N & AU/]E EXPRESSION 2 BUT1 UPON LOOK+  
MORE CLOSELY 9TO HIS L>GE1 R\ND EYES1 ESPECIALLY :5  
!Y W]E SMIL+ 7HE NEV] SMIL$ ) HIS LIPS71 Y\  
W]E IMPRESS$ BY SOME?+ EXTRAORD9>ILY MEEK &  
ALMO/ *ILDLIKE4  

,FROM 3 ,WIKIS\RCE4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ah$ 3 ,*APT] #c -- ,PUBLICATION4 

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