,BOOK #b1 ,*APT] #h 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,! LA/ ( ! 9FANTRY HURRI$LY CROSS$ ! BRIDGE1 SQUEEZ+ TOGE!R 
 AS !Y APPROA*$ IT AS IF PASS+ ?R\< A FUNNEL4 ,AT LA/ ! BAGGAGE 
 WAGONS HAD ALL CROSS$1 ! CRU% WAS LESS1 & ! LA/ BATTALION CAME 
 ONTO ! BRIDGE4 ,ONLY ,D5ISOV'S SQUADRON ( HUSS>S REMA9$ ON ! 
 F>!R SIDE ( ! BRIDGE FAC+ ! 5EMY1 :O C\LD BE SE5 FROM ! 
 HILL ON ! OPPOSITE BANK BUT WAS NOT YET VISIBLE FROM ! BRIDGE1 = ! 
 HORIZON AS SE5 FROM ! VALLEY ?R\< :I* ! RIV] FL[$ WAS =M$ 
 BY ! RIS+ GR\ND ONLY HALF A MILE AWAY4 ,AT ! FOOT ( ! HILL LAY 
 WA/EL& OV] :I* A FEW GR\PS ( \R ,COSSACK SC\TS W]E MOV+4 
 ,SUDD5LY ON ! ROAD AT ! TOP ( ! HI< GR\ND1 >TILL]Y & TROOPS 
 9 BLUE UNI=M W]E SE54 ,!SE W]E ! ,FR5*4 ,A GR\P ( ,COSSACK 
 SC\TS RETIR$ D[N ! HILL AT A TROT4 ,ALL ! (FIC]S & M5 ( 
 ,D5ISOV'S SQUADRON1 ?\< !Y TRI$ TO TALK ( O!R ?+S & TO LOOK 
 9 O!R DIRECTIONS1 ?\<T ONLY ( :AT WAS !RE ON ! HILLTOP1 & 
 KEPT CON/ANTLY LOOK+ AT ! PAT*ES APPE>+ ON ! SKYL9E1 :I* 
 !Y KNEW TO BE ! 5EMY'S TROOPS4 ,! WEA!R HAD CLE>$ AGA9 S9CE 
 NOON & ! SUN WAS DESC5D+ BRI<TLY UPON ! ,DANUBE & ! D>K 
 HILLS >\ND IT4 ,IT WAS CALM1 & AT 9T]VALS ! BUGLE CALLS & ! 
 %\TS ( ! 5EMY C\LD BE HE>D FROM ! HILL4 ,!RE WAS NO ONE N[ 
 BETWE5 ! SQUADRON & ! 5EMY EXCEPT A FEW SCATT]$ SKIRMI%]S4 ,AN 
 EMPTY SPACE ( SOME SEV5 HUNDR$ Y>DS WAS ALL ?AT SEP>AT$ !M4 ,! 
 5EMY CEAS$ FIR+1 & ?AT /]N1 ?REAT5+1 9ACCESSIBLE1 & 
 9TANGIBLE L9E :I* SEP>ATES TWO HO/ILE >MIES WAS ALL ! MORE 
 CLE>LY FELT4 

0,ONE /EP BEYOND ?AT B\ND>Y L9E :I* RESEMBLES ! L9E DIVID+ ! 
 LIV+ FROM ! DEAD LIES UNC]TA9TY1 SUFF]+1 & DEA?4 ,& :AT IS 
 !RE8 ,:O IS !RE8--!RE BEYOND ?AT FIELD1 ?AT TREE1 ?AT RO( 
 LIT UP BY ! SUN8 ,NO ONE KN[S1 BUT ONE WANTS TO KN[4 ,Y\ FE> & YET 
 LONG TO CROSS ?AT L9E1 & KN[ ?AT SOON] OR LAT] IT MU/ BE CROSS$ 
 & Y\ WILL HAVE TO F9D \T :AT IS !RE1 JU/ AS Y\ WILL 9EVITABLY 
 HAVE TO LE>N :AT LIES ! O!R SIDE ( DEA?4 ,BUT Y\ >E /RONG1 
 HEAL?Y1 *E]FUL1 & EXCIT$1 & >E SURR\ND$ BY O!R SU* EXCIT$LY 
 ANIMAT$ & HEAL?Y M540 ,SO ?9KS1 OR AT ANY RATE FEELS1 ANYONE :O 
 COMES 9 SI<T ( ! 5EMY1 & ?AT FEEL+ GIVES A P>TICUL> GLAM\R 
 & GLAD KE5NESS ( IMPRESSION TO EV]Y?+ ?AT TAKES PLACE AT SU* 
 MOM5TS4 

,ON ! HI< GR\ND :]E ! 5EMY WAS1 ! SMOKE ( A CANNON ROSE1 & A 
 BALL FLEW :I/L+ OV] ! HEADS ( ! HUSS> SQUADRON4 ,! (FIC]S 
 :O HAD BE5 /&+ TOGE!R RODE (F TO !IR PLACES4 ,! HUSS>S BEGAN 
 C>EFULLY ALIGN+ !IR HORSES4 ,SIL5CE FELL ON ! :OLE SQUADRON4 ,ALL 
 W]E LOOK+ AT ! 5EMY 9 FRONT & AT ! SQUADRON COMM&]1 AWAIT+ 
 ! WORD ( COMM&4 ,A SECOND & A ?IRD CANNON BALL FLEW PA/4 ,EVID5TLY 
 !Y W]E FIR+ AT ! HUSS>S1 BUT ! BALLS ) RAPID RHY?MIC :I/LE 
 FLEW OV] ! HEADS ( ! HORSEM5 & FELL SOME:]E BEYOND !M4 ,! 
 HUSS>S DID NOT LOOK R\ND1 BUT AT ! S\ND ( EA* %OT1 AS AT ! WORD 
 ( COMM&1 ! :OLE SQUADRON ) ITS R[S ( FACES SO ALIKE YET SO 
 DIFF]5T1 HOLD+ ITS BREA? :ILE ! BALL FLEW PA/1 ROSE 9 ! 
 /IRRUPS & SANK BACK AGA94 ,! SOLDI]S )\T TURN+ !IR HEADS 
 GLANC$ AT ONE ANO!R1 CURI\S TO SEE !IR COMRADES' IMPRESSION4 ,EV]Y 
 FACE1 FROM ,D5ISOV'S TO ?AT ( ! BUGL]1 %[$ ONE COMMON EXPRESSION 
 ( CONFLICT1 IRRITATION1 & EXCITEM5T1 >\ND *9 & M\?4 ,! 
 QU>T]MA/] FR[N$1 LOOK+ AT ! SOLDI]S AS IF ?REAT5+ TO PUNI% 
 !M4 ,CADET ,MIRONOV DUCK$ EV]Y TIME A BALL FLEW PA/4 ,RO/OV ON ! LEFT 
 FLANK1 M\NT$ ON HIS ,ROOK--A H&SOME HORSE DESPITE ITS GAME LEG--HAD 
 ! HAPPY AIR ( A S*OOLBOY CALL$ UP BE=E A L>GE AUDI5CE = AN 
 EXAM9ATION 9 :I* HE FEELS SURE HE WILL DI/+UI% HIMSELF4 ,HE WAS 
 GLANC+ AT EV]YONE ) A CLE>1 BRI<T EXPRESSION1 AS IF ASK+ !M TO 
 NOTICE H[ CALMLY HE SAT UND] FIRE4 ,BUT DESPITE HIMSELF1 ON HIS FACE TOO 
 ?AT SAME 9DICATION ( SOME?+ NEW & /]N %[$ R\ND ! M\?4 

0,:O'S ?AT CURTSY+ !RE8 ,CADET ,MIWONOV6 ,?AT'S NOT WI<T6 ,LOOK AT 
 ME10 CRI$ ,D5ISOV :O1 UNABLE TO KEEP /ILL ON ONE SPOT1 KEPT TURN+ HIS 
 HORSE 9 FRONT ( ! SQUADRON4 

,! BLACK1 HAIRY1 SNUB-NOS$ FACE ( ,VASKA ,D5ISOV1 & HIS :OLE %ORT 
 /URDY FIGURE ) ! S9EWY HAIRY H& & /UMPY F+]S 9 :I* HE 
 HELD ! HILT ( HIS NAK$ SAB]1 LOOK$ JU/ AS IT USUALLY DID1 
 ESPECIALLY T[>D EV5+ :5 HE HAD EMPTI$ HIS SECOND BOTTLE2 HE WAS 
 ONLY R$D] ?AN USUAL4 ,) HIS %AGGY HEAD ?R[N BACK LIKE BIRDS :5 
 !Y DR9K1 PRESS+ HIS SPURS M]CILESSLY 9TO ! SIDES ( HIS GOOD 
 HORSE1 ,B$\91 & SITT+ AS ?\< FALL+ BACKW>DS 9 ! SADDLE1 HE 
 GALLOP$ TO ! O!R FLANK ( ! SQUADRON & %\T$ 9 A HO>SE VOICE 
 TO ! M5 TO LOOK TO !IR PI/OLS4 ,HE RODE UP TO ,KIR/54 ,! /AFF 
 CAPTA9 ON HIS BROAD-BACK$1 /EADY M>E CAME AT A WALK TO MEET HIM4 ,HIS 
 FACE ) ITS LONG MU/A*E WAS S]I\S AS ALWAYS1 ONLY HIS EYES W]E 
 BRI<T] ?AN USUAL4 

0,WELL1 :AT AB\T IT80 SAID HE TO ,D5ISOV4 0,IT WON'T COME TO A FI<T4 
 ,Y\'LL SEE--WE %ALL RETIRE40 

0,! DEVIL ONLY KN[S :AT !Y'RE AB\T60 MUTT]$ ,D5ISOV4 0,AH1 ,WO/OV10 
 HE CRI$ NOTIC+ ! CADET'S BRI<T FACE1 0Y\'VE GOT IT AT LA/40 

,& HE SMIL$ APPROV+LY1 EVID5TLY PLEAS$ ) ! CADET4 ,RO/OV FELT 
 P]FECTLY HAPPY4 ,JU/ !N ! COMM&] APPE>$ ON ! BRIDGE4 ,D5ISOV 
 GALLOP$ UP TO HIM4 

0,Y\R EXCELL5CY6 ,LET US ATTACK !M6 ,I'LL DWIVE !M (F40 

0,ATTACK 9DE$60 SAID ! COLONEL 9 A BOR$ VOICE1 PUCK]+ UP HIS FACE 
 AS IF DRIV+ (F A TR\BLESOME FLY4 0,& :Y >E Y\ /OPP+ H]E8 ,DON'T 
 Y\ SEE ! SKIRMI%]S >E RETREAT+8 ,LEAD ! SQUADRON BACK40 

,! SQUADRON CROSS$ ! BRIDGE & DREW \T ( RANGE ( FIRE )\T 
 HAV+ LO/ A S+LE MAN4 ,! SECOND SQUADRON ?AT HAD BE5 9 ! FRONT 
 L9E FOLL[$ !M ACROSS & ! LA/ ,COSSACKS QUITT$ ! F>!R SIDE 
 ( ! RIV]4 

,! TWO ,PAVLOGRAD SQUADRONS1 HAV+ CROSS$ ! BRIDGE1 RETIR$ UP ! 
 HILL ONE AFT] ! O!R4 ,!IR COLONEL1 ,K>L ,BOGDANI* ,S*UB]T1 CAME UP 
 TO ,D5ISOV'S SQUADRON & RODE AT A FOOTPACE NOT F> FROM ,RO/OV1 )\T 
 TAK+ ANY NOTICE ( HIM AL?\< !Y W]E N[ MEET+ = ! FIR/ TIME 
 S9CE !IR 5C\NT] CONC]N+ ,TELYAN94 ,RO/OV1 FEEL+ ?AT HE WAS AT 
 ! FRONT & 9 ! P[] ( A MAN T[>D :OM HE N[ ADMITT$ ?AT HE 
 HAD BE5 TO BLAME1 DID NOT LIFT HIS EYES FROM ! COLONEL'S A?LETIC BACK1 
 HIS NAPE COV]$ ) LI<T HAIR1 & HIS R$ NECK4 ,IT SEEM$ TO ,RO/OV 
 ?AT ,BOGDANI* WAS ONLY PRET5D+ NOT TO NOTICE HIM1 & ?AT HIS :OLE 
 AIM N[ WAS TO TE/ ! CADET'S C\RAGE1 SO HE DREW HIMSELF UP & LOOK$ 
 >\ND HIM M]RILY2 !N IT SEEM$ TO HIM ?AT ,BOGDANI* RODE SO NE> 9 
 ORD] TO %[ HIM HIS C\RAGE4 ,NEXT HE ?\<T ?AT HIS 5EMY W\LD S5D 
 ! SQUADRON ON A DESP]ATE ATTACK JU/ TO PUNI% HIM--,RO/OV4 ,!N 
 HE IMAG9$ H[1 AFT] ! ATTACK1 ,BOGDANI* W\LD COME UP TO HIM AS HE 
 LAY W\ND$ & W\LD MAGNANIM\SLY EXT5D ! H& ( RECONCILIATION4 

,! HI<-%\LD]$ FIGURE ( ,ZH]KOV1 FAMILI> TO ! ,PAVLOGRADS AS HE 
 HAD BUT REC5TLY LEFT !IR REGIM5T1 RODE UP TO ! COLONEL4 ,AFT] HIS 
 DISMISSAL FROM HEADQU>T]S ,ZH]KOV HAD NOT REMA9$ 9 ! REGIM5T1 
 SAY+ HE WAS NOT SU* A FOOL AS TO SLAVE AT ! FRONT :5 HE C\LD GET 
 MORE REW>DS BY DO+ NO?+ ON ! /AFF1 & HAD SUCCE$$ 9 ATTA*+ 
 HIMSELF AS AN ORD]LY (FIC] TO ,PR9CE ,BAGRATION4 ,HE N[ CAME TO HIS 
 =M] *IEF ) AN ORD] FROM ! COMM&] ( ! RE> GU>D4 

0,COLONEL10 HE SAID1 ADDRESS+ ,RO/OV'S 5EMY ) AN AIR ( GLOOMY 
 GRAVITY & GLANC+ R\ND AT HIS COMRADES1 0!RE IS AN ORD] TO /OP & 
 FIRE ! BRIDGE40 

0,AN ORD] TO :O80 ASK$ ! COLONEL MOROSELY4 

0,I DON'T MYSELF KN[ 'TO :O1'0 REPLI$ ! CORNET 9 A S]I\S TONE1 0BUT 
 ! PR9CE TOLD ME TO 'GO & TELL ! COLONEL ?AT ! HUSS>S MU/ 
 RETURN QUICKLY & FIRE ! BRIDGE4'0 

,ZH]KOV WAS FOLL[$ BY AN (FIC] ( ! SUITE :O RODE UP TO ! COLONEL 
 ( HUSS>S ) ! SAME ORD]4 ,AFT] HIM ! /\T ,NESVITSKI CAME 
 GALLOP+ UP ON A ,COSSACK HORSE ?AT C\LD SC>CELY C>RY HIS WEI<T4 

0,H['S ?IS1 ,COLONEL80 HE %\T$ AS HE APPROA*$4 0,I TOLD Y\ TO FIRE 
 ! BRIDGE1 & N[ SOMEONE HAS GONE & BLUND]$2 !Y >E ALL BESIDE 
 !MSELVES OV] !RE & ONE CAN'T MAKE ANY?+ \T40 

,! COLONEL DELIB]ATELY /OPP$ ! REGIM5T & TURN$ TO ,NESVITSKI4 

0,Y\ SPOKE TO ME ( 9FLAMMABLE MAT]IAL10 SAID HE1 0BUT Y\ SAID NO?+ 
 AB\T FIR+ IT40 

0,BUT1 MY DE> SIR10 SAID ,NESVITSKI AS HE DREW UP1 TAK+ (F HIS CAP & 
 SMOO?+ HIS HAIR WET ) P]SPIRATION ) HIS PLUMP H&1 0WASN'T ,I 
 TELL+ Y\ TO FIRE ! BRIDGE1 :5 9FLAMMABLE MAT]IAL HAD BE5 PUT 9 
 POSITION80 

0,I AM NOT Y\R 'DE> SIR1' ,MR4 ,/AFF ,(FIC]1 & Y\ DID NOT TELL ME TO 
 BURN ! BRIDGE6 ,I KN[ ! S]VICE1 & IT IS MY HABIT ORD]S /RICTLY TO 
 OBEY4 ,Y\ SAID ! BRIDGE W\LD BE BURN$1 BUT :O W\LD IT BURN1 ,I C\LD 
 NOT KN[ BY ! HOLY SPIRIT60 

0,AH1 ?AT'S ALWAYS ! WAY60 SAID ,NESVITSKI ) A WAVE ( ! H&4 0,H[ 
 DID Y\ GET H]E80 SAID HE1 TURN+ TO ,ZH]KOV4 

0,ON ! SAME BUS9ESS4 ,BUT Y\ >E DAMP6 ,LET ME WR+ Y\ \T60 

0,Y\ W]E SAY+1 ,MR4 ,/AFF ,(FIC]4440 CONT9U$ ! COLONEL 9 AN 
 (F5D$ TONE4 

0,COLONEL10 9T]RUPT$ ! (FIC] ( ! SUITE1 0,Y\ MU/ BE QUICK OR ! 
 5EMY WILL BR+ UP HIS GUNS TO USE GRAPE%OT40 

,! COLONEL LOOK$ SIL5TLY AT ! (FIC] ( ! SUITE1 AT ! /\T 
 /AFF (FIC]1 & AT ,ZH]KOV1 & HE FR[N$4 

0,I WILL ! BRIDGE FIRE10 HE SAID 9 A SOLEMN TONE AS IF TO ANN\NCE ?AT 
 9 SPITE ( ALL ! UNPLEASANTNESS HE HAD TO 5DURE HE W\LD /ILL DO ! 
 RI<T ?+4 

,/RIK+ HIS HORSE ) HIS LONG MUSCUL> LEGS AS IF IT W]E TO BLAME = 
 EV]Y?+1 ! COLONEL MOV$ =W>D & ORD]$ ! SECOND SQUADRON1 
 ?AT 9 :I* ,RO/OV WAS S]V+ UND] ,D5ISOV1 TO RETURN TO ! BRIDGE4 

0,!RE1 IT'S JU/ AS ,I ?\<T10 SAID ,RO/OV TO HIMSELF4 0,HE WI%ES TO 
 TE/ ME60 ,HIS HE>T CONTRACT$ & ! BLOOD RU%$ TO HIS FACE4 0,LET HIM 
 SEE :E!R ,I AM A C[>D60 HE ?\<T4 

,AGA9 ON ALL ! BRI<T FACES ( ! SQUADRON ! S]I\S EXPRESSION 
 APPE>$ ?AT !Y HAD WORN :5 UND] FIRE4 ,RO/OV WAT*$ HIS 5EMY1 ! 
 COLONEL1 CLOSELY--TO F9D 9 HIS FACE CONFIRMATION ( HIS [N 
 CONJECTURE1 BUT ! COLONEL DID NOT ONCE GLANCE AT ,RO/OV1 & LOOK$ AS 
 HE ALWAYS DID :5 AT ! FRONT1 SOLEMN & /]N4 ,!N CAME ! WORD ( 
 COMM&4 

0,LOOK %>P6 ,LOOK %>P60 SEV]AL VOICES REPEAT$ >\ND HIM4 

,!IR SAB]S CAT*+ 9 ! BRIDLES & !IR SPURS J+L+1 ! HUSS>S 
 HA/ILY DISM\NT$1 NOT KN[+ :AT !Y W]E TO DO4 ,! M5 W]E 
 CROSS+ !MSELVES4 ,RO/OV NO LONG] LOOK$ AT ! COLONEL1 HE HAD NO 
 TIME4 ,HE WAS AFRAID ( FALL+ BEH9D ! HUSS>S1 SO MU* AFRAID ?AT HIS 
 HE>T /OOD /ILL4 ,HIS H& TREMBL$ AS HE GAVE HIS HORSE 9TO AN 
 ORD]LY'S *>GE1 & HE FELT ! BLOOD RU% TO HIS HE>T ) A ?UD4 
 ,D5ISOV RODE PA/ HIM1 LEAN+ BACK & %\T+ SOME?+4 ,RO/OV SAW 
 NO?+ BUT ! HUSS>S RUNN+ ALL >\ND HIM1 !IR SPURS CAT*+ & 
 !IR SAB]S CLATT]+4 

0,/RET*]S60 %\T$ SOMEONE BEH9D HIM4 

,RO/OV DID NOT ?9K :AT ?IS CALL = /RET*]S MEANT2 HE RAN ON1 
 TRY+ ONLY TO BE AHEAD ( ! O!RS2 BUT JU/ AT ! BRIDGE1 NOT LOOK+ 
 AT ! GR\ND1 HE CAME ON SOME /ICKY1 TRODD5 MUD1 /UMBL$1 & FELL ON 
 HIS H&S4 ,! O!RS \T/RIPP$ HIM4 

0,AT BOSS ZIDES1 ,CAPTA910 HE HE>D ! VOICE ( ! COLONEL1 :O1 HAV+ 
 RIDD5 AHEAD1 HAD PULL$ UP HIS HORSE NE> ! BRIDGE1 ) A TRIUMPHANT1 
 *E]FUL FACE4 

,RO/OV WIP+ HIS MUDDY H&S ON HIS BREE*ES LOOK$ AT HIS 5EMY & WAS 
 AB\T TO RUN ON1 ?9K+ ?AT ! F>!R HE W5T TO ! FRONT ! 
 BETT]4 ,BUT ,BOGDANI*1 )\T LOOK+ AT OR RECOGNIZ+ ,RO/OV1 %\T$ 
 TO HIM3 

0,:O'S ?AT RUNN+ ON ! MIDDLE ( ! BRIDGE8 ,TO ! RI<T6 ,COME BACK1 
 ,CADET60 HE CRI$ ANGRILY2 & TURN+ TO ,D5ISOV1 :O1 %[+ (F HIS 
 C\RAGE1 HAD RIDD5 ON TO ! PLANKS ( ! BRIDGE3 

0,:Y RUN RISKS1 ,CAPTA98 ,Y\ %\LD DISM\NT10 HE SAID4 

0,OH1 EV]Y BULLET HAS ITS BILLET10 ANSW]$ ,VASKA ,D5ISOV1 TURN+ 9 HIS 
 SADDLE4 

,MEAN:ILE ,NESVITSKI1 ,ZH]KOV1 & ! (FIC] ( ! SUITE W]E /&+ 
 TOGE!R \T ( RANGE ( ! %OTS1 WAT*+1 N[ ! SMALL GR\P ( M5 
 ) YELL[ %AKOS1 D>K-GRE5 JACKETS BRAID$ ) CORD1 & BLUE RID+ 
 BREE*ES1 :O W]E SW>M+ NE> ! BRIDGE1 & !N AT :AT WAS 
 APPROA*+ 9 ! DI/ANCE FROM ! OPPOSITE SIDE--! BLUE UNI=MS 
 & GR\PS ) HORSES1 EASILY RECOGNIZABLE AS >TILL]Y4 

0,WILL !Y BURN ! BRIDGE OR NOT8 ,:O'LL GET !RE FIR/8 ,WILL !Y GET 
 !RE & FIRE ! BRIDGE OR WILL ! ,FR5* GET )9 GRAPE%OT RANGE 
 & WIPE !M \T80 ,!SE W]E ! QUE/IONS EA* MAN ( ! TROOPS ON ! 
 HI< GR\ND ABOVE ! BRIDGE 9VOLUNT>ILY ASK$ HIMSELF ) A S9K+ 
 HE>T--WAT*+ ! BRIDGE & ! HUSS>S 9 ! BRI<T EV5+ 
 LI<T & ! BLUE TUNICS ADVANC+ FROM ! O!R SIDE ) !IR 
 BAYONETS & GUNS4 

0,U<4 ,! HUSS>S WILL GET IT HOT60 SAID ,NESVITSKI2 0!Y >E )9 
 GRAPE%OT RANGE N[40 

0,HE %\LDN'T HAVE TAK5 SO MANY M510 SAID ! (FIC] ( ! SUITE4 

0,TRUE 5\<10 ANSW]$ ,NESVITSKI2 0TWO SM>T FELL[S C\LD HAVE DONE ! 
 JOB JU/ AS WELL40 

0,AH1 Y\R EXCELL5CY10 PUT 9 ,ZH]KOV1 HIS EYES FIX$ ON ! HUSS>S1 BUT 
 /ILL ) ?AT NAIVE AIR ?AT MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO KN[ :E!R HE WAS 
 SPEAK+ 9 JE/ OR 9 E>NE/4 0,AH1 Y\R EXCELL5CY6 ,H[ Y\ LOOK AT 
 ?+S6 ,S5D TWO M58 ,& :O !N W\LD GIVE US ! ,VLADIMIR M$AL & 
 RIBBON8 ,BUT N[1 EV5 IF !Y DO GET PEPP]$1 ! SQUADRON MAY BE 
 RECOMM5D$ = HONORS & HE MAY GET A RIBBON4 ,\R ,BOGDANI* KN[S H[ 
 ?+S >E DONE40 

0,!RE N[60 SAID ! (FIC] ( ! SUITE1 0?AT'S GRAPE%OT40 

,HE PO9T$ TO ! ,FR5* GUNS1 ! LIMB]S ( :I* W]E BE+ DETA*$ 
 & HURRI$LY REMOV$4 

,ON ! ,FR5* SIDE1 AMID ! GR\PS ) CANNON1 A CL\D ( SMOKE 
 APPE>$1 !N A SECOND & A ?IRD ALMO/ SIMULTANE\SLY1 & AT ! 
 MOM5T :5 ! FIR/ REPORT WAS HE>D A F\R? WAS SE54 ,!N TWO REPORTS 
 ONE AFT] ANO!R1 & A ?IRD4 

0,OH6 ,OH60 GROAN$ ,NESVITSKI AS IF 9 FI]CE PA91 SEIZ+ ! (FIC] ( 
 ! SUITE BY ! >M4 0,LOOK6 ,A MAN HAS FALL56 ,FALL51 FALL560 

0,TWO1 ,I ?9K40 

0,IF ,I W]E ,CZ> ,I W\LD NEV] GO TO W>10 SAID ,NESVITSKI1 TURN+ AWAY4 

,! ,FR5* GUNS W]E HA/ILY RELOAD$4 ,! 9FANTRY 9 !IR BLUE UNI=MS 
 ADVANC$ T[>D ! BRIDGE AT A RUN4 ,SMOKE APPE>$ AGA9 BUT AT IRREGUL> 
 9T]VALS1 & GRAPE%OT CRACK$ & RATTL$ ONTO ! BRIDGE4 ,BUT ?IS 
 TIME ,NESVITSKI C\LD NOT SEE :AT WAS HAPP5+ !RE1 AS A D5SE CL\D ( 
 SMOKE >OSE FROM IT4 ,! HUSS>S HAD SUCCE$$ 9 SETT+ IT ON FIRE & 
 ! ,FR5* BATT]IES W]E N[ FIR+ AT !M1 NO LONG] TO H9D] !M BUT 
 BECAUSE ! GUNS W]E TRA9$ & !RE WAS SOMEONE TO FIRE AT4 

,! ,FR5* HAD TIME TO FIRE ?REE R\NDS ( GRAPE%OT BE=E ! HUSS>S 
 GOT BACK TO !IR HORSES4 ,TWO W]E MISDIRECT$ & ! %OT W5T TOO HI<1 
 BUT ! LA/ R\ND FELL 9 ! MID/ ( A GR\P ( HUSS>S & KNOCK$ 
 ?REE ( !M OV]4 

,RO/OV1 ABSORB$ BY HIS RELATIONS ) ,BOGDANI*1 HAD PAUS$ ON ! BRIDGE 
 NOT KN[+ :AT TO DO4 ,!RE WAS NO ONE TO HEW D[N 7AS HE HAD ALWAYS 
 IMAG9$ BATTLES TO HIMSELF71 NOR C\LD HE HELP TO FIRE ! BRIDGE BECAUSE 
 HE HAD NOT BR\<T ANY BURN+ /RAW ) HIM LIKE ! O!R SOLDI]S4 ,HE 
 /OOD LOOK+ AB\T HIM1 :5 SUDD5LY HE HE>D A RATTLE ON ! BRIDGE AS 
 IF NUTS W]E BE+ SPILL$1 & ! HUSS> NE>E/ TO HIM FELL AGA9/ ! 
 RAILS ) A GROAN4 ,RO/OV RAN UP TO HIM ) ! O!RS4 ,AGA9 SOMEONE 
 %\T$1 0,/RET*]S60 ,F\R M5 SEIZ$ ! HUSS> & BEGAN LIFT+ HIM4 

0,OOOH6 ,= ,*RI/'S SAKE LET ME ALONE60 CRI$ ! W\ND$ MAN1 BUT /ILL 
 HE WAS LIFT$ & LAID ON ! /RET*]4 

,NI*OLAS ,RO/OV TURN$ AWAY &1 AS IF SE>*+ = SOME?+1 GAZ$ 9TO 
 ! DI/ANCE1 AT ! WAT]S ( ! ,DANUBE1 AT ! SKY1 & AT ! SUN4 ,H[ 
 BEAUTIFUL ! SKY LOOK$2 H[ BLUE1 H[ CALM1 & H[ DEEP6 ,H[ BRI<T & 
 GLORI\S WAS ! SETT+ SUN6 ,) :AT S(T GLITT] ! WAT]S ( ! 
 DI/ANT ,DANUBE %ONE4 ,& FAIR] /ILL W]E ! F>AWAY BLUE M\NTA9S 
 BEYOND ! RIV]1 ! NUNN]Y1 ! MY/]I\S GORGES1 & ! P9E =E/S 
 VEIL$ 9 ! MI/ ( !IR SUMMITS444 ,!RE WAS PEACE & HAPP9ESS444 0,I 
 %\LD WI% = NO?+ ELSE1 NO?+1 IF ONLY ,I W]E !RE10 ?\<T 
 ,RO/OV4 0,9 MYSELF ALONE & 9 ?AT SUN%9E !RE IS SO MU* HAPP9ESS2 
 BUT H]E444 GROANS1 SUFF]+1 FE>1 & ?IS UNC]TA9TY & HURRY444 
 ,!RE--!Y >E %\T+ AGA91 & AGA9 >E ALL RUNN+ BACK 
 SOME:]E1 & ,I %ALL RUN ) !M1 & IT1 DEA?1 IS H]E ABOVE ME & 
 >\ND444 ,ANO!R 9/ANT & ,I %ALL NEV] AGA9 SEE ! SUN1 ?IS WAT]1 
 ?AT GORGE64440 

,AT ?AT 9/ANT ! SUN BEGAN TO HIDE BEH9D ! CL\DS1 & O!R 
 /RET*]S CAME 9TO VIEW BE=E ,RO/OV4 ,& ! FE> ( DEA? & ( ! 
 /RET*]S1 & LOVE ( ! SUN & ( LIFE1 ALL M]G$ 9TO ONE FEEL+ 
 ( SICK5+ AGITATION4 

0,O ,LORD ,GOD6 ,?\ :O >T 9 ?AT HEAV51 SAVE1 =GIVE1 & PROTECT ME60 
 ,RO/OV :ISP]$4 

,! HUSS>S RAN BACK TO ! M5 :O HELD !IR HORSES2 !IR VOICES 
 S\ND$ L\D] & CALM]1 ! /RET*]S DISAPPE>$ FROM SI<T4 

0,WELL1 FWI5D8 ,SO Y\'VE SMELT P[DAH60 %\T$ ,VASKA ,D5ISOV JU/ ABOVE 
 HIS E>4 

0,IT'S ALL OV]2 BUT ,I AM A C[>D--YES1 A C[>D60 ?\<T ,RO/OV1 
 & SI<+ DEEPLY HE TOOK ,ROOK1 HIS HORSE1 :I* /OOD RE/+ ONE FOOT1 
 FROM ! ORD]LY & BEGAN TO M\NT4 

0,WAS ?AT GRAPE%OT80 HE ASK$ ,D5ISOV4 

0,YES & NO MI/AKE60 CRI$ ,D5ISOV4 0,Y\ WORK$ LIKE WEGUL> BWICKS & 
 IT'S NA/Y WORK6 ,AN ATTACK'S PLEASANT WORK6 ,HACK+ AWAY AT ! DOGS6 ,BUT 
 ?IS SORT ( ?+ IS ! V]Y DEVIL1 ) !M %OOT+ AT Y\ LIKE A 
 T>GET40 

,& ,D5ISOV RODE UP TO A GR\P ?AT HAD /OPP$ NE> ,RO/OV1 COMPOS$ ( 
 ! COLONEL1 ,NESVITSKI1 ,ZH]KOV1 & ! (FIC] FROM ! SUITE4 

0,WELL1 IT SEEMS ?AT NO ONE HAS NOTIC$10 ?\<T ,RO/OV4 ,& ?IS WAS 
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,*RONOLOGY 3 
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