English Translation

But it is enough for the SD.-man for his lightning-fast decision. He does not think of going back at all, otherwise the bandits felt discovered and would wander further into the mountains. The advantage that he had gained by catching the one-armed and the "homeowner" was not to be disclosed. A safety lever cracks — soon it would have to crack — and the SD.-man goes towards the invisible post. "I don't know the slogan, since I come here as a courier from K.," he calls into the night in fluent Russian. "Come closer!" answers a shrill, fearful voice. Then he faces a dark figure. Two other men are lying on the ground with the rifle in attack. "I am Alamnov, the courier from K. — lead me to the boss!" says the SD. man bch. "What's the boss's name?" asks the man. He smells of onions, smoke and sweat. "Papanow!" says the S.D. man. "Well, come with ---- "Listen once," says the SD.-man even harsher than before, "You don't have to duze me at all, because I'm a Staryleutnant." "I didn't know that," the Bolshevist replied, "they climbed up the steep forest. "How many men are actually here in the camp?" _ "Twenty-two.-- They are silent again, only the sniper gasps. Going up makes him a lot of complaints. "Will I get something to eat at this late hour?" the SD.-man continues his research. Yes - but only millet or horse meat. The food is always very bad. They would not have made any loot at all, It was swarming with soldiers everywhere. The boss will be surprised at the fact that one of them was able to get through here. Nevertheless, the front is only fifteen kilometers away from here! However, none of them have volunteered for a courier tour since they had become snipers. They are all only dispersed from different troop parts. "Comrade Staryleutnant, do you have some tobacco left?" "No, but here — Stalin chocolate!" The SD. man gives him a handful of sunflower seeds. Like a ruminant, the Bolshevik crushes them between the teeth and spits the shells of himself as they go on. The moon has risen and shines on a narrow forest snow. Horses are standing in the woods. The thin tree trunks are gnawed down to the white wood. Brandy smell rises into the nose, and from somewhere you can feel a faint glow of light. "We are there — there is the entrance to the head quarters! "The sniper points to the matte glow. Then he pushes the bag canvas aside and calls into the opening: "Chef — there has arrived one of the staff." The SD. man enters the head quarters of the sniper mute. The worst meat smell escapes from the steaming boiler in the middle. The earth walls are carbon black. In the background there is gray hay. On it a woman and two men chew. In addition to the entrance there are long, thick bones, horse hooves, dirty mullbindings and cloth pieces — probably the heating material for the open fire. A stubble bear tiger, with bearded braids, stares towards the SD. man, his clothes are shredded and his feet wrapped with linen shreds. "I am the boss — sit down there, he says snoringly and points to a fresh horseskin lying on the ground. The SD. man wants to wait until he is approached, but his counterpart just stares at him. Now he must start talking. "We don't see each other today for the first time, Papanov, says the SD.-man calmly. Yes, he really knew him, but only by the statements of captured snipers and gang members, who had partly voluntarily committed themselves, were partly seized. He knew his whole life story. "Where did we get to know each other?" the astonished Bolshevik wants to know. "Fifty years ago in the Moscow Military Academy. You flew out because of incompetence, if I remember correctly. But now you still have been an officer. My name is Alamnov." Indeed! The name would be familiar to him, but on his face he can no longer remember . .. He gets a worried look. "What do you want here?" 85