It was snowing. The traveler wandered through the frozen swamp, starting to worry more and more. Those who sent it also did not count on the snowfall, which suddenly began two hours ago. Now Zoska stretched a distinct trail, but soon the snow would hide him. Worse, she got lost.

The expected forest ranger was not visible, a dull unfamiliar swamp stretched around. No one to ask - eight kilometers to the nearest village. They didn’t give weapons with themselves - it could fail the task, for the same reason they did not give her a compass either. She had a passport and German Ausweis, very battered, probably many used it. A document in the name of Adelaide Avgustevich, Zoska really liked the name. And then - Zosya Nareiko, although to each - his own. She had to cross the swamp, cross the small rivulet and go to Skidel shly - familiar places would already begin there. There will be its own dangers, but it turned out to be worse: in the obscure twilight, the swamp seemed to be full of monsters. Coming closer, Zoska saw a snowy bump or a snag, what else to be at this time in the swamp. However, fear grew with darkness. The girl drove obsessive thoughts from herself, at that time people should be afraid, and here is a deserted swamp, a rainy autumn evening, and that’s all.

As if the snowfall had thinned, a hare suddenly darted from under his feet, which made the girl freeze in horror. Looking back, she was frightened even more, since she clearly saw the silhouette of a man. Then she thought that she had misunderstood. Zoska swiftly stepped forward, not allowing herself to look around. The swamp is over, somewhere in front should be a river. You need to look for a ford or bottleneck to get to the other side. Zoska looked around - no one was visible. Now one should think how to overcome the river, look for a suitable pole and try to cross it. The girl went around several trees, trying with her hand the strength of their rough branches, and, casting a look in the field, saw a man walking in her tracks. Twilight interfered with the walk, it was only clear that there was a confident man who knew his goal. Zoska realized that her walker also saw her, she had only one way - beyond the river. It was necessary to hurry, she broke a small tree under the very root and decided to “run across” this unreliable support to the other bank, but then slipped and fell into the river, falling to the waist. A voice came from above: “Zoska, wait! Are you crazy? ” She froze, recognizing the voice of Anton - the partisan from their detachment. He helped the girl out of the river. Zoska was surprised where Golubin came from, whom she began to call Anton three days ago.

Zoska explained that she was very afraid of the persecution, and therefore rushed into the river. Anton ordered her to run after him to keep warm. The girl felt that her legs were stiff, her skirt froze and became a stake. Zoska tried to ask Anton how he was there. But he only answered: “Nothing. Well here - arrived in time. And then ... ”She could not understand why he was tens of kilometers from the camp, she was sent on a mission, there was no question of Golubin. There is no strength to run, but you can’t stop - you will freeze. Zoska recalled how in the morning they said goodbye to Anton. She could not say where she was going, she only promised to return in two weeks. Zoska wanted to say what she needed for the river, but first, really, she had to dry out, and she happily seized on this sympathetic help. Anton knew, somewhere near the village, there you can dry out. He advised to cross the river at the forester. Zoska was about to, but got lost due to the snowfall. Anton grinned: not yet out of the zone and already lost. “How will you be there, scout?” She had nothing to answer. But do not be afraid of him, Zoska would not have climbed into the river, there is no one to blame. On the run Anton looked around and realized that the village remained on the sidelines. Golubin began to grumble with displeasure at Zoska that she had lost the road because of her, and she wanted to shout that if there hadn’t been him, she wouldn’t be scared and would not climb into that river, but she restrained herself and decided that she would somehow get out. Anton saw a stack and called for a girl. In the hay it was possible to dry and spend the night in the heat. In the first stack, the hay was caked and did not succumb to their cold fingers, but in the second the manhole was ready. Anton ordered Zoska to climb into the stack, remove her wet clothes and wrap himself in his casing (short fur coat). While the girl pulled off her wet boots, stockings, skirt, Anton closed up the hole. He cheerfully promised that they would soon breathe and be able to dry out. Anton lay down, clinging to Zoska, who was wrapped in a casing. She asked Anton, where is he going? Golubin replied that they were almost on their way. Zoska was frightened by Anton’s close proximity, she was in this situation for the first time: on the one hand, he was her savior, but what was on his mind, she did not know and decided to stay as strict as possible. Anton promised that Zoska would warm up soon. "Better than on the stove in the hut." Without any connection, he suddenly asked if she remembered Zaglyadka? What kind of parties were there. Kuznetsov liked to fight and take a walk. “He was young,” Zoska answered. “And there’s neither Kuznetsov, nor many.”

“Who knows, and we will soon be gone,” Anton answered.

Zoska chilly cringed from such a perspective. She didn’t want to die. You can’t think about it while going on a mission. Anton agreed, you have to think about death - war, but it’s not necessary to speak. Wrapped in a casing, Zoska gradually warmed up and began to doze.

Suddenly, the voice of Anton woke her up, remembering how well she danced with him, then she liked her. He asked where Zoska came from. And she replied that from Skidel, she lived there with her mother. Anton knows those places. In the fall, he went on a raid with Kuznetsov. Golubin asked, then, Zoska was seeing her mother, but the girl did not know whether she could meet. After all, she is not going to visit, but on a mission. Anton replied that his friend lives in Skidel. Zoska asked who she was. Golubin replied that she hardly knew him, he was a new man who had recently settled in those parts. Zoska agreed - she had lived in Navahrudak before the war, studied at a technical school.

Anton, turning on the hay, hugged her by the shoulders. Zoska tried to pull away. Having given her a cover, Anton began to freeze, so he tightened his grip on the girl to himself, saying that it was warmer. Zoska boasted that she is strong, knows hand-to-hand combat techniques. Anton replied that it would be better if they gave her a weapon, they probably were not allowed to take it, but the documents were reliable. Zoska objected, she has a battered Ausweis. Golubin replied that tattered documents had more faith. He admitted that he had a revolver of the Nagan system - the most reliable document. Zoska didn’t like that Anton was going with weapons, do they know about this at the partisan headquarters? Golubin replied: "I myself know better what to go with." He advised the girl to stay with him, he will not be lost with him. Anton affectionately admitted that after their morning meeting he could not find a place for himself, he was so scared for Zoska. She was pleased that Anton was worried and afraid for her. Golubin tried to hug the girl, but she too decisively rejected his affection. Anton grinned: “We will sleep”; let Zoska not be afraid of him, he joked. Zoska asked, maybe Anton will go further alone? “Until I wait,” Golubin answered. They almost quarreled that Zoska did not want to.

Burrowing in the hay, Anton pretended to fall asleep. Together, under the casing it would have been warmer, but he moved away from the girl so that he would not think that for the sake of this he was running after her. Although he was a man, and she attracted him a lot with her young femininity. Now Golubin did not remember when he first seriously paid attention to her, maybe in Zaglyadki, when he was dancing with Zoska, or when their detachment left the camp inhabited and relocated to the swamp. After a long march everyone was hungry and chilled, the platoon commander allocated three to equip a detached kitchen. Two went to get water, and Anton set about creating a fire chamber, he started digging with a fuse, became angry, sweated and decided to take off his short fur coat, then he saw Zoska and asked: "Has she come to help?" She replied that such an employee did not need help, poured dried peas into his palm and went away. Then Anton thought: “Nice girl!”

All fall there were tasks, Anton was not up to Zoska. Golubin by nature was not from the faint of heart, he had enough endurance. Constant fighting and danger tempered him, there was no case that Anton was frightened or confused. Although some in the detachment were inclined to accuse him of the death of the commander. But there Anton was not guilty of anything. On the contrary, with his resourcefulness, he saved four, first jumping out of the attic and shouting to the others: “Jump!” They, suffocating in smoke and firing at the cops who were harassing, barely left. Kuznetsov and the orderly rarely shot from the basement, where policemen threw grenades. Probably, the commander was wounded and could not jump out, but what could they do, four, "against three dozen impudent bobiks?" Golubin respected and appreciated Kuznetsov; to tears he felt sorry for the sensible and bold commander. Going on business, reconnaissance, operations, and partying, Kuznetsov always took six partisans with him, including Golubin, who began to travel in the summer. Now, from this six, it seems, no one is left. It was not easy at first. The detachment was assembled from different people - the district asset and the NKVD, the Red Army surrounded by prisoners of war, prisoners of war and local daredevils. Kuznetsov tested people in battle, where they obtained weapons, showed their skill and ingenuity. Under Kuznetsov, Golubin commanded a platoon; after the death of commander Anton, he was reduced to a private. By autumn, people turned around, began to fight properly - and then the absurd death of the commander. “Since September, the detachment has entered its dark zone, troubles have poured on him, one worse than the other.” The commander and three people of his group were killed, then the sabotage group Kubelkin left and did not return. Before they had time to burn over the best fighters, the detachment came out to smash the German garrison at the station and fell under the organized fire of enemies - it suffered heavy losses. The lads were depressed, there was no connection with Moscow, various disturbing rumors were circulating about the battles near Stalingrad. One day, Golubin heard a conversation between Kovsh, a former policeman from Vileyka, and a major about Stalingrad, they examined a map from a school textbook. Seeing the map, Anton was amazed - Stalingrad was in the very depths of Russia. “You can go crazy - how far the Germans have gone! ..” For several days Golubin went completely dead, he understood that the fate of the city was a foregone conclusion. So why are they here in this forest? What are they to do here and what awaits them in the near future? True, Stalingrad is still holding on, but how long can it last? All this greatly depressed the partisan. " And then Kubelkin’s group disappeared. Golubin realized that Zoska was sent in search of traces of the group. The girl was smiling all the time, it seemed that she was not being touched by adversity. Doesn’t she know what awaits her? A short meeting with Zoska before leaving for the task turned Anton's whole life upside down.

In the middle of the night, Zoska woke up, remembered what had happened. She grinned at her luck - meeting the very one who had already thrown a spark of interest in herself into her soul. She was pleased that someone worries and worries about her, maybe loves her. She thought that Anton Golubin was a good man: he came to her aid at the right time.

At first, Zoska performed the duties of a nurse in the wounded group, then she began to help in the kitchen. Now her services were needed for Dozortsev, who was preparing a liaison from a girl. This is more dangerous, but more honorable than in the kitchen. For the second time she went there, from where they did not always return.

Piglet carefully got out of the stack. There was silence all around, slightly freezing. The girl ran behind the stack, and then returned to the hole. It was warm here, but we had to leave in the morning. Anton will probably find a way to cross. Zoska thought how old he could be. "Probably around thirty, almost an old man against her." Soon after acne, she again fell asleep soundly. In a dream, she was anxious. Someone native to her was simultaneously “like an angel and the devil,” he was elusive, and this especially tormented Zoska. Then she saw a dream, as if she was climbing rocks that she had never seen in reality, she clearly felt an abyss behind her back, in vain sought support for her arms and legs, she wanted to scream, but there was no voice. Suddenly, a bear's claw paw stretches from above. The little pig is scared of this paw more than the abyss, breaks down and screams choked. But a few seconds before death wakes up in a cold sweat. Sleep puzzles and scares Zoska. Anton is no longer around - he stands outside and calls her to charge. Zoska hastily puts on half-baked clothes and crawls out of the hole. Anton tried to get into it with snow, but Zoska easily dodged. Golubin invited her to wash herself with snow: “Whoever bathes with the first snow will not catch a cold all winter! Oh well! ” He went up and rubbed her face with snow. The girl recoiled displeasedly. Anton asked if her clothes were dry. Zoska replied that things were still wet. “Nothing, they will dry quickly in the cold,” Anton reassured. He gradually found out that Zosha needed to cross the Neman, for this she was given a password. The girl suggested that Anton hide the gun in a stack, but he refused. Weapons can still come in handy. She is afraid, she believes in forebodings and a prediction of a prophetic dream. It’s funny for Anton that the Komsomol believes such trifles. “Where is the night, there is a dream” - and throw nonsense out of your head. But Zoska recalled how, on the eve of the German raid, she had a dream that she was overtaken by a German shepherd, and in the morning Kuznetsov barely managed to take the squad out of the swamp. So do not believe "in all sorts of prejudices." Anton replied that life is much worse than dreams, and even the detachment commander got a bad guy - from former civilians. Kuznetsov was a good commander, he knew how to protect people, and not just follow the orders of the center. Anton is sure that it’s difficult to fight the Germans, they have strength and power. Zoska was a "little man", but she believed in the ideals of good and justice, "which the fascists trampled in rudeness and at once." She hated them for killing innocent people. And she told herself that it was impossible to live in the same world with this beast, that she would harm them as soon as she could, if they did not solve her earlier. Therefore, she went into partisans and for eight months there has been no other life for her except a forest, full of danger, hunger, cold - except war.

Talking, we went to the river. Anton began to look for a place suitable for crossing, he noticed a beaver busily scurrying along the river. The beaver, frightened by Anton, hid in his hut. Golubin saw a dam set up by beavers. Here you could get over. He jumped to the other side, and Zoska was afraid not to jump. Then Golubin stepped into the water and caught the jumping girl. Anton soaked his legs, so he sat down to rewind the footcloths, and then confidently went forward, forcing Zoska to follow the trail. Suddenly stopping, so that Zoska flew at him, Anton admitted that he was in a breeze. The girl was scared, how did he return to the squad? Anton replied that now it’s too late to change anything. He cannot leave her, afraid for her. After seeing Zoskin Ausweis, Golubin rejected a badly glued photograph. At the first check, Zoska will be picked up with this fake paper. Zoska did not know what to do. Anton suggested going together; he would not be a burden to her. The girl confirmed: “You will not become a burden, on the contrary!” Anton assured the two of us to go safer. Zoska was in difficulty: what to do. Of course, it’s easier and calmer with him. But Anton’s squad is in trouble, but she cannot drive him away, and she doesn’t want to. He managed to do so much for her! Emboldened, Zoska moved after Pigeon.

Anton confidently moved forward, in the fall he already walked along this route. Having entered the forest, I heard voices and went to check.Leaving the girl at the edge of the forest, he himself plunged into the forest. He saw people at once, bypassing the dense bush. A woman sat in a sleigh, a man stood nearby, and a freshly sawn pine lay. Anton understood: it’s the village people who came to stock up on firewood. He came up and said hello, the guy got scared, and the young woman looked at Anton without fear. Having talked, Golubin found out that they were carrying a pine to replace an old rotten log. The young woman talkatively explained that they got married very recently, from Stableka themselves, she nodded to the side: "Get out here." Anton asked about Loam, and he was shown the direction, the Islet is also in that direction. Golubin asked for bread, and the young woman cut a small slice of village bread and lard, but she did it displeased: not enough. Anton cursed to himself: if you don’t ask, they won’t give me a date. A third, bearded man came up and asked who Anton is. “Just a man,” answered Golubin. A man said that difficult times have come: they live in eternal fear. “Why don't you take up arms?” - asked Anton. Young was angry, she began to protect her husband, who was not able to offend flies. The guy embarrassedly dissuaded that he might decide to leave for the partisans. The young woman shouted. Anton left, he had no time to listen to a family quarrel. Golubin recalled how he worked as a tax agent before the war, traveled a lot around the region, and he had a lot of acquaintances. When the war broke out, the old life collapsed. Once, six armed men knocked on his hut. Among them was his friend from the NKVD. They lured Anton into a partisan detachment, telling about acquaintances. Now Anton recalled peaceful life as an unrealistic happiness. There is no end to the war. Maybe they will kill him, well, if they bury him humanly. Seeing Zoska, he called out to the girl.

Anton shared with Zoska the bread and lard received from the young and ate his piece with pleasure. Zoska all the time worried about Golubin, persuaded him to return, but he set out to conduct her for the Neman.

Anton said that he had met peasants who came for a pine to fix a hut. Zoska got angry: there are many who want to sit behind someone else's backs, hoping to survive the war. They went to the road, but in the afternoon it was dangerous. Anton turned into the forest and walked along the edge of the forest. Soon the Germans drove along the road, Zoska rejoiced at Anton's forethought. However, they soon “missed” the big man, because no noise was heard from there. Anton went slower, Zoska, hoping for Golubin, did not think about the road, she was wet again. The forest is over. The relief of the area felt the approach of a river. Zoska was glad that they had left exactly in the right place. Several times in childhood, she saw the Neman in the summer, shallow, not making a strong impression. Now the form of the river has completely changed: it was heard from the abundance of water, the rapid and powerful current was fraught with an ominous force. The river was crumbling with ice. The shores seemed respectfully parted, letting the river pass to the sea. After two kilometers along the coast, they reached the conditional crossing, a haze was spreading along the ravine. A fussy and angry little dog rushed towards them. Petryakov, an elderly unshaven man, came out of the ravine. He reassured the little dog and invited those who came to the dugout. Zoska and Petryakov exchanged a password and a recall and, crouching, climbed into a tiny room, cut down in a ravine slope. Instead of a window, a glass splinter was inserted into the upper part of the door, there was a trestle bed and a well-heated stove. Petryakov invited those who came in closer to the stove, while Bormotu-hin drove the boat. He said that yesterday the returning scouts were transported from the other side: two alive, one in a sack. Zoska was unpleasant about this conversation. Yes, there was a war and hundreds of people were killed, but the mention of the killed scout painfully affected the soul. She was most afraid of getting a bullet in her stomach, although it was no better to be shot in the head or chest. Zoska asked Petryakov, why did he cough, probably got cold? The man grimaced, nothing else will help him - consumption. Zoska mixed up, she did not know what they say in such cases, and is it worth it to console? Finally appeared Bormotukhin, apparently a teenager. He complained of a strong wind on the river, moved to the stove. Zoska was frightened, how can they cross the Neman in such weather? Warming up a bit, the teenager called Zoska and Anton to the crossing. At the threshold, the girl looked around, wishing Petryakov recovery. Anton was the first to enter the boat, helping Zoska. The girl was sitting on the cross, clutching the wet sides of the boat with both hands. The little ship tilted menacingly when the ice floes hit the sides, but did not go to the bottom and did not even draw water. Bormotukhin confidently wielded the oar, then rowing, then pushing away large ice floes. On the other side, Zoska barely took a breath, but Bormotukhin reassured: “Is Hiba scary?” He pointed the safe direction to the “drava” (trees), showed where on the way back to look for the boat. Thanking the carrier, Anton and Zoska moved on.

The Neman is left behind. It quickly darkened, and again it began to snow, the wind intensified. His impulses flashed violently, as if trying to rip off his clothes. Anton asked when Zoska needs to be in Skidel. She replied that tonight. They didn’t have time in time: there were another sixteen kilometers, which is almost impossible in such weather and without a road. Zoska was eager for Skidel, of course, her mother was there. But no less than a girl, Anton also strove there. For some time now, his old friend Zhorka Kopytsky settled in Skidel. But as he receives Anton, people are changing, and here is the war. At one time, Anton helped Kopytsky get a job in a special group formed for the transfer to the far rear to the Germans. And then their paths parted.

The fact that his current path so successfully coincided with the task of Zoska, Anton was inclined to see a happy sign of his military fate. He was worried about the crossing through the Neman, but it went smoothly - Zoska was silent. Golubin was sure that he was getting on with this scout. “Not a single girl he threw an eye at has ever dodged him. Now Zoska became necessary to him to the extreme, and Anton hoped, if he tried, everything he planned would be fulfilled. If only Kopytsky would not let you down. ”

Realizing that Skidel could not be reached today, Anton began to think about an overnight stay. The wind was gradually changing direction and was now blowing from the west. It promised a change in weather, noticeably warmer, squished underfoot. All day, Anton intended to talk with Zoska to tell her about the most important thing, for which he was next to her, but could not choose the right moment. He knew this area quite well: in the summer he had already been here and could walk for a long time, and Zoska was tired. They ran across a deserted road and ended up on a plowed land. Barely moving her legs, Zoska wandered behind. A farm loomed in the distance, but the policemen who had a party with an accordion appeared on it. Moving away from the farmhouse, Anton walked quickly, not adjusting himself to the girl’s step — he knew where he was going ... A godforsaken farmhouse met them with silence. Anton got over the fence and helped Zoska. They entered the dark canopy, and then into the hut, among which stood the coffin, several women were sitting around it. Anton was taken aback, pulled a wet hat off his head. One of the women stood up, ducking silently into the darkness, and immediately returned, serving them bread and potatoes in their uniforms: “Now, don’t blame me for nothing ... Do not blame me for something hot ...” Anton and Zoska again went out into the night and damp. It seemed that Anton was confused, not knowing where to go.

For a long time, almost blindly, they walked along the bare plain of the field. The little piggy was wet, she could not forget the picture of these women's funerals. But somehow it was necessary to shake off a depressing mood: “She has a difficult, scheduled task for several days. We need to go to Skidel, on two farms, to go to Grodno, maybe we can see mom. There is still much to be done in life, why think about a funeral? ” Having caught up with Anton, Zoska found out that they deviated greatly from the route and went to the Kotra River. Golubin said that Skidel can only be reached in the morning, but Zoska must go through at night so that no one will recognize her. Anton orientated and went, taking to the right. After a quarter of an hour, they came to a dilapidated obor (cattle room), in the corner of which a vat with a preserved stove was fenced off, on which cattle feed and water were once heated, and the room was heated. Anton has melted the stove. It became warmer, Golubin hung up his casing and Zoska's jacket. She took off her wet boots and stockings, sat down on Anton’s already dry cover. They had a bite of bread and potatoes. “For the remembrance of the soul of that grandmother,” Anton joked sadly. He asked Zoska if her mother knew that her daughter was so close? The girl replied that her mother had probably buried her — since spring, we have not seen each other. Golubin objected, people could see Zoska and pass it on to their mother. Anton once again repeated that for the sake of Zoska he went to the "AWOL" because he fell in love. Nobody had confessed her love to her yet; it was scary and pleasant. “You know, me too,” she said softly. - You're good". Anton began to kiss her, Zoska tried to dodge, but the guy held her tightly in his arms. “Her strength and will have disappeared, leaving everything in fear and the warm bliss of his embrace. She only felt that they didn’t need it, that they were acting badly, with a blurred consciousness she almost distinctly understood that she was dying, but there was some joy in this death, and most importantly, it was the consciousness that she died with him. ” She suddenly woke up from an alarming push from within and, fearing to move, opened her eyes. It was already dawn, the stove was out, and the room was getting colder. Zoska needed time to gather her thoughts. It was already too late to feel remorse, upon reflection, she was comforted by the only thought in her position: it should ever happen to every girl. It may, in some other way, more beautiful, but now - the war. She was in her nineteenth year, "why good, not long to grow old in girls or, worse, die, never knowing neither love nor man." About Anton Zoska thought: “he is a glorious man, prominent from himself, courageous and not an oiler, but in what happened between them, probably, a large share of guilt falls on her too.” It seemed to her that she would feel awkward in front of Golubin when they got out of the dark cliff, Zoska realized that with Anton she was ready at least to the ends of the world, especially now, after this road and this overnight stay in the dark.

A voice was heard from the street, implying a horse. Anton jumped up sharply, wondering what was going on. He shod boots and went out the door. Zoska hastily pulled on her dried boots, every second waiting for the command to run. Soon Anton returned with a gun in his hand. He said that the policemen drove it. Zoska could not understand the change that has happened with Anton. He sat angry and depressed, limply lowering his hands.

While Zoska was putting on her shoes in the chamber, Anton ran across the back door and through the wide-open gate he saw two sledges, not quickly dragging riders in black overcoats: policemen. The fright passed, the police did not pay attention to the equipment. Snippets of phrases reached Anton: “Stalingrad,” “given,” or, perhaps, “taken,” tensing, he heard an “offensive,” and thought that the Germans had launched a new offensive on the Volga. He had no facts, but Anton decided to hurry: he had to end the “partisans”, take care of his own head while she was still on her shoulders, and “take root in a new, German way, life ...”, since nothing had happened to the Soviet one. He told Zoska that the Germans had taken Stalingrad, she did not believe it. This news did not bother her. She was still about to complete the task. Anton began to explain: the war would probably end soon if the Germans strengthened themselves on the Volga. While Zoska was running “to the wind”, Anton was considering how to start a conversation and convince her to go to the Germans.

Suddenly Zoska appeared with a whitened face: she found the dead Surovets-demolition man from their detachment, the body of the partisan was still nearby, Anton forgot his last name, they were killed in the back - "police" work.

Anton has the feeling that he was trapped, how to get out of here, they will see him in the field for five kilometers. Anton began to explain to Zoska, since the Germans took Stalingrad, it means that the war is about to end, and there is nothing to wait for them to be poisoned by dogs in the forest and starved to death. “So, baby! You have a mother in Skidel, and I, there, I told you, the police chief Kopytsky, my fellow countryman from Borisov. He must help. Let's stay with you. We will live like people, like husband and wife. I fell in love with you, Zoska, ”Anton finished. She thought that Golubin was joking, but he confirmed that he was speaking very seriously. Zoska considers this a meanness. Yes, she didn’t live yet, she wants to save the life of herself and her mother. But going to the fascists is worse than death. “Here we must lose our last conscience. They are the twentieth century plague ... It’s impossible to live with them, they are animals. ” Anton objected, if with them in a good way ... Piglet against. Anton began to get angry. He is sure: the Germans are scum, but they win, "and we are forced to reckon with them." Zoska does not believe that the Germans won, Moscow, the Urals, Siberia have not yet been taken ... “We are people. And we will never accept them, even if they win. You say no choice. There is a choice: either we or they. That is our choice. ” Anton was surprised how the girl was “on-promoted”. But Zoska objected, propaganda had nothing to do with it; she has eyes and ears, she is confident in her innocence, offered to forget this unpleasant conversation for both. Anton replied that you can forget the conversation, but the essence remains. He thought that Zoska loves him. The girl replied: “That's the whole point. Otherwise, there would be a different conversation. ” She again began to send Anton to the squad, promising, having returned, to be silent about this conversation.

Golubin answered, enough is enough, he fought honestly for eight months, no longer wants and will not allow her. He is sure: Zoska needs to act decisively, less to listen to her objections.

For the rest of the day they were silent, standing at the lintel of the gate and not taking their eyes off the desert road. Zoska burst into tears, she was depressed by her proximity to those killed and "this absurdity" conceived by Anton. She wanted to live, but the method of salvation offered by Anton did not suit her at all. Zoska frantically wondered what to do. I didn’t want to go further with Anton, and it was impossible: she would fail the task, kill people, so she began to persuade Anton to return to the squad, but he did not leave, vigilantly watching that she did not lag behind. Zoska saw the farm and persuaded Anton to go there, he dissuaded - five kilometers remained to Skide-la. They went to the farm and, going around it, found themselves in front of the owner. He said that there were no strangers in the hut. Anton asked to warm up, the owner invited me in. Twilight reigned in the hut. The mistress was busy around the melted furnace, at the table

m teenage boy read a book. Anton said they went in to rest. Zoska talked with the boy about a book that lacked a few pages at the end. Zoska once read The Mysterious Island and told Vacek the missing pages. The hostess fed Anton and Zoska, boasted that her son was an excellent student, even showed a letter. Zoska wanted to take a little longer, but Anton was getting ready for the trip. The girl categorically refused to go further with Anton, she understood: there was a battle ahead, but she firmly decided not to concede. As soon as the young people argued, the mistress sent the son to another chamber.

Anton was puzzled. He felt fooled. He was not afraid of the hosts - he would cope with them with the help of a weapon, but Zoska needed him alive, and with her he still had to suffer, he felt it. Anton began to tell the owners that the wife was stubborn, but Zoska sharply replied: “I’m not your wife! .. You're lying! You have never been my husband! ” Anton was angry at the girl who brought the situation to a scandal, which has to be settled with strangers. Anton could not go to Skiden alone - he could be mistaken for a spy, he needed a hostage like Zoska. Like all business people, the Germans loved guarantees. “But take it, this guarantee, petrified in its wild obstinacy on the bench at the table.” Anton tried all the methods, he was afraid to completely stay with his nose.Demanding the owner’s rope, languished Zoska’s hands behind his back and tied them, his legs also tied. Then he demanded that the owner of the horse, not to drag it for five kilometers on itself. But there was no horse on the farm. Anton did not believe it, he went with the owner to check the barns. He closed the mistress with his son in the next room. While Anton and the owner were away, Vacek opened the door, untied Zoska and showed her the back door behind the stove. Zoska jumped out into the night and was about to run to the forest, but then she thought that she would become with the owners of the farm. Picking up an ax, she lurked around the corner. She needed to stop Pigeon. Seeing Zoska’s shadow cast, Anton recoiled to the side. The ax only cut the casing on the guy’s shoulder. He did not for long, but cruelly beat Zoska, she hoped that he would kill her. But he needed her alive: otherwise how to appear in Skidel’s police. Zoska decided that she had to die before he dragged her to Skidel. She will grab Nagan from Anton's bosom and kill him and herself. Then she thought, why kill yourself - better than him.

Anton found out from the owners where to get the horse. The nearest farm is two kilometers away. Anton sent the master there, threatening: “But you’ll be cunning, you won’t bring your horse,” I’ll burn the farm. Got it? " Anton gave the owner an hour axis understood, this hour of time has become a measure of its capabilities. Something needs to be done in this hour, then it will probably be too late.

Anton gave the mistress to sew up the hack cut by Zoska, and he> to the bee. He pushed Nagan into his pocket, from there Zoska could not get it anymore - "her whole idea went to dust." Zoska tried to move, lean against the wall, Anton forbade, and again bandaged it. She called Anton a traitor. He objected: who forced him to do this? He was not going to betray her. “I wanted to live with you. As expected, humanly. And you are making a traitor out of me. ” Zoska answered, let him betray. Not the first, one has already choked on thirty pieces of silver. But Anton did not seem to touch the ancient analogies.

He scolded Zoska for ingratitude. She wanted to kill him, and he helped her for two days, without him she would have disappeared. Anton was partly right, but she did not ask for his help. Now Anton was hoping to buy his own at the cost of her life. Zoska thought bitterly that it would be better for her to drown quietly on the Shchar, than to experience so many experiences and still forthcoming torment.

Anton occasionally glanced at Zoska, thinking, let him disappear, if such a fool. How many men would have been found in the detachment who, for the sake of such a jerk, would have risked their heads, saved her from war. But he made up his mind, left the detachment, led her through the hornet's police nests, guarded, warmed. And she? What paid for all this? The Germans would have seized it anyway and would have shaken all the information they needed. So let her serve him, save his life now. Of course, his conscience tormented him, but he tried not to listen to his thoughts: "If you listen to your conscience, you will soon throw up your hooves."

The owner was still gone, Anton asked the hostess: “Your curcule didn’t run away?” She replied that she would not run away, but would bring the horse.

Zoska did not notice how she dozed off, cowering on the cold floor. She felt anxiety, not understanding her cause. In a dream, a spring green field with a white bell tower of the church was spread out in front of her. She did not feel physically, but she knew that there was, someone kind had to appear before her. Zoska knew that one should respect him. There were people around, they were also waiting for "him." Suddenly Zoska saw that she was soaring freely and freely above the crowd, then she was heavy and began to decline sharply. People ran after her, trying to grab her with long, gnarled hands, trying to dodge, she waved her hands, which gradually turned into black wings of a bird. And Zoska herself turned into a bird. But the wings did not help her fly up, she was on the ground, in a huge snowdrift among a snow field. Then she seemed to separate from the bird and saw her from the side spread out on the snow. The bird was dying, and with it in hopeless longing, Zoska seemed to die.

But no, she did not die, woke up with the knowledge that the situation had changed. Anton opened the front door, into which the owner burst in, and behind him another three armed people. The sergeant ordered one of those who came to search Anton. Golubin fearfully made excuses that he was his own, “from Suvorovsky ...”. Those entering turned to Zoska. She realized that they were from the Lipichansk brigade. Anton said that she was also from Suvorovsky, and tied her up because Zoska wanted to spread to the Germans. “You're lying,” the girl screamed, shuddering. One of those who came recognized her, even called her name. Zoska objected that Anton wanted to betray, the owner can confirm. But the owner understood little in swearing Zoska with Anton and did not know who was telling the truth. Zoska unleashed. Now they tied Anton’s hands, put on a short fur coat and led him off the farm. Zoska also took with them. She was discouraged by the task, but they did not let her go, but threatened to "slap". She had nothing to do, how to obediently walk along a snowy field: her unexpected rescuers were in a hurry somewhere. The sergeant ordered several times: “Sale, wider step!” Zoska realized that they were moving away from Skidel towards the Neman, but what she could do was lead her as an arrested person, without even explaining where. On her side was the truth, and it seems that an intercessor appeared, this nimble fat man Pasha, who saw her somewhere and knew her name. Meanwhile, it was quite dawn. Anton asked about the situation at the front. He was told that "Stalingrad gave the Germans teeth, they trampled down the Germans at Stalingrad." Anton was surprised, that means the Germans lied that they took Stalingrad. The sergeant replied that “the Germans choked on Stalingrad, they were thrown back for sixty kilometers. The front is broken, and the Russians are advancing. ” Zoska was silent, her soul rejoiced at this news. The sergeant ordered to stop in the bush, sending Salei to scout. Sergeant and Pasha began to eat. Zoska was not interested in food, she thought how to break out of the custody of these people.

Anton was stunned by what he heard. Maybe he should thank Zoska for her saving obstinacy, try to make peace with her. A new turn in the war forced Anton to reconsider his previous decisions, to rebuild in accordance with new circumstances. It was necessary to somehow persuade the partisans to untie his hands. Only Zoska could help him out. Salei did not return. The sergeant rose up from the ravine and called for the others. In the middle of the slope, Anton slipped and fell. It was almost impossible to rise with his hands tied, yet he somehow got out, leaving a bloody trail in the snow. Zoska came up and wiped blood from Anton's chin, but did it as indifferently as an onerous duty. Salei returned, reported that they had taken Seryi, but not to go through the birch - there is a raid there. It’s also impossible for the field - they’ll see from the village, you can try to walk along the "cast iron", if you crawl through the mound they will not see. The partisans began to confer quietly about something, it seems they wanted to shoot Anton, who posed a certain danger to them. Golu-bin was frightened, he began to explain that he had been fighting against the Germans for eight months, he was his own: they did not have the right to organize unrest. The sergeant objected, not to drag Anton on himself. Golubin himself is able to crawl, only he should untie his hands. He turned to Zoska for help: “Tell them: I am not an enemy!” You know, I honestly fought and I will honestly fight. You never know what happened between us! What do they have to do with it? Say, Zosya! ” Zoska was silent, and Anton humiliatedly asked her to intercede, because they want to shoot him. Zoska said that he was his own, he should not be killed. “I'm from evil!” Anton was unleashed, but no weapons were given. Zoska again made an attempt to take leave in Skidel, but this time she was refused. She intimidated that the partisans were disrupting her mission. The sergeant resolutely objected: “You yourself have disrupted your task,” and moved forward. He went first, followed by Pasha, Anton, Zosya, and Salei was the closing one. The sergeant ordered him to shoot Anton if he tried to escape.

Zoska barely suppressed irritation in herself: she had to go to no one knows where, anxiety for an unfulfilled task enveloped her. “She has long missed all the deadlines, disrupted all order, confused and complicated everything to the extreme. She repented that she stood up for Anton, probably without him it would have been easier, he deserved to be shot. But she didn’t suit him as a judge, she didn’t suit anyone as a judge, because in many ways she herself was to blame. ” She decided not to interfere in the unpleasant business of Golubin. They will come to the detachment and let him be judged then. There are people smarter and more determined than her.

Meanwhile, the group moved quite quickly, it was easy to go, but the forest soon ended. It was necessary to run through the open field to the embankment "cast-iron". Having run through the open space, they lay down at the embankment, then they overcame about a kilometer by ducking and short dashes. The mound was getting lower and lower, almost flush with the ground. Then I had to crawl. Zoska quickly got wet, but did not feel the cold, barely keeping up with Anton's boots flashing in front.

Suddenly a command followed: “Quickly! Forward!" Zoska tried to keep up with Anton and still lagged behind. She was overtaken by Pashka. She expected that now Salei would overtake, but he stubbornly kept behind. Zoska understood that she had to crawl faster, but she couldn’t.

On the left appeared a few sleds with riders riding across the track and crawling. So far they have not seen the partisans, but they will soon see. Zoska froze until she heard Saleya shout: “Byag! Byah, can't you see ?! ” She rushed for the sergeant, Pashka and Anton, who were leaving for the pine-tree. Now the worst thing for her was to lag behind the rest. Shots were heard. She fell, but immediately jumped up and rushed forward. Then everyone again lay in a ditch. The Germans fled to the forest, trying to cut off the partisans' escape route. The sergeant ordered: "Forward!" - and everyone ran, after some time they again lay down, firing at the Germans and policemen who were on the move. Now it was necessary to jump over the rails and run to the saving grove. Zoska almost reached the pine forest, about to jump the ditch, as a bullet hit her head. Zoska did not fall, but continued to sluggishly run on. Someone was shooting from behind. She looked around and saw Anton running with a rifle. Having run about twenty steps, Golubin looked round again and fired. Zoska was horrified: the policemen were catching them. The sergeant and Pasha disappeared somewhere; Anton overtook Zoska and disappeared into the pine. She rushed there too. Now Zoska was hoping for Anton. The police seem to be behind. She wandered in the footsteps of Golubin so that he would bandage her. She herself could not do this. He soon called out to Zoska.

Anton waited for Zoska - and what was left for him to do was not to run after this balamut - a sergeant. Now Anton didn’t need anyone. He got the rifle of the killed Salei, but, seeing the wounded Zoska who came to the edge of the forest, took pity on her. The voices of the pursuers were heard from behind. Anton carried Zoska further. They ran to the edge of the grove. Anton did not have a bandage; he tore off the strip from his underwear shirt and bandaged Zoska’s wound, experiencing “a feeling of pity and almost irresistible disgust”. The policemen are finally behind. Anton helped Zoska get up, with short stops they crossed the field and went deeper into the next grove. Zoska was hard, but she stubbornly walked forward. Anton did not recognize the area for a long time, walking at random. A lone tree loomed ahead in the field, outlines resembling a stack ... A village loomed through the snow in front. Approaching the tree, Anton stopped. It was a wild pear, luxuriously spreading its crown almost to the ground. The stones collected from the field were heaped up right there. Behind them it was possible to shelter from the wind. "" There is a village, see? "- He nodded to Zoska when she dragged herself to a tree." Zoska replied that it was the princes, here she was in the summer with a friend. Anton was glad there would be where to hide. In the meantime, it should wait until dark. He turned out a huge stone, and Zoska sat down. Anton asked what they would do next, but she said nothing.

Golubin was angry with himself that he was in a hurry, if he had waited two more days, he would have known about the victory at Stalingrad. He again thought, maybe Zoska saved him from a rash step, asked the girl where her friend lives? If from this end, you can try to get by now without waiting for the evening. Zoska asked, isn't he going to Skidel? Anton replied that he needed to return to the squad. Zoska was surprised at Anton’s change of plans. He explained that in connection with the victory at Stalingrad, the course of the war was changing. Anton returns to his usual life. Just need to make peace with Zoska. He asked her not to be angry. He promised that they would get along. But Zoska categorically answered: “No, we won’t get along.” Anton asked Zoska to write to the commander how he helped her, covered up a group that was crossing the piece of iron. Zoska was surprised, why write, did he bury her? She still hopes to return to the squad. Anton objected that until she returns, they can ...

It was getting dark. He helped Zoska rise, heading towards the village. But she stopped him: she would go alone. And let him go for the Neman. Anton asked evilly: "Do not trust?" - "I do not trust". Anton was offended. He helped her along the way, saved her on a piece of iron, did not abandon the wounded, and she is so hostile towards him. Arriving in the detachment, she will lay out everything there about his conversations, and he will not be good enough. Anton asked Zoska not to tell what he wanted with her in Skidel. But she objected: “What will I say instead?” What overslept with you at night in the middle, that did not reach Skidel, because she spent the night on a farm? What failed this mission, trusting you? What a round fool, an idiot and a criminal who is only on trial? ” Yes, the prospect was open to Anton, I must say, unenviable. He was offended; she wants to shield herself by drowning him. Zoska objected, her own kindness ruined her. Anton said that he is not an enemy. Zoska sure their enemies are worse. Anton trembled in anger at these words. He remembered the good he had done, for which she tried to repay evil. He scolded her. Zoska hardly got up and went to the village. He watched her with hatred. Throwing the gun behind his back, he was about to march behind the Neman. From now on, their paths diverged. “He went a dozen steps from the pear and stopped at a loss, struck by a new thought: what if she was lucky? She will find a friend in the village and talk about everything that happened. Sooner or later, this will become known in the squad ... ”No. He cannot allow this. Anton called out to Zoska, but she did not stop. He threw up his rifle, took aim, and gently pulled the trigger. Zoska fell and lay a dark spot on the snow. He reloaded the rifle, but a second shot was probably not required. In addition, the last cartridge could still come in handy. Anton decided that it would be better.

Zoska was very ill, had pain in her side and difficulty breathing. She could not understand what had happened to her, she only felt that she was dying, and she was all in shock.

The main thing was done, she realized the danger threatening her and gained the determination to confront her. She was very afraid of death and wanted to live. Zoska realized that she was lying in the snow and was dying, snow was falling asleep and soon she would fall asleep, so she moved her arms and legs at the same time and lost consciousness. At the next glimpse of consciousness, Zoska remembered that she was walking into the village, and Anton shot after. She did not want to cry, but tears poured from her eyes. She gathered the rest of her strength and slowly crawled forward. Crawled for a long time, it seemed, for ages, lost consciousness and again came to himself. She was severely tormented by pain in her side. Zoska tried to crawl to tell people about this shifter - Anton Golubin. Otherwise, he will return to the squad, rub himself in confidence and betray again at a time convenient for him. “It does not cost him anything to betray, deceive, abuse, because for him there are no moral prohibitions, he will always be the way the circumstances turn him. And the circumstances of the war - a volatile thing, the same slippery-volatile in relation to people will be Golubin. "Zoska was not sure that she had the strength to get to the people, but only they could help her. It would be terrible to go and not return to yourself, to the mother, to the comrades who sent her from the forest, as their former commander Kuznetsov did not return from the assignment, the Surovets group did not return, Salei, who was killed on the piece of iron, did not return is there anyone else. No, she must gather all her strength, not succumb to death and return to her own. Zoska was frightened, suddenly Anton would return to finish her off. Why didn’t he finish her right away, or did he consider her dead? Or in a hurry to leave? She finally got to the fence, trying to overcome it, broke the pole and began to knock with it, somewhere the dog barked. Piglet rejoiced, they can hear it, and lost consciousness.

Having parted with Zoska forever, Anton felt relieved, as if he had overturned great care from his shoulders. Now there were no witnesses to his weakness, he was again clean, honest, sinless in relation to his homeland, people and his comrades. Killing Zoska, he did not feel remorse: she was guilty, she died through her stupid character. Anton walked through the forest, barely wading through a prickly dry land. This wilderness should have been circumvented, he turned back, but everywhere he came across impenetrable thickets, then he barely got to the edge of the forest. Walking through the field, Anton figured out how to explain his three-day absence: he went to the villages, tried to get hold of shoes: his boots completely fell apart. He repeatedly warned the platoon commander, but he did not react. And which of the guerrillas in winter without shoes? He didn’t report to his superiors, because he wouldn’t be released. "Perhaps they will not shoot."

Stopping to catch his breath, Anton saw that he was already passing here with Zoska, a familiar pear could be seen in front. If you go fast, the road will take about twenty minutes. He did not understand why he had to go there, it became almost necessary to visit that place again, to look at the dead body of Zoska and, with a lightened soul, to move behind the Neman. Anton ran around the field, but there was no girl. He came across a barely noticeable trace, she crawled away. He realized that he did not kill, but only wounded Zoska, was angry with himself for regretting the cartridge and ruining his life. Where should he go? The way to the detachment was ordered to him. For thirty years of his life, Anton was not used to pleading guilty, he was always ready to blame others. In this case, a guerrilla scout Zosia Nareyko, the culprit of all his troubles, fatally stood across his life.

Almost automatically, Anton wandered to the Polish farm, where he so unsuccessfully spent the last night with Zoska. He will take into account his experience and will not let anyone out of the farm until he leaves. He was weak and felt that he was falling asleep on the go, but he also lost his way. Then he looked around and realized that he was near the obor where he spent the night with Zoska the night before. There were no human traces around, he went into the darkness and lay down on the straw: it would be nice to take a little nap, twenty minutes would be enough for him to remove the dullness.

Anton thought how everything had changed in two days. More recently, Zoska was nearby, with her he linked his, albeit ghostly, but hopes for the future. Then they parted as enemies. "Living on this earth with Zoska has become impossible." He could not understand why he was addicted to this jerk? Is she stronger, smarter, or more adapted to this war? After all, after her wound, she was already breathing incense, with one foot standing in the grave, and he only gently pushed her. Nevertheless, she survived, somewhere sheltered, and still the power over his fate is in her hands. Then he dozed, it seemed, for five minutes. He was awakened by vicious swearing and the impetus of a horse. Anton jumped out of the cube and in the opening of the gate he saw a sled bound for Skidel. A man was kneeling in them, urging a red-haired horse with shabby sides.

Anton called out the man and, having called to himself, asked for bread. The man negatively shook his head. He goes to Skidel for a doctor, himself from the Princely Vodtsy, where there are no policemen or partisans. Anton asked, for whom is the man lucky doctor? “For Ale’s daughter ...” - he answered. Anton, not letting the old man come to his senses, asked: is it not for Zoska that is Nareyko from Skidel? The man was so scared that he could not answer. Anton realized that fate gives him another chance. He screamed for a man to urgently take him to Skidel. The main thing now for Anton is to be in time.

Zoska completely relied on the people who came to her aid. She was bandaged, asked who injured her, but there was no strength to answer. She was given milk. Piggy deliriously imagined herself small, she was ill, her mother also looked after her, watered milk. Zoska cannot die, because she will not leave her mother alone. Mom is the main joy of her life, just as she is for mom. People said that Zoska’s face and character are all in mother. Then the girl heard the conversation and the word “doctor”, again childhood memories rolled up: a festive table, she lives in a sense of imminent joy.

Waking up, Zoska sees the sky above him and realizes that she is being taken on a sleigh. The same voice that offered milk reassures Zoska: “Nothing, girl, everything will be fine. We’ll hide you in a good place, you will find out somehow. You’re still young, you’ll live, you will bring children. It’s not a century that this damned war will continue, ”- like a fresh fontanel on a summer afternoon, it sounds hopeful nearby, and Zoska calms down comfortably under a warm casing. Perhaps the truth is true: the terrible is behind, and she somehow gets out of her misfortune.