I neither admitted nor denied it, but Ahmed smiled and nodded when he saw me like this, "You are right. He is indeed my son, Ashraf ... He should have had a more Slavic name. ”

"Huh? Are you Russian? The moment I asked, I suddenly thought of the story Ahmed had told me earlier, and the dream I had about Ahmed, "You were a Soviet soldier during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?" ”

"Huh. Where do you think I learned Russian? And why did you find me? Ahmed said.

"Then the story you told..." I looked at him, and although I knew that the story was mostly Ahmed's own story, I wanted to know the specifics.

"It's my own company... At first we thought we were sorry and didn't take anyone seriously. But when you run out of ammunition and the reinforcements don't arrive... Ahmed said and sighed, "Only then will you realize that you are nothing... The more I watch, the more I fight. The enemies who continue to rush at you on the corpses of my companions, I suddenly realize that they are actually remarkable. He said and looked at me, "If only we could avoid as many fights as you do." That would have killed a lot of people ... “

"Then you have a company。。。。。 You're the only one left? I asked.

"It's not... But there aren't many people left. But in the story I told you, we were a little bit more in line, and I was the only one left. I was the one who was hurt. Originally, the last few, if I had been left behind, they might have been able to run away. But they didn't ... Ahmed said and looked at me, "I wasn't as calm as you were at the time. I was afraid that I would be left behind and face the enemy who rushed at me. Fortunately, my brothers didn't leave me, even when I couldn't walk at all. Ahmed said and suddenly wiped his eyes, "Actually, I regretted it later... I should have let them go... It's me, not them, who should be left behind. “

"You survived in the end? Saved by the Afghans? I asked.

Ahmed looked at me and nodded, looking guilty, "This makes me feel even more pathetic and guilty." The last thing that saved me was an Afghan hill man... Can you believe that? A pious MSL that makes people feel pedantic. But he is a really good person, not one of them. I was also an Orthodox Christian, and although I was not religious, I was an Orthodox Christian. But do you think I'm still the same? Not only did I convert my faith and become a real MSL, but I also married an Afghan woman. Hehe. And after that I had Ashraf. ”

"And then you stayed in Afghanistan? Why not go back to the USSR? I asked.

"Back to the Soviet Union? Why go back? How did those brothers of mine die? A stupid war, a stupid mission, and in the end it ended in a crushing defeat in a chaotic command. Let me go back and see how good those people are at preaching themselves, how necessary and right the war in Afghanistan is? Forget it, I want to chop their heads off when I see this. Ahmed said and gestured excitedly with his hand.

"And you are now ... How can you help the Russians again now? I looked at him as I spoke, "I don't think you won't know that we were assigned this task by the Russian side, right?" “

"Of course I do." Ahmed nodded, "I want Ashraf to get out of here." Away from the war, you can have a stable and happy life. “

"Isn't there a constant war in Afghanistan? You should have left early. I said.

"Yes, there has always been. But after the withdrawal of the Soviets, if it was a civil war, then those who opposed the TLB were not opponents at all. Remember how many places in Afghanistan were not occupied by TLB before the Yankees came? It was much more secure then than it is now. And the people who saved me at the time, as well as Achraf's mother, were reluctant to leave. I can only stay here with them. But now, they're all gone, and it's so chaotic. I have to plan for Ashraf, and the first thing to do is get out of here. Ahmed said.

"After that... Will Ashraf turn into Russian? I asked.

"Yes. You promised him an identity, and it just so happened that Ashraf was fluent in Russian. I don't think it's much of a problem for him to integrate into Russia. Ahmed said confidently.

Ahmed said that, and I totally understood. Ahmed's involvement in this matter is more about the survival of his son as a father, so there is nothing to say. He must and must go to them, for normal people, there should be nothing more important than the safety and future of his children, right?

"When are you going to go?" I asked.

Ahmed looked at me and said, "Since you're awake." I think I'll have to get off as soon as possible. “

"How long does it take to get ready to enter the mountain?" I said and moved my legs and said, "If I'm all right, will I follow you into the mountains to find you, or will I stay here and wait for you?" “

Ahmed shook his head and said, "You're thinking too complicated. I've arranged it. I went into the mountains for half a month at most. If I haven't come back after half a month. You won't have to wait for me any longer. By then, you should be almost recovered, at least you won't have a problem walking. Sadat will take you with him, along with the person who knows the way, to Pakistan and send you out. But when you get to Pakistan, you're on your own. ”

I nodded and said, "If you do get to Pakistan, you don't have to worry." If I am really desperate, I will go to the embassy or consulate of my own country... ”

"Haha... So what are you going to say? Say you went to Afghanistan to fight? Not afraid of being caught? Ahmed asked.

"I 。。。。。" This is indeed a problem ... "No, I'll just say I'm a traveler or a mountaineer. Kidnapped by the people of TLB. I escaped. "I'm making it up.

"Haha. Mountaineering... Mountaineering enthusiasts, haven't you climbed enough mountains? Ahmed asked with a smile.

"Enough ... Don't laugh. It's because I've climbed that I'm more convinced, it's more like it's true, and I did climb a lot of mountains, and then I was beaten. I said.

"Okay... There is some truth to what you say. It seems that you are an expert at making up lies. It's good, and it makes me feel more comfortable going into the mountains. Ahmed said.

At this moment, Sadat ran all the way in. He looked at Ahmed and said a few quick words. Ahmed's expression immediately changed, and he whispered to me, "He said that there were gunshots outside the village... “

It seems that there is indeed a Chinese mountaineer climbing in the border area of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It should be said that there is a bunch, among which there are also Ukrainian mountaineering enthusiasts. They were attacked by TLB in the middle of the night. In the end, he escaped alive, and the rest of his Chinese companions, including the Ukrainians, were all killed by TLB.

(End of chapter)