"If only there was a tank here." Shaponiyev said.

"Do you mean the 'Mother of the Motherland'?" Someone joked, "You miss those beautiful girls, don't you?" ”

"They are very beautiful, but they are also very brave and powerful, if the 'Mother Motherland' was here, we would have killed all the fascists outside." Shaponiyev said.

"I don't know what happened to them now, I heard that their opponent is a German armored division." Someone said, apparently very worried about the fate of the "Mother of the Motherland".

"They'll be back." Somehow, Ulanorasov suddenly said something like this.

"Maybe." The sergeant sighed, apparently he liked them as much as everyone else.

Everyone silently agreed, thinking that they would definitely return.

The boom of explosions sounded somewhere, the Germans shot sporadically, and the boom of shell explosions became sparse.

"You should go and search the Germans," said the border guard, "and you say yes, Comrade Lieutenant?" ”

Ulanorasov knew that he should not leave the church, but childish curiosity creeped in his heart again. He wanted to go and see for himself who had rushed past his volley of bullets, and who was now lying in the dust in front of the church. Take a look, take it to heart, and tell it to Yelena and her lovely companions.

"Let's go, let's go together."

"We'll go too." The sergeant said.

Ullannorasov reloaded the submachine gun and slipped behind the border guards into the crater-riddled yard, his heart pounding.

The dust had not yet fully settled, the nostrils were itching, and vision was obstructed. Dusty ash grains drilled into the eyes, grinding straight and astringent. Ulanorasov kept blinking his eyes and wiping his tears with his hands from time to time.

"Don't pick up submachine guns," the border guard whispered, "just magazines and grenades." ”

Many people were killed. At first, Ulanorasov simply grabbed the belt and flipped the deceased, trying not to touch their bodies, but soon he got used to it. He already had submachine gun bullets in his arms and grenades in his pockets. It was time to go back, but every time he finished searching for one, he couldn't resist the desire to search for the next, as if it was in the next dead that he could find something that was really needed. He had become accustomed to the scorching smell of the disgusting smoke of gunpowder, and was stained with the blood of others, which had been so generously poured out on the dusty, crater-ridden land today.

A moan was heard nearby, and he immediately held his breath. There was another moan: a long, deep, painful moan. Ulanorasov bowed slightly, and looked to the left and right.

"Where are you going?" The border guards asked.

"There's a wounded soldier there." He stood up and walked forward, and at that moment a strong flash of light pierced his eyes, and with a click, bullets struck the steel helmet. Ulanorasov fell to the ground and touched his eyes in horror: it was as if he felt that the eyeballs had flowed out, because he could not see anything at once.

The border guards pushed Ulannorasov, and he immediately rolled into the crater. From there came the heavy, fatal blow to a living person and the inhuman, hoarse shouts.

The border guards staggered over to Ulanor Lasov.

"I ended up with him. You're not hurt, are you? ”

"The bullet hit the steel helmet just ,—— it was a ricochet. Until now, my ears are buzzing. ”

"Can you still walk?"

"I'm a little dizzy, but I can walk."

A loud explosion rang out nearby. Immediately they both fell to the ground, and the sand fell on their backs.

"What's going on?"

There was another violent explosion of cannonballs, and once again they clung to the ground, then jumped to their feet and ran towards the church. The border guards are ahead: Ullanorasov sees his back through tears. His eyes burned like fire.

The sergeant has returned. Together with another fighter, he brought back four cartridges, which were now fully loaded. He also brought back orders from the command: collect weapons at night, organize contacts, and move women and children to a safe basement.

Ulanorasov asked: "What are the specific orders given to us?" ”

"Our mission is clear: to hold the church. The top promised to send someone here. But wait until the number of people is counted. ”

"Is there any news in town?" One fighter asked, "Will we have reinforcements?" ”

"Waiting," the sergeant replied briefly.

Based on what he said, Ulanolasov understood that the regimental commissar was already not counting on any reinforcements. His knees went limp, his lower abdomen ached, and he sat down next to the sergeant.

"Take a bite of bread," the sergeant said, picking up a small piece of bread, "the bread will distract you, Comrade Lieutenant." ”

Ulanolasov did not want to eat, but he mechanically picked up the bread and chewed it. The last time he ate next to the "T-35" tank...... The tank was now buried in the rubble, but luckily he and the boys ran away when the enemy planes bombed it, and they were really lucky.

Shaponiyev returned, with a jug full of water. He said happily: "I was lucky to find a well, haha, drink enough first!" Come on, buddies. ”

"First fill up the machine gun." The sergeant said.

He carefully poured water into the radiator of the Maxim heavy machine gun, trying not to spill a drop outside. He said to Ulannorasov that it was not permissible to drink casually. Ulannorasov indifferently agreed, and the sergeant himself took the kettle, allowing only three sips per person, and then carefully hid the kettle.

"Listen! What was that! Shaponiyev said suddenly.

Everyone pricked up their ears, and Ulanorasov, who was already exhausted, wanted to lie on the floor for a while, but when he heard the strange noise, he sat up again.

"It's a tank! The German fascists drove tanks in! Someone yelled.

Ulanorasov looked in the direction from which the voice came, and in the darkness, a familiar huge figure was slowly moving.

"Quick! Get ready for battle! The sergeant shouted.

"Don't shoot!" Ulanorasov recognized what it was and shouted, "It's his own people!" It's the Red Fortress! ”

A flare fired by a German illuminates the night sky, and a "T-35" multi-turret tank can be clearly seen in the blinding light.

It moved slowly and awkwardly when several German soldiers appeared, with cluster grenades in their hands, stealthily approaching the tank.