And AGAIN on UKRAINE

The gardens, before storm rustle,
In the distance the lightning shines.

There was a summer. In a garden before the house the young woman with two small girls sat. To one girl there was three years old, other two. The woman with melancholy looked on closed shutters and thought: « When she will wake up, and we can have dinner, children already have got hungry ». At last have squeaked of a door and on a threshold the gray-haired woman was showed .

- The mum, children already is hungry, - timidly has spoken Tamara.

- Now I shall open shutters and I shall go on market, something to cook, - opening shutters she continued to speak. - I Have sat with the sewing to late. In the day neighbors do not give to sew, one or another.

« Yes soon already dinner, and we had not breakfast yet. What a habit, day to oversleep, night with light to sew. And so already the gout on one eye, - was thought Tamara. - Now summer, we can in a garden wait, and winter that will be. And generally, where here to live, when also room was selected it by the sister, when we were in Aldan, and she with Pavlik has remained in one small kitchen».

At last dinner was ready for evening.

From all disturbances of the last time at Tamara was because of nerves was advanced the illness of thyroid gland. The doctors advised to go away from Kharkovs in a countryside.

As in the evening Mark has told:

- I was at sugar factory in Hotmish. The electrician there is necessary, give an apartment. And keys already at me. Tomorrow also we go.

- And I shall go with you, - has told it the mother.

- And how Pavlik? - has asked is surprised Mark.

- Tania  will look for a him. The sister she to me, and not for a long time I with you.

- The sister, - was spoken in a low voice dissatisfied Mark, - a room has taken but you to the kitchen.

Large two-room apartment with large kitchen, with passage, pantry, opposite to an apartment a shed, cellar. In an apartment an old sofa two simple tables, in kitchen and room. But to cover them there is nothing. At them anything except for an old matress is not.

After the first fee, Mark has gone in Kharkov and has purchased for Tamara an autumnal fashionable coat and fox collar, and the hat at Tamara was. In this wear Tamara felt as miss, and somewhere even intelligent.

Mark led her it on factory to show what at him the wife. At factory for her all showed, were explaining, were accepting her as the aware person, and she listened to all by an edge a ear and nothing understand, only was noticed how  were looking on her.

The mother - in - law has lived with them autumn, winter, and spring has leaved home for Kharkov.

In the summer the Mark have asked from adjacent collective farm to construct power station and to train the electricians. He has agreed. And when have set station and have illuminated collective farm, have decided in this occasion to arrange evening. For Mark and Tamara have sent the horse harnessed in cab. The evening was on glory. What only was not on tables. Were grateful speeches to address the Mark. And then to him was gifted the cow.

- As I it shall be milk, I do not know how, and I am afraid of it.

- Do not worry, will get used, will learn, not gods are burn the pots, - Mark has stated the judgement.

Has taken Tamara a bucket and has gone in shed. With fright has approached to the cow. Having given her a piece of bread, has stroked on a neck.

- Kirpochka, - tenderly has told Tamara, and was sit to milk. And to itself was surprised, that milk is received, probably country gift lived in her.

Mark was not for long kept here. Has quarrelled with the chief engineer and they have moved on sugar factory in Kongressovka. Here too have received an apartment with a shed and cellar. In a shed have delivered the cow. And then for him have brought of a pig, hay to the cow, vegetables, on account of payment for substetion. A maintenance for the cow, pig was lied on Tamara shoulders. Mark for her did not help. And the small girls, having undertaken for hands, all time somewhere escaped. And near, under windows, the lake, and Tamara shivered from fear, that they have not sunk.

But as for Tamara it was not difficult, the time went, children grew. And already son was born at her. The mother - in - law again lived at them. There was a poor harvest year. A drought. Hay to carry from collective farm have ceased. Jom (by-product from sugar manufacturing) at factory too did not become, were not born sugar beet. Mark has sold the cow.

To the son there was no two years, and at Tamara the child was scheduled still. But June Sunday, voice Levitan. War.

Saw off the husbands, sons on front. The Mark on station saw off and Tamara, and itself thought how now to live. She hoped, that it not long and the husband soon will return, and he has leaved. And then Mark has sent the message that while they are in Kharkov. Also asked, that she has arrived with the neighbour, which son was together with Mark. And, having killed a pig, she carried  a home sausage in Kharkov for the husband. Having arrived there, she has seen him already in the military form.

- Unless you not soon will come? - she has asked.

- Not, Tamarochka, likely not soon.

- How we shall be live, - she has begun to cry, - you see at us anything is not in a stock, and I still will have child.

- I do not know, I nothing can tell.

And they have parted.

In Kharkov Tamara went by a suburban train, and back reached by freight train. Not reaching Zolochev, near Cherhoglazovka, the train suddenly has stayed. To go it was impossible further. Was bombed of a path. All were left a train and were going by foots. On a tract leading in Kongressovka to go of kilometers twenty.

The night approached, all were going by a fast step. And Tamara could not. She has lagged behind everything, dropped, faltering in darkness. But Aleksandr, with which they went in Kharkov, did not throw her, he helped her to go. And so they at late night have reached home, tired and sad.

The famine approached. All hardly has risen in price. Pork was finished. Were torn of lebeda (kind of herb). Tamara has weakened absolutely. The mother - in - law still somewhere took the orders to sew. Took the older girl, Lilia, with itself, to ask an alms. Was changed for foods everything, that only it is possible, from this little that at them was. The factory was evacuated. There was no place to work. Any supply was stopped. And this is  a winter. At the night in Kongressovka were come a germany troops. But Tamara give birth to the fourth child. He was born weak, lean. Have named Leonichka.

In the morning the german officer, and with him two soldiers has come. Have sited in a seat at a desk, he began to poke on all by the finger, to speak «Vek, Vek» and to show on kitchen. The mother - in - law stood on kitchen near the stove and cooked red sugar. Was come in a room, she began to explain to the officer (she knew slightly german language) and to show on Tamara, lied in a bed with newborn, that at her the child only - only was born. One from the soldier has approached to her and began to put the mess-tin in her hands, has showing on sugar. And second began something fast to speak to the officer, that already take off a boots. The mother - in - law was filled a sugar in mess-tin and they have left.

Have much of troubles here by a Germans were done. Having recovered, Tamara has gone to the familiar woman and has seen at a road on a pole two hung up, old man and young guy. She has returned home, further go she could not. Have shot any girl, having declared her as partisan. Commandant has taken away in a field the girl and has killed for the fact that she did not want to work for them. Have beaten the woman by rubber rods for the fact that she went till water in commandant hour, having beaten off all her entrails. Have shooted and in Tamara for the fact that she in the evening wanted to go out on threshold, but fortunately the bullet not touched her. So have lived till spring of a forty second year.

When the ground has thawn, steel to search last year's beets, potato. At Tamara there was no milk. Lionichka there was nothing to feed and he has died. Has died.

But Lilia, Zoia and Valerik are alive, Though also meagre. Hungry, they wandered on Kongressovka.  Where stole that of eatable, and where to pity for them the german cook also will give  a piece of bread. You see in a germans army not everyone were the fascists, there were people which were not trusting Gitler, the people in which house have remained the wives and children.

Once german officer has come to the house Tamara. On a wall he has seen the camera "Photocor". Not speaking word, he has removed it from a nail and has left. It was the unique thing which has stayed from the husband. Tamara valued it and could not be decided to interchange it on bread. But a bit later the german motorcycle has approached on the house. From it the soldier has got a sack and has carried it to an apartment Tamara. It was bread.

In the house was manual mill, on which the mother - in - law with Tamara ground grain. As from this flour the mother - in - law fried fritters. Attracted by an odor, the old soldier trampled near doors. The mother - in - law has called he and has treated by fritters. Ate fritters, the soldier began to speak, mixing german speech with Russian. He spoke, that Gitler will be "caput", and Stalin will win.

And at summer a germans as fast were going to leave. Behind them ours came. But not for long they were. Near houses, where lived Tamara,  a soldiers of red army to put anti-aircraft gun. The mother - in - law has told Tamara: « It is necessary to leave, here dangerously to remain ». And they, having collected children, have departed on farm.

Already approaching to farm, they have heard far - far hum german bombers. By run they have reached farm and there, in one from houses, them have hidden in a cellar. A bit later from the side of Kongressovka was heard high-power explosions. When the explosions have calmed down, Tamara with children and mother - in - law has departed home.

That that they have seen, them has shaken. Their house was, though was damaged and was not in windows of glasses. On a place of an adjacent house was a large pit. The anti-aircraft gun near houses was crumpled, and near it the dead soldiers lied. The people from an adjacent house have remained in the house on time of bombing. Now them nobody remained in alive. The neighbours of Tamara and relatives of perished  were wandered on ruins, trying to find though any remnants.  

After this bombing again were came germans. In an apartment at Tamara the group of ss-mans has stayed. Children they drive away on the stove, mother and mother - in - law on kitchen. The boots have delivered to be dried to stove. Lilia and Zoia were hang from stove and began to compete in hit by spittles in boots. It was seen by one from the soldier. Having seized of children, he them throw  on kitchen.

With meal it became a little bit better. Collected ears, which on fields have sprouted, apples in gardens, nettle, lebeda. On farms planted kitchen gardens and sowed of a field. The mother - in - law took the orders to sew. Tamara too earned additionally. Something and have planted.

Unexpectedly has come Mark.

On WAR as  on WAR

Leave, please, thunder-storm,
Do not blind you to me of an eye.

On collecting place in Kharkov, after leaving of Tamara, a recruits was loaded in echelon and have sent on front. Not reaching up to front them have unloaded, have distributed on specialities. The Mark have determined by the signalman, as the former electrician. Have received the weapon, an equipment and have departed on regiments. The fights was near Kiev. The mark it was necessary much to risk. Especially in retreat, you see the communication is removed in the last queue. It was necessary under shells and mines to restore a breakaways.

But the Mark was lucky. Being the person inventive, curious and enterprising, he learned a driver's business, was help to cook, was friends of commanders.

So Donbass was reached, where germans were stopped. And then there were up to a summer of a forty second year. The summer, after unsuccessful approach under Kharkov has taken place catastrophe. The enemy has ploted impact of such power, that all defense in the south has failed. The tank wedges of the fascists have rushed to Stalingrad and Rostov. The half-organized defending armies were were going back. Many were encircled. On roads all has mixed up. Both refugees, and  the soldiers that was lost of a units. They were fired by german airplanes.

In this mess has appeared and Mark. He has counted, that will more reasonablly to be more far from a road. A sense to catch up of the regiment was not. The front was restored already behind Don. And Mark has decided to make the way home. And, night, together with the casual fellow, they were going. Slept somewhere in a wood. Ate that they can. The villages they  bypassed. In one from them saw the soldiers that were shot. Everywhere german armies, polizay. At last and house.

And in house the hungry wife, mother, children. After recent fights Kongressovka hardly was desroyed. The people remained a little. A Germans too was not. The father has changed clothes, in what was found. He has found out, that on farms sowed millet and the crop has grown. Having exhibited the usual ingenuity, he has made the mill. With its help he began to earn on livelihood to family. Slightly have dressed up. Have made some stocks. So have lived till winter.

After of Stalingrad fight the front came nearer. And at this time the mother of Mark was hardly ill. The medicines were necessary. It was necessary to visit in Kharkov. Was come to a road, Mark has seen a column of motor vehicles. In one from a cars the people not in the military form were going. He has run behind the lorry and was asked, that it have brought up to Kharkov. In it without superfluous words have dragged in a body of the machine. On a road was clarified, that in the machine the traitors went of a different kind which in german train ran from the answer.

Having arrived in Kharkov, Mark has tried to leave, but they here were surrounded by the german soldiers and the sorting began. The Mark and two other were separated and have taken in camp, from which sent  on work in Germanium. So is unexpected Mark has appeared in Bavaria.

And Tamara of the husband so from Kharkov also has not waited. The mother - in - law has recovered. Again they one. The front has stayed near Kharkovs. The red Army has released of Izum, Balakleia, Lozovaia. They came and in Kongressovka. But then, germans have undertaken counteroffensive and Kongressovka have taken up to summer.

And at summer, after Kursk fight, again Red Army began to occur on Kharkov. Near Tamaras house there was a Soviet tank and beginnings to shoot on the opposite side of a ravine, and therefrom a germans has shot  to the tank. The mother - in - law with children, having seized a wadded blanket, was lowered in a cellar. And Tamara with the child stood near the tank and looked there, from where a bullets flown past of Tamaras legs.

Tankman has shouted on her: - What you stand?! A march in a cellar!

All night in a cellar reached whistle and explosions of shells. Nobody slept. Children silently cried. By a morning all has calmed down. When Tamara get out from cellars, the tank any more was not, and near the house was lorries and automobile. Everywhere were going soldiers of Red Army. Since then germans did not come any more.

Was begin to be organized normal life. What only deals that was doing Tamara, that to live. All have interchanged that only it was possible. Went in Kharkov to sell the last dress and shoes, for which has purchased with an effort two pieces of a soap and salts five glasses. She hoped to sell this on market to purchase something of eatable, but on a converse path all this was stolen. And she has arrived home without everything, hungry and was killed.

The mother-in-law somewhere has got canvas and has sewed the skirt for Tamara. At her the feeling of nudity, any persuasive delirium has appeared. She would like from an air, from invisible strings to plait something on a body.

She was going early in morning in collective farm on morning freeze barefoot. Worked on a farm, was ploughing by german horse a ground for potato. It was very large, but quiet and good-natured horse. Dug beds, for what has received a few vegetables. Was sowed and kitchen garden.

It became easier. And Tamara only now began to realize, that she has gone through, and as she generally managed to survive. She recollected and as ate of skins from a potatoes, which somewhere were elicited by the mother-in-law, as dug last year's potato on a factory part-time farm and from this starch fried "motorjanniki".

With anger she thought about a mans that for the different reasons were stayed at home, which carried of a grain from firing warehouses, have caught the horses, ploughed kitchen gardens and fields. Has got the cows and ate porridge with milk and bread. Their neighbours were such, that by him to be choked. The woman saw, as starved Tamaras kid, per 1,5 years sits on a bed and does not walking, and never, never has offered for him of a glass of milk.

It strangles of tear, when she recollected this small, meagre an creature with a senile face. He could not rise on legs, because they were powerless, and lied as rags under it inflated stomach, when he sat imposed by cushions. He has lived 1,5 years and has died.

Tamara carried it for twenty kilometers in hospital, and towards to her of a column the german soldier, motorcycles, machines. She went one and anybody from them has not given queue from an automaton for her.

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