Chapter 92 Terminal

Fortunately, stops at stations for unloading are always short.

When Malashenko got on the train again with the hot bread he had just brought from the station canteen in his mouth, the conductor, who had finished unloading the goods, was directing several front conductors to prepare for the train to start again.

Seeing the busy cargo handling scene on the platform outside the window in front of me, it began to move slowly with the departure of the engine. The crew members who were chewing their own breakfasts and sitting around Malashenko immediately spoke up.

"Comrade Commander, this time we have a total of five people forming a new crew. But this number of people has exceeded the number of members required for a crew. How should we divide the labor and cooperate after taking over the new tank?"

Hearing the small voice of inquiry in his ears, Malashenko raised his head quietly and then looked at the driver Seryosha who said this.

"That's the problem"

As he kept thinking about what words he should say next, he quickly scanned the faces of everyone in front of him.

After taking in Seryosha's curiosity, Nikolai's calmness, and Kirill's concentration, he glanced at the face of Second Lieutenant Iushkin, the last person beside him, but noticed the uneasy expression on his face. face.

It can be seen that Second Lieutenant Iushkin, who knew that he was a monk halfway and joined Malashenko's crew halfway, was naturally very unsure of his own existence.

Keeping Lieutenant Iushkin's unconfident expression in his eyes and heart, Malashenko felt that he needed to give everyone present a reassurance. After thinking for a moment, Malashenko spoke again.

"First of all, I want to emphasize that everyone can rest assured. Since the five of us are a common crew of No. 177, then we will never be separated! There will never be a situation where this person is transferred or that person is expelled. A situation like a car crew appears.”

Having said this, Malashenko, who was reassuring Iushkin intentionally or unintentionally, then quietly glanced at the expressions of the people next to him, and after hearing these words from Malashenko's mouth, Iushkin Second Lieutenant Jin almost had his mood written on his face, as if the clouds suddenly turned sunny in an instant.

"Well, you can't find many young people these days who can hide as deeply as later generations."

After making some secret complaints in his heart, he coughed lightly and continued to speak. However, Malashenko, who was just making up lies on the spot just to calm people's hearts, seemed to lack some confidence in his words.

"Well, that's it, comrades. Everyone knows that our trip is just for people and vehicles. When we arrive at the new troops in the direction of Smolensk, I believe we will definitely receive a brand new tank by then."

"Everyone knows that the equipment of our Red Army tank troops is not just the T34 medium tank. By then we will definitely have a new tank that can be driven by a five-man team! Believe me, comrades, we will definitely It will be like this!"

Although he said so, in fact Malashenko, who was just trying to stabilize people's hearts temporarily, had no real confidence in his heart.

So far, Malashenko, who doesn’t even know who got him into trouble and was transferred to the meat-grinder-like Smolensk front line, is not even sure that he will receive the so-called new tank. The current situation seems to be unclear whether this deployment is a blessing or a curse.

Looking out the window at the grassland scenery that was speeding past because the train was moving at full speed again, and listening to the sound of the four people laughing and talking again in his ears, Malashenko couldn't help but feel dizzy again.

"Hey, I don't know how long this lie will last. Let's take it one step at a time."

Time passed quickly in Malashenko's secret distress until it was close to noon. Perhaps it was the reason for today's good luck. Those German BF109 fighter jets and Stuka dive bombers that Malashenko was most worried about, It was as if today was a day off and did not appear overhead along the railway line.

In this way, the train entered the last station of the trip and the destination with smooth sailing. The uncle conductor, who had begun to enter the final deceleration stage, immediately turned around and came to the carriage to inform Malashenko and his party to do a good job. Prepare.

"Major Malashenko, Yartevo Station is ahead. We have arrived at our destination. You and your comrades can prepare to get off the train."

"I understand, Comrade conductor, thank you for your notice."

When a group of five people carrying their own luggage and setting up the wounded finally left the carriage and stepped onto the platform.

Looking at the scene in front of him of a crowd of Red Army soldiers who had been waiting on the platform and began to open the carriages to unload, Malashenko, who was about to grab someone and ask him how to get to the Soviet headquarters in Yartevo, was still there. Before he could take action in the future, a hurried figure came to Malashenko at this moment.

"Hello, Comrade Major, are you Comrade Malashenko?"

Following the direction of the sound, he turned his head and saw the second lieutenant in front of him. Malashenko, who had no need to conceal his identity, nodded and admitted.

"Okay, Major Malashenko, please bring your subordinates to follow me. Comrade Commander has been waiting for you for a long time."

After leaving the train station, the GAZ car that drove all the way through Yartevo finally stopped at the foot of a tall building that looked like an administrative center. The person in charge went to the station to pick up Malashen. The young second lieutenant of Co's group immediately opened the door and got out of the car.

"Major Malashenko, please come with me."

When Malashenko, who was feeling uneasy in his heart, once again saw the familiar face that had been away for a long time since the last meeting, Rokossovsky, who looked resolute and smiling, put down his hand. After drawing a pencil, he spoke first to Malashenko, who was stunned on the spot.

"We meet again, Comrade Malashenko, do you remember who I am?"

After hearing the humorous and joke-like words of the person in front of him, he couldn't help but froze. He realized that he was either hallucinating or dreaming. Malashenko immediately shivered with a sudden thought.

"Tank Major Malashenko reports to you, Comrade Rokossovsky, I wish you good health!"

With Malashenko's exemplary leading role, the other four people following him, including the injured Iushkin, also raised their hands and saluted in unison.