Sokov was having a fierce ideological struggle in his heart, whether he should tell the two girls in front of him that he was married. After much deliberation, he finally decided to hide the news for the time being.
After the three of them finished dinner, Anne took the initiative to wash the dishes, while Tonya and Sokov continued to sit at the table and chat. Tonya asked: "Misha, is there a shortage of medical staff in your division?"
"It goes without saying," Sokov replied instinctively: "In such a brutal battle, the proportion of medical casualties was also very high. As far as I know, the field hospitals of some divisions can be said to have been completely destroyed.
, not a single medical worker survived."
Sokov's words shocked both Tonya and Anne who were washing dishes, "What, there are so many casualties?"
Seeing the surprised expressions of the two people, Sokov asked: "I wonder if you have heard of a sentence?"
"What words?"
Sokov smiled sadly and said calmly: "In Stalingrad, ordinary soldiers can only survive for 24 hours, and the survival time of officers is only 72 hours."
Except for a period of time in the Western Front, Tonya and Anne spent most of their time in Moscow. They did not know enough about the cruelty of the battlefield. Therefore, what Sokov said frightened them. It was a good time.
After a while, Annie murmured: "But, Misha, you managed to survive."
"Yes, I survived, but I have also been injured many times." Sokov took off his jumper, pointed to several scars on his body, and said to the two of them: "Look, I am a division commander."
Yes, I have been injured several times. If I had not been lucky, I would have been lying on the cold ground."
After putting his clothes back on, Sokov said to the two girls: "On the battlefield, there is no distinction between men and women, only soldiers and civilians. If you want to go to the battlefield, you must be prepared to sacrifice. You are ready."
?"
Hearing Sokov's question, Tonya and Anne looked at each other, and then replied in a weak voice: "We are ready. As long as the frontline needs us, we will go to the frontline without hesitation."
.”
"Well done, girls." Sokov nodded to the two of them and said approvingly, "You are all well done."
Time passed unknowingly. I don’t know how long it had passed. Anne accidentally looked up and saw the wall clock hanging on the wall. She exclaimed: "Oh my God, it's almost twelve o'clock. You are not sleepy at all."
?"
"It's getting late, you two should go to bed early." Sokov said to the two of them, "You sleep in the room, and I sleep in the kitchen."
After the two left the kitchen, Sokov put several chairs together and prepared to lie on them to sleep. At this time, Anne walked in with a quilt and asked: "Misha, can you stay in Moscow this time?"
How long?”
"I don't know." Sokov shook his head: "Now the troops are fighting the German army. As the division commander, I cannot leave for too long. I may return to Stalingrad at any time."
"Misha, if you have time during the day, would you like to accompany me for a walk outside?" Anne blushed and said, "It's my turn to rest tomorrow."
Sokov thought for a while and then said: "Annie, if my superiors don't send someone to find me, I can go out with you for a walk."
"That's great." After hearing Sokov's answer, Anne couldn't help but smile: "That's it, we'll see you tomorrow. Good night!" She waved to Sokov and walked out of the kitchen lightly.
.
Sokov closed the light and the door, lay down on the chair, and thought to himself, if Yakov hadn't sent someone to find him, Annie might have become his wife long ago. When he went shopping with her tomorrow, would he need to bring himself to his wife?
What about telling her the news of the marriage?
Perhaps because he hadn't rested in such a quiet environment for a long time, Sokov slept soundly. If Annie hadn't woken him up, he might have slept until noon.
Sokov sat up, rubbed his eyes, and asked Anne feebly: "Annie, why are you alone? Where is Tonya?"
"Tonya has gone to work long ago." Anne smiled and said to Sokov: "Misha, I made breakfast for you, please get up and eat it quickly."
Breakfast was very simple, consisting of two slices of sliced pickled cucumbers and a thin slice of rubbed ham sandwiched between slices of bread. There was also a bowl of beetroot soup left over from last night, with two small sticks of cooked beef added to it.
After breakfast, Sokov asked Anne: "Annie, can you take me to your hospital to make a phone call? I want to ask if my superiors have any arrangements today. If not, I can go shopping with you."
"
After confirming that Sokov was willing to go shopping with her, Anne couldn't help but be overjoyed. She took Sokov to the hospital communication room across the street and said to the doorman: "Can the commander make a call?"
The guard glanced at Sokov, quickly stood up, saluted him, and said loudly: "Hello, comrade commander, you can use the phone here as you like."
After Sokov thanked him, he picked up the phone and dialed Yakov's office. After hearing Yakov's voice, he said: "Yasha, this is Sokov. I want to ask, what are you doing today?"
Are there any arrangements? If not, I want to walk around the city."
"There are no plans today, you can move around freely." Yakov opened the schedule in front of him and looked at it, but he still reminded Sokov: "When you are wandering around the city, you may encounter patrols.
Remember to bring your military ID."
After putting down the phone, Sokov thanked the guard and left the guard room with Anne. Not long after the two left, a hospital handyman walked into the guard room and looked at Sokov and Annie leaving, curious.
He asked the guard: "Who is that commander?"
"I don't know." The guard shook his head and replied: "But it seems that he and Annie have a very close relationship. Could it be that her boyfriend has returned from the front line?"
Naturally, Sokov and Annie couldn't hear the chat between the doorman and the handyman. He asked Annie: "Annie, where are you going to go today?"
"The classics in the city are now under martial law. If you go, I'm afraid your ID will be constantly checked." As for where to go, Anne thought for a long time, and finally said to Sokov: "How about we go?
Lenin Library."
The Lenin Library is the largest library in the Soviet Union. It collects Russian and foreign documents in 367 languages in the world. It has specialized collections of maps, music, recordings, rare books, papers, newspapers and other types of publications.
Sokov has passed by there several times in later generations, but due to various reasons, he has never gone in. Since I heard Anne said she wanted to go there today, I just happened to go there to learn more.
The two took the subway to the Lenin Library Station. When they left the station, they could see the Lenin Library covered by a camouflage net. Even the statue at the door was covered with a camouflage net. Anne took the cable with her in a familiar manner.
Cove walked towards the library and said as he walked: "It seems that there are not many people today, so the borrowing speed of books can probably be faster."
Unexpectedly, the two of them were blocked by a security guard as soon as they reached the door. Sokov thought that today was a closed day and not open to the public. Unexpectedly, he heard the security guard say: "Please show your library card!"
Anne quickly took out her library card from her pocket and handed it to the security guard. After checking it, the security guard handed it back to Anne and extended her hand to Sokov: "Your library card, Comrade Commander."
"I didn't." Sokov spread his hands and said helplessly: "This is also my first time here."
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." The security guard said matter-of-factly: "According to the regulations, you can't enter without a library card."
"Comrade," Sokov said politely, "I just came back from the front line and haven't had time to apply for a library card yet. Could you please be accommodating and let me go in and take a look."
"Yes, he just came back from the front line and wants to visit the Lenin Library." Anne also helped and said, "Just let him in."
"Sorry, no one can enter without a library card. This is the rule." The security guard said reluctantly: "If you want to enter, you must apply for a library card."
Encountering such a stubborn security guard, Sokov was speechless. He could only ask with a grimace: "Excuse me, where should I apply for a library card?"
"There." The security guard pointed to a small window not far away and said to Sokov: "As long as you show your valid ID and provide a photo, you can get a library card for free."
Sokov came to the small window pointed by the security guard, lowered his head and looked inside. He saw a thin old lady sitting inside, and said politely: "Excuse me, I would like to apply for a library card."
The old lady looked up at Sokov and said expressionlessly: "Please show your valid ID and provide a photo."
Sokov quickly took out his military ID card, handed it in through the window, and said: "There is a photo in the ID card, just use that photo."
The old lady unfolded her military ID card, looked at it, looked up at Sokov, then took a small light yellow card from the side, filled in some basic information on it, and pasted the photo in the blank space.
, picked up another seal, dipped it in ink mud, and slapped it on the photo.
The old lady brought her library card to her mouth and blew a few breaths into the ink pad that was not yet dry to speed up the drying. Taking advantage of this moment, Sokov asked with a smile: "May I ask those who are reading in the library now?
, much?”
"It goes without saying, Comrade Commander." The old lady replied amiably: "People go in to read books all year round. Except last year when the Germans approached the city, there were fewer readers. The number of readers at other times is the same as before the war.
almost."
After the ink pad dried, the old lady handed the newly issued library card to Sokov and told him: "Comrade commander, please keep your library card. Remember not to lose it, otherwise next time
If you enter the museum again, you have to come to me to apply for a new one."
With their library cards, Sokov and Anne entered the library smoothly. Anne was a frequent visitor here. As soon as she entered, she took Sokov to the cloakroom and said to him: "Misha,
Take off your military coat and store it here, and come back when we leave." The two of them stored the clothes, took the receipt for sending the clothes, and continued walking inside.
Sokov thought that borrowing books here would be the same as in China. You only need to walk over to the librarian and explain the book you want to borrow, and the other person will help you find the book. Who knows that after entering this place, he found that this is not the case.
, to borrow any books, you must first fill out a card at the counter. After filling it out, give the card to the librarian, who will then give you a number slip.
After Anne handed the filled-in card to the librarian, she said to Sokov: "Misha, there is a row of chairs over there. Let's sit there and wait."
Sokov followed Anne to the row of chairs in a daze. After sitting down, he asked curiously: "Annie, don't you want to borrow a book? Why are you sitting here?"
"I'm waiting for the librarian to get the books for me." Anne explained to Sokov: "When the books are brought, I will find a place to read."
"How to get books?" Sokov saw the female librarian who was collecting cards, sitting there without moving, as if she didn't want to look for books at all: "I saw that the librarian was sitting there and didn't move at all.
Pass."
Hearing Sokov's question, Anne couldn't help laughing: "Misha, is this your first time in the Lenin Library?"
"Yes, it's my first time here." Sokov nodded and said in a positive tone: "Didn't you just see me applying for a library card on a temporary basis?"
"There are too many books here. It will take a long time to find a book. Therefore, the division of labor within the Lenin Library is very detailed." Anne explained to Sokov: "Don't look at that woman.
The librarian sat still, but her responsibility was to collect the cards filled out by the readers. Every fifteen minutes, a staff member would appear and take away all the cards in the hands of the librarian.
, go back to the back and arrange for people to find the books we want to read."
"So that's it." Hearing Anne's explanation, Sokov suddenly felt that he had become more knowledgeable. He felt that this division of labor was very scientific. There were people who were responsible for collecting borrowing cards, and there were people who were responsible for finding books at the back based on the cards.
, everyone performs their duties, making the entire Lenin Library look orderly.
Not long after, Sokov saw a male staff member appear next to the female librarian. After taking a stack of cards from her hand, he turned and walked into the back full of bookshelves. It should be
Help readers find books.
After waiting for about twenty minutes, Sokov heard the sound of the cart's wheels rolling on the marble floor. Following the sound, he looked around and saw the male staff member who had left earlier pushing a cart full of books.
The car headed towards the location of the female librarian.
When the book was delivered, the female librarian began to read the number, and the person who was read took the initiative to come forward and receive the book she wanted to borrow from her hand. Anne's book was also among them. As soon as she got the book, she
Dragging Sokov to a nearby reading area, he found a seat to the side and sat down.
She looked around and whispered to Sokov: "Misha, if you want to read a book, you can fill out a card. It won't take long to get the book you want."
"I understand." Sokov nodded and whispered to Anne: "You can read in peace here while I check the catalog to see if there are any books I want to read."