While Wei Ran was preparing medicine and a scalpel, Hakim spoke. At the same time, he also took away the submachine pistol with a silencer that he had lent to Habibullah.
"Killing one's partner is very painful"
Wei Ran reminded, "Even if you are helping her, you will live with guilt for the rest of your life."
"I am a guerrilla"
As Hakim said, he had already unloaded the magazine and checked the bullet inside, then pulled the slide to load another bullet, and let the bullet in the chamber fall into the sand and gravel on the ground, "
The meaning of my existence is to protect my compatriots from dying at the gunpoint of the invaders."
At this point, Hakim, with red eyes, turned to look at Wei Ran, "Even if our enemies are helping her end her pain."
Wei Ran sighed silently and put back the scalpel he had just taken out, "At least let me give her an injection of anesthesia so that she can walk more comfortably."
After a moment of silence, Hakim took a deep breath and said, "Thank you."
"It's my pleasure"
With that said, Wei Ran walked to Malalai's side again, squatted down, inserted the needle into the blood vessel of Malalai's neck, and pushed in a syringe full of anesthetic.
"May the Lord bless her"
Mahbubu sighed, limped to the edge of the felt curtain with a wooden stick, spread out a blanket, rinsed his hands briefly with water, and finally started to soothe his heart or numb himself in the morning.
present.
At the same time, Hakim also picked up Malale and walked out of the cave alone.
Not long after, everyone who was still in the cave heard a gunshot that was suppressed by a silencer.
Along with the sound of the gunshot, which was instantly blown away by the cold wind, two strings of tears fell down the dirty face of Qiao Ya who followed.
But soon, the little girl firmly stopped her tears and stepped outside the cave.
"Qiaoya, what are you going to do?" Habibullah asked subconsciously.
"I'm going to bury my teacher, Ms. Malale," Joya replied without looking back.
"Look at the good things you've done"
Habibullah muttered something in Russian and then walked out of the cave.
For a moment, the only people left in the cave were Mahbubu, who was holding his hands and chanting sutras, and the little warrior Multaza, who subconsciously picked up Bobosha and stared at Weiran and Kirill warily.
"Where are our companions?"
Kirill tentatively asked in Farsi, "Is he... still alive?"
But Multaza did not answer his question, but instead raised the Bobosha in his hand more steadily.
In a slightly long and in a sense too quiet wait, Mahboub completed the morning prayer. A moment later, Habibullah, Hakim, and Joya with tears on their faces came in one after another.
Behind him, there was another donkey led by Hakim, and Ruslan, who had woken up, was tied to it.
"Great, you two are still alive." Ruslan was visibly relieved after seeing Wei Ran and Hakim.
However, the words he said seemed a bit out of place, so as expected, before he could shut up, Hakeem used the handle of the submachine gun to hit his ribs with neither light nor heavy force.
one time.
"Children, let's have something to eat."
Mahbub spoke, calling his grandson Multaza to help, and gave each of Hakim, Joya and Habibullah an enamel jar with mutton soup, and then asked him to give
Soraya and Ayana in the curtain sent two glasses in.
"Let's share some food with the three of them."
Mahbub said, "Then get some goat's milk for the two children."
"They don't deserve to eat," Hakim said coldly.
"But they bandaged the wounds of my child Habibullah, performed a delivery operation on my daughter Ayana, and successfully gave birth to two boys."
Mahbub said, "They also treated Malalai and me, even though Malalai did not survive."
"Can..."
"Hakim, good boy, don't be blinded by hatred," Mahboob said, "just some food."
Opening his mouth weakly, Hakim finally stopped saying anything and allowed Multaza to bring a bowl of broth to each of Wei Ran and the three of them, and gave them a piece of dry naan bread.
"Let's fill our stomachs first," Mahbub said.
"How are you doing?"
After Kirill took the food from Multaza, he lowered his voice and asked Ruslan, who was thrown beside them and unbound.
"It's like drinking vodka all night," Ruslan replied weakly, "I only remember that you and Victor were preparing to bandage my wound, and when I woke up, it was already on the donkey's body."
"It's a concussion." Kirill sighed, "We were captured."
"You three are not allowed to communicate."
Hakim warned, "Or I'll tie you up again."
The three of them looked at each other helplessly and could only eat the food assigned to them quietly.
"Tell me about the current situation"
Ruslan wrote such a sentence in Russian on the sand with his finger, and then immediately erased his own words.
'They need our medical help'
Kirill also wrote a line of text and smeared it clean with his hands. Then, he took off the Wrigley watch on his wrist and put it on Ruslan's wrist, and showed off his own
That tiny camera.
Seeing this, Wei Ran did not participate in the text chat between the two of them, but just finished his share of food as quickly as possible - lest Hakeem change his mind.
After figuring out the current situation through text communication, Ruslan couldn't help but glance in the direction of the felt curtain. He didn't expect that during his coma, Kirill and Weiran not only helped bandage the guerrillas.
The wound was removed, and a childbirth operation seemed to be successful.
"We have to find a way to escape"
Ruslan re-wrote a paragraph and smoothed the ground again.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Wait until you recover from your injuries before you consider this matter."
Kirill then wrote a text in response, "Before this, have a good relationship with them and don't have any conflicts."
Almost as he was erasing this text, Mahbub in the distance also spoke in the language Wei Ran learned in the first act, "It's time for us to discuss how to survive this winter."
Apparently, although Kirill knew Farsi, he could not understand the language.
"They were communicating in Pashto, which I couldn't understand," Kirill wrote with his finger.
He couldn't understand it, but Wei Ran could, so his attention shifted from the Russian words on the sand to the guerrillas surrounding the bonfire in the distance.
"Teacher Abdul is dead. Everyone is dead. Only Qiaoya and I survived." Hakim was the first to speak, "Dad Mahbubu, what are your plans?"
"Muhammad and the others were also bombed by Soviet aerial bombs."
Mahbub said, "The only survivors are Ayana, Soraya, and the two children who were just born last night. The other three are me, Habibullah, and Multaza."
"And our weapons are gone"
Habibullah said, "We shot down two helicopters and destroyed many cars, but our anti-aircraft missiles are gone, Hakim's recoilless guns are gone, and even the anti-aircraft missiles sent over are gone.
The machine guns were also blown up."
"Now there are only a few of us left, and we can't do anything."
Hakim said and looked at the three Weiran people, "The three of them are our only remaining bargaining chips."
"Perhaps we should leave here," Mahbub said. "The Soviets will discover this place sooner or later."
"We can't leave for now"
Habibullah said, "We only have a few goats and three or four donkeys. Where can we go even if we leave? Your foot is injured, and one of our captives is also injured. Ayana has just undergone surgery.
We even have two newborn children.”
"Where can we go?" Hakim murmured in the same despair.
"That's what we're talking about"
Mahboub hesitated for a moment, "Maybe we can go to Kandahar."
"To Kandahar?"
"At least the children can be sent away from there," Mahbub said.
"Send it to where? Bastard?" Hakim asked after a moment of silence, "Then what?"
"Let the children go"
Mahbub said, "There must be guerrillas around here. We just need to wait patiently..."
"I'm not leaving here to go to Kandahar"
It was Ayana on the other side of the felt curtain who spoke. She didn't know when she had woken up. Although her voice was weak, it was enough for Wei Ran, who was farthest away, to hear her clearly.
"I'm not ready to let my kids leave here either."
Ayana continued, "Since you are ready to wait patiently to search for the guerrillas around you, then I can also wait. After my injury is healed, I can also fight together. My children... they can't do it either."
will leave here, they are Afghans."
"I don't plan to leave either," Qiaoya, Multa and Sorayaza said in unison.
"I am also an Afkhan"
Multaza said seriously, "I am not a child anymore. I can hold a gun and I can shoot."
"I can also shoot," Qiao Ya followed, "I'm not a child anymore."
"I can also hold a gun," Soraya finally said.
For a moment, the only sound left in the cave was the crackling sound of the bonfire burning.
"Then let's wait together."
After a long time, Mahbub sighed and said, "Wait for me to recover from my injury, wait for Ayana to recover from her injury, and wait for the injured Soviet to recover from his injury."
"What about after you recover from your injuries?" Ayana asked.
"In the meantime, Habibullah, Hakim, you two go look for other guerrillas around."
Mahbub said, "If they can accept us, we will hand over the three Soviets to the other side and use them in exchange for weapons and ammunition."
"So before that, we still have to support the three of them?" Hakim asked subconsciously.
"We can't send them directly..."
"cannot"
It was Habibullah who answered this question, "We need doctors, my father and my sister, they need doctors, this is a real problem."
"Other guerrillas also need doctors"
Mahboob said, "I hate to say it, but they may be the only thing we have left over the next winter."
Seeing that everyone stopped saying anything, Mahbub sighed, "Habibullah, you and Hakim and me.
The three of us took turns to look after the three of them, not allowing them to leave the cave, and not allowing the children to get close to the three of them.
During the rest of the time, you take Multaza to the surrounding areas to look for other guerrilla camps, and that's it."
For a moment, the cave became quiet again, and even Kirill and Ruslan, who were writing and drawing on the sand, stopped what they were doing.
"I'm going to find the guerrillas."
Hakim seemed to be unable to bear the depressing and despairing atmosphere. He stood up and said, "I'm going to look around now."
"I'll go with you," Multaza said and got up.
“Leave after dark”
Mahbub shook his head helplessly, "You haven't had any rest all night. Get some sleep first and then set off again. This way you will avoid being discovered by Soviet planes during the day.
Hakim, you especially need to calm down now. If you are not willing to listen to my advice, just take the prisoners you captured and leave. As long as you keep Joya, it is enough. She is still young and cannot go with you.
adventure."
"I..."
Hakeem took a deep breath and said, "I know."
As he spoke, he walked to the side of the cave, laid out a blanket casually and lay down, but he tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep at all.
At the same time, Mahbub also refused the support of Habibullah and Multaza, stood up alone on crutches, limped to the bonfire surrounded by the three guards and sat down.
"Soviet people, let's talk."
Mahbub said in Russian, "Do you need more food?"
“We are full”
Kirill spoke before Ruslan could, "What do you want to say?"
"I am grateful to you for saving my daughter and her two children, and for treating the wounds of me, my son Habibullah, and Malalai."
Mahboob said, "So I don't want to treat you as prisoners, but I can't let you go."
"We understand this," Wei Ran said.
"You may have to live with us for a while."
Mahbub said bravely, "I will try my best to give you the greatest freedom, but there are preconditions for all this."
"We have the right to keep the military information we know confidential," Ruslan said.
"I have no interest in your military intelligence."
Mahbub shook his head and raised his finger to point to Multaza and others not far away, "I hope you will temporarily give up your plan to escape and keep a safe enough distance from the children as much as possible. This is everything.
The major premise.”
"We accept it," Kirill said.
"In exchange, we will provide you with as much food as possible, but if we need medical help, we also hope that you will lend a helping hand."
"A fair deal," Kirill continued.
"Finally, you cannot leave this cave unless approved by at least two adults in the cave." Mahbub set out new conditions.
"no problem"
Ruslan said nonchalantly that they had no right to refuse at this time. The other party was willing to sit down and talk to them. The conditions just now could only be regarded as "notification" at best.
"Accordingly, you will also have the greatest degree of freedom in this cave."
Mahboub continued, "You can chat as much as you like, and you can play with your personal belongings as you like, including the watch and camera that Habibullah returned to you, but you cannot hold weapons."
"There are a lot of scalpels in here," Kirill said, patting the medical bag beside him.
"So let us keep these for now," Mahbub said as gently as possible.
"I need to change the dressings and check the wounds of all the wounded regularly, including my companions."
Wei Ran then said, "I hope all the injured can be treated fairly."
"That's what I want to say," Mahbub said.
"We will abide by the rules you set." Kirill took the initiative and stretched out his hand to the other party.
"We will also keep our promise," Mahbub said while extending his hand to shake hands with the other party.
"But we cannot accept being locked up here for the rest of our lives," Ruslan reminded.
"certainly"
Mahbub nodded, "So how about we set the deadline for the last wounded person to recover? When the last wounded person in this cave recovers, we will have another negotiation."
"I need my survival vest"
Ruslan pointed to Habibullah not far away, "To be precise, there is a hip flask in the left pocket. I respect your beliefs, but my daughter gave me that hip flask. I want to get it back."
.”
"no problem"
Mahboub waved to Habibullah in the distance, "Give this comrade his wine bottle back."
Habibullah was far more rational than Hakim. He didn't say anything. He just walked over, opened the pocket that was originally used to hold the hand-held flame signal stick, and took out a slender leather jacket from inside.
The wine bottle was handed to Ruslan.
"Thanks"
As he spoke, Ruslan unscrewed the wine bottle and poured some of the remaining vodka on the sand behind him to express his sincerity.
Immediately afterwards, he pulled off the leather jacket of the wine bottle, pulled out a very familiar photo of Wei Ran, pointed at the woman and child on it and said, "This is my wife and daughter, and my watch is my wife's."
It was given to me, this wine flask was given to me by my daughter."
"You will meet them again," Mahbub said, standing up with difficulty with the help of Habibullah, "Habibullah, take their medical kit away."
"What should I call you?" Kirill stood up and asked, while ignoring Hakim who subconsciously raised his gun in the distance.
"Mahebub"
"Comrade Mahbub"
Kirill shook hands with the other party again, "The last two things are that the backpack containing the plasma needs to be stored at low temperature. If someone is injured again, at least within a month, the plasma will be the key to saving lives."
"I will pay attention to this matter"
Mahbub nodded seriously, "What is the other thing?"
"Your son Comrade Habibullah has returned my camera to me"
Kirill took out his camera and shook it, "Can I take pictures without leaving this cave and with permission?"
"sure"
Mahbubu waved his hand nonchalantly, "Are these just these two things?"
"Maybe one more thing"
Wei Ran wisely did not sit up, "Where should we go to poop and pee?"
"I will find a way to solve this matter"
Mahbub said, "Okay, from now on, let's keep a comfortable distance for both parties."
"You speak Russian very well," Kirill said abruptly.
After being stunned for a moment, Mahbub walked away with a wooden stick and said, "Before the war started, when we were still friends, I lived in Moscow for a while."
Without saying anything else, Mahbub walked away and asked Habibullah and Multaza to build a simple toilet with a few dirty felts in the corner of the cave next to the sheepfold.
Not long after, Wei Ran and Hakim also supported Ruslan, and under the guidance of Habibullah, they moved to the deepest part of the cave and rekindled a bonfire for warmth.
"That toilet is for you."
Habibullah said and placed a tin bucket next to the bonfire. "After using it, remember to clean it and cover it with sand. We will help you carry it out."
"In the evening, I need to change dressings for all the injured people," Kirill said.
"Thanks"
After Habibullah finished speaking, he turned around and walked towards Ayana's curtain.
At this point, the two groups of people were almost at two ends of the deepest part of the cave, with a sufficiently spacious space reserved in the middle.
"It seems that we have become their bargaining chip," Ruslan said in a low voice.
"So heal your injury as soon as possible," Kirill also said in a low voice.
I don't know what will happen next...
Wei Ran sighed secretly, took out his miniature camera from his boot, and took advantage of the sunlight coming in from the skylight above the cave entrance to cover Mahbubu and others, and secretly clicked the shutter towards them.
"Kirill, Victor, can you make their injuries heal a little slower?" Ruslan asked in a low voice, playing with the wine bottle he had just returned.
"You are receiving the same treatment"
Wei Ran put away the camera and reminded, "If you are the fastest, they will definitely not mind inflicting some wounds on you again."
"Or you two can run away."
Ruslan said, but handed his wine bottle and watch to Wei Ran and Kirill respectively, "No matter which of you can leave here alive, give these to my wife."
“It’s not time to take risks yet”
Kirill did not take the watch, "Ruslan, be more patient, we can all survive."
"This is Afhan"
Ruslan murmured, "Although I don't want to say it, we are the invaders, just like the Germans who invaded the Soviet Union."
"I know"
Kirill sighed and stared blankly at the miniature camera in his hand, "I found out shortly after the war started."