When Wei Ran woke up again, what he saw when he opened his eyes was the tent roof that had been wetted by rain and the kerosene lamp that had been extinguished. Even the rain outside the tent didn't stop, it just hit the tent.
The sound on the phone has just become quieter.
Wei Ran breathed a sigh of relief, turned over and climbed out of the simple bed. First he opened the bandage on his leg and looked at it. Seeing that the wound was not infected, he took the Soviet cloak hanging on the side and put it on him, lifting it up.
Opened the tent door and walked out.
In the foggy water vapor, the guerrilla camp that was still immersed in sadness yesterday was once again filled with the singing and reading of children as usual. But the person in charge of teaching became the female pilot Alissa.
Others, however, had already gotten up early and started to pack up the belongings that had just been moved in not long ago, carefully sorting them and loading them all into horse-drawn sledges.
"Shouldn't we wait until the rain stops before we move out?" Wei Ran, who was limping, approached Slava who was busy directing everyone and asked.
"can not wait anymore"
Slava shook his head, "We want to move as soon as possible. We got news last night that the Germans have begun to gather troops in Liuban. If they don't make it, they will go into the forest and continue to cause trouble for us. We guess that even this
I’m afraid the campground is no longer safe.”
"Do you need my help?" Wei Ran asked.
Slava thought for a while, pointed to the half-track motorcycle parked not far away and said, "If the wound on your leg is okay, just be responsible for driving that motorcycle. We will set off in half an hour."
"My wound is fine." Wei Ran quickly agreed.
Before he could finish his words, the bearded Ofjei, whom he had just met yesterday, personally came over from the forest with a horse-drawn sledge convoy.
With the help of these people, the speed of cleaning up the camp was further accelerated. In less than half an hour, everyone including the tent where Wei Ran lived before, as well as the wounded and children were on the sledge.
"Let's go!"
Following Slava's order, the horse-drawn sledge convoy immediately set off and headed into the forest under the leadership of Ofdey.
The journey this time was far beyond Wei Ran's expectation. From morning to noon, they only stopped and rested for less than half an hour. It was not until around two o'clock in the afternoon that the rain stopped completely, and they arrived.
Ofdey's camp.
What surprised Wei Ran was that the camp looked like a small town in the forest. Along the way, he not only saw small houses built under the trees, but also land reclaimed in the forest.
, and even discovered a narrow-gauge railway in the dense forest that led to an unknown place.
There was even a long line of mine cars parked on the railway. Ivan and Sergey, who had come with them yesterday, were sitting in the mine cars and saying hello to them.
"You are finally here"
Ivan jumped off the mine cart, trotted to the edge of the half-track motorcycle and asked, "Uncle Slava, where is Brother Shula? And where is Teacher Jaina?"
Slava, who was sitting on the back of the half-track motorcycle, smiled the same kindly as usual, "You have to ask our comrade reporters about this."
Seeing Ivan and Sergey who followed later looking at him, Wei Ran sighed secretly and said with a normal expression, "I'm afraid you won't be able to see them in a short time."
"Why?" Ivan and Sergey's faces suddenly turned pale, "Are they injured?"
"No"
Wei Ran quickly said, "Yesterday they fought bravely. After I interviewed them, I decided to take them to Russia for a more formal interview. So last night, Alissa's brother flew a plane to send them away first.
Already."
"Really? You didn't lie to me?" Ivan frowned and looked at Wei Ran suspiciously.
"Do you hope something happens to Teacher Gianna?"
Alissa, a female pilot who was also sitting in the back row, smiled and asked, "Yesterday, my brother braved such heavy rain and flew twice before sending them away. Although flying in this kind of weather is dangerous, at least it won't be dangerous."
Discovered by the Germans. Oh, and this!"
Having said this, Alyssa took out a damp boat cap from her pocket and handed it to Ivan, "This is what Teacher Gianna asked me to give to you before she left last night. She said you are already qualified."
She is a guerrilla fighter. She hopes that before she comes back, you can protect your younger brothers and sisters and supervise them to study hard. This is your first job as a guerrilla."
"real?!"
Ivan grabbed the boat cap and put it on his head, but then he said with a grimace, "Can you give Sergey the job of supervising my younger brothers and sisters? I want to fight the Germans!"
"You are a role model for your younger brothers and sisters."
Slava smiled and said, "Besides, someone has to take care of them. It used to be teacher Gianna, but now she and Shula have gone to Moscow to enjoy themselves. Of course, this job has to be left to you. Do you want me to be responsible? Or
Let Dr. Sasha be responsible? Or let Alissa be responsible? Or should we say that our future hero of the Soviet Union cannot even do this little thing well?"
"This..." Ivan gritted his teeth and reluctantly agreed, "Okay, I will take good care of my brothers and sisters before Teacher Gianna comes back."
Uncle Slava nodded with satisfaction, took out a TT33 pistol with a holster from his bag and handed it to Ivan, who looked surprised, "This is Shula's pistol. He said that you are the only one who promises to take care of your younger brothers and sisters."
I will give it to you when the time comes. Of course, I will not give you the bullet until he comes back."
"This pistol is mine?!" Ivan was so excited that his voice trembled.
"Unless I or Ofdey give me permission, you are not allowed to load this gun," Slava finally reminded. "Otherwise, I will take back my military cap and pistol immediately."
"Me! I promise!" the excited Ivan shouted at the top of his lungs.
"In that case, you should take your younger brothers and sisters to the classroom prepared for you!"
The bearded Ofjei came over and said, "I told you the location last night."
"I remember where it is!"
Ivan straightened the boat cap on his head and waved the pistol he just got at the little guys who had just gotten off the sledge with great force, "You guys! Come with me! I will take you to the classroom!"
“Sergey stays”
Dr. Sasha also came over, called out to Sergey who looked envious, and then took out a pen from his pocket and stuffed it into his hand, "This is what Teacher Gianna left for you. She asked me to tell it to you."
You, don’t forget your dreams.”
Reaching out to take the pen, Sergey turned his head to look at Ivan and the children who were running away. Then tears fell from the corners of his eyes and asked with a tearful voice, "Teacher Gianna has died, hasn't she?"
Everyone present was stunned. Before they could think of how to answer this question, Sergey wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, forced a smile and said, "When my father died, my mother used a similar method.
It’s an excuse. Don’t worry, don’t worry! Teacher Gianna is going to Moscow, I won’t let it slip.”
"good boy"
Slava took Sergey into his arms, and tried his best to look up at the fragmented clear sky cut by the tree crowns, but he couldn't stop the muddy tears from sliding down from his eyes and hitting Sergey's face.
"Doctor Sasha, let me take you to see the place that is going to be used as a hospital for you." After finishing speaking, Ofdey was the first to turn around and walk away.
Dr. Sasha looked at Slava and Sergey in his arms, shook his head and said, "Victor, Alissa, you should come and take a look too."
Wei Ran and Alyssa looked at each other, and the two lame people each showed a bitter smile. They supported each other and followed Dr. Sasha and Ofjay ahead to the edge of the camp.
Location.
“This is it”
Ofjay stopped under a tall pine tree, pointed to a wooden house under construction and said, "Soon, we will help you rebuild the hospital soon. We have got enough medicines.
There are enough trees here that they won't be seen by planes in the sky.
You can safely treat the wounded here without worrying about any problems. Sasha, we will have a new hospital soon, I promise."
Sasha nodded silently, but said nothing more. She just hugged her knees and sat under the pine tree, silently looking at the wooden house under construction not far away.
"Let's take a group photo," Wei Ran suddenly suggested.
Seeing Ofjay and Alissa both looking at him, Wei Ran pointed around and said, "Since everyone is gathered together, let's take a group photo."
"I'll call them over"
Alyssa, who could no longer bear the depressing atmosphere, had already limped and jumped towards the crowd in the distance before she finished speaking.
After a while, all the busy guerrillas rushed over, and some of the wounded who had only minor injuries also rushed over, helping each other.
After yesterday's battle, there are only about a hundred people left in these three merged guerrilla groups. Some of them are injured, some have gray hair, and many of them look like Ivan.
Children of the same age.
Although none of them knew why they suddenly organized a group photo, this lively scene happened to dilute the hidden sadness. As Wei Ran, who was in charge of the command, made little adjustments to their positions, each time
A slight smile gradually appeared on the individual's face.
Finally, more than a hundred people stood noisily and formed a semi-circular arc human wall that could easily fill the camera view frame.
On the first level of this semicircular arc are the children who represent hope and the future. Although they are sitting on the wet grass, they are the ones who laugh the most among the people who take the photo.
On the second level of this semi-circular arc are the guerrillas who were injured in the previous battle. Although their bodies were wrapped in gauze, the smiles on their faces were filled with a look of joy that they had survived the disaster.
On the third level of this semicircular arc are the uninjured guerrillas, including Slava and others. They are also the ones with the most determined expressions among the people in the viewfinder.
"Everyone is looking at me"
Wei Ran, who was holding the camera, shouted loudly, "When I count to three, everyone must keep their eyes open. At the same time, when I count to three, everyone shouts Ula!"
After a brief pause, Weiran began the countdown.
"1!"
"2!"
"3!"
"Ula! Ula! Ula!"
"Crack!"
With a shutter sound that was drowned out by cheers, Wei Ran's field of vision was filled with intense white light.
At that moment, he knew that his own battle had finally come to an end, but those guerrillas who had been frozen on the film at this time may still have a long fighting journey to continue.
