ALEXANDER TVARDOVSKY
VASSILI TYORKIN A Book About A Soldier
[en]
PROGRESS PUBLISHERS MOSCOW
' PROGRESS SOVIET At THORS LIBRARY
ALEXANDER TVARDOVSKY
VASSILI TYORKIN
A Book About A Soldier
fein]
PROGRESS PUBLISHERS MOSCOW
Translated by Alex Miller
Teapdoecnuss BACHAMH TEPKHH Kuura mpo 6oliya Ha av2ruticxom R3IviKe |
©Translation into English. Progress Publishers 1975 First Printing 1975
Printed in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 70402-498 T
Illustrations by Orest Vereisky, People’s Artist of the RSFSR Anexcand
—————- 1017-75 014(01)-75
Cogepxanne
OT ABTOPa ........csseeesseneeees eaaseeseenenseeenecesatsnseeuseeerseeseeeressessunseneesausessenenenss 6 Ha TPHBAAre .........cesescsseegeereaseseesseeesccesecssseesecsuseagessanscessesseceseteeeesenesaneres 12 THe ped G0€M oe ccceteceeesensccseessesscsecesesasesessessecsersecrscnasnessecesseaeonseaes 26 Tle pempana .............sccsccssessssessscsenssccsssensscessoessestosaosnssacseseesessesesasenensneaes 40 O BOHHE occ eccsesesetseeeeeneee sosscsnscsusecascssecssssessecssesnsnsssessusecsecsusecssecasesesees 56 TePKHH PaHenl ....,.....csccscessescsssscsssesssensessceesnseseressessesesonsesssseesssesarseesonease 62 O HALpade .......ccccsesscerseserssesecssesecssenenesssesenssecsseassessescnsescescessesesseeseaseatents 80 TAPMOHD ........ccsccsssessessscecessecessesssevenseecesesssensassasesseeeeconasseesreesasconererenaees 86 LUBA COAM ATA ooicecccceccecccscccccsssaeeesecceeecuuuuesesssalusenssecssseseusacessesesassquuansaeretese 102 O MOTE E 0... ceesescecesecssnesseensessstseeesnenscesneessenstesseessesssessuereseneusnssesseseesners 116 TIOCAMHOK 0.0.0... eececeeeccteseeceseeeaeeecneesenscseeeessnseascnseeseesccsuenaneesceresscesessegs 128 OT aBTopa .........0000 seeeeseeceeteesssesneeesnstenneensesenesenesseeasesseeeaeatensesesneeeneeseneste 142 «KTO CTPOARAD® ...cscccssscssccsscetecescsssesnecnessneessensccsseeenessssonesesesssaseesasssesenses 150 O POPOC 00... cceeeccesescsesceensresesscacseeassssseecsseuseseacaneaseeesseseseeesesseesansnenenanesegs 162 TOHEPar onc. .eccecesccccecneeneceseetee ces cneceeecneeseesiecneseneeceeeeensecssesseenenssesieeens 168 O CODE ooo eeicccccec cece cereeeeneeereecsaaecnseesaeeenseeseeesesaesisescneeensssaesesenesessneeniney 184 Bot B GOAOTE 00... ccc ccc ccesteeeeenrteeeceeeeas aeesecessneeeeeessseeeeeeesaeeseeseaaee ee 194 O AOGBH one cece er ee ceee enna ttae etree eeaseseaeeneeseeeeeeisesseaeeetecseeeniiees 212 OTABIX TO PKHHA ........ cc cccsscscseceseceneceneesnsesssenensneerenenscessesssesneseneanesseenseeses 224 B HACTYTMACHHH ......cccsscssecessessecereecncecaconetensnesensesereneneseseeserenenesssenssssseneesens 238 CMEPTh H BOHH 0.0... cccccescsessensesecesssnesacessesesssenersssenensesaesneeaenntesscresieesesees 250 Tepki MAUIET ...........000 ss eaeenecesnseneceneseseceaseaueessecsensesesasesssensessessaspeseneeay 264 Te pkKHH — TepKHi ........ccceccesssesssestssceseeneneneessneseenecreneeceenenenanererenenenensnens 270 OT ABTOPA os esseccssseeeseecneneseneneeaneneessessssrenseatensesarsneragentoes suaeasceeseosseees 282 LUCA GaGa .......cessesssssesnenstcnencesecesenensceenccseneetensresesesssessoesegseuececeseseasensers 292 Ha DHCMpe os ceeeccesessecssessesseesesaeeenensesesenesseenserscenecsenseversserseessnesesenetees 308 TI pO COAAATA-CHPOTY ......ececessesseeneccnessenensnenecnaeeaeencereneeersecesesenseneerrtatenes 322 Tlo Aopore Ha BepauH ........ccscccscesecseeteeseennecensneraccneetecenerersectacenseneessosees 336 B GaHE 00... cecceeeetceee eer enn e eee renee ee nD Ee EDL DEE E EEE CR DLE E GA cece G EEE EEE COE EEE E Sea aaa eS 348
Page From the Authot ...............2:scssseensssssccecescacssevecsccssssatscascocucevecsesscnsetesecoass 7 BiVOUAC .0.0.....c.cccccescasconecnceescecsccacnsaccceccsasenceesacssacscccssseuseecensensensseesscsencens 13 Before Battle ...............ccccccssesessssssvesaesseccccsecessssecausssocecccesscceasecssssscencaceenes 27 Crossing OVE .........ccescscscsssssessssecesesceneeceeecessccesesssaessessoneseseseueaserssesesseeey 41 Concerning War .........ccscsessessestessesseeeeesssseessetscasscensessaesnseenseesesuesensenered 57 Tyorkin Wounded ..........ceescssssenrensenssssanesesssnssseeseasecsareascessossersesaseoesenes 63 On Military Decorations .............cscsecesscseecescnseseecevesesacecseseesseeseseseeenseaes 81 The Accordion .0......ccccccccccccsccccsssesscessecsssessccsceeratsecscesrseesecsecsacesaseaceesses 87 Two Soldiers ............ccccsesescccossscsscereccuceescaccusscccvsenceecescessanssecenenescecscoeeenses 103 Lost Property .........:ccscesscsssesececssreessenetseessessesseeen senseceesenseeansnessacassnsesanentss 117 The Duel ...0....... ec eccccccesscensaccuccusvscacnecsssececeescacsscesscerescscacerscsnensasacsameceeeenss 129 From the Author .....0........ccccccccceesusccenscceceecenccecccaccucecevceseecessseesseaecauseceees 143 “Who Did That?” ............:ccccccccesssceccsessssenseeeeeenseeenssnsessseeesseneacenagenaueneens 151 The Her 2.0.0... .ccceescccstcccecvaverrevscccasccencnsceccnessecccesavecdssnccsssecenacessecsseceseases 163 The General ...............cccssussccuccnscsacssucvarsessecsansusessaseenscsnssceaecececssarenseaaneces 169 About Myself .........ccccccsscsssessssessesesenseseeseesseensessenesaeanseatenseenensesneeeneesnes 185 The Battle of the Marshes ...............cccsseccsescnscccsnceccevecccesssesensesersccscerscecers 195 OM LOVE 00.0... cccceccccsccceenccnscessccsccceneccuatcsscecusccensecasecessecesceseeeseecesseceseecnaavesaes 213 Tyorkin Has a ReSt ............sscsssesssessseceecescsersescessensenserseaseseesaessssenseseannas 225 On the Offensive .............ccccccccsssssecccccnnesscecececceasensccssepanssencceseasessseeeeeeasens 239 Death and the Soldier ............. Lensnenacentscescseeccceececcccecensecacecsesesecsnaccesesceesens 251 TyOrkin Write .......:cessssessesereenersnrestecesessesesneeeseeaneesenensnercorseeseneenenressens 265 Tyorkin v. TyOrkiin ..........ccsseseeceesesnesnenereneneesenensssensanssssneneesaeaesaneneenesnens 271 From the Author .............cccsseccossececvescesncsscccsccescescapevsecssaarssanesstepesssssanacss 283 The Old Couple ...........::csscssssssesesnenseseseenesnesnesseneesessesersnnarenssacssesseaeeanes 293 On the Dinieperr ...........:ccccsccssesessstssecssceessreseesesesaesnenneeescessessnsersnsseenesnenes 309 The Bereaved Soldier ................cccccsessssccceucesesccccceeesscacessusosssecsesceueesssesees 323 The Road to Berlin ...............0cscccescscecssosscecscssssscuseeeessecseucererseseensanseecetees 337 The Bat hs ...........ccceccescccessocnesscrescacecssceneescsecvesascucssrcesscetanersanenceesccesseesers 349 From the Author ..........ccccsscccsssssacenascccessccnssscecsssecsengcereaseeseseas deccuecearsereres 365
Afterword. How Vassili Tyorkin Was Written .........-..:::::cecrreeeeenttes 374
OT ABTOPA
Ha Bofine, B MbIAM NOXxOgZHOH,
B aeTHHH 3HOH MH B xOAOga
Ayuule HeT MpocToH, npupogHoi — V3 koaogua, “3 Mpyda,
Vi3 tpy6pr sogonposogHon,
V3 KonMbITHOrO CAeda,
U3 pexu, Kako yroguo,
13 py4pa, 43-040 Abaa, —
Aye HeT BOA XOAOAHOH,
Anwb Boga Ontaa 6 — Boga.
Ha soltue, B 6sITy cyposom,
B Tpy4Hot x*xu3HH G6oeBoit,
Ha cuery, 104 xBouHBIM KPOBOM, Ha croaHke noaesoit, —
Ayuure Het mpocton, 3A0poBoii, Ao6pok nuwn ppowToson.
BaxkHO TOABKO, 4¥TO6BI nopap Bora. 651 noBap — Mapeub cBoi; roel 4HCAMACA HeAapoM, - Yro6 nogyuac He cnaa Hove, — Anup 6p1aa 6 ona c HaBapoM
FROM THE AUTHOR
When the dust of war blows bitter, When it’s hot or cold as hell, Nothing’s nicer, nothing’s sweeter— From the spring or from the well, From the faucet or from Nature, From the hoof-track in the dell, From the river, any river,
From the pool in winter’s spell — Than a drink of pure fresh water; If it’s water, then all’s well.
In the stress and strain of wartime When the going’s getting tough,
On the snow, beneath the tall pine, Out on bivouac, sleeping rou p
What can beat that good old front-line Food, and who can have enough!
But your Cook must know his onions, Yes, your Cook must know his stuff; Always busy, never dreaming,
Never dozing on the job,
Serving soup all hot and steaming,
Ala 6biaa 6nI Cc DbIAy, C Kapy — TMogo6peit, noropsuen;
Yro6 nATH B AlOOylo Apaky, Cuay 4yBCTByA B MAeyax, Boapoctb 4yBcrByx.
OaqHako
Ajeao TYT He TOAbKO B Max.
7Kutb 6e3 MHUJH MOXKHO CyTKH, MomxnHo 6o0anmie, HO NOpon
Ha sBofine O4HOH MHHYTKH
He npoxntp 6e3 npuOayTKn, IytKu caMoii HemyApon.
He npoxutTs, kak 6e3 MaxopKH, Or Gom6exku AO Apyrou Be3 xopomei noropopKu Van NpucKa3kKu KakoH, —
Bes te6a, Bacuanii Tepxkun, Baca Tepkun— Moi repou,
A Bcero HHOrO nye
He npoxuTb HaBepHAKa—
Bes yero? be3 npapan cywei, IIpapani, IpAMO B Ayuly 6bwue;, Zja Obtaa 6 ona Noryuye,
Kax 6p1 Hu OblAa TrOpbKa.
YUro « euje?.. HW sce, nomaayit. Caosom, KHHra po Goya Be3 nayaaa, 6e3 Kona.
Ilouemy Tak—6e3 Hauaaa? Iloromy, uro cpoky MaAo Haunnatb ee cHadaaa.
Ilouemy xe 6e3 KOHIIa? IIpocto *aAKO MOAOAIa.
C nepsppix Aue roAuHbl TOPbKOH, B TaxKHH 4ac 3eEMAM poAHoHK
So that you can swear you’ve never Tasted better Army grub:
Leaves you fit to fight forever,
Fit to tackle anything;
Fit as twenty men—
However
Soup is not the only thing.
Without any food inside you,
You can march a day and thrive; But without your mates beside you, And no stories to delight you,
It’s a problem to survive;
Without baccy for the smoking When it’s “All Clear!” for a time; Without laughing, without joking, (Hey, pass this one down the line!);
Without you, Vassili Tyorkin, Vasya Tyorkin, hero mine.
But you just can’t go on living Without one thing most of all. What is that? The truth, arriving Harsh, relentless, undeceiving, Soulwards mercilessly driving, Bitter though it be as gall.
Finally, it needs explaining Why this soldier’s book was penned— No beginning and no end.
Why. you'll ask me, no beginning? Well, there was no time for spinning All this yarn from the beginning.
Why is it without an end? So that we can spare our friend.
From the first days of affliction, In the homeland’s hour of grief,
10 :
He wyta, Bacuaui Tepxun, TloqpyXHAMCb MbI Cc TOON,
A 3a6bITb TOTO He BripaBe, Uem TBoew O6n3aH CAaBe, Uem u rae MOMOF TH MHe. Zleay Bpema, 4ac 3a6aBe,
Aopor Tepxknu Ha Bonue.
Kak xe Bapyr Te6A NOKUHYy? Crapo apyx6pr Bepeu cuerT.
CaosoM, KHHTy C CepeqHHBI Vs naunem. A Tam noider.
11
You and I, Vassili Tyorkin, Bosom friends became for life.
I would never dare forgo you, There is so much that I owe you, So much that I’m grateful for.
It has been a joy to know you. Tyorkin, dear in time of war.
Can I leave you without warning? Friendship calls for loyalty.
So we'll make our real beginning Halfway through. And then we'll see.
12
HA TTPHBAAE
— /leabunIi, 4TO u TOBOpHTD, BblA CTapHK TOT CaMbBIit,
Uro npuayMaa cy BapHTb
Ha Koaecax NpsMo.
Cyn — Bo-nepBpix. Bo-sTopnix, Kauy B HOpMe MpouHoH.
Het, crapHk OH ObIA CTapHkK UyTKuit— sto TouHOo.
CAbIIUb, WOAKMHb eye OAHY Aomkeuxky Takylo,
Al BTopyio, 6pat, Bony
Ha sexy Bow.
Ouenu, 406aBy 4yTOK.
Tlokocuaca noBap:
«Huyero ce6e egox — TIapenb oTOT HOBBIM». AOXKKy AMUIHIOI KAaZeT, MoasurT HECep4HTO:
— Bam 651, 3HaeTe, BO @AOT C pawium annerutom.
BIVOUAC
‘He had genius, some old chap: Found a way of boiling
Soup with never spill or slop While the kitchen’s rolling. First, soup piping hot, and then Kasha for your mess-tin.
Yes, he was a bright old man, There can be no question!
“Dish us out a spoonful more. Here, let’s have another! This is not my only war, It’s my second, brother! One more dab— it’s only fair.”
Cook is slightly startled.
“Well, we've got a right one here. This new lad’s an eater.”
Slaps some extra on his plate, Growls, but not in anger,
“Better join the Navy, mate,
If you’re always hungry.”
14
Tor:— Cnacu6o. A xax pa3
He 6n1paa BO paorte.
Mue 6b1 ayue, Bpose Bac, IlosapomM B nexoTe. —
Vi, ycesmucb nog cocnon,
Kallly ecT, CYTYAACb.
«CBoit?» —6oub Mexay Co6on,— «CBon!» — meperaaHyAHCb.
VW yxe, IpHrpeBllincn, car ‘“Kpenko MoaK ycTaAbiit.
B nepBoM B3B0fe COH Nponaa, Bonpexn yctTasy.
TIpHBaaach K CTBOAY COCHHI, He maja MaxopkKu,
Ha pone HacueT BOMHBI
Bea 6eceay Tepxuu.
— Bam, peOsTa, c cepeaquuKu Haunnats. A A CKaKy:
Al He Nepspie 6OTHHKH
Be3 NouwsHkKu 34eCb HOLLY. Bot Bb 1pH6b1AH Ha MeCTO, Py2xKbA B pyKH—H BOM.
A KOMY M3 BaC H3BeCTHO, Uro taxoe cabantyli?
— Ca6antyii— kakoi-To npa3qHuK? Mau uTo Tam —ca6antyit?
— Ca6antyit 6prsaet pasnuiit, A He 3Haellib— He TOAKyit. Bor nog nepsow 6bombexxKoit TloAeKUUIb C OXOTHI B ACKKY, JKMB OCTaACKA— He ropwit:
— Oro Maan ca6antyi.
OTAHIUIMCh, MOKyuah MAOTHO, SakypH MB yc He ayit.
Xyxe, 6GpaT, kak MHHOMETHBII Bapyr Haunetca ca6antyit.
15
“Thanks, but that would never do, Tyorkin in the Navy.
Let me be a cook like you,
Always in the gravy.”
And he sits beneath a tree, Shoulder hunching over.
“One of us!” the lads agree, Winking at each other.
All the regiment now snores Full of evening rations, Number One Biatoon ignores Army Regulations.
Leaning up against his tree, See Vassili Tyorkin
Dishing out most generously Wisdom and makhorka.*
“No need for preliminaries;
I’m not one of your recruits,
And I’ve worn out in the service Many a pair of Army boots. Brand-new uniforms and rifles, Straight off to the front, that’s you. But can any of you soldiers
Tell me what’s a sabantu**?”
“Sabantu? Dunno. Or maybe
It’s Mongolian for booze?”
“Don’t show up your ignorance, matie. There’s three sorts of sabantus. Air-raid warning. Helter-skelter
To the nearest Sitch for shelter.
You'll survive it. Don’t get blue.
That’s a little sabantu.
“Have a breather. Get some food down. Smoke. So that’s an air raid! Pooh! Then old Jerry starts a showdown
With a mortar sabantu.
* Low-grade tobacco. ** Normally, a spree or celebration.
16
Tor npotmet Te6s noray6xe, — SeMAIO-MaTYLIKy Wjeayi.
Ho umeii B BHAy, ToAy64uHK, Sro—cpegnun cabantyit.
Ca6antTyli— Te6e Hayka, Bpar AlwTyeT —CamM AloTyHi. Ho copcem HHas WITyKa STO—raaBHbii cabantyif.
IlapeHb CMOAKHYA Ha MHBYTKy, Uro6 npouncruTb MyHALITy4OK, CAOBHO HCNOABOAB KOMY-TO TlogMurnuyaA: AC pKUCb, APyXKOK...
— Bot Th Bamea Cnosapanky, TaasnyA—B not Te6s 4 B ApOxb: IlpyT HeMeUKHX THILa TAHKOB...
— Tsmya TanKos? Hy, 6pat, spe.
— Ac aero MHE BpaTb, Apyxume? Pacey AW — KaKoii pacueT?
— Ho 3auem xe cpa3y —TbIa? — Xopomo. [lyckaii natpcor.
— Hy, natscor. Ckaxu no 4ectu, He nyrai, kak cTappix 6a6.
— Aaqguo. UtTo TaM TpHcTa, ABeCcTH— Tloscrpeyali ogMH xoTa 6...
— Uro «, B ra3eTKe AO3yHr TOUeH: He 6eru B kycTH 4a B XAc6. TaHkK— oH c BHAY rpo3eH ovens, A Ha Aeae TrAyx H Caen.
— To-To caen. Aexump B Kkanase, A Ha cepaue Maata:
Bapyr kax cOcAelly 3a4aBuT,— Beab He BHAT HH 4eprTa.
Tloptoputs coraaceH cHopa:
To He 3Haewib—He TOAKyi. Ca6antyit — OAHO AMIIb CAOBO— Ca6antyii!.. Ho ca6antyit
17
“This time, all those bangs and whizzes Really scare the pants off you.
But remember, brother, this is
Just a medium sabantu.
“Sabantus teach you a lesson.
Fritz gets rough and so should you. Quite a different proposition
Is a super-sabantu.”
Tyorkin pauses here, delaying,
Cleans his mouthpiece for a bit. Winks at someone, as if saying, “Just a moment. Wait for 1t!...”
‘“ P you get as day is dawning,
Take a look and—suffering cats! German tanks—a thousand—coming....’ “German tanks—a thousand? Rats!’
’
“Listen, would I fool you, brother?
No sense trying anyway.”
“How come all those tanks together?” “Well, all right. Five hundred, say.” “Still too many tanks. You’ve blundered. Needn't try to scare us, son.”
“Say, three hundred, or two hundred... Well, if you insist — just one.”
“Like it tells you on the poster, ‘Don’t dash into scrub or grain!’ Though your tank may look a monster, He’s stone-deaf and blind, that’s plain.”
“Sure! Down in a ditch you're lying, And your heart goes pit-a-pat. Since he can’t see where he’s going, Suddenly he'll squash you flat.
“Don’t show off your ignorance, matie, Don’t talk such a lot of rot.
Sabantu seems nothing, maybe,
But a word—and yet, and yet
18
MoxeT B roAOBy yAapHTB, Mau nonpocty, B 6amky.
Bot y Hac ogun Ona Mapenb... Ajatite, aro au, TabaaKy.
Bbaaarypy CMOTpAT B por, CAOBO AOBAT 2KaAHO. Xopomo, Korga KTO Bpet Beceao # CKAaAHO.
B cTropone AecuHoi, rayxoi, IIpu anxou noroge, XOpomlo, Kak eCTb Takoli Ilapenb Ha noxoge.
Vs Hecmeao y Hero I{pocat: — Hy-ka, Ha HOUb Pacckaxu enje 4ero, Bacnani HMpauniy...
Hou rayxa, 3eMAA chIpa. Uytb KocTep ABMHTCA.
— Hert, pe6ara, cnat» nopa, HaynuHalt CTeAHTBCA.
K pykaBy pumas AnIOM, Ha nmpurpetom B3sropKe Mex ToBapnie 6onnOB Aer Bacnanit Tepkun.
‘Tsokeaa, MOKpa UIHHEAb, lox ab paboran Ao6 prt. Kptinia— He60, xaTa— eab, Kopuu %XMyT 04 pe6pa.
Ho He BHAHO, 4TOOH OH YApyuen On sTuM, UtTo6n con emy He B COH ['ae-Hu6yAb Ha CBeTe.
19
It can smack you on the noddle, Otherwise known as the bonce. (Got some baccy, anybody?) We'd a laddie with us once....”
And they hang on every word, Scared to lose a minute;
Good to have a wag like him Serving with the unit.
In the forest dark and grim, When the cold winds bite you, Good to have a lad like him Marching there beside you.
And they ask him, all polite, “Tell another yarn which
We could end on for the night, Vassili Ivanych.”
Still the night and damp the ground, Campfire embers fading....
“No, lads. Time for kipping down. Organise your bedding.’
Face half-buried in his arm, Flat out on his stomach, Tyorkin settles, snug and warm, On a grassy hummock.
Damp his heavy greatcoat feels. Fine rain drizzling lightly; Sky for roof and trees for walls, Tree-roots hurting slightly.
But he never gives a sign
That he’s feeling restless.
You would think him bedded down On a feather mattress.
20
Bor OH NOABI NOATAHYA, YKpbibad CIMHY, Upbio-TO Telly NOMAHYA, Tleaxy w nmepnuy.
Vs mpuunk K 3eMaAe ChIpol, OaoaeH HCTOMOH,
Vs aexuT OH, MOH repod, Cnt ce6e, kak Joma.
CrnutT— xoOTb roAogeH, XOTb CHIT, XOTb O4HH, XOTb B Ky¥e.
CnaTb 3a MpexHUu HeAOCHIN, CnaTb B 3amac Hay4eH.
Vi eaBa Ab repoio CHUTCA Bcakoii HOUbIO TAXKKHH COH: Kak OT 3anagHon rpaHuiypl OTcrymaa Kk BOCTOKY 0H;
Kak tpomiea on, Baca Tepxuu, U3 sanaca pagosoi,
B mpocoaenHuolt ramMHacTepKe CoTHH BepcT 3eMAM pOdHOH.
Zjo uero 3eman 6oaban, Beanyahiiaa 3eMaAn.
Vi Ontaa 6 ona uyxKan, Upa-HH6y 4b, a TO—CBOR.
Cnut repo, xpanuT—nu Touxa. IIpuHnmMaer BCe, Kak eCTp.
Hy, CBoA —Tak 3TO 2K TOUHO. Hy, notHa—vTak A Ke 34€Cb.
Cnt, 3a6nIB O Tpy4HOM aAeTe. Coun, 3a6ora, He OyHTyit. MoxeT, 3aBTpa Ha paccBeTe bydeT Hospi cabautyi.
Cnat 6o%upI, Kak COH 3acTaa, Ilog cocuow snoéxar, Yacoppie Ha moctTax
MokuyT o4MHOKo.
21
Then he gives his coat a hitch, Since his back feels colder; Silently, he starts to bitch,
Just like any soldier.
On the damp ground lying prone, Very tired and weary,
ust as in his bed at home
leeps my gallant hero.
Cold or hungry, he’s adept, Sleeping to some purpose; Catching up when underslept, Storing up a surplus.
But there’s one thing, while he’s resting, Spoils his sleep some nights at least: And that’s how he left the Western Border-line, retreating East.
How he trudged, did Private Tyorkin, Through his homeland in retreat, Verst on verst, with tunic soaking, Aching heart and aching feet.
Vast and boundless is our homeland, And no matter where you stray,
It is yours, it is your own land,
You belong there anyway.
Tyorkin snores. There’s no more to it. He just takes things as they come.
“I belong, and well I know it.
Russia needs me. Here I am!”
Sleep. Forget the summer’s sorrow. Worrying’s no good to you.
Maybe dawn will bring tomorrow Yet another sabantu.
And the men sleep on the ground Underneath the pine trees,
While the rain comes drizzling down On the lonely sentries.
22
3ru He BHAHO. Houb BoKpyr.
VW 6o0%uy B3arpycruetca.
TOAbKO 4TO-TO BCIOMHHT BApyr, BcnOoMHHT, YCMeXHETCA.
VM xak 6ygTo con mpomaa, Cmex IIpornHaa 3eBOTY.
— Xopoumio, uro OH Mona, Tepkuu, B Hallly porty.
* * *
TepkuH— KTO *e OH TaKOH? CxkaxkeM OTKpOBeHHO: IIpocro napeub cam cobon On oObIKHOBEHHBIM.
Bnporem, WapeHb XOTb kya. Ilapeub B sTOoM poge
B kaon pote ecTb Bcera, Jja M B KaxKAOM B3BOJe.
VW suto6 3Haan, 4emM CHAeH, CkaxkeM OTKPOBeHHO: KpacoTow HajeaeH
He 651A OH OTMEHHOR.
He BBICOK, HE TO 4TOG Maa, Ho repou—repoem. Ha Kapeanckom BoeBan — 3a pexoli Cectpow.
Vi ne 3Haem nowemy,— CnpamupatTb He cTaAn,— Tlouemy Torga emy
He aaa Megaan.
C 9ToH TeMBI IlOBepHeM, Cxaxem 4A lopagka: MoxeT, B CMCcKe HarpaqHOM Bauuaa onewatTKa.
23
Pitch-black night. The sentry there Stands, in some dejection.
Then he grins from ear to ear
At some recollection.
Sleep is banished right away, Yawning turns to laughter.
“Now that Tyorkin’s come to stay, Things’ll be much better.”
* * *
Tyorkin, who might he be, pray? No need to be chary:
He’s a fellow, you might say, Rather ordinary.
Still, he’s really quite a lad, Got something about him. There’s no Army company Or platoon without him.
Is he handsome of aspect? No need to be chary:
We must answer with regret, Frankly, no, not very.
Not so tall as soldiers go; But true hero’s mettle During the Karelian show He displayed in battle.
And we really don’t know why (Not that we would meddle) Vasya Tyorkin’s bravery Didn’t.rate a medal.
Shall we give this one a miss? It would be much fairer
Just to say the Honours List Had a printer’s error.
24
He raagn, 4TO Ha rpydn, A rasau, 4To Briepegnu!
B crpox c won, B Oo C MIOAA, CHospa TepkKuH Ha BOoHHe.
— Buano, 6om6a wan nyAn He Halaacb elje MO MHe.
Bara B 6010 3afeT OCKOAKOM, 3aKHAO— HM CTOABKO TOAKY. Tpuxap 6bIA A OKpyxKeH, Tp Abl — BOT OH! —BBIWEA BOH.
YW xorp 6prao GecnoKonHO— OctTaBaAca HeBpeaAMM
Iloga orHeM KOCBIM, TpeXCAOHHEIM, Iloq HaBeCcHbIM HM TIPAMBIM.
VM ue pa3 B NyYTH NpHBHYHOM, Y AOPOr, B WEIAM KOAOHH, BbLA pacceaH A YaACTHUHO, A wacTH4Ho ucrpe6aex...
Ho, ogHako,
Kus Bonka,
K kyxHe —C MmecTa, c MecTra—B 60i1. KypuT, ecT M MbeT CO CMaKOM
Ha no3nuyHH Aw6on.
Kak HM Tpy4HO, Kak HH Xy40— He cqapau, snepeg ranan,
STO NpucKa3ka MOKyAa, Cxa3ka 6yyeT BHepean.
25
Never mind what’s on your chest, Look ahead and keep abreast!
June called up. July—in action. yorkin’s in the wars again.
“Contrary to expectation, Still no bullet with my name.
“In the fighting I was wounded By a fragment—just a nip.
And three times I was surrounded, And three times I gave the slip.
“And though feeling mildly nervous, I've come through (and it was dire) Indirect and cross, as well as Overhead and triple fire.
“To the long route-march accustomed, Often on the dusty road
I've been partially dispersed, and
I’ve been partially destroyed.”
But he’s still
Alive and kicking: Kitchen—camp-site—battle station. Gaily eating, drinking, smoking, Whether waiting or in action.
When you think you can’t be winning, Don’t give up, but look ahead.
This is only the beginning, Now the story starts instead.
26
MIEPE, BOEM
— Aoaoxy xorta 6n1 BkKpaTue, Kak MpHWAOCb HaM B CYeT BOMHBI C retaa K @poHTy mpo6upatTsca
C Trou, c HeMeuKOH CTOpOHHI.
Kak C HeMelIKOH, Cc TOH 3apeyKoi Cropouil, Kak roBOpAT,
Bcaeg 3a BAaCTbW 3a COBETCKOH, Bcaeg 3a poOHTOM wea. Ham Gpar...
Illea nam 6pat, xygouw, roaoqnniit, Tlorepasuinii CBA3b M 4ACTh,
Illex NOpoTHO uH NOB3BOAHO,
VW komnannett cpo6o4Hon,
Vi oquu, Kak nepct, moguac.
Tloaem mea, AeCHOIO KpoMKOi, H36eraa AMWHHX raa3, Tlogxoaua k ceAy B NOTeMKax, VWs cay#XHA EMy KOTOMKOM Boeson mporusoras3.
BEFORE BATTLE
Here’s reporting how a soldier
In those unpropitious times Headed frontwards from the rear, From behind the German lines;
From the wrong side of the river,
As the lads all used to say,
Towards the embattled Soviet armies, Gaining slowly day by day.
How he marched, gaunt with privation, All communications gone,
With this squad or with that section, Or with any chance collection,
Or entirely on his own.
Crossing fields and skirting forests, Steering clear of alien eyes, Nearing villages in darkness,
All his gear inside his Service Gas-mask, carried knapsack-wise.
28
Hea on, ceppri, 6opogaTHi, HH, yenasacb 3a nopor, 3axogHa B AlO6yl0 xarTy, CAOBHO 4eM-TO BHHOBATHIN Ilepeg nett. A 4To on mor!
Vi no roppkoi To NpuBEKe, Kak B IIYTH BeAe€Aa 4ECTB,
Ou Mpocnwa cnepBa BOAMYEH, A TIOTOM IIpocwA MmoectTp.
TetKka—rge 9K OHa OTKaKeT? XOTb KakOH, a BCe X* TH CBOH. Huuero Te6e ue cKaxer, ToAbKO BCXAHMHeT Hag TO6OH, TOAbKO MOABHT, IIpOBoOKan: — Boportutsca gai sam Oor...
To O6biaa Mewarb GOAbAA, Kak 6peau MBI Ha BOCTOK.
flan xyabie, wan Gocnie B Hew3BeCcTHBIe Kpaa.
Uto Tam, rae ona, Poccua, IIo kako py6ex cBoa!
Iau, ogunaxo. Hea na...
A aoporow nocTHAon TIpo6upaaca He Ogun. Ueaosek Hac AecatTb 6n1aA0, Bala y Hac 4 KOMaHAMp.
V3 6008. Myxunna Jeabuniit, MecTHOCTb STy 3HaA BOKpyr.
A x, kaK 6Goaee ngenupli,
Bela TaM Kak ObI MOAMTpyK.
Ilan 6o%ubI 3a Hamu CAegzoOM, Tloxngaa MAeHHbIi Kpai.
A oqny moauTOecegy Tlopropaa:
— He yuurpai.
29
Dusty, ashen-faced, unshaven, Clutching at the lintel post,
If he called at any cabin,
He was haunted by some craven Sense of guilt for so much lost.
And obedient to the bitter Custom of that long retreat, First he'd beg a glass of water,
Then he’d beg a bite to eat.
Grannic¢ can't refuse him lightly— Ours, whoever he may be—
Though she may be weeping slightly, Not another word says she,
Only, “So you have to leave us?
May God send you back at least.”
Sad the story was and grievous Of our trek towards the east.
Marching barefoot, marching hungry, Into regions no one knew.
What's ahead? Where are you, Russia? How much is there left of you?
On they marched. And I did, too.
I was not the only soldier
Pushing down that road through hell. There were ten of us together,
And an NCO as well.
From the ranks. A canny fellow. Knew those parts. I was a kind Of political adviser
Being seriously inclined.
And the men brought up behind us, Leaving lands no more our own.
My political advice was
Just, “Don’t let them get you down.
30
He 3apBeMcaA, Tak NpopBemca, BydeM >*KMBbI— HE MOMpeM. Cpok mpnHder, Ha3aq BepHeMca, UTo oTgaau— Bce BepHeoM.
Camoro 6 MeHA CHpocHan, PoBHO CTOAbKO 3HaA H A, Uto Tam, rae ona, Poccua, Ilo xaxov py6ex cBoa?
KomanHaup mlaraA yrpiomo, Toxe, HCHOABOAb CMOTPH, UTo-TO OH BCe AYMaA, AYMAA... — Bpocp Ts AyMaTb,— rosopw.
Tosopio emy AyuleBHo.
OH B OTBET H MOABHT BApyr: — Io nytu mon gepesua. Kak TH MBICAHUIb, MOAHTpyK?
Uro oTsetutTh? Kak «A MBICAIO? Buxy, tape Mpayer Baran, CaM NOHHK, ycH OOBHCAH.
Hy, a 4em OH BHHOBaT,
Uro AepeBHA no Aopore,
UTo Ayla 3aHbIAa B HEM?
Tyt Kakoi 651 un Onta crpornit, A cka3aa 6pr THI:«3aitzeM...»
BcTpeneHyAca ACHBIM COKOA, Bpocwa AyMatb, Hauaa NeTb. Bnepegu wget aaaexo, Otopsaaca— ne mocnerb.
A MIpHUIAM TyAa MBI 11034HO, Vi 3agamu, Kononaed,
OcropoxHnlit wu CepbesHErit, Bea on sBcex k ce6e gomoit.
Bot kak 6b1A0 c HalMM 6paToM Utro nonaa AOMoH Cc BOHHEI: 3ax04u B pogHyo xaty, IIpo6upasce BAOAb CTeHEI.
b]
31
“If we play it cool and stick it, We'll come out of this alive. We'll be back again. We'll make it.
Wait, our moment will arrive.”
Even had the soldiers asked me,
I’d have not known any more: What’s ahead? Where is she, Russia? How much is there left of her?
Silent our CO and moody, So I watched him covertly. He kept brooding, brooding, brooding... “Here, you think too much,” said I.
What I said was meant sincerely, He gave me a funny look:
“Well, we’re at my village, nearly. What’s the verdict, politruk?”
Verdict? What am I to tell him?
He won’t look me in the eye, Shoulders bowed, moustaches wilting.... Is it his fault, anyway,
If his home is near the pathway,
If he’s feeling sad and low?
Who'd be strict and not give leeway? Anyone would say, “‘Let’s go!”
Lo, the falcon stretched his pinions, Brightened up, burst into song; Left us lagging far behind him
As he swift y strode along.
It was late when we arrived there. Wary, watchful, stern of face,
He conducted us through hemp-fields And back gardens to his place.
That’s how many a Russian soldier Had to pay his folks a call, Creeping round the family cottage Flattened up against the wall.
32
Sua Bneped, YTO TOAKy MaAO OT poauMMoro yraa,
Uro somna UW TYT CTyMaaa, Bnepeau Te6a npom.aa,
Uro te6e cpoeH no6nipKon He nopagopaTh *Keny: 3a6exaa, NOCMaA ypbIBKOM, ZJOTOHAM OMATb BOHHY...
BoT x03AHH CeA, pasyACca, Pyky lpasylo— Ha CTOA, ByATO C M€ABHHLbI BEPHyACA, C Moan K yxKHHy NIpHuIMea. ByATo Tak, a Bce MHate...
— Hy, *ena, TONM-Ka 1e4b, Bcem AOBOABCTBHEM TOpAGHM Mue komandy o6ecneub.
JjeTu cnat. Kena xaonouert,
B roppKuii, rpyCTHbIM Mpa34HHK CBOH, Kak HH MaAO 9TOM HOM,
A HW Ta—HuHe elt OAHON.
PacTOpOnmHbIMH pyKaMu *Kaput, BapuT nmocKopei, YloaoTenyja c NeTyxaMu JloctTaeT, Kak AA rocteH.
Hanowaa, HaKOpMHAa, YAORKHAa Ha NOKON,
Zia c Takokw 3a60TOH MnAOH, C go6pok aackow Taxol, CaAOBHO MBI HHOM Mopor 3aBepHyAM B STOT 40M, CaoBuo 651An MBI repo,
Vis He MaAzle NpHToM.
CaM XO3AHH, CTaplini BOHH, Uro cngea cpegn roctei, Bpsg an 6bIA Korga AOBOACH Tak xO3AHKOI0 CBOeH.
33
And be warned—there’s little for you In the place you love the most.
War has stepped in there before you, War has beat you to the post.
For your wife, small consolation
In those hours of stolen time.
Snatch some fitful sleep, then hasten Off to find the battle line....
Right arm on the supper table, Boots off, beaming with good-will, Sat our host, as comfortable
As if just back from the mill.
Such, at least, was the impression.... “Stoke the fire, love, stoke it well. CO’s orders. Issue rations
Piping hot to personnel!”
The children sleep. But at that bitter Festive time she never rests. Though her night is short and precious Still she shares it with her guests.
Boiling, roasting without respite,
At the steaming stove she stands;
Takes her guests the embroidered towels As the custom there demands.
Generously she entertained us, Served us food and drink to spare, And with fussy, loving kindness Found us room to sleep somewhere.
As if we had called to see her
When times were not what they were, As if we were gallant heroes
Home triumphant from the war.
And our host and senior, seated There among his guests at ease, Was he ever more delighted With that darling wife of his?
34
Bpaa AM BCei OHA yxBaTKOl XorTb korga-Hu6yab Gna,
Kak Ipw sTOW BCTpeye KpaTKOH, Tak pojHa M Tak MHMAa.
VI 60aeA OH, MapeHb YeCcTHHIH, TloHuMaa, OTel, CeEMbH,
Ha koro B maeny 6e3BecTHOM Tloxnaaa *eHy C JeTbMH...
Konuns cOopsl, pasroBpopHl, YaerAnch SoH Ub B AOMY. Aer xo3aun. Ho ne cxopo Mogomaa ona K HeMy.
Tuxo 3BaKkaaa nocyfon, Yro-ro mmmaa pu orne. A XO3AHH 2K geT oTTy Aa, V3 yraa.
HeaoBKo MHe.
Bce ropapnuyu ycuyan, A Me€HA He HET KO CHy. Ajait-ka ayue B Kapayae Ha KpblAeake MpHkopuHy.
B3AA DIMHEAb Ja, 10 IIPHCAOBBbI, Cmactepna ce6e moctean,
Yro n04 HW3, H B H3FrOAOBEE,
VM Hapepx,—u sce — nIMHEAB. _.
OX, CVKOHHaA, Ka3eHHan, BoeuuHaan wIHHeAb,—
Y KocTpa B Aecy NpoxkxKeHHaA, OTMeHHan DIHMHEAb.
3HaMeHMTaA, NpobutTaa B 60.1 orHem sBpara
Aja caoeH pyKoui 3ammtraa,— Komy He Aoporal
35
On this all too brief occasion Never did she show more charm, Leave upon him an impression More endearing, kind, or warm.
And it grieved him, honest soldier, Father of a family,
So to leave his wife and children Doomed to face captivity...
Soon, the evening’s talk was over, All the soldiers hit the sack.
So did he. She didn’t join him, Waited, as if holding back.
Washing up the dishes quietly, Sitting by the fire to sew. He lay in the corner, waiting. Seemed to me
I'd better go.
All my mates were sleeping soundly. I lay sleepless, open-eyed, Thought I'd do some sentry duty, Kip down on the porch outside.
Well, I had no choice of bedding, And the job was quickly done; Made my greatcoat do for pillow, Sheets wad blankets—all in one.
How I’d miss you, Army issue Military coat,
Governmental, free from rental, Singed-at-campfire coat.
Governmental, free from rental, Slightly bullet-holed,
Mended duly by yours truly, Worth your weight in gold.
36
Ynaselth AM, KA2K NOAKOMEHHEH, IlopaneHHn Ham 6par,
Ha wmHeAw TOH NOHOMEHHOH Cuecyt Te6a B can6arT.
A y6nioT— Tak TeAO MeEpTBOE TBoe Cc APyrHMH B pxd
Toh mMneakow 1oTeprow YKpolwT— cm, coagat!
Cru, COAAaT, pW %KH3HM KpaTKOH Hu 8 g4opore, HH B AOMy He Mpvmaocb nocnaTbh NOpAAKOM HW C *XCHOH, HH OAHOMY...
Ha KpBIAbI{O XO3AMH BBIIIIeA. Ton MHe HOGH He 3a6hHITB.
— Tus vero? — A wa Aposuutek ZJaa xo3aiiku Hapy6uTh.
Bot He CNHTCAH 4eAOBeKy, CaoBHO 40Ma— Ha BOHHE. SaliaraA Ha ApOBoceKy,
Py6nT xBopocT upH AyHe.
Tok 4a Tiox. {fo cBeta py6ur.
Kopotka coaaaTy HO4Ub.
3uaTh, *KeHy 2KadeeT, AWOuT,
fla He 3HaeT, GEM NOMOYB. 6ut, py6ut. Ha paccpete oxHAaeT Jom 6oen.
A 104 CBeT NpOcHyAMch AeTH, Morag AaT— upuoiea oten. Tloraas ant — 60n hI 4ayKHe, %KbA pa3sHBle, PeMHH. peOata, kak Ooabmue, CaoBHO NOHAAM OHH.
37
If a bullet finds its billet, Sends you flying over,
No fine stretcher for to fetch yer, But your greatcoat, brother!
If you fade out, then it’s laid out, With the rest you'll be,
Very dead there in your threadbare Greatcoat. RIP.
Sleep. In your brief lifetime, soldier, the march or safe at home, You have slept but little, either With your wife or all alone....
From the house our host emerges. How can I forget that night?
“Something wrong?” “Just for the missus... Firewood’s getting kind of light.”
He’s not in the mood for sleeping. Though he’s home, war still seems near. And he goes to chop some firewood
In the moonlight, cold and clear.
Chop, chop, chopping until sunrise.... All too soon, it’s break of day.
Yes, he loves his wife most dearly, Wants to help her in some way.
So he hews and hews. For morning’s Light will find our soldier gone.
When the children, waking early, Looked, and saw their dad was home, Saw the unfamiliar soldiers,
Different rifles, different gear,
Then they understood, like grown-ups, And were filled with sudden fear.
38
VWs samaaKkaau pe6sta.
Vs nogyMatb 6nIA0 TyT: MoxeT, HBIHYe B STY XaTy Hemupbl C pyXXbAMH BOHAYT...
VY goubine NAad TOT AeTCKHH
B paHHuii aac AMxOrO AHA
C Tow HeMelyKOH, C TOH 3apel|Kon CTOpoOHEI 30BeT MCHA.
A 6 meutaa He pag CAaBbI ae yYTpoM OoesbiM,
A 6 xeaaa Ha Geper npasaii, Boi npowAA, BCTYNUTb *KMBBIM.
VU cxaxy a 6e3 yraixn, IIpHeequcb MHE TaM HATH, A xoTea 6b K TOM xO3NHHKe Iloctyyarnca no nyTH.
Tlonpocuts Boab HallHTbCcA — He 3arTem, 4To6 CecTb 3a CTOA, A 3aTeM, 4TO6 MOKAOHHMTBCA Ao6pot xenunHe Mpocro;i.
IIpo xo3anHa AM CIpocuT,— «Tloaaraio — HB, 340pOB».
B3ATb TONOp, UIMHeEAbKy COpocuTs, Hapy6utb xo3alixe Apo.
Iloromy — xo3anH-6apuH Huyero Ham HE CxKa3aa. MoxeT, HbIHYe 3EMAIO MapHT, 3a KOTOpy.0 CTOAA...
Brpouem, uTo TaM AyMaTb, OpaTupt, Hago nemyya OMTE CHeWNTD.
Bot u sce, uro Tepxuy Bxpatue BaM UMeeT AOAOKNTS.
39
And the children started crying, And you saw in your mind’s eye German soldiers armed with nfles Bursting in there suddenly...
And that sound of children crying Calls to me from far away,
From the wrong side of the river Even to this very day.
In my dreams, awaiting battle,
Not for glory do I strive,
But to make it through the fighting To that farther shore alive. °
And I say it quite sincerely, Should I reach the other shore, Then, believe me, I would surely Knock on that good lady’s door.
And I'd beg a glass of water Not so’s to be wined and dined, But to take my cap off humbly To a lady good and kind.
Should she ask about her husband— “No doubt doing fine,” I'd say;
Take the axe, throw off my greatcoat, Chop some firewood for the day.
From our genial host and master None of us heard any more.
He might well be six feet under In the soil he battled for.
No two ways about it, fellows. Smash the Germans soon! In short, That is all Vassili Tyorkin
Has to say in his report.
40
MEPEITPABA
Ilepenpasa, nepempasna! beper vephi, Oeper npaByn, Cuer wepmasbiti, KDOMKa Aba...
Komy MaMATb, KOMy CAaBa, Komy TeMHaA BOAa,— Hu puMertl, HM CAeda.
Houbw, NepBbIM 43 KOAOHHH, OOAoMaB y Kpanv aed, Ilorpy3Haca Ha NOHTOHBI Tleppaiti B3B04.
Tlorpy3HAca, OTTOAKHYACH
VM nomea. Bropow 3a HMM.
II pHroroBuaca, NpHrHyAca TpetTuit caeqoM 3a BTOpBIM.
Kak NAOTH, MOULAH MOHTOHBI, TpombixHyA OAMH, Apyron Bacospbim, *eAC3HbIM TOHOM, TouHo Kpblia M04 HOrTOH.
CROSSING OVER
Crossing over! Crossing over! Left bank, right bank of the river, Crusted snow and fringe of ice....
Some found memories, some found glory, Some, the water’s dark embrace— Not a vestige, not a trace.
Night, and leading all the column, Number One Platoon,
Broke the sheet-ice on the water, Boarded the pontoons;
Boarded them and pushed off slowly, And were gone. Next, Number Two. After them, half-shuffling, stooping, Number Three got ready too.
Off the pontoons glided slowly, One by one, like rafts afloat, Booming in a bass of iron
Like a rooftop underfoot.
42
VW snasipyT Oop KyAa-TO, I[putaus WITHKH B TeHH. VY coscem caon pebata Cpasy —6yaTo He Onn,
Cpasy 6yaTo He noxoxu
Ha cponx, Ha Tex, peOarT: Kak-TO Bce ApyKHeH HM CTpoxKe, Kaxk-To Bce Tebe Aopoxe
VW poguet, uem aac asad.
TloraageTb —u BIIpAMb— pebata! Kak, 10 pape, *eATOPOT, XOAOCTOH AM OH, 2*KeHAaTHIA,
OTOT CTpyKeHbiM Hapod.
Ho yxe uayt pebata,
Ha Bpotine *MByT Soup,
Kak korga-HH6yAb B ABaAlaTOM Mx ropapuun — OTUBI.
Tem nyTem HAYT CypOBbIM,
Utro uw ABeCTH Ae€T Ha3zaJq IIpoxoana Cc pyxkbeM KpeMHEBBbIM PyccKHH TpyKeHHK-COAAAaT.
MuMo HX BHCKOB BUXpacrThX, Bo3ae HX MaAbYMINbMX TAa3 CmepTpb B 6010 CBHCTeAa 4YacTO Vi MMHeT AM B 9TOT pa3?
Haaeran, rpe6yt, notes, YIpaBAAWTCA C WIeCTOM. A Boga peBeT Ipapee — Iloq n0AOpBaHHBIM MOCTOM.
Bor yxe Ha cepeqnHe Ux OTHOCHT H Kpy2KHT...
A BOda peBeT B TECHHHE, JKyXAbIM ACA B KYCKM KDOUIMT, Mex lorHyTbix 6aA0K bepMbI bbeTca B MeHe MU B BIA...
43
With their bayonets hid in shadow, Off they sail, silent, intent;
And the faces, so familiar, Suddenly seem different.
For the lads now standing near you Aren't the ones you used to know; Each is closer, each is clearer,
Each is graver, starker, dearer Than he was an hour ago.
Look—and suddenly it hits you: All those lads with close-cropped hair, Whether married men or single, Are just rookies standing there.
Yet they’re going into battle,
Though mere boys and nothing more, Like their fathers and their comrades Way back in the Civil War.
Theirs the road down which the Russian Soldier-toiler had to go,
Flintlock musket on his shoulder,
Some two hundred years ago.
Past the unkempt, tousled temples, Past the boyish eyes so bright, Death in battle whistled often— Will it spare them all tonight?
Now the oarsmen pul! together, Guided by a punting pole;
To their right, beneath a blown-up Bridge, the waters seethe and roll.
And the current midstream hits them Broadside on and spins them round....
Roars and booms as through a mill-race, Cracks the ice and grinds it down,
"Mid the twisted girders flinging
Spray and dust high in the air...
44
A yx TlepBhI B3BO4, HaBepHo, AjoctaeT WIecTOM 3e€MAH.
Ilo3aqu WIyMMT MpoToKa,
VM KpyromM— sya HO4b.
VM syxe On Tak AaarexKo,
UrTo HH KPHKHYTb, HH TOMO4b.
HM suepneer tam 3y6uaTHi, 3a XCAOAHON 4epTOH, Henogctynuni, HenovaTHi Aec Hag YePHOW BOAOH.
Ilepenpasa, nepenpasa! Beper mpashiii, kak CTenHa...
OTOH HOY CAeCA KPpOBaBhili B Mope BBIHeCAa BOAHA.
bHAO TaK: H3 TbMB rAy6oxKoH, OrHeHHbI B3MCTHYB KAHHOK, Ay4 mpoxektTopa npoToKy Tlepecek HanckocoK.
HW scroa6om nocTaBHa BOAY Bapyr cuapag. Tlontonsi— 5 pad. Tycro 61100 Tam Hapogy —
alIHX CTPH2KeHBIX peoar..
VM ysugeaocb srepsuie,
He sa6yqetTca oxo:
Awoan Tenable, *XHBEIEe
Iifau Ha AHO, Ha AHO, Ha AHO...
Ilog ornem Hepa36epuxa — Tae cpon, rae KTO, rae CBA3b?
TOAbKO BCKOpe Craao THXO,— Tlepenpasa copsaaacn.
VW snokamecT Hen3BecrHo, KTo Tam poOkunit, KTo repo,
45
Now the first platoon is punting Through the shallows over there.
And the rapids boom behind them. All around—the alien night;
And they’re far beyond assistance, Out of earshot, out of sight.
Black and jagged in the distance, Past the snowline’s chilly gleam, Looms the distant virgin forest High above the inky stream.
Crossing over! Crossing over! Right bank towering ominously...
Blood that night ran in the river And was carried down to sea.
Sudden through the pitch-black darkness Blazed a searchlight’s spreading beam, Stabbing with a quivering finger Slantwise down across the stream.
Then a shell. The water fountained. Pontoons jammed. No room to spare. Very tightly packed together
Were the lads with close-cropped hair....
How could anyone forget it,
Seeing helpless soldiers drown—
Live, warm-blooded human beings Sinking down, and down, and down....
Pandemonium and chaos. Fritz lays on the heavy stuff...
Then there comes an eerie silence, And the river crossing’s off.
Who was brave and who was timid? Stull the answer is unknown.
46
Kro TaM lapeHsb pacuyJecublit, A HaBepHo, OBIA TakOH.
Ilepenpasa, nepenpasa... Temenub, xoaog. Houb Kak rod.
Ho syennaca B Oeper mpaBbin, Tam ocraaca nepsbi B3BO,.
Vo Hem MoAuar pebata B 60eB0oM podgHoM Kpyry, CAOBHO 4eM-TO BHHOBATHI, Kro Ha AeBom Oepery.
He BugaTb KOHa HOWETY. 3a HOUb FpyfOl B3AAAC TlomoAaM CO AbAOM H CHErOM TlepememaHHan rpa3b.
Vi ycraaaa c noxoda,
Uro 6 Tam Hv 6bIAO,— KHBa, AjpeMAeT, CKOpYHBINHCh, Mexora, CyHyB pyKH B pyKaBa.
L\PeMAeT, CKOPYMBIIHCh, WexoTa, VB aecy, B HOU rAyxoH CanoraMu maxHeT, n6ToM, Mep3aok xBoel m Maxpon.
UyTko AbWwIHT Geper sTOT Bmecte c TeMH, 4TO Ha TOM Ilo4 o6ppipom *AyT paccBerTa, TpewT 3eMAl0 2KHBOTOM,—
yT paccpeTa, *AyT NOAMOTH, ZlyXOM llafaTb He XOTAT.
Houb npoxoaur, HeT Aoporu Hu Bnepeg 4 HM Ha3ad...
A 6bITb MOKET, TAM C NOAHOUN Tlopomut cHexkOK HM B O4H, VW yxe 4aBHo
47
Did some soldier prove a hero? There was surely such a one!
Crossing over! Crossing over! How long must this cold night last?
On the right bank of the river, Number One Platoon—clings fast.
And the soldiers on the near side Don’t speak of it any more,
As if guilty for their comrades Stranded on the other shore.
On and on the hours drag slowly.
Will the cold night never pass?
Ice and mud and snow are churned up Into one great dark morass.
And the soldiers, footsore, weary,
Duly thankful for their lives,
Try to snatch some shut-eye, shivering, Hands tucked in their greatcoat sleeves.
Shivering, fitfully they slumber, And the forest in the night Faintly smells of frozen pine-twigs, Boots, makhorka, human sweat.
And the shore lies still, scarce breathing, Like those who, without a sound,
Over there, praying for daylight, Flattened prone upon the ground,
Wait for sunrise, wait for rescue,
Will not let their spirits flag.
Night drags on interminably, No way forward, no way back....
Or, perhaps, the snowflakes drifting, On the eyelids lightly sifting, Still lie sparkling there;
48
OH He TaeT B HX rAa3HHWax VW smaIAbUON ACEKUT Ha ANWax — MepTBHIM Bce paBHO.
Cryxu, xOAo0aa He CABIMAT, CmepTb 3a CMeEpTbiO HE CTpalHa, XOTb euje maeK HM MHUWeT [leppow pots crapuuna.
Crapwuna naek MM OMUeT, A m0 noyTe noaeBon
He 6nictpeit uayt, He Tue IIucbMa cTapple 4omoi, Uro eme pe6ata camu
Ha mpusaae npx orne T'ae-Hu6y4b B Aecy nMcaAM Alpyr y apyra ua cnune...
V3 Pasanu, u3 Kasaun, 3 Cu6upn, 43 Mockssr— Cnat 60h yh.
Cnoe cka3aAn
VW yxe naBek mpaBul.
Vstrpepda, Kak KaMeHb, rpyda, Tae 3acThAW MX CAe ABI...
MoxeT—Tak, a MOXKET — 4y 40? XotTb Obl 3HaK Kakoi OTTY Aa, HY 6eaa 6 3a noa6bean.
AJOArM HON, 2KeCTKH 30pH B Hoa6pe—k 3ume cegoit.
Asa Oona cuHaAT B Ao30pe Hag xoaoanow Bogor.
To AM CHHTCA, TO AH MHHTCA, Tloxa3aaocb 4TO HEBECTS, To AM HHeH Ha pecHnyax, To AM BHpaBAy 4TO-TO ecTE?
49
Dusting, powdering cold faces, With their soft, unmelting traces— Dead men do not care.
Death for them can hold no terrors, Frost and wind can scarce be missed, Though the Quartermaster Sergeant Keeps them on the rations list;
Keeps them on the list for rations, And by post, the while,
Neither Faster nor yet slower Posthumously goes the mail: Family letters that the writers, Borrowing one another’s backs, Scribbled somewhere in the forests Out on nightly bivouacs.
Lads from far Siberia, Moscow, From Kazan and from Ryazan— Duty done,
They sleep the eternal
Sleep of just and honest men.
And where death came swift upon them There’s a silent, frozen mound....
Or has good luck smiled upon them? Oh for just one signal from them That would give us peace of mind!
Long the nights and harsh the dawnings In November. Winter’s close.
Two men sit on sentry duty, Watching where the river flows.
Is it fancy? Are they dreaming? Something’s moving—not quite clear.... Is it rime upon their eyelids,
Or is something really there?
50
BuanAT— MaA€HbKanwA TOUKAa TlokagaAacb BAaAeKe:
To am 4ypka, To au 6o4ka IIponanipaeT 10 pexe?
— Het, we uypka u He G6oauxa— Iipocto raa3y Masta.
— He maosely Av OAMHOUKa?-
— Ilyrump, Opar. Boga He Ta!
— Ala, Boga... TloMpicanTb cTpaurHo. Zjaxe ppri6am xoaogHa.
— He n3 nauinx AM BYepalHHx TloagHaAACA Kako CO gaHa?..
O6a pa30M npHcmMupean.
VW scka3aa ognH 6oen:
— Hert, on BEINABIA 6HI B OLIMHeAH, C noaHOH BEIKAaAKOH, MepTBell.
O6a 340poBo mpogporan, Kak 651 HM O6BLAO,— BrepBoH.
Ilogomea cepxkaHT c 6HHOKAeM.
II pHcmMoTpeaca: HeT, XHBOH.
— Her, xusoi. be3 ramuactepxu. — A ne @pu? He k HaM an B TBIA? — Her. A moxert, 9To Tepkun? — Kro-ro po6xKo noulyTHa.
— Croi, peOata, He copaTsca, TOAKy HET CllyCKaTb NOHTOH. — Paspemmute nonnitaTEca? — Uro mairatsca!
— Bpatysi,—on!
, y 3a6eperos Kopxy
Aeasnylo o6A0mas,
Ou kak on, Bacnanit Tepxuu, BctraA *xuBOK,— Ao6paaca BILAaBb.
laaakni, roan, Kak “3 6aHn, Bctaa, wiaTaach TAKeAO.
51
Then they see it—just a pinpoint: Only driftwood, it might seem, Or perhaps an empty barrel Floating gently down the stream.
“That’s no driftwood! That’s-no barrel!” And they strain their weary eyes. “Could it be somebody swimming?” ‘What? You’re joking! In that ice?!” “Guess you're right. It’s cold enough to Freeze the gills off any fish.”
‘Maybe one of ours has surfaced,”
Said the first, uneasyish.
And they instantly fell silent,
Till the other sentry said,
“He’d be in his coat and webbing If he was one of our dead.”
And they got the creeps all over, Strange to this new face of death.
Came the Sergeant with field glasses, Levelled them, and caught his breath. “He’s alive! Without his tunic.”
“Fritz behind our lines, maybe?”
“Or perhaps it’s Vasya Tyorkin!” Said some joker timidly.
“Hold it, lads! Just keep away from
That pontoon! The man can swim!” “Wont you let us have a go, Sarge?” “Have a go? What for!”
“It’s him!”
Up he rises from the water, Crashing through the icy crust, Large as life, Vassili Tyorkin— Yes, he’s made it—only just!
Naked, as if from the bath-house. Only just this moment come.
52
Hu 3y6amu, Hu ryOamu He pa6oraet —cBeao.
IloaxpaTuaAn, o6Bnx3aAn, fjaaw BaAeCHKH C HOFH. Ilpurposvau, 1pHKa3saan — Mokellb, HeT AnH, a Gern.
Ilog ropo#, B mTa6HoH u36ymke, IlapHa ToT¥ac Ha KpoBaTb TloaowKMAM AAA TpocyuiKn, Craau ClMpToM pacTupats.
PacTupaan, pacTupaan...
Papyr OH MOABHT, KaK BO CHE: — AOKTOp, AOKTOP, a HEAB3A AM UsnyTpu norpetsca Mue,
4YToO He Bce Ha KOMKYy TpaTHTb?
Zjaau CTONKy — Hayaa %KUTb, IIpunoqHAACA Ha KpoBaTH:
— Paspemute AOAOKNHTE... BsBog Ha mpapom Gepery JKUB-340pOB Ha3A0 Bpary! AeiTeHanT BCero AMIIb IpOcuT OronpKy Ty4a mog6pocuts.
A yX CA€4OM 3a OrHeM BctraHem, HOrM pa3oMHeM. UTo Tam eCTb, Ile pekaAeuuM, Ilepenpasy o6ecneumm...
AOAOmMMA 110 PopMe, CAOBHO -. Totuac MABITb eMy Ha3aJ.
— Moaogey! —cka3aa NOAKOBHHK.— Moaogeu! Cnacu6o, 6par.
Vc yani6xol0 HepobKoii Tospopnut Torga 6oeu:
— A eje HeAb3A AM CTONKy, Tlotromy Kak MoAOogey?
53
Tries to speak, but nothing happens: Jaw and lips are frozen numb.
So they wrapped him up and gave him Felt boots from a comrade’s feet.
Threatened, ordered him, “Keep running, Even if you are dead beat!”
At HQ, a sheltered cabin, Medics took the lad in charge, Laid him on a bed to dry him, Tried an alcohol massage. .
And they rubbed him and they rubbed him, Till he murmured, sleepy-eyed,
“Doctor, Doctor, won’t you let me
Have some of that warmth inside?
Please don’t waste it on my body!”
So they poured him out a short, And it worked. Said he, half rising: “Beg permission to report:
All is well with our platoon.
Jerry will be sorry soon.
Our Lieutenant says, send over Fire enough to give us cover.
Following the last few crumps, We'll get up, we'll stir our stumps. Anything that’s there, we'll strafe, And the crossing will be safe.”
He was strictly formal, as if Game to swim back there and then.
“Well done, soldier!” said the Colonel. “Thanks! Well done!” said he again.
With a grin by no means timid, Tyorkin said, “If that’s the case, then erhaps another snifter Won't be too much out of place?”
54
IlocMorpea MOAKOBHHK CTpoOro, Tlokocwaca Ha bona.
— Moaogey, a 6ygeT MHOro— Cpa3y ape.
— Tak ABa XK KOHUA...
Ilepenpasa, nepenpasa! Ilyuiku 6bwT B KpOMeIHOH MIae.
Bott ugetT caaToh u mpasniit. Cmeprunit Oo He pagM CAaBHI, Paavi 2KH3HH Ha 3eMAe.
55
Very much more than old-fashioned Was the look that Tyorkin got. “That’s too much, lad,
Two drinks running.”
“For two trips—a double shot!... ” Crossing over! Crossing over! Gunfire booming in the night.
For mere fame and glory—never, But for life on earth forever Fight the just and holy fight!
56
O BOHHE
— Paspemute AOAOKUTH Koporko u mpocto:
A O0AbWIOH OXOTHHK 2KUTb AeT AO JeCBAHOCTA.
A Boiina—mpo Bce sa6y qn VM sneuartp ne BIIpaBe. Co6upaaca B qaAbHuii ITB, Aan mpuxas: «Otcrasuts!»
Ppanya rog, IpMmea 4epeg, bIHYe MbI B OTBETE
3a Poccuw, 3a Hapog
Vi s3a sce na cBetTe.
Or Hsana go Momul, MepTBhle Ab, KHBBIE,
Bce Mbl BMeCTe — 9TO MBI, Tot wapog, Poccua.
Hs MOcKOABKy 3TO MHI, To ckaxky BaM, 6paTun,
CONCERNING WAR
Beg permission to report
. That I’m much inclined to Reach a ripe old age—in short, Live until I’m ninety.
Drop all that in time of war, Try not to regret it.
Dreaming of long life in store? Orders are—forget it!
Year of storm. The wheel has turned. Now we’re answerable
For the people, for the land,
All that’s good and noble.
Each Ivan and each Foma, Live or dead, together In and of this land we are, Russia, now and ever.
And, since that means you and me, Let me put it clearly,
58
Ham 3 STOM KyTepbMBI Hexyja m0faTeca.
TyT ne CKaxKelllb: H—HE A, Huuero He 3Hal0,
He gokaxKelllb, YTO TBOA Huinyue XaTa Cc kpab.
He speank Te6e pacueT ZlyMaTb B OJMHOUKy. Bom6a—vuypa. [lonaget Caypy MpAMO B TOUKy.
Ha poitue ce6a 3a6yab,
TloMHM 4eCTb, OAHakKO,
Paucb AO qeAa—Tpydb Ha rpydb, Ajpaka— 3HaunT, Apaka.
VW npu3HatTb He Mpemuny, {jaM CBOW OLEHKy,
TyT He TO, 4TO B CTapHHy,— CreHkKoW Ha CTeHKy.
TyT He TO, 4TO Ha KyAak: TlorasguM, wen AloKe,— Al cxa3aa 6b gaKe Tak: TytT ropasqo xy«e...
Hy, 4a 4TO O TOM CyAuTb,— AicHOo BCe AO TOUKH.
Hago, 6patupi, Hemya OuTh, He gaBaTb OTCpOuKH.
Pa3 BoHHa— po Bce 3a6yqb VMs nenatb He Biipase, Co6upaaca B AOATMH MyTb, Aan mpuKa3: «OTcTapntp!»
CKOAbKO *KHA—Ha TOM KOHeL, Or xaonoT csao6ogeu.
WU rorga THr— Tor 6boex,
Uto gan 60a rogeu.
59
There’s no hidey-hole where we Can escape this mélée.
No use saying, “I don’t know Anything about it.
It’s your scrap, not mine, and so Y'll get by without it.”
No use sitting on the fence,
Quietly introspective.
Bombs are stupid. They come down, Hit you irrespective.
Do not think of self in war, Strive for honour in it,
And, if there’s a fight in store, Fight it out and win it.
But the time—I must be frank— Has been long since over
When two armies, rank on rank, Marched against each other.
No, war’s not a boxing match Just to see who’s tougher:
I would even say this much: Nowadays it’s rougher.
But, when all is said and done, No one would contest it: Brothers, we must beat the Hun Giving him no respite.
Drop all else in time of war, Try not to regret it.
Dreaming of long life in store? Orders are—forget it!
Young or old, so what! You’re free From your former WOITIES,
And a soldier you can be,
Fit for active service.
60
VM nokgemb B oronb ajw6on, BaiNOAHHIIb gafauy.
VW raaquuib— ene *nBOT by@elib cam B npufayy.
A 3aCTMYHeT CMepTHBI 4ac, SuHaunHT, HOMEP BBIILeA.
B pudmy uro-Hu6yab upo Hac Tiocae Hac Hanuulyt.
IlycTb NpuHBpyT xoTb BO CTO Kpar, MBI K TOMY TOTOBHI,
Aub 651 4eTH, TOBOpAT,
Baran 6b 340poshl...
61
Under heavy fire, be brave, Carry out your mission,
And if you come out alive, Well, you’ve earned remission!
If death strikes you down in time, Then it’s up, your number.
They will write of us in rhyme When we're six feet under.
Let them burble as they will; Still they can’t upset us,
If our kids are fit and well,
Then that’s all that matters.
62
TEPKHH PAHEH
Ha MOrMAbl, PBbI, KaHaBHI, Ha KAyOKH KOAIOUKH prKaBoH, Ha n0AA, XOAMBI— AbIPABOH, V3ypeaeHHon 3eMAn,
Ha 60A0THHIM AeC KOpABBIN, Ha kycThi— cHera Aeran.
VU rycro no3semKon 6eaok BeTep moae 3aBOAOK. Bwra 8 Tpy6ax o6ropeanx Saryaeaa y Aopor.
VM 8B cHerax HeIpOxOAHMBIX OTH MHpHbie Kpaw
B sTy NaMATHYIO 3MMy Opyd4vHHbIM 1aXxAM JbIMOM, He AWACKHM AbIMKOM JKHABA.
VU 8B Aecax, Ha MEp3AoH rpyde, Ilo 3emMAnHKaM 6e3 OrHeH, Bo3Ae TaHKOB MH Opy4Hit
VI npoctyxeHHbIxX KOHeH
TYORKIN WOUNDED
On the mounds of graves, on ditches, On half-rusted barbed-wire stretches, On the hills, on open patches
Of the mangled countryside,
In the marshy woods, on bushes— See the snows of wintertide.
And the ground-wind swathes the meadows In a white, impervious shroud;
Blizzards boom in gutted chimneys
Down along the empty road.
Locked in snowdrifts quite impassable, These once quiet and peacciuldands
All this winter unforgettable
Reeked of smoke from guns innumerable, Not of smoke from ingle brands.
And in dug-outs with no heating,
In the woods, on icy snows,
By their tanks and field-guns waiting While the patient horses froze,
64
Ha Botue scTpeuaan Ai0qu Ajoarnit cyeT HOUeH MU AHeH.
VW sanxon, HelmjaqHOon cTyYKU He 6paHHau, Kak HH 3,a: Aub 651 HeMUy OBIAO xyxe, O ce6e am peub Tam maa!
VW xeaaa Hau Ao6ppr mapens: Ilycrb noMep3HeT HeMel-OapHH, Hemew-6apHn He NpHBBEIK, Pyccknit crepnuT—OH MYyKHK.
IilyMHBIM XAONIOM PyKaBHUHbIM, TonotHei no yeanuHe Cnosapanky JeHb o6bHblii HaunHaacsh Ha BOHMHE.
UyTb BHACA AbIMOK HECMEABIN, OxxnBaa KOCTep C Tpy4oM,
B saxontTeabii 6ak rpemeaa V3 pegpa Boga CO ABAOM.
YTOMACHHbIE HOUAETOM,
Ian Gots u3 Bcex Gepaor [petnca 6eroM, MBITbCA CHeroM, CHeroM )KeCTKHM, KaK M€coK.
A MlOTOM—TryCbKOM I10 CTexke, Co6aw aan CcBOoH aeped,
Koteaku 3a6paB HW AOMKH, =~
K KYXHAM DI€A 3a B3BOAOM B3BOJ.
Cyn gocnira, wat Ao 10Ta,— M3Hb KaK )KM3Hb.
H onatp sottna— pa6ora:
— Cranosucp!
* * *
Bcaea 3a poToi Ha onyuiKy TepkKHH ABHKeETCA C KaTyUIKOH,
65
Soldiers learnt the tedious wartime Count of endless nights and days.
Yet the cold, however evil,
None of them saw fit to curse, ust as long as Fritz was finding hings considerably worse.
For the lads were thinking: please, Let the German lordling freeze. Fritz won't find it very pleasant, Ours can take it—he’s a peasant.
Army mittens loudly slapping, Tramp of boots on fallow ground— Every routine day in wartime Started with those early sounds.
Lazy whisps of smoke upcurling, Flames fanned up from embers pale.... Into sooty cauldron tumbled
Ice and water from the pail.
Underslept and tired, the soldiers
Crawl from lairs on every hand,
Run for warmth, and wash themselves in Snow as harsh and dry as sand.
Then they file along the footpath In strict order, taking turns, Spoons and mess-tins at the ready, For the kitchens, by platoons.
Full of soup, with hot tea sweating— War or no war, men must eat.
Then it’s back to routine duties— “On your feet!”
* * *
Following his unit, Tyorkin With a drum of wire is working,
66
PasBopa4uuBaeT CHaCcTb,— II puKa3saan Je€AaTb CBA3b.
PoTa roAOBBI NpHrHyAa-
Cuer 4epHeeT OT OFHA. . Tepkuu Kpytut:— Tyaa, Tyaa! Tyaa, CABINIMUIb TH MeHA?
Tloqmurnys 60am yKpagKon: Moa, y Hac Aa He NOKAeT,— Zlynya B Tpy6Ky 4Aa NopsadKy, KomanHanpy nogaer.
Komanaupy Bce B NpHBEIKy,— Toaoc B ropcTouky, KaK CIIM4Ky Tpy6xy KHM3y, Aer GouKoM, Yro6 no3semkonw He 3aAyao.
Bce B nopsaxe.
— Tyaa, Tyaa,
Tlomornte OrOHBKOM...
He -pacckaxKelllb, H€ OMMIMEIIb, UtTo 3a *KH3Hb, Korga B 6010 3a 4yKHM OFHEM paccAbIDIMIb ApTHAAEpHo CBOD.
Bo3ayX KpyTO 3aBHBag, C Hegaaekow orneson AxHeT, aXHET NOAKOBAA, SamoeT Hag FOAOBOH.
A C NO3HUHH OTAaAeCHHBIX, Cpasy 6yq4To Oni He B Aad, YXHeT BAPyl AMBH3KHOHHOH Ao6pou Matyuiku CHapsg.
U noget, novAet Ha CAaBy,
Kak “43 ropHa, *apoM AyTp,
C BoeM, C BH3IFOM UIeNeAABBIM PacunujaTb MexoTe NyTB,
BHTb, AOMaTb H %K€Ub B OKPYXKKy.
Alepesynixa? — JJepesyuiny.
67
In accordance with instructions Laying down communications.
All the Company keep their heads down. Black the snow with enemy fire.
Tyorkin cranks the handle: “Tula,
Tula, Tula, are you there?”
He winks slyly at his comrades: “Thought you said it wouldn’t go!” Blows discreetly down the mouthpiece, Passes it to the CO.
And the CO, practised, calm, Cups his voice inside his palm, Like a match, lies low for cover, Back turned to the icy breeze. Yes, it’s working!
“Tula, please,
Send a bit of barrage over!”
There’s no telling, no describing What it feels like when you hear Your own guns above the enemy’s, Thundering, booming in the rear.
From the regimental gun lines
Not so very far away,
Shells come whizzing steeply upwards, Sighing, singing on their way.
From the grand old parent unit, Out of tune with all the rest, Comes a whoosh! as the Division Sends one over of the best.
On to glory it goes sailing,
On, to breathe its flames of wrath, Howling, keening, whining, wailing, Clearing for the troops a path,
All around it smashing, burning, Villages to rubble turning,
68
Jjom—tak 4gom. baungax — 6anHgax. Bpellb, He BRICHAMLIb— OT Aap!
A euje OCTaACA KTO TaM, SanopouieHHbI MecKOM? Tlorogu, BcTaeT mexora, - {jai AoctaTb Te6A WITHIKOM.
Bcaeg 34 pOTOW CTpeAKOBOH Tepkun AaAblle THHET NPOBOd. B3B04— 3a BaAOM OFHEBBbIM, TepkuH C xody —BCAed 3a B3BO{4OM, TonuT NpoBod, TOUHO B BOY, JKUB-340POB WH HEBPeAMM.
Bapyr 3 KYCTHKOB KOpABBIX, B3pbiTbIx, BCMaXaHHbIX KpyroM,— Uox!—cHapsd 3a BCIBILKOM pxKaBoHn. TepkHH TOTYaC B CHer — HH4YKOM.
Baaaca pray6p, AexUT—He ABIIIHT, Cam He 3HaeT: 2%KHB, yOuT?
Bcett CaMHOH, BCel KOKeH CABILINT, Kak cHapaxg B CHery UIHMMT...
XBOCT OBeuwnK — cepgue ObeTca. PaccTaeTca C TeAOM AyXx.
«YTO & OH, YEPT, ACKUT—HE PBETCA, dKaaTb MHEe GoAbUIe HEAOCyT».
IIT punogHAACA —TAAHYA KOCO. Ox mouTH y CaMbBIX HOT — Taaakui, Kpyrabii, TYMOHOCHIN, VW Haq HAM— CbIPOH ABIMOK.
Ckoabko 6 Ay pBaHyA Ha BbIOpOC BoT TakoH Aypak caeno HeussectHoro Kaan6pa—
C nopocenka Ha yOoi.
OraAaHYyACA BOpOBATO, Tloqupuaca —cmex w rpex:
69
Hamlet, house, or parapet... Useless—you'll surrender yet!
Is there someone lying low there, Covered by a shower of grit? Wait until our lads with Payonets Come and get you out of it!
And the men go into action With the barrage for protection, Tyorkin bringing up behind; Seemingly inviolable,
Carefully unreeling cable,
As a fisherman his line.
Rusty flash among the bushes On the shell-torn, pitted ground, And a shell lands with a wallop. Tyorkin hits the snow face down,
Burrows deep and lies, scarce breathing. Still alive? He doesn’t know.
Gooseflesh at the sound of something Hissing near him in the snow.
Craven panic. Heart thumps wildly. Soul and flesh part company.
‘Won't the blasted thing go off, then? Can’t lie here all day,” thinks he.
Half-erect, he twists his head round. Yes—just by his feet—it’s there!
Round and smooth and snubby-snouted, Smoking damply in the air.
Many souls could be sent packing By that blind and stupid beast Of the calibre uncertain,
Like a piglet for a feast.
Tyorkin warily looks round him, Bursts out laughing. What d’you know!
70
Bce KpyroM AexaT pe6ata, 3akonaBLIMCb HOCOM B CHer.
TepkKuu BCTaA, TaKOK AM yxapb, OTpaAXxHyACA, IPHHAA BHA:
— XBaTHT, XAOMLbI, 3EMAIO HIOXAaTb, He rogutTca,— ropopnt.
Cam CTOHT C BOpOHKOM pxAgOM Wey xaonyes Ha BHAy, O6paTsacb K TOMy CHapady, CrnpaBHaA MaAylo HyXKJy...
Bugnt Tepxun norpe6ymky — He ottyga Ab nywika 6ber? Ilepegaa 60am KaTyUIKy:
— Br—snepeg. A A—B o6xo4.
C xogy ABHHYA B ABepb rpanaTon. CnpsirHyA BHH3, Mpomaa B AbIMy. — Oguyeps u coaaaTH,
BuixoaH no ofHomy!..
Tummuna. Tloaocka cperta. UtTo Tam AaAbule — NOTAAAMM. Hyxkoro, moxoxe, HeTy. Huxoro. VM a oguu.
Ty pa3ppiBos, CAOBHO B Godke, AaeTca B ray6uue.
Zjeao ApAHB: ApyrHe TOUKH
bpwrT no 3ansTonw. Ilo mue.
BbioT HETNAOXO, Copy HeTYy. Zjo6prmm CcAOBOM NOMAHHK XoTb 3a TO, 4TO Norpe6 sToT I[pouHo czeaaan onu.
IIpouno cgzeaaan, HagqexKHO— TyT He TO 4TO BOeBAT,
TytT, pe6ata, aii MMT MOXKHO, Crenrasety BbITycKaTb.
71
All the lads are lyin round him With their faces in the snow.
wh gets Tyorkin, dusts the snow off ith a most superior air.
‘No use grovelling on the ground, lads, That won't get you anywhere.”
There he stands beside a‘crater
And, in full view of them all,
Turns towards the shell close by him, And obeys a natural call...
Tyorkin spots a kind of cellar:
That’s the gun-site there, maybe.
Gives his mates the coil. “Keep moving, While I double round,” says he.
Then he lobs one through the doorway. Smoke and dust hide him from yiew. “German officers and rankers,
Come out singly, all of you!”
Silence. Strip of light below there. Better look inside and see.
Not a sign of anybody.
Not a soul in here. Just me.
Then the cellar, like a barrel, Booms, reverberates within. This is bad. One gun-site taken, Now there’s others ranging in....
Bang on target! Must admit it— Give Fritz credit where it’s due— When he built this place, he made it To withstand a thing or two.
Yes, he built it good and solid, Not for fighting in at all.
You could organise a buffet, Run off news-sheets for the wall.
72
OcMOTpeaca, TOUHO B xaTe: Tleuka Temaaa B yray, Baoab CTeHbI HAYT NOAaTH, baHku, CKAAHKM Ha MOAy.
HenpuBsrynbii, HeNOxoKUuH Llyx OOAMTOFO HKUADA: Ta6aky, O4e%KM, KOK Vs coagatcKoro 6eaba.
Cuopa cyHytca? Hy 4To xe, B o6o0ponue HEIHGe — 8...
Ha npuyeae BxO0J UM BBIXO4, Zjpe rpanaTei nog pyKon.
CmMOAK oroub. M craao THxO. YW uayT—oann, Apyrow...
Tepxun, crow. Api posuee. Tepkun, 6auxe NOANycru. Tepknu, weanca. bet Bepuee, Tepkuu. Cepgue, He uactTu.
Paccka3aTb Onl Bam, pe6ata, XOTb HE BEpb [Aa3aM CBOMM, Kak HeMeljKoro CoAgaTa
B aByX Wlarax BHUAaA *KUBBIM.
Tloaxoqgua OH B 4eM-TO Geom, HakAOHUBIIMCh OT OFHA,
VM kak 6yaATo geao Aeaaa: lea Ko MHe — yOuTb MeHA.
B STOT pOBMK, TOUHO C NedkH, Craa CiycKaTbCA Ha 3a4y...
TepkuH, Apyr, He Aa oceuKn. IIlponagem>,— uMeli B BHAY.
3a CeKyHAy JO pa3ppisa,
3HaTh, XOTEA MOgaTb MIpuMep: IIpamo B pOBHK CIIpbrHyA 2KHBO B noaymy6Ke opuyep.
73
Cosy as a country cottage,
Corner stove still warm, what’s more; Bunks along the wall for sleeping, Jars and bottles on the floor.
Never seen a dug-out like it; Smells so warm and lived-in here.... Piles of clothes, tobacco, leather, Army issue underwear...
Will they sneak back in? All right, then, I’m the one in charge this time. Tommy-gun aimed at the doorway, Two grenades to hand, both primed...
No more shelling. Sudden silence. Here’s the first ... one more behind...
Tyorkin, steady. Take it easy. Tyorkin, wait—don’t fire in haste. Tyorkin, aim. Don’t miss the target, Tyorkin. Heart, don’t beat so fast.
I could scarce believe my eyes, lads, But it happened, true enough: There I saw a German soldier Large as life two paces off!
Wearing something white, and charging Under fire with lowered head— Evidently meaning business—
In a word—to shoot me dead.
As from off the stove in winter, Down he slid on his behind....
Tyorkin, chum, you mustn’t miss him, Else you’re sunk—bear that in mind.
Just before the bang resounded— Showing leadership, that’s clear, Down into the ditch there bounded, Sheepskin-clad, an officer.
74
VW snoguaaca He3aZerThii, Lleapypm. 7K AeM 3a KOCAKOM. Oguyep — 43 MMCTOAETA, TepkHH— B MATKO€ — IITHIKOM.
Cam lpwHcea, IpHceA THXOHBKO. Ilopeao ero Ae€rOHbKO.
Tponya mpapoe maeuo.
Panen. Moxpo. Topauo.
VM pykoi KOCcHyACH m0Aa: Kposb,— 4yKaa HAb CBOA?
Tyt Kak 4acT BOAW3H TADKEABIH, AX NOABUHYAACh 3eMAs!
Bcaeg 3a HUM Apyronw yAapHa, VU Temuee craao BApyr.
«OTO— HalliM,— NOHAA NapeHb,— Haru 6p10T,— Tellepb Kal0k».
OrayWieHHBIM TAXKKUM TyAOM, TepkiH HHKHET roAOBOH. Tyaa, Tyaa, uTo « TH, Tyaa, TyT xe cBaoH Ooel] *KHBOM.
OH CHANT 3a CTEHKOM A30TA, Kposb Tevet, pykaB HaOpak. Tyaa, Tyaa, Heoxota IlomupaTb emy BOT Tax.
Ha nmoay B XOAO4HOH AMe Heoxota HuTO"UeM
Tu6HyTb C MOKpBIMM HOraMH, Co cBOuM OCABHBIM MAeC4UOM.
PKaAKO 2%KH3HH TOK, IPHMaHKH, MaaocTh xOU¥eTCA TOKHTh, XOTb MOrpeTECA Ha Ae@2KaHKe, XOTb NOPTAHKH MpocyuintTe...
75
Quite unscathed, up leapt the German. Dodge behind the door and wait!
As the other fired his pistol,
Tyorkin used his bayonet,
And he sank, sank very slowly, Sitting down somewhat askew,
And he felt his right-hand shoulder. Wounded. Warm. And sticky, too.
Then he touched the ground beside him. Blood. But whose blood? Goodness knows!
Then a heavy shell exploded, And the earth shook. That was close!
Then a second heavy landed. All went darker than before.
“Our artillery,” thought Tyorkin. “Now you've had it, mate, for sure!”
Deafened by the racket, Tyorkin
Bows his head in sheer despair.
Tula, Tula, why d’you do it,
When there’s one of yours down here?
On the dug-out floor he huddles, Arm limp, bleeding steadily. Tula, Tula, calling Tula,
This is not a way to die.
Shivering in this blighted hell-hole, What a useless way to go,
With a badly wounded shoulder,
And with both your feet wet through.
Leaving this sweet life so early, When you'd like a bit more time, ust to dry out on the stove-shelf, rape your puttees* on the line. * Probably the nearest equivalent to the portyanki or footcloths which the Russian soldiers wound round
their feet and ankles in lieu of socks. They were war- mer and more practical in Russian winter conditions.— Tr.
76
Tepku CHK. Tocka COrHyAa. Tyaa, Tyaa... Uro « Thi, Tyaa? Tyaa, Tyaa. DSTO « 4...
Tyaa... Poguna Moa!..
* * *
A TeM 4acoM Mu34aAeka,
Tayxo, KaK M3-l104 3eMAH, POBHBIM, APyKHbIM, TAXKKMA POKOT Hagpuraaca, poc. C poctoxa TaHkKu WARK.
Hus3korpy abit, MAOCKOAOHHEIN, OTAryeHHbIM cam cobon,
C nywKou, B AylWy HaBegeHHoH, Crpamen TaHK, udyumui B Oo.
A 3a rpoxoToM HM rpomomM, 3a 6poHel cTaAbHOM CHAAT, Ilo MecTaM CHAAT, KaK Joma, Tpoe-yeTBepoO 3HaKOMBIX Hamimx cTpwxKennix pedar.
VW nycxait B Gow Biepsrie, Ho pe6ata— cer npokan. AOBAT B UeAH CMOTPOBBIe KpoMky NOAA Briepean.
Bugat— B3qni6uaca pa3z6uTHi, Pa3BOpOueHHbIN HakaT. Kpenxo Onto. [jean HaKpbiTa. Hy, a BApyr Kak Tam cugatT!
Moxert 6nITb, NpHTHX AO CpoKa Y OpydauHA pacuer?
Pa3BepHiCcb MallnHa 60K0oM— Bpone6oiHbIM Mpunever.
Wau Hemel C aBTOMAaTOM, Ae3Tb Hapyxy He Aypak,
TaM CA€4MT 3a HalHM OpaTom, BarxugaetT. Kak He Tak
77
Tyorkin hangs his head, despairing. Tula, what’s come over you? Tula, Tula, Tyorkin calling... Tula.... Hometown, where are you?
Meanwhile, with a distant growling, Muffled, as if underground,
With a steady, thunderous rolling From the East the tanks came crawling Westward bound.
Squat, flat-chested and flat-bottomed, Into battle rolls the tank,
Terrible to see—its cannon
Aiming at your soul point-blank.
And, behind the armour plating
And the din, quite snug in there,
You might see them in their places, You might recognise their faces— Three or four with close-cropped hair.
Though it’s their first taste of action, They’re not worried—not-:a bit, Scanning the terrain before them Through the narrow viewing slit.
And they see the shattered roof-beams Sticking up into the air.
Knocked for six. Objective dealt with. Any signs of life down there?
Is the gun-crew simply shamming,
Lying doggo for a spell?
Don’t swing sideways—they could slam us With an armour-piercing shell.
Maybe with a sub-machine gun Fritz is down there, lying low, Following our movements, waiting For the moment.... Who’s to know?
78
{\Boe BCAe€gZ 3a KOMAHAH POM Buu3—c rpaHaToH — BAOAb CTeHHI. TuuuHa.— Yrabl TeEMHBEI...
.— Xaonybl, 34HATa KBapTUpa,— CapiuaT BApyr 43 ray6HuHE.
He o6manH, He BpaxKbH DIYTKH, Toaoc BipaBAallHbiM, poAHoH: — Yloco6ute. Bot yx cyTKu Touka 4aHHan 3a MHOM...
B TeMHOTE, B yrAy KaMOpKH,
Ha noay 6oen B KpoBH.
Kro taxoi? Ho cmoaknyA Tepxuu, Kak TaM XO4ElIb, Tak 3OBH.
OH AG@KHT C AMIJOM 3EMAHCTHIM, He MOprHeT, XOTb rAa3 KOAH. ° B ‘caMuit CpOK ero TaHKMCTBI Tlogo6paan, mope3an.
UAa MaliMHa B CHEXHOM AbIMKe, Exaa Tepknu 6e3 gopor.
VU Aepxaa ero B OOHHMKYy Xaoner — 6amienHp Crpeaok.
YKpbIBaA CBOeH OAeKON,
Tpea apixaHbem. He 6e,a, uro B TAa3a ero, ObITh MOXKET, He ysuguT HHKOr AA...
CBeT npoHan,— Hue HE CHILIIeLIb, He cay4aAocb BHAeCTbh MHE ApyxOpn TOW CBATeH u 4H,
Yro OnipaeT Ha BOHHe.
79
Two men follow their commander With grenades along the wall. Dark inside. No sound at all.
“Sorry, lads, this flat’s been taken,” Someone there is heard to call. That’s no trick or hanky-panky.
But a real live Russian voice.
“I’ve held out a day and night here. Come on, lend a hand, you boys!”
In the darkness in the corner Lies a soldier drenched in blood. Who is he? He doesn’t answer. Useless trying—it’s no good.
Ashen-faced, he lies unmoving, Doesn’t even blink an eye.
In the nick of time they found him, Hauled him in, drove him away.
Through a mist of snow they travelled, Not a sign of roads or farms.
One of them, the turret-gunner, Cradled Tyorkin in his arms.
Draped his sheepskin round him, warmed him With his breath, and felt no pain
At the thought of never setting
Eyes upon this man again....
I could search the wide world over All my living days, before
I would see a thing more holy Than the comradeship of war.
80
O HATPAJE
— Het, peOata, a ne ropabi. He 3aragbiBbaA BAaAb,
Tak cKaky: 344€M MHE OpdeH? Hl coraaceH Ha MedaAb.
Ha Megaab. V1 To ne kK cnexy. Bot 3aKoH4MAM 6 Body,
Bort 61 B OTMYCK A WpHexaa Ha pogyylo cTopouy.
Bbyay Ab 2»xuB euye! —E,pa an. yT BOWH, a HE raga.
Ho ckamy HacueT Mefaau:
Mue ee Torga nogai.
O6ecnieub, pa3 A AOCTOHH. Vs nouATS BbI BCe AOAKHBI: fleao camoe mpocroe —
Yeaonek NpHuleA C BOHHEI.
Bot npmmea # C MOAyCTaHKa B cBow pogHMbIi CeABCOBET.
ON MILITARY DECORATIONS
No, lads, I’m not that conceited: Without looking far ahead,
I'd say, why give me an Order, When a gong would do instead?
Yes, a gong. All in good time, though. Wait until the war’s been won.
Wait till I return on furlough
To the place where I was born.
Shall I live to see it? Hardly. ee don’t guess in time of war. Still, I wouldn’t mind that medal, Afterwards, if not before.
Pin it on me if I’ve earned it. Try to understand my point:
Me, I’m just another soldier Home from fighting at the front.
From the railway halt I’ve walked it To my local Soviet hall.
82
Al mpuuiea, a TYT ryAAHKa. Her ryasuKn? Aaguo, HeT.
A B Apyrow KOAXO3 WH B TpeTHH — Bca okpyra Ha Buy.
Tye-HubyAb # B CEABCOBeTE
Ha ryaauky onaay.
V1, ABHBIIMCh Ha BeYepKy, XOTb He ropAblH FEAOBEK, Al 6 He cTaA KypHTb Maxopky, A goctaa On a «Ka36ek».
Vs cugea 6n1 4, peOsata,
Tam Kak pa3, Apy3bx MOM,
[ye MaAbljOM 04 AaBKy NpATaA Horn Gochie cBon.
VW sapimna On nanmupocon, Yromanr Ont BCex BOKpyr. V1 wa BCAKHE BOIDpOCH
Orsegaa Onl A HE Bapyr.
— Kak, Moa, 4To? — burpaao BCAKO. — Tpyaxo sce xe? — Kak xorga. — Mnuoro pa3 xoqua B aTaky?
— Ala, caydaaocb wHOr Aa.
VW aAeBdouKH Ha BedepKe Tlosa6n1au 6 Bcex cba ToaAbKO CAymaAH 6 AeBYOHKH, Kak peMHH Ha MHE CKpHNAT.
VW swytTHa 6b A co BceMu,
Vi 6Ontaa 6 Mex HHX OHA...
HM Meaaab Ha 9TO Bpema Mue, Apy3ba, BOT Tak HyKHa!
MKaeT ACBYOHKA, XOTb HE My4ais, CaosBa, B3rAAdAa TBOELO...
83
There should be a dance this evening... No? Well, I don’t mind at all.
One kolkhoz and then another, Round the countryside I go. There must be a social evening Going on somewhere, | know.
And, arriving at the party,
Though not proud, as I’ve just said, I would never smoke makhorka,
I'd produce Kazbeks* instead.
And I'd sit myself right down, lads, There upon the very seat
Under which a little urchin
Used to dangle two bare feet.
And I'd puff away, and offer Cigarettes to all nearby.
And to all the many questions With an air I would reply.
ust how was it?” “Very varied.” “Was it tough, then?” “Well, so so.” “Did you charge the Germans often?” “Yes, we sometimes had a go.”
And the young girls at the party Would forget the other boys, Thrilled to hear my straps of leather Creaking with a gallant noise.
And I'd joke with all and sundry; But there’d be one in that throng... And at such a moment, fellers,
I'd be grateful for that gong!
She’d sit fascinated, hanging On to every word of mine....
* High-quality Russian cigarettcs.— Tr.
84
— Ho, no3Boab, Ha STOT CAydai OpjeH Toxe HHYeTO?
Bot cuAuMmb TH Ha BeyepKe, WM aepyounKa—cambulii UBeT.
— Het,—cxasaa Bacuanii Tepxun Vi pagoxuya. VW cuosa: — Her. Het, pe6ata. Uro Tam open.
He 3araqnipaa Baan,
A %& CKa3aA, 4TO A He TopsLit,
HA coraaceH Ha MegaaAb.
* ok
Tepxun, Tepxun, AoOppiit maaniit, YTO TyT cMex, a YTO Meuaab. Garagqaa TH, Apyr, HeMaao, SaragaA AaAeCKO BAaAb.
BBIAM AMCTbA, CTaAM T1OUKH, Tlouku cTaAW BHOBb AHCTBOH.
A He HOCHT Mucem Houta
B kpal poaHoit cmoAencknii TBOM.
Tae AeB4OHKH, rae BeqepKH? Tage poaMMblii ceAbcoser: 3Haewb cam, Bacnanuit Tepkuy, Uro tyAa Aoporn uer.
Het yoporn, HeTy lpaBa Tlo6nipaTb B pOAHOM ceae.
CrpamHpmi Go user, KPOBaBbIit, Cmeptuiiii Goi He pada CAaBBI, Paav *KM3HH Ha 3eMAe.
85
“And you mean to say an Order Wouldn't help at such a time?
There you're sitting at the party, And she’s quite a peach, you know....”
“No,” replied Vassili Tyorkin, Sighed, and then repeated, “No. No, lads. No need for an Order. Let’s not look too far ahead.
I’m not proud, as I’ve just told you, And a gong would do instead.”
Tyorkin, Tyorkin, decent fellow, e could laugh and we could cry,
For you've looked into the future
Farther. than a man should try.
Leaves there were, and then the buds came, And the buds grew leaves in turn;
Still no letters to the village
Near Smolensk, where you were born.
Where are all the girls, the parties, Where’s the rural Soviet too:
You know well, Vassili Tyorkin, There’s no going back for you.
There is no returning for you To the village of your birth.
Fight the battle grim and gory, Not for fame and not for glory, But for life upon this Earth.
86
TAPMOHb
Ilo gopore npuppontoson, 3anoxcaH, Kak B CTpON,
len 60eu, B WIMHEAM HOBOH, ZjoronAA CBOW MOAK CTPeAKOBBIN, Poty NepByl0 CBOW.
Iea AerKo u Aaxe 6paso Ilo npwunne No Taxon, UToO Maxaa CBOelO 1paBoH, Kak MW A€BOIO pyKOH.
Otaenaaca. /Ja K ToMy 2Ke IlJeakaa 10 Aecy MOpoO3, SaljeMAHA B TyTH BCe Tye, TlogroHvAA, 104 MbIWIKH HEC.
Bapyl! —CurHaa 3a NOBOpOToOM, Apepuy Bel6pocna modep, TopMo3nt:
— Cagncp, riexota, IJexu cHerom 6bI HaTep.
THE ACCORDION
Down a road, in brand-new greatcoat, Somewhere near the front-line zone, As if for inspection belted,
Goes a lad to join his unit,
Rifle Company Number One.
Goes he cheerly, goes he blithely, And the reason is quite plain: Healed, his right arm swings as freely As his left arm once again.
And, what’s more, the frost is crackling In the trees beside the road,
Stinging harder and yet harder, Spurring onward like a goad.
Suddenly, a toot behind him. Leaning out, the driver brakes; Holds the door:
“Quick, hop in, soldier. Get some snow and rub your cheeks.
88
JlaAeKO Ab?
— Ha pont o6parno. PyRy BBIACUHA.
— llonaruo.
He repon?
— I{oxamecr Her.
— JfocTapak Torga kuceT.
Kypat, eayr. [po6— aopora.
eK Cyrpo6amu — TYHHEAB. UyTb AM 4TO, CBEPHEMIb HEMHOIO, Kak CBepHyA— CHHMali WIMHEeAb.
— Xopouio— Kak €CTb Aomata. — Xopouio, a To 6eaa.
— Xopomo—cson pebsta.
— Xopouo, 4a Kak kKor4a.
I'py30Buk TpeMMT TpexTOHHbIi, Bapyr KOAOHHa Brepedn.
by4b TH MewiMH HAM KOHHBI, A Cc MalliMHouw— CTO HW KH.
C TOAKOM NOAB3yHCA CTOAHKON. Pasropop — He pa3roBop. Hakaonnaca Hag 6apaHKoi,— CmMoak wodgep,
Sacuya mogep.
CKOABKO CYTOK MOAYCOHHEIX, CKOAbKO BepcT B Hypre caenoi Ha Aoporax 3aHeceHHBIXx
Ou ocTaBHa 3a coboin...
OT rayxoH AecHo onyuiKu
Ajo HeBMAMMOH peKu—
Bcraaw TaHKH, KyYXHH, TIyWIKH, Tsaraun, rpy30Bukn, AerkoBble — KpHBO, KOCO,
B pag, He B pad, Blepes-Ha3a4d, lycewuupl K KoAeca
Ha cuery euje Bu3KaT.
89
“Going far?”
“Back to my unit
At the front. Arm hit.”
“I get it.
Hero, are you?”
“No, not yet.”
“Then give us a Cigarette.”
Smoke and drive. The road’s blue murder, ust a cutting through the snow.
werve a fraction and youre in it: Greatcoats off and here we go!
“Just as well you’ve got a shovel.” ust as well. It would be hell.” ust as well there’s those’ll help you.” “Some folks do. It’s just as well.”
Onward roars the three-ton lorry, Till a convoy comes in view. Horse and infantry can skirt it, Lorries have to join the queue.
Take advantage of the hold-up.
Chat a bit ... well, hardly chat. Slumped across the wheel, the driver’s Passed out flat,
Just like that.
For how many hours, half-dozing, Never resting, on the go,
Has the driver put behind him
In all weathers through the snow....
From the outskirts of the forest
To the unseen river, stand
Ordnance, tanks, field kitchens, trailers, Tractors, lorries, cars —all jammed Higgledy-piggledy, this way, that way, Back to ee and front to back,
While the tortured snow screams under Wheel and caterpillar track.
90
Ha mpocrtope BeTep pesox, 30A MOpo3 BOAM3H 2KeAE;3a, Ayer B Aylly, BXOAHT B rpyAb— He goTponscs Kak-Hnby Ab.
— Bor 6e,aa: Bo Bceii KOAOHHE SaBaanieH HeT rapMOHH, -A MOpO3— HH CTaTb, HH CECTb...
Cusaa NepyaTKn, TpeT AaAouH, CAbILIHT BAPpyT: — TapMoub-ro ectTp.
YMMHaA CHEF 3€PHACTHIA, Bnepemenky — MAAC He MAAC — Bo3ae TaHKa 4Ba TaHKHCTa I'pewr Horn mpo asamac.
— Y koro rapmoub, pe6sta?
— Aa ona-To 34ecb, OpaTox...— OTrAAHYACA BHHOBATO
Ha Bogutean crpeaok.
— Tax cbirpatb 651 Ha 4opoxky? — Aja chirpatb— ono He Bpea.
— B gem xe geno? Una rapMollkKa? — “Uba 6nraa, Toro, 6par, Her.
VU cka3aa ye BOAMTEAB
BmecrTo Apyra cBoero:
— Komananp Ham On1A AioOnTeAB... CxXOpOHMAH. MBI eFo.
— Taxk..—C neaosxkow yani6xor Ilorangea 60ey, BoKpyr,
CAOBHO OH Koro OmmHOKON, Hexora o6ngea BApyr.
IloacuseT OCTOpOKHO,
YTo6 Ha TOM NOKOHYMTS pes: — KA cantaa, ChITpaTb-TO MO2XKHO, flyMaa, uToO x ee Gepe4p.
£ + ps Ee
nT
So
A) — bogs
; a
91
And out here the wind’s pernicious, Close to iron, the frost is vicious.
It can cut your chest in two;
I'd stand back if I were you!
“All this pile-up— nothing doing, And no spare accordion going. We'll get frozen, waiting here....”
Peels his gloves off and starts blowing. “We've got one,” says someone near.
Stamping down the powdery snowdust In a kind of hopping dance,
By their tank, two shivering crewmen Warm their feet up in advance.
“Well, who’s got the squeege-box, fellers?” “Why, we’ve got it here, inside....”
And the gunner glanced round, shamefaced, At his driver by his side.
“Shall I play one for the road, then?” “Play... No harm in that, I’m sure....” “What’s the matter, then? Whose is it?” “He’s not with us any more....”
Then the driver interrupted. “Our commander,” ventured he, “He was very fond of playing. We've just buried him, you see....”
“Oh...” The soldier glanced around him, Smiled in his embarrassment,
As if guilty of a blunder
Where no real offence was meant.
And, to smooth the matter over,
He explained himself with care: “Thought it might be better played on, Than just lying idle there.”
92
A cCTpeaoKk:
— Bor B ston 6amHe
Ou cugea B 6010 BuepalllHeo... Tpoe— 6n1AM MBI Apy3bA.
— fa HeAb3A Tak yK HEAB3A.
Al Beab CaM IIOHATb yMeW,
Al BTopyw, Opa, BoHHY...
VM panenue umen,
V1 KonTy3Hl0 Ofny.
VM onsatbh xe — nocygutre — Moxet, 3anTpa—c mecta B 60ii...
— GHaellb 4TO,—CKa3aA BOAMTEAB,— Hy, cbirpait TH, wyT c TOboH.
TOaAbKO 838A 60en, TpexpxAKy, Cpa3y Bu4HO— rapMOHHCT. Tas Hayaay, JAA MOpAAKy KunyaA laAbljbl CBEpxXy BHH3.
Ilosa6niTbii AepeBeHcKnit Bapyr 3aBea, rAaga 3aKpBIB, Cropousbl posHow CMOAeHCKON IpycrHsii naMATHBIM MOTHB,
VU of To rapMouiku cTapoH, UtTo ocTaaach CHpoToHn, Kak-TO BApyF TelAee CTaAo Ha gopore poutoson.
OT MallivH 3aMHACBEABIX Illea Hapod, Kak Ha OFOHB. Vs komy Kakoe Jeao,
KTO MrpaeT, UbA FapMOHB.
ToabkO ABOe TeX TAHKHCTOB, ToT BOAHTeAb HM CTPeaok, Bce rAd gat Ha rapMOHUCTa— CAOBHO 4TO-TO HEBAOMEK.
Uro-To uygutca pebatam, . B cHexkHOW KpyTHTCA MIBIAH.
93
Then the gunner:
“He sat through it
Yesterday up in that turret.
We were all great friends, you know.”
“Well, of course, then, it’s no go.
I can guess just how you're feeling; This one is my second war.
I’ve been wounded once in action, And I’ve been concussed, what’s more, And, who knows, tomorrow maybe
I'll be in it once again....”
“Oh, well, blow you,” said the driver, “Go ahead and play it, then.”
When our soldier took the accordion, It was clear he knew his stuff,
As he ran his nimble fingers
Down the studs to start things off.
Eyes half closed, he played a haunting Melody, sad and forlorn,
From somewhere around the country Near Smolensk, where he was born.
And the ancient squeege-box, lonely For its master dead and gone, Warmed things up along the highway Somewhere near the front-line zone.
From their lorries, white with hoarfrost, Soldiers poured, as to a fire.
Who was playing whose accordion They could neither know nor care.
Only two of them, the driver
And the gunner, standing by, Stared and stared at the musician In a puzzled kind of way,
As if they were seeing phantoms In the mists of whirling snow,
94
byATO BUACAHCh KOrJa-TO, CAOBHO rge-TO NOABE3AN...
Vi, cmeunsin maps Osicrpo, Ou, Kak 6yATO Ha 3aKa3,
3aecb MOBeA O Tpex TaHKHCTAaX, Tpex Topapuiyax pacckas.
He po HX AM CAOBO B CAOBO, He 0 TOM AM MeCHA BCA.
Vs notynvanch cyposo
B wiaemMax KOKaHBIX ApPy3bA.
A 6o0ely 30BeT KyJa-TO, {jaaeko, A€TKO BeseT. — Ax, Kako BBI BCce, pebaTa, Moaogon ele Hapog.
Aue To ewe cKa3aa 651,— IIpo ce6s no6epery.
A we Tak eme chirpaa 6n1,— JKaab, YTO AYAMIE HE MOTY.
Al 3a6bIACA Ha MHHYTKy, SauMrpaach Ha XOAy,
Vs aapaiite A Ha LWIyTKy OTO Bce TlepeBey.
O6orpeTbca, NOTOAKAaTBCA K rapMOHKCTY BCe HAT. O6ctymaiT.
— Croiite, 6parun, f\aite Ha pyku MOAyTp.
— OTMopo3HA napeHb maAbubI,— Haao nomorys cKopyio.
— 3naemb, 6pocb TH 9TH BaABCHI, Ajaii-Ka Ty, KOTOpyv...
Vi onatTb AOAow nepyarky, OTAAHYACA MOAOALIOM
VW kak 6yaTo Ty TpexpsaKy Tlopepxya ApyruM KOHYOM.
95
As if they had met the player Somewhere not so long ago.
He, with swift and nimble fingers, Started, as if by request,
Playing of the three brave tankmen, Friends and comrades of the best.
Yes, the song was all about them: Every detail, every word.
Stern, those two in leather helmets Bowed their heads at what they heard.
And the soldier worked his magic, Took them far away somewhere. “Oh, how young you are, you people, All you soldier boys out there!
“I would say a lot more, really, But I'll keep it hid from you.
I would play much better, truly — It’s the best that I can do.
“I forgot myself completely. Guess the tune went to my head. That’s enough of being serious, Let’s have something gay instead.”
All come running to the player For a warm and chat. They stand In a circle round him.
“Hold it!
Let me blow upon my hand!”
“Diddums get himself frostbitten? Better call the ambulance!” “Listen, never mind those waltzes, How about a Russian dance?”
Once again he peels his glove off, Glances challengingly round,
Then he seems to turn that squeege-box Inside out‘and upside down.
96
VM s3a6niTo—He 3a6nITO, {ja He BpeMA BCNOMHHAT, Tae 4 KTO AeKUT yOuTHit V1 komy ene Aaexath.
VW skomy TpaBy *KHBOMy
Ha 3eMaAe TOMTaTb NOTOM,
Ajo KeHbI MpuHiitu, JO AOMy,— Tae *eHa u rae TOT AOmM?
ITAacyHbI Ha Mapy Mapa
C mecTa KHHYAMCA BApyr. 3aAblilaA MOPO3HBIM apo, Pazsorpeaca TeCHBIM Kpyr.
— Beceaet kpyxxuTech, Aah! Ha HOCKM He HacTynaTb!
VU 6exut modep TOT camnli, Onacasch ON034aTh.
Yeh KopmMuaey, ye monaen,
Tae mpumeaca KO ABOpy? KpHkHYA Tak, 4TO paccTyMMAnce: — /jaiire Mue, a TO nompyl..
Mi nomea, nomea paborats, Hactynaa u rpo3a,
{ja Kak BbIAyMaeT 4TO-TO, UtTo u BBICKa3aTb HEAb3A.
CAOBHO B pa34HHK Ha BedepKe TloaoBuyb! rHeT B H36e, IIlpu6aytTKu, noropopKu CrimaeT nog Horn ce6e.
MoaaetT 3a wryKow mryKy: — OX, KaAb, 4TO HETY CTYyKy, Ox, Apyr,
Ka6nl CTyk,
Ka6ni BAapyr —
Moweusii Kpyr!
97
Yes, forget — It’s not the moment
To remember anyway — Who’s been killed and where he’s buried, Or whose turn will come next day.
Who will live to tread the grasses
On this Earth in time to come,
.Go home to his wife and family — Where’s his wife, and where’s his home?
And the dancers leave their places, Coming forward, pair by pair. Things warm up inside that circle, Breath steams in the frosty air.
“Come on, ladies, spin more lively! Mind their toes, gents, as you go!”
Look, here runs the lorry driver, Desperate not to miss the show.
Who’s this father of a family, Like a.bolt come from the blue, Life and soul of all the party, Shouting, “Quickly, let me through!”
In he goes to lead the dancing, Wags his head from side to side, Improvising steps and movements Quite impossible to describe,
As if clumping round the dance-floor Ona village holiday,
Letting off a stream of wisecracks, Gags and patter on the way.
One crack follows on another: “What we need is floor-boards, brothers! Damn! Damn! {ust can’t slam ith a wham — Bam-bam-bam!
98
Ka6nl BaAecHKH OTOpOCHTE, TlogkopaTbca Ha Kabayk, IipuneyaratTb Tak, ¥ro6 cpa3y Ka6ayky TOMy — Kalox!
A rapMOHb 30BeT kyJa-TO, fjaaeko, A€rKO BeJCT...
HeT, Kako BHI BCe, pebaTa, YAMBUTeEABHEIM Hapod.
XotTp 6b1 YTO peOaTaM 9THM, C mecTa—B BOJy 4H B OTOHB. Bce, uTo MoxeT ObITB Ha CBeTE, XoTb Obl dTO—ry4AuT rapMOHB.
_BsiropapuBaeT 4XcTO,
Zlo AyWM AOHOCHT 3ByK.
VW scka3aAnw aba TaHKHCTa TapMouucty:
— 3uaelllb, Apyr...
He 3HakOMbI Ab MbI C TOOOW? He te6a an 9TO, Spar, Uro-TO NOMHHTCH, 43 608 ZJlocTaBAAAM MbI B CaHOaT?
Bca B Kposy 6plAa ofema, VW mpocna TH NHTb fa MTB...
IIpurayurma rapMons: — Hy 4To xe, Oueub gaxke MoxeT 6nITb.
— Ham Teneppb cToatTp B PeMOHTe. Y re6a MapiuipyT HHO.
— Dro TOYUHO...
— A rapMoHb-TO,
3Haelwb 4To,—6epx c co6oit.
3a6upaii, urpaii B oxory,
B 9TOM AeAe THI MaCTAaK,
Becean cBow mexorty.
— To Bh, XAONUbI, KaK Ke Tak?..
99
“What we want is heels of metal Nailed on each and every boot! Then we’d stamp in fine old fettle Till our heels were all kaput!”
And the music works its magic, Takes them far away somewhere.
“Oh, you are such marvellous people, All you soldier boys out there!’
Send them all through fire and water, Yet, wherever they may be,
You will hear an old accordion Wheezing out some melody.
And its voice is pure and simple, And your heart thrills to the sound. Then the gunner and the driver To the player: . “Listen, friend, Don’t we sort of seem to know your Was it you, as we recall,
That we drove away from battle
To the Army hospital?
“Yes, your uniform was bloody, You were thirsty as can be....”
Sudden silence. ‘“‘Now you say so, There’s a chance that it was me....”
“We'll be held up on repair work, You'll be pushing on, of course.”
“True enough.”
“Then here you are, mate,
You can take that box. It’s yours.
“Play it when the fancy takes you. Youre an expert, anyway.
Keep your comrades in good spirits.” “Boys, you can’t mean what you say!”
100
— Havero,— cxa3aa BoAHTeAb,— Tak u 6yger. Hugero. KomaHaup Ham 6nA Al06uTeAb, DTO— 1aMATb Mpo Hero...
Mc onymikn oTgaaenHoit Hi3-3a THCAYH KOAeC
H3 kOHUa B KOHEL, KOAOHHH: «IIo mamiMHam! » — aoHecaocn.
Hi onaTh ysaanl, B3TOpKH, Cer 4a €AKH C AByx CTOpOH... Eger aaabme Baca Tepxuy,— Dro 6A, KOHETHO, OH.
101
“Not to worry,” said the driver. “‘We’ve made up our minds, you see. Our commander loved his music; Keep that in his memory....”
From the fringes of the forest, As a thousand engines roared, Echoing up and down the convoy Came the order, “All aboard!”
Hills and vales again, and snowdrifts, And the highway flanked with firs. On he rides, Vassili Tyorkin —
Him and no one else, of course!
102
ABA COAAATA
B moae Bblra-3aBupyxa,
B Tpex Bepcrax ry4uT BolHa. Ha neun B u30e cTapyxa, ea-X03AHH y OKHa.
PByTCA MHHBbI. 3ByK 3HaKOMBIii Or3biBaeTCA B CMH.
OTO sHayHT— TepkHH Joma, TepkHH CHOBa Ha BOHHE.
A cTapuk kak 6yaTo yxom
Ilo npusprike He BeJseT.
— Ilepeaet! Aexu, crapyxa.— Wan cKaxer:
— Hegoaet...
Ha neun, 3a6MBUIHCh B yroa, Ta caeguT uCHOATMUIKAa
C yBaxKUTeABHBIM HCIyrTOM 3a nopagKon crapnka,
TWO SOLDIERS
Blizzard whirling round the cabin, Din of war just three versts off. Grandpa’s sitting by the window, Grandma’s huddled on the stove.
Shells exploding; noise familiar
Tingling up and down the spine, Meaning, Tyorkin’s back on home ground, Tyorkin’s in the wars again.
Veteran Grandpa just ignores it, Doesn’t seem to give a hoot.
“Overshoot! Lie down, old lady!” Or: “That was an undershoot....”
Shrinking back into the corner, She’s as quiet as a mouse, Suddenly grown deferential To the master of the house,
104
C kem *KHAAa— He yBaxKaaa, C xem 6paHHaachb Ha Teun, Or Koro BgaAn Jepxana
IIo xo3aicTBy BCe KAIOUH.
A cTapHk, OfeBiuicb B uly6y VB owkax MOACEB K CTOAY,
Kak OT KAIOKBBI, KPHBHT ryOni — Tount crapyio mHAy.
— Bor He pexXeT, TOUHLUIb, TOUMLUD, He 6epetT, Hy 4TO TH xouemtb!..— TepKHH BCTAaA:
— A MoxeT, Jed,
Y Hee pa3sBoJa HeT?
Cam muay Geper:
— A Hy-ka...—
VB pykax ero muAa, TouHo NOAHATAaA LlyKa, OcTpow cnHHKOM NoBeaa.
Tlopeaa, MOBHCAa KpOTKO. Tepkun Ly pHTCA:
— Hy, sor.
Tlonmyn-Ka, Jed, pa3sBodky, MbI ef cgeAaeM pa3BO0J.
IlocmoTpeTb— nu TO OTpadHO: 3aBaAniaA MWAa
Tak-TO AagHO, TaK-TO CKAa4AHO Y Hero B pykaXx Mpoutaa.
O6epHyAacb — 4 TOTOBO.
— Ha-xo, geg, 6bepu, cmorpu. byger pesatb ayume HOBO, Spa HHCTpyMeHT He KOpH.
VM xo3aHH BHHOBAaTO
Y 6ovija OepeT nmay.
— Bort 4To 3HaduT MBI, COAZaTEI,— Craput 6epexHo B yray.
105
Whom she’s never much respected,
Whom she’s quarrelled with night and day, And from whom she’s long since taken
All the household keys away.
Grimacing as at the flavour
Of unsweetened cranberry juice, He’s at table — fur coat, specs on — Sharpening a saw. No use.
“Drat this blade! I’ve sharpened, sharpened, Still the wretched thing won't bite.” Tyorkin says: “It could be, Grandad, You've not got the teeth set right.”
Then he takes the saw from Grandpa And the blade on the incline
Like a pike fished from the river Curves its long and narrow spine.
Curves and hangs there unprotesting. Tyorkin frowns.
“H'm, yes, I see....
Find the setter for me, Grandpa, And we'll fix it properly.”
And it is a joy and pleasure {ust to see what Tyorkin’s made, ith a few adroit adjustments,
Of that almost useless blade.
He transformed it, as by magic. “See? Now that would put to shame Any new one. Doesn’t pay, Dad, Saying that the tool’s to blame.”
Grandpa takes the saw from Tyorkin, Guilt is written on his face.
“That’s the stuff, men! Up the Army!” And he stands it in its place.
106
A cTapyxa:
— CaaO raa3amu.
Crap rogaMu MOH COAdaT. Tlorasaea 651, 4TO C 4acamu, C Tou BOHHBI elle CTOAT...
CHsA Wachl, TAAAMT: MalliMua, TouHo MeAbHHLA, B TIBIA. IlayTHHaMM IIpy2KHHbI
Tlayku o6B0A0KAH.
Wx nopecwa B xaTe HOBOM Jlea-cOAAaT AaBHbIM-4aBHO: Ha creue IIPOCTOH COCHOBOK Tak HW CBeETHTCA NATHO.
OcmoTpesB 4achI AeTaAbHO,— Bce * 4aChl, a He WMAa,— Mactep Tuxo 4 MedABHO Ilocsuctea:
— []aoxnm yeaa...
Ho kya-TO WHABIEM CyHyA, UTO-TO BBICMOTPEeA B IIBIAH, BuyTpb Kyfa-TO AYHYA, MAWHYA,— Yro TH AyMaelllb,— nowan!
KpyTHT CTpeaky. CTaBHT NATH, Yac— Apyrou, Bsnepeg— Ha3a4.
— Bot 4TO 3Ha4nT Mbl, COAAAaTH,— IlpocaesMaca 4eq-coadar.
Alea pactporan, a crapyxa, OTCAOHMB AaJOHbW yxo,
C meuku caymaer:
— MUayt!
— Hy u napeus, ny u MYT...
Yaupasetca. A TapeHb
YCAY RUT ellje He pOub.
— Mower, caro Hago KapuTs? Tak ONATb MOry MOMOUB.
107
Then says she:
“My soldier laddie
Can’t see proper any more.
Try that clock. It’s not been going Ever since the other war....”
Tyorkin takes it down, looks at it... Innards dusty as a mill,
Choked with spiders’ webs cocooning Spring and pinion, cog and wheel.
Years ago, in their new cabin, Grandpa hung that clock up there. You can see the plain pine gleaming On the patch of wall left bare.
Careful, Tyorkin looks it over — It’s a clock and not a saw—
Soft and low our expert whistles: “Goodness, this is pretty poor!”
But he pokes an awl inside it,
Seems to find what’s wrong. He blows, Then he spits on something in there, And — you'll never guess — it goes!
Then to five o’clock he sets it, Forward, back again he tries.
“That's the stuff, men! Up the Army!” There are tears in Grandpa’s eyes.
He’s much moved. She, with a stare, Cups her hand behind her ear. “Why, it’s going! Well I never! Bless the laddie — he’s right clever!”
She’s amazed. As for the laddie, He'd like something else to do. “If I fried. some of your bacon, Would that be a help to you?”
108
TyT_cTapyxa 3acToHaaa: — Caao, caao! Tye Tam caao...
Tepkuu: — ba6xa, caao 34ecp. He 6n1A HeMey|— 3Ha4dHT, ecTD!
VM sao6asna, BapKu Aaa, Tasgaa og Horn ce6e:
— Xouemp, 6a6xKa, yragao, Tae aexuT OHO B u36e?
Ba6xka OxHyAa TpeBoxKHo, 3aBO3HAacb Ha MeqH.
— Bor c To60w, pa3Be MOxHO... TlomoadH yx, MOMOAUH.
A XO3AHH IIAYTOBaTO
TocTa 104 AOKOTS THIIKOM:
— Bor 4To 3Ha4uUT MBI, COAAaTH, A Bedb CaA0 N04 3aMKOM.
Kay cTapyxa goaro waputT, Aeser C NeqKH, CaAO KapHT H, crpagaa Ao Konya, Pas6upaeT 4Ba Aliya.
Ox, amunHuyal JakycKn Her noae3neit 4 npounelt. TToaaraerca no-pyccku BuinuTb wapKy nepeg Heil.
— Hy, xosauu, MIOHEMHOXKKY, Ilo ogHoi, Kak Ha BOHtHe. OTO AOKTOp Ha AOpoxKy AAA 340POBbA BEIJaA MHe.
OTBHHTHA y haaru KPBIIIKy: — Ile, orey, He 6yger AMUIKy.
Tlonepxnyaca 4ea-coagar. TloaTaHyaca: — Buuosarl..
109
Whereon Grandma moans in anguish. “Bacon? Bacon? What d’you mean?”
Tyorkin: “Must be bacon somewhere, If the Germans haven’t been.”
And he adds, determined, patient, Eyes fixed firmly on the floor:
“If you like, give me three guesses Where you usually keep a store.”
Grandma stirs in agitation,
Horrified at what she’s heard.
“Lord above, you wouldn't, would your... Not a word, now, not a word!”
Then, unseen by her, the guv’nor Nudges Tyorkin roguishly.
“That’s the stuff, men! Up the Army! Yes, it’s under lock and key!”
After much mysterious groping, Down she climbs, gets out t e Bacon, Hides her grief as best she can, Breaks two eggs into the pan.
Scrambled eggs! Now there’s an entrée! Nothing nicer from the pantry! Russian custom says that thirst
Should be slaked with vodka first.
“Come on, Grandpa, just a noggin... There’s a war on, after all.
Got this from the Army doctor. Quite legit — medicinal.”
dyorkin then unscrewed the top. “Here we are, there’s still a drop.”
Grandpa coughed and Grandpa spluttered.... “Beg your pardon, son,” he muttered;
110
Kpomky xaeOylika MOHIOxaA. OKeBAA—H Cpa3y CHIT.
A 60el,, TpAxHyB Had yXOM Tow asrou, ropoput:
— Paccyxgax Tak AM, CAK AM, Bce paBHo Takow Kanaeti
He corpets 60H 3B Bow. byapre MBB!
— [lente.
— I[pw...
Vis cuaat oun no-6patcKn 3a CTQAOM, TLAe€YO B MAe4O. Pa3roBop BeAYT COAgaTCKHH, ApyxHo cnopat, rops4o.
Jeg KuMmHT:
— J[o3BoAb, ToBapuy.
UtTo Thl BAaACHKH MHE XBaAHIIb? Pa3pellin-Ka AOAO%KMTB. Xopoum? A rae cyliMTh?
He mpocyuimiub HX B 3€MAAHKE, Het, THI Aali-Ka MHe Calor,
Zja CyKOHHbIe NOPTAHKH
jai Tht MHe —Torga a Gor!
Cuosa rge-To Ha 3a4BOpKax Mep3anii rpyuT Oognya cHapAd. Kak Hw B uem— Bacuanit Tepxun, Kak HH B YEM—CTAapHK COAAAaT.
— OTM WITYKH B XKM3HH Hallei,— dlea pacxpacTaaca,— nycrTax!
Ham OcKOAKH AaxKe B Kalle Ilonagaaucb. TouHo Tak. TlonageT, OTKHHELIb AOKKOH,
A B teO6— Tak M MEpTBeL.
— Ho ne 3Haan Bat OomOexkn, A cxaxy Tebe, ore.
111
Took a crust of bread and sniffed it, Gulped it down and seemed well fed.
oforkin shook the little hip-flask Close against his ear, and said: “Might as well admit it, that'll Never warm a bloke in battle. Come on, Dad, good health to you. Knock it down!”
“I’m going to!”
And, like brothers at the table, Side by side they sat, and spent All their time on Army shop-talk, Lost in heated argument.
Grandpa fumed:
“Here, no offence, mate,
But felt boots—it don’t make sense, mate. Beg permission to report,
How d’you dry ’em out, in short?
“How d’you dry ’em in a dug-out? You'll wear leather if you’re wise. Leather boots, puttees of flannel — That’s what I call paradise!”
One more shell crumped in the frozen Earth out in the back somewhere. Neither Tyorkin nor the veteran Soldier really seemed to care.
“Now, when I was in the Army That was only chicken feed!
Why, we had the shrapnel landing In our kasha, yes indeed!
You could flick it out, unless it
Hit you too. Then you were dead!”
“Still, you don’t know what it feels like Being bombed, though,” Tyorkin said.
112
— 97TO BepHo, TyT HayKa, Ty? naupoTus He nonmpeulb. A cKaxKH, Mpoctas WTyKa EcTb y Bac?
— Kaxkasa?
— Boump.
VM, Maka B CaAO KOpKOH, IIpogoaxas pOBHO €CTB, Yasi6uyaca Bpose TepKHu Vi cxasaa: — UYactruyno ect...
— 3nHaunt, ecTb? Torga ThI— BOMH, PaccyKAaTb CO MHOH AOCTOHH. Thi — cOAdaT, XOTA M MAJ,
A CoAaaT coAgaTy — 6par.
Vs ckaxku MHe OTKPOBEeHHO, fla He B DIyTKy, a BCepses. C TOUKM 3peHHA BOeHHOH Orseyali Ha MOK BOTIpoc. Otseyait: 106beM MBI HEMIa Man, Moet, He n065em?
— Tloroau, ote, HaeMca, Sakylly, CKasky NOTOM.
EA OH MHOYPO, HO He KadHo, OrTaaBaA 3aKyCKe 4eCTD, Tak-TO AaAHO, TaK-TO CKAaJHO, Tloraa anilb — 3aX04elub CCT.
Bclo 344HCTHA CKOBOPOYKY, Bcraa, Kak 6yATO BApyr mogpoc, VM naatouex k nogbopogky, PoBHO CAOKEHHBIM, TIOAHEC. OTpAXHYA ONpATHO pyKH
VM, Kak AOA BeEAMT B AOMy, TIoKAOHHACA H CTapyxe
VW coagaty camomy.
Moaua B MyTb 3anmoacaaca,
113
“True enough. That’s science for you,
You can’t argue back, what’s worse.
Tell me, though, would you still have those Little things....”
“What?”
“Lice, of course!”
Tyorkin dipped his bread in dripping, Eating imperturbably,
Then he smiled a sort of half-smile And replied:
“Yes, partially.”
“Yes? Then you're a soldier too, And I’m proud to sit with you, And one soldier to another, Young or old, is like a brother.
“So please tell me very frankly, Honestly and seriously,
From the military angle
Put it very straight to me:
Are we going to lick the Germans, Or d’you think we might not win?”
“Hold it, let me finish eating, And we'll talk about it then.”
He ate well, but with decorum, Gave the meal all honour due. Sheer delight to see him eating — Made your own mouth water, too.
And he cleaned the frying pan up, Rose, seemed taller suddenly;
Raised the neatly folded hankie
To his chin most delicately.
Neatly brushed his tunic sleeves down, And, to old tradition true,
Bowed his thanks to the old lady, Bowed to the old soldier too;
114
Ocmorpeaca— BCce AM TyT? YecTb NO 4eCTH pacnpomaaca, Ha gach B3rAAHYA: HAyT!
Bce npHnomMHna, BCe IpoBepHaA, THlogornHaa W T0g KOHeL
OH B3A0XHYA y CaMOH ABeEpH
Vs cKasaa:
— Ilo6nem, oreu...
B noae Bblora-3aBupyxa,
B Tpex BepcTax rpeMHT BOMHa. Ha requ B u36e — cTapyxa. fleq-x03AMH y OKHA.
B ray6une pogHon Poccun, IIporus BeTpa, rpyab Brepeg, Ilo cueram ngeT Bacnanit Tepxun. Hemya OutTb wger.
115
Donned his leather belt in silence, Checked his gear—he’d got it all. Said goodbye; glanced up—the clock was Ticking gaily on the wall; Tightened up his straps a little — All correct; our soldier lad Paused and turned right in the doorway, And announced:
“We'll lick ’em, Dad.”
Blizzard whirling round the cabin. Din of war just three versts off. Grandpa’s sitting by the window, Grandma’s hudaled on the stove.
In the very heart of Russia Through the blizzard, pressing on With his chest out, goes Vassili Tyorkin, off to lick the Hun.
116
O IIOTEPE
Iforepaa Goen KHCeT, 3avcKkaaca,— HeT H HET.
Tosoput boey:
— /locaguo.
CTOABKO BApyr CBaAHAOCh OeJ: Tlorepsa cempw. Hy aaano. Hert, Tak Ha Te6e— KuceT!
SaliponacTHACA KyAa-TO, XBaTb-MOXBaTb, Wpomaa Mu CAed. Ilorepaxa uw ABOp M XarTy. Xopomo. WU por—xucer.
Ka6pl rogbl MOAO BIE, A He LeAbIX COPOK ACT... Tlorepaa Kpan pOJHBIe, Bce Ha cBeTe HW KHCeT.
TlocmoTpea c TOCKOH BOKpyT: — be3 kuceta, kak 6€3 pyk.
LOST PROPERTY
Missing — one tobacco pouch. Soldier searches, starts to grouch.
“Well, this is a proper nuisance, Never rains but what it pours!
Lost my family, and survived it;
Now I’ve lost my pouch, what’s worse!
“Put it somewhere, tried to find it— Vanished! Honest, it’s too much: Lost my stock and lost my cottage — Fair enough. But now my pouch!
“If I wasn’t passing pie If I was a youngster still...
But I’ve lost my own home country, Everything — my pouch as well.”
Scans the room from end to end. “Just like losing your best friend.”
118
B Hel pHIOTHOM WIKOABHOM 4OMe — Myxxuku, He AeTBOpa.
He 3a llapToH— Ha COAome, Ilepereptovi, Kak KocTpa.
Cnat 60%ubI, KoMy Jocyr. Bopogay ropwerT BCcAyx:
— bes xucera y MaxopKu
Bxyc He TOT yxe. Caaba!
Bot cyab6a, ToBapuyy Tepkun.— Tepkuu:
— Uro tam 3a cyap6a!
Tak CAYUMTBCA MOKET C KaK AbIM,— Bospa3va 6bopogayy ,—
He Takonw CO MHOM O4HaX Jbl Cayyan Onin. HM ro mMoayy.
VW MOAUHT, CONHT CypoBo. Koe-rge MpuBcTaA Hapod. V3 Meuika 43 BeleBOrO Tepkuu manKy Joctaer.
IIpocto manky MexoByn, Tou noapyry Soesyn, UTo CHAUT Ha FOAOBE. Ecrb ofHa. OrKyaa ape?
— I[puse3an Meus Ha TaHKe,— Hayaa Tepkun,—caaau c pyx. TOAbKO HeT Moe ymaHKu, Henopsgoxk uyto BApyr.
Vine To uTo6 ovenb 3n6KnK ,— IIpocro ropaoctb y Meus. Tloromy, 60e 6e3 wanku— He 6oey. Kak 6e3 pemua.
A AeByoHkKa MepeBa3sKy HexHO gJeaaet, Cc onacKon, V1, pugatTb, cama ona
B 3TOM Jere 3eAeHa.
119
In what used to be a schoolhouse, Not small children — full-grown men; Not at desks, but on straw bedding, Trodden down till fine as bran.
Some doze off; their duties done. Loud laments the bearded one:
“If you’ve got no pouch, makhorka Doesn't keep: it tastes like muck.
“Just my luck, eh, Comrade Tyorkin!” Tyorkin:
“What d’you mean, your luck?
‘Why, it could be anybody,” Jyorkin said protestingly.
“T lost something too, except that... You'll hear no complaint from me.”
He fell silent, snorting fiercely. Several men looked up at that. Rummaging inside his kitbag, Tyorkin came up with a hat.
Usual titfer, made of fur,
Worn by soldiers in the war. What’s a second doing there? How come Tyorkin’s got a spare?
“It was in a tank they brought me, Dumped me at the hospital. Hadn’t got my fur hat with me, Didn’t care for that at all.
“Not that I was feeling frozen — Just my pride,” the lad confessed. “Take his fur hat from a soldier And he only feels half dressed.
‘Now, the girl who bandaged me Was as careful as could be.
Yes, she was so downright nervous, You could see she was a novice.
120
— Ilanxy, manmky Mue, unaye He noeay! — Bot geaa.
Tak KpH4y, NOYTH 4TO MAa4y, PaHa Tpy4uaa Oplaa.
A 0Ha, Ae@BYOHKa 9Ta, Caosuo «6atowKH-6aro»:
— IanKku Bameii,— MOABHT,— HeTy, Al BaM Wlaliky 4aM CBOW.
HakaOuHaAachb MW Hadeaa.
— He Boanyiitecb,— ropopnt Vi cpoeH pyyouKou Geaori O6KoaoAace: G6bIA HEOpHT.
CKOAbKO B 2KH3HM BCAKHX WaloKk Al HOCHA yKe — HE CYECTH,
Ho y sTouw Jae 3amax
He Takou KaKOH-TO ECTb...
— Uni Th, BaiayMaa npymety. — Canimiaa 3B0H M34aAeKa.
— A 3a4eM TBI Walky 9Ty
Cox paHseub?
— Aopora.
Ajopora Sony, kak MaMATD. A ele CKa3aTb MOry
Ilo cekpety, Mex ay HaMu,— Illanxy c yeapio Gepery.
VB oOguH npexpacunii Beyep Bapyr cayautcax pa3srospop: «Pa3pemmMte BaM pu BCTpeye ToaosHoH Bpy4nTb yGop...»
Cam npuscraa Bacuanit c Mecta VM nog cmex 6008 rycroi,
Kak Ha CljeHe, C BaxXHBIM 2KeECTOM O6patuaca 6yaTo kK Ton,
YTo NATb CAOB eMy CkKa3aAa,
Uro raxnx peOat, kak On,
121
“*Find my hat! My hat, somebody! I won't leave till it’s been found,’
I was shouting, almost sobbing... Yes, it was a nasty wound.
“Then she soothed me, like a mother Tucking up her child in bed.
‘But you never had one with you. Here, I'll give you mine instead.’
‘So she stooped and put it on me. ‘Don’t you fret, now,’ she declared. And her hand, so white and gentle, Brushed the stubble of my beard.
“Just how many different kinds of Hats I’ve worn, I just can’t tell. But this one is special, somehow — Got a sort of fragrant smell...”
“What d’you know —he’d got it serious!” “He’s been hearing bells, that one!” “Why’ve you kept it all this time, though?” “Sentimental value, chum.
“It’s a keepsake, very precious, And I might point out to you Confidentially and in secret, I’ve a certain aim in view.
‘Maybe some enchanted evening You will hear me saying this: ‘Since we meet again, allow me
To return your headgear, Miss....’”
To his feet rose Vasya Tyorkin, Grand, theatrical his air,
And, amid the general laughter,
He addressed himself to her
Who had said but five words to him, Who, for all that he could tell,
122
3a BONY MepeBa3aaa, MoxeT, Weabid OaTaAboH.
— Um, kakue 3naer pean,
M3 kakux moauT6eceg: «PaspellutTe BaM pv BCTpede...» Bou tyt uTo. A THI— KUCeT.
— 4Uto &, NMOHATHO, XOAOCTOMy Muoro ayue Ha BoitHe:
Her Tock Tako no Aomy,
Ilo aeTumIKaM, IO >*KeHe.
— Xoaoctomy? 9ro Touno. OTO TH Kak yrafaa.
Ho noseps., 4To a HapouHO He xxennaca. A, 6pat, 3Haa!
— ro tH 3Haa! Komy apyromy SHatb Opi Ayue Haneped,
Uro yigeT coagatT u3 Aomy,
A Bova JOMOn IpHaer.
Utro npowazeT ona MOTONOM Ilo amuy 3eEMAM 2KMBOM
Vi 3acTaBuT pbITb OKOMIBI Ilepea camowo Mocxsoii. Uro Ta 3Haal..
— A Th NOcToH-ka,
He rangu, 4TO c BHAYy Maa, A He CTOABKO,
He noacroanKo,— UerTaeptb crovbKo! — TOAbKO 3HaA.
— Hvysero, 1To A B KOAXO3Ee, He B croanye Kypc Mpouea. JKaAb, TaApMOHb MOA B O603e, A Or AekyHIO Mpoyen.
Pa3peliu OJHO OTMeTHTD, Mow Tosapuy x coced:
123
Might have bandaged a battalion Of young lads like him as well.
“Hark at him! He’s been rehearsing!” “Where’s his soap-box? He’s no slouch!” “Since we meet again, allow me...’
You and your tobacco pouch!”
“Well, of course, it’s best in wartime If you’re single, on your own.
Then you needn’t worry, thinking Of the wife and kids at home.”
“Single? How d’you know I’m single? That was pretty sharp of you.
But I stayed that way on purpose; Never married, ‘cause I knew!”
“Knew? And how could you have known That a man would leave his home,
Or that, when he’d gone, the war
Would come banging on his door?
“That it would come sweeping onwards Like a flood across the land,
Or that even outside Moscow
We'd dig in to make a stand.
Knew indeed!”
“Now just a minute!
Though I’m no great shakes to you, Didn’t know much,
Only so much,
Less than so much—
But I knew!
“On the farm, and not in Moscow — That’s where I learnt all I knew.
If I had my squeege-box with me, I'd teach you a thing or two.
“One more thing. Just how old are we, Friend and comrade with the grouch?
124
CKOAbBKO A€T 2KMBEM Ha CBeTe? ApaayaTb naTp! A THI— KHCET.
bopogay nog cMex 4 roMoH PoeT BHOBb TpyXy-COAOMy, Tlepeujynaa Bce BOKpyr:
— bes xucera, kak 0€3 pyk...
— be3 xnucera, HeCOMHeHHO, Tr Goer ye He TOT.
Pa3 KHCeT —lIpeAMeT BOCHHBIH, Ha-ko Mou, He 1O4onAeT?
IIpHuuman, a— aoOpsiit mapens. Mue He arb. He nponagy. Mune eye MATS WTyYK MOAapAT
B wactymatomseM roy.
Tor 6epeT KuceT noTepThii. Kak JHTA, OOHOBKE padZ...
MW trorga Bacnank Tepxun CAOBHO BCNHOMHHA: — Cayuiait, Opar.
Tlorepatb cemMb}O HE CTBIAHO— He TBoa 6bIAa BHHA. Ilorepatb 6amKy — o6nA4Ho, ToaAbKO 4TO K, Ha TO BOHHA.
Totepatb KuceT Cc MaxopKoi, Ecaw He€KOMY NOUATb,—
A He Cloplo,— Toxe ropKKo, TsasKeao0, HO MOMKHO KUT, [lepexutp Oeay-MPOPyXY, B kyAaKe 4epxKaTb Tabak, Ho Poccuw, Matb-cTapyxy, Ham ‘TepATb HEAB3A HUKAaK.
Hau Aeabl, Hawn getu, Halim BHYKM He BeAAT. CKOABKO A€T 2%KHBeM Ha CBeTe? Tayy?.. Boanme! To-To, 6pat!
125
Twenty-five! And all you think of Is your damned tobacco pouch.”
While the other men guffaw,
Bearded one combs through the straw, Muttering, “No two ways about it, Feel completely lost without it.”
“Certainly, there’s no denying You're not half the man you were. If it means all that much to you, Here, take mine, if you prefer.
“Go on, take it. I’m not fussy.
Vil get by without it. Here!
Dare say I'll be sent five new ones In the post this coming year.”
So he takes the pouch, delighted As a child with something new.
Then, as if some thought had struck him, Tyorkin says, “Now, listen, you!
‘Lost your family? Not your fault, mate. That you can’t be punished for.
Lose your head quite literally —
That’s a nuisance, but it’s war.
“Lose your pouch, and no one there to Sew you one — I'll not deny,
That’s a beastly thing to, happen,
But at least you can get by.
You can weather the disaster,
Keep the baccy in your hand.
But we mustn't lose old Russia,
Mustn’t lose our motherland.
“That our grandparents, our children, And their children won’t permit.
Count the years we've lived. A thousand? Even more? Well, that’s just it!
126
CKOAbKO 2KHTb ele Ha CBeTe,— Toa, HAb JBa, UAb THI AeCT,— Mp c To6bow 3a BCce B OTBETE. To-ro, 6pat! A THI— KHCeT...
127
“For the future that awaits us,
You and I alone can vouch.
One year, two years, or a thousand.... You and your tobacco pouch!”
128
TIOEAZUHOK
Hemet 6b1A CHACH HW AOBOK, Aaquo cCKpoeH, Kpemko cmmHT, Ok CTOAA, KaK Ha NOAKOBAX, He nyrai— ne no6bexur.
Cita, OpuTpiii, 6bepexenbiit, Aapmosbim 406pom KopMAeHHBIN, Ha Botive, B 4y>KOH 3eMAe OrocnaBluHHcA B TeIAe.
On yaapua, He cTpaujas, bua, uT06 cOuTb HaBepHaka. Vs Obraa kak KOcTS O6oOAbIIAaA B pycckoi Bapexkke pyka...
He urpaa CO CMepTbb B NIpATKH,— B3aaca— 6elica w MOAGH,— TepkKaH 3HaA, 4TO B STOH CxBaTKE Ou caaber: He Te xapun.
EcTb BOMHBI 3aKOH He HOBBIH: B OTCTYIIA€Hbe — ellIb ThI BAOBOAL,
THE DUEL
Strong, fast-moving was the German, Tough as nails and hard as rock, Steady as an iron-shod carthorse, Quite immune to fear or shock.
Shaved, well-fed, well cared for, he: Bedded, boarded, all for free;
Sort of uninvited guest,
Glowing from a warm night’s rest.
He struck out in deadly earnest — Not a blow that could nave missed. Massive in the Russian mitten, Like a hambone was his fist....
It was all too clear he wasn’t Playing hide-and-seek with death. Tyorkin knew himself the weaker: Short of food and short of breath.
There’s a ey rule: In retreat, your belly’s full,
130
B o6o0poHe— Tak AM CAK, B wacTynaeHbe — naTousak.
Hemely CTYKHYA Tak, 4YTO FEAIOCTh byaATO BiampaBo MoOsaAach.
Vt toraa oeu, He ITCAACh, XPACHYA HeEMIJa NpOMeX Lraa3.
VW emje Ha CHer He CIAWHYA Ileppol KpOBH 3Ayl0 COAB, Hemel CHOBa B CaHKM CYHYA
C Tro xe cHAOH, B Ty xe Bonn.
Tak COULAMCb, clemMANCH 6An3KO, Uto ye o60HMEI, AHCKH, ABTOMAaTBI— K ¥epTy, MpouD! ToabKo 6 HO HM MOr TIOMO4D.
bpwtca ABoe B KAy6ax Mapa, O6 uHOM yxXe HE pedb,— Aagut Tepxnu oT yaapa XoTb On 3y6nr 3a6epe4n.
Ho noxyga Tepkui caHku CKOAbBKO MOT
B 6ow Geper,
ABuHyA HEMEL, TOUHO WITaHron, {ja He B CaHKH,
A T1104 B340x.
Oxnya Tepkuu: ma0xo geao, TTaoxo, aymaeT 6oeu. Xopouio, ao AeroK TEAOM — Otraetea. A TO 6— Kkonel...
YcTOAA—¥ CaM C HCIIyry TepkuH HeMLUy daa Aetsa, Tak aro co6cTBeHHy pyky UytTb He BBIHEC 3 MAe4a.
Yepr c net! Pag, aTo He Ipoma3aa, XOTb 3y6aM He MOAOH CueT,
131
Half and half on the defensive, Tighten belts for the offensive.
awbone jolted to the right. winging hard, he bashed the other "Twixt the eyes with all his might.
Javb smote, and Tyorkin felt his
Hardly had he finished spitting Out the first salt, crimson drops, When Fritz landed yet another Vicious clout across the chops.
So they fought, forgetting guns, Magazines and cartridge drums. They were fighting for their lives — Nothing useful now but knives!
Wreathed in clouds of steam they battled, And it’s an undoubted fact,
Tyorkin did some skilful dodging
Just to keep his teeth intact.
Then, while Tyorkin kept his molars Under guard
As they sparred,
He was biffed as with a bell-bar
In the solar
Plexus — hard.
Tyorkin gasped. “You nearly had it. This is not so good,” thought he. “Just as well I’m light, or that one Could have been the end of me....”
But he stood his ground, and very Nearly wrenched his left arm out, As he hooked and dealt the German One terrific, desperate clout.
ust as well I didn’t miss him! at's a molar more or less,
132
Ho wu HeMely ACBLIM TAa30M Ha6aidAeHbs He BeJZET.
Apaxa— Apaka, He urpyuka! XOTb OFHEM TOPHT AKO,
Ho w HeMely KpacHoH 1OWIKOH PasykpallieH, Kak AKO.
Bot 0H —B NOABepllike — NpOTHBHHK. Hocom k Hocy. Tecuota.
fla yero Ke OH NpOTHBHEI —
Alyx y Hema H30 pTa.
3a06Ho TepkuH CIAIOHYA KpOBbW. Hy wu 3anax! Baant c Hor.
AX ThI, CBOAOUb, JAA 3A0POBbA, He uHaye, *peulb 4ecHOK!
Tat ky4a ChelmuA—K xo3niixe? Matxka, MaeKo? Matka, aliKku? Oxa3aTb pelliMa HaM 4eCTb? Tlogaspaui! A KTO TbI ecTh,
Kro ThI €CTb, YTO K Hamel 6abKe SaABUACA Ha MOpor,
. He cnpocacs, He CKMHYB WallKH Vi ue Betrepmnu canor?
Co crapyxoli cAaauTb B CuAe? Tlogasau! Het, KTo Thi ecb, Uto zoaxun Te6e Bp Poccuu TlogaBaTb MBI IMTb HM eCTb?
He kaaeka an y6oruit, Van gso6pritt weaonex — Sabay AHACA
Ilo qopore, Tlonpocuaca
Ha wouaer?
Ao6prim AlOAAM AlOAH paabl. Hert, Th cam ce6e cHaeH.
133
With the left eye of that German Looking just about u-s.!
Fight it out in deadly earnest. Though your skin feels all ablaze, Ruddy as a painted eggshell
Is the adversary’s face.
Half an inch away, the stinker, Almost as if cheek to cheek,
And what makes him twice a stinker Is that nauseating reek. :
Tyorkin spits more blood in fury.
hat a perfume! Knocks you flat! Slob! So you’ve been eating garlic As a cold-cure, that’s a fact!
You've barged in to some old lady. Eggsky, milksky? Nice food, lady? Very gracious of you, too.
Help yourself. But who are you?
Who are you, to walk in that wa Through some Russian housewife’s door, Uninvited, with your hat on,
And your boots unwiped, what’s more?
Can you cope with an old woman? Help yourself! But who are you That in Russia we should serve you Food and drink, as it were due?
Some old cripple in a poor way, Or some other honest wight, Lost and helpless
In the doorway,
Seeking shelter
For the night?
We will welcome folk who’re honest, But not you: you live by force.
134
Th HaBOAHUIb Cao nopsox. Ts UpHxo4umb— TBow 3aKOH.
KTo % TH ecTb? Mue ToAky HeTYy, Yeh Th ChIH HW Ye OTET. Yeaosek MO BCeM IIpHMeTaM,— Yeaosek Thi? Her. Iogaen!
Apoe Ton4yTca Mo xpyry, CAOBHO Mapa Ha Kpyry,
VW raaaart B raa3a Apyr Apyry: SBepio — 3Bepb H Bpar—Bpary.
Kak Ha ApeBHem noe 608,
lpyab Ha rpydb, 4TO WAT Ha WyAT,— BmecTo THicay 6biOTCA ABOE,
CAOBHO CxBaTkKa BCe pemur.
A B6an3u OT AepeBylkuH, Tae 3acTaax ux CBeT AHeEBHOH, CaMOAeTHI, TAHKH, TyIKH
Y o6o0nx 3a cnMHo;n.
Ho 4o 608 HeT uM geaa,
Mf 4M 3BykKa C Tex CTOpon.
B OAHHOUKY — rpyAbwo, TeAOM Beetca Tepxuu, Aepxkut pout.
Ha nmeaaabHOM TOM 3aABOpKe,
Y NOKMHYTHIX ABOpOB
Alepxut dpont Bacuanii Tepxkuu, B 3a6niTbu raotaa KPOBB.
Bperca HacMepTb mapenb Opasniii, Tak 4TO AbIM CTOHT CBIpOH, CAOBHO BCA CTpaHa-AepxaBa Buaut Tepxuna:
— Tepoi!
135
You would grind us, Trample on us,
You would bind us With your laws.
Who are you? What matter if you're Someone’s father, someone’s son? Human by all indications,
Are you human? No, you’re scum!
Two men stamping in a circle, Like two dancers, round they go, Glaring grimly at each other, Beast at beast, and foe at foe,
Like some ancient scene of combat, Breast to breast like shield to shield, Settling the fate of thousands Drawn up on the battlefield.
Close beside the little hamlet
Where dawn overtook the pair,
Aircraft, guns and tanks were thundering All around them, front and rear.
Little cared they for, that battle. Hardly conscious of a sound, Tyorkin fought with chest and body, Held his front and stood his ground.
In that dismal, wretched backyard Where the empty houses stood,
dyorkin held his ground, in fury Choking down his own hot blood.
Unafraid of death he battled,
Clouds of steam hung in the air.
All the world might have been watching Tyorkin—that’s a hero there!
136
Uro crpana! Xora 6pr pota BugeTb 434aAK MOPaAa, Kakosa ero pa6ota
VI kaxue TyT Jeaa.
Toabko Tepkuu He B obnJe. He 3aTeM Ha CMepTb Henib, Uro6pl KTO-Hu6yAb yBHAeA. Xopomo 6. A HeT—HY 4TO X...
bbeTca HacMepTb "apeHb 6paByri — Tak, Kak 6bIOTCA Ha BOMHE.
VU yxe pykolo mpason
Ou BaageeT HE BIOAHE.
Koctb ryAMT OT paHbl cTapon, Vi emy, uTo6 xpenye Outs, Yrobsl caepa KAaCTb yAapyl, Xopouio 6 aepmio1w O6biTs.
Bretca Tepkuu,
B apake 30pxui,
YTMpaeT KpOBb H NOT. H3nemor, yOnaca Tepxuu, Ho u spar yxe He TOT.
fjaAekoO He Ta 3alpaBxa, VW no6uta mopaa Bea, CAOBHO AOAOKO-NOAABKA, UtTo HHave CCTb HEAb3A.
Kpopb— cocyAbKamMnu. Ognako B cambli Kap BCTyNaeT Apaka.
Hemey rop4.
VU Tepxun ropa.
— Pa3 Th tec, Tak a—co6aka, Pas ThI ¥epT,
Tak cam A—uept!
TI HE 3HaA MOI HaTypy,
A HaTypa—Nlepspiit copT.
B KAOUbA WIKypy —
Tepkuu uypy
He nonpocut. Bot rage uept!
137
Why the world, when just an Army
Company would be enough,
{ust so long as ey were watching asya Tyorkin do his stuff!
But he didn’t mind— not really. You don’t fight a mortal fight
In the hope that folk are watching. If they aren’t —well, that’s all right!
Unafraid of death he battled, As men fight in time of war, And his right arm was already Feeling weaker than before.
Yes, the old wound in his shoulder.... And to hit with all his might,
Better to have been left-handed;
Left could do the work of nght.
Tyorkin battled, watchful, wary, Dashing off the sweat and blood, Tiring now, and getting weary.... Nor did Jerry look so good;
Not as lively as he had been,
With his snout bashed up a treat, Like an apple, bruised and battered, Looking hardly fit to eat.
Icicles of blood on each. Now the fight nears fever pitch.
ferry’ proud, and Tyorkin, too. evil, are you? Son-of-a-bitch? I can play it worse than you!
You don’t know the stuff I’m made of. Let me tell you, it’s Grade One.
Flay me, but I won’t cry mercy.
How’s that for a devil, chum!
138
Kro oguoli 6outTca cMepTu— KTo MAe€BaA Ha CTO CMepTen. Ilycrb TH wept. Aja Haim uepTu Bcex aepren
B cro pa3 uepten.
bet, ne MuAyi. Sy6nr cTHCHY. A y6penlb,TaK 4 MOTOM
Ha Te6e, Kak KALI, NOBHCHY, MeptTsuiit 6yazy Ha %KHBOM.
Orocnucb Ha MHe, Oby4b AaCKOB, fla cBaAM MeHA Breped.
Ax, TBI BOH Kak! /[paTbcA KacKOH? Hy we noganii Aw Hapog!
Xopomo «xe! —
M rorga-To, SAocTb H 60Ab 3a6paB B KyAak, He3apaxenHou rpanaTon TepkuH HeMuja—c repo — mIMAK!
Hemey oxHyA H OOMAK...
TepkuH BOpoT Hapacnaillky, TepkKuH Cea, rAOTaeT CHer, CMOTpuT rpyCcTHO, ABILIHT TAKKO,— Tlopaboraa weaosex.
XOpolo, APy3bA, IPHATHO, CaeaaB ACA, KO ABOpy —
B 6aTaabou HATH ob6paTHo V3 paspeqxu noyTpy.
Ilo 3eMae CTymaTb CoBeTCKOHN, ZlyMaTb— Maao Au O YeM! ABTOMAaT HECTH HEMELKHH, Mex ay mpounmM, 3a mAedoM.
«A3bKa» — AO6ny HOUN,— UtTo udet, kyJa He xouer,
139
Some fear even once to die,
Some a thousand deaths defy. Devil, are you? Well, this devil Is a hundred times more evil!
Do your worst. I'll grin and bear it. Kill me, and I'll burrow in
Like a sheep-tick, clinging to you, Dead beneath your living skin.
Sleep on me. I'll be your pillow; But you'll have to throw me first!
So! You'd butt me with your helmet? Might have known you'd do your worst!
Fury lending extra power
To his arm, he drew it back,
Snatched an unprimed hand-grenade and Dealt the German such a crack!
Jerry crumpled like a sack....
Tyorkin wrenched his collar open, Sat, and cooled his mouth with snow. Glumly eyed the German, panting. That’s a job well done. Good show.
When you've been successful, comrades, It’s a grand experience,
Going back to your battalion
From the night’s reconnaissance.
Crossing Soviet territory, Thinking — oh, well, never mind.... Incidentally, with a German Sub-machine gun slung behind.
Your reluctant prisoner walking (He might do a bit of talking)
140
Ha Tpu mara suepeau Hogrowatp: — Van, uan...
Buaetb, 3HaTb, UTO KaxK ABI BCTPe4HbIit- TlonepeyHbii — 9TO cCBon.
He 3Hakom, a pag cepgeqHo,
4TO BepHYACA THI XMBOH.
AOAOKUTb ipo Bce 110 ope, CyaTb Tpodex He cneuia.
A TloToM Te6a NOKOpMAT,— bygeT Mepow Ayia.
CrapmimHa OTNYCTHT 4apky, Crpornit raa3 B Hee KOCA. A NOTOM y NeukM *KapKoii Asr, nocnv. Boitua ue Bca.
@MpouT HaaesBo, pouT Halpaso, VB hepparbcKOW BbIOKHOHM MTAe CrpamHpl 6oH ugetT, KpoBaBslii, CmeptTHpiit 60H He pag CAaBHI, Paav 2%KM3HH Ha 3eMAe.
141
Only three short steps ahead.... “Come on, move it now, I said!”
Knowing that they’re all your own men Whom you meet along the way.
They don’t know you, but they’re happy That you’ve made it back okay.
Then reporting, as per orders, Handing in the captured gun— Then you get a slap-up dinner, Just reward for what you’ve done.
Then the S.-M. grants a noggin, Looking on, suspicious-eyed.
By a blazing stove in comfort Sleep. The war’s not over yet.
In the snows of February,
With a front on either hand, Fight the battle, ae and gory, Not for fame and not for glory, But for life throughout the land.
142
OT ABTOPA
Cro cTpaHMl] MHHYAO B KHWKKe, Bnepeau— ue 6an3KHH MyTB. Cron-ka, 6pat. bes nepeapnmKn Heso3mMoxno. Ala B3A0XHyTb.
Ajai B3AOXHYTb, BO3bMH B JOragKy: Uro Tellepb, 4TO B CrapHay — TpyaHo CAymaTb 10 NOpsAAKy Cxa3ky AAHHHY!IO OAHY
Bce npo To *xe— po Bony.
IIpo oronb, mpo cHer, po TaHKH, IIpo 3eMAAHKM Ja NOPTAHKH, ITpo NOpTAHKM Ja 3CMAAHKH, IIpo Maxopky mM MOpos...
Bot yx HBIH¥Ye MOBeAOCh: Pui6aky AMIIb O NYTHHE, Ilequuxy AyAAT O ranue, Aecuuky 0 Apesecuue, XaeOoreky 0 KBalllHe, Konosaay 0 KoHe,
FROM THE AUTHOR
That’s a hundred pages covered; There’s a long, long road ahead. Can’t go on without a breather; Time to have a rest instead.
Yes, a rest. It’s reasonable.
Now, as in the days of yore,
It grows tiresome hearing someone Hoiding forth for hours and more On the same old theme of war;
Holding forth on things like these: Shellfire, snow, tanks and puttees, Dug-outs, tanks and more puttees, Frost, makhorka, tanks once more....
That’s the way it goes: they bore Fishermen with fishing seasons, Furnacemen with talk of fireclays, Foresters with different woods, Bakers with their different goods, Knackers with old horses’ hides,
144
A bonny an, reHepaay — He uHaye —O BOHHE.
O pone — OHO TIOHATHO,
Uro Bowua. A CyTb B Apyrom: {jai c' BOHHEI IpuTH oOpaTHO IIpu no6ege Haq Bparom.
YuMHMB 3a BCe paciaaty,
{jai BepHyTBCA B AOM pogHon Yeaosexy. M1 rorga-To Cka3kM HeT eMy “HOH.
Vi rorga emy Tak cAaqKo
pyact cAyUIaTb 10 NOpagky Tl0Apo6Ho 060 Bcem,
UTo u3Besano rop6om,
Uro ucxookeHo HOraMH,
To ucnbiTaHo pykaMy,
Uro nosudzaHo B raa3a
Vo eM, Apy3ba, NoKamMectT
Bce paBHo— Bcero HeABA...
Mep3anii rpyHT goa6u, aomata, TaHk— Aas, Tr peMu —rpanata, Ultb1K — paborai, 6om6a— 6eit. Ha spowne Ayule coAgatTa Cka3Ka MMpHaa Muael.
Alpyr-autaTeab, A AM Cnopi, UTO BOMHE] MHA€e HKY3Hb:
Ja Boliua peser, kak Mope, lposno B AamOy ye puIvcb.
A oqHo cKaxy, ITO HaM 6pI TloynpaButTbca c BOnHOH, OroaBunyTs sty sam6y
3a mpegea 3eMAu poqHoH.
A noxy4a Kpai o6mupunrii
Tot 3eman poaHOoK—B MaAeny, A— AMO6UTEAL KH3HU MHpHOK — Ha potiue now BOHMHy.
145
And the general or the soldier With unending tales of war.
War is war, needs no explaining. No, the answer is elsewhere:
Let the soldier go back homewards When there’s victory in the air.
Let him go back to his family
When he's settled up the score.
That’s when you will find him wanting Tales of nothing else but war.
Then he'll lend a willing ear,
Then he truly loves to hear
How he never thought to shirk,
How his back was bowed with work, How his feet were tired and poorly, How his hands were tried most sorely, How his eyes were to behold
Things the like of which are surely Meanwhile better left untold.
Spades may split the ground asunder, anks may crush, grenades may thunder,
Bayonets lunge and shrapnel flail,
But in time of war, the soldier
Much prefers a peacetime tale.
Reader, friend, do I deny that
Life is sweeter far than war?
But war’s like the sea waves pounding At the dike with booming roar.
All I want to say, quite simply, Is, the future’s in our hands.
We must push that sea wall further Back beyond our borderlands.
While so much of our great country Lies in thraldom languishing,
Lover of the joys of peacetime, War in time of war I sing.
146
Uro «* euje? HW sce, nomaayh, Ta *e KHura po 6ona.
Be3 nayaaa, 6e3 Kona,
Bes oco6boro cioxerta, Bnpouyem, lipaBae He BO Bped.
Ha Botine cioxKeTa HETY. — Kak Tak HeTy? — Tak BOT, HeT.
Ectb 32KOH — CAYKUTb JO Cpoka, Cayx6a— Tpyd, COAgaT — He Foctp. Ectb or60 — ycuya ray6oxKo,
Ectb mojbeM — BCKOYMA, KaK FBO3Ab.
Ectb BOMHa—COAAAaT BOLOET, AloT NpOTHBHHK— CaM AIOTYET. EcTb curHaa: Bieped!..— Buepeg. EcTb ipHka3: ympn!..— Ymper.
Ha spotive HM AHA, HM aca He «user on 6e3 NpuKka3a,
VW sHe MomeT HCNOKOH
be3 mpuHka3a KOMaHAMpa
Hu CMeHHTb CBOW KBapTHpy, Hu CMeHMTh NOpTAHKH OH. Hu #®eHUTSCA, HH BAIOONTKCA On He MOKET,— HETy pas, Hu yexatTb 3a rpaHuyy
Or ao6BH, Kak 6piBMH rpad.
Ecanw B MeCHAX HW MoeTCca, Pa3Be MOXHO OpaTb B pacae;rT, Uro repo Mow y Koaogua,
Y kakux-HubyAb BOpoT,
byae cayyal MoABepHerca, Ub-TO AOAIO yuyMMHeT?
A euje 406aBHM K CAOBY: *KuB-340poB repo noKa, Ho oTHwWdb HE 3AKOAAOBAaH Or OcCKOAKa-Ay paka,
147
What comes next? More chapters, doubtless, Of this soldier’s story penned —
No beginning and no end,
And no plot; however, strictly
True to life, so no harm done.
There’s no plot in war to speak of? Why? Because there isn’t one.
There’s a law: sweat out your service - Sure, it’s no vacation time!
Come Tattoo, turn in, sleep soundly; Come Reveille, rise and shine!
War— the soldier fights in style.
Enemy’s tough — he's tougher still. Signal: Forward! He'll go forward. Orders: Die! He’ll die as ordered.
Not one hour of day is your time Without orders when it’s wartime, And, as Army life decrees,
Without your commander’s orders You can’t change your living quarters, You can’t even change puttees.
You can’t fall in love, or marry,
Or to foreign lands depart,
Like a lovesick Count aforetime Suffering from a broken heart.
Let my hero be forgiven
If he takes a liberty,
And, as in the folk-songs, waiting
By some well or garden, he
Grabs the chance to pinch the fruit from Someone else’s apple-tree.
And we'll add, just for the record, Though our hero’s live and well, He is not immune to senseless Splinter from some bomb or shell,
148
Or aw6on AypayKon nyan, Urto, ObITb MOXeT, HayTad,
Kak MpHllAOcb, ACTHT BCAETIYHO, Tloapepxyaca,— Touka, 6par.
Betep 30H HaBCTpe4y MEIIeT, JKu3Hb, Kak BETOUKY, KOABIMET, Kaman JeHb HW 4aC rpo3a.
KTo AocKaxKeT, KTO AOCAMIUHT — YragaTb Bleped HeEAB3A.
H 40 Tok rayxon pasayku, Uro 6bipaeT Ha BOHHE, Paccka3aTb euje Oo Apyre Koe-aTo ycneTb On MHe. -
Tem #*xe AaqoM, Tem xe p#40M, TOAbKO CT@KKOW HHO.
ITymxu x 60% egyT 3a40M,— OTO CKa3aHO He MHOH.
149
Or to any stupid bullet
That, perhaps, may chance to come Flying blindly and at random — Suddenly —you’ve had it, chum!
There’s an evil wind a-blowing,
Like a branch, life’s bending, bowing, Death rides in that howling gale, And there is no way of knowing Who will live to tell the tale.
But, before the dread departure That occurs in time of war,
Of our friend and gallant hero I would like to tell you more,
Keeping up the lilt and measure, Following a different line.
Guns ride backwards into battle — No, the saying isn’t mine!
150
«KTO CTPEAAA?»
Otanmuaca 6on BuepallHHi, Bpicox MOT, M€TaAA MpocTHIA. OT oKOoNO0B MaxHeT NalHen, JAeTOM MHPHbIM HM MpoctbiM.
B moazepcte, B KycTaxX — IpOTHBHHK, TyT wiaraM 4 TAAAM CuerT.
@pont. Boiiua. A Beyep AMBHBI
Ilo moAKM NycTHIM MAeT.
Ilo caeaam CTpadbl BuepallHen, Ilo HeMbICAMMOH Tpone; Tlo HuubeH, NOMATOH, 3PALUHOH Ayropou, rycroH Tpase;
Ilo semae, px6ou oT prTBHH, PBaHbIx AM, BOPOHOK, pBOB, CMepTHBIM 3HOeM *KapKOH OUTBHI OnaaeHunlx y Kpaes...
M orxyga no nyctomy JloneTea, AoHeCcA 3BYK,
“WHO DID THAT?”
After yesterday’s fierce battle, Smoke, hot metal, sweat and grime, From the trenches comes the earthy Smell of peaceful summertime.
No-man’s-land for half a verst, then Thickets and the watching Huns. War. The Front. And yet the evening Sweet across the meadows comes,
Following yesterday’s grim harvest, Over an appalling scene,
Dead terrain of squashed and trampled Meadow grasses, lush and green;
Over wheel-tracks, ditches, craters, Hollows ripped out of the ground, By the murderous blast of battle Scorched their jagged edges round.
And, across that desolation, Borne incongruous through the air,
152
Alo6pri, 4aBHH MW 3HaKOMBIi 3ByK BeyepHui. Malicxuit «yx!
Vs wenyxXHOK TOppKOH AacKoH PacTpeBOKUA OH pebart,
UtTo B pocow NOKpsITHX KacKkax Ilo OKOIN4HKaM CHAAT.
VM Tako TOckoH po,HolW Cepaye cpa3y o6Bo0a0K!
@pont, Bolina. A TyT HHOE: Bsipogv KOHeH B HOUHOE, Toponuch Ha «MATayOK>».
OTMAAUINCh, a TaM CTOPOHKO!i Yaaaniica B Oepe3Hak, Hposomah somo A€BUOHKy Aja yeayi— ne 6yab aypak, Haaerke uqu o6partuo,
MatTb 3a aaaaca...
VM papyr— Baaaeke BO3HHK HEBHATHBIH, Hosni, Homi, ABYKpaTHBIii, Yepe3 Mur ye NOHATHHIM Hi Tomamuit Ayuly 3Byx.
SBYyK TOT CaMBI, pH KOTOPOM B m1pupoxTosor moaoce Tlonagaay Bce mode pH Pa36eraAncb OT mocce.
Ha ogHow nNocTtMAoH HOTe Hoet, BoeT, Kak B Tpy6e. MM 6exatTb pu sce Oxore He noaoxeno Te6e.
Thi, Kak TBO34b, Ha 9TOM B3ropKe B6uaca B 3emai0. He Tocxyii. Beab— coraacno noropopKe — Oro Maan caGaHTyii...
153
Came a dear old friendly evening Sound —a May bug burring there!
Up and down the trenches, men in Helmets wet with dew were stirred To a rueful and reluctant Tenderness by what they heard.
Such nostalgia, such longing Overcame them all at once!
War. The Front. Thoughts homeward turning: Drive the horses out till morning, Hasten to the village dance.
Dance your fill, then slip off quietly Through the birch grove, dim and cool. See the girl home to her cottage,
Go on, kiss her now, you fool!
Then go sauntering back at leisure: Mother’s waiting....
Suddenly, Comes a new sound, faint and distant, Low, deep-throbbing and insistent, Tedious, naggingly persistent, And you know it instantly.
Once it used to send the drivers, As they neared the front-line zone, Scattering from the open highway Just as fast as they could run.
Now it drones, as in a chimney, Tedious, maddeningly loud, And, however much you want to, You can’t run. It’s not allowed.
Hug the earth, pinned down, defenceless,
Just don’t let it worry you. After all, you know the ex pression —
It’s a minor sabantu.
154
JKAYT, MOAUAT, rAAAAT pebata, 3 Ost CKaB, 4TOO APOXKb HATE. v4 Kak BOAMTCA, OpaTOp
TyT HaxOgMTCcA MOg CTaTb. |
C yausuTeabHon 3a60T0r Iloacxa3atTp Te6e ropasg:
— Bor celiyac on c pa3sBopota VM uwaunertr. VW xu3ym aact. *Ku3HH Zact!
Co crpaliHbIM peBom CaMOaeT HBIPACT BHHS, Vs cwabuee HeTy CAoBa To KoMaHdbI, 4TO TOTOBAa Ha ycrax y Bcex: — Aonncp!..
CmepTb ecTb cmepTn. Ee npuxoga Bce Mb *K4eM MO CTapHHe.
A B Kakoe BpeMa roga
Aerue ru6HyTp Ha BOHHe?
AeTOM COAHIe rpeeT *Kapko, Vs actynaeT B NOAHBIM WBeT Bce xpyrom. HW xH3HM 2KaAKO flo sapesy. AeToM— Het.
B oceHb CMepTb 104 CTaTb KapTHHe, B con WAeT Npupoda BCA.
Ho B rpa3nH, B OKOMHOM rawHe Bapyr 3arnyteca? Het, apy3pa...
A 3HMOM — 3eMAA, KaK KaMeHb, Ha asa Metpa rayOuHoi, IIpupaant Te6a KOMKaMH,— Het yx, Hy ee — 3HMoi.
A BecHoi, pecnoi... Ja rae Tam, Ayumle ckakeM Halleped:
Ecau roppkKo ru6uyTb AeToM, Ecaw oceHbW — HE Me4,
155
Silent, waiting, all the soldiers Clench their teeth, try not to shake. And, as usual, one real genius Finds a bight remark to make.
His solicitude’s amazing,
As he says to one and all:
‘Watch him! When he’s finished circling, He’ll come in and have a ball!”
Have a ball!
Down he comes roaring. It’s a terrifying sound, And there’s nothing more compelling Than the order they’re all yelling As one man: “Get down!” “Get down!”
Death is death. We all expect it As the appointed time draws near. But for etting killed in wartime, What’s the easiest time of year?
Warmly shines the sun in summer,
And, wherever you may go,
All’s in bloom. The thought’s heart-rending... Leave this life in summer? No!
Autumn seems more likely. Nature Thinks of sleep as summer ends. But to take a tumble in those Filthy trenches? No, my friends....
Winter binds the earth rock-solid Six feet down; and suddenl
You're entombed in slabs of topsoil. Thank you, winter’s not for me.
But in springtime, but in springtime... Here we might as well admit:
If it’s bitter in the summer,
If in autumn it’s not sweet,
156
Ecav B 3HMY APOKb SeperT, | To BecHOH, APy3bA, OT STOK TlogaoH wryKu— Aylly pBeT.
Vi kakoit Tht BAPyr NOKOPHBIA Ha rpy4k A@KHUIb 3€MHOH,
3acAOHACh OT CMepTH 4epHOK Toabko co6cTBeHHOM CIMHOH,
Tbl A@KHIUb HHYKOM, NapHHUiKa AjpaAlaTH HEMOAHBIX ACT.
Bor ceiiuac Te6e “ Kpbillka, Bot Te6a yxe u HET.
TH MpwKaA K BHCKaM AaJOHH, Tor 3a6n1a, 3a6b1A, 3a0B1A, Kak TpaBy IJHiaAM KOHH, UrTo B HOYHOE Th BOAHA.
CmepTb rpoxoyeT B Nepenonkax, VW sqaaek, Aaaex, Aaaek
Beyep TOT u Ta AeByOHKa,
Yro AwO6ua TH H Geper.
UV sapysei u 6anu3KHx Ana, ZloM pogHoi, cy4OK B CTeHE... Het, 60ey, HHUKOM MOAMTBCA He roantca na BOHHE.
Hert, Topapuiy, 300 4 ropso, Kak 3aKOH BeAHT Oo),
CmepTb BCTpeyaii AHIJOM K AMI, Vi xota Ont MAIOHb efi B MOpdy, Ecan BCe IIpHINAO K KOHL)...
Hy-ka, 4To 3a NepemMeHa? To ne myTKH— 60H uazer. BctTaa OAHH MH 6beT C KOAeHAa V3 BHHTOBKH B CaMOAeT.
pox Aunelinan BHHTOBKa
a OpeseHTOBOM peMue,
fla NaTpousl C TOK TOAOBKOH, Uto crpamHa craabHon 6poue.
157
If in winter it’s cold feet, Then the thought of death in springtime Bids to break the heart indeed.
Nuzzling the earth, you lie there Cowed, subdued, with bated breath; Nothing but your back between you And a very nasty death.
Just a lad not yet turned twenty, ing helpless, flattened prone.
ere it comes. This time you've had it! You’re a goner now, my son!
Hands pressed tightly to your temples, You forget, forget, forget How the horses champed the grasses When you turned them out at night.
Death is roaring in your eardrums. Far, far, far away,
Is the evening, and the girl you Cared for more than words could say.
Faces of your friends and loved ones, Home, the knotty timber wall...
No, lad! Praying prone in wartime Isn’t going to help at all!
No! And if the arrogant, evil
Laws of war should so command, Look death in the eye, my friend, Show that you can still defy it, Though you know this is the end....
Wait! The situation’s altered! Someone’s hitting back again, Kneeling, firing with his rifle At the enemy aeroplane.
{ust the usual soldier’s rifle
ith a canvas webbing sling, But with armour-piercing bullets That will go through anything.
158
Bott HepaBHEii, 60% KOpoTKHi. CaMoaeT 4y2KOH, C KpecToM, TlokadHyAca, TOUHO AOAKA, SayepnHyspiuan Goptom.
Haxpenach, nomen Mo Kpyry, KysbipkaeTca Haq AYTOM,—
e 3aA4epxuBali — Japan, B 3€MAl0 WITONOpOM BBeE3Kali!
Cam CTpeAOK TAAAHT C HCMYyroM: UTo Hajeaaa HeEB3HayaH.
CKOpocTHOoH, BOeHHEIM, 4YepHEIH, Cop peMeHHBIN, ABYXMOTOPHBIM CamMoaeT —CTaAbHaa CHaCTb— YXHYA B 3€MAI0, 3aBbIBas,
Iap 3emHow NpoOuTh x*eAan Vs Amepuky nonacts.
— He npo6ma, crapaaca caa6bo. — Buauo, ecto nporagaa.
— Kro crpeasa? — 3B0HAT 43 HITaba.— Kro cTpeaaA, kyfa moma?
AAbwOTaHTH 3EMAIO POT, AjsiumuT B Tpy6xy reHepaa. — Pa3nickaTb TOT4AaC repoa. Kro cTpeasa?
A KTO CTpeaAna?
Kro He CIPATAACA B OKONMUHK, TlomuHaa BCcex pOgHHx,
Kro oH —cBOK Cpean cBOnxX— He 3e€HHTUMK UM HE ACTUHK,
A repoi— ne xyoke ux?
Bot OH CaM CTOMT C BHHTOBKOH, Bot no3qpaBuan ero.
V kak 6yyTo BceM HeEAOBKO— Hen3BecTHo OTuero.
159
Duel unequal, soon decided.
{err , with his painted cross, eeled half over, like a vessel
That the angry storm-winds toss;
Listing badly, turned and circled Overhead, then somersaulted,
Come on, dive, don’t mess around — Corkscrew straight into the ground.
And the marksman watched and marvelled....
Never thought he’d bring him down.
Black, twin-screwed, formidable, Modern, fast, manoeuvrable,
Painted with a swastika,
Plunging headlong downwards, shrilling, As if he had hopes of drilling
Right through to America.
“Didn’t make it. Very feeble.” “Didn’t choose his spot, that’s plain!”
HQ on the line: “Who did that? Find the man who got that plane!”
Adjutants all in a tizzy,
And the General roars again:
“Find that hero quick! Who is he? Where’s the man who got that plane?”
One who didn’t hide and cower, Crying for his family;
ust a common soldier, he;
o crack gunner or ace flier — But a hero anyway.
So he stands there with his rifle As congratulations fly. Everybody seems embarrassed, No one knows exactly why.
160
BuHOBaTH, 4TO Ab, OTUACTH?
Vs cka3aa CepKaHT Cipocta:
— Bor yTo 3HauNT NapHo cuacTee, Tan Ab— MW OpseH, Kak C kycTa!
He nmpome4AHBUIM C OTBETOM, Ilapeupb caaty mogaer:
— He ropwwi, y nemyja 3TOT — He nocaeaHHu CaMOAeT...
C 9TOH WyTKOH-NoroBopKoH, O6aetespmeh GaTaabou, Tlepemrea B repou Tepxun,— 9TO 6bIA, MOHATHO, OH.
161
Are they feeling somewhat shamefaced? Says the Sergeant wrily, “Please,
Help yourself. There’s nothing in it. Me at here just grow on trees!”
Whereon the resourceful laddie
Finds his comeback like a shot:
“Don’t you worry, Sarge. That plane was Not the last one Jerry’s got!”
This went round the whole battalion And caught on immediately. Tyorkin thus became a hero— Naturally, it was he.
162
O TEPOE
— Her, mockoapky 0 Harpage Peub ONATh 3aMlAa, APy3ba, To yxe He MyTKH paqu Koe-aro go6aBaw A.
Kak-To B rocnuTaae 6nIA0. fleub Aexy,.Aexy BTOpOH. KTO-TO CMOTPHT MHE B 3aTBIAOK, Tloranxy, a TO—repoit.
Cam co6ouH, cKa3aTb,— MaAbYumIKa, He J0AeTOK-CTpHryHoOK.
Vs MyTHT Me€HA MBICAMIIKA:
Bot OH MOT, a # HE MOL...
PasroBop HAeT Me@xK HaMH,
Vs cmpocu a c nepBHX CAOB: — Bs oTKy4Za pogzomM camu— He u3 HamiMx AM KpaeB?
CMOTpHT OH: — A Bh OTKy4a? —
THE HERO
No, my friends, since decorations Have come up again today,
Let’s be serious for a moment: I've got something else to say.
In the hospital it happened;
I'd been there a day or so.
Felt someone behind me, staring;
Turned and looked, and — what d’you know! —
Yes, a hero! Just a youngster, And I'll tell you honestly,
That it got me kind of worried: Yes, he’d made it. As for me....
Anyway, we soon got talking,
And I asked him nght away:
‘Mind me asking where you come from? Happen you're from down my way?”
Says he, staring: ‘Where are you from?”
164
Otseuyab:
— Tak H Tak,
Cam Kak pa3 CMOAeHCKHH Oyay, MoxeT, AyMalo, 3eMAAK?
AX IIpHBCTaA repon:
— Hy aro su,
UTo BsI,— BCKHHYA TOAOBOK,— Al kak pa3 u3-n04 Tam6oBa,— VW norporaa opfex cBon.
VM symoaxnya. UW noxoxe, TloadepkuyTb XOTeA OH MHE, UtTo Takux, KaK OH, H€ MOKET BbITb B CMOACHCKOM CTOpOHe;
Uto yK TaK OHH BOBeCKH
Pa3AM4aloTCA MECTA,
4To y HX py4bH HW peKH VY scama 3e€MAA He Ta,
V1 noAAHKH, H IIpHropKn, V1 Ko3ABKH, H KYKH...
HM xyaa TH, Bacbka Tepkun, Ae3ellb CAypy B 3eMAAKH!
Tak AH, HET —CKa3aTb,— He 3Hab, TTOABKO MHE OT MBICAH TOK Cropona MOA pogHaa
Tloxa3aaacb CHpoTon, CupoTHHKoi, 4TO He BAAHO
Ha napoge, Ha KpyrTy...
Tak MHe CTaAo BApyr o6ugHO,— PaccKa3aTb BaM He MOTY.
OTO Aa, YTO A He TopaAHii Ilo xapaxtepy, a Bce * Bot Tellepb, Korga A OpseH Hanenaw, ckaxy «A: Bpewp!
165
So I says to him:
“Why, me,
I'd be sort of from Smolensk, like. Thought you might be too, maybe....”
Then he stiffens.
“Did you!
Did you?” —coming over all stuck up. Then he taps the gong he’s wearing: “From Tambov.” And then shuts up.
That was all. As if he wanted Just to sort of rub it in
at the kind of place I come from Can’t produce the likes of him.
That his home and mine were always Different as chalk and cheese;
That you can’t compare their rivers, Streams, or farmland, if you please! — Not to mention hills and meadows, Insects, beetles, bugs and fleas...
That'll teach you, Vasya Tyorkin, Trying to find who comes from where!
Maybe I’m exaggerating, But it all seemed so unfair, ust as if my native country
ight as well have not been there, Lost, forgotten, never mentioned, Never even called to mind....
Can't describe my feelings, fellers, But it all seemed so unkind.
I’m not proud, as I keep saying, No, quite definitely not.
But when I pin on my medal
That'll teach our friend what’s what!
166
MbI B 3CEMAAUECTBO HE AeC3EM, EcTb CBOW y Hac Kpaa‘.
Tri —TamOosckuh: byab ao6e3eu. A CMOACHCKHH — BOT OH A.
He wHO#w Kako, HE SHCKHH, be3biMAHHBIM KOpelloK,
A AeHCTBHT€ABHO CMOACHCKHH, Kak Apa3HHAM HaC, POKOK.
He kn4yCcb pOgHbIM A Kpaem, Ho nponan Bech Sean cBeT — Kro B poxxku Te6e chirpaet Tak, Kak Halll CMOACHCKHH Jed.
3aBedeT, 3aAyeT CHBaA Auxan 6opoga: Thi Ky4a, MOA KpacuBag, ya HWAeUulb, kya...
Vi Begert, noet, 3a; pupaet — AaaHo, 4To 6e3 CAOB,
Co cAe30 BbIrOBapHBaeT PagocTb w AIOOOBb.
Vi 3a Ty o”Hy crapHHHyio 3a My3bIKy-pO%KOK
B kpaH pogHow AOpory AAMHHY!0 Cro pa3 6p a mpomea.
Mue He HaJo, 6paTuB, opdena, Mne CaAaBa He HyKHa,
A HyxkHa, 60AbHa MHE, po4HHa,
PoaHas cropona!
167
Each of us must come from somewhere. Fair enough. Leave well alone.
From Tambov, you say? Oh, really! Near Smolensk, mate, that’s my home!
I’m no nameless, numbered ticket:
Use me once and throw me out,
Take the shepherd’s pipe of those parts That they tease us all about.
Say I’m boasting if you want to, But wherever you may roam,
You won't find a better piper Than old grandad way back home.
Pipe away, you jolly greybeard, Pipe a merry ditty:
“Whither bound, o lovely lassie, Whither bound, my pretty?”
Plays he lively, plays he blithely, Tells in wondrous wise
Tales of joy and true love, bringing Teardrops to your eyes.
I would make the homeward journey A hundred times and more, Just to hear that piper playing As in days of yore.
I don’t long for medals, brothers, Glory’s not for me;
All I long for is my kinfolk, And my own countree.
168
TEHEPAA
3aHAAa BOMHa MOACBETA, CroH CTOWT BTOpoe AeTO. Onoscaa @poHT crpany. I'ae-ro Aagora... A rge-To AjouH—H TO xe Ha Jony...
Tae-To aowaau B ylpsaxKe
B cxaaax 3y6n1 ObioT 06 aed... Tae-To a6AoHA UBeTeT,
VM Mopak B O4HOM TeABHALIKe Taujut crenbio nyaemet...
lae-To 6om6ni Tonuyt ropog, TouyT Ha MOope cya... l'ge-To TaHKH Ae3yT B ropH, K Boare ABnHyAacb Gea...
l'ae-ro, 6yaTo Ha 3a4BopKe,
byATO 3HaTb po TO He 3HaA, a cBoem yuacTxe Tepknu
B o6opone 3aropaa.
THE GENERAL
War full half the wide world over Groans into its second summer.
Now the land is torn in two.
Ladoga lies somewhere.... Somewhere Flows the Don.... A front there, too....
Somewhere in the hills, draft horses Slip on ice and smash their teeth.... Somewhere, apple trees are flowering, In his undervest, the sailor
Hauls the gun across the heath.
Somewhere, bombers raze a city,
Ships are ae by the score....
Somewhere, tanks crawl through the mountains, Doom draws near the Volga’s shore....
As if in his own back garden, As if war were far away, Tyorkin, lazy with inaction, Dreams the idle hours away.
170
Y aecHOHw TAyxoH pesymKy,
UtTo KaTHAaCbh BAOAb BOHHH, Tlocae 406pok nocrupymKu Ilopa3BpecwaA AAA Mpocyniku
Tumuactepky 4 UITaHH.
Ha mpnnexe oOHAA 3eMAN0. Pyxu BRIOpocHA Brieped
Uh rexut WH TaK-TO ApeMaeT, Moxer GEHTS, 3a WeAbIM rod.
Vs peaymKxa — neray6oxnit Po4HHKOBHK pyseek — IeseauT TpaBon-ocoKon Y ero pa3yTHIx HOF.
VW kypanmet C THXOW AaCcKoHn, MoeT KaMyllIKH Ha AHe.
VW sBHXxOAMT HE TO CKa3Ka,
He To neceHka BO CHe.
Al Ha peake HOrH BHIMOND. yaa, peyveHbkKa, Tewelllb? B cropoHuy MOW, poqMMyh, oxKeT, rje-HHOy4b CBepHellb.
Moxer, rAe-HAby Ab H3AyY4HHOH Ilo nyTH 3a%Aems Tyaa,
Vs nog MpOBOAOKOH KOAIUEIO IIpobepemsnca 6e3 Tpy sa,
Mex HeMe€IJKHMH OKOIIaMH, Mumo sBpakKeckHx MOCTOB, Bo3ae nyuieK, B 3€MAIO BKOM@HHBIX, II poMeAbKHellIb 3-34 KyCTOB.
HM Tponot cpaoek HcKOHHOW pOTelellb TH TaM, Kak TYT, Vi sun neuine, HH KOHHBEIE Ha nyTH He nepelimytT.
Aoteyelth AOporon KpyxXHOIO {Jo pogumoro ceaa.
171
At the forest brooklet, singing
On the fringé of war nearby,
After a good wash and wringing,
ayorkin s left his trousers hanging ith his tunic out to dry.
Lies he where the sun is hottest, Arms extended, palms down-pressed,
Catching up on all his daydreams For a good twelve months at least.
And the brooklet of spring waters Gently shakes the grassy sedge At his feet, spread out for comfort Close beside the water’s edge;
And it chirps affectionately, Laves the pebbles on its bed, And a song, or maybe story, Seems to sing in Tyorkin’s head.
I will wade in your clear waters. Brooklet, whither going?
To my own dear native village will you be a-flowing?
Say, will your meanderings take you To my home out yonder? Prickly barbed wire shall not stay you
As you trickle under.
Through the German trenches shimmering, Past the sentry stations,
In among the trees and bushes, Round the gun positions,
You shall take your old, time-honoured Homeward course, as ever. Infantry or cavalrymen Shall delay you never.
To my home by ways so devious You shall slowly wander.
172
Ha MOCTy COAdaTHI C pyKbAMH,— Tpit 104 MOCTHKOM Mpomtaa.
TaM mewaAb CBO BEAHKYN, Yro 6e3 Kpas uM KONYA,
Hag To6ou, Haq peukou, BbITAaKaT,
Moet, BbIaAeT MaTb Oona.
Hag To6o0H, Haq MaAoH peykown, Hag Bogou, sett NyTb Jarek,
TlocanrxaTb 6bI XOTb CAOBEYKO eH,
XOTb OJHO, UTO eA ChIHOK. ;
IlomopoxeHHBIH, MpOcTyKeHHBIM,
OrTabixaeT OH, repon, Buta, paHeHbIh, KOHTYKCHHBIN, Aja 340poBbiii 4 KMBON...
TepkiH— MHOrO AM ApeMaA OH, SeMAIO-MaTb TIpHxKaB K WeKe,— CAbILUMT:!
— Tepkuu, K renepaay
Ha oqgnont AaBaii Hore.
Tlocmotpea, NOgHAACA Tepkux, Tyt cBA3HOM CTOMT.
— Hy to x,
be3 wiTanos, 6e3 ruMHacTepku K reHepaay He noi Jeu.
ToBoput, 4yAuKT, a BCe *e
Cam, BOAHYAC M Cons, Herpocoxinywo o4exy
CneuiHo NMAANT Ha ceba. IIpupocaa k cnuHe— He CTpOHet...
— Tepkun, Cpoky NAT MMHYT. — Huuero. C 3eman ue cronar, Ajaapme PpouTa He NOMAT,
TloqsanpaBMAca Ha CAaBy, VW xoTb 3HaeT Haneped,
Uro copceM He Ha paciipaBy Tenepaa ero 30BeT,—
173
Should there be a bridge with sentries, You'll run softly under.
And, maybe, the soldier’s mother, By your waters standing,
Has come down to weep her sorrow, Grief that has no ending.
There, by your much-travelled waters In the hope of hearing
Just a word or two of tidings How her son is faring.
After many a chill and fever, He’s alright, is Tyorkin;
And though battered, wounded, shell-shocked, He’s alive and kicking.
Tyorkin, lying there and dreaming
With his cheek pressed to the ground, Hears: “The General wants you, Tyorkin! Put your skates on! Quick, get round!”
Tyorkin turns his head, half-rises, Sees an orderly. “Now, son,
Can't go to the General, can I, Till I’ve got my trousers on!”
Though he jokes and gags about it, He’s excited, breathing fast;
Grabs his damp things from the bushes, Tries to drag them on in haste,
But they cling to him all over....
“You've got just five minutes, mate!” “Well? You think they’re going to fire me, All because I showed up late?’
But he makes himself look tidy, For he knows it well enough
That the General hasn’t called him Merely for a ticking off.
174
Bce * y rAaBHOrO nopora
B reHepaAbckom 6anHAaKe — bara 651 Gor, Tak Tepkuu 6ory Tlomoanaca 651 B Ayute.
Ilyrka Ab, ecAm pa306parTEca:
K reHepaay BXOAHIUb BApyr,— Yenepaa— O4MH Ha ABaglaTh, JBaAlljaTb MATb, Aa MO*KET CTaTKCA, V1 wa copoxk BepcT BoKpyr.
Tenepaa cTtouT waa HaMu,— Opo6ertb mpu HeM He rpex,— OH He TOABKO 4TO 4GMHaMH, Boesbimu opdenamu,
On roaaMu cTapute Bcex.
Tu, o6.Kernincb Kaliew, Maakaa, TH MeuIKOM XOAHA NO CTOA, On Torga yX 6brA BOAKON,
OH XOAMA yxKe B aTaky,
B3B04, a TO M poTy BeA.
Vi swa 9sToOH NOAOBHHE —
Y nepeAHHX HallMx AHHH, Ha BpowHe — HE KTO, Kak OH, Tso IK u Tao Kaannun. Cyqg. Orey. T'aapa. 3axon.
UYecrbio, Apyr, CiHuTaH HeMaaod, 3apa6oranHon B Gon, YcAbIXaTb OT reHepaaa Bapyr paMHAHo CBOW.
3Ha: 3a ACAO, 3a 3aCAyTy dKMeT Te6e OH KpeNKO pyky Bboesow cpoek pykoit.
— Bot, 6pat, 3HaanT, TH KaKoit. Boratsipb. Opea. Hy, npocro— Bonu! — cxaxerT renepaa.
175
But as he draws near the threshold Of that holy place down there,
If there were a God, then Tyorkin Would intone a silent prayer.
It’s no joke, to put it bluntly, When the CO calls you round. Generals don’t come in plenty; He’s the only one for twenty, Maybe forty, versts around.
If you go with trepidation,
Well, it’s only natural...
It’s not just his rank and station, Or his Army decorations —
He’s the oldest of us all.
And, while with a baby spoon
You were guzzling breakfast porridge, He’d been made, for dash and courage, Company Commander soon
After leading a platoon.
As the front-line soldiers see him, He is fraught with special meaning. They know well that in this war, He’s their CC,* their Kalinin.** Father. Judge. Authority. Law.
Friend, consider it an honour, Almost military fame,
When the General in person Calls you by your modest name,
And, in his appreciation Of your gallant contribution, Shakes you firmly by the hand.
“Good for you, lad! That was grand! Acted like a proper champion!” Warmly says the General. * Central Committee of the Communist Party of the
Soviet Union.— Tr. ** Mikhail Kalinin (1875-1946) was President of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR at the time.— Tr.
176
VM nyckai TH Aaxke pOocToM Vis maeubMi BCEFO HE B3AA,
VI ogeT He AAA Mapaga,— TyT sow#ua—napag noToM,— Topopat: opea, Tak Hajo
Vi rasdetb x ObITh OpAOM.
Cro, 6o0e, C AOCTOHMHbIM BHAOM, Tlonnman, B Aymle uMen: Tenepaa Harpady BblzaA—
Kak Ob] CHAA C Tpyqu cBoeH — Vx 6omWOBCKOH ruMHacTepKe I[puxpenua HeMeJAA CaM.
HW saadouHbw:
— Bor, 6par Tepxun,—
Ilo AMXHM M1poBea ycam.
B cxo6kax Hago6Ho, nomKanyH, 3AeCb OTMETHTB, 4TO YCHI, Ecaw €CTb y reHepaaa,
To OHM He JAA Kpacsl.
Ha sowne an, Ha Mapase He nyctax, Apy3ba, Korga Tenepaa ycbi MorAadHa
Vi scka3aa xora Ont:
— fia...
Ectb npuBaluka Goesaa, EcTb MHHYTBI H 4aCBl... VU ue 3pa euje Uanaes Ypaxkaa CBOM chi.
Caopom — Aaapine. Tenepaay Tloka3aaocb nog KoHeL,
Uto cpoew warpage Maao Tloyemy-To pag 6oey.
Yro »*, 60eu — ayuia *nBaA, Ha Boline BTOpOH yx rod... Vi sue Kaan geub cOnBsawt V3 BHHTOBKH CaMOAeT.
177
And, although you're not broad-shouldered And, although you're not so tall,
And not dressed for the parade-ground (Leave that till the fighting’s done),
If they tell you you’re a champion,
Better look and be like one.
Do your best, rise to the occasion, And remember well, my son, How he handed you the medal Just as if it were his own; ow he pinned it on your tunic, Quickly, but in no way rushed, Clapped your shoulder: “Good work, Tyorkin!” And gave his moustache a brush.
Also, parenthetically,
There’s one comment we should make: No, the General’s moustache is
Not there just for beauty’s sake.
On parade or at the front-line,
It’s not purely meaningless
If he brushes his moustache, though He may only say: “Hm, yes....”
It’s a good old Army custom, And, as every soldier knows, Not for nothing did Chapayev Chertsh his mustachios.
Still, to go on with our story... Soon the General descried That, despite his decoration, Tyorkin seemed unsatisfied.
Well, the fellow’s only human,
He’s been fighting all the way.
And you don’t shoot down a bomber With a rifle every day.
178
Moaoglja 4 B CaMOM Aere OTAMYMTb pacyeT TIpAMOH.
— Bor sro, Tepkun, Ha Hezeaw Moxemb c opgeHoM— Jomoii...
TepkuH —NOHAA AH, HE TIOHAA, Vab He BepHT TeM CAOBaM? TOABKO APOrHyAM AaAOHH
PykK, NPOTAHYTHIX TIO WIBaM.
IIpo ce6a s3goxuys ray6oxKo, Tepkuu THXO OTBeqAA:
— Ha negeaw mano cpoxy Mue, ToBapum reHepaa...
TeHepaa CKAOHHACK Crporo:
— Kak Tak mMaao? Ilouemy?
— Wloromy—tpyagua gopora Hstnge K AOMy MOeMy.
Alom-To Bpose HeAaae4Ko,
{lo npamo# — nycTamHE WyTb...
— Hy auro «x?
— Ala « He peuxa,
Yro6 aerko Ty4a WIMBITHYTS. Mue No KpaHHOcTH BHaqane {lHeM COBaTBCA He C pyKu. Mue “atu TyJa HOYaMH, Hy, a HOUM KOpOTKH...
Tenepaa kKMBHYyA:
— Tlouatuo!
‘Alero c ornyckom — ta6ax.— TlomytHa:
— A kak o6patHo
Tat npumea 6n1?..
— Touno xX Tak...
Cropona MOf# AecHaa,
Kaxk Abi KyCTHK MHE — podHa. 4 nyTH Takue 3HaI0,
Uro noaw noma Mena!
179
Seeing that the lad deserves it, There’s one more thing I can do....
“Tyorkin, one week’s leave is granted. Take your medal home with you.”
Can’t the lad believe his ears, then? Is he dumbstruck as he seems?
But his hands are trembling slightly Pressed against the trouser seams.
Tyorkin heaved a sigh, and answered In a timid voice and low: ° “Comrade General, one week is Hardly long enough, you know.”
Grim, the General leaned torward; . “What d’you mean, ‘not long enough’?” “It’s no easy road to travel,
And the going could be tough.
As the crow flies—nothing to it,
It’s not all that far to go....”
“Well, then?”
“Well, I’m not a brooklet,
Just to trickle through somehow... Getting through the lines in daylight Wouldn’t be exactly sport.
I would have to move in darkness, And the nights are pretty short.”
“Ah!” The General nodded. “Got you! Rather dodgy business, eh?”
Then he ioked: “As for returning, D’you suppose you’d find the way?”
“Tt’s all forest where I come from. I know every bush and tree, Every track. I could lie low there, And you'd look in vain for me.
180
Mue TaM Kaxk4anA 3HaKOMa Bopo3geuka Nod MexKoi.
A — cMOAeHCKHH. A Tam Aoma. A Tam— cBou, a on— 4yxKOi.
— Horogu-xa. Tt 6e3 mytox. Tut 6H BOT ITO MHE CKa3aa...
VM kak 6yaro B Ty MHHYyTy UTO-TO BCNOMHMA reHepaa. Ha 6oftua BaraaHyA AyMeBHei Vs cka3aa, mMaruys K CTeHe:
— Hy-ka, rae TBoa gepesua? Tloxaxn No Kapte Mue.
Tepkni AbImIMT OCTOpOxKHO
Y HayaabcTBa 3a MAeWOM.
— MoxHO,— MOABHT,— 9TO MOXKHO. Bot on Ajenp, a BoT MOH AOM.
Teuepaa OTMeTHA TOUKY.
— Bor aro, Tepxuu, B OAMHOUKy He peson Te6e nuarn.
Ilorepnu yx, aait OTCpou4ky,
Ham c ToOow Ho nytTh...
Ornyck TOuHO, akKKypaTHO 3a To6oH mpoury yyecTs.
Vs Ooey cka3aa:
— Tlouatuo.—
VM eme gobasna: — Ectp.
Bcraa 110 @opme y mopora, ITpu3aqyMaacad HEMHOTLO, Ha cekyHay Ha O4Hy:..
Yenepaa ychi noTporaa
VW scka3aa, NOAHABIINCS: — Hy?..
181
“I know every single furrow,
Every single boundary line.
All that country round Smolensk, it’s Not their home by nights, it’s mine.”
vast a moment. That’s important. ou could help us out, maybe....”
And, as if some half-forgotten Thought had struck him suddenly, With a friendlier glance at Tyorkin, He approached the dug-out wall. “See this map? Point out your village, Can you?” asked the General.
Tyorkin stepped up close behind him, Breathing extra carefully.
“Yes, I can. That there’s the Dnieper, And that there’s my home,” said he.
Then the CO marked it lightly. “Look here, Tyorkin, can’t say rightly You'd do well to go alone.
If you don’t mind waiting slightly, We could all head for your home....
“Just postpone your leave a little. Rest assured, you'll get it all.”
“Understood,” said Vasya Tyorkin, Adding, “Comrade General.”
As per Army Regulations, Tyorkin stiffened to attention, Then turned thoughtful for a spell...
And the General, half-rising, Fingered his moustaches: “Welle...”
182
CkKOAbKHX OH, Ha4 KapTOH CHARA, CAOBOM, MOATHMCbIO CBOeH, Ilepeg Tem B raaza He BUAA, TlocniaaA Ha CMepTb Aw Jer!
Uto Ke, Bcex MH HE YBHAMIIb,
C KaxKAbIM K POCCTaHAM HE BBIMAeUIb, Ha mpomanbe BceM HeEAb3A SaradHYyTb TeMAO B raa3a.
SarAAHYTb B TAa3a, KaK Apyry, Vs noxatTb noKpenye pyxy,
VM sno uUMeHu Ha3BaTb,
VM syqaunm moxKeaarth,
VM, nomegAuBIUH MHHYTKY, O604puTb CTapHHHON LIyTKOH: Moa, XOTA HW TAKEAO,
A, Mex AY Npo4MM, HHUETO...
Hert, na pcex Te6a He xBaTHT, XOTb KaKOM Th reHepaa.
Ho c OAHUM MpocTHTECA KCTaTH Tenepaa He 3abpipaa.
O6HAAMCh OHM, MYKYMHEL, Tenepaa-manop c 60%10M,— TeHepaa — c ArO6OMMBIM CBIHOM, A 60e4—C pogHbIM OTUOM.
Hi 6otiuy 3a Tem moporoM TIpegctoaaa nyTb-4opora Ha poguyw cropony,
IIpamMukom yepe3 Borny.
183
Brooding on his maps, how many Soldiers, quite impersonally,
With a word or scribbled order Has he sent away to die?
You can’t walk with every soldier To the parting of the ways; Look into his eyes directly
With a warm and friendly gaze;
Grip him firmly by the hand,
As 1f he were some dear friend; Call him by his name, express Hopes for good luck and success; And, delaying for a minute,
Crack some joke with whiskers on it: “As the famous poet said,
‘Cheer up, son, you'll soon be dead.”
No, there isn’t a commander Who could say good-bye to all.
But one man was not forgotten This time by the General.
Major-General and soldier,
They embraced as man with man: Common private and his father, General and his favourite son.
And, beyond the threshold lay Vasya Tyorkin’s homeward way Over country scarred and torn To the place where he was born.
184
O CEBE
A MOKMHYA AOM KOrAa-TO, Tlospaaa Aopora BaaAb. He maaa 6n1Aa yTparta, Ho cpBetTaa OnlAa TEWAAb.
VW rogamy c rpycrbio HeKHOK — Mex MHBIx AIOOEIX Tpesor — YIrOA OTYUHH, MMp MOM IIpexHH AB Aywe Moek Geper.
Za uw He 6bIAO TOMexH B3aTb W BCIOMHHTE Hayrag Craps aec, Ky4a B opexu Al XOAMA C TOATION pebar.
Aec—HM TyAei, HH OCKOAKOM He nopaHeHHblit HH4yTb,
He nopy6aenuniit 63 ToAKy, bes nopaaky Kak-HHby Ap;
He KopuenaHuniit yracom,
He noBaAeHHbIi OrHem,
XA@MOM I'MAB3, 2KECTAHOK, KaCOK He 3aBaAeHHBIM KpyroM;
.* . - ™ . ls Sal 7 a ~ ~ AEE ey ° e 2 -
~ an Se =
ABOUT MYSELF
Years ago, the wide world calling Took me from my home away. Though my loss was not a small one, Gentle was my grief that day.
Through the years with tender sadness, Day-to-day concerns apart,
Memories of home I cherished
Deep within my yearning heart.
At my fancy, I could always
Call to mind those early joys: How I roamed the ancient forest, Nutting with a gang of boys.
Woods not torn and gashed by shrapnel, Nor by flying bullets grazed;
Woods no fury of destruction
Had condemned to senseless waste; Woods not seared by high-explosives, Burnt down to the very ground,
Woods not strewn with cartridge cases, Cans and helmets all around;
186
Bavu4axkaMu HE H3pbITHIn, He o6kypeHuplii 34M0i, Hu cBoumMu He OOKHTHIE, Hu 4yxXMMH 1104 3eMAeH.
MMAbIn Aec, rae A MAaAbYOHKON Tlaea 43 BeTOK WaAalun,
Tae ogHaxk dbl A TeAeHKa, C6uBmHcb C HOF, HCKaA B FAyIM...
Tloageub paHuero HIOHA
bplA B AECY, MH KaKABIM AMCT, TIoAHbi, pagOcTHBI M IOHBIM, Bata TOpAY, HO CBE%K M 4HCT.
AWCT K AMCTY, AMCTOM IIPHKpBITHIH, B cOope AMCTBeHHOM TyCTOM TlepecunTaHHbiii, MpOMBITBIi Ilepppm 3a AeTO AO%K Jem.
VB IAyIM pogHou, BerBUCTOH, VM Bb TuWM AHeEBHOH, AeCHOH Moaogon, rycrou, CMOAMCTBIN, SOAOTOH JepxKaaca 3HOH.
V1 8 cnoxovHonw wane xBOMHOn Y 3e€MAM MellIaACH OH
C MypaBbHHBIM AYXOM BHHHBIM Vs mbAHHA, CKAOHASA B COH.
VB MCTOME OTHE CMOAKAN... CBeTAoH Kallaelo CMOAa
Ilo Kope HarpeTou eAKH,
Kak CAe3a BO CHE, TeKAa...
MaTb-3eMAA MOA podHaa, CropoHa MOA AecHaaA,
Kpavi HedaBHHX AeTCKHX AeT, OrTunit Kpaii, Thl ECTb HAb HET?
AletcTBa Aenb, 40 rpo6a MMAbIi, AleTcTBa cou, uTO cepally CBAT,
187
Woods not criss-crossed with entrenchments, Woods not charred by winter fires,
Woods not occupied and lived in
By whole armies— ours or theirs.
Dear, dear forest, where I wove me Twigs and branches for a tent; Where I sought an erring calf, and Ran till I was nearly spent....
Once in early June, at midday, Every leaf that I saw there Joyous, full and juvenescent, Glowed as with the purest fire.
Leaf to leaf, by leaf part covered, In a dense and leafy pile, Counted over, washed by summer’s First fresh shower of rain the while.
Deep within my native backwoods All those silent summer days, Thick and fragrant with sweet resin Hung the shimmering golden haze,
Mingling in the tranquil fir-grove With the winey redolence Of the ants— intoxicating And inducing somnolence.
Drowsy are the birds and silent...
See the bead of resin cree
Down the fir-tree’s warm bark, shining Like a teardrop shed in sleep...
Motherland, of all the fairest,
Land of woods and dreaming forest, Where I roamed not long ago— Are you there still, yes or no?
Childhood days the memory clings to, Distant dream the heart holds dear —
188
Kak Aerko BCe 9TO OBIAO B3ATb MH BCNOMHHTb Lod Ha3aJ.
BcnoMHHTb pa30M 4TO IpHAeTcA— Conubiit MOAAeHb Had BOAOH, ZiBopHK, crexKy AO KOAOAA,
Tae mecoqek 30A0TOH;
KHUTy, WATaHHyWO B M0Ae,
KuyT, CBHCalouJHH C mAe4a,
Aeg Ha peqke, raobyc B mIKOAe
Y WUsana Mapuya...
fla u He 6bIAO 3amperta, IIpoesqnHo Kynus 6uaer, Bapyr TyA4a pHexatTb AeTom, Tae Tal He OIA ACCATB ACT...
YroOnt c AacKOH, XOTb HE JeTCKOH, Buosb OOHATE CTapyxXy MaTb,
He M04 MpoBoAoKOH HeMeL|KOH HyxHo 651A0 MponoasatTh.
Yr06 co B3pocaon rpycTbw cAagkoi IIpa3squuk BcTpeun NepexuTb— He yKpagkonw, He C OrAAAKOH
Ilo pogHBIM Ae€CaM KpyKHTB.
Yro6 cepAerwHHIM pa3sroBOpoM
C 3eMAAKaMM BCTPeTHTb ACHb— He nya 6ntAa, Kak BOpy,
Ilog creHolo TipsTaTb TeHb...
MatTb-3eMAA MOM pogHan, Cropona MOA Ae€CHaA,
Kpai, cTpagaioujuit B maeny! A NpHdAy —AMWb AHA HE 3Hal0, Ho npugy, Te6a Bepny.
He 3BepHHBIM poOKHM CACAOM A npudy, TBOK KpOBHHIH CbIH,— Bmecte c Hamew nobeszon
Al uy, a He OfuH.
189
All so easy to remember Till that dark and fateful year.
Memories of the water shining
In the drowsy noonday heat;
Courtyard, footpath to the well-head, Golden sand there at your feet;
Books, the shepherd’s knout that dangled From your shoulder as a rule;
River ice, the globe at lessons
With Ivan Ilyich in school....
No one ever said you couldn’t Buy a ticket for the train
After ten long years of absence Just to see your folks again.
No need to go crawling under
Barbed wire and across the line To embrace your ageing mother With a love undimmed by time.
No need for that furtive skulking Through the forest on your way
To the secret, grown-up sadness
Of that sweet reunion day.
No need to slink round the corner Wary as a thief, or worse, Scared of your own shadow, just to Meet your fellow villagers.
Motherland, of all the fairest,
Land of woods and dreaming forest Suffering in captivity!
When, | cannot rightly say,
But I shall return one day.
Not like some wild, cowering creature Shall your son at last come home, But in victory’s hour triumphant
I'll return, and not alone!
190
OTOT yac He 3a TOpON, JJAad MeHA M AAS TeOA...
A 4uTaTeAb TOH MOpow CxaxerT:
— Tye xe mpo repos? Sto 6oapuie mpo ceba.
Tipo ce6a? Yupex yMecTHuIi, MoxeT 6sITb, MeHA TIpecek.
Ho AgapahtTe CKaxKeM 4eCcTHO: UTO *%, a H HE GEAOBEK?
Cnoputb 34ecb HyKAbI HE BUY, Co3HaBalica B 4eM B Apyrom.
A orpa6aeu u yHuxKeH,
Kak H TBI, OJHMM BparoM.
A Apowy oT 60An OcTpoH, 3ac6bl TOPbKOH HM CBATOH. Mat, oTelj, poaHbie CecTphl
Y MeHA 3a TOH YepToON.
Al cTOHAaTb OT 60AM BiIpaBe
VM kKpuuatb C TOCKH KAATOH.
To, 4TO | BCeM CepAlleM CAaBHA VM aw6ua— 3a TOW yepToH.
Zipyr MOH, Tak Ke HE A€rKO MHe, Kak Te6e c rayxon 6egon.
To, aro A XpaHHA WH NOMHMA, Uem A KMA— 3a TOM, 3a TOH— 3a HeNMcaHOn rpannye, Tlonepek crpannl camon,
Uro roput, ropuT B 3apHuyax BcnbitiekK — A€TOM HM 3HMOiN...
Vi ckamy Te6be, He cKpow,— B sTow KHUIe, TaM AN, CAM, To, 4TO MOABUTh Obl repow, Yopopt A AMYHO CaM.
A 3a BCe KpyroM B OTBETE,
191
Yes, that hour is drawing nearer Slowly, both for you and me....
Then the reader:
“And our hero—
Have you left him on the shelf? All you talk of is yourself!”
Why, you almost beat me to it. That was rightly said by you.
But we might as well be honest: Me, am I not human too?
There’s no call for us to quarrel Over things like that. You see, I’ve been robbed, humiliated
By that selfsame enemy.
With the keenest pain I tremble, Holy, bitter rage is mine.
Mother, father, sisters —all are On the wrong side of that line.
I could rightly groan with anguish, Cry out at the cruel affront.
All I love and hold most sacred Lies beyond that battle-front.
Yes, calamity has hit me
ust as hard as you, my friend;
All I cherish and remember,
All I’ve lived for, lies beyond
That uncharted frontier slanting Down across the land entire, Burning, burning, summer, winter, In a holocaust oF fire.
In this book occasionally —
And I’m being frank with you — What my hero should be saying
Comes from me direct, it’s true.
I am part of all that’s round me,
192
Ls 3aMeTb, KOAb HE 3€METHA, Uro u Tepkuu, Mou repo,
3a M€HA TAacHT NOpoH.
Ou 3€MAAK MOM H, ObITh MOET, XOTb HHM@AO HE IIOST,
Bce »e Kak-HH6yAb MoxoxKe Pa3mMpimianaA. A HeT, Hy — HET.
Tepkuy — Aaabme. ABTop — Bcaed.
193
And, no doubt, you will have found me Giving Tyorkin many a time
Thoughts and feelings that are mine. He’s my countryman, and maybe, Though he’s not the poet kind,
Still, in all his thoughts and feelings, He’s somehow that way inclined.
Let him lead. I'll come behind.
1g)
. se
194
BOH B BOAOTE
boii 6e3nectuniit, 0 KOTOpOM Peab cerogHA noBejeM,
bata, mpomea, 3a6bIACA CKOpo... Aja MW BCINOMHAT AM O HEM?
boii B Aecy, B KycTax, B 6oaoTe, Tae potua cTreawaAa Nyt,
Tae Bpoga Opraa mexore
Ilo KOAeHO, rpa3b— NO rpy ab;
Tae Opean 6otup moxypo,
V, ckoAb3uys c 6pesHa B HOUH, ApTHAAepnal TOHYAa,
YBA3aAM TATaqH.
OSToT 60% B 6oAoTe AMKOM Ha BTopoM 1o04y BoHHEL He 3a ropog mea Beankui, UTo OAH y BCeH CTpaHHl;
He 3a ropaylo TBepabIHD, Uro y MaTyuIKH-pexkn,
THE BATTLE OF THE MARSHES
Now, the battle of the marshes
That’s our subject for today,
Came and went, was soon torgotten — Who’d remember anyway?
It took place in swampy forest
Where the tide of war nad spread, Where they fought knee-deep in water, And breast-high in oozing mud;
Where they straggled, glum and wretched, And the field guns in the night
Slipped their beams, subsided slowly, While the tractors bogged down tight.
And the battle of the marshes,
As war’s second year came round, Wasn’t fought for some great city Of illustrious renown;
Wasn't fought for that proud fortress By the Volga flowing free,
196
A 3a HeKHH, CKaxKeM HbIHe, HaceaeHHBIM NyHKT bopxu.
Ou crosxa 3a TeM 60A0TOM
Y KOHIa A€CHOM TponE,
B HeM OCTaAOCb POBHBIM C4€TOM O6ropeanix Tpx Tpy6s1.
Tam C OTKPbITHIX H 3aKpBITHIX OrHeBbIxX — komy 3a6niTp! — Batao 6uTo, OuTo, 6uTO,
Hi, Ka3aaocb, 4TO Tam 6uTB?
Tam B uyje6eHKy KaxK AbIM KaMeHb, B wenku Kaxjoe Opesno. Ha3pipaaoch Tam bopkaMu MecrTo yepHoe O4HO.
A B OKpyxky — MOx, 60A0TO, Kpali OT Mupa B CTOopoHe.
IOAYMaTb BApy!, 4TO KTO-TO SAech POAWACK, KHA, paboTaa, Kro cerogHaA Ha BOHHE.
Tae TH,’ rae Th, MaABbYHK Boch, AlepepeHckui nacTywoK,
UrTo 10 STHM AbIMHBIM pocaM, Utro 10 STHM KOUKaM Wea?
BuACH Ab TH B ropax KaBxa3a, Man naa 3a CraanHrpaa..
Mow 3eMAKK, posecunk, 6par, Bepuurit AOAry WH WpuKa3y PyccKHHi Tpy*Ke€HHK-COAAaT.
Mau, MoxeT, B STHX JhIMaX, UTo ye HeAarekH,
Bu dvb HBIHYe CBOH pOAMMbIi Yroa AegoscKnHH, bopxu?
VU y Tok aeptnt HeqaabHyon, Y 3EMAH MHOFOcTpadaAbHoH,
197
But, we might as well admit it, For a hamlet named Borki.
There it lay, back of the marshes, Reached by one small forest track;
Not a single house left standing,
Just three chimneys, scorched and black.
From concealed and open fire-points,
As all there remember well,
It was hammered, hammered, hammered; There seemed nothing left to shell.
Every brick was smashed to rubble, Every beam to matchwood turned, Till Borki was just a name for Something flat, and black, and burnt,
Ringed around by moss and marshes, Back of nowhere, far away...
And to think that in this hamlet
One was born, and lived, and laboured, Who is at the front today.
Little barefoot shepherd laddie,
Tell me, where, O where are you,
That once roamed these mounds and tussocks In the misty morning dew?
Did you fight down in the Caucasus Did you fall at Stalingrad, Fellow-countryman and comrade, True to orders and to duty, Russian peasant soldier-lad>
Or, perhaps, in yonder smoke haze, Not so far off now, you see
All that’s left of what was once your Native hamlet of Borki?
Near the outskirts of the village Now so near and yet. so far, .
198
Uro 6praa k Te6e AoOpa, BAMACA FOAOC TBOM B MedaAbHbIN VW snporaxHbii CToH: «Ypa-a...»
Kak B 6010 y4a4uw MaAo VM geaa Hexopoun, Buyosartoro, 6n1Baao, Tam nonpooyi nonun.
APpTHAA€pHA TOAKOBO Tosoput— ona pasa:
— Bca 6eaa, 4TO TaHKH CHOBAa B aec CBepHyAM MO Aposa.
A ele CAOKHEE CUETHI, UyTb TaHKMCTa MOBCTpeyaa: — JTlogpeaa onatTb nexota. Saaeraa. [Ipomaa 3ganaa.
A mlexoTa He XBaCTAMBO,
Be3 oTpbipa OT 3eMAH
AMUb M@XHeT pyKOH ACHHBO: — Touno. TaHKu nogBean.
Tak wer OHO N10 Kpyry,
VW pyrawt sce Apyr Apyra, Alb B COrAacbe BCe NOApAg ABwallHio OpaHart.
Bce xopoune pe6ata,
Kak MOCMOTpHIlIb— kpacoTa. UW nuuyTb He BUHOBATH,
VW aepesuya He B3aTa.
UW nupoTussnk no 6oaoTy,
Ilo Tpanureikam TOppAHBIM CaauT BHOBb 43 MHHOMeTOB — UtTo Thi xouewlb AeAaH C HUM.
Aapeca pa3Bed4aa TOUHO, I[aeT MOcBIAKM CneuINOK NOUYTOH, Vs aexuub Th, agpecar,
199
On the land where you were nurtured, Did you lift your voice up, maybe, In a long and sad “Hurra-ah!”?
When things go awry in action, When you think you've lost the game, That’s the time when everybody Looks for someone else to blame.
Say the gunners, reasonably,
“We delivered all the goods.
It’s the tanks—they turned and left us, Went for logs into the woods.”
But it isn’t all that simple.
Meet a tankman: he makes out That the infantry stayed put and Sent the whole show up the spout.
And the infantry dismiss it Without even looking round, Saying with a weary gesture,
“Yes, the tanks—they let us down.” So they chew the whole thing over, Each lot swearing at the other;
But, as with a single voice,
They all curse the Air Force boys.
Still, they’re all grand fellows really, As I’m sure you will agree,
And you cannot really blame them If they've failed to take Borki.
Meanwhile, Jerry rakes the marshes And the trenches in the peat
With: a battery of mortars,
And our boys are in a sweat.
Yes, he’s found the right addresses, And each package he expresses, While they just lie waiting there,
200
M3HbIBan, *KACWIb 32 KOUKON, Ckopo Ab MHHa BACIIMT B 3a/.
Ilepemoxuiaa mexota
B noanpit CMak KAAHeT 6o0a0TA, He meutaeT 0 4pyromM—
XoOTb Obl CMepTh, Aa Ha CyXOM.
KrTo-HnbyJpb, euje paccKaxeT, Kak A@KaAM TaM B TOCKe. Tpetbu cyTKM KyKHII KakeT B *%MBOTe KHIIKa KHIIKe,
TlocbinaeT AO*K AUK pegKui, KameAb 3A0H Tep3aeT rpy Ab. Hu KAouKa pOdHOH ra3zeTKH — Ko3bi0 HOKKY 3aBEPHYTb;
Vi wm cimuex, HH MaxOpKH— Bce pacKHCAO OT BOJBI.
— Coraacucs, Bacuanit Tepxuu, XyoxKe HeT ye Gegn?
TOT A@KUT y KpaA Ayxu, YCMeXHYACH:
— Her, Apy3pa,
Bo cro pa3 OpipaeT xyxe, OTO TOUHO 3Halo A,
— ge yx xyxe...
— A ne cnoprte,
KTO He XO¥ET, TOT He Bepb, Al cxa3aa Obi: Ha KypopTe Mbl HaxOAUMCs Tenepb.
VW ras guT WyTHHK BeAHKHH
Ha awe co CTOpoHEi.
[y6s1— To au oT ¥YepHUKH, O Ab OT XOAOJa YepHEl.
Tosoput: — B cspoem 6oaoTte Tht HaxXOAHUIbCA ceHuac.
201
Stretched out flat among the grasses, For a bombshell up the rear.
And the soaked and sodden soldiers Lie and wait and swear blue murder, Not at all afraid to die,
All they want is to be dry.
Someone else will tell the story,
How they lay there, as if trapped, Three whole days and nights, so hungry That their empty bellies flapped.
Drizzle falling, fast and fine, Sounds of coughing all the time, And no paper or gazette
For a hand-rolled cigarette.
Neither matches nor makhorka: Everything is sopping wet. “Might as well admit it, Tyorkin, This is quite the worst do yet.”
Lying almost in a puddle,
e just turns his head and grins. “Call this bad? There’s nothing to it, That’s the honest truth, my friends.”
“Where's it worse?”
“Though you don’t have to
Credit everything I say,
This, as far as I’m concerned, mates, Is a seaside holiday.”
And our wag regards his comrades Sideways, seeming much amused. And his lips are blue with cold, or Maybe whortleberry juice.
He continues: ‘Now, these marshes That you’re in, belong to you.
202
Tu B yenu. Bo s3Bo0/e. B pote. Thi HMeCeLlIb CBA3b HM WacTb.
lame C€TOBaTb HEAOBKO IIpu taxol, uyaax, cyaboe. Y te6a B pyKaxX BHHTOBKA, /\pe rpanaTHi pu Te6e.
Y re6A—B THIAY Ab, Ha PAAHTe,— Cam He 3Haelllb, KaK CHACH,— Bpone6oitkn, NyliKH, TaHKH.
bl, OpaT,—9TO OaTaabon. Tloak. Jusu3na. A xovenlb— @pont. Poccua! Hakonen, A cxaxy TeGe Kopoye VM snowatuen: TH — 6oery.
TI B CTpOW, Mpoly yCcBOuTE, A 6nITb MOXKET, rod Ha3zad Tu 6b 34e€Cb H3BEAaA, BOHH, To, 4TO Hall H3Be4ar Spar.
Horn 6 c ropa He Hocnan! Tae cBou, rage abu Kpasn?
[ae Tor pout u rae Poccus? . Ilo kaxouw py6ex cBon?
VM oguHaxK dbl HOUbIO 1034HO, Or jepeBHu B CTOpoHe YKpHBaAca 6 TH B KOAXO3HOH, Hanpumep, CeHHOH KONHE...
Tyt, o3H06 BayBaA B AYN, Zjoarow BHITHYBLIMCh Ayron, CmepTHbIi CBHCT CKaTHACA B yUIH, Bawxe, HwKe,. cyule, rayure — V1 pasppis!
3a HMM Apyroi...
— Hy, naxppra. He gact gocaymaTb YWeaoseka. — QOH Taxol...
203
You’re in line. Part of a unit, With communications, too.
“Everybody might well wonder
What the hell you’re whining for, When you've got a rifle on you,
And two hand-grenades, what’s more.
“What with flanks, and rear, and so forth, You’re much stronger than you’d guess: Anti-tank guns, tanks, artillery —
A Battalion, nothing less!
Regiment. Division. Then the
Front. All of our Russian land.
In a word, you are a soldier,
That’s what you should understand.
‘“‘Now you're in the battle line, chum,
But a year ago, maybe,
You'd have surely been through something Like what happened once to me.
“You'd have nearly died of anguish. Where are all the lads you knew?
Where’s the Front? Where are you, Russia? How much is there left of you?
“Late at night, one summer evening You'd be hiding, I dare say, Somewhere well clear of the village In a handy heap of hay....”
Here a whine, weird and soul-chilling, Stabbed the ear-drums like a pain, In a long, low arc a-sailing, Keener, Gower, nearer wailing, Then a crash — And then again....
“Ranging in—no doubt about it!” “Doesn't like your voice, that’s plain!”
204
Vs 3a Ka AbIM TEM pa3pbIBOM Ha TIpHMOAKHyBUIMx peOAT PBaHbI AMCT, KpyKaCb ACHHBO, Betxu cOuTbIe ACTAT.
TsaHeT Bcex, 30BeT KyJa-TO, Yxoau, 6e4a BOT-BOT... ToapKxo Tepxuu:
— Bpocs, pe6ata, Tospopio — He nonazert.
Cam cuguT Kak 6yaTo B Kpecae, Bcex cTpaxyeT OT OrHa.
— Hy, a ecan?..
— A yx ecan...
Iloayan Torga C MeHA.
Cayura ayume. A cepbe3Ho PaccyxAalo 0 BOHHe.
BoT A@KMUb THI B TOH 6ecxo3HOH, B noae 6pomeHnHor KomHe.
Hemey rage? Jlo 6amxKHEeH xaTbI Tloapepcrbl— HU AaTb HY B3ATB, VW mpuxogat apa coagata
B moae ceHa HaBA3aTb.
V3 KOMHYIKM BAXKYT CeHO, Tou, rae Tbl HallieA MIpuHior, YMUHAaIOT 0A KOACHO
VM nowt. MW aro x nowt!
XAOMIbI, BEpbT€ MHE, HE BepbTe, TOAbKO BpaTb He CTaA 6b A,
A mlowrT xyabie 4epTH,
Cam cAbIxXaA: «MOCKBa MOA».
Tyt coctpoua Tepkun poxy MpHBCTaA, Aepxacb 3a MeHb,
Vi 3amea BeCcbMa NOxoxe,
Kak 6bI HeMel{ MOF 3arleTb.
205
With each violent explosion
As they lie there, silent all,
Broken twigs come down and leaves that Circle idly as they fall.
Now the men are getting restless: “If we don’t get of it....”
Tyorkin stops them:
“That'll do, lads.
He won’t score a direct hit.”
Sitting pretty, he. insures them
From such shell-bursts as may come. “But supposing?....”
“Well, supposing...
I'll pay yp your premium.
“Now, about this war, there’s something Serious I’ve got to say.
“There you are, out in the meadow,
Hiding in a heap of hay.
“It’s a half verst to the nearest Cottage, you. can’t nip away,
Though you hear two German soldiers Coming up to bind some hay.
“Now they’re binding from the hay-pile Where you're lying motionless.
As they work, the two are singing Something — well, you'll never guess!
“Call me liar if you want to,
But I wouldn't shoot a line.
With my own two ears I heard those Devils singing ‘Moscow Mine’!”
Tyorkin grimaced, put his hand down On a tree-stump, rose. gave out
‘With a line or two of music,
Singing just like any Kraut.
206
Alo Toro TAHYA OH KpHBO,
VU cmoTpea TIpH STOM OH
Tak 4BaHAMBO, TaK TOCKAHBO, Tak 4y4HO,— NeqeHKH BOH!
— Bort u cmex Te6e. Ognako Ycanixar 6bI TH TOrda
OTy mecHiO,— TH 6 3amaakaa OT meyaan 4H CTBIAAa.
Vs scMeelibca TH CerogHa, Iloromy uTo, 3Hali, Goer: Orow mecHH NpomaorosHeit HpiHye Hemel, HE neBeL.
— He neseu-To— 9To BepHo, STO ACHO, 4aC He TOT... — A JepesHw-To, npuMepHo, Bor 6epeM—ne oraaer.
Vc Trockow 6beckoueyunon, Uro, 6bitb MoxeT, rog Geper, KTO-TO Tak duCcTOCepseuHO, Tay6oxo, kak Mex Ky3HeaHBI, Bapyr B3AOXHYA:
— Oro, cnrHOK!
Togusuaca Tepxun B3fOXy, Ilocmor pea, — Hy, Hy! — cka3aa,— UW traxow pe6saunit xoxor
Bcex onatb B paOotTy Baan.
— Ax Th, Tepxun. Hy 4 maaniit. VB KOrO Tal y4aaca,
TOAbKO MaTB, HaBEPHO, 3HaAa... — A oT TeTKH pogHaca.
— TepkuH —TeTKuH, eAKH-naAkH, Cnilb elje Ha3A0 Bpary.
— He mory. TaaaHta »*xaaxo. Ajo Gombexxku Gepery.
207
And he dragged it out so direly, With such sentiment, such side, And so weirdly, that his comrades Laughed until they nearly cried.
“Think that’s funny? Let me tell you, If you’d heard that song the same
As I heard it in the meadow, __.. You’d have wept for grief and shame.
“Yes, today it seems amusing,
And this is the reason, mate:
ferry sang that song last summer; ow, for him, it’s out of date!”
“Yes, he’s changed his tune already, Not the time for it, that’s flat...” “But the village that we’re after, He’s sure hanging on to that!”
Then, as if he had been saving
Up his sorrows for a year,
Suddenly one of the fellows, Wheezing like a smithy bellows, Breathed a heartfelt sigh: “Oh dear!”
Tyorkin stared at him, quite startled. “Pere, come off it, you!” said he. And a peal of boyish laughter
Once more shook the company.
“Tyorkin, Tyorkin, you’re a right one. Where on earth d’you get it from?
No one but your Ma could tell: us—” “It’s my Aunt as bore me, chum.”
“Auntie’s Tyorkin! What a talker! Give us more dirt on the Hun.”
“Can't. I've got to save my talent Till the Jerry bombers come.
208
Tloayaaii Torga Ha BHIOop, Yro ume mpo sanac.
— VK 3a To Te6e cnacn6o. — Ha 3goposee. B 4goOpnii aac.
3aKAIOUNTh TeMepb HEAB3A AM, Uro, MOA, rope He 6e,a, Uro pe6aTa BcTaan, BAM
Alepesyuixy 6e3 Tpysa?
Uto c yqaieH NOCTOAHHOR TepkHH NOgBHr COBeplInA: PyccKoH AO*KKOH AepeBAHHOK Bocemb @puyes yaouna!
Het, TOBapHu, CKaxKeM TIPAMO: BIA OH AOAOr AO TOCKH, AeTHuit 60% 3a 9TOT CaM HaceaeHHnii nyHxT bopxu.
Muoro AHeH MpourAoO CypoBEIX, ToppKnx, CIMCaHHBIX B pacxod.
— Ho no3BoabTe,— ckaxyT CHOBa,— Tak 0 ¥eM TyT pe4db HAT:
Peyb HAzeT O Tom HoaoTe,
Tae nowna CTreAMAa IlyTb,
Tae soaa 6ntaa nmexoTe
Ilo KoAeHo, rpa3b— 110 TpyAb;
Tae B TpACHHe, B pxkaBOl Kale, be30TBeTHO—B C¥YeT, HE B C¥eT— IaAv, MOAZAH, A@KAAH HAH AjueM HM HOUbW HalIpoaert;
Tae nogapkom 3 NOAapKos, Kak TpyAbl HH BeAHKH,
He Pocros uM 6n1A, He XapbkKos, Haceaenubiit nyHKT Bopxu.
UW 8b rayun, B 6o10 G6esBecTHOM, B cocnake, B KyCTaX ChIpbIx
209
You can have the first refusals On what I've got left to spare.”
“Well, for that much, thank you, comrade.” “Pleasure! Any time you care!”
Can we now say in conclusion
That the siege came off all right?
That they charged and took the hamlet, Jerry showing hittle fight?
That, unbeatable as always, ayorkin, in a mighty feat,
ith a Russian wooden soup-spoon Knocked eight Jerries off their feet?
No, we'll tell you frankly, comrade — One long drawn-out agony
Was the battle fought that summer For the hamlet of Borki.
Many days of desperate struggle Written off as spent in vain....
“Now just what’s all this in aid of?” Comes the objection once again.
It’s about those swamps and marshes Where the tide of war had spread; Where men fought knee-deep in water, And breast-high in oozing mud.
Where through mud as thick as porridge Doggedly they fought their way, Walking, crawling, taking cover, Without respite, night and day.
Where the prize for all their labours, Truly great though they might be, Wasn't proud Rostov or Kharkov, But the hamlet of Borki.
In the battle of the pinewoods Where the scrub lay wet beneath,
210
CmepTbl0 npaBeAHOH HM 4eCTHOK Ilaau MHorue W3 HMX.
Ilyctb tot 60% He ynoMAHyT
B cnvcke CAaBhI 30A0TOH, Zlenb puget — ese NOBCTaHyT Alou B TlaMATH *KMBON.
VB oanoi GeccmepTHoH KHUTe byayT Bce HaBek paBHE —
Kro 3a ropog Maa BeEAHKHH, Uro o4HH y BCeH CrpaHnl;
KTo 3a ropayl0 TBEpABIHD, Uto y Boaru y pexkn,
Kro 3a TOT, 3a6nITHIM HBIHE, HaceaeHHbii nyHKT bopku.
HM Poccus — math poguan — TlowecTb BCceM OTAaCT CMOAHA. bow HHOH, nopa uaa, JKM3Hb OAHa H CMEPTb O4Ha.
211
Many of them died a noble And an honourable death.
Though they may not grace the golden List of fame for all to see,
Those who fell shall rise up one day In the living memory.
And in one immortal volume They stand equal for all time: Those who died for a great city Of unique, illustrious name;
Those who fell