Page 21 - Excerpts from the diary

is difficult to stand was. Came about the room. Nerves were excited, heart began to knock plaintively, but I am
not able to cry.
As ill luck would have it here the prostitute came that together with Vasilyeva laughed over me when I came for
the first time there. She got a song that I should leave because the room is occupied wounded and in order that to
be in it, it is necessary to have the direction from a sanitary company in medical battalion. I even more got into a
fuss, but did not want scandal and left silently to look for the apartment.
Found, but the hostess did not even suggest me anything to eat and when I asked to cook to me potato (she
cooked a bucket for fighters and commanders that came after me), and at them besides there was a flour and the
products at me is except two pieces of bread nothing, the old hostess gave me on the road.
Later the majordoctor with two foremen and two fighters came. All of them ran and fussed around the major as
though he was the baron or the landowner. Looked after, cooked for him tasty dishes, but he did not want to eat:
drank tea and ate fritters. Nobody treated me.
Later, when darkened for a long time, foremen began to coo around me that I gave way to the major and laid
down on a floor (and also because of an illness, the hostess conceded me as first who lodged a bed). On a floor it
was close and inconvenient. People jammed much and it was impossible to turn from narrowness, especially with
the patient's hand.
I did not agree. The major began to look for the place in the neighboring apartment, but there for him it turned out
spoiled air though there was a good stove bench. I explained that I cannot sleep on a floor with a sore hand, but
they needed to know nothing.
The senior will lie on a floor, and younger on a bed? Have you ever seen anything like it, it is inadmissible.
Majors, the Georgian or the Azerbaijanian, covered eyes and pretended to be sleeping, but when he saw that
nothing is impossible to them, he widely opened eyes and spoke:
Lieutenant, lieutenant... lay down on a floor, get up from a bed!
To me it became scary awkward, I all reddened for offense and humiliation, but in the presence of civilians did
not want to him neither to be rude, nor to shame him, and in general to talk to this impudent person landowner. I
got up and laid down on a floor.
To the major laid several blankets, a pillow. It was visible that he got used to luxury and rear life. He was,
apparently, the chief of a health service of the Two Big.
All night long suffered and only by the morning took a nap. But my dream was interrupted with order 'Awake
him, awake!', 'Hey, the fighter, the fighter, get up!' defiantly bothered me foremen though knew that I am hurt by
a hand, and I am more senior even than them on a rank. They pulled out at me a groundsheet that spread in
sides I slept near the foreman, and soon dashed away.
There came dawn. The hand tormented. I decided to get up. Suddenly saw something began to shine in straw.
Thought that it is my silver spoon, but it was the knife folding German. I took him, of course, and hid. This thing
is very necessary in the conditions of front life.
Since morning the hostess left. I waited in the forenoon, but she did not come. Gave to children loaf of bread they
ate it all a bread piece that the first hostess gave me. It was for the rest interrupted by sunflower seeds.
In the next lodge I noticed, left the left inhabitants evacuated at Germans from the native village. I took it,
enclosed a thing in a bag and left.
In other hut the owners offered a grout, but without bread it at them was not. Ate and went further. At last, came
across this hut. There was one fighter from our economic platoon. He looked for medical battalion for dental
care all cheek at him swelled. Tomorrow we will go together.
The German left kilometers on 45. To catch up far, but also there is no wish to leave.
Weather today cloudy, crude. Since morning there was snow, and now drizzles a rain. And owners, besides, such
good. Shaved me, washed, and even the head the youngest washed to me, mother of four children. She washed
and kept saying 'my sonny' and told that she also washed the husband. Allowed eating too. And now put to
bed. As houses.
Has a sleep a bit, but woke up soon.
The head came. He, speak, bad did not do to people, but is afraid of evil tongues. Asked advice what to do to it?
He remained though Germans stole him. I advised not to be afraid and undertake restoration of economy, cleaning
of corn and other. Especially advised him not to emit from the general country fund flour and other products to