Katyusha

Chapter XV

Translations are at the end of the story with information per usual!

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Happy reading everyone, and sorry for the delay!

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Once Rokossovsky has left, Boris breaks out into a fight of nervous laughter that came with his new promotion and office.

Quickly collecting himself, Boris straightens himself out and he stands up taller again like he's supposed to do.

Looking at Bargov the man simply says "Finish the head count, and then send the numbers of our crippled division to me at the F.O.B. Once you're finished, they may be dismissed to their restricted leave, see it done." Boris says as he heads on off to the temporary F.O.B. to secure one of the empty rooms to make his new office.

Snapping everyone back to attention, Bargov calls out "Alright you lot, we just had about two or three left to count. Stay within this sector or at the F.O.B unless you're given permission to leave, now go celebrate comrades!"

This causes a cheer from the survivors and everyone in the remaining company break away as further cheers of celebration ensues as the rank breaks.

It's still very cold outside however, so everyone makes their way to the warmth of the temporary F.O.B. where their company quarters have been secured in an adjacent apartment for assembly, sleeping, and rest.

The main lobby by the neighboring hotel has been turned into a huge celebration area where the liquor and card games have been set up.

Back outside though, Katyusha noticed little foot prints that looked childish, and her pace begins to quicken when she follows after it, seeing bloody mixed into it.

After a few minutes of following the blood trail, Katya's lead to a half destroyed bakery.

Carefully entering the ruined building, she's careful to avoid the caved in area and she continues to follow the trail down into the building's basement.

Opening the cellar doors, she can see a light down the steps that's illuminating the darkness, so carefully she walks down the stairs cautiously. Wanting to investigate.

By the dim candle light lies a small child and when the young one looked up at Katyusha, he began to cry again, but it was weak and more strained so she picked her pace up and reached the bottom of the stairway.

Her heart was shattered when she had laid eyes on the small boy laying against the empty flour sacks.

The child looked no more than 7, maybe 8 with a few gruesome shrapnel wounds that are clearly visible on his upper stomach.

From all her experience with death, she knew too well that this boy is on the verge of death, dying a lonely pained death.

Quickly she moved over to the boy that's laying on the empty sacks and she removed her snipers cloak to wrap the child up with it.

Sitting down and leaning against the wall, she takes extreme care and caution when she moves the dying boy to sit on her lap, where his quivering and shaking becomes noticeable.

She doesn't know what to do, but only hold onto the quivering, crying boy, in her arms, but something does come to mind and wanting to help ease him into the next life.

She begins to hum a lullaby, and her voice has a soft, caring tone taking hold of it, just like a mother would to sing her child to sleep.

She never thought nor had to do something like this before, but it quickly passes and she begins to sing the lullaby that everyone knew and grew up falling asleep to.