Lily of the valley [sufin]

Chapter 1

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Finland, 1940

Lapland

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I was exhausted to the core. My muscles were aching with agony. It felt like they were burning, like I was on fire, though I was in the middle of this white, lifeless forest. The full moon was shining along with the stars, illuminating some light around us. I didn't feel the cold anymore, not the howling wind, the snow melting in my boots, or the heavy belongings, that were pressing painfully against my shoulders and back . All I could feel was the pain in my muscles and bones. Every atom, cell, bone and muscle in my body were screaming. I reminded myself to breathe steadily and forced myself to ignore the pain. I made my way back to the base with my squad,- with those who were left- after a long scouting mission, which turned out to be a not so success.

I glanced back briefly to check if the others were keeping up with the same pace. Thankfully they were, and it looked like the pain I was feeling, was mutual among my fellow soldiers. I sighed in relief and fixed my gaze forward and took a strong thrust with my skiing poles. The action sent another painful shock throughout my body, and I drowned the fleeting moment of relief. I couldn't think about that now. There was not much space for relief. You never knew when death would greet you. It was there all the time. The proximity of death.

I determinedly kept my pace and ignored the aching muscles and fleeting thoughts. Not long and we would be back in our base and finally rest. The mission had been tiring for the whole troop. No proper sleep, because of the fear of death. The sadness of losing friends. The shots that fired through the dark forest. Miserable battle cries and prayers to the cold emptiness, whispers and whimpers of pain. The blood that covered the white snow. The screams that would haunt even the pleasant dreams. It made the mind of ours reckless and miserable.

After a few short moments we saw the base hiding behind snowy spruces. Our base was not big or neat. We lived in dugouts that were built in a big hillside with tall pine-trees and firs surrounding them along with other dead growth. They were well-grounded and merged well with the nature. There were about three dugouts, for our platoon. It was not fancy, but it was comfortable enough, and for me it felt like I was given a ticket to heaven. My heart filled with joy at the sight. Despite the pain and exhaustion, I felt myself smiling. I could feel the men behind me feeling the same and sighing in relief. "Thank God" Said a happy, but tired voice from behind me. The men did feel the same.

"Ah, good heavens you made it back" Said a male voice apparently guarding one of the entrances to the dugout. I smiled even more and waved at the male. "Back in somewhat pieces!" I said to him meanwhile taking of my skis and skiing poles, the troop following my lead. I shrugged the ice and snow from the skis and put them leaning against the wall. I made my way to the soldier standing next to the base, who was smoking a cigarette.

Väinö Koskinen. He was one of my good friends here. We have known each other throughout the war. Such a funny man really. I felt like he was always on a good mood, even in the middle of the war. But I know that truly, he just don't want to show negativity. As if there wasn't enough of it anyway.

"So you made it back, huh?" Koskinen said while bringing the cigarette to his lips.

"It looks like it, unless this is heaven. If it is, I am disappointed." I said with a tired smile.

Koskinen laughed loudly and shortly, blowing the smoke out of his lungs.

"More like hell. If this was heaven, I wouldn't be smoking outside in this freezing god-forsaken land. I would be smoking some very expensive cigar, drinking fancy wine, while five ladies would be sitting on my lap. Probably Russians, because we had won the war."
He said while smiling widely with his handsome face. He was appealing to the ladies usually, and he was very good with them. He lifted the ciggy to his lips again.