Lily of the valley [sufin]

Chapter 4

"Get down!"

Shouts echoed in the tense air. Men dashed on the ground with an inhuman speed, some hid behind the tall pine-trees gripping their rifles. Some were in pits, that were slightly covered with branches. Swift rapid fire swept past the air in every direction. Piercing whistles could be heard from the sky, approaching the ground above the spruce and pine-trees, following with explosions that tortured the ears. More bullets flew through air with hissing sounds. Explosions echoed through air, some further and some closer. They hit the trees, making them snap and fall.

I was in a pit, Berwald and Lukas not far away in their own pits. I gripped my rifle, tried to even my rapid breathing. Over two months of this same, uncontrollable mayhem, shooting aimlessly, throwing grenades and killing my hearing and Russians; I sill couldn't control myself in the battlefield. When I would press the trigger, I felt the overwhelming adrenaline run through me. Every time I would press it and shoot, there was a small, tiny relief. After it, the chaos comes back, and I have to load again.

I didn't feel cold in the freezing forest. I was sweating and tired. The assault had been going on for hours now, and it felt like we had not taken a step forward. The defense of the Russians had not yet broken, but it was damaged. Still, it felt like this will take a lifetime. Always waiting, always. And when not waiting, it was all damn hurry. We were waiting to strike back.

Gripping my rifle, I lifted my head to the sky. It was a mass of grey clouds, it was probably going to snow soon, since the sky felt kind of heavy. I looked at Berwald, his eyes were steel and wild behind the glasses. Lukas was expressionless, but I could sense the uneasiness. I listened to the voices of the guns and grenades, waiting for them to calm down.

"Third forward now!" Shouted Miksu, the leader. He stood up from the ground and ran forward, his rifle ready to shoot. I believe, the most hardest thing at war, is to be the leader. You have to get over 30 man move forward to the gun fire. Give courage to them, and at the same time be patient, and trying not to kill yourself too. I wondered how he could be so steady, even though every sane person was afraid at war.

I yanked myself from the pit, ready to run. So did Berwald and Lukas, other men following behind, shouting and determined. And then I don't remember much, my sight blurry. The bombs split the ground, echoing loudly and created smoke. I kept on running, ready to shoot. Then I saw them, dozens of rifle gripping Russians screaming "Urah!" and one tank. They started to fire, and so did I. They were maybe 20-30 meters away, landed on the ground and kept on shooting. I did the same, half hiding behind a rock that came to my view. Load, aim, fire and so on and so forth. Remember to breathe, you're alive as long as you are breathing.

"Nobody leaves the battle! We will not retreat! Lamminen, where do you think you're going?! Get back here now!" The lieutenant of the other platoon shouted. Few men tried to run, due to panic. Soon bullets rang through air, making the men fall to the ground, dead as ever.

The tank fired, and made the ground sway and the substance, gravel and snow flew in every direction. It landed on top of few Finnish soldiers in the front, causing their body parts to fly in different places, blood splashing everywhere. The ground turned red soon. An artillery weapon fired from behind me, striking the tank and hitting it. It made a massive sound on blast in the air. From the tank, scrambled more Russians, shouting something in Russian. I kept on shooting, behind the rock. I counted the shots I fired. At least 10 fallen Russians. Grenade launchers fired from the distance some hitting the Russians causing them to fly in a big curve and land on the ground. Grenade launchers from the Soviet side did same to our men too.