From Russia to Family

Chapter 6 Bonds

City of Staraya Russa, Russia

1941, December

A week passed without much happening, Leon was still learning Russian, allowing him to communicate with Masha more and more. The two regularly stayed up at night, talking about trivial things. Yet it was obvious she was bored, talking only when spoken to, moving very little, Leon felt bad for her

...............

Masha woke up, staring at the ceiling. She stretched so hard her legs shook, throwing the covers off the bed. As she sat and slipped her socks on she yawned. The house was silent. It usually was, however her ears had grown accustomed to the big booms that echoed from the plains far away. She made her way down the hall and stopped at the kitchen door. It sounded like sizzling. Masha slowly pulled the door aside to find Leon standing there in his uniform, his back turned to her.

"Good morning." She moaned, yawning again.

Leon turned around to reveal a pan in his right hand, a spatula in his left.

"Good morning!"

Leon laid a plate down on the bench and emptied the pans contents onto it. He proceeded to hand her the plate.

"Sauce?"

Masha stood wide eyed at her plate.

"Bacon, eggs...where did you get all this?"

"Sauce?"

She nodded...As Masha began eating Leon beckoned her to the hall.

"Come Masha, quickly."

He waited as she slipped of her stool and waddled across the room, following him down the hall......The living room was an entire orange, the fire topped with thick logs that fuelled its warmth. Candles sat atop shelves, cupboards and tables. She saw a rifle leaning against the fires stone surround. She turned to him

Leon saw her expression as she turned to him, interrupting her before she started, "It's yours"

Next to the rifle were 3 brown, leather pouches. As she lifted them up they 'clinked'. Masha looked over at Leon, who just stood emotionless in response. She unbuttoned and looked in the pouches to see each one had 3 clips of 5 rifle rounds. Next was the rifle, a mosin nagant. Masha stood up with the rifle, looking it over.

"How did you get all this?"

"Well, Russian army stuff isn't hard to find nowadays."

She continued examining the weapon.

"Thank you"

............

The two stood outside. The wind and snow had stopped the day before. Masha held her rifle up, aiming down sight. Leon stood just beside her, holding his own rifle. He studied her posture, reaching forward he took hold of her barrel.

"Hold it up a bit more, keep it level."

He let go and stood back once more.

"Can you see the middle line?"

"Yes."

"Is it on the can?"

"Yes."

"Fire then."

Masha waited a few seconds before pulling the trigger. In one quick motion the gun let off a bang, the can they targeted was ripped in half and Masha herself was thrown back a step. She lowered the gun and rubbed her shoulder.