War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1699 The Kindest Way, the Cruelest Way

"Hold the stretcher steady!"

Wei Ran shouted, and then, without caring about the rocks that were still falling, he quickly ran to the donkey, picked up a medical bag and held it in his arms, and started to slide down to the bottom of the valley almost like a slide.

Seeing that the distance was getting closer and his speed was getting faster, he hung the medical bag around his neck, took out the paratrooper gravity knife from the metal notebook and swung out the blade, then turned around and lay on the steep hillside, holding the handle of the knife with both hands and pressing the tip of the knife against the rock, using his feet as a deceleration device.

It was only then that he noticed that Kirill and Hakim had also rushed down. He looked up at the stretcher and fortunately, Habibullah and Murtaza had taken over the task of holding the stretcher.

"Slow down! Slow down quickly!"

Wei Ran and Kirill shouted the same warning to each other almost at the same time. The latter even pressed a stone as big as a volleyball against the mountain. Hakim used the AK74 assault rifle in his hand as a brake pad.

No matter what method they used to slow down, when Wei Ran was only ten meters away from Ruslan, he finally stopped, and the other two also stopped with difficulty. At the same time, the three of them heard the crying of a baby coming from the direction of Ruslan.

"Watch out for butterfly mines around you"

While Wei Ran reminded the two men, he put away the paratrooper knife he had been holding in his hand and walked carefully towards Ruslan who was lying at the bottom of the valley.

After walking the last ten meters, Wei Ran couldn't help but sigh. At this time, Ruslan's legs and lower back were all covered with wounds of varying sizes from the butterfly mines. Even now, there were still a large number of butterfly mines around his body. He knew that Ruslan would not survive.

Putting the medical kit aside and taking out a scalpel, he carefully approached Ruslan, gently cut open the blanket that he was holding tightly in his arms, took out the two babies who were almost unharmed and handed them to Kirill behind him, who then handed them to Hakim.

"I'm going to pull you out now"

Wei Ran threw away the scalpel and said, "Then I will help you"

"Cough cough."

A little blood flowed out of the corner of Ruslan's mouth. He ignored Wei Ran who was injecting him with morphine and took out the wine jug from his blood-stained trouser pocket with difficulty.

The leather cover of the wine flask had been blown apart by the butterfly mine, and the iron sheet on the same side had also been blown open.

Tearing off the tattered leather case, Ruslan used his bloody hands to tremble as he pulled out the photo of him, his wife and daughter from the intact side of the jug, and looked at Wei Ran and Kirill with pleading eyes.

"Tell Faina I'm sorry"

While Kirill was taking the photo, Ruslan took off his watch and handed it to him tremblingly, "I can't attend her birthday."

"pat"

Just as Wei Ran was about to pull Ruslan out of the minefield, his hand fell weakly to the sandy ground.

"Ruslan? Ruslan?"

Kirill called Ruslan's name softly, and at the same time reached out and carefully tested his nostrils.

"Victor"

Kirill paused, "Victor, stop, Comrade Ruslan Ruslan Petrov was killed."

Hearing this, Wei Ran was stunned for a moment, but then he carefully pulled out the other person's body.

It was not until this time that he realized that not only Ruslan's legs and hips were injured by the butterfly mine, but his back was also blown open with a huge wound through which the spine could be seen.

"Are the two kids okay?"

Wei Ran asked without turning his head as he wrapped Ruslan's body with a blanket.

“Not bad”

Hakim replied, "No injuries, no no harm done to me."

'He can't stay here'

Kirill said as he came up to Wei Ran and helped wrap Ruslan's body with a blanket. "Hakim, since he didn't hurt those two little guys, can we take his body and find a place to bury him?"

"Take him with you."

Hakim was silent for a moment and then said, "There is a cave over this mountain. Leave him there."

"Thanks."

Kirill responded in a hoarse and unclear voice, and then he and Wei Ran struggled to pull the blanket wrapped around Ruslan's body and climbed up the mountain little by little, leaving a zigzag bloodstain on the steep rock wall.

When they returned to the stretcher, Ayana finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her two children were both uninjured, but then she fainted.

In the chaos, Wei Ran and Kirill got a rope and tied up the blanket wrapped around Ruslan. Hakim also conveyed Kirill's request to Mahbub and got the other party's consent.

When they were back on the road, Murtaza walked in front, leading the flock of sheep. Hakim and Habibullah were responsible for carrying the awakened Ayana and the two children she was holding tightly in her arms. Wei Ran and Kirill, together, carried Ruslan's body.

The silent group took more than half an hour to climb over the steep stone mountain, but what they saw was a large area of ​​scorched earth bombed by aerial bombs.

"There used to be a small pool of water there. We should be able to see the reflection of the pool from here."

Habibullah pointed to a low mountain with a flattened top and said, "It's at the foot of that mountain."

Looking in the direction of the other party's finger, there was no pond there. Even the small valley at the foot of the mountain had been plowed by aerial bombs.

"Let's go down"

Mahbub sighed and urged his donkey to go first.

This side of the hill is not that steep, and because of the bomb explosion just now, even if there were butterfly mines, they have been detonated. This may be the only good news.

Before reaching the foot of the mountain, Mahbub stopped at the entrance of a hidden cave.

This cave is not really that big, only two meters deep, and the diameter of the entrance is probably only one meter.

Inside the cave, there is a half-buried auxiliary fuel tank of a Su-25 fighter. The top of the auxiliary fuel tank is cut open at an angle, and the cut section is inserted into the auxiliary fuel tank in reverse like a plug, and is fixed tightly with iron wires from four directions around it.

Mahbub limped to the cave entrance and sat down. He unscrewed the wires, then pulled out the aluminum cone-shaped "plug" and took out a small bag of beans and a small bag of flour. It was obvious that this was the storage point for their supplies.

"Just leave him here," Mahbub patted the half-buried auxiliary fuel tank, "Just put him in here."

"Thank you"

Kirill thanked him earnestly, and together with Wei Ran, they lifted Ruslan and stuffed his body into the auxiliary fuel tank little by little.

Finally, he placed the shattered wine jug on the chest of Ruslan's body. Kirill couldn't help but ask, "Do we still have a chance to send him?"

"If the war is over, if we are all still alive, he will come home."

Habibullah said as he emptied the magazine of Ruslan's silent submachine gun and put it into the auxiliary fuel tank. "This was originally his weapon. Anyway, he saved my sister's child, so I return the weapon to him. From now on, he is no longer our prisoner."

"Thank you"

Kirill sighed in vain, and after a moment of thought, he took out the miniature camera from his arms and took a last photo of Ruslan lying in the auxiliary fuel tank. After obtaining the consent of Mahbub and others, he took a photo of the surrounding terrain.

"Let's continue on our journey before it gets dark."

As Mahbub spoke, he handed the wires in his hand to Wei Ran and Kirill, and then with the help of Habibullah, he rode back on the donkey.

After looking at each other, Wei Ran and Kirill tied up the auxiliary fuel tank that was divided into two parts with wire, and buried it as much as possible with the sand and soil that was everywhere around.

Without further delay, the two men took over the task of carrying Ayana and her two babies, and Hakim walked at the end of the team again.

But this time, he did not pick up the AK74 assault rifle on his back. Although the team that was busy rushing to Kandahar remained silent, Wei Ran could sense that it was because of Ruslan's death.

No, it should be said that because Ruslan used his life to protect the two babies, the attitude of Mahbub and others towards them seemed to have changed slightly.

The most intuitive guess about this is that an hour later, Habibullah and Hakim took over the stretcher-carrying job from the two of them.

"Aren't you worried that we will run away?" Kirill said, raising his camera to take a picture of the two people carrying Ayana.

"If you think you can run faster than a bullet, try it," Hakim said indifferently.

"Do you mind if I go to the front of the line and take a picture of you?" Kirill asked.

"Be careful of landmines," Mahbub warned unexpectedly.

"Thank you, thank you."

Kirill reacted quickly and walked quickly to the front of the team. When he passed by the leader, he raised his small camera and took a photo of everyone including Wei Ran.

Kirill stood obediently where he was and waited until he reunited with Wei Ran. Only then did he start walking again in the fine snow.

"Aren't you going to run away?"

Ayana asked as she lay on the stretcher, allowing Wei Ran to take off her robe to cover her body and the two children she was holding.

"Where can we escape to?" Kirill asked absentmindedly.

"You want to go to Kandahar?" Ayana asked almost affirmatively.

"That's right"

Kirill was not prepared to hide this fact, "I want to go to Kandahar."

"Even as a prisoner?" Habibullah asked.

"captive?"

Kirill smiled and bluntly reminded, "I don't want to escape because there are still patients here, but that doesn't mean I am willing to be a prisoner."

"Although your companions rescued the two children, we still cannot let you leave."

Hakim was reminding Kirill and Wei Ran, and also seemed to be reminding Habibullah, “In order to capture you, my teacher Abdul has died, and my brothers, sisters, classmates and friends have also died.

Qiao Ya lost all her relatives. We paid such a high price to shoot down your helicopter and capture you. So even if you saved Ayana's child and Ayana, I can't let you go. " "Keep on going."

Wei Ran urged, "Such a discussion is completely meaningless."

"That's true. Let's continue on our way." Ayana spoke up and ended the topic.

Taking advantage of the last bit of time before it completely darkened, Wei Ran and Kirill followed the guerrillas over two rocky mountains and through a long and narrow valley. Finally, they found a hidden cave in the cold wind and a few snowflakes.

The cave was not big, but it was big enough for all the people and livestock to hide in.

Not only that, there was a fireplace built with stones at the very end of the cave, and some firewood and coal were piled up. There were even a few bundles of thick felt hanging on a rope hanging from the top of the rock wall above.

Leaving Wei Ran and Kirill to Mahbub's armed guard, Habibullah and Hakim, along with three helpers, untied the felt to block the entrance of the cave, and spread out two resting areas around the fireplace. They were busy lighting the fire, milking the goats, or feeding the remaining three donkeys and the goats with some concentrated fodder.

"Old man, let's check Ayana's wound first." Kirill suggested, "You should all change the dressings."

"Thank you for your help," Mahbub said as he moved the medical kit beside him forward, then opened the safety of the AK74 in his hand.

Seeing this, Wei Ran and Kirill said nothing. One was still responsible for checking the wound and changing the dressing, while the other was responsible for measuring the body temperature and giving injections.

By the time the two of them finished their work, the fire had been lit in the stone fireplace, and the cave became a little brighter.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

"Kill a sheep"

Mahbub suddenly said, "Hakim, come and kill a sheep. We have no meat. And anyway, their companions saved Ayana's child and should be thanked. Otherwise, Zhenzhu will not forgive us."

"it is good"

Hakim simply agreed, walked into the flock, dragged a half-grown goat out of the cave.

"Let me change the dressing on your wound."

Wei Ran said as he walked to Mahbub's side, "Also, thank you for your hospitality."

"Thank you also to your companion Ruslan"

Mahbub said as he handed the weapon in his hand to Habibullah behind him.

Amid the sudden bleating of sheep outside the cave, Wei Ran changed the bandages on Mahbub and his son Habibullah's wounds, and then he and Kirill helped each other treat the wounds on their bodies caused by stones.

When they finished, Qiaoya and Soraya were each holding a syringe and feeding the two babies, and Hakim also returned to the cave with a slaughtered goat.

"Give them the two front legs," said Mahbub.

Hakim was quite straightforward. He skillfully cut off the goat's two front legs with a knife, wrapped them in sheepskin and handed them to Wei Ran and Kirill.

"We are running low on water, so let's roast some lamb tonight."

Although Mahbub said this, he still asked Habibullah to take out the water bag, poured a full pot of water and handed it to Wei Ran and Kirill.

In this regard, the only thing Wei Ran and Kirill could do was to accept the gift that Ruslan exchanged for his life, guard the bonfire lit specially for them, and make roasted lamb legs by themselves.

“These are yours too”

Habibullah said, placing a small knife, a small dish of coarse salt, a bag of tea and two cups of goat milk in front of Wei Ran and the others.

Before the two could say anything, the family had already started their morning prayer beside their own fire. Only Ayana was left lying on the stretcher holding a Poposha, keeping an eye on Wei Ran and Kirill.

“Just focus on eating”

As Wei Ran spoke, he had already taken out the paratrooper knife. Although the tip of the knife was badly worn, fortunately it did not affect its usability. At least it was enough for him to make a few cuts on the leg of lamb.

Glancing at the knife in Wei Ran's hand, Kirill couldn't help but touch the scalpel that had been hidden in his sleeve. Then he picked up the knife that Habibullah had given him and made a few cuts on the lamb leg.

Placing the lamb leg next to the campfire, Wei Ran glanced at the family who were still performing the wedding ceremony, took out his micro camera and took a picture of Kirill sitting opposite him.

Seeing this, the latter also took out his camera and took a picture of Wei Ran.

The two smiled at each other, and Kirill took off the Arrow watch that belonged to Ruslan from his wrist and handed it to him.

"What's wrong?" Wei Ran asked after taking the watch.

"Put it on," Kirill said casually.

"Are you planning to stay?" Wei Ran realized something sharply.

"I do not know what you're talking about"

Kirill said this and took out a photo of Ruslan's family and handed it over.

"You want to go to Kandahar as a prisoner?" Wei Ran asked confidently after taking the photo.

"I want to know if my father is still alive," Kirill said, staring at the bonfire in a daze, "but you will leave. I will find a way to let you leave alive. You have to go back to Su."

"You have no say in this matter"

Wei Ran said, returning the photo to the other party, "Besides, I don't know Ruslan's family, so don't throw this kind of work to me."

Kirill opened his mouth but said nothing in the end. He just put the photo away.

Under the licking of the campfire, oil beads gradually appeared on the two lamb legs, and they gradually developed an aroma and a layer of brown and red crust.

He placed the pot of precious fresh water next to the campfire and poured all the tea leaves and goat milk into it. Wei Ran also took off his boots and buried his wet foot bindings in the sand next to the campfire.

The two lamb legs were gradually roasted over the crackling and slow-burning campfire. Qiaoya also brought a piece of freshly baked naan and said thank you in Persian.

Looking at Qiao Ya who hurried to the simple fireplace, Kirill shook his head gently, broke the still hot naan into two halves and gave them to Wei Ran, and asked with a sad tone, "If we can go back, how should I tell Ruslan's wife and children this bad news? His wife was originally because of..."

"I do not know"

Wei Ran took the naan and took a bite. Then he used his paratrooper knife to tear off a piece of meat from the lamb leg, dipped it in some crushed salt powder and put it into his mouth. While chewing, he said, "That is more difficult than escaping from here. I don't know how to answer."

"Have you ever done anything like this?" Kirill asked abruptly.

Hearing this, Wei Ran was stunned for a moment, took another bite of the naan, tore off another piece of meat and put it into his mouth, and replied vaguely, "I have done it before, so I don't know what to do. There is no answer, no perfect solution."

"I suddenly wondered if my father was already dead and his companions didn't bring the news home for him."

Kirill also took a bite of naan, "Aren't you curious why I suddenly thought of this?"

"Not curious"

Wei Ran paused, "Do you want to inform Ruslan's family later?"

"yes"

Kirill nodded. "Notify them later. For them, Ruslan is still alive. I think at least let his daughter grow up. Although it will be difficult, she can at least pray that her father is still alive."

"Just like you were back then?" Wei Ran looked up at the other person.

"yes"

Kirill smiled and said, "Just like me back then. Looking back now, if I had received the news that my father had died earlier, I might have joined the gang now."

"You may have married your adoptive father's daughter," Wei Ran reminded.

"Who knows?"

Kirill imitated Wei Ran and used a knife to tear off a piece of roasted lamb, dipped it in a little salt powder and put it into his mouth. He took a big bite of the naan and said with certainty, "But she won't like a gangster."

"What's her name?" Wei Ran asked, trying to talk about something light-hearted.

"Yelena"

Kirill couldn't help but show a trace of nostalgia on his face. "Yelena Gramovna, she is a petite and beautiful girl who likes riding motorcycles and hunting. She is very good at shooting."

"She actually wants to see the photos you took in Afkhan, right?" Wei Ran asked.

"Why bother saying it?"

Kiri paused, "If the longing is too strong, it will be turned into cargo 200 and sent back."

Before Wei Ran could speak, Kirill looked at Mahbub and the others in the distance and said, "We may not even have a chance to be sent back as cargo 200."

"So if you can get back alive"

Wei Ran used an assumption to dispel the other party's pessimism, "Then do you plan to inform Ruslan's family?"

"I do not know"

Kiri paused, "But I will definitely keep it from his daughter. I will keep this secret until she comes of age."

“This may be the kindest solution.”

Wei Ran sighed and asked no more questions. He just stirred the boiling milk tea with his paratrooper knife, then tore off another piece of mutton and put it into his mouth.

“It’s also the cruelest way.”

Kirill sighed, "I want to go home, back to Moscow, to see my Yelena, and marry her."

“You will return”

Wei Ran responded absentmindedly, but a deep sense of powerlessness arose in his heart.

He could not change history. Like Kirill standing across from the campfire, he had no idea what would happen next or who would lose their life and how.

He didn't even know which side he should stand on - even though he knew clearly who the aggressor was.