War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1703
"The war is over?"

Murtaza looked at Kirill in disbelief. There was no surprise on his dirty face, only confusion. This little guy probably had never imagined what would happen after the war, because he was not prepared for the end of the war at all.

"It's over. The war is over."

Kirill was much more excited than Murtaza. He hugged him and shouted excitedly, "Multaza, the war between us is over! We are no longer enemies! We can try to be friends!"

"The war is over?"

Murtaza let Kirill hold him, but he stared blankly at Soraya and Joya who were also in a daze by the fireplace, and the two babies in their arms who were drinking milk from syringes.

At a certain moment, the three children burst into tears out of grievance.

It was not until this time that Wei Ran realized that three months had probably passed.

During these three months, Kirill's face had grown into a full beard and his hair was a mess.

There was only one goat left in the cave. Not far away, one could see a pile of donkey skeletons with the meat shaved off and a large amount of firewood.

Obviously, in order to survive and fill their stomachs for these three months, they not only ate the sheep, but also probably risked returning to the valley and brought back the donkey that was killed by the explosion.

He couldn't imagine how Kirill and the five children had survived those three months, but just looking at Kirill's skinny appearance he knew that he was probably not much better off than the people of Leningrad who were besieged back then.

After hugging Kirill, who was also excited with red eyes, Wei Ran walked out of the cave.

Outside the cave, the dazzling sunlight forced him to squint his eyes, but the wind blowing in his face was not as cold as before. As far as he could see, he even saw a wild grass with tender sprouts.

Closer, on one side of the cave entrance was an old Lee-Enfield rifle, Murtaza's weapon.

On a stone next to the old gun, there was a wild goat that seemed to have just been killed. The wound on its shoulder blade was still dripping with sticky dark red blood.

A little further away, on a meadow, a female goat was tied there and bleating. Obviously, it was used to seduce wild goats.

Just as he was looking around, Kirill also came out of the cave. Fortunately, his injuries seemed to have healed.

"The war is over. What are your plans next?" Kirill asked.

"You answer this question first," Wei Ran threw the question back.

“I want to go to Kandahar”

Kirill sat down and said, "I want to go find my father."

"Then go"

"But I want to take them away from Afkhan first."

"What did you say?" Wei Ran, who had just sat down, looked at Kirill beside him in surprise.

"I said, I would rather take them away from Afkhan first."

Kirill's tone became more serious. "Joya has a letter from Hakim to his girlfriend, so I want to take them to France to try to find the woman named Vida. If..."

"what?"

"She might be willing to take care of them if she can find them."

Kirill said, "I can't let Murtaza, Joya and Soraya wander around Afkhan with two babies. They will die."

"Can you find it?"

At this point, Wei Ran asked before the other party could speak, "What if we can't find them? Leave them in France?"

"If you can't find it"

Kiril paused, "If I can't find them, I'll try to invite them to live in the Soviet Union."

"you sure"

“I know exactly what I’m talking about”

Kirill said, "They are just some kids. They are just kids."

"This will require a lot of money," Wei Ran had to remind.

"I'm going to sell the camera my dad left me"

Kirill took off his boots, pulled out the insoles, and shook out a small stack of rubles and a gold ring. "I still have some money. This money is enough for us to go to Kabul and find a way to leave Afkhan from there."

"Do you want to be a deserter?" Wei Ran asked with a frown.

"whatever"

"I can't just leave those kids here," Kirill said as he hid the belongings back into his shoes.

"When do we set off?" Wei Ran asked after taking a deep breath.

"Let's go now," Kirill said as he stood up.

"Have you convinced them?" Wei Ran also stood up.

“It makes sense.”

Kirill stopped and said, "When they are most confused, I will deliver the letter to them as a postman."

"Then let's go"

Wei Ran said this and followed him into the cave.

"Can we really go to France to find Aunt Vida?" Qiao Ya asked as soon as she saw them come in.

"of course it's true"

Kirill nodded. "Since the war is over, let's set off now, leave the mountains, and go to Kabul. I have a way to get you out of Afkhan."

"You won't take us to the Soviet Union, right?" Murtaza asked with the last bit of vigilance.

"If I wanted to take you to the Soviet Union, there would be no need to be a deserter. This would put Victor and I in a military court."

Kirill said seriously, "I have just explained it to you, so are you willing to help Hakim deliver the letter to Ms. Vida?"

"Yes! We do!" Soraya followed.

"Then don't waste your time"

Kirill had put away his homemade crystal radio while speaking, "Multaza, go get that sheep outside. We need to set off quickly."

"I'll go right away." Murtaza said as he turned around and ran out of the cave.

At the same time, Kirill also asked Wei Ran to take off his tattered and dirty Afhanka uniform and put on the robe he had received.

When Murtaza returned with the ewe that served as bait outside, Kirill said, "Children, no, friends."

As Murtaza and the others looked at each other subconsciously, Kirill said, "The war is over. We need to find a way to leave Afkhan. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, Victor and I need to borrow the names of Habibullah and Hakim. We need your permission for this."

"We agree," Qiao Ya said first.

"So from now on, I am Hakim," Kirill said, "Victor is Habibullah, okay?"

"Okay! We agree," Soraya followed.

"Is it okay?" Kirill looked at Murtaza and asked again.

"Once you leave Afkhan you won't be able to use this name anymore," Murtaza said reluctantly.

"certainly"

Kirill answered as a matter of course, scratching the beard he had grown over the past few months, "Let's go now."

"Before that, why don't we take a group photo first, right at the entrance of the cave?" Wei Ran suggested, who also had the miniature camera on him.

"We do need to take a picture," Kirill echoed.

“It would be nice if they were here too.”

Murtaza muttered something in a low voice, dragged the two ewes out of the cave first.

Soon, under Wei Ran's command, the three older children, two babies, Kirill and the two sheep stood together, allowing Wei Ran to press the shutter towards them.

After Kirill helped Wei Ran take a photo with the children and the goats, the two babies were tied to the back of a goat respectively.

"Murtaza, don't take the gun." Kirill said to Murtaza who subconsciously picked up the gun, "The war is over."

"Okay."

Murtaza nodded, and after some hesitation, he returned the gun to the cave and hid it. For him, it was the only relic left to him by his parents.

"Murtaza, do you know the way?" Kirill asked.

"Where is the way?" asked Murtaza.

"Kabul"

“I have never been to Kabul,” Murtaza replied.

"Do you know the way back?" Kirill asked again, "the way back to that big cave."

"Yes, I know the way there!" Murtaza replied immediately.

"Then let's go there"

Kirill said, "Just walk behind me and show me the way."

"Go forward and cross several mountains." Murtaza raised his hand and pointed in a direction.

"Is there a road nearby?" Kirill asked again.

"Yes, in that direction." Murtaza raised his hand and pointed in another direction.

"Then let's go towards the highway," Kirill said, changing the direction of his advance.

"Will we find Aunt Vida in France?"

Qiao Ya asked worriedly, "Will she be willing to see us?"

"Yes, I will."

Kirill answered the question, "France is small, and Montpellier in France is even smaller. We will definitely find Vida. How could she not want to see you?"

"What happened after you met Vida?" Soraya asked.

"We will come back after delivering the letter," said Murtaza.

"What are you going to do after you come back?" Kirill's question left the three children silent and confused. They didn't know what they could do after they came back.

"Would you like to hear my advice?" Kirill and Wei Ran looked at each other and asked.

"What advice?"

Murtaza asked cautiously, "We are not going to the Soviet Union with you."

“I can’t take you to live in the Soviet Union.”

Kirill smiled and said, "But I think you should stay in France. Vida will definitely take care of you."

“Why we should stay in France”

Murtaza said subconsciously, "We want to go back."

"The war is over"

Wei Ran said, "Afkhan no longer needs guerrilla fighters. Afkhan now needs people who can rebuild the country, people with knowledge.

If you stay in France, you will have the opportunity to study, and when you have learned enough knowledge, you will become what Afkhan needs. "

"Like knowledgeable people like Teacher Abdul and Teacher Mahbub?" asked Qiao Ya.

"Yes, you have to be more knowledgeable than them."

Kirill said without turning his head, "Soldiers cannot end the war. Only people with knowledge have the right to decide when the war should end. If you become knowledgeable people, you can lead your Afkhan to become powerful and help her avoid war."

"Really?" Murtaza asked.

"Really, of course it's true."

Wei Ran echoed, "If you have the knowledge, you can fly helicopters, fighter jets and tanks, and protect your Afkhan."

“I might miss you guys then.”

Soraya said abruptly, "Kirill"

"We are Hakim and Habibullah now," Kirill, who was walking in front with his back to the children, wiped his eyes and reminded them.

"Well, Hakim and Uncle Habibullah, I might not want to leave you. If we stay in France, will you stay in France?"

When Soraya asked this question, Kirill fell silent.

But soon, he smiled and asked, "Qiaoya, and Murtaza, what about you? Will you miss us? Do you want us to stay in France with you?"

"I won't be able to leave you," Qiao Ya said as a matter of course.

"What about you?"

Kirill turned around and looked at Murtaza with a smile, then quickly turned around and wiped his eyes again.

"I" This time it was Murtaza's turn to fall silent.

Just as Kirill was about to say something else, Murtaza spoke up, "You have families too."

“You guys are my family.”

Kirill smiled and explained as if he had made a decision, "Murtaza, if you want me to stay, then I will stay in France with you. I've said before that I'm already a deserter, and I'll be court-martialed when I go back. I don't want to go to jail."

"I"

Murtaza gritted his teeth and said, "Hakim, stay and live with us. I mean, after we arrive in France."

"Then it's settled"

Kirill said firmly, "We will find a way to go to Montpellier, France to find Vida. After delivering the letter to her, we will stay in France."

"Can we stay in France?" Murtaza asked hesitantly.

"Leave it to me," Kirill said confidently.

"Do you really have a solution?" Wei Ran couldn't help but ask in Russian.

"There will be a way," Kirill replied, but his tone was also full of anxiety.

Under Murtaza's guidance, their group, plus two sheep, finally saw a winding road before the sun set.

Perhaps because of the news about the end of the war on the radio, this road was unusually busy. Looking from afar, there were people walking with their families, people leading goats or donkeys, and even people riding bicycles or motorcycles.

"Let's go over there"

Kirill said this as he walked towards the road.

Fortunately, thanks to their full beards and headscarves, the people busy on the road did not notice the two weirdos Wei Ran and Kirill.

In particular, an old man driving a donkey cart even enthusiastically invited the three children led by Murtaza and the two babies to ride on his cart.

Naturally, no one would refuse such an invitation. After the children got on the cart, the two goats were also tied to the donkey cart, and Wei Ran and Kirill walked on the left and right of the donkey cart.

During the casual chat, Wei Ran also learned from the old man, who was also called Muhanmed, that this road led to Kabul, and these people rushed to Kabul because they heard the good news that the war was about to end.

Amid the casual chats, the setting sun gradually sank below the horizon, and pedestrians stopped one after another and lit bonfires of various sizes on the roadside.

Just at this moment, a group of Soviet trucks drove out from behind, and the Afkhan people who were busy on the road subconsciously hid on the side of the road.

But at this moment, Kirill ran onto the road, shouting in Russian, "Friends!"

"crunch"

The truck in front stopped, and a gun barrel was extended from the passenger side. Then the Soviet soldier sitting in the passenger seat asked, "What's wrong?"

“Our children are too young”

Kirill pointed at Qiao Ya and the others who were trembling with fear on the side of the road, and pleaded in Russian with many deliberate grammatical errors, "We have been walking on this road for a long time, and the children have not eaten for a whole day and can't walk anymore. Can we take your car to Kabul?"

"Who did you learn Russian from?" asked the soldier sitting in the co-pilot seat. "My teacher, his name is Mahbub."

Kirill replied, "He went to work in Moscow for a while when he was a teenager."

“It turns out to be an old friend”

The soldier in the passenger seat generously handed out a handful of candy and said with a wave of his hand, "Take your children and get in the car. We are going to Kabul."

"Thank you, thank you my friend!"

Kirill said loudly with gratitude, and then quickly ran back to the side of the road amid the disdainful but envious gazes of the Afkhan people around him, and first distributed the candies to Murtaza and the other two, and whispered, "Let's take advantage of the darkness to hitchhike for a while. Don't talk much on the way, just say we are hungry and thirsty."

As he spoke, he had already picked up the two babies, "Hurry up and catch up."

"Your sheep," said the old man, who also called Muhanmed.

"gave it to you"

Wei Ran said this, urging the somewhat reluctant Murtaza, Qiao Ya and Soraya to catch up.

When they walked to the rear of the car, several young but drunken soldiers inside immediately took the children enthusiastically and pulled the two of them up.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

"Thank you, thank you." Kirill deliberately repeated the word "friends" in unstandard Russian.

"Do not be afraid"

A young soldier who looked about 21 or 22 years old and reeked of alcohol patted Murtaza on the shoulder enthusiastically, then took out a pack of biscuits from his pocket and stuffed it into Murtaza's hand.

Before he could react, another soldier handed him a kettle.

Seeing this, Kirill immediately kicked Murtaza lightly with his foot. The latter reacted and immediately took the biscuit and put it into his mouth, chewing it almost mechanically. He then took the kettle and took two big gulps, three big gulps, and finally choked and coughed repeatedly.

At the same time, more young soldiers took out various snacks and stuffed them into Soraya, Qiao Ya, Wei Ran and Kirill.

According to Kirill, the "only one who can speak Russian", Murtaza is Soraya and Qiaoya's brother, and Wei Ran is their uncle. As for Kirill himself, he became the father of the two babies.

Also in his introduction, they rushed to Kabul to treat the two babies, and Wei Ran and others were refugees who heard the news of the end of the war and were preparing to return to Kabul.

It was also during this casual chat that Wei Ran learned that the people in this car were basically all this year's recruits. They were withdrawing from their previous bases to Kabul, and would then luckily return to the Soviet Union.

"The war is over, my friends!"

At the back of the carriage, a slightly fat soldier pulled out a bayan and said, "Let's sing a song to welcome the friends who have come aboard!"

After saying this, the soldier started playing the bayan, and the young Soviet soldiers in the car also sang a song like ghosts and wolves howling, "Don't Tell Mom, I'm Serving in Afghanistan."

“This is your last chance.”

Wei Ran said to Kirill in Persian, "If you reveal your identity, you can leave with them."

“I can’t do that”

Kirill, who was about to sing along subconsciously, pursed his lips and answered in Persian, "How can I abandon these children? This war is already a mistake. I can't abandon these children again."

"You want to go home too." Wei Ran asked in a low voice after a long silence.

"I will go home." Kirill subconsciously touched the miniature camera hidden in his boot. In addition to hesitation, there was also fear of the unknown in his tone.

Compared to a long journey on foot, taking a truck only takes a few hours.

Along the way, they even passed by the mountain road where Abdul led Hakim and others to ambush.

Around seven or eight o'clock in the evening, the convoy finally entered Kabul and stopped.

“You guys get off here.”

The soldier who was sitting in the passenger seat walked to the rear of the car and said to Wei Ran and the others, "We are going to enter the military camp next. You can't enter there."

"Thank you, thank you, my friends."

Kirill said gratefully and was the first to jump off the carriage. He then took the two babies handed to him by the soldiers. At the same time, Wei Ran also took Qiao Ya and Soraya.

"I hope you can start a new life as soon as possible, my friend."

The soldier took out a handful of candy and distributed it to everyone. "We will leave Afkhan soon. The war is over."

After saying that, the soldier gave Kirill a Soviet-made flashlight, then quickly ran to the co-pilot's seat and climbed up, continuing to drive forward with the convoy carrying the soldiers.

"us."

Wei Ran paused, "Where are we going?"

"Come with me." Kirill looked around, then led everyone to choose a direction and walked out.

"Where are we going?" Murtaza asked with a little caution.

"black market"

Kirill replied in a low voice, "Don't worry, most of the people there are Afkhan people, it will be safe for you."

"You seem very familiar with this place?" Wei Ran asked in a low voice after a slight hesitation.

"They... I mean when Ruslan and the others were alive, they brought me here several times."

Kirill explained in a low voice, "I tried to buy information about my father here, but failed."

"so we."

"Come with me and you'll know. I'll explain the rest later."

As Kirill spoke, he led them through an alley and then into a dilapidated two-story house.

“I have some medical supplies to sell.”

Kirill walked into the house and said, "Besides, before that, can you give these children some hot goat milk? They are so hungry."

"sure"

As the old man spoke, he picked up a Soviet tank soldier's kettle and poured a cup of warm goat's milk for everyone, including Wei Ran.

At the same time, Kirill had already taken out the medicines and a set of medical equipment that he had selected from the medical kit before setting off from under his robe.

After just one look, the old man nodded with satisfaction, took out half a gold ring from his arms and handed it to Kirill.

"this price."

"The war is over"

The old man reminded, "The Soviets will leave soon, and we won't be short of medicine in the future."

"All right."

Kirill took the ring and said, "Can you let them finish the goat's milk?"

"Can"

After the old man finished speaking, he took the medicines and medical equipment and left through another door, going to an unknown place.

"Where are we going next?" Wei Ran continued to ask.

"Go find a friend of mine"

After Kirill finished speaking, he also picked up a cup of goat milk and gulped it down.

As soon as Joya and Soraya fed the two babies with a syringe, Kirill immediately took them away, walking along the dim street with a slightly anxious look on his face.

After passing several intersections, a house with a Red Cross flag appeared in front of us.

"This is the ICRC office in Kabul"

Kirill had already walked to the door when he finished speaking, and said to the guard in Italian, "I'm looking for Marcelo Sciocca, an old friend of his. I have something important to ask him."

Kirill handed his miniature camera to the other person and said, "Show this to him, and he'll know who it is."

"Wait a moment," the guard said, quite easy to talk to. He took the camera and ran inside.

Not long after, an old man who looked to be about fifty years old walked out quickly.

"My friends, children and I need your help," Kirill said before the other party could speak.

The latter was stunned for a moment, then waved and said, "Come with me."

"You speak Italian?"

“My dad taught me”

Kirill explained in a low voice, and took Murtaza's hand and walked in first.

Seeing this, Wei Ran, along with Soraya and Qiao Ya, who were holding their children, walked into the neutral building.

Led by Marcelo Sciocca, a group of seven people, big and small, moved into an inconspicuous single dormitory.

"Oh my God, you're still alive!"

Marcelo spoke excitedly almost at the same time as he closed the door, and then hugged Kirill.

"I am dead"

Kirill switched to Farsi and said, "Marcelo, I died saving these children."

"what is going on?"

Marcelo then switched to Persian. His Persian was not very good, but the chicken feet gestures he made subconsciously were extremely flexible and standard.

“I want to save these children”

Kirill said, “I’m taking them away from Afkhan to France.”

"Are you crazy?"

Marcelo's eyes widened as he asked, "Kirill, you are betraying us. You will be killed by your KGB."

"For my father's sake, can you help me?"

Kirill pleaded earnestly, taking off the prepared money, the miniature camera that the other party had just returned to him, and the Arrow watch on his wrist and placing them on the table. "This is all the money I can take out, Father Marcelo. I have a necessary reason to take them to France."

"you"

"I have a camera like this too, please." Wei Ran said, and took out his silent camera and placed it on the table.

"Wait here for a moment." Marcelo gritted his teeth, turned around and left the dormitory, locking the door from the outside.

"Who is he?" Wei Ran asked only at this time.

“Friends my father made in Italy”

Kirill said, “He came to work in Afkhan when the war just started, and he wrote to my father about it, but my father had disappeared in Afkhan by then.

When I came here in 1986, I found him with the letter he wrote to my father. After he learned that my father was missing, he has been helping me find clues about him all these years. "

Just after the brief conversation, Marcelo pushed the door open again and walked in, saying apologetically, "I've asked before, and I can only take one adult and four children away. This is the limit."

"In that case, I'll stay."

Wei Ran said, "I'll stay. I'm also a doctor, and I plan to join the Red Cross."

“I’ll stay too.”

Murtaza said, "I had no intention of going to France."

"Marcelo, help me think of a way to take another child with me." Kirill said seriously, "They can't be separated."

"You are a Soviet soldier, I am taking you away."

"In that case, take them away."

Kirill said, "Multaza is an adult now, let him take care of the four of them."

"Where do I send them?" Marcelo asked.

"Is your house okay?"

Kirill didn't know how to be polite. "I'll pick them up when I find a way to leave."

"I've already adopted two children," Marcelo reminded, frowning.

"The war is almost over, isn't it?" Kirill asked back, "I will pick them up as soon as possible."

"You are asking for trouble with me!" Marcelo said seriously.

'Their families are dead'

Kirill said, "Their families shot down my and Ruslan's helicopter and captured us, but they all died. Only Viktor and I, and these innocent children survived."

After a pause, Kirill said, "I can always go back to the base, but what about them? They will die here."

Marcelo took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "Wait a moment."

Having said that, he turned around and left the small room once again.

This time, Marcelo didn't open the door again until an hour later.

"Kirill, you have to work in my clinic for five years to pay back this debt."

Marcelo returned the watch and camera to Kirill and Wei Ran, and said to Wei Ran, "I can't bring one more person, but if you want, you can stay here and work, if you are really a doctor."

"Let him."

"You have to take them away," Marcelo stared at Kirill and said, "I am willing to help you only because your father helped me back then, but I can't bear to see you give up the opportunity to others."

"I'll stay"

Wei Ran said nonchalantly that his mission of returning was only to assist Kirill in leaving. As for himself, there really wasn't much difference whether he left or not.

"Don't hesitate, we have to leave now."

Marcelo said, "We just happen to have a transfer job tonight, come with me."

Hearing this, Kirill looked at Wei Ran apologetically, then took the children and left the small room.

Following them through a door into the yard, there were several people busy unloading medicine bottles from a truck. There were also some wounded people waiting to get on the truck under the command of a nurse holding a gas lamp.

“Just follow this car.”

Marcelo whispered, "Kirill, you go to the cab, you are the driver, the co-pilot's guide will help you find the way, remember, you are from Kabul, not the Soviets."

"I understand." Kirill nodded, watched the children get in the car one after another, and then walked to the driver's seat.

"Will he leave Afkhan safely?" Wei Ran asked Marcelo in Italian.

"Unless the Soviets are prepared to kill Red Cross workers"

Marcelo took off his glasses, rubbed the corners of his eyes and sighed tiredly, "Oh my God, how could I become friends with the Soviets? This is a disaster for my life that is about to end."

"Fortunately, he has a friend like you," Wei Ran said sincerely.

"I worked on the same boat with his father Ninel"

Marcelo said rather nostalgically, "At that time I was just an intern and had no experience, so I got into a very big trouble, and Ninel helped me."

At this point, Marcelo smiled and said, "That mini camera is the one I gave to Ninel."

"It has been given away as a gift many times," Wei Ran said with a smile.

"That is probably Ninel's most impressive gift."

Marcelo pointed at the truck, turned around and walked back, reminding them, "They're leaving soon. Aren't you going to say goodbye?"

"never mind"

Wei Ran shook his head and watched the truck drive out of the yard. He also breathed a sigh of relief. "I just want to know that he left alive! Come back! You must come back! Stop the car! Stop."

Amid Wei Ran's exclamation, he clearly saw that Murtaza jumped out as the truck drove out of the yard and ran into the dim alley on the street.

However, before he could shout out the other person's name, and before he could even see the truck driven by Kirill slow down, a strong white light swept over and easily swallowed up everything in front of him.

I feel deeply honored that my book friend Comrade Yin Sansuiban calls me "comrade" in the book circle, so I added a small chapter, and the total amount of today's updates is 9000 words as a thank you.