Burning Moscow

Yumashev did not immediately agree. Instead, he looked down at Khrulev and saw that he nodded slightly. He immediately said loudly to the officer: "So, don't you need to say, please invite the American pilot in immediately." Seeing the officer. Turning to leave, he yelled again from behind, "By the way, has the translation come?"

The officer stopped and replied with a smile: "Of course, the translator and the American pilot are waiting outside the door."

"Then what are you doing standing here?" Yumashev smiled and waved to the officer, urging: "Hurry up and invite our American guests in."

"Yes!" The officer agreed with a smile, turned and walked out of the room.

When the American pilot wearing a brown short-haired jacket and a boat cap appeared at the door, Khrulev immediately stood up and walked towards the pilot first. When I got up, I glanced at the tea cup placed in front of me, and quickly took a big sip. I didn’t expect that the first feeling in the entrance was bitterness, and the next feeling was very bitter. No wonder the commanders were drinking tea just now. , Put the sugar cubes in the small saucer in front of them into the cups. It turned out that the navy tea was much bitter than the tea we usually drink.

I put down the cup, followed Khrulev and Yumashev with a miserable expression, and walked towards the American pilot at the door. A long distance away, Khrulev opened his arms and greeted warmly: "Welcome, our American friend!"

The officer standing behind the pilot translated this sentence to him in time and introduced him to Khrulev's identity. After listening, the pilot raised his hand to the General Zhang on Khrulev's shoulder to salute Khrulev and hugged Khrulev tightly with his arms open.

Yumashev bypassed the two of them, walked to the door, whispered a few words to someone outside, and walked back again. Standing next to Khrulev, smiling and watching the warm embrace between him and the American pilot.

After the pilot and Khrulev separated, the translator introduced Yumashev's identity to him. So he saluted Yumashev and hugged him. Appears extremely affectionate. After the separation, Yumashev triumphantly said to the pilot: "My friend. In recognition of your bravery and tenacity in today's air combat, we have decided to award you a bravery medal."

After listening, the pilot nodded to him with a smile, and said politely: "Thank you, thank you, sir!"

When he walked to my side, the translator just wanted to introduce me to him, but he raised his hand and interrupted what was behind the translator. After raising his hand to salute me, he said in blunt Russian: "Hello, General Oshanina, I am glad to see you here!"

Although the pilot’s Russian sounded awkward, I didn’t pay attention to these details. Instead, I wondered why he could call out my name and rank. When I was at the Alaska airport, I probably hadn’t had a face-to-face with him.

Just as I was puzzled, the American pilot spoke again: "Sir, you may be surprised. Why we have never met, but when I see you, can I accurately call out your name and rank? "

These few sentences are relatively long. The translator translated it to me. After listening, I nodded and looked at the tall and handsome American guy in front of me, wanting to hear how he answered me.

A smile appeared on the pilot’s face. This time he did not go through the translator, but directly said to me in bad Russian: "Sir, my name is Warren, Warren Henry!"

When I heard the name Henry, a familiar name popped into my mind: Victor Henry. Thought of this. I asked tentatively, "Warren, what is your relationship with Colonel Victor Henry?"

"Father." Warren replied lightly. "my father."

"So that's it!" I heard that the American pilot who saved his life in front of him actually knew the son of Colonel Henry, a U.S. Navy officer. I was overjoyed, and quickly took his hand and asked caringly: "You haven't seen Colonel Henry for a long time, haven't you?"

"Yes, sir, I haven't seen each other for almost half a year."

"Second lieutenant, thank you for saving us today." Khrulev heard that the pilot was the son of Colonel Henry, and hurried to our side, said to Warren: "Maybe I can make the comrades who are still in Washington think Think of a way to get you a vacation to visit relatives and go home to meet your father."

After hearing this, Warren did not appear to be happy, but said in a steady tone: "Thank you, sir! No, no trouble at all. When thousands of officers and soldiers do not have such a chance, I think I cannot accept it. This kind of vacation. Maybe my father will not be happy after seeing me, on the contrary, he will be disappointed because of my selfish attitude."

"Your father is good, and he has given you a good education." Khrulev smiled and came to such a conclusion.

I remembered that Henry once said that his two sons, one in the submarine force and the other as a carrier-based pilot on the Hornet, couldn’t help but curiously asked: "Lt. Warren, I heard your father say that you are How did you go to the air force base in Alaska when you were a carrier-based pilot on the USS Hornet?"

"Comrade Oshanina, I think I can explain this to you." Before Warren could answer, Yumashev interjected: "The Hornet was unfortunately lost by the Japanese nation during the Santa Cruz naval battle in October last year. Was hit by the torpedo and it sank to the bottom of the sea."

"Yes, sir." Warren continued: "During the naval battle, the Hornet was hit by three bombs and two torpedoes, and two Japanese planes crashed into the deck. Because of the aviation gasoline on the ship. The library was ignited, causing a fire, and the bridge and deck were severely damaged, and the engine could not run.

The fleet commander ordered the Northampton to remove the Hornet from the battlefield, but due to technical problems such as cable breaks, the towing did not begin until a few hours later. On the way back, the maintenance crew successfully repaired the engine, but was also discovered by the Japanese fleet. The Northampton immediately cut the cable to avoid the enemy's attack. In the ensuing attack, the Hornet was hit by another torpedo and two bombs. Although it was unable to advance because of the engine damage again, it did not sink.

In order to prevent the Hornet from being captured by the Japanese nation, the two destroyers received an order to sink the Hornet after the captain issued an order to abandon the ship. However, the ship was hit by nine torpedoes and more than 400 five-inch shells and still failed to accelerate its sinking.

When our army left the battlefield. The Japanese fleet, which was following, sent two destroyers in an attempt to tow the Hornet away. However, due to the large displacement of the Hornet, the two destroyers of the country couldn't move at all. So they once again sent four torpedoes to the Hornet, which completely sank the Hornet to the bottom of the sea.

And us carrier-based pilots on the Hornet. Part of it was incorporated into other aircraft carriers, the other part was assigned to naval aviation, and I was assigned to an air force base in Alaska. "

As Warren had just finished telling the fate of the Hornet, I saw Deputy Commander Frolov appearing at the door, holding two delicate small boxes in his hands. From the appearance, I immediately recognized the box that was specially used to hold the medals.

Khrulev took a box from Frolov's hand and opened it, took out a shiny bravery medal from it, and hung it on Warren's uniform. Then he reached out to Warren. Congratulations on the Soviet medal he won.

Warren and Khrulev shook hands, and immediately released them. Then he said in a low voice: "Sir, my companion has a share in this medal. Unfortunately, his whereabouts are unknown now. It seems that it is too bad for him. Otherwise, he can enjoy the same honor."

"Second lieutenant, don't worry." Khrulev looked at the American pilot in front of him, and said amiably: "In addition to you can get this medal, your companions also have a share. By the way, there is something I wanted to be with. I’ll tell you later, but it’s okay to say it now. Your companion is not dead. Our sailors found him at sea and will be able to send him here soon to meet you."

"What, sir. What did you say?" When Warren heard the good news, he grabbed Khrulev's arm excitedly, and asked vigorously, "You said that Lieutenant Guy is still alive and not dead?"

"Yes, Captain Warren." Khrulev said to him with a smile: "Our sailor found him on a reef in the sea. He didn't suffer any injuries, but he was freezing. Ours After the sailors carried him onto the speedboat, he wiped him with vodka for at least half an hour before he was relieved. Don't worry. He will be here in a while."

Warren nodded. He said to me sideways: "Sir, you may not know. Second Lieutenant Gay was lucky. As early as the battle of Midway Island, the Hornet took off 15 "Avenger" torpedo bombers and formed a formation to attack the Wa country. The fleet, as there were no fighter jets to escort, and fuel was about to run out, they were all shot down by zero fighters and anti-aircraft fire during the attack. All 30 pilots were killed except for Lieutenant Gay."

Khrulev and Yumashev heard Warren’s words and couldn’t help feeling stunned, saying that this second Lieutenant Guy was really fateful. The last time he escaped from the midway island, he was shot down by a Japanese plane. Surviving, I really don't know how to say he was lucky, not bad.

Frolov waited until Khrulev and Yumashev stopped talking, and then walked over to ask for instructions: "The minister, commander, the remains of the two U.S. pilots and the rescued pilot. We plan to transport them back to Alaska by transport plane tomorrow. ,May I?"

"No problem, General Frolov." Khrulev replied in front of Yumashev, "Find two good coffins, settle the remains of the American pilot, and send the rescued pilot back to Alaska. "Speaking of this, he turned his head and said to Warren again: "Lieutenant Warren, I can only trouble you to drive the plane back with you at that time."

"I don't have ammunition or fuel on my plane. Can you add something to me?" Warren waited for Khrulev to finish, and asked cautiously: "Otherwise, I won't be able to return to the base in Alaska."

"Aviation ammunition may not be matched. There is no way to replenish it." It was Deputy Commander Frolov who answered him: "But there is no problem with fuel. I will ask someone to fill up your aircraft after overhauling it."

"Thank you, thank you, sir." Warren thanked Frolov politely.

While everyone was waiting for the opportunity of Lieutenant Guy to arrive, I greeted Khrulev, and called Warren aside to talk to him about his family. I asked tentatively: "Warren, is your brother's wife Natalie?"

"Yes, sir." Warren replied affirmatively, and then he told me what he knew: "Natalie took her two children, and her uncle, and wanted to transfer back to Palestine. In the United States, they were detained when they left the country in Italy. Their whereabouts are currently unknown. According to people familiar with the matter, they may have been sent to a concentration camp."

"Have you heard of the Nazi concentration camps?" I don't know how much he knows about death camps, so I asked very tactfully: "Knowing that their lives in the concentration camps can be guaranteed?"

My question made Warren puzzled. He looked at me blankly and said: "Natalie and the others are not prisoners of war, but civilians. If there is any sin, it cannot be because they are Jewish. And hers. Uncle is a well-known Jewish writer. I believe that even if he is locked up in a concentration camp, he will not be embarrassed."

Seeing that he didn't know anything about the concentration camp, I didn't want to block him, so I could only say vaguely: "If that's the case, that would be great."

"Report!" A familiar voice came from the door, and I quickly turned my head and looked in the direction of the sound ~www.NovelMTL.com~ I saw Captain Smurray who sent me and Khrulev to the headquarters standing. At the door, you could vaguely see a few people standing behind him.

"Come in, Comrade Captain." Frolov gave orders in place of Yumashev: "We have been waiting for you for a long time. Hurry up and bring our American friends in."

Captain Smurray agreed, turned his side against the open door, and swung his head outside. Then, I saw two sailors wearing bonnets, supporting a man in a Soviet army coat and walking in.

"Dear Lieutenant Guy, is that you?" Warren screamed when he saw this person's appearance, and hurried forward to greet him. At the same time, he said: "I see you, or you Ghost?"

Second Lieutenant Gay, who was supported by the sailor, said with a wry smile: "Of course it's me, don't forget, my fate is big, even if you die, God won't necessarily accept me."

After the two comrades who had gone through life and death embraced, Khrulev smiled and said to Lieutenant Gay: “Mr. Lieutenant, in order to thank you for your bravery and tenacity in today’s air combat, I have decided to grant you and Warren The second lieutenant each has a brave medal, both to commend your achievements and to thank you for your life-saving grace." (To be continued.)