Chapter 1

The Discussion...

Mist dropped like a heavy blanket that night, shielding one of the only comforts in that Siberian white desert of snowy dunes, those stars. Men gathered their socks ruggedly in their separate camps and threw them near the fire to dry, as most with simple delight slowly took in their dinner enjoying every morsel. The moon, which they could not see, lit up all mist around them giving them some comfort that there actually was something that didn’t have a gun out there. With the occasional burst of light in the sky with flashes of penetrating light, followed by both annoying and fierce explosions that ripped the still silence of the night and woke those un accustomed to them. When all was quite those alert, slept. Those afraid, calmed and those neither…just waited.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, hope I woke up before we break it and all.”

“You mean break camp?”

“Huh? Uh yah...yah camp.”

“Sure did John…five o’ clock it is according to my watch.”

“I’m not one to complain Sir but I think its gotten too cold for any human being to be up here…I mean don’t you think we shouldn’t be here during the Russian Winter?”

“John. We’re here to accomplish our duty, finish off Romanoff’s red army , to get home, those of us left, and learn from this whole experience for the good of all down the road of life.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry do you speak another language better than English? I know fourteen other languages would you like me to repeat what I just said in them?”

“Well, heh no. That’s…uh…pretty heavy Sir but….”

“But what John.”

“But we’re here in the midst of war man. If I have anything deep to say it’s this…”

“I’m listening John.” John’s commander said kindly.

“Uh…well it’s just this I’m nine-teen and your what…twenty-three…?”

“Twenty-Four.” He replied.

“Yah so you’ve had a couple more years of experience in life and including the military, but I believe that the whole reason we’re out here is because of our messed up Pres…”

“If you choose to talk to me do not dare insult our both President and Commander and Chief. Understand?”

“Umm yah sorry…I think it’s because of our President, his guys up there in the White House are just trying to find a reason to pro-long this war for future campaigning and power so that they can sit back in the power seat and enjoy life.” Putting his two front forefingers in the air and parenthesizing. “On top.”
“Uh, what do you think about that Sir?”

“Would you like it straight or sugar coated?”

“Sugar coated I guess. Man actually I’m pretty hungr…”

“That is both the saddest and uneducated answer I have heard as to why we are here from any soldier in both this entire regiment and army.”

“What? Sir I asked for sugar coated, not dripping of lemon all over.”

“That was sugar I served y’a John.”

“Oh…well anyway, what? I’ve talked to a lot of people that think the same thing.”

“Which ‘people’ are these John?”

“Well Sir, people back in the States, friends…”

”Yah, right, people you surrounded yourself with, the very people that would agree with your deranged thinking John.”

“Huh…wait a sec. man, uh I mean Sir, how can you call that deranged?”

“I can’t allow this sorry feeling to exist here in this regiment and what has just been said between us this morning will stay right here in this camp and the remnants of it between us understand?”

“Yes..mm…Sir.”

“Ok, like I was saying John, the reasons we’re here have nothing to do with illusions that our President although an imperfect man like us all, actually would only continue this war which is a necessity to preserve the safety of the world down the road of life, only for the simple pleasure of gaining a foothold politically and for land taken in the process of this war is PURE FANTASY.”

“Well ok I see your point Sir but the capital has had times of corruptness and that type of stuff is still there! Is it not?

“John. What exists in the capital today may be both good and bad, and I know the good will triumph over all even if it is that close to home ok. But I know we are here, in Russia’s coldest province and yes during winter, ready, most of us I hope, to give our lives at the soonest moment to protect our Freedom, back home and around the world. The very freedom that allows you to say those things John, even if they try to tear at the freedom that gives you the choice to let you make it. I would ask you John to be wise and and see with better eyes than the ones you have right now. I myself am here for the very reason our Commander and Chief, our Country and the World sent us here to fight for God and Country and the Freedom that abides thereof in foremost in Gods kingdom and in all countries of democracy. Yes John, even if it means giving up my life…I owe a lot more than that.”

“…………………………………I see your point Sir. I didn’t mean to knock at your beliefs or anything or insult the cool things about reason and all for being here.” 
Said John allowing a penetrating but gentle silence to sweep across them and through the camp sending shivers through his spine but with warmth putting him at better ease.

“It’s ok John. You’ll learn…you’ll learn much in the coarse of life. As am I.” John’s Commander looked up at the parting mist and the sun shone brightly all around them illuminating the once dreary camp into shimmering pools of melted snow and warming the faces of soldiers all around them as they too look up squinting their eyes at the welcome rays of sun light. 

“Well I guess we’d better hitch up the rest of the regiment we’ve been ordered to pull out at 6 600 (I need the military time for 6:00 A.M. could you put that in lion) hours Sir.”

“I guess we’d better quite camp, Matt, Phillip, you guys load up our primary supplies. Volkov you, Roger and Sam hitch up the tents and the rest of you pack up the rest of our supplies so we can get the heck out of here. You all got” Looking at his watch again, “22.3 minutes.” Said the commander.

Men turned their heads as the first explosions burst in the distance shaking snow from the trees and rippling the pools of water around them and many of the men stumbled with their supplies in hand and shook nervously at the very thought, for where the very heart of the noise, was where they were headed.

to be continued...

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