A car was sent for Kai, as Kodji had said, in the afternoon. But instead of taking him to the garrison, Kai learned that the colonel had sent him to the central closed hospital in Kamrat. Realizing that he was unable to change anything, Kai resigned himself to fate and spent another week in a closed hospital. He was pleased only that he had the opportunity to study calmly. Immersed in textbooks, he did not notice how time passed.
Arriving at the garrison, Pyotr Ivanovich, or daddy, as Kai called him, insisted that Kai spend one more week on sick leave. Seeing Kai’s pleading eyes, he compromised and allowed Kai to get sick in his apartment, but on one condition – if he noticed him on the street, he would immediately send him to the hospital. Kai agreed. It is better to sit in your apartment than in a hospital, even in a separate room.
He resumed his studies. Therefore, such forced confinement did not frighten him.
In the evening there was a knock on his door. It was Irka. She huddled uncertainly at the door. Kai stepped aside, she ducked inside and immediately slipped into the kitchen, starting to rattle dishes there. Kai did not bother her.
He had a fairly long-standing relationship with Irka, the cook’s assistant at the officers’ mess, but the main thing in all this was that their relationship was built without mutual obligations to each other. This was why Kai had been with her for so long. Although Irka did not shine with beauty – she was thin, as short as Kai, with a snub nose and shoulder-length brown hair, always tied in a ponytail. Everyone thought she was strange. Probably, for her aloofness from everyone and at the same time, her constant incessant chirping even if the interlocutor was not interested in what she was saying. And of course, no one understood why she was here and did not leave. Once Kai tried to find out from her, but as usual, she shrugged her shoulders shyly and began to twitter about something else.
The entire female population of the garrison envied Irka, everyone knew about her relationship with Kai. To get such a handsome man for yourself! No one understood how such a strange snub-nosed girl could get from him what the first beauties of the garrison could not achieve.
The secret was simple – Kai did not want a binding relationship. He did not belong to himself, his life was at constant risk, he simply could not afford to build a serious relationship with anyone. Unfortunately, with those who at first were ready to simply date, Kai gradually felt that more was expected of him, and this more he could not give.
How could he give what he did not have – the future.
Only Irka, so strange, who could talk for hours about everything, even if nobody listened to her, didn’t seem to even notice their relationship. She perceived everything so smoothly and painlessly that Kai realized that for her he was just a moment of physical intimacy and nothing more. This is how this closeness lasted, not overgrown with unnecessary conversations, conditions, and promises. They were just f****** because they were young and their bodies wanted to find physical release.
And now Kai knew that Irka would tidy up the kitchen, cook dinner, and then just crawl into his bed, waiting for him to come. They had sex, the most common one, with practically chaste positions and always under the covers, as Irka was very shy about everything. This sex brought them relief from the call of the flesh and unnecessary thoughts.
***
In the morning, Kai, dressed in a usual T-shirt and jeans, as he was sitting at home almost under house arrest anyway, heard a knock on the door.
It turned out that yesterday after the arrival of Irka, he never locked it. The door opened, and the boys broke into the room, led by Sher, the last to enter was Sebastian.
On the way, seeing Kai, Sher blurted out, deafening the living room with a loud voice:
“They say you kissed the guy?”
Sher caught a rustle behind him, turned around, and realized that Irka was coming out of the bedroom door.
There was silence.
The first one came to his senses Sher and somehow uncertainly said:
“Hi, Irk, and here we’ve come to visit the patient,” realizing that there was nothing more to say, Sher fell silent.
Irka, smiling stupidly, took her blouse from the sofa and, stooping, walked past the guys who parted. Without saying anything, she went out through the door that was kindly opened in front of her.
Kai understood that it was stupid to slow down Irka now. And all the more foolish to try to explain anything to her. Therefore, he silently waited for her to come out, and then turned his gaze to Sher.
Sher shuddered under his gaze but said:
“Well, these rumors reached the boys.”
“Sebastian, do you think I should explain something?” saying this, Kai turned his gaze to Sebastian.
“The lads wanted to know,” Sebastian began not very confidently.
“Stop,” Kai harshly interrupted Sebastian, “you, in my opinion, are out of line – I am not reporting to you. In my opinion, the opposite is true. If you want to be on Prokhor’s team, you report to me. Or should I tell Prokhor that you are leaving the game?”
“No,” now Sebastian understood that he was being reprimanded as a boy, but it was his own fault that he allowed such a situation that he allowed himself to be run by his people.
“Then keep your people under control yourself, today’s question was impermissible for me. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Sebastian answered clearly, then tried to change the subject, “how are you, were you injured?”
“It’s nothing, the bullet ricocheted, the colonel as always, is reinsured, so he forbade me to leave the apartment, although everything has already healed long ago.”
“Well, he’s right, you’d better take a break,” Sebastian realized that the conversation wasn’t going well for today. Kai continued to burn everyone with a cold look.
“Get well,” said Sebastian and left Kai’s apartment, followed by all the others, just as silently.
When they left, Kai plopped down on the sofa.
“And it’s all because of you, Toyami. It is between you, samurais, normal to have relationships with each other, but here people will despise this. So I will lose all my friends. And where did this information come from? Am I so popular that everyone cares where and with whom I kiss?”
***
Leaving Kai, Sebastian waited for Sher to come up to him. He turned sharply to him:
“Who allowed you to open your mouth?”
“But we wanted to ask Kai about this?” Sher understood that Sebastian was furious in earnest.
“I should speak. You are so bold lately, you have begun to behave somehow wrong. Have you forgotten who’s in charge here?” Sebastian grabbed Shera by the chest and pressed him to the car, “Remember, Kai is not only Prokhor’s friend, he is his “right hand”, do you understand that?! We are now working with Prokhor. He’s our boss! And Kai controls everything here. What right have you got to ask him for a report on his actions?”
“But it was necessary to find out if these are rumors or the truth,” Sher babbled.
“What, found out? Now, because of you, he and Irka quarreled.”
Sebastian let go of Sher and got into the car, realizing how stupid it all turned out. He simply came to visit him as soon as he could, knowing that Kai was recovering from his injury. And here Sher spoke. And here is the result – they ruined Kai’s relationship with Irka and Sebastian himself was now in a tense relationship with him.
“Sher needs to be removed,” again this thought arose in Sebastian’s head, “especially now, when Prokhor is setting up a sales network in Moscow, and they are part of his structure, which gives them protection and power over others. Prokhor is a fine fellow, he is building such an empire, he will soon pick everyone up under himself.”
***
After serving the prescribed week in his confinement, Kai joined the life of the garrison.
One day he was urgently summoned to the headquarters, explaining that there was work for him. All the main and staff officers were at the headquarters. On the table, there were maps and leaflets with coordinates from the reconnaissance. Computer monitors were working, transmitting the latest data from the satellite.
Kai came in and said hello.
The colonel introduced him to the essence of his work – it was necessary to free the height from the Mujahideen and place his people on it. Kai immediately proceeded to review the intelligence and satellite data on the location of the enemy forces.
“Will Bartholomew’s team be with me?” without looking up from his papers, Kai asked the colonel, who was sitting next to him at the table.
“No, they are doing another assignment, in the mountains, will not return soon. The battalion commander Petrenko and his guys are under your command. Do you need anyone else?” Peter Ivanovich clarified, watching as Kai quickly looks through all the data.
“No, you want everything to be quiet. Why then would I take a crowd of people with me?” lighting a cigarette, said Kai.
“I asked you not to smoke here,” the daddy protested affectedly.
“Only one,” Kai asked.
“Okay, I allow you.”
How could he swear at Kai?
“Let him smoke! It’s useless anyway. He’s on a special account here. Kind of inviolable,” thought Pyotr Ivanovich, watching as Kai lit his thin cigarette with a pleasant smell of cinnamon.
Kai began to refine the data on the latest movements of the enemy in the area. He didn’t want to stumble upon someone else.
Then he got up.
“Sidor Ivanovich, let’s go and discuss the details,” said Kai, showing Petrenko to the exit and going to it himself.
“I expected to hear from you here the plan of the operation,” Pyotr Ivanovich said sternly, seeing that Kai was ready to leave, not even considering it necessary to agree on the details with him.
“But you want me to do everything quickly and quietly – I will carry out your order. May I go?”
“Go,” the Colonel waved, realizing that Kai could not be altered.
“Self-confident, impudent boy! Nobody is allowed himself to behave like that, only Kai can do this! Haven’t even bothered to introduce me to the operation!” Pyotr Ivanovich thought to himself, looking at Kai walking towards the door.
Kai and Petrenko went to his headquarters tent. Several company commanders came there.
Kai already knew how to proceed. A clear plan loomed in his head. All he had to do was explain it to the commanders, agree on the number of people that he needed to participate in the operation, and the time of departure.
Everyone trusted Kai, so no one argued according to the plan, they just clarified incomprehensible points and technical details.
Sidor was surprised at such a detailed plan of action.
“When did he have time? he has just arrived, quickly got acquainted with the disposition, and had already calculated everything. Even nothing to complain about. This is, indeed, the best, or rather, the only correct option, how they should act, how to knock out the jihadis from the height they occupied,” thought Sidor, once again looking over the plan of the area.
They had two hours before departure. It was necessary to prepare armored personnel carriers, weapons, and introduce people who were involved in this course. This was done by the commanders under the supervision of Sidor.
Kai had free time. He warned Petrenko to pick him up at Sebastian’s, he would be there. Petrenko winced – he didn’t like these criminals.
“Why is he with them all the time? What for are they to him! ” Sidor thought to himself but said nothing to Kai- it was useless.
Kai did not waste time, drove home to change, and only then went to Sebastian.
After that unpleasant meeting, they did not see each other and did not speak. Kai considered that the demonstration action on his part should be over and that peace with Sebastian should be restored. And in general, he did not take offense at him but believed that Sebastian needed to be stricter with his people. Something his power had been shaken lately.
He appeared at Sebastian in full armor: in protective camouflage with a scarf around his neck, a submachine gun at the ready, cartridges, grenades, pistols, and knives.
Entering the living room where everyone was, he greeted. He realized that everyone froze from his combat appearance.
“Cool, of course. Are you going to war alone against all, or what?” Sher was now friendly and peaceful towards Kai.
“No, not alone. But I will have to shoot, maybe something will be needed – so I’ve taken everything with me.”
“Anything serious?” Sebastian asked worriedly, gesturing to Kai to sit down.
“Yes, the jihadis play pranks. I have a little time, they will pick me up soon. But I’ve decided to get to you before the trip,” Kai paused, everyone understood what he wanted to say, “I mean … I suggest you forget everything.”
Kai held out his hand to Sebastian, who shook it with joy, then held out his hand to Sher, with whom they exchanged a strong handshake.
“You probably want to eat?” but remembering that Kai usually never wants to eat, Sebastian continued, “Rather, they will bring you food.”
“No, I don’t need,” Kai explained, seeing Sebastian’s stern face, “you know, you shouldn’t eat before the fight, if the guts are shot, it’s better without food …”
A shadow of alarm crossed Sebastian’s face. Sher also looked away so that no one could tell from his eyes what he was going through.
“Yes, everything will be fine, not the first time…” Kai did not want to upset them.
“By the way, have you made up with Irka?” Sher asked guiltily.
“Yes, everything is fine with her,” it was as Kai expected, Irka just continued their relationship without unnecessary questions and clarification of those words of Sher.
“That’s good,” Sher said.
Kai’s face turned sad, he asked:
“Do you have any news from Prokhor?”
Sebastian knew that it was very difficult for Kai to call Prokhor himself often, and to find out about the news through him was much easier, not so painful. Kai missed that past life a lot.
Sebastian began to talk about Prokhor’s plans to establish a channel for the sale of weapons and drugs and how they should work it all out here.
Kai listened, realizing that what Prokhor was doing was bad, but Prokhor was always like that, and Kai knew what his friend was. But the main thing that Kai knew was that no matter what Prokhor did in this life, he would always be with him and would always help him in everything, no matter how much it was contrary to his perception of the world. And now Kai understood that it brings death to people – what Prokhor wants to sell – but if his friend did not do it, another would do it. This world is cruel, drugs and weapons will always be sold here, and he will not change the order of things. Therefore, Kai resigned himself to this thought and lived in the hope of Prokhor’s words that when Prokhor had a lot of money and power, he would be able to snatch Kai from the hands of the special services and make him free.
It was a stupid, absurd hope – but only it gave Kai the strength to live in this hell.
Kai was sitting in an armchair, puffing on a cigarette, his eyes were shining, a rebellious curl fell over his forehead, the machine gun was casually standing, leaning against the armchair. This form suited him, and all the weapons he was wearing further emphasized his refined youthful beauty and contrast with the people around him.
Sebastian looked at him intently, looked again, but in a different way – how men look at what they want to possess – and then he realized that perhaps this stupid gossip, which he did not believe in, could be very believable. At some point, he even admired him.
But for him, Kai will always be only a friend. He was never interested in such relationships, and even when another poor fellow was buggered at his presence, he did not take part in this, believing that only many women could be better than women. Another thing was that as a man looking at Kai he could understand those, who were interested in such a relationship.
“Is Kai going to do this? No, stop! How could I think that about him? It’s not his fault that he looks like that. I’ve never doubted him and now I firmly know one thing that he is a real guy.”
Sebastian was ashamed of his thoughts and was glad that Kai didn’t see his appraising gaze on himself.
The noise of armored personnel carriers was heard outside the window.
“It’s for me,” Kai stood up.
“Come on, I’ll see you off,” Sebastian said, getting up.
The others also went out into the street.
In the street in front of the open gates, there was a line of ten APCs.
On the threshold of the barracks, Kai hugged Sebastian and Sher, waved to the rest of the guys, and went towards the armored personnel carriers.
“It’s too large-scale,” Sher lit a cigarette, standing on the porch.
Sebastian lit a cigarette too, he did not want to speak.
They watched as Kai climbed and sat on the armored personnel carrier’s armor. The line began to move, rising columns of dust.
***
They drove through the night. It took a lot of time. Closer to the place they divided. Then everyone acted clearly according to plan.
Kai’s armored personnel carrier stopped in the gorge. With five men, he moved to a given height. First, they walked, then they crawled. They got to the set point. At control time, they moved on to the first sentry, who was successfully removed. Here the shelling from armored personnel carriers began from the left flank.
The Mujahideen rushed there. Kai and his men had time to move unnoticed further, to the first gun, remove the guard there and turn it ninety degrees. Then they opened fire on the firing points of the jihadis located at the height. They were supported by another armored personnel carrier, which managed to reach the specified point during this time.
The spirits rushed to their flank, but it was too late: they had strengthened, time was lost. Kai with two soldiers, hiding behind stones, crawled to the shooting jihadis on the side of them.
The jihadis did not expect to receive automatic bursts from almost the rear. Indiscriminate shooting continued, then hand-to-hand fighting. Judging by the cannonade heard from different points, Kai understood that another armored personnel carrier had reached the point and was firing. The height occupied by the jihadis was freed in half an hour. For another half hour, they scoured the area and shot the Mujahideen hiding in ambush.
At dawn, it was all over.
Gathered at the armored personnel carriers. Kai reported the situation on the radio. A helicopter and a platoon of soldiers were sent to him, who in the next month would have to keep this height under their control to avoid clashing. Only when the jihadis would be driven further into the mountains, the checkpoint could be removed from here.
The helicopter took the wounded. There were no killed among their own. It was very good, it was not expected, but Kai correctly calculated everything. Of course, there could have been an accident, which meant that now they were lucky.
For another day they sat at the height, waiting first for the arrival of the platoon, then for trucks with things for arranging the height. Then they waited for the guys to settle in there, dig in, put up their guns. It was impossible to throw them like that. The Mujahideen could attack at any moment to take away the height. Therefore, the armored personnel carriers stood at the given points. Each in his place kept a certain area of the terrain under control.
***
Kai was reclining on the APC, occasionally scanning the area through binoculars. The sun was at its zenith. There was the heat, dry air soaked in fine sand, or rather, sandy dust. The sky was clear. It was a monochromatic yellow-brown-gray landscape around: stones, stones, stones, and sand dust.
Everything was the same, the eye had nothing to catch. Ahead there was a valley stretching beyond the horizon. On three sides there were rocks and foothills of rocks: rocky hills, turning into mountains.
He was used to seeing all this and breathing in this dry dusty air.
A memory flashed in his soul:
“It is early morning, the sun has not yet risen, but it is already light. The field is with a slight touch of fog. The grass is in silvery dew drops. You breathe in the air, intoxicatingly fresh, and it seems that you are drinking pure moisture from the space around you.”
The chest ached as usual.
“I can’t allow myself to think about it!”
Kai focused on scanning the area through binoculars.
“Fed’, what is there to drink?” realizing that the memories do not go away, Kai, seeing that the young lieutenant was sitting next to him on a nearby APC, decided to ask him for life-giving moisture for his soul.
Fedya reached for the flask, but then, seeing Kai’s face, knocked on the armored personnel carrier’s armor.
“San’, give me a stash!”
Sanya climbed out of the depths of the APC with a flask in his hand.
Fedya deftly threw Kai’s canteen onto a nearby APC.
Kai took a few sips. It was cognac, cheap, but what a blessing that it was. Then he threw the flask back in the same way.
“Thank you, saved!”
“Always happy to help,” Fedya was glad that Kai turned to him. It was the first time he was in the battle with him. He was impressed by everything about Kai. He didn’t expect a man could be so reckless and fearless. Besides, Kai killed without regret, it even was scary. And now he was completely different, tired, sad …
So they sat until the evening, then distributed the guard at night. And only at noon the next day they moved back to the garrison.
They also arrived without incident, except for a minor shootout, which had already become commonplace here. Someone from behind the rocks started a string of burst on the road, they gave him a couple of stutters of a machine-gun in response. It was such a local tradition.
After arriving, they immediately went to the headquarters for a report on the work done.
Kai did not like it, so he was just sitting at the table, and without him, there were people wishing to tell in detail about the events that had happened.
Already at night, they were allowed to go to rest.
Kai asked to be dropped off at his apartment. Entering it, he did not turn on the light, his eyes were already aching from the stress of the day. Wearily sat down on the sofa, he took off the handkerchief that was now strangling him from his neck, unbuttoned his belt, reached for the bottle of cognac, and the glass. He splashed the cognac, watched the dark liquid gleam in the reflections of the street lamps, breathed in its heady scent, and took a sip.
His conscience tormented him. After all, then, in the hospital ward, although he did not want it, he was rude to them. His answer, the way he spoke about them, could be regarded as an insult. To call fagots two people who saved him, helpless, on the road, and then babysit him. Kai knew he was wrong. But Toyami’s behavior, all this unsettled him, and he decided that his rudeness would solve all his problems. He remembered the sincere Kodji – he offended the man with his words too.
“It didn’t work out well, of course,” thought Kai.
But how could he end it all? All he had faced and did not know how to find a way out. He was confused, did not understand how to behave correctly. These eyes of Toyami, his words, touches – everything destroyed his inner foundations, and what he was convinced of fell apart like a house of cards. And he tried to collect it, to build this wall again and say that it was indestructible as he knew exactly what was right and what was wrong. And, pushing people away from him, roughly, harshly, he justified himself with his principles and rules in his life.
But for some reason, his soul was dreary. He drank the cognac in one gulp then again and again. and finally, he achieved the desired result, when alcohol and fatigue drowned out everything that worried and excruciated him. Curled up on the sofa, he fell asleep.
