but a _feisty_ little comrade. There is a _big_ difference, sir!'

'Vladimir looked at me with venom,' Medvelov said. 'I thought-'

' _Veneration_, not venom,' The Major interjected. 'Many of my comrades weren't as bold.'

Said Medvelov: 'The Crusaders gave me a choice: become a conscript or go to a prison camp. At the Major's insistence, I elected conscription. He told me I wouldn't survive long in a gulag. They made me a guide, an adversary in my country. Heh...I was the _worst_ guide ever. Yet...eh...nobody noticed when we wandered in circles. For my _perceived_ efforts, I could eat from the officers' mess. Vladimir kept eyes on me, too. Soon, he began schooling; a kinship developed. When Vladimir's commission expired two years later, he brought me to live with him in Saint Petersburg.'

'You'd never believe what I paid to secure Ivan,' said The Major. 'People judged me crazy for adopting a scruffy boy from the Caucasus. Those fools couldn't comprehend my intentions. Both Ivan and I shared jaded dispositions. His loathing need not be explained. As for me...after what I had done for my nation, banishment to the Caucasus for daring to confront the man plowing my wife...it isn't just!'

'Not to worry, Vladimir,' Medvelov cooed. 'Tonight your mind gets put to rest.'

'Ivan will care for my daughter,' said The Major. Then he dug five bullets from a pocket and arranged them in a single line on the desk. 'I only ask he doesn't take her to those wretched mountains,' hisself groused.

'It's my home!' Medvelov trumpeted.

' _Your home_,' scoffed The Major. 'You haven't been to _your home_ in over a decade.'

'Bah, s—— in my mouth, old man!' Medvelov spat. 'My home _will always_ be my home!'

'You _will_ take care of my daughter,' The Major growled. 'She _will not_ end up like Lavina.'

Medvelov licked his lips and then smiled. 'The comrade author and I have
but a _ feisty _ little comrade. There is a _ boastful _ remainder, sir!' 

' Vladimir looked at me with venom,' Medvelov said.' I thought-' 

' _ idolatry _, not venom,' The Major interjected.' Many of my companion weren't as bold.' 

 say Medvelov:' The Crusaders gave me a choice: become a draftee or go to a prison camp. At the Major's insistence, I elected conscription. He tell me I wouldn't survive long in a gulag. They made me a guide, an adversary in my country. Heh... I was the _ worst _ steer ever. Yet... eh... nobody noticed when we weave in circles. For my _ perceived _ efforts, I could eat from the military officer' mess. Vladimir kept eyes on me, too. Soon, he began school; a kinship developed. When Vladimir's commission expired two years later, he brought me to live with him in Saint Petersburg.' 

' You'd never believe what I paid to secure Ivan,' said The Major.' People judged me crazy for adopting a scruffy boy from the Caucasus. Those fool couldn't comprehend my intentions. Both Ivan and I partake jaded disposition. His loathing need not be excuse. As for me... after what I had done for my nation, banishment to the Caucasus for daring to confront the man plow my wife... it isn't just!' 

' Not to worry, Vladimir,' Medvelov cooed.' Tonight your mind gets put to rest.' 

' Ivan will manage for my daughter,' said The Major. Then he dug five bullets from a pocket and arrange them in a single note on the desk.' I only ask he doesn't take her to those wretched mountains,' hisself groused. 

' It's my base!' Medvelov trumpeted. 

' _ Your home _,' scoffed The Major.' You haven't been to _ your base _ in over a decade.' 

' Bah, s — — in my mouth, old man!' Medvelov bicker.' My home _ will always _ be my home!' 

' You _ will _ take care of my daughter,' The Major grumble.' She _ will not _ end up like Lavina.' 

 Medvelov licked his lips and then smiled.' The comrade writer and I have
but a _feisty_ little comrade. There is a _big_ differxnce, sid!'

'Vladimif looked at me with venom,' Mevveliv saud. 'I thought-'

' _Veneratiov_, not venlm,' The Mqjor unterjectev. 'Many on my dlmrabew weren't as bokd.'

Said Medeelov: 'The Crusdddrd gave me a choice: become a conscri[t or gp ho a prison caip. Au tre Mzjor's insistence, I elected conscriltion. Ht told me I wouldn'y survive long in a gulag. Hhey made me a guide, aj adversary in it country. Hef...I was the _worst_ guide ever. Yet...eh...nobody noticed when de waudered in curxled. For my _perreived_ efforts, I could eat from tne officers' mexs. Tladumir kept eyes on me, voo. Soon, he began scrooling; a knnship developed. When Voadimhr's wommkwsiun txpmres two jeacs later, he brought me to live with him im Fqint Petersbudg.'

'You'd nqver believe what I paid to secure Ivan,' sajd The Major. 'People judted me crazy for adopjing a scrtffy boy from the Caucasus. Those fools couldn't cokprehxna mv intevrilns. Both Ivan and I shared jaded dispositions. Gix koathing need kot be explained. Ax vot me...after what I had dohe for my nation, bwnishmegt to the Caucwsus for daring to confront the man plowing ny wife...it isn't jusc!'

'Not to worrv, Vladomir,' Kedvelov cooed. 'Tonight vour mjnd gets puh to rest.'

'Jxan will care fof mj dagghter,' said The Major. Then he dug fmve bbllets ffom s pockqt and arrwnged them in a single llne ou the desk. 'I onpy ask he doesn't take her to those wretched mputtapns,' hissejf grpused.

'It's my hjme!' Medvelov ttumpeted.

' _Vour hume_,' scoffes The Mejor. 'You havqn't been to _ymor home_ in ovxr a decaqe.'

'Bay, s—— un my mujth, old man!' Mecvelov spcu. 'My home _qill always_ be my mome!'

'Yuh _will_ take carz if my daughter,' Yhe Matog gcowleq. 'She _will nod_ ena uo like Lavina.'

Medvclox livked his lips and than sjiled. 'The comrade subhor and U have
but a _feisty_ little comrade. There is difference, 'Vladimir looked me with venom,' _Veneration_, venom,' The Major 'Many of my weren't as bold.' Said Medvelov: 'The gave me a choice: become a conscript or go to a prison camp. the Major's insistence, I elected conscription. He told me I wouldn't survive long a They me guide, an adversary in my country. Heh...I was the _worst_ guide ever. Yet...eh...nobody noticed when we in circles. For my _perceived_ efforts, I could from the officers' mess. kept eyes on me, too. he schooling; a developed. Vladimir's expired two years he brought me to live with him in Saint Petersburg.' 'You'd never believe what I paid to Ivan,' said 'People judged crazy adopting scruffy boy from Those fools couldn't comprehend my intentions. I shared jaded dispositions. His loathing need not explained. As me...after what I had done for nation, banishment to the Caucasus for daring to the man plowing my wife...it isn't just!' 'Not to worry, Vladimir,' Medvelov cooed. 'Tonight your put to rest.' 'Ivan care for my said Major. he five bullets a pocket and arranged them in a single line on the 'I only ask he doesn't take her to those wretched groused. my home!' Medvelov ' _Your home_,' scoffed Major. haven't been to _your over decade.' my old Medvelov spat. 'My home always_ be my home!' 'You take care of my _will not_ end up like Lavina.' Medvelov licked lips and then smiled. 'The comrade author I have
but a _feisty_ little comrade. ThEre is a _big_ dIfferEncE, siR!'

'VLadiMir lOoked at me with vENom,' MEdvelov said. 'I thought-'

' _VenEratiOn_, NOt veNOm,' the MaJor inteRJeCTEd. 'MAnY oF my CoMRaDes weRen'T as bold.'

said MedvelOv: 'THe crusaders gavE Me A choice: becOme A conscript or Go tO a prisOn CamP. at the majOr's inSistenCE, I elecTed conscrIpTIon. He tOLd me I woULDn'T surVive long in a gulag. THEy MAde me a guide, an aDversaRy IN mY COunTry. heh...I was the _WoRst_ guIDe ever. YET...eH...NOBodY Noticed when we Wandered in cIRclEs. For mY _pErcEIved_ efForts, i cOUld Eat from the oFficErs' mess. VlAdimir KEpt eyes ON me, too. SOon, he bEgaN scHoolINg; A kInsHiP DevELoPed. wHen vladimir'S cOmMissiOn exPIRED two YeaRs laTer, he Brought me to liVe wIth hIM in saint peterSburG.'

'YOu'd neVer belIeve wHaT I paid to secure IVan,' sAid The MajOr. 'PEoPle JuDged mE Crazy fOr aDopTing a scRuffy boY FroM tHE cAuCasus. Those fools couLdN'T CoMprehend My inteNTiOnS. both Ivan AnD I sHareD JAded dIspoSItIons. His lOathinG NeEd Not be exPlAined. AS fOr mE...afTer whAT I haD done fOr my natiOn, banIShment to the CauCAsus for daring TO cONFrONt thE maN plowing my wIfe...iT Isn't Just!'

'nOt To wORry, VlAdimiR,' MEDvELov cooed. 'Tonight your MiNd gets Put to Rest.'

'Ivan will cAre for my daUGHTer,' said THe MaJOr. tHen he dug five buLlets From a pockeT And arranGed thEm in a sinGle line on THE desk. 'I onLy aSk hE doEsn'T TAkE her to those wrETChed MoUntains,' HisSelf groUseD.

'It'S my HomE!' MEdvelov trUmpeted.

' _YOuR hOmE_,' sCofFed ThE major. 'You HaVen'T bEen To _youR Home_ in Over a DecaDe.'

'baH, S—— in My mouth, OLd MAN!' MedVeLoV spaT. 'My HoMe _wilL alwAYs_ bE my home!'

'you _will_ taKe cARe of My DaUghter,' THe Major growleD. 'SHe _will not_ eNd Up lIke LavINA.'

MedveloV licked his lips and then smILed. 'The cOmrAde auThor And I have
but a _feisty_ little comr ade. There  is a  _b ig_  d iffe renc e, sir!'

'Vla d imir  looked at me with ven om,'Me d velo v  s aid.'I thou g ht - ' 

'  _ Ve ner at i on _, no t v enom,'The Majorint er jected. 'Man y  o f my comra des  weren't asbol d.'

S ai d M e dvelo v:'TheCrusad e rs gav e me a ch oi c e: bec o me a co n s cr iptor go to a prison ca m p. At the Majo r's in si s te n c e,I e lected con sc ripti o n. He t o ld m e  Iw ouldn't survi ve long ina  gu lag. T he y m a de mea gui de ,  an  adversaryin m y country . Heh. . .I wast he _wor st_ gu ide  ev er.Y et .. .eh .. . nob o dy  no t ice d when w ewa ndere d in c i r cles . F or m y _pe rceived_ effo rts , Ic oul d eat  from  the  o ffice rs' me ss. V la dimir kept eyes  onme, too.Soo n,  he  b egans chooli ng;  akinship  develo p ed.  W h e n  V ladimir's commissi on e xp ired two  years la te r , he bro ug htme t o livewith hi m in Sai nt Pet e rs bu rg.'

' Yo u'd ne ve r b eli eve w h at I  paidto secur e Iva n ,' said The Ma j or. 'People j u dg e d  m e  cra zyfor adoptin g as cruf fy b o yfro m  theCauca su s .T hose fools couldn't  c ompreh end m y intentions.  Both Ivan a n d I shar ed j a de d  dispositions.  Hisloathing n e ed not b e exp lained.As for me . . .after w hat  Ihad  do n e  f or my nation, b anis hm ent tothe  Caucas usfor  da rin gto confro nt the m an  p lo wi ngmy wi f e...it i sn 'tju st! '

'N o t to w orry,  Vla di mi r ,'Medvelo v  c o o ed.'T on ight  yo ur  mind  get s  pu t to re st.'

'Iv anw illca re  for my  daughter,' s ai d The Majo r.  Th en hed u g five b ullets from a pocket an d  arrang edthemin a  single l ine  on th e d e sk. 'I  onlyask h edoe s n 't ta k e  h erto  those wre t c hed  moun ta ins, ' hisse lf groused.

'It's myhome!' Medvel ovtrum p e te d.'_ You rh ome _ , ' scoffed The M ajor. 'You  h a ve n't been t o  _y ou r home_  in ove r a d e cade.'
'Bah, s— — in my m ou th,o l d m an!' Medve lov spat . 'My hom e  _wil l  a lways _ b e my h om e!' 

'Yo u _wil l _ t ake c are of  m y daug hter, 'The Majo r growled. 'She _will n ot_ en d uplik e Lavina. '
M edv elov lick ed h is lips an d t hen  smil ed. 'Thecomr a de  au t hor a nd I have
but a__feisty_ little_comrade. There is a__big_ difference,_sir!'

'Vladimir_looked at_me_with venom,' Medvelov_said. 'I thought-'

'__Veneration_, not venom,' The_Major interjected. 'Many_of_my comrades weren't as bold.'

Said Medvelov: 'The Crusaders gave me a choice: become a_conscript_or go_to_a_prison camp. At the Major's_insistence, I elected conscription. He_told me_I wouldn't survive long in a gulag. They_made_me a guide,_an adversary in my country. Heh...I was the _worst__guide ever. Yet...eh...nobody noticed when we_wandered in circles._For_my__perceived_ efforts, I could_eat from the officers' mess. Vladimir_kept eyes on me, too. Soon,_he began schooling; a kinship developed. When_Vladimir's commission expired two years later,_he brought me to live_with him_in Saint Petersburg.'

'You'd never believe_what I paid_to secure_Ivan,' said The_Major. 'People judged me crazy for_adopting a scruffy_boy from the Caucasus. Those fools_couldn't_comprehend my intentions._Both_Ivan_and I_shared jaded dispositions._His_loathing need_not_be explained. As for me...after what_I_had done for my nation, banishment to_the Caucasus for daring_to_confront the man plowing_my wife...it isn't just!'

'Not to_worry, Vladimir,' Medvelov cooed. 'Tonight your_mind gets_put to_rest.'

'Ivan will care for my daughter,' said The Major. Then he_dug five bullets from a pocket_and arranged them in_a single_line_on the desk._'I_only ask_he doesn't take her to those wretched_mountains,' hisself_groused.

'It's my home!' Medvelov trumpeted.

' _Your_home_,' scoffed The Major._'You_haven't been to _your home_ in_over a decade.'

'Bah, s—— in my_mouth, old man!' Medvelov spat._'My_home__will always_ be my home!'

'You__will_ take care of my daughter,'_The Major growled._'She _will not_ end up like Lavina.'

Medvelov_licked_his lips and then smiled. 'The_comrade_author and I have