Arc of Fire

It seemed that the old butler always had high expectations for Wang Zhong, he speculated.

At that moment, the train completed its entry into the station and came to a complete stop.

Pavlov leapt directly out of the second car, stretching his neck to look towards the first car.

Wang Zhong raised his hand and waved.

Then Pavlov confidently came over, “Is it convenient?”

Wang Zhong, “It is, what’s up?”

“I was just about to go to the telegraph office at the station to send a telegram. Join me? I’m afraid I’ll fall asleep inside by myself and miss the train.”

Wang Zhong, “Sure!”

He leaped onto the platform with a single jump.

Ludmila’s voice came from inside the carriage, “Your dress shoes! Really, how long has it been since they were polished! Take them off and I’ll help you shine them!”

Saying so, she threw out a pair of cloth shoes.

Wang Zhong had no choice but to change shoes.

Pavlov, “The battlefield is also a place where the flower of love blooms brilliantly, isn’t it?”

“Humph, you’re quite the romantic, aren’t you?” Wang Zhong teased.

The bear-like chief of staff waited for Wang Zhong to change his shoes and led the way to the telegraph office beside the station.

At that time, soldiers from other stuffy tank cars also came out for air, and all the young men showed a meaningful smile when they saw Wang Zhong.

Vasily blew a whistle directly.

Wang Zhong, “Show some respect to your superior, or Popov will punish you with the task of hauling manure!”

Popov also got off the train, hearing Wang Zhong’s words, he turned his head and shouted, “Don’t just take a breather, go relieve yourselves if needed! Don’t end up peeing in the tank cars later! And if you need to clear out from last night’s beef stew with potatoes, do it quickly! The train needs to take on coal and water, so we’re stopping for half an hour!”

Wang Zhong, “Are we stopping for that long?”

“Yes.” Pavlov nodded, “I plan to use this time to ask the Front Army’s headquarters via telegraph about our arrangements after we get to Argesukov. After all, the orders they gave us yesterday didn’t even specify where we’d be stationed once we arrive.”

Wang Zhong, “Maybe someone will receive us at the station, like before when we entered Bogdanovka.”

Pavlov did not answer.

There was only an old man on duty at the station telegraph room, and when Wang Zhong and others entered, the old man was leaning back in his chair, mouth agape, sleeping.

Hearing the door, the old man suddenly opened his eyes wide, “Oh, it’s two officers! Oh, and a general! How may I be of service?”

Wang Zhong pointed at Pavlov, “My chief of staff needs to use the telegraph.”

“Certainly.” The old man put on his glasses and turned on the power to the telegraph machine.

Pavlov began to dictate the content of the telegram, and the sounds of the telegram being sent started echoing in the telegraph room.

Wang Zhong, bored, began to look at the notice board on the wall of the telegraph office, closely examining the notes pinned to the wooden board.

“Who took the coffee I left in the telegraph room yesterday?”

“Lost and found: A blue pen, please see Peter to claim.”

… It was all small, trivial matters.

Suddenly, Wang Zhong felt that this place was unrealistically peaceful, as if the war before had been an illusion of his own.

Until he saw a note, “Collective memorial service for Car Group 54 to be held tomorrow, please attend punctually.”

This note was just mixed in among a bunch of trivial ones, not noticeable unless looked at closely.

Indeed, no one could stay out of the war.

At that moment, Pavlov finished dictating and exhaled in relief, “Now we just wait for a reply from the other side, hopefully, they’re on time. If they really forgot to arrange accommodations for us, that would be a headache. I hope the soldiers who have been through fierce battles can at least get a good night’s sleep.”

Wang Zhong nodded, “Yes, indeed. Certainly can’t get a good rest with only straw on the train.”

Last night, Wang Zhong had actually slept very soundly, except that his camp bed shook a bit too much.

For the next while, both men sat quietly waiting.

Pavlov, probably too tired, leaned against the backrest of the bench and fell asleep.

Wang Zhong continued to observe everything in the room—it was full of life, not only the bulletin board cluttered with notes but the walls were also plastered with briefings and various miscellaneous items.

Twenty minutes passed like this.

The bell rang suddenly, and the old telegraph operator hastily reminded, “Gentlemen, there are only ten minutes left before the train departs. Better get back on board quickly, lest you get left behind.”

Stretching, Pavlov yawned lengthily.

Wang Zhong, “Why don’t you go to the first car and sleep on the camp bed?”

“`

“No,” Pavlov flatly refused, “how could I have the nerve to use the bedding you two have used.”

Wang Zhong: “We could just throw the bedding away, and you can sleep directly on the hard plank.”

Pavlov thought for a moment: “That makes sense. Let’s do that. Besides, we officers should stick together in carriage one and take turns resting.”

Wang Zhong: “Then let’s go.”

The two of them left the telegraph office together and returned to carriage one.

Ludmila had already put away all the bedding, stacking it in the corner of the carriage.

Not only that, but she also used a stove she had found somewhere to boil water and had prepared coffee.

Wang Zhong’s leather shoes were neatly placed under the camp bed, shiny and spotless.

Ludmila’s shoe polishing skills were indeed excellent.

Seeing the coffee, Pavlov shook his head: “Coffee no longer has any effect on me now, let me just get a good sleep. I’ll take up the camp bed.”

With that, he lay directly on the plank of the camp bed and, like Nobita Nobi, fell asleep in an instant.

Probably because he hadn’t slept for so long, his snoring was very loud, as if competing with a steam whistle.

At that moment, Yegorov appeared at the entrance of carriage one: “Where’s Pavlov? Did he ask where we’re stationed? Huh? Why is he asleep?”

Wang Zhong: “Sent a telegram but got no reply.”

Just as Yegorov was about to speak, a whistle blew outside.

Yegorov hurriedly turned his head and shouted: “Get on the train! There are only five minutes left before departure! Get on the train! Squad leaders, count your men, and if anyone’s missing, send someone to look for them! Quick!”

After giving the order, Yegorov looked back at Pavlov: “So we still don’t know where to station in Argesukov?”

At that time, Ludmila said: “We could stay at Alyosha’s estate.”

Wang Zhong, astounded: “Whose what now?”

“Your estate.”

Do I even have one of those?

Yegorov asked with concern: “Will it be large enough?”

Ludmila: “It should be, after all, the two main buildings have 210 rooms.”

How many rooms?

Ludmila looked puzzled at Wang Zhong, who was gaping: “What are you surprised about?”

I’m surprised about what kind of family I have, to possess such extravagant wealth.

Wait, am I supposed to be a count? Can a count have an estate with 210 rooms?

Yegorov: “Sounds good, we’ll also live in the house of a noble lord for a change, see what it feels like.”

At this time, the stationmaster came with a loudspeaker: “Officers, please board the train!”

Yegorov grabbed the door of the freight car and climbed aboard with one effort: “Since Pavlov is sleeping here, I’ll join him. Carriage two is too crowded, this side is more comfortable.”

Before Wang Zhong could reply, Sufang suddenly appeared, nimbly climbing aboard.

“I’ve received a message from the Argesukov Chant Choir,” Sufang said, “and I need to report to you!”

Just then, the train started moving slowly.

“Ah, can’t go back now.” Sufang stuck out her tongue.

Ludmila handed her a cup: “Coffee.”

“Oh, thank you.” Sufang nodded her head, took a big sip, “Delicious, the coffee beans are finely ground.”

Ludmila: “I didn’t grind them, the old lady at the supply warehouse gave them to me when I went to get the stove.”

Wang Zhong suddenly remembered the note on the bulletin board in the telegraph office: “Who took the coffee I left in the telegraph room yesterday?”

Could things be connected like this?

Sufang took another sip of the coffee, then apparently scalded, she shrank her neck.

Wang Zhong: “What did the Argesukov Chant Choir say?”

“Cancel the attack, all units are ordered to steadfastly resist and not retreat,” Sufang said.

Wang Zhong clicked his tongue: “The good news is, the higher-ups have finally realized the futility of an attack. The bad news is…”

Yegorov: “It’s a good thing we ran fast, or we might have been wiped out in Loktov.”

Ludmila looked in the direction of Loktov: “Those young men last night had to fight to the last.”

Everyone fell silent.

Only Pavlov’s carefree snoring continued unabated.