Bolotnikov began to understand the Jackal, whom he himself had interrogated. He held himself in a completely different way than he did now. He held himself firmly, confidently, without regret. Even though he told him what he knew, he did it without fearing anything. But now he was very embarrassed that he was not even under torture to tell everything like that… But he could not help it. He didn't fully feel like a Maquis anymore. Not only was he a penalty, but those Maquis who were not penalized were not his friends in most cases… On the other hand, what could he hide? He has no combat data for a long time, plans and guidelines of the Maquis command, too. The fact that Detachment 14 is now in Severodonetsk in most of its composition is probably not a secret for anyone for two months already. So what's he got to hide? Given that they all recognize him so easily, including the fact that he's a "penalty officer", it's more likely that they can tell him something new, rather than he can tell them….
— So upset, then… Is that all you came here for? — The chief asked.
— Anyway, yeah… Maybe the tongue was thinking of taking it and questioning it… Well, it didn't quite work out….
— Yeah, not really… I'd beat you up, you know, for nothing… The fact that you don't know shit is written all over your forehead. Not to mention the fact that you can be trusted with penalties… But someone wants to talk to you now, and this someone doesn't like to be tortured for no reason… When he gives the command, then we'll do it. Until then, no. — The chief waved his index finger negatively from side to side a couple of times and finished his tirade, probably because he heard the sound of footsteps from afar, which Bolotnikov now heard as well.
A moment later, the man they had been waiting for appeared. With a guard, of course. He was a very cunning-looking officer without epaulettes, with a shaved head. His eyes were definitely very intelligent, and when he looked at the major, it seemed as if he could see right through him.
— They say you interrogated the Jackal, comrade Bolotnikov. — came closer and said the bald
man.
— He was interrogated… We ambushed him while he was being transported… He was taken
alive. I talked to him myself before I handed him over.
— Were you already a penalty officer then?
— I was.
— And how did he behave in this interrogation of yours? — The bald man smiled slightly, and it was obvious that he understood Bolotnikov's feelings, and how he could compare himself with the Jackal at this moment.
— Dignified. And a little dismissive… He answered all the questions himself… Almost like I am now…..
Baldy obviously caught that extra word "almost" very welclass="underline"
— "Almost" like you are now… So what is this "almost" about?
— He didn't care. And I don't care now. But he was gloating that he was telling me things I was afraid to know. And I don't have that understanding now…
— So what did he tell you?
— He said that he was snitching on the CCC. That the world was much more multifaceted, apparently implying that although he was a hewi, he wasn't the only hewi he was fighting for. He also said that the Mountain's influence would grow so fast that he wouldn't need the Maquis, that they would only get in the way, and that he would eventually become our main threat….
Baldy shook his head negatively once, looked a little to the side and smiled slightly, then scratching his brow a little with his fingers, said:
— Yeah, it's a shame we're missing the Jackal… His brains would come in handy right now…
So what do you think about it, Major? Will the Mountain be your main threat?
— I guess not. It won't. — Bolotnikov answered calmly and continued immediately. — I think he is the most important threat to us.
The bald man smiled slightly again:
— How's your chief of staff doing?
— That bastard is doing the best… You know better than me. If you know I'm a penalty officer, you know about him too…
— Well, I'm not gonna hide it. We helped him a little to take this place… Well, just a little…
All the way, as I understand, he made his own way. The way to the throne, that lousy louse of yours… That Khmelnitsky was too soft. Such a kind grandfather. He wouldn't hang anyone for nothing, he wouldn't send anyone he didn't want to die, he'd get them out of the cauldrons whenever he could. It's amazing, how he with such qualities, and so long survived … What a phenomenon. In our country, he would have been mixed with shit like nothing to do… Did he have a secret?
Khmelnitsky? That he used such light methods and lasted so long?
— He was. One… Fighters were brothers for him, not just anyone….
— Well, it turns out not everyone's a brother…
— Well, how can I put it? They're all brothers. But there's a lot of trouble in the family. So I found one.
— So alone. — the bald man smiled. — Would he have done anything if he'd been alone?
— I'm more than sure that without him, the others wouldn't have dared. Without him, Khmelnitsky would still be commander-in-chief…..
— Well, it's not very profitable for us… All right, let's say it's understandable… And what about Gora, what can you tell me? What does he write to you? What does he ask? What does he want?
— There was one moment… He gave us an informant… But it turned out to be the wrong one… He wrote that it was unambiguous, that no one else was suitable. But it turned out to be the wrong one… We never realized whether it was a mistake or on purpose… But I think it was on purpose.
— So who did Mr. Prefect point to?
— On Ranierov.
— Who did you take?
— Listeev. Grisha Listyev… But we didn't get him — he shot himself.
— And Ranierev is not a traitor?
— No… Leafy was the traitor.
Baldy smiled again, that very satisfied and long smile, and then said slowly:
— Understand at last, Penal Major Bolotnikov… And Zubkov should have taught you this…
That there are not many traitors….
Mercenary
Kobra looked at Bolotnikov and saw before him a beaten dog. A dog that had not only lost its master, but which that master had kicked out into the street. And the dog was left at once without a master, and without a home, and without the former happiness, which it had when possessing all
this. And the main thing is that it does not happen that after living together for so many years, the owner suddenly took and threw her out. It happens that kicked out, but it is right away, after a month or two, when they see that it is not what they expected. But when they had lived together for many years, and then to kick them out — it doesn't happen like that… But it doesn't happen like that with a dog, but it worked quite well with Bolotnikov — that was his difference.
— I'm even starting to become satisfied that I left there and didn't come back. — Bolotnikov said. He looked down at the floor with sad, drooping eyes and smiled to himself occasionally, shaking his head a little.
— And really, what are you doing there? — Cobra continued for him. — There is a lot of interesting things around. And you're attached to these maquis like a leaf to your ass… Actually, what a suitable metaphor came up.
Slouchy and his commander laughed a little, and Cobra's guards didn't even blink an eye — there were the kind of people who were no longer smiling, no longer upset, but just always on guard.
— Well, there's nothing to take from you. All that you know there has long been covered with moss, and nobody writes chronicles here, you know… Your own people don't need you — nobody will pay any ransom for you… So tell me, Major, what good are you?