The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-06

bleeding, His powerful young body
was weakening, his spirit, falling,
Yet it was always Golubovsky who
said,
Come, we sit too long. This is no
birthday-party." He had eaten moth
ing for several days and was thin,
pale under his tan, but his black eyes
were still glowing and his voice firm.
Iversov gazed at Golubovsky's tall
form with fear, respect, and worship.
He thought aloud, "Yet he goes on and
still he will not eat. What a mani
When they halted, he gave him bits
of bread, this incomprehensible man
who starved himself. At each of these
rests the conversation never varied.
1t was always the command, "Remem-
Der this place. Lead them here. Are
you listening? Do you give me your
word to lead them back? ANY regi-
ment, the first you come across. Are
you hstening?"
81 am listening, Comrade Command
err" Then Iversov would whine in
the tone of beggar, "Comrade COM
mander, eat just a little. won't go
on alone. How can I go on alone ?"
Or, himself hungry, he would reso-
lutely refuse to eat. 81 won't eat if
you kill me. / don't want any food.
If you stare, I starve with you" The
unchanging answer was always, "You
old woman! Why don't you start cry
ing? Dishrag-no soldier"
GLOW can /? I'm not an animal. A
man starving and 1. :" "And you're a
FOOL" said Golubovsky sharply. Then
minute later, "You wont then 2"
"Alone, no." "Then let us go on"
The bread was left behind on a stump
all they had. "Comrade Command
err" said the piteous voice behind Col
ubovsky. "Well?" The large brown
eyes looked like those of a suffering
horse. Golubovsky turned his back
on them. eve are not going to a
ball. Come, take the bread" AS they
went on, he said sharply over his
shoulder, 'Let this be the last time.
I'm no peevish girl to be talked
around"
Day came. They had not gone a
mile since morning before Golubovsky
sat down on stump. Iversov, silent
and hiding his fear, gazed at the pale
face tinged with yellow and at the
laboring bony chest. He tried to rise
sank down again. crest, man, rest"
said Iversov quietly, then sighed. The
voice and the sigh were full of pity,
"Prokopi," suddenly called Golub-
ovsky. Long ago, when on the COM
handing staff, he had called his ia
vorite so, by his Christian name. "
ersov became uneasy. His voice
shook. "What is it? He forgot to add
the customary Comrade Commander.
go OIL can't. You'll reach it
now" He laid his head on the messy
stump as though it were a pillow. A
slight breeze rose. The bushes shiv-
cred and rustled above the up-turned
face. Iversov shuddered. He knelt by
the stump, there in the holly bushes,
with that face, so well known but
Fragments from the Broken
to curb crime. Chief among the
now unacceptable. Only the eyes
remained the same-black stones, not
eyes.
"Comrade Commander, do as you
please, / won't leave you. can carry
you. have strength enough" He
spoke rapidly, gulping. Honestly,
there are only two days left. Come,
eat a piece. There is some left, see.
Eat it or I'll force you to and then
carry you. My back is strong and my
feet-look, they can stand it. Com
rade
Scarce audibly but firmly, "Go,
don't waste time" Iversov's inner
struggle was great. He clasped his
head between his hands, his teeth
chattering. Suddenly he began to
weep and humble like an old woman
wailing over corpse. ooh, oh, al, al,
it makes my heart sick. 0 my friend,
my comrade. How often you have
saved me. At Belash you received a
bullet for me. And now again. You'll
starve for me, a fool. You are needed,
an educated man, commander. Col
ubovsky's voice was still stern as he
answered, Hound! Traitor! Stop
philandering around. Col"
"Comrade Commander, l can't go
alone" The thin face smiled for the
first time in years. "Pity is a weak
ness. Crush it." The holly leaves
rustled above the calm face. Forgive
me, Comrade Commander. Goodbye"
go, then, CO." The uncertain steps
scrunched short distance along the
moss, then returned. ooh, what shall
do? What shall do? Golubovsky's
voice was but part of the rustling
breeze, Here again? Go, l say"
Iversov turned and disappeared, run
ming swiftly.
A few days later company of cav
airy, guided by Red Army soldier,
lately escaped from the enemy, enter
ed the forest. After long search
they suddenly came upon the body Of
the regimental commander, Golubov-
sky.
His eyes had been pecked out.