"Mikhail Evstafiev. Two Steps From Heaven " - читать интересную книгу автора

imperialism and domestic reactionary circles. New paragraph! Soviet soldiers
have proved themselves true friends of the Afghan people and carry out their
international duty in Afghanistan with honor. New paragraph! The April
revolution was a turning point in Afghanistan's development, the outcome of
many centuries of struggle against ignorance, poverty, repression and for
the triumph of justice. Panasyuk, why aren't you writing?"
In fact, the sergeant had started on a letter home, but after the first
two sentences ("How are you all? I'm fine") had run out of ideas and sat
staring at a Lenin quote on the wall which asserted that a revolution is
worthy only if it can defend itself. Even an idiot knows that, thought
Panasyuk and cast an oblique glance at the "iconostasis" of the Politburo
members. The Lenin Room, existed in every subdivision and its walls were
covered, church-like, with images of the most celebrated party-angels beside
the "holy trinity" of Marx, Engels and Lenin. The men were supposed to come
here in their free time - to play chess, write home, watch television, all
under the vigilant gaze of the leaders of the world's proletariat.
"Panasyuk!"
"I'm thinking, comrade senior lieutenant."
"You're not here to think, Panasyuk! You're here to listen and write
down!"
"Yessir!" Inspiration visited the sergeant briefly once more and he
added another two lines to his missive: "It's very warm here. Summer will be
coming soon."
"Experience has shown - don't write this down! - " continued Nemilov,
"that Afghan citizens often ask Soviet soldiers to tell them about the USSR,
how Soviet people live, the history of the revolutionary struggle of the
USSR. Sychev! I said don't write this down! Are you deaf?"
Private Sychev, looking hunted, pulled his head into his shoulders.
"Nobody's ever asked me," drawled Prokhorov provocatively.
"They will, Prokhorov, they will!"
"So how the hell will I know what they want if I don't understand their
lingo?"
"You will! Through an interpreter..." Nemilov broke off. There was no
point in responding to stupid questions. They were just playing for time.
"You must always be prepared to converse with our Afghan comrades."
"They should all be shot, that's what! They're all spooks!" burst out
Panasyuk. What the shit do we need to talk to them for?!"
"As you were! Resume writing! Without Soviet aid, the forces of
imperialism and internal counter-revolution would have stifled the April
revolution..."
Junior sergeant Titov rapped on the glass door.
"Comrade senior lieutenant?"
"What?"
"Two men needed for kitchen duty..."
"Take them and get out! ...Now, where were we? " Nemilov opened the
'Memorandum for the Soviet Soldier-Internationalist.' Write this down! The
Afghan people are naturally trusting, receptive of new information, have a
fine sense of good and evil." A wave of laughter rolled through the room.
"That's enough of that! In particular, the Afghans appreciate courtesy
toward children, women and old people. That's very important! While in the