The Wayback Machine - http://www.sovlit.com:80/militarysecret/militarysecret11.html
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"Tale of the Military Secret"
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Page 11 |
Natka looked around. The children were not getting up. She saw their
many different heads--white-haired, dark-haired, chestnut-colored,
golden-colored. Gazing at her from all sides were eyes: big, brown
ones like Alka's; clear, cornflower-blue ones like those of the girl who
had asked for the story; narrow, black one's like Eminey's. And many,
many other eyes--usually happy and mischievious, but now thoughful and
serious.
"All right, children, I'll finish the story."
"...And we became frightened, Chief Bourgeois, that perhaps he hears our
inescapable destruction moving along the secret pathways."
"What kind of country is this?" exclaimed the surprised Chief Bourgeois.
"What kind of incomprehensible country is this where even little
children know the Military Secret and yet so firmly keep their solemn
word? Hurry, bourgeois, and kill this proud boy. Load the cannons,
ready your sabres, unfurl our bourgeois banners, because I hear our
buglars sounding the alarm and our signallers waving their flags. It
seems we will not have an easy fight, but a fierce battle.
"And the boy Kibalchish died," said Natka.
Hearing these unexpected words, the Octobrist Karasinkov's face suddenly
became sad and dismayed, and he no longer waved his arm. The blue-eyed
girl frowned, and the freckled face of Ioskin became angry as if he had
just been deceived or insulted. The children stirred, exchanged
whispers. Only Alka, who already knew this story, sat quietly.
"Children, have you ever seen a storm?" Natka asked loudly, looking at
the children who had fallen silent. "Just like that--like
thunder--crashed the weapons in battle. Just like that--like
lightening--flashed the firey explosions. Just like that--like the
wind--raced in the calvary detachments. And just like that--like
clouds--red banners covered the sky. Just like that, the Red Army
attacked."
