‘Kariluoto, do you have contact over there?’
‘No. My platoon’s in reserve behind their First Platoon, and we have contact with them. And the First and Second Companies are in contact with each other.’
‘Which of the guns wants to go? The second section’s guns are already taken.’ Koskela looked at Lehto and Lahtinen, who turned to look at each other. After a brief moment of silence, Lehto said, ‘First’ll go.’
‘Short end of every goddamn stick,’ Rahikainen muttered.
Lammio pulled out a map and pocket lamp. ‘Come take a look.’
Koskela and Lehto knelt beside Lammio, pulling their coats up over their heads to study the map beneath the makeshift cover. ‘The Second Platoon will assemble on the side of this meadow. Their objective is to advance to the main road, cut it off, and turn the front to the west. There is a path starting from the northernmost tip of the swamp that leads to the road, see? The platoon will advance along both sides of it. According to a patrol that went out, there should be some kind of barn in the meadow, but even without it it will be easy to find your way: two hundred yards out and to the left from here. You can’t miss it. If the platoon has already left by the time you get there, follow the path to the road and you should find them there. It’s about two hundred yards from the meadow to the road by way of the path. You could go through the First Platoon and follow the line along to the Second, but that would waste time, and besides, the First Platoon will already be under fire by that point. This is the safest and shortest way. Everything clear?’
‘Yep. So it’s Sarkola’s platoon we’re supposed to meet?’
‘Precisely. If the side of the main road is manned, then we’re in combat and you will easily find your way from the sound of the shooting. There’s almost certainly something there, as we were observed on our way in. But nothing has been confirmed, so just keep your eyes peeled. There could be something or nothing. Look out for yourselves. On your way.’
‘Hang on,’ Lehto cut in. ‘I’m not taking Riitaoja. Lahtinen can give me a man to replace him, he’s got more men anyway.’
‘True,’ Koskela said. ‘Lahtinen can give you one more man.’
‘You can take Sihvonen.’
‘Me! Of course.’ Sihvonen was furious. He was displeased at the separate assignment, but beyond that he was offended, as obviously Lahtinen would hand over the member of the group he considered most expendable.
‘Never mind the grumbling,’ Lammio said. ‘But Riitaoja will have to remain with the squad. If this shirking doesn’t stop, I’ll take whatever measures necessary to make it happen. A grown man ought to be able to pull himself together enough to serve as an ammunition-bearer.’
Riitaoja stood at attention and hastily gasped, ingratiatingly, ‘I’m pulled together! I was just tired a moment ago…’
The poor man didn’t know what he feared more – the enemy or Lammio – and he was so overcome with panic that he wasn’t even ashamed at being scolded in public.
The first machine-gun team set off, and no sooner were they out of earshot than the bickering began.
‘You! You goddamn war horse, you just had to offer us up, didn’tcha? Why don’t you go by yourself if you want to! What the hell are we supposed to do when it’s pitch dark out? They could be anywhere!’
As Rahikainen vented his anger, Lehto just walked on, every nerve on alert, muttering in passing, ‘Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open.’
‘Yeah, we’ll just see what gets opened up out there. Do you hear that shooting on the right? They’re already on the road. And there’s a tank. What are we supposed to do without any anti-tank guns?’
‘Shut up. There’s the meadow and the barn. If we follow the edge of the meadow, we’ll automatically hit the path… which should start from that hollow over there, if the map holds true.’
It was a bit brighter in the clearing than inside the forest, where it was just about pitch-black, and they started curving cautiously along its edge, soon coming upon the path to the road. But there was no sign of Ensign Sarkola’s platoon. They heard some shooting off to the right, but according to Lammio’s account of the situation, that would have to be in the First Platoon’s sector.
‘Let’s turn back,’ Rahikainen said.
‘No, we’re going to the road. Or didn’t you hear the same command I did?’
‘But if there’s nobody over there—!’ Rahikainen persisted. ‘I don’t believe half of what that peacock says. Who died and made him king anyway? Guy’s full of it.’
‘The layout seems right… and we are going.’
‘Vanhala, let’s you and me head back.’
‘Let’s all head back, all the way to Finland! We could just go home and tell them we got lost, heeheehee.’
‘Fine, you sniggering bastard! You and that war horse can head off, the two of you.’
‘Two little Finns off to conquer a tank! Heehee. That’ll bring us stripes and medals by the bucket…’ It wasn’t clear whose side Vanhala was on, only that he was amused at how incensed Rahikainen was.
Lehto ordered them to shut up and follow. He released the safety catch on his gun and started groping his way though the pitch-black forest, creeping along parallel to the path. He navigated by watching for lighter spots between the branches, as pale channels of light shining down from the sky meant that the path was near. Mud oozed beneath his feet. The damp, dark forest was quiet.
Lehto was already nearly to the road, and he was beginning to doubt himself. Where was the Second Platoon? He paused and listened. The men following behind caught up.
‘Let’s turn back,’ Rahikainen repeated.
Lehto’s anxiety increased his irritation and he whispered angrily, ‘Would you shut the fuck up? We have to at least locate our objective. I’m not giving that peacock the pleasure of seeing me turn back halfway through. I’m going to head out in front a little. If anything happens, get into positions and hold your ground. One of you can run for help. But remember, the others are on the road now, not back there where we left them.’
Lehto was off. For one moment a suffocating fear nearly choked him. What was out there in the still darkness? Why wasn’t there any shooting, if their own guys were already over there? And why was there a tank rumbling so close on the right? His armpits were dripping with sweat, and his mind was fixated on this harrowing feeling that something was wrong. But when the thought of going back crept into his mind, his fear gave way to a strange, bitter rage. Never. Not ever. They would never get to see him turn back. ‘They’ was somewhat vague. It wasn’t just Lammio, it was everything he’d been rebelling against since childhood. But then, what hadn’t he been rebelling against? For him, there existed only enemies and extraneous people. He had hated people ever since the austerity years, as far as he could recall – since the time he had had to go to the Workers’ Association Building in Tampere to eat free pea soup out of a rusty can like a stray dog. He wasn’t even cut out to join the communists – seeing as he couldn’t stand having people anywhere near him. There were two men he’d felt some sort of respect for – Kaarna and Koskela – but even his regard for them was tinged with a certain proud disdain.
Tossing this anger around in his mind, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, trying to see through the darkness and pricking his ears to make out even the faintest sounds in the night. The forest thinned, and he suspected he was a few yards from the main road. Just then, wafting through the damp, drizzly night air, a pungent smell came flooding through his nostrils – a smell he knew from Russian prisoners and fallen bodies. He raised his gun and was just stepping up to the side of the path when he heard a shout practically at his feet. He saw a bright muzzle flash, felt a crippling blast in his body, and fell to the ground with a weak cry.