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Alexander and Diht and day there was no bo at all They had co -- to pick up arrison and more artillery weapons

Alexander turned up, o of hi on to Tatiana inon to Alexander, but while Alexander was able to hug Dasha back, Tatiana stood like a skinned goose and looked helplessly around the roo very hard not to look at Alexander’s black hair and large body, and failing To see his shape in front of her eyes would have to be coh She would have to do without his arms around her

When Dimitri went to wash and Dasha ran to make tea, Marina said, "You know, Tania, you could show a littlefor you at the front"

I’ht Tatiana, barely able to glance away froht, Tania," said Alexander, grinning at her "You can show at least as htly ajar door, was lying on her bed with a glass to your wall"

"She was?"

Raising his voice, Alexander took his rifle, banged once very hard on the wall and said loudly, "Have you heard this joke? A uest asked, ‘What’s the big brass basin for?’ And the ave a shattering pound with a haain "Suddenly a voice on the other side of the wall screahed so loudly that Alexander put down his rifle and patted her gently on the back "Thank you, Tania," he said, s "I’o to the kitchen, she had to walk past Marina’s eyes

Tatiana fried two cans of haht, and some clear broth, which once had chicken in it While she was cooking, Alexander came out into the kitchen to wash Tatiana held her breath He came up to the stove and checked under all the lids "Hive me any of that"

"It’s not water, it’s soup," said Tatiana quietly His bent head was very close to her arm If sheher breath, she ry, Tania," Alexander said, raising his eyes to her, but before he could say another word, Marina came out to the kitchen and said, "Alexander, Dasha wanted ot"

"Thanks, Marina," said Alexander, grabbing the towel and disappearing Tatiana stared into her clear soup, perhaps for a reflection

Marina came over to the stove, looked inside the pot, and said, "Anything interesting in there?"

"No, not at all" Tatiana straightened up

"M away "Because there is plenty of interesting out here"

Over dinner Dasha asked, "Is the fighting terrible?"

Eating hungrily and happily, Alexander replied, "You know, strangely, no It was the first two days, right, Dima? He knows He was in the trenches for two days The Ger to see if ould buckle When we didn’t, they stopped attacking, and our recon guys swore to us that it looked as if the Ger permanent trenches Concrete trenches and bunkers"

"Permanent? What does that mean?" asked Dasha

Slowly Alexander said, "It rad"

The family rejoiced at this -- everyone except Papa, as half asleep on the couch, and Tatiana, who saw an ominous hesitation in Alexander’s face, a reluctance to tell the truth

Biting her lip, Tatiana carefully asked, "Are you happy about it?"

"Yes," Di to hiht ould fight," he stated "Fight likeon the table

"And die like men, if we had to"

"Well, speak for yourself I’d rather the Gerrad to death than endure their fire"

"Oh, co down his knife and fork and staring at Di away in the trenches, you don’t think it’s a bit unbecoave Dilance, wiped his mouth, and reached for the vodka Tatiana pushed the bottle toward him from the other side of the table

"Not at all like cowardice," Dimitri declared "It’s smart You sit and you wait When the eney"

Nervously picking at her harad to death? Not in the literal sense, right?"

"Right, right," said Diuratively"

Tatiana studied Alexander, who remained silent

"Is there anythe nearly eht"

Everyone glanced at Papa and glanced away

"Alexander," Tatiana said in her cheerful voice She liked being able to say his na us if we could spare soave her so as ere--"

"Tania," Alexander interrupted, and she sat heavily back in her chair Her feelings had been right He knew too ram of your food away, for any reason, do you understand? Not even if Nina Iglenko seery," said Tatiana

"Yes, Alexander," said Dasha, "we’ve had rations before Where were you during the Finnish carimly Tatiana wondered why Dasha always had to eupheanda for the radio?

"Dasha, all of you, listen tobetween you and death, all right?" Alexander said

"Why do you have to be so serious?" Dasha asked sulkily "Where’s your farad council will get food in soht? We’re not completely surrounded by the Gerarette "Dasha, do ht, dearest You have my word" She kissed him

Alexander turned to Tatiana "You, too, Tania"

"All right" Dearest "You havewas London bombed for in the suhts"

"Do you think it’s going to be as long here?"

There was the question Tatiana wanted She didn’t even have to ask it herself

"Longer," said Alexander "The borad either surrenders or falls, or we push the Ger to surrender?" asked Dasha "I’ll fight the Nazis on the streets of Leningrad if I have to"

Tatiana thought that was brave talk froht

Shaking his head, Alexander said, "You don’t want to fight theed but also for the attacker The loss of life is enorht not set much store by the lives of his own ly healthy interest in the lives of the Aryan race I don’t think he will risk his lanced at Tatiana "I think Diet his wish after all," Alexander finished, with barely concealed contempt

Tatiana looked at Dimitri -- splayed on the couch, either asleep or in a stupor, next to her father -- and went to get the cups for tea

"Is it going to be like London?" Dasha said, throwing back her curly hair, her eyes glea "London was bombed, but the people still went on with their lives, and there were clubs, and young people went dancing We saw pictures It all looked so gay" She s

"Dasha, where are you living? London?" Alexander exclaiht as well be Mars as far as you’re concerned We don’t have dance clubs in Leningrad now Do you think they will build them just for the blockade?"