Two Suns

Chapter 4: Fragile Girl Shoulders

The untimely demise of Olga's mother left her to navigate the challenges of life prematurely. Tatyana, a sturdy and resilient Cossack daughter, was the very embodiment of tenacity, refusing to be cowed by anything, not even illness. Her children could scarcely recall a moment when their mother was unwell, for she was always steadfastly tending to their family's welfare.

Her husband, Sergei, a short, agile man with a neatly trimmed beard, toiled diligently as a railway worker, earning a modest income. To augment their means, the Gurko family relied on their garden's bounty, livestock, and the toil of their hardworking children, two sons and two daughters.

Olga, had a particular responsibility: tending to the geese. Though the task was not particularly onerous during the summer, guiding them to the river, where they knew the way, she could go for a swim or lay down with a book. The crucial part was not forgetting to keep an eye on her wards so they could safely return home, her wandering thoughts sometimes led her astray.

«What on earth is this?» Mother couldn't fathom. «She stares into space as if she's not here.»

«Come on, mom! Look at that cloud! It looks like a ship…» Olga found it challenging to tear her eyes away from the sky, which enticed her with its captivating shapes.

«A ship!» Tatyana exclaimed, raising her hands in exasperation. «You have ships and dogs on your mind, but you forgot about the geese! Now, we have to go looking for them from all over the village again. Look, they've run away!»

«Excuse me, mother…» Olga swiftly drove the flock of feathery mischief-makers into the yard with a skillful wave of a twig, cackling playfully as if making fun of her.

«You, stupid,» Olga said, her irritation directed at the geese. «Their necks may be long, but they can't see beyond their beaks.»

«Do you want them to stand up and stretch their necks to look at the sky too?» teased her sister Maria. The mother joined in the laughter, admiring her daughters, «They're all so lovely.»

By the way, Olga was well aware of the fairness of the reproach. Recently, a neighbor's goose was crushed by a freight train on the tracks. Had the birds run towards the railroad, it would have been a disaster.

Even Maria, who was closest to Olga in the family, occasionally scolded her younger sister when they were peeling walnuts with disdain from the poisonous green peel, working together:

«Shorty, stop daydreaming, hurry up, or we'll be at this all evening! I need to wash my hands.»

For the local children, household chores were part of their routine life at Solonytska station. However, Olga seemed to approach these tasks with a sense of duty. She appeared as if she were brought here from some other world with her thoughtful gaze. Yet, she was not a quiet girl. Quite the contrary – with her pretty, round face and lively dark eyes, she was remarkably bright and quick-witted. Her sharp tongue occasionally caught others by surprise. Her thoughts, though, often wandered far away, perhaps to the horizon line where the steel rails disappeared.

* * *

The realization of dreams came to fruition after enrolling in a women's gymnasium. The district town of Lubny on the Sula River, surrounded by lush green gardens, boasted of its size and featured two gymnasiums – one for men and another for women. The local train conveniently took the children of railroad employees there without any charge, and the journey was brief and not too far.

Olga's immediate and lifelong affection for her vocabulary lessons began. Finally, her fantasies found expression in correct, compelling, and eloquent words. Books, the cherished companions of romantically inclined young ladies, became her favorites, although not the sole ones.

During her trips to the gymnasium, Olga somehow managed to forge a friendship with Leonid Mirachevsky. Or perhaps, he became her constant and caring companion.

«But Leonid is mine, only my beau,» Olga mused. «He looks out for me… He'll offer me his hand or carry my backpack. Besides, he doesn't care about the ridicule from the boys. Being with him is genuinely fascinating.»

He was truly not dull. Leonid always took the lead in starting songs during their journey and invented engaging games when the children gathered at various houses in Solonytska station in the evenings.

It soon became evident that they both shared a passion for reading. For Leonid, it felt like expanding space, pushing the boundaries of the horizon. Books, especially thrilling adventures, prompted him to ponder, explore adult life, and dream of remarkable exploits.

Literature provided Olga with an escape from reality, not that her life was challenging – well, at least not until her mother fell ill – but it was not the reality Olga desired. She took great pleasure in keeping the house clean, appreciating its order and coziness. However, she did not particularly relish digging in the ground or tending to animals. Nevertheless, rebelling at Tatyana's house proved futile as the bossy mistress suppressed any whims with unwavering authority.

* * *

In the Gurko family, all the children shared a harmonious bond with each other, and the sisters were always well-protected. One could easily promise a neighbor who was getting a bit unruly, «I'll tell my brothers…» Their family seemed to expand like clockwork, with new additions arriving every two years, as if by design. However, while the older brothers were later drawn apart by the revolution, the girls remained steadfast friends.

The boys matured rapidly and eventually left for Kiev: Stepan enrolled in St. Vladimir's University, while Ivan joined military school. Now, the family was held together, as the head of the family aptly put it, by «woman's troubles.» Some of their land had to be leased out.

When the brothers visited, they lent a hand with heavy chores and, in their free time, engaged in endless debates. Stepan had come under the influence of the Social Democrats and actively participated in revolutionary circles, while Ivan, like most of the Yunkers was ready to lay down his life for the Tsar if the need arose.

«The country will descend into chaos without tsarist power!» the younger brother fervently exclaimed.

The eldest endeavored to remain calm and held on to hope of changing his brother's perspective. «Have you forgotten the Khodynka Tragedy? The numerous victims during the coronation – where was the response? No one took responsibility! And what about Bloody Sunday in 1905?»

«Oh, come on,» interposed their mother, «what are you saying!»

«The authorities care little for ordinary people; their suffering is deemed worthless! Our people may be kind and forgiving, but they possess an excellent memory. When the time comes, they will remember everything!» Ivan argued passionately.

Tatyana crossed herself fearfully, while Ivan continued to assert that the people were partly to blame for the tragic events, citing how the crush on Khodynka Field was fueled by everyone's love for freebies. According to him, giving people complete freedom would only lead to self-destruction, wreaking havoc on everything around them.

Sergei frowned, disapproving of these heated squabbles. He advised his sons, especially the eldest, to refrain from quarrels at home, and if they had disagreements, they should settle them by going «all the way to Kiev.» The sisters listened intently, sensing the echoes of a grand, tumultuous life, but they were yet unsure which side to take in this dispute.

* * *

However, their everyday life changed too soon, and it was no longer the time for mere verbal battles; instead, they faced very real ones. Whether the station was seized by the Bolsheviks, Haidamakas, German troops, or unknown forces, the teenage girls had to seek refuge in the underground. The emergence of each «new power» often left them feeling utterly powerless.

«Ivan is right,» Maria whispered as they descended into the cellar once again. «You see what's happening!»

Olga concurred; life «under the tsar,» with its tranquility, predictability, and sense of security, now appeared as a distant fairy tale. No one could predict what the future held. However, even in their darkest dreams, the sisters could not have fathomed that their mother would pass away, shattering their world.

Following Tatyana's demise, the father did not grieve for an extended period; he soon found a new mistress. A good-natured, sociable man with an appreciation for women's beauty (and, by local standards, quite wealthy), he became a sought-after groom. As we know, men of such caliber do not lead solitary lives.

Maria, the closest person for Olga in this world, hastily arranged her own destiny by getting married; she had already turned eighteen.

And Olga found herself all alone, surrounded by her father's new family (her stepmother with her two sons) – yet still alone. Throughout her life, she had felt like an outsider, not receiving the warmth and affection she craved from her parents. Her mother's reserved nature kept her preoccupied with household duties, leaving little room for attention and tenderness. Strangely enough, even her father seemed to favor her older sister more. Now, burdened by the responsibilities of a stepdaughter, the weight of everyday life fell upon the fragile shoulders of a fifteen-year-old girl, who was utterly unprepared for this role.

One evening, she wandered to the station and settled on a bench, gazing at the fleeting windows of a passing train that never stopped. Her thoughts turned to her sister – Maria, who had ventured far to the north, to Bryansk, alongside her husband, a railway engineer – and a sense of melancholy washed over Olga. «Ah, I wish I could grow up quickly and live a life of my own,» she dreamed.

The train, whisking away its joyous passengers, seemed to bring with it dreams of a different, undoubtedly more beautiful life. A life free from a worn-out vegetable garden, and most importantly, a life without a stepmother…

In that moment, Alexander Blok's poem On the Railroad, which she had once transcribed into her gymnasium diary, flashed in her mind:

… Once only a Hussar, carelessly leaning

His elbow on the scarlet velvet,

Smiled gently at her in passing…

In passing – and the train rushed on.

Just so, futile youth flew past,

Worn out in empty fantasies…

Till iron railroad longing shrieked,

And shrieking tore its heart apart…

«Well, no!» thought Olga. «I will not succumb to ennui! My dreams are not in vain. I will achieve everything I want!»

Impatiently, she waited until she completed her schooling, and then she set forth to enroll in a labor school in Kiev. A whole new world awaited her there!

Chapter 5: Matchmaking in Lazirky

Olga didn't hesitate for long after Leonid's sensational appearance in Lazirky. It was no ordinary visit from an old friend; it was a marriage proposal – unexpected and sudden, almost from the doorstep, after two years of not seeing each other.

She vividly remembered that June day in Kiev. Having completed the last exam of the summer session at the Higher Institute of Public Education, she and her girlfriends strolled down the boulevard from the Red Building of the former university to Khreschatyk Street. Near the bustling Khreschatyk Street, their path was obstructed by a lively group of young men who immediately sought to make their acquaintance. But among them stood Leonid, now grown up, lean, clad in the uniform of a railroader, his face beaming with a smile. What an extraordinary encounter!

Strangely enough, in the city, they seldom crossed paths. Though they attended the same university, their interactions were infrequent. Olga was a philology student, while Leonid, a free student, majoring in Physics and Mathematics, primarily focused on his education at the technical school of railroad transportation, which left him with scarce free time. Their relationship in Kiev, therefore, felt peculiar – perhaps the intensity of their respective academic pursuits left little room for sentiment or perhaps life's hardships stood in the way. Nonetheless, Olga always cherished the rare moments of meeting her childhood friend.

On that evening, the young men celebrated the conclusion of their studies at the technical college. The next day, Olga would return home, while Leonid was bound for an internship as a mechanic on the Central Asian railroad.

«Oh, what a dreadful prospect!» Olga couldn't help blurting out at the time, thinking to herself «To the middle of nowhere, amidst dust and heat, a mere mechanic.» Taking note of how deeply it affected him. His smile vanished instantly.

Back home, Olga couldn't shake the memory of how Leonid had gazed at her – his happy eyes never leaving her side. His sparkling humor endeared him to all her girlfriends without exception.

«Olga, you're lucky! Clever, polite – and with a bright future,» Galina said with unmistakable envy. «What a handsome young man with those blue eyes!»

«What future? Have I not grown up with railroads? Do you think I haven't seen a mechanic?» Olga retorted, trying to deflect her true feelings.

Yet deep down, she knew she wasn't being entirely honest, not only with her friends but with herself. She couldn't bring herself to admit that Leonid Mirachevsky meant more to her than just a friend. Perhaps, it was because he had never spoken openly about his feelings either.

«What have I done? I fear I've hurt him. But really, Central Asia isn't all sunshine and roses. I was merely showing sympathy,» Olga tried to rationalize her actions.

In that moment, it seemed he wanted to say something, but after her foolish remark, he never found the courage to do so.

* * *

And now, a completely transformed Leonid arrived in Lazirky – an urban resident, a student at the esteemed Moscow State University of Railway Engineering.

How did he end up here?

«Imagine, I was traveling from Kamyanyets to Moscow, via Kiev, of course. And on the platform, I literally bumped into Ivan Shramko. Remember him?» Leonid explained.

«The redhead? Of course! We were almost neighbors,» Olga recollected their most adventurous companion in their quest for knowledge during their «gymnasium journeys.»

«He informed me that you're no longer a student and have become a teacher here in Lazirky,» Leonid continued. He paused briefly, then with determination, he added, «I realized I couldn't miss this opportunity.»

He fell silent, turning away from the window. Then, speaking much more softly, he continued:

«I'm surprised you didn't notice. But you've always been somewhat independent, haven't you?»

And finally, he smiled once again.

«I came here to marry you. Will you accept?»

The gravity of his words left Olga stunned, momentarily silent.

«Aren't you going to say anything?» Leonid looked puzzled.

Olga's eyes flickered with uncertainty. «To say or not to say it?» she pondered. «You've never directly spoken about your feelings before, have you?»

Before Leonid could respond, Olga continued, «No, of course, your sentiments were evident without words. And it wasn't just me,» they shared a synchronized smile. «But you never made any moves, did you? And then you disappeared.»

Leonid turned serious.

«That's true. But what could I have offered you back then? I was a poor student,» he explained. He silenced any objections from Olga with a decisive gesture. «No, listen! You deserved better than that.

And you're right – I am still a student now. However, I stand on much firmer ground, and I'm confident in it!»

Olga listened in amazement, realizing that there was much she didn't know about her childhood acquaintance and that many more revelations were yet to come.

After a moment's silence, as they gazed out the darkening window, Leonid continued, «And then I disappeared… You remember, it was during the vacations: you went to your father, and I had my practice…»

«But you never even mentioned going to Moscow!» Olga interjected.

«I wasn't planning on it!»

«Did you decide overnight?»

Leonid chuckled. «Looks like we're having our first disagreement!» he said playfully, pulling the slightly resistant girl closer. However, Olga gently pulled away.

«Listen…» Leonid's expression softened. «During the vacation, I worked part-time as a driver's assistant, commuting back and forth. That's when I met my uncle in Moscow – remember, I mentioned him? Vitaly, my mother's brother. He's an amazing man! He and his wife, Rebecca, treated me like family. They don't have children of their own. It was his idea – I might not have realized it immediately. I might have waited a couple more years. But then everything seemed to align perfectly: I graduated technical school, got my diploma, completed two courses at the Institute of National Education in Kiev, and Moscow's top university. Uncle Vitaly guided me on what to do.»

Leonid continued, justifying his decision, «So, everything fell into place swiftly. I had to make a quick decision – the school year was about to begin…»

Olga's heart softened at his sincere explanation, and she sought to change the tone of the conversation, lightening the atmosphere.

«Do you remember how we used to joke about the abbreviation of the name of our institute in Kiev?» she asked with a smile.

Leonid breathed a sigh of relief. «I knew you'd understand. You've always been so perceptive. Good girl!»

He tenderly embraced his beloved once more, and this time, she didn't pull away. Leonids unwavering determination and calm confidence won her over completely and irrevocably. The next day, they married right there in Lazirky, without delay, as if he feared she might change her mind.

* * *

There wasn't much to pack: only a few belongings and, of course, her cherished books. They had been a solace to her during the long winter evenings in this remote wilderness. As they arrived at the station in the dark, a blizzard was beginning, likely the last one of the year after the thaw had given way to cold once again.

In a small waiting room, the couple sat together, their happiness apparent in their own unique ways. They were completely alone at this late hour, waiting for a train that was running a little behind schedule. Olga glanced at the wall clock, her nerves starting to show.

«Do you feel anxious?» Leonid asked gently. «Don't worry, everything will be fine. I'm sure you'll enjoy life in Moscow.» He observed Olga's excitement, contemplating that she was not just a bride but a soon-to-be wife.

Olga managed a weak smile in response, but Leonid misunderstood her emotions. While he noticed her growing anxiety, he didn't quite grasp the depth of her feelings.

Suddenly, the tranquility of the moment was shattered by heavy footsteps approaching the waiting room. A dense figure emerged in the doorway, and Anton Kravchuk opened his coat to reveal a rifle. Olga cried out in shock, and Mirachevsky stood up slowly, prepared for the unexpected turn of events.

For a moment, the two young men stood facing each other in tense silence. Leonid made a move as if about to say something, but the angered rival aimed his rifle at him. Olga pressed herself harder against the hard bench, fearing the direction of the muzzle.

«Did you think you could do that to me?» Anton's demeanor had transformed from courteous to that of an enraged predator. His heavy breathing, flaring nostrils, and bloodshot eyes gave him an intimidating appearance. The dim lamplight and the lantern outside the window seemed to accentuate this.

«Oh, now I see… Unfortunately, this realization came too late. I should have heeded the warning…» Olga thought to herself.

«You thought you could play games with me?! Let's play then…» The miller cocked the rifle. Apparently, this was the very weapon that had eluded the police.

Having survived the nightmares of the Civil War, Olga was all too familiar with how such situations often ended. This terrifying scene felt real, not like a bad dream.

«You don't like losing, do you?» Leonid's voice sounded distant to Olga.

«I have the final say!» Anton threatened once more, the muzzle of the rifle still menacingly close.

«This is no game!» Mirachevsky advanced a step, now resembling a beast ready to pounce.

«I'll shoot you!»

«She never promised you anything! Did she? She didn't make any commitments?» Leonid could sense Anton's hesitation and tried to take another step.

«Stop! I'll kill you regardless!»

«Come on!» The student locked eyes with his rival, showing no fear.

The sturdy country boy never expected the city slicker to be so stubborn. «He's not afraid!» In one swift leap, Leonid lunged at Anton, knocking the rifle out of his hand and sending him to the floor.

A sleepy station duty officer emerged from a side door, seemingly indifferent to the tense situation.

«Your train is arriving, folks. Hurry up.»

He finally noticed the scene on the floor and quickly pulled out a whistle from his pocket. Olga regained her composure and cried out:

«Help! Anton is going to kill him!»

The on-duty officer let out a shrill whistle and hurried to separate the boys. The girl quickly picked up the shotgun and sought refuge behind a nearby column.

From the adjacent station house, where the line department was located, a policeman came running. The other duty officer had just managed to drag Anton Kravchuk away. He immediately turned his attention to Leonid and proceeded to apprehend him.

«It wasn't his fault!» Olga exclaimed as she jumped to her feet. «He was defending himself!»

The policeman hesitated for a moment, then cautiously reached for his holster with his free hand. Before him stood an agitated girl, holding a sawed-off shotgun!

«Peter!» The duty officer wanted to intervene, but he couldn't approach the struggling Kravchuk. He held the boy more firmly, urging him to calm down.

«It has nothing to do with the girl, Peter!»

At that moment, Leonid realized that the current threat to his wife came from the policeman. He struggled to break free from the officer's grip but found himself back in the strong hands of the law.

«Come on, Miron, let's take them both to the station. And you,» the policeman observed that the young lady was not a threat, «hand over your rifle and come with us. We'll sort this out there.»

«Old man, you're quite something!» Leonid, surprised by the officer's sudden trust, tried to catch his breath.

«I served in the navy, in Kronstadt,» the «old man» revealed himself to be a young man. He added approvingly, «And you, young student, are not half bad. I didn't expect this!»

«We still need to find out what kind of student he is,» the policeman grumbled, roughly nudging Mirachevsky forward with the seized shotgun.

Anton had clearly calmed down, his anger subsiding, and he appeared visibly subdued.

At the station, Peter seated the miller down and directed Leonid into a holding cell. He simply nodded casually at a chair in the opposite corner to Olga.

«I have to go,» the duty officer said hurriedly, «the train is about to arrive.»

«Wait. Mr. Pavlenko will be back soon, and then you can leave. Trains are always late, it's nothing new.»

He sat down at the table and unfolded a piece of paper. However, he hesitated to draft a report. «He's illiterate and inexperienced.» The teacher thought right away. «How can he be taken seriously, trying to assert his authority,» she thought.

«What makes you think that this one,» the policeman nodded toward the holding cell, «is a student?»

«I met him the other day at the train station. He was asking about the girl. I mean for directions to find the school.»

«What for?»

«Peter! He came here to get married. The boys are fighting over the girl!»

At these words, Kravchuk leaped to his feet.

«Sit down!» The policeman, a young and somewhat brash fellow, shouted at him and cast an unkind glance in Olga's direction. The «authorities» seemed to have their own preconceived notions about the situation.

«You claim you're here to get married? And with a shotgun?!»

«It wasn't his weapon!» Olga was desperate, realizing that the situation was taking a serious turn. «Please, officer, let us go. We'll miss our train!»

«That's right. What train? Now, you're going to join your accomplice!» The policeman noticed tears welling up in Olga's big brown eyes and added sternly, «And don't cry here!»

«So?» He turned to the duty officer again. «Who came with a shotgun?»

Miron only sighed and scratched the back of his head.

«You didn't see it?» the «investigator» concluded.

«You're right, I didn't see it. But I'm sure it wasn't his,» Miron nodded in the direction of the cell.

«Not his, huh?» A booming voice sounded from the doorway. Pavlenko, an older and more experienced figure, had arrived. «What's the matter, Kravchuk? Did you manage to find a weapon after all? Did you borrow it from your father or inherit it from your brother?»

Peter slowly rose from his chair, making room for the senior officer.

«So, what do we have here?» The chief gave a stern look to everyone. «Martynov, report.»

However, Martynov appeared somewhat confused, realizing that the incident's picture was not entirely clear.

«Well,» Pavlenko leaned back in his chair, «let's start from the beginning. And did you check the citizens' ids?»

Martynov had to release Leonid from the cell. After examining their documents and hearing accounts from Miron and all sides of the conflict, the chief summarized, «That's it, young newlyweds, go where you need to go,» and handed back their papers. «We'll take care of our own business here, of local importance, so to speak.»

«What about the report?» The failed «chief» regained his senses.

«We will write one,» Pavlenko reassured him. He then nodded to the Mirachevskys, «Goodbye.»

They left the station and embraced each other tightly. They were still shaken by the encounter. As the long-awaited train approached the station, they rushed to board it, nearly colliding with the duty officer.

«Watch out, youngsters!»

«Thank you!» Leonid firmly shook Miron's hand. «If it hadn't been for your help…»

«You'll be just fine,» the duty officer grinned and winked at Olga. «Your student is quite the fighter! Hold on to him, girl!»

The train's horn sounded.

«Hurry up!»

Only when the train gained momentum could Olga finally exhale. She was still frightened, but now she looked at her fiance in a completely different light. He appea