"You guys are bastards!" Vasily exclaimed angrily. He was told that everyone had challenge to lull, while cradling a sleeping Vasily on the train yesterday. Vadim, Alexei, and Dmitry burst out laughing, remembering the cuteness of Vasily's face as Dmitry's voice succeeded to made Vasily smiling in his sleep.
"Sleep, my dear child, for the birds have closed their eyes. Sleep, my dear child, for the dogs and cats have bid farewell. Sleep, sleep... Ahahahahaha!!!" Dmitry sang, then couldn't contain his amusement until his stomach ached. Vasily smacked Dmitry's head hard, but it didn't stop the green-eyed man from laughing.
The dinner at barrack's cafeteria still went lively between these four young men. Until suddenly, Semyon came up to the four of them with a tray full of food, "May I join you, my friends?"
The four of them nodded, thinking it would be no problem if Semyon joined them for dinner. Although they might have to restrain themselves since Semyon will suddenly talking about mystical thingy.
"Sema, you were usually alone or with your accordionist friend, right?" Vadim asked as he slurping the cabbage soup.
"Oh, I just wanted to change atmosphere, Vadik. Don't worry. There's no argument with anyone," Semyon smiled faintly, trying to reassure his friend. The four of them believed Semyon and continued their dinner.
There, they talked about the news of the Great Purge, which had also made Alexei a little sensitive, considering his late sister was one of the victims. But while Semyon was talking about the purge, Alexei was unconsciously listening intently to every news.
"...And most executions on the spot were executed by shooting to avoid the victim's own blood," Semyon explained.
Alexei was confused and asked, "But my younger sister was slashed heavily. Was that their method too?"
Semyon tilted his head and shook it. "No, Lyosha. I told you. As cruel as Yezhov's men were in killing directly, they still didn't want to bother dirtying their hands with the victim's blood, so they chose to just shoot them to death. Usually, they shot them at times when people were usually off guard, like between morning and noon, or late at night. So there were no witnesses to see the murder taking place. Besides, if they wanted to do it at the risk of getting their hands dirty, they could only carry out torture in Siberia. Never in the place where he was captured. Of course, that would attract curious people..."
Alexei was stunned, not quite believing Semyon's explanation. But the red-haired man continued in a deep voice, "I'm afraid it wasn't a Yezhov member who killed your sister, Lyosha... Your description of how your sister's body was found doesn't fit with the purges, which are usually never found anywhere."
"Did her fiancé kill her before she committed suicide... Those who say it was the Purge..." Alexei resentfully retorted.
Semyon put his hand on Alexei's shoulder, "Don't assume the worst. Sometimes there are people who just want to make things worse by scaring you, even if they didn't commit murder. You don't want to be accused of making accusations without proof, do you? I actually think that, her fiancé was in shock from losing someone he loved..."
Alexei calmed down after Semyon's assure. Dmitry, Vadim, and Vasily couldn't help but stare at Alexei, finally relieved that Alexei's sister wasn't a victim of the Great Purge. Then Alexei whispered to Semyon, undetected by the three of them.
Semyon shook his head and said quite loudly, "No need, Lyosha. There's no need to explain to Comrade Alexandrov. Besides, the main threat of the Great Purge is over, and the waves aren't as big as before. Just be thankful we can still breathe here. Although the air is hot, it's not so pleasant," Semyon said, still joking at the end of his sentence. Alexei smiled, moved, his burden now lifted, even though he still wondered who killed his sister.
"And Vasya," Semyon called to Vasily, who had initially chosen not to hear Semyon. Vasily looked up lazily, and Semyon said, "I hope you can use your past for good now. I know you're lately interested in something, right?
Vasily blinked in disbelief, but before he said anything, Semyon letting out his humorous voice again, "Ah, my food's finished, guys. I should hurry and take a shower. It's very hot in here."
Semyon stood up and took the plate with him, leaving without looking back as he exited the barrack's dining room. Dmitry was focused on patting Alexei's back without words. Meanwhile Vadim frowned, "I'm sometimes scared by his strangeness, but I also admire his knowledge of the Soviet Union, which is more extensive than ours. I don't know how he knows it." Meanwhile, Vasily tilted his head, feeling stunned and confused about what Semyon meant.