through the villages. Thus, she was not taken aback when Zoya, a local high school teacher, who had recently started at the Zemstvo school, requested a serious conversation.
Zoya informed her of a recent gang rampage in the vicinity. The most infamous incident was an attack on a train transporting expropriated grain. The raid was unsuccessful; the guards proved steadfast. However, a dozen Red Army soldiers and raiders lost their lives. While the instigators were apprehended, numerous others remained at large, suspected to have had a hand in the crime. Many people knew or suspected the identities of these accomplices, yet they kept their knowledge concealed.
«The miller Kravchuk certainly aided them, and his son Sasha was seen with the gang in Sotnyts'ke. He hasn't been in Lazirky since. Nobody has provided concrete evidence against them, but their house and mill were searched. To be fair, it seems they searched everyone,» Zoya disclosed in a hushed tone. «I mean, Anton didn't seem involved, but who can truly say? They say weapons were hidden at the mill.»
«People can be so imaginative,» Olga frowned, disliking such gossip.
«Don't be hasty,» the teacher took offense. «He's a sought-after suitor, well-to-do. But be aware that you might get ensnared like a chicken in a fox's mouth.»
«Zoya, did I say I was getting married?» Olga interjected and walked out of the classroom where the heart-to-heart conversation had taken place.
Truth be told, she had no intention of getting married just yet, even though Anton had already dropped unmistakable hints. Olga responded to the advances of the «sought-after suitor» with restraint. Still, it was not the life she had dreamed of, not in the least…
It was spring once again. The March day gleamed with such brilliance that it almost dazzled Olga's eyes. The icicles hanging from the rooftops seemed like airborne splashes and sunlit bunnies, while the roosters joyously crowed at an ungodly hour. As she approached the school, Olga reflected on her nearly year-long tenure as a teacher, and everything seemed to be progressing well. Working with children brought her immense joy, witnessing their successes and growth. The students were naturally drawn to her serene and astute demeanor, and her undeniable beauty further captivated their attention. Respected by parents and cherished by her pupils, her professional life flourished. However, she dared not dwell on other aspects; it was best to let everything continue as it had been…
Yet, on this particular day, something felt off during the lesson. Her thoughts seemed scattered, and even while mechanically repeating the phrase, «The children are glad for spring,» she sensed the restlessness of her first-graders. Whispers and fidgeting filled the classroom. Their gazes fixated on the window, where the once frosty patterns had already thawed.
«What on earth did you see out there?!» Olga exclaimed, her curiosity piqued. She turned to look outside.
Approaching the school was a slender young man, dressed in a distinctly un-rural manner. Olga could hardly believe her eyes: it was Leonid!
Chapter 2: «Stationmaster»
Since as far back as he could remember, Leonid had always fallen asleep to the soothing sounds of rolling wheels. The rhythms of the railroad, the glimmering lights, and the steam locomotive's gentle hum mesmerized him. Vast expanses, uncharted lands, and unfamiliar bustling cities called out to him. It seemed that life without the railroad was unimaginable!
This sentiment was deeply rooted in the Mirachevsky family, as they frequently had to relocate due to the zealous work ethic of its patriarch, Mikhail Mirachevsky, an esteemed employee of the Kiev-Poltava railroad. Though their stations changed (currently being Solonytska), their apartments shifted, the railroad remained a constant presence.
Similarly steadfast were the household rules established by Olga Mirachevsky, the capable young mistress of the house. The position of assistant stationmaster demanded diligence and responsibility, and Mikhail entrusted the management of their home unconditionally to his wife. Despite being twenty years her senior, he guided her with affectionate tutelage, recognizing Olga's competence in handling any task. Under her watch, the house was always immaculate, and a delectable dinner awaited them each evening, complemented by a well-tended vegetable garden.
Their love for their son, Leonid, was not indulgent, yet neither were they excessively strict. The warmth of home and a sense of security was what they wholeheartedly provided him.
Mikhail was strict at work, but at home, he was kind, flexible, and exceedingly caring. With his son, he eagerly shared his knowledge and expertise during any free moment, as if keen to impart all he knew.
Fishing did not particularly captivate the young Leonid, but he delighted in crafting trains and animals from wood and clay. However, the most captivating moments were when his father began taking him along to inspect neighboring whistle-stops.
Leonid fondly recalled that spring day, shortly after Easter, when his father whispered the words at dawn:
«Rise and shine! We're in for an adventure!»
Devouring his breakfast, he eagerly inquired minute by minute:
«Where are we headed? What will we be doing?»
Mikhail smiled mysteriously, heightening the sense of anticipation. Only when his father placed him onto the waiting handcar did Leonid realize that a grand journey lay ahead.
His inaugural ride on the handcar was a marvel: the rhythmic clatter of the wheels, the spring breeze caressing his face, the trees flashing by, and the clouds racing across the high blue sky! It made him want to throw back his head and shout with unbridled joy, though the rush of emotions momentarily stifled his breath…
Leonid cherished his father's stories about road construction, about the challenges of laying tunnels and building embankments and bridges. To him, being a railroader was undoubtedly the most esteemed profession in the world!
And then, there were his mother's tales, whether true accounts or folklore, Leonid listened to them with rapt attention. It was no surprise that Olga always carried herself with grace. She proudly narrated the legacy of her great-grandfather, Arkady Shpirkan, who had served as the estate manager for Count Hercule Morkoff and was rumored to be the count's illegitimate son. Olga took pride in recounting how A. Suvorov himself acknowledged the Count's valor, and during Napoleon's invasion, he led the Moscow People's Militia and earned accolades for his role in the Battle of Borodino.
Arkady had even established an extensive garden and constructed a house on the Chervona farm in the Podolia Governorate, which became the Shpirkan family's cherished home.
Yet, Leonid was most intrigued by the contemporary events his mother shared. Olga's uncle, the intriguingly named Aristoky, had served as an assistant captain on the famous yacht «Shtandart,» and this granted him acquaintance with Tsar Nicholas II himself. To Leonid's astonishment, strict court protocols were abandoned on the yacht, and officers and sailors freely mingled with the royal family, even chatting with the grand duchesses. Aristoky had, in fact, had the privilege of dancing with them.
Leonid relished this particular anecdote, which revolved around the sailors donning Roman soldier armor for a theatrical performance. They were instructed to maintain stern expressions while looking at their commander. However, upon seeing the royal family seated opposite, they couldn't help but smile.
«What's wrong with that?» Leonid chuckled.
«Imagine! The play was unfolding with tragedy on the stage, the commander
