glancing at the royal box,» Olga recounted with amusement.
Envisioning sailors in sandals staring at the Tsar And Tsarina, Leonid erupted in laughter.
As he understood it, Aristoky thoroughly enjoyed serving with the Sovereign Emperor.
But there was another uncle, Markel, of whom Olga spoke reluctantly and sparingly, and Leonid only learned the details later. Markel held contempt for the Tsar, viewing him as an oppressor of the working class, which led him down the path of revolution. He formed a circle, distributing revolutionary pamphlets among the gymnasium students in Kamianets-Podilskyi, raising funds for a printing press, and even managing to establish one. However, they still lacked the funds they needed. Consequently, Markel resorted to robbing the post office, resulting in injuries to a courier and a policeman. He was subsequently apprehendd, along with all members of the circle, and put on trial, an affair of national importance heard in Kiev. Markel was eventually sentenced to penal servitude, followed by exile to the distant region of Yakutia. Upon his return, he rekindled his involvement in the revolutionary cause.
«What a life!» Leonid marveled. «They've been to so many places and witnessed so much!» In his imagination, he pictured himself as a courageous captain weathering a storm or a pioneer in Siberia, much like Yermak Timofeyevich.
With such extraordinary ancestors, Leonid couldn't help but believe that fate had something equally extraordinary and fascinating in store for him!
To tell the truth, Leonid's daily life also boasted plenty of extraordinary experiences. How many could claim to have bathed in a river with brackish water or luxuriated in the lake aptly named «Salty»? The village of Solonytsya itself seemed to announce its presence on saline soils. The local water bodies teemed with delectable fish, a true delicacy…
During the summer, the village children flocked to the lake with enthusiasm. Upon reaching its shores, they promptly shed their clothes and dove into the water, creating majestic fountains of splashes and savoring the brackish taste on their tongues. After their invigorating dip, they engaged in their cherished game «Chumatskiy Shliah,» (Chumaks' Route) a tribute to the ancient path to the Black Sea, once trodden by the salt-carrying Chumaks.
Alas, true salt marshes eluded this locale, but the boys delighted in discovering spots where salt crusts formed along the lake's edge, particularly during the heat. Their fervor knew no bounds as they diligently extracted salt grains, relishing the endeavor, and ultimately devouring their prized salt-infused rye bread with sheer delight!
Upon completing elementary school, new adventures beckoned. In the village, there existed only a one-class public school – a zemstvo school, so for further education, Lubny, the district town, was their destination, merely a few versts (miles) away by train. The railroad assumed an even more prominent role in Leonid's life…
The jaunts on the train proved thoroughly enjoyable. Amidst exuberant banter and playful jostling, the boys hopped aboard the local train and reached their destination with infectious excitement. However, amidst the boisterousness, one girl stood out by her composure. Olga Gurko, who was familiar to Leonid, seemed to exude an air of calm majesty as she gracefully found her seat and settled in. It was on one fateful day that Leonid Mirachevsky took particular notice of her and saw her in a new light… As neighbors, their fathers worked together – Sergei Gurko served as a railway foreman at Solonytska station.
Perhaps, the pivotal moment occurred when Ivan Shramko, always in a hurry and making a ruckus, accidentally pushed Olga while boarding the train. She stumbled precariously, nearly losing her balance on the elevated steps. In the nick of time, Leonid reached out from above, clasping her under the arm:
«Hold on!» he exclaimed, chastising his comrade. «Ivan, what are you doing?!»
«I didn't mean to; it was an accident,» Ivan retorted in his characteristic manner. «In any case, she didn't fall, did she?»
«Thank you,» Olga responded with grace.
«And weren't you frightened?» Leonid inquired with genuine concern.
Her face illuminated with a serene, grateful smile. A smile that was undeniably beautiful…
From that moment onward, Leonid began to view his neighbor with newfound attentiveness, subtly assuming a protective role over her.
Chapter 3: The Great Catastrophe
Overnight, the world collapsed in an unexpected twist of events. Yet, at Solonytska station, nobody fully grasped the impending calamity, except, perhaps, Mikhail Mirachevsky. He had forewarned that if the war persisted, trouble would ensue.
Initially, the vast Russian Empire's entry into the war seemed remote from the daily life of a small Ukrainian village. However, soon farewells to future soldiers echoed in the huts, and excited boys eagerly shared news of their relatives conscripted to the frontlines, using the newly acquired term «mobilization.» Gradually, the once tranquil station of Solonytska was drawn into the tumultuous whirlwind of wartime. Trains laden with troops, supplies, and weapons arrived from the west, while those heading eastward brought refugees, wounded, and prisoners. Echelons piled up, not only at major hub stations but also, gradually, at smaller stations like Solonytska.
As autumn waned, Mikhail found himself toiling ceaselessly, working around the clock. Exhausted, he would return home, barely having time to exchange words with his son. While Olga maintained her composure, she grew increasingly anxious as managing the household became increasingly challenging due to shortages of familiar goods and even firewood.
One fateful day, the boys hastened to the station upon hearing of a prolonged delay of a train carrying refugees. At first, their boisterous group strode confidently, feeling masters of their domain, but their excitement waned as they neared the wagons. Silently, they huddled closer, moved a little further away from the railroad tracks, nudging each other along, their remarks growing subdued until even the most vocal amongst them fell silent.
Their collective gaze fell upon a sight etched forever in their memories.
Haggard women with soot-blackened faces sat near the wagons, some cradling wailing infants, while older children huddled nearby. Suffering, fatigue, and fear of the unknown etched deep lines on the faces of ordinary people, compelled to abandon their homes due to war. For the boys, it was an eye-opening revelation of the true face of war, far removed from the headlines penned in newspapers…
Amidst conversations with the refugees, they learned that most hailed from the western provinces of Vistula Land. Curiously, the boys even managed to communicate with a group of their peers, finding no hostility in the strangers' expressions.
For a few moments, the two groups, the locals and the refugees, stood there, scrutinizing each other, until a young lad of about fourteen broke the silence with a question:
«Brothers! Do you have any bread? There's still a long way to go…»
Ivan, unable to resist, interjected with a jest, «Maybe we do. But not for you!»
«Wait a minute,» Leonid intervened. «Are you guys hungry?»
The bread beggar bashfully lowered his eyes, prompting Leonid to spring into action.
«Well, you wait here.»
They promptly returned with provisions – boiled potatoes, bread, dried apples, and cherries, and seeds.
They returned from the station with a sense of duty fulfilled, and the following day, they agreed
