Only Old Men Are Going to Battle Page #2

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A dutar, I brought it with me.

A harp.

But I've hated music since I was a kid.

We're at war, anyway.

Wars come and go,

and music remains.

My dad said so too. He's a prominent

professor, a paleobotanist.

So you're a child prodigy?

I'm here not to enroll at

a philharmony, but to fight.

- Junior Lieutenant Antonov.

- Here!

- First squadron.

- Yes!

- Junior Lieutenant Zairov.

- Here!

- Second squadron.

- Yes!

- Junior Lieutenant Sabdullayev.

- Here!

Second squadron.

Yes!

- Junior Lieutenant Shchedronov.

- Here!

Second squadron.

Yes!

Tomorrow, at most the day after

tomorrow, the war will be over.

As soon as they know

about our reinforcement,

the Luftwaffe will run for their lives.

- Eagles.

- Wolves.

Cadet... Lieutenant Alexandrov.

Why are you standing there?

Second squadron.

Yes!

Right dress! Attention!

- As you were.

- As you were.

Here're your horses, here're your

mechanic nannies. Get acquainted.

Eagles!

- Who's Alexandrov here?

- I'm Lieutenant Alexandrov.

- I'm your mechanic.

- Are you? Great!

Are there enough planes?

Fear not, you won't

be left without a horse.

Lieutenant, no smoking

around the plane.

But I'm not inhaling.

No matter, step aside, please.

What? You don't like me?

- Why are you staring at me?

- You're my fifth one.

Well, get ready to form

a winged line...

we'll see how you sing in the air.

Who's the bravest?

Everybody is brave, but the most

experienced... Allow takeoff?

Comrade Commander, a flare.

On the bridgehead across the Dnieper

the Germans are attacking our troops.

The reinforcements

are being sent there.

The enemy airplanes

are rushing to the crossing.

About 50 Junkerses are approaching.

Not one bomb

should fall on the crossing.

We're going by shelves.

Solomatin will cover.

As usual.

- Titarenko among the attackers.

- Yes.

Kolosov, I'm going with you.

No talking on the approach, not a word.

Didn't I tell you?

It goes for you, too.

No jokes.

- Got you.

- It's his nerves.

We fly in 12 minutes.

No rookies today.

Only old men are going to battle.

- What about us?

- Take us too.

- We won't let you down.

- What's your hurry?

You'll have your share of battle.

Missed. And I'm going to hit...

Thanks, do your job.

You got it.

Do you have nothing else to do?

Fighters!

Study the map of the battle area,

as those men do.

B-5.

You've sunk it.

Attention! At ease.

You've got it coming!..

- How's the machine?

- What's wrong with the gun?

It was in order.

- Comrade Commander...

- Later!

Why did you leave the battle?

Got jammed again?

Yes, jammed again.

Send me to the tribunal, Commander.

Alyosha, the gun's all right.

You just shot it empty.

All right.

All right, Makarych.

What? Did you get it hot?

Worse.

Haven't you had your supper?

Why did you go wild? The harder

you train, the better you'll fight.

Some maestro, my ass.

Calm down. From the start, and...

He's such a great dog!

When Germans came to the village,

they shot all dogs.

But Lyuba hid this one so well!

He doesn't know how to bark.

Good evening to your hearth.

Got enough potatoes?

Sit down.

What's the name of that wolfhound?

Just like yours.

Alyoshka?

Oh, you!

Put out the fire!

- You've been relieved, soldier?

- Yes.

Take the kids to the mess.

They should be fed.

Yes! Come on, guys.

Shall we uncork it?

we'll do without warming up.

I see. We're in

for a serious talk.

What's the matter with you, Seryoga?

You're a fighter pilot.

I know everything you're going to say.

There's no more fighter pilot, Lyosha.

That's it.

- I'm a coward, Commander.

- Seryoga.

Shut up, Lyosha. Shut up.

I'm broken.

Remember Poneri?

Blabbers, used to say,

that the German is a coward,

that he's afraid of frontal attack,

that he's sure to swerve.

But mine hadn't swerved.

So that my planes ripped off, one wing

to the left, the other to the right.

I snape out of it on the ground.

My Yak was burning down.

And I saw cherries

bloom in my eyes.

- We fight to death, Seryoga.

- I know, Lyosha.

But believe me, I swear by mother,

I didn't mean to leave the battle.

I controlled the machine,

with my hands in place.

I'm burning to fight, but as...

It flares up...

When I came to my senses,

the fight going the hell knows where,

and I dropped out.

I guess I want to live.

You can't escape the war.

You can't escape yourself.

That's what's most horrible.

Send me to the tribunal, Commander.

Here, an application

for my decommissioning.

Where to?

To the infantry.

To hell, damn it!

To the penal battalion.

To hell?

And who's going to shoot down Fritzes?

Me and those rookies?

This is all

I can do for you.

As for helping you...

There're moments in life

when nobody can help you.

You come into this world on your own

and you die on your own.

Well, the host won't offer us any tea.

Let's get to business. Give me the map.

Sit down. Will you ever get yourself

a map-case, or shall I give you one?

- It's safer in one's boot in battle.

- In battle, yes.

According to the partisans,

the enemy's transferring

a large grouping of tanks

to our bridgehead.

This information hasn't been

confirmed yet, so off you fly,

hover above the roofs, peek into the

barrels of guns, but find the tanks.

Let me fly the trophy.

The Messer?

You may be shot down by our own.

But over there

I can fly like at home.

That's not a bad idea.

We'll warn off our people.

Feel out this forest. You'll come

in there from the enemy side.

And come out at Nekrasovka.

Only no tricks.

I know you.

No engagements,

you're not to be spotted.

May I go and carry out the mission?

- Come back alive.

- Yes.

Good luck.

Well, Ivan, let's check out

the reinforcement.

Perhaps... some tea first?

You think while we sit drinking tea,

they'll take the downed

plane off the runway?

You softy!

Turn it the hell down!

About face, damn it!

Get out of my sight!

I'm off on a mission. You're

in charge of those. Drill them.

- Me?

- Yes, you!

"I don't know, Comrade Commander. "

Catching grasshoppers.

No flights.

No vodka ration.

A permanent duty

as an airfield attendant.

Grasshopper!

- Where are you flying?

- Straight ahead, to the west.

In such weather...

Makarych, there's a persistent rumor

at Hitler's headquarters

that some Soviet aces

are given a cross before a flight by

politically-backward mechanics.

They're all weirdoes

at Hitler's headquarters.

- Start'er up!

- Yes, start'er up!

Flying in such weather!

What Jupiter allowed...

Shall we fly more today?

Enough screwing for today.

Learn the theory.

Give me your paw

for luck, my friend.

Cheer up, Grasshopper. Do your duty,

and the commander may cool off.

Be thankful for that. It could be worse.

As Shakespeare said...

- And who's that?

- Must be some big wig.

Soldier's wisdom:

Stay away from big wigs,

but closer to the kitchen. Come on.

Guys.

- Excuse me, is that the mail?

- Or maybe an army shop?

- Got lost, girls?

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