«IN THE CIRCLE OF KUNDUZ» Page #13

Single shots can be heard striking from afar, which escalate into short bursts. Kodirov and Kostyan rushed to the nearest shelter 150 meters away in the opposite direction, running, holding the legs of the ram tightly. Rebel fire reaches a high density.

KODIROV:

(loudly)

Throw the ram!

Kostyan unclenches his fingers, throws the ram, rushes with a PKM machine gun at the ready to the nearest fallen duval already light. He runs around the corner and, resting his palms on his knees, tries to catch his breath, waiting for Kodirov. He's still not here. Kostyan looks out from behind the duval, sees the wounded Kodirov lying on the ground, raising his hand behind the clouds of settling dust.

Kostyan looked around, absorbed more air into his lungs, breaking into short dashes, falling and turning over, crawling like a plastoon to the wounded Kodirov. Kostyan loaded Kodirov on himself, begins to move quickly with him. The rebels with restraining fire do not allow the reunion of Kodirov, Kostyan with a group of scouts.

The rebels are shooting at Kodirov and Kostyan, who are crawling into cover in the open area, from two sides. The rebels are hitting the scout platoon with steady fire, not letting them raise their heads. Kostyan and Kodirov crawled behind a dilapidated adobe wall, there was a short pause. Kostyan cuts Kodirov's camouflage with a bayonet-knife, examines the wound, pokes Kodirov with promedol.

KODIROV:

(exhausted from pain, with difficulty)

Well, what's there?!

KOSTYAN:

(after examining the wound)

The bullet entered the lower back, hid deep!

Kostyan takes out an individual dressing bag from the AKMS-74 frame stock, quickly applies a bandage. Rebels are hurriedly descending from opposite slopes to Kodirov and Kostyan, who are cut off from the main forces. Kostyan pressed the butt of his PCM to his shoulder, aiming, saving ammo, hitting the rebels with short bursts.

Restrained by the fire of the rebels, a platoon of scouts conducts continuous fire at the foot, does not allow them to descend from the slopes and capture Kodirov and Kostyan in a tight ring. Sereda calls aviation to help. 2 pairs of combat Mi-24s arrive, begin to process the nearest slopes with rockets, forcing the rebels to retreat urgently. The fire stops. Under the cover of a pair of Mi-24s, an Mi-8MT helicopter lands in the valley. The wounded Kodirov is being evacuated. The ram remains lying in place. The scouts fill the flasks with water, return to the held height.

58. EXT. MOUNTAIN RANGE — DAY

Clouds are floating in the sky above the peaks of the mountains. A huge golden eagle is floating smoothly in the sky. The golden eagle causes alarm among scouts resting on the top of the mountain. The old servant Lepekha takes the eagle at the sight of his sniper rifle.

MONGOL:

You shouldn't do that!

The eagle is the creator of the earth's firmament, his murder portends death!

LEPECHA:

(arrogantly)

Spit, I'm on your shamanic notes!

Lepekha with an accurate shot, fights a bird, the Mongol shook his head sadly, remained silent....

59. EXT. MOUNTAIN RANGE — TWILIGHT

The scouts are resting, two soldiers are on guard duty. The silence is broken by a series of muffled explosions in the bowels of the mountain. Platoon commander Lieutenant VIKULOV addresses Sereda.

VIKULOV:

(warily)

What is it?!

SEREDA:

(serenely)

Beryllium is mined in the area; it looks like rock is being blown up.

VIKULOV:

(taking heart)

What is being mined?!

SEREDA:

Emeralds!

VIKULOV:

(excited)

Comrade Senior Lieutenant! May I go down with a platoon under cover from above, reconnoitre the situation?

SEREDA:

(strictly)

Stand down! I understand - soldiers always have a pain in the ass! But you're a very experienced officer! Do you want to find adventures on our heads?!

VIKULOV:

(excusing himself)

I'm not after the loot!

Think for yourself! Would the miners tear up the rock if they knew that at this moment, shuravi are above their heads?! Of course not! Therefore, we will certainly catch them by surprise. You see, we'll take trophies!

SEREDA:

(cautioning)

The development of emeralds is led by the people of Ahmad Shah Masud.

This is an extremely dangerous idea!

Sereda thinks for a second and agrees.

SEREDA:

Okay, check that the radio station is working! Be sure to take experienced fighters and two machine gunners. And we'll cover you from above.

TWO HOURS BEFORE DAWN

Lieutenant Vikulov raises the fighters - Kapusta, Lepekha, Sidor, Mongol, Rust, Kostyan, Koster, tarjimons (translators from Dari) Akhmedov and Kurbanov, orders to take personal weapons.

The group descends at a rapid pace, noiselessly. There are less than 50 steps left, strips of glowing headlights of a white minibus are seen aimed at the wide entrance to the mine and five unarmed people loading something into the car. Three of them are dressed in European clothes. Vikulov shouts to Akhmedov.

VIKULOV:

(loudly)

Shout to them to stay where they are!

AKHMEDOV:

(loudly)

Dar joyaton biisted!

The Afghans turn around, but when they see the Shuravi coming down, they jump into a minibus and give it a go. The movement of the vehicle is stopped by shots at the wheels and at the back door. Having heard them, Sereda gets in touch with Vikulov.

SEREDA:

(strictly)

What kind of shooting?!

VIKULOV:

(excitedly)

Comrade Captain!

A minibus with people was detained. They are unarmed, we will search them quickly, interrogate them and let them go. Allow me to inspect the drift superficially, without going deeper,

and go back.

SEREDA:

Let's not be long!

(out of touch)

The scouts approach the shot vehicle, point the barrels at the people sitting in it. Three Europeans hurriedly pour out of the cabin, shouting something in German, a very timid Afghan driver, a stately Asian. The Asian is dressed in a traditional Afghan perukhan made of expensive dark blue fabric, a richly embroidered felt vest, a Pashtun headdress in the form of a cap made of silver karakulcha.

The Asian is cold-blooded, holds himself with dignity. TOYOTA minibus is a mobile gemological and mineralogical laboratory equipped with modern West German equipment. Maps of the area, measuring instruments, gemological microscopes, various geological instruments, branded sleeping bags made of eiderdown, canned food and portable Japanese radio stations "Yaesu" are found in the trunk of the TOYOTA.

VIKULOV:

(loudly)

Fighters! Listen to my command! Streltsov and Badmaev, direct the barrels to the entrance of the mine! Tukaev and Tevs, stand behind me and keep all the detainees at gunpoint! Kostrov and Sidorenko, you are monitoring the opposite slope! Akhmedov and Kurbanov, interrogating the driver!

Tevs! You're a German here?!

Translate what they say!

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