«IN THE CIRCLE OF KUNDUZ» Page #14

Kostyan briefly interviews the Germans, reports to Vikulov.

KOSTYAN:

They claim that they are surveyors — mining engineers from West Germany. They help the Panjshir people to develop ore!

VIKULOV:

(pretentiously)

Let them show their passports!

Kostyan translates, the Germans at once take out maroon books with the image of an eagle, pass them to Vikulov. Inspired by the detention of Europeans, Vikulov immediately contacts Sereda.

VIKULOV:

(with joy)

Comrade Captain! We took the Germans! Mining engineers!

SEREDA:

(without emotion)

Good! Don't linger, go away!

Vikulov and Thevs are dealing with the Germans. Akhmedov and Kurbanov are interrogating an Afghan driver. Kapusta inspects the interior of the mobile laboratory. Koster, Strela, Mongol, Rust, Sidor, hold the detainees at gunpoint, conduct surveillance.

Lepecha, sensing the Asian's agitation, leads him to the open rear door of the car and, forcing him to put his palms on the edge of the roof of the body, begins to search. The Asian fidgeted, firmly grabs Lepecha's hand squeezed into the inner pocket of his vest, not letting him take something out. Lepecha, enraged by the resistance, hits the Asian with the butt of an SVD rifle in the chest, forcibly pulls out a thick leather wallet with a bright green book with the inscription "ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN PASSPORT" and, putting the barrel of the SVD to his forehead, hisses.

LEPECHA:

Ystad bash!

STAND STILL!

LEPECHA:

(complacently to Vikulov)

Comrade Lieutenant, we have a Pakistani in our hands!

(continuing to hold the Asian at gunpoint)

Here's his passport!

Lepechа passes the document to Vikulov, keeps the wallet for himself. Lepecha has lost interest in the Pakistani, pushes him aside, starts fumbling in the trunk of the minibus, throws out a geological instrument, measuring instruments, sleeping bags, other belongings. Lepechа sees a small aluminum box 40/30/20 hidden in the corner, tied in loops with a thin cable, its tips are connected together, sealed with sealing wax. On the drawer is a large thick envelope with accompanying documents with a sealing wax seal.

Sidor stealthily watches Lepecha, sees his profit. Lepecha smelled a big jackpot, pierces the Pakistani with his gaze, sees his excitement, smiling cunningly slowly reaches for the box. The Asian man rushes at Lepechа with a sharp rush, pushes it aside with force, lifts the dense felt flooring in the trunk, takes out the AKM-47 hidden under it, gives a short burst to Lepechа.

Fire from several barrels of scouts is concentrated on the Asian, killed on the spot. Lepechа grabs his stomach, moaning softly, collapses at the back wheel of the minibus, immediately entering agony. The same automatic fire through the back door catches Kapusta in the cabin.

The Afghan driver can't stand the drama, breaks down the gorge, but is overtaken by a short machine-gun fire. Mongol feels the pulse of Lepecha on the carotid artery, it is not there.

MONGOL:

(about Lepecha)

This one is ready!

Mongol proceeds to examine the Kapusta's wound. Kapusta is wheezing, breathing heavily. Mongol injects Kapusta with promedol, makes a dressing.

MONGOL:

(to Vikulov)

The bullet passed a centimeter above the heart! The condition is urgent!

Vikulov immediately gets in touch with Sereda.

SEREDA:

(ahead of)

Why is there shooting again?!

VIKULOV:

(briefly)

Comrade Senior Lieutenant!

We have one 200th, and one 300th!

SEREDA:

(scurrilous)

Japanese transistor!

(to the scouts leading observation on the slope)

Take two raincoat tents, go down into the gorge to evacuate the wounded and the dead.

VIKULOV:

Kostrov, Streltsov!

Keep the Germans at gunpoint!

Sidorenko, Tevs! Take a rope from the trunk of a TOYOTA, tie their hands tightly.

(ordered to soldiers)

Let's go!

The scouts carry out the order of Sereda, descend into the lowlands, shift Kapusta and Lepecha onto the raincoat tents, let the Germans escorted ahead, start hurriedly lifting them up. Sidor grabs some belongings from the minibus, walks behind.

60. EXT. MOUNTAIN RANGE. DOME OF THE MOUNTAIN — IT'S GETTING LIGHT

Scouts rise to the height, Sereda calls helicopters. The state of Kapusta is critical, the scouts are dejected.

MONGOL:

(to Sereda)

Comrade Captain!

He won't make it to the hospital!

May I try our method?

SEREDA:

(displeased)

What is it yours?!

MONGOL:

Shamanic witchcraft.

SEREDA:

(forced)

The choice is small, try it!

Mongol sits down next to the motionless body of Kapusta. He removes the leather cord from the neck, holding 5 round five–kopeck copper "toli" - shamanic mirrors on the loops soldered on the reverse, wraps the cord to the limit, releases. While the tholes are spinning, he is ecstatically praying to the spirits, asking for the gift of life to Kapusta. He takes a flask of water out of his backpack, puts 5 toli on the obverse.

Pulls out the toli, pulls the cord out of the loops, puts all 5 along the axis of the wounded Kapusta's body from the throat to the waist and, with the obverse of each copper circle, begins to apply it alternately to the wound, and, in the same order, folds the toli on the ground. Takes out 3 slices of cedar bark rolled into a rag, each the size of a palm, ignites them with 3 different matches and, lifting Kapusta's head with the palm of his hand, begins to blow out clouds of acrid cedar smoke behind the neck.

Smoldering embers of cedar bark envelop Kapusta with smoke, at this time Mongol puts a harp to his teeth and, rolling his eyes, with a light touch of his finger, starts a fight, making magical sounds: hey-ya, oh-ya, ai-ya, ai-ya. Then he picks up one of the embers of the smoldering cedar, fanning Kapusta's body 3 times. The cedar is burning down, Mongol collects all the ashes, pours them into a flask of water, shakes it and, lifting Kapusta's head again, pours it into his mouth.

The sound of approaching helicopters is heard, the Mi-8MT themselves are shown, the scouts are firing flares with an orange smoke trail, indicating their location. The scouts are loading the dead Lepecha, the wounded Kapusta, 3 captured Germans, a captured arsenal, piled up on a mountain with 10 loaded donkeys, taken away from the rebel base into Mi-8MT hanging in the air, barely touching the wheels of the mountain firmament. Flying away, donkeys are shot.

61. EXT. AIRFIELD — DAY. HEAT +40C, HAZE

TITLE:
KUNDUZ AIRFIELD

Helicopters with landing groups land on the runway in succession. In the portholes, two sanitary UAZ-452s can be seen waiting on the runway, Lieutenant Colonel SKVORTSOV and the head of the special department, Major SEMENOV, are standing back.

Kapusta is unloaded first, he came to his senses, the scouts were delighted - the foreman is getting out! After Kapusta, they take out the deceased Lepecha. Captured arsenal is unloaded from other helicopters, as well as scouts and captured Germans are unloaded.

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