«IN THE CIRCLE OF KUNDUZ» Page #19

Rust with a wave of his hand, invites the rebels to go under the canopy, sit down. Rust calls the mechanic-driver Pavel Grishin and the gunner-operator Semyon Negodа.

RUST:

Keep an eye out!

In case someone leaves the village or the BMP-2 company commander Captain Sereda approaches, inform immediately!

Sidor, Mongol, Kostyan, Strela, Koster, Azim Akhmedov are pulling together to the canopy. Senior parliamentarian Halfutdin, a statuesque mujahid with a stern face in a pale-colored turban and beige perukhan, addresses Rust.

HALFUTDIN:

We'd like to talk to you in private.

Rust exchanged glances with his friends, nodded in agreement.

SIDOR:

(walking away – to Rust)

We will not let them go!

RUST:

(to Sidor)

Don't rush things!

On one side of the smoldering hearth, under a canopy, sit Sheragi, 3 rebels, on the other – Rust and Azim Akhmedov. Rust catches a whiff of the smell of acrid smoke of burnt brushwood inherent in insurgents. Their faces are dark and lean.

Rust silently looked around at everyone, nodded to Azim Akhmedov. Azim Akhmedov slowly turns half around, reaches for the teapot and fills up to half of the bowl and, fervently putting his hand to his chest, passes it to each rebel. Rust took a sip of tea, looks invitingly at Halfutdin to start a conversation. Halfutdin begins to speak in the Katagan dialect of the Uzbek language with sporadic interspersing of words in Dari, gazes intently into Rust's eyes.

HALFUTDIN:

(with a pause – proudly)

I am Halfutdin from the village of Mullah Ghulam. We know, dear Commander Rustam, that you are a Muslim and a good person. We have come here to invite you and those you trust to come with us. We will provide you with shelter, help you get an Afghan family.

Think about it, why do you need to die here?! This is not your land! Here, for example, is the last case.

(nodded at the rebel, on the right)

Two of his relatives were found nearby in a ditch with their heads shot through. Answer me, what can we do?!

RUST:

(with perplexity)

Why are you sure that this is the work of shuravi?!

HALFUTDIN:

(with conviction)

And who’s else?!

RUST:

(competent)

This could have been done by Mujahideen from other parties.

As you know, there is an internecine war going on between the detachments of different Islamic parties.

HALFUTDIN:

(with conviction)

No, the Shuravi did it!

RUST:

(with confidence)

Then I will assume with a high degree of probability that these people were armed.

HALFUTDIN:

And what does it matter?! They are on their own land, and they have the right to decide for themselves how to walk — with or without weapons.

RUST:

Great value! There is an undeclared war, Soviet soldiers are dying! We are here to help the Saur Revolution free the Afghan people from oppression and enslavement.

HALFUTDIN:

(with a haughty smile, mentoring)

We don't need to be freed from anyone! Leave us alone! Our way of life has remained unchanged for centuries.

We don't know how to live differently! And most importantly — we don't want to!

The most precious thing we have is our Islam.

Your top leadership, before sending troops here, should have studied the history of Afghanistan: Emir Zahir Shah, deposed in 1973 after 40 years of rule, repeated the fate of another Afghan ruler Amanullah Khan, who lost power in 1929 and, like him, is living out his life in exile.

In both cases, reforms are to blame for everything: the desire to build a secular society, blind imitation of the West or the USSR with its communist ideology, rejection of the age-old way of life, ancestral traditions, including the abolition of the wearing of the veil by Afghan women. We don't want such an Afghanistan!

Rust attentively listens to the speech of the rebels.

RUST:

My house is far to the north beyond the Amu Darya. All Shuravi are my brothers! I'm one of them myself!

I came with them, and I will leave with them, if I stay alive, of course.

HALFUTDIN:

(grandiloquently)

This is your decision!

The only thing we can guarantee is that nothing will happen to you at the village of Mullah-Gulyam.

The conversation ended, Rust raised his palm and pronounced loudly so that they could hear outside the canopy.

RUST:

Guys, we're done! Everyone refrains from action! The guests should leave quietly!

The rebels stand up at once. Rust thanks the rebels for the conversation with a handshake. The rebels let Halfutdin pass ahead, slowly, with dignity, they head to the street leading into the depths of the village.

Sidor comes in at the curtain, follows the departing rebels with his eyes as they disappear into the narrow passage of the village.

SIDOR:

(with amazement)

I don't believe my eyes! Rust, did you let them go?! Get into their hands, do not bring the creator, they would not let you go!

RUST:

(serenely)

If they were in the mountains, I would not hesitate to do my soldier's work, as I have done it more than once. But when they went to talk to us, it was like they were putting their heads in the lion's mouth.

After all, they risked overestimating us, right?! Well, how not to give credit for their bravery, and allow yourself to be overestimated?!

Sidor thought about it, said nothing.

79. EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF THE VILLAGE — DAY

Sheragi works with his family on the field, he is not cheerful. Sereda announces on the radio to Rust — all crews wait for the order to remove from their posts!

RUST DECIDED TO FINALLY BRIGHTEN UP SHERAGA'S LIFE WITH A ROYAL GIFT.

80. EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF THE VILLAGE — DAY

Rust gets on the BMP-2, goes to the field car kitchen PAK. He finds an ensign Pritula, changes the captured BERETTA-92 pistol obtained in Panjshere for 2 bags of rice and flour, 2 boxes of butter and condensed milk, loads everything on the BMP-2 armor.

81. EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF THE VILLAGE — DAY

Rust calls on his comrades to form up, calls Sheragi with his 3 sons from the field. Rust solemnly hands over to Sheragi and his sons the products that he exchanged for a BERETTA-92 pistol. The eyes of the astonished Sheraga fill with tears, he wipes his tears with an awkward movement of his hands, finally embraces Rust, each scout.

Sheragi plunges the gifts handed to him onto the ridges of the donkeys attracted for transportation, takes the remaining baggage in his own and 3 sons' hands, goes to the village. On the way home, a happy Sheragi turns back, waving goodbye.

82. INT. TENT — DAY

TITLE:
KUNDUZ. SCOUT TENT

The reconnaissance company returned from ambush operations. Friends, showered with yellow dust, enter the tent. Sergeant major Kapustin (Kapusta), who arrived from the hospital with a sickly look, is waiting for the fighters at the entrance.

SIDOR:

(enthusiastically)

Kapusta!

Emaciated beyond recognition.

STRELA:

(with joy)

We knew that you survived!

KOSTYAN:

We were informed that you were sent to the Kabul hospital, and you will not return to the company. From there straight to the Union!

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