"Anatoly Rybakov. The bronze bird (Бронзовая птица, англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

assistant leader."
For all his bravado, Genka felt decidedly uncomfortable. There was an
unpleasant talk ahead.



Chapter 2

UNPLEASANT TALK


Misha and Korovin put the sacks down on the ground.
"Why are you here?" Misha demanded.
He was in a dark blue cap and a leather jerkin, which he wore even in
summer, believing that it made him look like a real Komsomol activist.
"Just like that." Genka felt the sacks. "Books?"
"Yes."
"Where's Kolya?"
"He won't be coming. He's been called up. He's going to the Navy."
"I see," Genka drawled. "Who are they sending instead?"
Misha did not reply at once. He took off his cap and smoothed his black
hair.
"Who are they sending?" Genka asked again.
Misha did not reply at once because he had been appointed leader of the
troop and did not know how to break this news to his friends in a way that
would preclude their thinking he was putting on airs and make them
immediately accept him as their leader. It was not easy to give orders to
fellows you shared the same desk with. On the way Misha had thought of a
phrase or two which he hoped would help him out of the difficulty.
Diffidently, with exaggerated nonchalance, he said:
"For the time being I've been put in charge."
He had placed great hopes on the phrase "for the time being." Indeed,
who should temporarily substitute for a leader if not the second in command?
But the unassuming and shy "for the time being" did not make the
impression he thought it would.
"You?" Genka said, goggling his eyes. "But what weight will we carry in
the village? Everybody, even the old folk, had a high opinion of Kolya."
That forced Misha to draw upon the second of his prepared rescue
phrases.
"I turned down the appointment, but the District Committee confirmed
it." Feeling the authority that the mention of the District Committee gave
him, he asked sternly, "Why did you leave the camp?"
"We left Zina Kruglova in charge," Genka put in hastily.
That, Misha told himself, was the fruit of a little sternness.
Slava, meanwhile, an apologetic tone in his voice, said:
"You see, Misha...."
But Genka cut him short:
"How are you, Korovin? Have you come to pay us a visit?"
"No, I'm here on business," Korovin replied, inhaling noisily through
his nose. Thick-set, stocky, he looked fat and clumsy in his labour commune