What hero do players think of first when it comes to call of duty? That's right - the mustachioed and forever young John Price. But the British captain is far from the only prominent character in the popular series. Fans will probably name a dozen more "legendary" names.

Beginning with Call of Duty: World at War the authors involve stars of the first magnitude in the development, and also use images of real historical figures in games. And the scriptwriters are now much more serious. Here in new game, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, we are waiting for a meeting with Kit Harington ( "Game of Thrones"), who for the first time in his career will play a villain who unleashed a war of cosmic proportions.

Read about other notable characters from Call of Duty in our material!

Viktor Reznov (Call of Duty: World at War)

One of the first really interesting heroes was Viktor Reznov, who appeared in Call of Duty: World at War. Not in last turn he was remembered by the players thanks to Gary Oldman ( "The fifth Element","Dracula"), who gave the soldier his voice.

In some ways, Reznov is similar to Price. The Soviet commander also appeared in several games in the series: he defended Stalingrad and took Berlin in World at War, led the uprising in Vorkuta in Black Ops and assisted Alex Mason in Black Ops 2(although last case, apparently - only a hallucination of Mason).

Reznov is perhaps the most tragic hero of Call of Duty. During the siege of Stalingrad, he lost friends and relatives, and after the Second World War he ended up in the Gulag. According to official version, a Soviet soldier died trying to escape from the camp, but there was no confirmation of this.

Alexey Voronin (Call of Duty)

Although the creators of Call of Duty did not immediately begin to take their characters seriously, we simply could not ignore the very first part of the series. Alexei Voronin is the protagonist of the Soviet campaign in Call of Duty. It was he who in 1942, under gunfire, made his way through Stalingrad, and three years later he installed the Banner of Victory on the roof of the Reichstag.

Little is known about the hero himself. At the beginning of the war, he was an ordinary Red Army soldier, and reached Berlin as a lieutenant of the 150th Infantry Division of the Red Army. Maybe Alexei Voronin is not the best main character the original (in the first part we played two more heroes), but for Russian players it is definitely another reason to go through the same Call of Duty of 2003 again.

John "Soap" McTavish (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare)

John "Soap" McTavish is the central character of the trilogy Modern Warfare. And if in the first game he was a recruit with a "stupid name", then by Modern Warfare 2 rose to the rank of captain and became Price's closest friend.

Soup participated in all key events trilogy: prevented the US bombing, eliminated the nationalist Imran Zakhaev, pulled Price out of a secure prison and tracked down the terrorist Vladimir Makarov, who massacred the airport.

At the same time, in each game, Soap was seriously injured. In Modern Warfare 2, for example, he had to pull out a rather large knife from his own chest and throw it at the main villain. The third wound that McTavish received in Prague was the last - John did not live to the hospital.

Simon "Ghost" Riley (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2)

And here is another character from Modern Warfare. For the first time, the laconic Simon Riley appeared in the second part of the trilogy and was remembered for the fact that he played the whole game in a mask depicting a human skull. Ghost helped the main characters during special operations and never came to the fore.

Perhaps Riley would have remained just another extra, if not for the very “spectacular” death of the hero. Ghost was shot, and his body was doused with gasoline and burned. And it would be nice if the character died at the hands of the enemy, but he was killed by US Army General Shepard, who turned out to be a traitor.

The developers rightly reasoned that in Modern Warfare 2 Ghost was given little attention, and after the release of the game they released a series of comics Modern Warfare 2: Ghost dedicated to Riley.

When Shepard killed Ghost, many players were also sad because the scene shown in this screenshot was preceded by a long and very difficult mission. And all for what?

faithful dog

Idea special unit"Ghosts", which will include the most experienced operatives, has long been in the air and as a result has found its embodiment in Call of Duty: Ghosts. The game itself turned out to be an amateur, but there was one “hero” there that you can’t forget about.

We are talking about a German shepherd named Riley (in honor of Ghost, of course), which has become a symbol of graduation. During some tasks, the dog can be given orders. At such moments, Riley turns into a real killing machine: he becomes invulnerable and single-handedly tears entire squads of enemies with his teeth. And sometimes you can take control of the dog yourself, sneak through the bushes into the enemy camp and sink your teeth into ... the carcass of the enemy.

Even before the release of Call of Duty: Ghosts, studio staff Infinity Ward Riley was presented as one of the main features of the game. This approach did not go unnoticed: with the help of the players, the dog quickly became a meme.

Raul Menendez (Call of Duty: Black Ops 2)

The Call of Duty series knows not only brave heroes, but also insane villains. The latter, without a doubt, include Raul Menendez, a politician from Nicaragua, a revolutionary and founder of the organization Cordis Die, whose goal is to destroy the capitalist superpowers.

Menendez is one of the most colorful characters in Call of Duty. He does not seek to kill as many civilians as possible (such sacrifices, in his opinion, are just costs), but wants to take revenge on those who are responsible for the death of his younger sister.

The appearance of such a character in Call of Duty is no accident. The script for Black Ops 2 was written by David Goyer ( "Blade", « The Dark Knight» ), and he must be thanked for the character of the hero.

Jonathan Irons (Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare)

Gary Oldman is not the only actor involved in the creation of Call of Duty. Yes, in Advanced Warfare Kevin Spacey played the main villain "LA Confidential","House of cards"). And he played, I must admit, perfectly. True, this time the creators did without the help of Goyer, so the story lost its quality of presentation and gained several “unexpected” turns.

This, however, does not make Jonathan Irons himself less interesting character. He is the head of the private military corporation Atlas, one of the most powerful in the world. At first, Irons even tries to help the main character: he takes him to work after a serious injury, gives him access to the most modern weapons and implants (the series has finally moved into the future by this point).

However, the desire for unlimited power is a trait most often inherent in villains. Irons becomes such, however, he does not have time to realize the dream of world domination, having disappeared as the most typical villain.

Salen Kotch (Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare)

But Salen Kotch is not exchanged for such trifles as world domination. His goal is a space war, the capture of the Earth, other planets and the destruction of all those who disagree.

The commander of the villainous organization Settlement Defense Front in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is played by Kit Harington ( "Game of Thrones","Silent Hill 2"). Little is known about Admiral Kotch's motives, but judging by the name of the SDF, Salena was not satisfied with Earth's policy towards colonies. Why did Jon Snow actually switch to dark side Forces and decided to unleash an intergalactic massacre, we will find out on November 4th.

By the way, Narrative Director Taylor Kurosaki (in other words, he is in charge of the script), who previously worked in Naughty Dog over series Uncharted. Given this fact, it's easy to believe that the heroes and villains of Infinite Warfare will surprise us... in a good way.

IT IS INTERESTING: concerning famous people, then in the case of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Infinity Ward studio attracted at least two more "stars" to create the game - mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and British race car driver. The former will play Kotch's assistant, while the latter will play an engineer aboard the Retribution space cruiser that survived the SDF attack on the United Nations Space Alliance fleet.

* * *

There are many characters in Call of Duty. Developing the series and creating new games, the developers do not forget about their heroes. Already now there are many famous names - who knows how many there will be in the future.

What other characters would you classify as Call of Duty legends? Write in the comments!

Russians in computer games It's always fun and a little embarrassing. A terrible accent, week-long stubble, an indestructible smell of fumes and a hat with earflaps - all this, of course, is a thing of the past, but the ideas of Western developers about Russia are still archaic.

1. Viktor Reznov (Call of Duty: World at War)
A rare good Russian in games. The defender of Stalingrad, whose image was formed from the personalities of our two most famous heroes in the West - Sergeant Yakov Fedotovich Pavlov and Petty Officer Vasily Grigorievich Zaitsev. Reznov with a sniper rifle hunts German officers, for the sake of the protagonist, is substituted for enemy bullets, pulls the player out of the rubble in a burning house and leads the fighters who have lost their commander.
He's invincible like epic hero: in one episode it literally does not burn in fire, in another - it does not sink in water. Like a guardian angel, three years after the breakup, he meets the player in Berlin and saves his life again. Subsequently, Reznov appears in both parts of Black Ops - either as a prisoner of the Gulag, or as a hallucination - but you can not know about all this, limiting yourself to the heroic image from World at War.

2. Andrew Ryan (BioShock)
When BioShock came out, many reviewers were terribly delighted: finally, serious philosophical ideas from the literature of the 20th century sounded in games. Indeed, the structure of the underwater city of Rapture is largely based on Ayn Rand's concept of rational individualism, proposed in the novel "The Fountainhead" and brought to mind in the epic "Atlas Shrugged". Ayn Rand - born Alice Rosenbuam, who grew up in Russian Empire, and in 1925 she moved from the USSR to the USA. Rand was fascinated by the libertarian values ​​of the West and the American entrepreneurial spirit - and at the same time came to hate communism, with the establishment of which the hardships of her family were associated.
Her in-game alter ego is Andrew Ryan (Andrey Rayanovsky), a genius, playboy, billionaire, and philanthropist who founded the underwater city of Rapture to the best representatives humanity. Rayanovsky, who was born near Minsk, might have guessed that society is not capable of existing without the producing and serving classes. But he did not guess - and the elites in his city quickly degraded, slipped into civil war and lost everything. A typical Russian utopia turned into a dystopia - but for players around the world, BioShock, Andrew Ryan and Ayn Rand are not very associated with Russia: "Atlant" was already written in the USA and became table book for many generations of Americans.

3. Gennady Filatov (Rainbow Six)
Russian attack aircraft "Rainbow 6", heir to the glorious military traditions of Pskov. He fought in Afghanistan, served in Alfa on the eve of perestroika and left it after the putsch of the State Emergency Committee, dissatisfied with the political position of his generals. He joined the private security companies, five years later he moved to the FSB. In the international team "Rainbow 6" is considered one of the most cold-blooded and balanced fighters. Known for his methodicalness: shooting terrorists for him as a solution math problem. In the first series of Rainbow Six, operatives still had serious role-playing characteristics. Gennady, according to them, most of all succeeded in teamwork and handling of small arms. In Tom Clancy's EndWar, a game completely out of touch with reality, Gennady becomes a colonel Russian special forces and left and right cuts American and European colleagues.

4. Igor and Ivan Dolvichi (Jagged Alliance)
Ivan Dolvich even looks like Schwarzenegger's character from the movie "Red Heat"
Nobody remembers that in one of the episodes of Jagged Alliance Victor "Monk" Kolesnikov fought, who loved the saying Blja! and who did not like to remember his service in Tschetschenia. But everyone remembers the charismatic fighters of the Dolwichs - Uncle Vanya, written off from the hero Schwarzenegger from Red Heat, and nephew Igor, who looks like a harsh artist Guskov. About the elder, the caustic writers of Jagged Alliance report that "the former commander of the Red Army, like his entire country, stopped killing for Lenin and decided to die for Lincoln." It is also reported that no one in the A.I.M. did not put as many people as our Ivan. And all this for the love of currency. Usually, the player’s relationship with the mercenary begins with the offer “Karasho! I'll work for you, you damned capitalist!" and ends with an obituary: "Don't even think of fooling me - I'll kill you, bitch."
Igor is a more subtle nature. He suffers a lot, which cannot match the valiant warriors of the past. The fighter, however, is too strict with himself: in Chechnya, he served in intelligence and was a real hero. But after returning from the war, he began to drink and became infected with the fatalism of classical Russian literature. He likes to quote Tolstoy and his uncle.
Outside of Jagged Alliance, the Dolwich family is glorified to the best of its ability by writer Oleg Divov. In the collection " Harmful profession he fantasizes about what the front for their mercenary activities might look like - and comes to the conclusion that Igor and Ivan could make a great immigrant rock band with hits like Brighton Bitch and Fuck Iraq!

5. Yuri (Command & Conquer)
Hypnotist Yury from Command & Conquer could have been aired on Russia-2 for a long time instead of Dmitry Kiselev: he says about the same thing, but much more artistic, more fun and more convincing. And most importantly - all of Yuri's records are already in the game, so you can save a lot on production.
Our hero is similar to Lenin, but his career began under Stalin, for whom Yuri was developing mental weapons. The research turned out to be fruitful, but Yuri himself lost his mind: he unleashed a couple of world wars, almost won each of them, but always made a mistake on trifles. It executes its generals and political allies without bringing the war to an end. That will be carried away by recording appeals to the American nation straight from captured Hollywood, more like stand-up comedy than propaganda. Yuri's Russian roots, by the way, are a big question: he has a Hebrew tattoo on his forehead, and supposedly there are bloodsucking Transylvanian Romanians in the family. Well, he plays great german Udo Kier.

6. Revolver Ocelot (Metal Gear Solid)
GRU officer (secretly working for the KGB and CIA) with the inconspicuous Russian name of Adamska and the nickname Shalashaska given to this master of torture by Afghan militants. According to Adamsk's mother, he is an American, and the girl had a caesarean section right during some battle on Western front. He managed to take part in all Russian campaigns of the second half of the 20th century, but in fact he was always an agent of supra-governmental organizations.
In addition, Ocelot invented his own version of Russian roulette, which has become famous far beyond the game. It requires three revolvers, only one of which has a bullet. The revolvers are shuffled, after which the player chooses one and fires six times in a row. The chances of dying in this scenario are twice as high, and you can’t count how much courage it takes to pull the trigger six times.

7. Alexey Stukov (StarCraft)
After being swept away, Stukov ends up in a real hell. In space, his body is captured and infected by the zerg. He is resurrected, mutated and captured by the Dominion. There, he is cured, but turned into a guinea pig for the Mobius Foundation. Research, more like torture, leads to re-infection of Stukov. Having contacted the mutated Sarah Kerrigan, he begins his revenge voyage - first he clears the Mobius Foundation, then, leading the zerg, goes to war to Dominion. And he doesn't lose his sense of humour. For example, he says that it’s not bad to be a mutant: it’s convenient to scratch your back with tentacles. And he jokes that the “zerg-rush” is simply obliged to command the Russian.

8. Zangief (Street Fighter)
Created under the impression of the real master of sports of the USSR in freestyle wrestling Viktor Zangiev, the prefixed hero Zangief is a clear example of the confusion that arises due to the fact that for foreigners both Russians and Russians are all the same Russian. Initially, the Ossetian Zangiev was supposed to bear the name Vodka Gorbalski - and at the same time a sailor's vest and a couple of tattoos. But instead he received a human surname, abundant facial and body hair, and a patriotic biography. He goes into battle shouting “For Mother Russia!! 11!”, dances with comrade Gorbachev in between streetfighter tournaments, and at the same time selflessly fights corruption in Russia. GameDaily named Zangief himself the most successful Russian character in video game history, while Complex magazine called him the industry's top Russian asshole.
Zangiev himself, a vulnerable nature, was always worried about this and wanted to be loved in the West, and not feared. In Ralph, he even visits an anonymous villain support group where he complains about the life of his tin can.

9. Nikolai Stepanovich Sokolov (Metal Gear Solid 3)
Soviet scientists Alexander Leonidovich Granin and Nikolai Stepanovich Sokolov are, perhaps, the most normal characters in the epic game Metal Gear Solid 3. See for yourself: they don’t let lightning out of their hands, they weren’t noticed in sodomy, not American spies, in the end (although Comrade Sokolov still succumbed to influence of the capitalist hydra, but more on that later). Both were simultaneously developing huge combat robots with heartbreaking names - Metal Gear Rex and Shagohod, respectively. The latter project was more liked by the lightning-prone Colonel Volgin, who led the development, and Sokolov was given green light, and Granin had to be left with nothing. Ironically, it is Sokolov who is destined to take over the Metal Gear Rex project, which Granin will secretly send to the USA to his friend - Otacon's grandfather from MGS number one. Regarding the personalities of scientists and, moreover, their motives in the game, nothing is traditionally clear - for example, Granin agrees to help Snake, flattered by his compliment about his shoes.

10. Volgin (Metal Gear Solid 3)
GRU Colonel Volgin is the perfect villain, whose motivation can be described by the following phrase - "I want a lot of money so that I never have to work, and I'm also very angry, because I love evil and want to enslave the whole world."
Despite the clumsiness of the image of a villain who does evil for the sake of evil, Volgin quite seriously wants to seize power in the Soviet Union by overthrowing Khrushchev himself.
However, for ordinary players, he appears as a bloody sadist who thrives on torture and loves to shock.
In general, a very common hodgepodge for a Western audience.

That's all I wanted to say. Maybe I forgot someone ... Write if you remember.

War"> World War II and the Vietnam War. Has a father who was a musician. Voiced by Gary Oldman.

Biography

Call of Duty: World at War ">Call of Duty: World at War

He first appears in the mission "Vendetta" as a sniper trying to kill German general Heinrich Amsel, "architect of the suffering of Stalingrad". The Germans massacre near the fountain of Stalingrad, mercilessly shooting all the wounded Soviet soldiers. Reznov and Petrenko miraculously survive (the Germans do not notice that they are still alive and leave). With a cold calculation, Reznov calls Petrenko to him and promises to avenge them later, but for now you need to get out. The sergeant explains that he has been hunting their general for a long time, but due to his injured arm, he can no longer fire a sniper rifle, so he gives Petrenko his Mosin Rifle, and asks the player to eliminate the general. Hiding at the ruined fountain, they manage to take aim at Amsel, who came to see how things were going, but the moment for killing him was unfortunate (when fired, they would have given away their position and then there would be no chance to survive). Reznov coordinates Petrenko's actions so that he quietly kills German soldiers until the roar of their bombers drowns out the sounds of gunfire. But by this moment, Amsel is out of sight and only the German sentries can be shot. After they run away to a dilapidated barn, where Reznov talks about his memories regarding this place and promises that soon everything will change and the Germans will suffer on their land, and not Soviet people. They are noticed by a skillful Deutsch sniper (Vendetta)"> sniper, but the fighters miraculously manage to avoid his fire. Through joint efforts, Reznov, who attracts the attention of a sniper so that he gives himself away and Petrenko, firing from a sniper rifle, kills him, but after a while they are noticed by a patrol of German soldiers with search dogs. Then they break through the burning building, fighting off the attacks of the Germans, who open fire on the building and set it on fire with flamethrowers. The building begins to collapse, they run to the second floor, which has not yet been fully engulfed in flames. On the way, a burning beam falls on Petrenko and crushes him, but Reznov does not leave his friend and pulls him out. The kitchen begins to leak gas and they barely have time to jump out of the exploded building, falling from a rather high altitude. Here the Germans catch them and are about to shoot them, but luck again accompanies the heroes: they are saved by the one who came to the rescue soviet detachment in which the former commander Petrenko Daletsky is located. Teaming up with him, they attack the German radio station, successfully capture it. German forces begin to gather on the captured building, Daletsky's detachment tries to fight off their attack, and Reznov and Petrenko go to a firing point nearby to catch the German general from there. In order not to betray his position and complete what he started, one has to look indifferently at the death of the entire Daletsky detachment. But their sacrifice is not in vain: the general nevertheless shows up and Petrenko manages to shoot him with a sniper rifle. Immediately after that, they are attacked by German infantry and armored vehicles, who saw where the shot came from. Reznov keeps numerous German soldiers, covering Dmitry's retreat, Petrenko jumps into the water, and then Reznov also jumps there and, having gone under water, they hide from german army. This game episode ends. The next game episode with the participation of Reznov takes place three years later. We see Reznov alive and well, already without the phalanx of the index finger. Due to his hand injury, he can no longer be a sniper and from then on uses the PPSh-41 until the end of the game.

Three years later, Soviet troops advance on Berlin. Sergeant Reznov, along with the newcomer Chernov, rescue Petrenko, who was captured by 3 German soldiers and was about to deal with him. Reznov often tells other soldiers to take a cue from Dmitry, especially Chernov, who seems appalled by his comrades' vindictive cruelty towards Wehrmacht soldiers. The atrocities that Reznov and Petrenko saw in Stalingrad made them feel no pity for the Germans. During the storming of Berlin, near the Reichstag, he orders Chernov to prove that he is ready to die for his country if he cannot kill for it, giving him soviet flag, which should be installed on top of the Reichstag. Chernov takes the flag and rushes to the Reichstag, but is attacked German flamethrower and falls, writhing from what appears to be fatal burns. Reznov takes his diary and states that "someone has to read this." Another soldier tries to raise the flag, but is also killed by the German soldiers. Then Reznov asks Petrenko to take the flag and install it, which he does. When Dmitry was almost fatally wounded with a P-38 CC soldier survivor, Reznov takes out a machete and brutally cuts this German. He was very angry, but he believed that Dmitry would survive. After that, he helps Petrenko get up, cuts the rope holding the Nazi flag with a machete, and he falls down, and Petrenko sets the USSR flag there. Reznov says that they will return home together as. Once again, Reznov says that the heart of the army cannot be broken while Dmitry is alive.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

The meeting with Reznov takes place in the second level when Alex Mason and he have to escape from prison in Vorkuta.

Reznov in the Gulag near Vorkuta tells Mason about the operation to capture a biologist Friedrich Steiner and his Nova 6 weapons. On October 29, 1945, Reznov and Petrenko took part in this operation. During the capture of the base, Reznov gets to Steiner and he tells him that he is in cahoots with Dragovich and Kravchenko. Reznov tells Dmitry about this and soon on the ship Dragovich orders to take the fighters who found out about this. Dmitry with a couple more fighters dies in front of Reznov. From that moment on, he decides to avenge the death of his best comrade by all means. When escaping, Reznov mines a V-2 rocket and, together with Nevsky, makes his way through the NKVD and British commandos. They are selected just before the explosion. Reznov tells Mason that Dragovich, Steiner and Kravchenko must die. Due to unsuccessful brainwashing, Mason begins to hallucinate already in Vietnam that Reznov got out of Vorkuta and joined them. Reznov's personality is deposited in Mason's head, which leads to a split personality, and Reznov becomes his second self. During the operation to capture Steiner, Hudson and Weaver watch as Mason kills Steiner saying that he is Viktor Reznov. Having already killed Dragovich and emerging from under the water to the surface, Mason hears Reznov's voice: "You did it, Mason. We succeeded." In reality, as Hudson told Mason, Reznov died in 1963 in the Gulag near Vorkuta.

Individual traits

Reznov is patriotic, strong and best friend Private Petrenko, often talking about their joint exploits in Stalingrad. He also really hates German soldiers, calling them assholes, rats, dirty animals, and showing absolutely no mercy to any of the Wehrmacht soldiers, as many of his comrades and friends were mercilessly executed by them during the siege of Stalingrad. He is brutal in combat and seems to enjoy killing Germans in sadistic ways. Apparently, before the war, he was a resident of Stalingrad, because in the only game episode showing the siege of Stalingrad, he demonstrates good knowledge cities. He is missing the knuckle of his index finger, which he apparently lost somewhere in Stalingrad, since in this game episode his finger is wrapped in a bloody bandage and this explains why he cannot use a sniper rifle. Given this moment, it can be assumed that before his injury, he was just a sniper. Accurate shooting is greatly appreciated by Reznov, and he constantly praises Dmitry for his accurate hits on the heads of enemies. After being wounded, Reznov uses PPSh-41. He is also a very strong speaker, giving speeches to his soldiers over and over again about Dmitry and his successes, that they had a real honor to fight with such a person. He calls the quick killings of the enemy mercy and this is not so far from the truth - after all, after all the deeds of the Germans during the occupation of part of the territory of the USSR, they could expect a much more cruel fate than a quick death.

• Throughout the campaign thumb the sergeant is bandaged.
• Reznov uses his machete only once in the game, killing a German on the roof of the Reichstag, although it is clear that he had it throughout the game.
• Even after two and a half years of service, he still remained a sergeant.
• In a network game, the voice of Reznov broadcasts to the Soviet team.
• He looks quite old to be a soldier, but he fights beautifully nonetheless. However, given that time, this is quite normal, almost everyone went into battle then.
• It is not clear whether he knew Dmitry before Stalingrad: on the one hand, he always calls him only by name as a sign of respect and friendship, on the other hand, he begins to do this only after meeting with a detachment of Soviet soldiers who saved them.
• For the entire campaign, Reznov said the word "revenge" 92 times.
• Reznov in Stalingrad without a fur coat, but in the battle for Berlin in it, but it is interesting that at the end of April it is already quite warm.
• Reznov has the same voice as Price from Call of Duty 2 "> Call of Duty 2.
• Apparently, Reznov and Petrenko were written off from Kantaria and Yegorov.
• Reznov is similar to V.I. Lenin, perhaps he became one of the prototypes of Reznov.
• You can shoot at the hallucinated Reznov as much as you like. Bullets will pass through it.
• While climbing the stairs in the mission "

Mason, barely alive, not understanding anything and completely broken, was thrown into the punishment cell. He could not stand on his feet, could not even speak. He just curled up on the cold stone floor and died. He twitched indistinctly when he was bitten on the face of a rat and again fell into oblivion. Friedrich Steiner provided him with only one physician, better known as Time. The doctor from the time turned out to be clumsy and slow, but he knows his job perfectly.

When the guard opened the cell door for the first time to check whether the prisoner was alive, because an untouched penal ration of bread caused just such doubts, all he saw was a body crumpled in the corner. The guard jabbed the body in the side with a baton and determined by a slight movement that everything was in order. If Mason was saved by something then, it was the short Vorkuta summer, thanks to which the floor of the punishment cell tempered its icy ardor.

When the guard looked into the punishment cell for the second time, he saw that the prisoner was now in a sitting position. Near the wall, clasping his knees with his hands, closing his eyes and shaking his head. Mason had already reacted to the third approach, covering himself from the blinding light with his hand. On the fourth, he got to his feet and met the guard with a wandering look and attempts to say something.

And then the head of the guard decided that enough was enough for the American, and assigned him to a barracks with political prisoners. It was there that Mason met the first frosts that would certainly have killed him in the punishment cell. Alex did not go to the wiring or to work, they did not even demand this from him. In the company of other goners, he staggered around the territory, unsticking from one wall, only to nestle against another. It was terrible to look at him, he was so thin and looked pathetic. The prisoners did not become attached to him, considering him abnormal. So it was. Mason, with an absolutely insane look and an absent look, was constantly looking for some corner to hide there. And when he found it, he would take it in a whisper, then reaching a scream, to voice the figures sparkling before his eyes.

One night Mason was especially ill. The numbers seemed to go berserk, tearing his head to pieces. In an attempt to get rid of them, Alex rushed about and shouted, which woke up the floor of the barracks and caused the expected aggression. The prisoners got up from their beds and began to make noise. As it usually happens, no one did anything, everyone just expressed indignation, gave voices, trying, however, not to sound too loud, so that later, if anything, not to rage.

Give him someone on the head!

Calm down this dilapidated, before the rise of three hours!

Calm down the psychotic American, otherwise, God knows, he will still run into something sharp in the dark.

If he doesn't fill up his hail now...

Okay, guys, - Viktor Reznov got up from one of the beds. All active voices immediately fell silent. Everyone respected Reznov. They knew about him that he went through the whole war from Stalingrad to Berlin. They knew about him that he real hero, and it is precisely for this that he has been winding his term in Vorkuta for more than fifteen years. Victor was not thieves, but enjoyed unquestioned authority. Mainly because he was very strong both spiritually and physically, and he was also crystal honest and principled, and, despite all this, he was still whole. It has been called the wolf since the war. He had such a call sign, which he fully justified. Reznov was in Vorkuta for so long that he knew and could do much more than the guards or even the authorities.

And he was also respected for this - for the fact that just at such moments when someone had to show firmness of character, Reznov was not afraid to act as a leader.

Reznov caught Mason with a firm hand and forcefully laid him on his bunk. It was not difficult to cope with the weakened American. Reznov leaned on him and covered his mouth with his hand. He looked into frightened eyes, into dilated pupils filled to the brim with despair, and after a couple of seconds he loosened his grip a little, feeling his own callous heart filled with pity.

Well, what are you, an American? What have they done to you? Don't be afraid... Don't be afraid, no one will touch you...

Mason abruptly stopped escaping and stumbled across the light blue eyes opposite. He stared at them pleadingly, blowing his hot breath all around. Victor swallowed the lump that had risen in his throat and felt the frequent beat of someone else's heart under his elbow. He heard the American mumbling something and let him go. Mason immediately approached his face and, in a broken whisper, began to chatter some nonsense in English unfamiliar to Reznov. These were numbers. Reznov again covered Alex's mouth.

Shut up American! Stop now.

Mason bucked a little and lost consciousness. And Reznov sat over him for a few more seconds, bitterly realizing that from now on he had bound himself with obligations. Reznov angrily spat on the floor and returned to his bunk. Now his conscience and sense of duty will no longer allow him to leave the American. Now he no longer has the right, lowering his eyes, to pass by, not paying attention to the suffering of the unfortunate. Now he is responsible for it.

And so began this saving friendship for Mason. Still not fully understanding where he was and thinking poorly, Alex quickly determined who he could and should hold on to. Mason began to follow Reznov with his tail, needing him like air, like a hard surface under his feet. And Reznov felt sorry for him more and more and became attached to him more and more.

Having agreed with a friend, Reznov moved Mason to a bed next to him, so that it would be easier to calm him down at night. When Alex began to choke and rave in the middle of a dream, Reznov hugged him tightly. So tight that he couldn't move or speak. And in this position, Mason quickly calmed down, buried his nose in Victor's shoulder and, breathing heavily, spoke nonsense in his own language. And then he fell asleep, and after that he slept quietly and calmly all night.

Reznov began to feed the American. Using his influence, he could knock out an extra piece of bread for him in the kitchen or a thicker bowl of gruel. Or even a piece of meat or sugar from the security table. Mason pounced on any food and swept it away in seconds. And with gratitude he raised an increasingly meaningful look at Reznov, who, with a sad smile, patted Mason on the shoulder and pushed a part of his bread towards him.

Thanks to such care, Mason quickly recovered. Having agreed with whom it was necessary, Reznov assigned Alex to his brigade. They worked in a deep coal mine, the work was hard, but decently fed. At first, Mason, who had difficulty holding the instruments in his hands, did not succeed at first, but Reznov helped him here too. Gradually, Mason got involved in the work. He ate a little and now stood firmly on his feet and looked straight ahead. He stopped suffering from panic attacks and put on a gloomy and serious look befitting all prisoners.

But Mason still could not last an hour without Reznov. Having lost him with his eyes at the formation or parted ways with him in the dining room, Alex immediately began to feel that he was about to break loose again. His head still didn't work well. He suffered from memory lapses, and the inability to perform some elementary actions, and as soon as he saw a number on the wall or anywhere else, another seizure immediately began. And all this only increased Mason's dependence on Reznov, to whom he reached out like the sun for the only salvation.

Mason took his place of honor to the right of Reznov and now he always walked like that. Sometimes he didn’t even hesitate to grab a friend by the sleeve when he felt that he was rolling again. Reznov understood everything. And although he didn’t need it at all, he sacrificed more and more for the sake of the American.

Reznov taught him Russian. When they stood in formation or in line, when they descended into the mines. This process proceeded slowly and steadily. One of the first words was "freedom", then "motherland", then "revenge". Mason repeated with admiration in his eyes unknown words which are filled with new meaning every day. Alex deftly learned how to roll cigarettes, but preferred not to do it himself, leaving it to Victor. They always smoked one for two, carefully passing it to each other and exchanging encouraging phrases. Mason really learned to rejoice. Such trifles as a bird on the roof or a fish head in a bowl of soup. Or just days in which nothing bad happened.

Meanwhile, winter was coming. It was getting colder, and the sky was sinking lower and lower, running into watchtowers. Vorkuta was shrouded in the polar night. From the hitting wild frosts, windows cracked and light bulbs exploded. Mason could hardly stand on his feet. If not for Reznov, he would have died. Alex has already lost count, listing all the times he would have died without a friend.

Reznov never left him. He supported him with his shoulder when Alex, staggering, barely kept on his feet, walking in the ranks of prisoners. In the mines, Reznov did double the output for the two of them, and in the evenings, when the prisoners had little time for their own affairs, Victor took Mason by the hand. In order to carefully remove layers of bandages and rags from damaged frostbitten skin and replace them with others. Mason fidgeted and hissed through his teeth in pain, and Reznov started another story about military exploits.

Reznov took care of Alex when he was sick. And Mason was sick all winter long with rare breaks. He suffered from fever and a bursting cough, fell down and if it were not for Reznov, he would have died. Again. If not for Reznov, Mason would not have survived the winter. But the first Russian winter of the American ended after a series of equally dark and fast-running days. Spring blew from the south, and buds swelled rapidly on the exhausted camp trees. Mason could only be surprised at how quickly the eternal winter flew by. With warmth comes kindness. The convoy ceased to be fierce and the especially benevolent head of the guard allowed the prisoners at that moment, when the sun was at its zenith, to sit on stacks of boards in the yard.

It was on such a day that Mason sat, exposing his face to the sun, and smoked with Reznov. Alex lazily listened to the conversations that had become intelligible. He caught the hostile glances of other prisoners, but did not attach any importance to them. After all, he was under the protection of the best person in the world, who, Alex knew, would never leave him. And will always be with him. Mason respected and loved him so much that he just wanted to dissolve in him.

Alex inhaled the warm air and felt the unpleasant remnants of cough, illness and phlegm in his chest dissolve along with the fresh wind. It was incomparable to anything. When, together with the sun's rays, closed eyes are touched by the happiness laid down by blood law. And rare white clouds quickly, quickly rush along the unowned, deep and bright sky. When the indestructible snow melts, and through the lanes of snowdrifts a sonorous stream flows, smelling like a mountain river. And I want to dip my fingers into this oil-diluted, but amazingly free and young water. For the first time in the last hundred days, I want to take off dirty gloves and free my hands from the cover of heavy, stained with old blood and sweat wiped off the forehead tissue, which has become a second, raw and flaky skin. Unstoppable and huge flocks of insects rise from the swamps, but they will not reach the coal mines soon, and even if they get there, then let them. After all, they want to live too, and Mason doesn't mind letting them bite him a couple of times.

And in the evening of the same day, Alex fell asleep comfortably, resting his head on Reznov's shoulder, while he again talked about the war. It was then that Victor uttered the name Dragovich for the first time. Alex was startled, but did not remember where he heard this name. But since then, he began to listen to Reznov's stories much more carefully. Before that, Mason diligently skipped stories about the war through himself and memorized everything to the last word, but now he began to catch them on the fly, not taking his eyes off Reznov and living them anew with him.

My father was a musician in Stalingrad. During the period of the German occupation, his violin delighted hundreds of human hearts with the music of Korsakov, Stasov and our other great composers. The Nazis cut his throat in his sleep... Collaboration with the Nazis is meanness, a betrayal of the motherland, but Dragovich and Kravchenko did not care. All they had to do was get their...

Alex looked fascinated into Victor's eyes and felt like a child. And I felt like a lot more. And a lot of things I wanted to ask Reznov, but did not dare. I only asked once where Victor lost his index finger. right hand. And he received a laconic "at war" in response.

There was no other entertainment in the barracks in the evenings, except to watch the thieves play cards. Victor usually sat on his bunk and talked to one of his friends, going over military exploits. Mason, enjoying the sounds of his voice and calmness, sat down on the floor at his feet, leaning back on them. There was something so intimate and close in this position that Alex felt a pleasant hot heaviness spreading in his chest. This was something that never happened. Absolute unity with another person, on whom you are boundlessly dependent and whom you love to some confusion in your head. Alex appreciated it and almost purred like a cat.

Especially when Reznov took off his gloves, imperceptibly lowered his hand and climbed with hardened fingers into the collar of Alex's jacket. Mason could hardly restrain himself from throwing his head back and moaning with pleasure. Rough and cool Reznov's fingers passed over the delicate skin. Tender from what is always covered with several layers of warmth and fabric. Victor ran along the protruding seventh vertebra and descended a little lower. And Mason hurriedly held his breath, realizing that he had never had such amazing intimacy with anyone. Victor ran his fingers through Mason's short hair and slightly pulled his head back to his knees. And then pushed away, tilting Mason's head forward. And Alex smiled happily and ran his fist over the corners of his eyes, because for some reason there were tears.

At the end of the summer they came for Mason. Several escorts took him right from the shift in the mine, sending the indignant Reznov to hell. Mason himself did not know why, but he was terribly frightened. In the camp environment, he had heard a lot that such things begin with a denunciation and end in best case punishment cell, at worst - execution. But nothing like that happened. Alex was taken to one of the administrative buildings, where the paramedic gave him an injection, after which Mason passed out.

What happened next was from the category of forgotten nightmares. Again numbers, again flashing before my eyes, electric shocks again and again, constant burning pain and female voice in the ears. This time it was even worse. Alex was screaming, but no one seemed to hear him. Tried to break free, but the straps held tight. Mason lasted for several days, although he had no idea about the passage of time. Alex held on as best he could, but physically felt that the supports and load-bearing walls inside were breaking. His consciousness convinced him with ever more cruel certainty that all life in the camp, which now seemed like a lost paradise, was but a dream. A small respite between flashes of numbers.

Alex thought about Reznov. Called him, breaking his voice, still believing that he was always there. Will always save him... But no one came. Reznov forgot himself with lightning speed. Numbers pushed him out, pushed him out of memory and took his place. And Mason struggled to get him back. Do not forget his voice and the color of his eyes ... But in the end, Alex realized that the sooner he stopped fighting, the sooner his suffering would end. No, they won’t run out, but at least they won’t be so hurtful to the very heart and take away the most precious thing. The most expensive...

But this was not at all a reason for Mason to stop resisting. He would not stop fighting to the end, if he had his way. But electricity still got stronger. Alex stopped understanding what was happening and got lost in the vaguely familiar black and red labyrinths of numbers. And when, suddenly stumbling upon something incomprehensible, he abruptly came to his senses, he saw Reznov above him. He stood next to him and looked down on him. He spoke, and his voice merged with the creak of an iron chain hanging over the table.

Pain is hard to bear, right? I know it too well. We are brothers, Mason. We are the same. Dragovich. Kravchenko. Steiner. Must die.

When, after this hallucination, Mason again made out that dazzlingly looming before his eyes White light, then again he did not remember at all who he was and where he was. The powerful deja vu confused him. The cold walls of the punishment cell, occasionally throwing the door open. All this was already somewhere ... A few days later, Mason, again exhausted, confused and exhausted to the last limit, returned to the poorly familiar barracks. He staggered through the creaking doors and saw blurry people whom he thought he had seen many years ago through a layer of muddy water.

Alex was almost knocked down by Reznov. Mason immediately recognized him and could hardly restrain himself from bursting into tears. Victor kept asking what they were doing to him, but Alex could not explain to him. He shook his head incoherently and wanted to say something, but only number sequences. Reznov hugged him tightly and asked him to come to his senses. Alex shuddered weakly and couldn't stop sobbing silently.

Mason, tell me something... You recognize me, tell me...

At some point, Alex managed to focus on Reznov's bright eyes. Vague chains of associations crawled in my head one after another. Gathering his strength, Alex spoke with his lips:

Dragovich... Kravchenko... Sht...

Steiner, Mason. That's right, - Reznov desperately tried to smile, but he did not succeed very deftly. - Dragovich, Kravchenko, Steiner must die. You remember this, friend.

I remember ... Reznov ... - Mason weakly responded.

Everything started from the beginning. Now Reznov shored Mason with even greater zeal. Now he wouldn't let go of himself. He got food for him, did the work for him, instead of him he stood knee-deep in water in the face, carried him almost in his arms when Alex fell down. And he tried to occupy his mind constantly with conversation, then with history, did not allow him to look at the numbers, and met each approaching convoy with a hidden wolf growl.

It took effect. Mason is on the mend again. Just before going to bed, he always looked into the eyes of his friend for a long time. And sometimes he admitted that he was dreaming of numbers. Reznov said with confidence that there was nothing to be afraid of, that he would always be there. And Mason struggled to believe it. And in the end, he succeeded again.

Mason, my friend, tell me: what is left to believe when you are betrayed by your own? When all of you and all that you have done is buried under a layer of lies and corruption? I will die in this damned place. The only thing that does not let go of my hands is the thirst for revenge. Dragovich, Steiner, Kravchenko - these people must die...

Mason looked at Reznov and guessed that he had already heard all this somewhere. That all this has already passed. Such a nasty and heavy feeling, as if he was a stranger in his body, rolled over Alex. Another wave of figures was approaching the shore. At such moments, the only salvation for Mason was to hang on Reznov's neck. Hold tight and say his name. And to understand that Reznov is part of Alex Mason. A rather large and weighty part that will always be with him, and only she will help him resist and save him from the nightmare in his own head.

No matter how Reznov tried to protect and protect his capitalist, he was taken away again anyway. A couple of months later, as soon as Mason got on his feet and got stronger, they came for him again. And they threw him back again a few weeks later, torn and broken, unable to think or remember anything, terribly emaciated and barely alive. What angered Reznov the most was the unknown. It was impossible for Mason to get an answer to the question of what was being done to him. As soon as he tried to remember, he immediately began to rave about numbers and behave inappropriately. It was also impossible to find out from the guards - no one knew anything. Perfect secrecy.

When Mason was taken away for the third time, Reznov came to the only possible way out. Need to run. But to run meanly and silently, under cover of darkness, was not for him. He decided to stage a mass escape, with an uprising and a big shooting. There was already a riot in Vorkuta in 1953. Reznov participated in it and survived it, changing his eighteen-year term to life. Victor thought for a long time about what was wrong with the previous riot. And I decided that there was no clear plan. Namely, the plan is necessary.

Reznov took up its development. He knew better than many of the guards all the factory nooks and crannies. And he was not afraid of anything, except, perhaps, that Mason would be tortured to death. Victor immediately decided that he was running not for himself, but for Mason. For the sake of not their own freedom, but freedom in principle. For the sake of justice. Victor himself has long resigned himself to the fact that he will die here in Vorkuta. He could not imagine his life outside the camp. But Mason... Mason had to be pulled out of this den. I wanted to save him, no matter what.

If not for Mason, Reznov would not have fled. Yes, he was full of a thirst for revenge, but he did not need its realization. The thirst for revenge and righteous anger gave Victor the strength to survive in the camp and become what he was. He knew he would die sooner or later. And the idea that his death would free Mason seemed wonderful to him. The highest goal. It's like being at war. Die so someone else can live. This is a feat. Amazing. So here.

Reznov decided not to tell Mason anything until the last moment, because he did not know what they were doing to him. The most obvious guess was that Alex was being tortured for American secrets. But what was inexplicable was why they do it with long breaks.

Wasting no time, Reznov widely launched his subversive activities. First, he skillfully spread the rumor about the escape among the miners. There were almost no rats in the mines. However, Victor was not afraid that the well-known truth, which is that someone is going to escape, will reach the guards. Everyone wants to escape one way or another. The main thing is not to find out who exactly. From the shafts, the rumor slowly but surely spread throughout the camp. The plan had eight steps with abstract names, and without knowing their decoding, it was problematic to guess their exact purpose. The main thing was to engender the idea itself in the minds of the prisoners. Simple and obvious, but at the same time beautiful.

Reznov coped with this brilliantly and began to work out the steps of the plan. Precise organization - that's what he considered the key to success. It was, of course, pleasant to think that Dragovich, Kravchenko, Steiner should die, but it was too late. And where are these three? Victor didn't know. Maybe in the name of justice they are already rotting in the ground for a long time.

Reznov waited for Mason to return, again tormented and intimidated, as in previous times. Calming Alex and again taking care of him, Reznov was playing for time, allowing him to eat, recover and recover. And the fact that he would do it, Victor had no doubt. The amazing willpower and inhuman endurance of the American once again surprised.

The day before the escape, hiding in the far corner of the dining room surrounded by faithful people, Reznov told Mason everything. Victor had no doubts about his approval and consent.

Step one. Find the keys.

Reznov sent one of the prisoners to call the guard, and he himself staged a showy fight with Mason. "You're a weakling, American!" - Victor shouted an obvious lie and, trying on so as not to break anything, hit Alex in the face. Mason did not need to persuade himself, but still the hand trembled and went on a tangent when he hit back. "You hit like a woman!"

Let's work! Or do you only understand through force, dogs? - a guard appeared from the shadow of the mine, confidently waving, stepped towards Mason.

Hey bastard! - Reznov shouted at him in the back. He knew this escort well and therefore could not resist a slightly apologetic gesture with his hands.

Step two. Exit darkness.

Holding a rusty blade in his hands bandaged and wrapped in dirty rags, Mason ran after Reznov, cutting off the guards along the way. Once again, Alex was surprised and admired how Reznov navigates in the dark mines, covered with poisonous fog and coal dust. In these dungeons, Mason always felt defenseless and lost. But following Reznov, the mines became wider, and the darkness receded. Victor encouraged and directed the fleeing crowd of prisoners, and Alex thought that, probably, Reznov was rushing into battle in the same way in the war, with fiery speeches and without fear or hesitation, raising his platoon to certain death. Mason, of course, trusted Reznov 100%, but he did not believe in the successful outcome of the rebellion.

But still, something lofty and beautiful, so much like hope, stirred in his heart as they emerged from the darkness. When riding in a huge elevator on the lift. From the depths of the mine to freedom. Mason was silent and did not take his eyes off Reznov. And Reznov for the first time in many years was truly happy, feeling as if he was taking Berlin again.

Step three. Spill fire from heaven.

Slipping on the icy rails and spitting out coal soot, Mason hid behind the car and fired back from the guards. I realized with satisfaction that I had not forgotten how to shoot. The experience hasn't gone away. Several bullets slid very close, ripping open the sleeve of the jacket. Alex ran his hand over the wound and looked down at his fingers. There was no blood. The fingers are still the same, battered and with ingrained dark blue dirt around the nails and in the scars of old scratches. Dirty, but intact. Almost free.

Mason understood what "fire from heaven" meant. Reznov shouted something about medicines and ingenuity, but Alex did not hear over the roar and howl of sirens. But I did see it. How three convicts, quickly constructing something like a hand-held catapult under the cover of a trolley, threw a bundle sparkling with fire right into the window, from which they were being poured with gunfire. There was a terrible explosion, and the shots stopped for a while.

Step four. Release the horde.

Mason felt that even his American heart, with all the fervor and determination, responds to Reznov's words. Words coming out like flames from every loudspeaker in the camp. Victor carried something about hypocritical leaders, forgotten heroes and righteous revenge. Alex listened with half an ear, knowing that all these words were not for him. Without them, he is with Reznov completely and to the end.

In the meantime, the horde rises and frees itself, while it takes the guard towers and gates by storm, Alex must help her. Mason cautiously picks up a blazing, but not burning projectile. He takes aim at one of the roofs, from which the guards cover the yards with machine guns. And slightly not believing that the package will fly, he lets go. The bomb does indeed fall in the wrong place. Mason swears in Russian and takes another.

And again he listens to his native voice pouring from the cool autumn sky. Autumn has been warm this year. It's already October, but there were no real frosts. Probably, this fact also forces the horde to be released. Crowds of prisoners demolish fences and doors. They fall in piles under bullets, but they take in numbers.

Mason, exploding one of his targets, smirks contentedly.

Step five. Pierce the winged creature.

The winged creature circled over the roof and did not let him reach the line beyond which the battle would begin on enemy territory. The winged creature creaked and screamed terribly. Mason was not afraid. Jumped out on the roof when time slowed down. Time, but not bullets. One such little bitch crashed into the thigh, the other into the shoulder. But Alex is no stranger. Feeling like a knight defeating a dragon, Mason pierced the side of the helicopter with a whaling harpoon, and it, kicking desperately, crashed into the wall of the nearest building.

Step six. get iron fist.

It was time to remember Operation Forty. Only for Mason it was comparable to what was going on in the corridors of the administrative building of Vorkutlag. The guards kept arriving, and then the military went altogether. This means that the enemies still managed to call for reinforcements and very quickly, despite the fact that Reznov cut off the communication channels.

But it is impossible to take everything into account. Alex did not understand at all the significance of the sixth step and why Reznov was busy with welding at the iron door. There was no time to clarify. Mason just stood, covering Reznov with his back. Without a single shelter, he fired in all directions blocked by smoke and barely had time to reload, catching more and more wounds. Meanwhile, the special forces went on the offensive. It was impossible to cope with them, and Mason, soberly assessing the situation, understood this. Alex shot one of them at the last moment, when he was already one step away. The ammo was running out. Bunt choked and choked.

The prisoners had nothing to oppose to the equipped military. Mason was about to suggest that Victor retreat and snuggle, but he joyfully announced that the iron fist had been taken. Bending down under the bullets, Reznov handed Mason a heavy combat machine gun and led him. Alex chuckled softly and charged with a bursting brick walls rain on the special forces. At that moment, Mason thought that he and Reznov would be an excellent team if they served in the same unit. Or fight the same war. And it really looked like the truth.

Step seven. Open the gates to hell.

The gates to hell were open and stood open. There was a deadly inglorious battle on the outskirts of the camp. Mason fired in all directions, burning his hands with a red-hot machine gun. Somewhere behind, Reznov was shouting something all the time, and Alex felt free. Right now. On the field of an unequal battle, ready to die at any second, having already caught a dozen bullets, but still pushing towards his goal. Step eight loomed very close, waiting outside the doors of the nearest hangar.

"It would be stupid to fall now," Mason thought, frowning from another tangential wound. Alex tried to drive away from himself extra thoughts. And then a tear gas grenade fell in front of them. Everything moved too fast. Mason dropped his machine gun and fell to the frozen ground, choking on a cough. He was deafened by the explosion, his eyes itched and stopped seeing. Alex vaguely felt that strong hands were raising him and dragging him somewhere...

It was dark all around. And light broke through the darkness. Mason found his hand on the floor with a dull look, more like an animal paw, which dug kilometers of holes. And this paw lay in a patch of sunlight on the wooden floor. "What a warm autumn it is now ... Where have you seen that the sun shone over Vorkuta in October ..."

Door. It won't last long... Where the portraits of the hypocritical leaders of Vorkuta hang, the path to step eight lies!

Mason started up and looked around. Reznov saved him again, right? Well, of course. Enemies are breaking through the iron door. Behind the walls, shots are fired. So he and Reznov are the only ones who have gone so far to freedom? Yes. The rest, the whole horde remained on the other side of the gates to hell. Forever and ever. Those shots... They're being executed now. Them, soldiers of abandoned armies, betrayed, forgotten, abandoned ... And only Reznov is here. "He's always been with me..." Frowning sternly, he rips the covers off the army bike and sits on it. He slightly turns his face towards Mason, letting him know that only he is waiting for him.

Freedom, - Mason obediently voices the learned plan.

Alex rises from the floor and spits out the taste of tear gas that still grinds in his teeth. There is another motorcycle nearby. And ahead leads up the flooring of the boards. Leads to a bright rectangular window filled to the brim with unearthly sunlight. As if in a cozy chicken coop, piebald dust particles swirl in the opening. Alex wants to break into a run on the road to freedom. The motorcycle starts on the first pull.

Step eight. Freedom.

It means rushing down a frozen road, so it's breathtaking. The wind hits the face Sun rays pushed in the back. Mason remembers riding a motorcycle a long, long time ago. Too long ago. Alex takes off on steep climbs, cuts through swamps ice water in puddles, shooting back on the move from his pursuers, so deftly reloading the shotgun, turning it in his hand. Mason himself did not know that he was capable of such a trick.

This is amazing. And nothing compares to this. Each pebble flying out from under the wheels. Steam whistle in the distance. In the broken voice of Reznov, who shouts to Mason what to do. Already not even in the frosty air, but in the head itself. Mason catches the wind with his teeth. Zalikhvatsky and in Russian sends numbers to such and such a mother. He cheerfully follows the eyes of Reznov overtaking him. And for the first time he realizes that he has been breathing poisoned air all this time. There, in Vorkutlag, ash constantly swirled everywhere. Stone dust. Soot. Pain. Hopelessness. There could not be and there was nothing ...

And now around the open tundra. Freedom. It really is her. Wind. North. Reznov ... All these words are so similar.

Machine gun, Mason!

Alex immediately understands what is required of him. Not believing the success of such an operation, but breathing in the free air, he moves from a motorcycle to a truck. Reznov, with even greater dexterity, does the same and climbs into the cockpit. Mason, trying to stay on the bumpy car, presses his hands against the glass, through which he can see the back of Reznov, who has sat behind the wheel. Alex turns around and starts firing his machine gun at the pursuing pursuers. Everything is moving so fast, changing so fast. It shines so dazzlingly and smells of early October ... Mason is so carried away that only a new cry returns him to reality.

Jump! Jump, Mason!

Alex turns around in confusion and sees a train speeding by. Before him, not only a few meters of free fall, but also something like a small dry stream. But Mason does not think for a second. The windy freedom in his head willingly rushes to obey any order, and Alex rushes forward. So desperate and so hopeless. Starts the jump too early, slips a little on the edge, falls. And common sense screams from afar that this is terrible stupidity. It's impossible to fly here. Fall on the rails and rubble, straight under the wheels of the wagon pair.

But Mason is arched by some unreal feline vitality. The spine is stretched, and an unknown force pulls forward and upward. Wings sprouted behind him like an acrobat's. In a few moments of the most insane and fatal flight, Mason's whole life managed to flash before his eyes. Run so fast he didn't notice. He did not notice how he closed his fingers on a thin iron pipe. Lingering on it. Lingering in this world.

Mason had never felt so Russian as at the moment when he was shaken by a powerful wheel drive, tearing his chopped fingers out of their joints. So over the top. The locomotive whistle whistled. So poignant. It's dreary. So in Russian. Alex was ready to swear that for a couple of seconds only, but his ears touched the music. The jingling motif of a folk song, which is the embodiment of the mysterious Russian soul and something else that Mason will always remain unknown to. The mysterious Russian soul that was left behind. Raised me above death and gave me a little more to live. On the Cossack steppes and taiga. Haystacks, frozen lingonberries. Fog over the river. Stalingrad...

Your turn! Let's! Eighth step, Reznov! Freedom!

In the frozen evening and the frozen sunset, the call of the cuckoo is repeated for many kilometers. The sedge near the ditch grows heavy with dew and burns bare feet with cold. And the war is not yet visible, but it is already underway, but Reznov does not yet know about it. War will take everything. It will take away youth and the phalanx of the index finger of the right hand ... War or just the homeland. Or the speed of life. Meaningless Russian life, which is so beautiful...

You, Mason, not me...

The banks of the brook near the road become treacherously higher. The channel is expanding at an incredible speed ... The truck wobbles to the left, it is overtaken by another car. Ice dust is knocked out from under the wheels. Shooting. The sun. Wind. North. The train is beating like a downtrodden American heart. Not believing my eyes. Dying from what happens.