Pioneer heroes: Utah Bondarovskaya. Educational resource "pioneers-heroes" - Utah Bondarovskaya Utah Bondarovskaya feat

Utah Bondarovskaya pioneer hero

Utah was born in the village of Zalazy, Leningrad Region, 01/06/1928.

The beginning of the war

Summer has finally begun, lessons at Peterhof School No. 415 are over, and a 13-year-old pioneer from Leningrad, Utah Bondarovskaya, went to spend her holidays in the Pskov Region, to her mother's sister. However, the holidays never took place.

On June 22, 1941, German troops invaded the territory Soviet Union... While tanks and vehicles rumbled in the forests and on the roads, the sky was covered with thousands of fighters and bombers.

It was in the Pskov region that Utah was caught by the war. I saw and heard how bombs exploded in the west, including from the direction of Leningrad, and the sky was on fire. And this was given to Utah the most difficult - the realization that while she was here, in Leningrad, where her mother remained, there was a fierce war.

But after the news reached her that the Germans had taken Leningrad into a blockade, Utah could not sit idly by. Her soul was warmed by the dream of going to her hometown and freeing her mother.

Guerrilla activity

With such thoughts, Utah got into partisan detachment... Despite the fact that the partisans initially wanted to send her back to her aunt, she resisted so much that they were forced to leave her. At first, Utah was just a messenger for the partisans, but later she became a scout. Disguised as a beggar beggar, Utah walked through the villages, asked the Germans for some food, and at the same time memorized the location of the German troops, the composition of the groupings, their defensive and offensive resources. Despite the good disguise, Utah's partner, Masha, was exposed and shot by the Germans.

Fatal crossing to Estonia

As time went on, Utah, as an exemplary pioneer and patriot, continued to contribute to the defense of their homeland. Even after the blockade was lifted from her native Leningrad, she remained in the partisan detachment. She joined the 1st Estonian Partisan Brigade, which moved westward into Estonian territory. It was an incredibly difficult transition. While crossing the frozen Lake Peipsi, where the front line was located, the brigade was subjected to constant attacks in open territory. In the battles, supplies, horses, a wagon train were lost, many soldiers were killed and wounded.

The wounded were carried on stretchers through deep snowdrifts, there was no food, no time to rest, and the frosts only got worse. But this did not break the spirit of resistance in Utah and she steadfastly endured all these difficulties, tirelessly helping the partisans in her 15 years, and her constant red pioneer tie inspired hope in the fighters even when the situation seemed completely hopeless.

On February 27, 1944, the lake was finally behind, Utah was the first to volunteer to go on exploration. She discovered a village free from the Germans, where she led the hungry and exhausted partisans. But there was not much time for rest. The next day, the Germans and Utah came to the village, together with other partisans grabbed a machine gun and ran into the thick of it. The partisans stopped the Germans that day, the battle was won, but Utah did not live to see the end.

Utah, at the age of 15, was killed in action by a German machine gun with a submachine gun in her hands and wearing a red tie. She was found later and buried. 15-year-old Utah Bondarovskaya was posthumously awarded the Order Patriotic War 1st degree and the medal "Partisan of the Patriotic War" 1st degree. Her mother survived the blockade and remained in Leningrad.

In memory of heroes

We all know from childhood stories about the heroism shown by the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War. No one can be indifferent in the face of the enemy who has come to your home. It doesn't matter if you are 15 or 35. You are an experienced soldier, or just a girl who came to summer holidays to your aunt. It is impossible to stay on the sidelines when the enemy has surrounded your hometown, in which your mother remained. And it is our duty to remember this, no matter what. Even through the centuries, we must keep in our memory this feat of our people, when every day a simple soldier, tractor driver or just a child made history.

It is difficult to predict how the story turned out, do not make Utah a choice at the beginning of the war, because history does not like the subjunctive mood at all. Perhaps the partisans would have died much more if they had not received information from Utah about the location of the German troops. It is quite possible that the 1st Estonian Partisan Brigade would not have overcome Lake Peipsi, and the inhabitants of the village died from the German invaders. But Utah Bondarovskaya made her choice, and the partisans, possessing the information, repeatedly inflicted pinpoint strikes, undermining the German groupings of troops.

The 1st Estonian Partisan Brigade crossed over Lake Peipsi and repelled the blow of German troops, took Active participation in the liberation of Estonian territories, saving countless lives. Utah Bondarovskaya made a choice and put her life on the altar of war, so that the next generations could live in freedom and equality. No wonder the Soviet children's writer Zhanna Brown dedicated her story to Utah, which was named after her. It was published in the series of stories "Pioneers-Heroes" and extremely colorfully describes all the difficulties that Utah had to face in its partisan activities and does not leave the reader indifferent either to Utah or to her feat and dedication. How can we repay the heroes of the past?

The most important thing to remember. After all, if we remember those events, they will not be able to repeat themselves. And the second thing we can do is to be proud that it was our people who saved the whole world from fascism with their strength and will.

Unfortunately, the story of the heroic pioneer Utah Bondarovskaya is not widely known. And in this material you will find a fact that is not in Internet sources, but that speaks of the extraordinary ingenuity and courage of this Leningrad girl. However - in order.

The Great Patriotic War found Utah in a village near Pskov, where she was staying with her aunt, mother's sister. It so happened that the mother was not given a vacation, the girl went alone, and with great pleasure - it was the first independent trip in her life! If Utah knew, leaving her home, she would never come back here ... Would she leave? I think so, but for a different reason. This is evidenced by every deed, every step of her front-line path.
The girl was determined to help our fighters. Of course, they were not taken to the front. She found a partisan detachment, became a liaison. School teacher Pavel Ivanovich helped her in this. Actually, more even to him than to her aunt, the girl came that summer. Pavel Ivanovich knew how to rally children around himself, he studied with them even on vacation. And now, having learned about Utah's ardent desire to take revenge on enemies, he helped to find a detachment. A smart, sensible girl turned out to be a reliable assistant. But I didn't have to be a liaison for a long time.

Once, while carrying out a mission, the pioneer met in the village with a scout of the detachment. And right at the moment of this meeting, the girls were detained by the Nazis. Utah managed to escape, and Masha (this name is inaccurate) was detained, explosives were found in her basket. They shot him in the morning. Yuta understood that now they would capture her too. And together with the teacher she went to the detachment, she also became a scout.

Utah had an excellent memory, she literally remembered everything she saw at a glance. This ability greatly helped the girl to become a good scout. Although it would be more correct to say - a scout, because Utah disguised herself as a boy. So it was easier to pretend to be a shepherd boy - more understandable to the Nazis.

During these difficult months, the incident that I mentioned in the first lines took place. Utah went on a mission, "armed" with a knapsack and a stick on which she leaned, diligently limping - cripples aroused less suspicion among the Nazis.

In one of the villages, the girl was stopped by a patrol, but immediately released, finding nothing. Having become brave, Utah began to ask them to serve something to eat. One fascist took out bread wrapped in paper. Unfolded - and the girl glared, but not at the treat, but at this very paper. Flyer in Russian! Utah knew very well what leaflets were posted in the nearest villages - after all, they were printed in their squad. This one was different. Of course, the girl could not, without arousing suspicion, read the lines. Maybe this is an old leaflet, printed long ago and far away? What if there is still a detachment nearby with which you can connect? In a word, it was necessary to get this dirty, crumpled piece of paper and bring it to the detachment, or at least remember what was written there.

The girl understood that the Nazis would rather give away bread than a leaflet. Give a Russian girl one more seed of the fight against the invaders? And she was playing for time.

Come on! - tightened.

The Germans did not serve just like that. The one who held the bread in his hand lifted it above his head and showed that he had to jump for a treat. He took the leaflet in his other hand. And Utah jumped.

The fascists were amused. They ordered the "boy" to sing. Then shout "Heil Hitler!" Then dance a dance. Don't forget they saw a lame man in front of them! Utah did everything. And during the dance, she even jumped up to the fascist who was holding the bread, grabbed his hand and kissed him. Her gaze at that time fell on the leaflet ... The girl saw everything she wanted: the leaflet was from a nearby village and fresh. So there really is a detachment nearby!
The Nazis gave her bread and let her go, very happy. They decided that this Russian boy was humiliated for the treat. And "he" endured all this for the sake of approaching our Victory.

Utah did not eat bread, put it in a bag. At that moment, he was of no value to her, although the pioneer, of course, was hungry and tired. On that day, the girl did a great job, brought the most valuable information. Indeed, the two detachments soon merged.

... Our troops broke the ring around Leningrad. Happy Utah could now return home to her mother. But she did not return, but joined the 1st Estonian Partisan Brigade - contrary to the order of the detachment commander. "As long as at least one fascist walks on our land, I will not leave, and that's it!" - said the pioneer.

The path for this brigade was difficult. Particularly difficult is the winter crossing over Lake Peipsi. But the girl never complained about anything. She spent the night in the snow, endured cold and hunger (the detachment lost most of the supplies).

February 28 - the last day of winter 1944, part of the partisans remained on the shore of the lake, and part went to the village for food. Utah was with them. They stopped in a hut on the edge of the village - presumably there were no Germans here. We stayed overnight. And everything would be fine, but there was a traitor in the village - he left unnoticed and brought the fascists. The partisans accepted the battle and won it. And Yuta accepted - she had her own weapon, she also fought. But in that battle she died ... She was buried eighteen kilometers from Lake Peipsi.

Sofia Milyutinskaya

Summer has come. School ended, and Yuta's mother was not given leave from work. Mom's cousin, Varya, invited them to visit her in the village, not far from Pskov, in a letter she said that Pavel Ivanovich was a teacher, organized various circles at school and Utah would not be bored in the village. Utah really wanted to go and persuaded her mother to let her go alone.

All week, while the preparations for the road lasted, Utah was afraid that her mother would change her mind and would not let her go alone. And only when the train started and the worried face of the mother flashed outside the window for the last time, Utah finally calmed down. Finally, summer has begun for her too!

But summer this year is gone. June transparent night. The war blocked the sun from people with black aircraft crosses. The war smoked the sky with dirty smoke of conflagrations. Utah saw at night how it burned and burst in the direction where Leningrad was, where my mother remained ... I saw how refugees walked and walked through their village. Humpbacked from bundles with belongings. I saw how the men silently left for the war. I heard women crying, seeing off their husbands, fathers, sons to the war. And her heart contracted with grief and hatred.

Pavel Ivanovich was sitting on a log near the hut and mending boots. The hut stood on a high bushy hill near the river, and from here the teacher could clearly see the whole village. Collective farm club. German sentries stood by the porch of the collective farm club day and night.

Utah climbed over the fence and sat next to the teacher. Slim, sad.

Uncle Pavel, is it true that the Germans surrounded Leningrad?

But my mom is there! - said Utah. - My mother is there, and I am here and! .. and ... - Utah's voice trembled. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed.

Well, think for yourself, should they take Leningrad? - Pavel Ivanovich put on a boot and stamped his foot. - No way to take - the gut is thin! The gut is thin, - repeated the teacher and laughed.

Utah stopped crying.

Uncle Pavel, is it true they say that we have partisans in the forest? As if they blew up a whole train with tanks yesterday?

Pavel Ivanovich took out a pouch.

Maybe they say it right, or maybe not, ”he said not at once,“ what I don’t know, I don’t know. Anything can be.

Eh, go to the partisans! - Utah sighed. Then she turned to the teacher and whispered hotly: - After all, I'm a pioneer! I swore an oath! Here, look, - Utah pulled out the tip of a red pioneer tie from her pocket. - He is always with me. What to do, Uncle Pavel?

Eh, you ... I thought ... to grow, to grow ... How can you grow when there are only fascists around ?! You don't believe me, that's what!

Pavel Ivanovich got up. He gripped Utah's shoulder with iron fingers.

It's not the point to shout about such things all over the street. Big. Do you understand, Leningradka?

Utah was sitting on a half-flooded boat in the reeds. At your favorite place. I watched the stars tremble in cold water, and thought.

“I’ll run away,” Utah decided, “I’ll run into the forest to the partisans. Even if Uncle Pavel doesn't know anything, I'll find them myself. I'll take it now and run away. It's even better at night, the Germans have been sleeping for a long time, and no one will see. I will blow up German trains. In sequence. In sequence. None of the fascists will approach Leningrad. And then I'll go on reconnaissance, make my way to Leningrad and save my mother ... "

Utah sat for a long time. Maybe a whole hour. And even took a little nap. So she dreamed well of a partisan life.

Utah shuddered. I almost fell off the boat into the water. Nikolai Sakharov stood in the reeds right in front of her. Chubaty collective farm accordion player. They said that he was in the forest with the partisans.

Oh, Leningrad, ”Sakharov said respectfully. He came closer and sat down next to Utah on the boat. - Listen, Leningrad, I know you can be trusted.

How do you know? - Utah asked incredulously.

The earth is full of hearing, - Nikolai answered mysteriously and narrowed his eyes, - people say ... or maybe they got it mixed up? Then I'll go ...

No, no, don't go, please, - Yuta said hotly, - people have not confused anything!

So that's the deal. We urgently need to give Pavel Ivanovich a note, and so that not a single soul knows, understand?

Uncle Pavel? - Utah was surprised. - So he ... Nikolai chuckled.

I'm waiting for you tomorrow with an answer. Here.

Her heart began to beat anxiously and joyfully. And Uncle Pavel ... Here's to you and "I don't know anything!"

So Utah became a partisan intelligence officer. She passed notes, ran and counted the Germans in neighboring villages, carried explosives and cartridges to the partisans. She did very difficult and dangerous work. Utah felt like a real defender of the Fatherland.

Utah left the house with a wicker basket in her hand. The Germans, bored, looked at her from the windows. Clearly, he is again gathering pieces of bread in the village. Look how many humpbacks are piled in the basket.

Masha met her at the copse. Before the war, Masha lived in the village, and now she came here from time to time. Secretly. With important tasks. Utah was jealous of Masha. Passing information, posting leaflets is one thing, but fighting with a real pistol in your hands is a completely different matter.

Well done, Utik, let me carry it now, - said Masha.

And suddenly, Utah froze. Right on them, because of the turn of the road, the Germans drove out on motorcycles.

Who are they? the long officer asked.

We are beggars, ”Masha said quickly, squatting and bowing,“ we were gathering bread in the village.

From behind the officer's back peeped out the gray-bearded, ugly face of Mitka Sychev, a drunkard and a thief.

She's not a beggar, your honor! he shouted. - Ours she, the village! By God!

Sychev jumped to the ground and snatched the basket from Masha. Bars of explosives, like soap, fell from the basket onto the grass.

Partisan! the officer shrieked.

Masha unexpectedly hit Yuta in the back, pushed her away from herself. Utah fell into the bushes and ran into the forest. The Germans clung to Masha. Masha managed to grab a pistol and she shot two Germans. Masha was shot at night. And on the same night, Utah, together with Pavel Ivanovich, went into the forest.

The commander's dugout is crowded.

Utik! - a heavy gray-haired man hugged Yuta and sat next to him on a birch block. - The plane will come soon and send you to The mainland... You will study. War is a matter for adults.

Utah angrily pulled away from the strong hands of the commander.

So I'll go to study, right? Will I sit and wait for others to win a good life for me? I will not go! You have no right!

Yuta snatched a pioneer tie from her pocket and quickly tied it over her quilted jacket.

You have no right! she shouted again.

Blimey! - the partisans laughed.

Leave her with us, Comrade Commander! they asked.

The commander's scowling face lit up with a smile.

Utah got a submachine gun, beat the fascists for everyone Soviet people on a par with adults, she did not spare herself, she risked herself every day. She took revenge for all the women and children killed, for the burned down villages and, of course, for her Leningrad and her mother, who was there ...

The blockade was broken! The blockade was broken! Hooray!

Utah forgot that she was a partisan, a scout. She jumped on one leg like a first grader and clapped her hands.

Frost pinched her nose. Amused. Blushed cheeks. Thorny, cold snowflakes crawled over the collar of the sheepskin coat. The thick paws of the ate swung, dropping the snow. The commander of the detachment and the army colonel came out into the clearing. For several days now, the partisans have joined forces with the Soviet Army.

The commander stood for a minute, watching, then smiled and stepped into the circle.

Congratulations, Utik!

Thanks! - Yuta shouted loudly and asked: - Is it true they say that we will go to the rear of the Nazis to help the Estonian partisans?

The truth, - said the commander.

On the second day, the detachment went to the Estonian coast. A small hamlet glowed faintly in the dark forest. There was food and warmth. The main thing is warmth. But behind every bush an enemy could lurk. It was necessary to send reconnaissance. They sent Utah.

There were no Germans on the farm.

The partisans settled down for the night. And no one noticed how one of the inhabitants of the farm disappeared into the darkness.

Utah slept soundly, even in her sleep she clutched a machine gun. Suddenly, the thick night was tore apart by shots. Utah jumped up, began rubbing her eyes with frostbitten fingers. Hands did not obey.

The door to the hut flew open.

The dream disappeared instantly. Utah rushed after the partisans.

Where?! - shouted the commander. - Back! We can handle it without you!

But how could Utah sit in a hut when her comrades are fighting to the death?

Clutching the machine gun, she ran out into the street.

The neighboring hut was on fire. A bright flame streaked the black sky, and the Germans were clearly visible in its reflections.

The partisans launched an attack. Utah was walking with them.

Suddenly, a German machine gun shot up from behind. Utah swiftly turned to the shots, staggered and fell into the snow.

Utah, Utica, are you hurt?

Utah tried to get up and fell again. With a machine gun at outstretched hands.

There is a small showcase in the Museum of the History of Leningrad. St. Petersburg boys and girls often come here and stare for a long time at a photograph of a girl in a beret, with surprisingly lively blue eyes.

The girl in the photo is smiling and the guys know that people like Utah don't die.

They live with us forever.

The young partisan was posthumously awarded the medal "Partisan of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree" and the order of the "Patriotic War of the 1st degree" posthumously.

Summer has come. School ended, and Yuta's mother was not given leave from work.

All Yutin's friends left long ago: some to the pioneer camp, and some to the dacha with their parents. The yard was empty, and it seemed to Utah that she would spend all summer holidays alone in a stuffy and hot city.

But one day my mother received a letter from Aunt Vary, a cousin from near Pskov.

Varya asks me to bring you to her village for the whole summer. He writes that Pavel Ivanovich, a teacher, has organized various circles for the children and you will not be bored, ”my mother said sadly, having read the letter, and sighed,“ and I cannot leave work even for one day.

Mommy, what if I go alone? You will put me in prison, and Aunt Varya will meet ... After all, I am already big ...

One?! - Mom looked frightened at Utah. - No no…

Well, mom, nothing will happen to me, you will see! I beg you. You said yourself that you can rely on me. She said, didn't she ?!

She said, - my mother smiled, then sighed again and thoughtfully walked around the room. Utah looked anxiously at her mother and waited.

Well, okay, Mom finally said, I'll think about it.

Ouch! Thanks Mom! - Utah was delighted.

If mom says “I'll think about it,” then most likely she will agree. And how great it will be! For the whole summer in the village! And Utah will go alone, like an adult!

All week, while the preparations for the road lasted, Utah was still afraid that her mother would change her mind and would not let her go alone. And only when the train started and the worried face of the mother flashed outside the window for the last time, Utah finally calmed down.

Finally, summer has begun for her too!

But summer this year is gone. It was not suddenly. June transparent night.

The war blocked the sun from people with black aircraft crosses.

The war smoked the sky with dirty smoke of conflagrations. Utah saw at night how it burned and burst in the direction where Leningrad was, where my mother remained ...

I saw how refugees walked and walked through their village. Humpbacked from bundles with belongings. I saw how the men silently left for the war. I heard women crying, seeing off their husbands, fathers, sons to the war.

And her heart sank with grief and hatred.

Pavel Ivanovich was sitting on a log near the hut and mending boots. The hut stood on a high bushy hill near the river, and from here the teacher could clearly see the whole village. A black charred log house in the place where a brand new two-story school once stood.

Collective farm club. German sentries stood by the porch of the collective farm club day and night.

Utah climbed over the fence and sat next to the teacher. Slim, sad.

Uncle Pavel, is it true that the Germans surrounded Leningrad?

Pa led Ivanovich took out a handful of nails from an iron box and with quick blows of a hammer began to drive them into the socket.

But my mom is there! - said Utah. - My mother is there, and I am here and! .. and ... - Utah's voice trembled. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed.

Well, think for yourself, should they take Leningrad? - Pavel Ivanovich put on a boot and stamped his foot. - No way to take - the gut is thin! The gut is thin, - repeated the teacher and laughed. Soundless and evil. Aunt Varya and neighbor's grandfather Ivan laughed in the same way yesterday when an explosion was heard at the station.

Utah stopped crying.

Uncle Pavel, is it true they say that we have partisans in the forest? As if they blew up a whole train with tanks yesterday?

Pavel Ivanovich took out a pouch.

Maybe they say it right, or maybe not, ”he said not at once,“ what I don’t know, I don’t know. Anything can be.

Eh, go to the partisans! - Utah sighed. Then she turned to the teacher and whispered hotly: - After all, I'm a pioneer! I swore an oath! Here, look, - Utah pulled out the tip of a red pioneer tie from her pocket. - He is always with me. What to do, Uncle Pavel?

Eh, you ... I thought ... to grow, to grow ... How can you grow when there are only fascists around ?! You don't believe me, that's what!

Pavel Ivanovich got up. He gripped Utah's shoulder with iron fingers.

It's not the point to shout about such things all over the street. Big. Do you understand, Leningrad woman? Run! ..

The teacher went to the hut, and it seemed to Yuta that she was left alone in the whole world. No one wants.

Utah was sitting on a half-flooded boat in the reeds. At your favorite place. I watched the stars tremble in the cold water and thought.

“I’ll run away,” Utah decided, “I’ll run into the forest to the partisans. Even if Uncle Pavel doesn't know anything, I'll find them myself. I'll take it now and run away. It's even better at night, the Germans have been sleeping for a long time, and no one will see. I will blow up German trains. In sequence. In sequence. None of the fascists will approach Leningrad. And then I'll go on reconnaissance, make my way to Leningrad and save my mother ... "

Utah sat for a long time. Maybe a whole hour. And even took a little nap. So she dreamed well of a partisan life.

Utah shuddered. I almost fell off the boat into the water. Nikolai Sakharov stood in the reeds right in front of her. Chubaty collective farm accordion player. They said that he was in the forest with the partisans.

Oh, Leningrad, ”Sakharov said respectfully. He came closer and sat down next to Utah on the boat. - Listen, Leningrad, I know you can be trusted.

How do you know? - Utah asked incredulously.

The earth is full of hearing, - Nikolai answered mysteriously and narrowed his eyes, - people say ... or maybe they got it mixed up? Then I'll go ...

No, no, don't go, please, - Yuta said hotly, - people have not confused anything!

A branch snapped to the side. As if someone had chewed a biscuit loudly. Utah, frightened, grabbed Nikolai's hand.

Nothing, ”Sakharov said reassuringly. He got up and croaked longly, as if a sleepy frog had been disturbed in the reeds. - So that's the deal. We urgently need to give Pavel Ivanovich a note, and so that not a single soul knows, understand?

Uncle Pavel? - Utah was surprised. - So he ... Nikolai chuckled.

I'm waiting for you tomorrow with an answer. Here. - The accordion player leaned over to Utah and said quietly: - Young pioneer, be ready to fight for a working cause!

Yuta's hand shot up in a salute.

Always ready!

Her heart began to beat anxiously and joyfully. And Uncle Pavel ... Here's to you and "I don't know anything!"

A German major was standing on the porch of the collective farm club. In a black uniform. The major's chest is a keg. There is an iron cross on the barrel and some other awards.

All those associated with the partisans will be shot!

"Dudki," thought Utah, "so the partisans will fall into your hands."

Pavel Ivanovich was standing not far from Utah, and there was surprise on his face. What are the guerrillas? Where did they come from here?

The Germans in the village looked benevolently at the old teacher. He was always there for them, ready to serve. I wrote announcements for them ... It never occurred to them that every time Utah took his note to where it should be, enemy trains flew downhill, as if cars with fascists were blown up on the roads by themselves.

Jeanne Brown

Utah Bondarovskaya

Utah Bondarovskaya

Summer has come. School ended, and Yuta's mother was not given leave from work.

All Yutin's friends left long ago: some to the pioneer camp, and some to the dacha with their parents. The yard was empty, and it seemed to Utah that she would spend all summer holidays alone in a stuffy and hot city.

But one day my mother received a letter from Aunt Vary, a cousin from near Pskov.

Varya asks me to bring you to her village for the whole summer. He writes that Pavel Ivanovich, a teacher, has organized various circles for the children and you will not be bored, ”my mother said sadly, having read the letter, and sighed,“ and I cannot leave work even for one day.

Mommy, what if I go alone? You will put me in prison, and Aunt Varya will meet ... After all, I am already big ...

One?! - Mom looked frightened at Utah. - No no…

Well, mom, nothing will happen to me, you will see! I beg you. You said yourself that you can rely on me. She said, didn't she ?!

She said, - my mother smiled, then sighed again and thoughtfully walked around the room. Utah looked anxiously at her mother and waited.

Well, okay, Mom finally said, I'll think about it.

Ouch! Thanks Mom! - Utah was delighted.

If mom says “I'll think about it,” then most likely she will agree. And how great it will be! For the whole summer in the village! And Utah will go alone, like an adult!

All week, while the preparations for the road lasted, Utah was still afraid that her mother would change her mind and would not let her go alone. And only when the train started and the worried face of the mother flashed outside the window for the last time, Utah finally calmed down.

Finally, summer has begun for her too!

* * *

But summer this year is gone. It was not suddenly. June transparent night.

The war blocked the sun from people with black aircraft crosses.

The war smoked the sky with dirty smoke of conflagrations. Utah saw at night how it burned and burst in the direction where Leningrad was, where my mother remained ...

I saw how refugees walked and walked through their village. Humpbacked from bundles with belongings. I saw how the men silently left for the war. I heard women crying, seeing off their husbands, fathers, sons to the war.

And her heart sank with grief and hatred.

* * *

Pavel Ivanovich was sitting on a log near the hut and mending boots. The hut stood on a high bushy hill near the river, and from here the teacher could clearly see the whole village. A black charred log house in the place where a brand new two-story school once stood.

Collective farm club. German sentries stood by the porch of the collective farm club day and night.

Utah climbed over the fence and sat next to the teacher. Slim, sad.

Uncle Pavel, is it true that the Germans surrounded Leningrad?

Pa led Ivanovich took out a handful of nails from an iron box and with quick blows of a hammer began to drive them into the socket.

But my mom is there! - said Utah. - My mother is there, and I am here and! .. and ... - Utah's voice trembled. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed.

Well, think for yourself, should they take Leningrad? - Pavel Ivanovich put on a boot and stamped his foot. - No way to take - the gut is thin! The gut is thin, - repeated the teacher and laughed. Soundless and evil. Aunt Varya and neighbor's grandfather Ivan laughed in the same way yesterday when an explosion was heard at the station.

Utah stopped crying.

Uncle Pavel, is it true they say that we have partisans in the forest? As if they blew up a whole train with tanks yesterday?

Pavel Ivanovich took out a pouch.

Maybe they say it right, or maybe not, ”he said not at once,“ what I don’t know, I don’t know. Anything can be.

Eh, go to the partisans! - Utah sighed. Then she turned to the teacher and whispered hotly: - After all, I'm a pioneer! I swore an oath! Here, look, - Utah pulled out the tip of a red pioneer tie from her pocket. - He is always with me. What to do, Uncle Pavel?

Eh, you ... I thought ... to grow, to grow ... How can you grow when there are only fascists around ?! You don't believe me, that's what!

Pavel Ivanovich got up. He gripped Utah's shoulder with iron fingers.

It's not the point to shout about such things all over the street. Big. Do you understand, Leningrad woman? Run! ..

The teacher went to the hut, and it seemed to Yuta that she was left alone in the whole world. No one wants.

Utah was sitting on a half-flooded boat in the reeds. At your favorite place. I watched the stars tremble in the cold water and thought.

“I’ll run away,” Utah decided, “I’ll run into the forest to the partisans. Even if Uncle Pavel doesn't know anything, I'll find them myself. I'll take it now and run away. It's even better at night, the Germans have been sleeping for a long time, and no one will see. I will blow up German trains. In sequence. In sequence. None of the fascists will approach Leningrad. And then I'll go on reconnaissance, make my way to Leningrad and save my mother ... "

Utah sat for a long time. Maybe a whole hour. And even took a little nap. So she dreamed well of a partisan life.

Utah shuddered. I almost fell off the boat into the water. Nikolai Sakharov stood in the reeds right in front of her. Chubaty collective farm accordion player. They said that he was in the forest with the partisans.

Oh, Leningrad, ”Sakharov said respectfully. He came closer and sat down next to Utah on the boat. - Listen, Leningrad, I know you can be trusted.

How do you know? - Utah asked incredulously.

The earth is full of hearing, - Nikolai answered mysteriously and narrowed his eyes, - people say ... or maybe they got it mixed up? Then I'll go ...

No, no, don't go, please, - Yuta said hotly, - people have not confused anything!

A branch snapped to the side. As if someone had chewed a biscuit loudly. Utah, frightened, grabbed Nikolai's hand.

Nothing, ”Sakharov said reassuringly. He got up and croaked longly, as if a sleepy frog had been disturbed in the reeds. - So that's the deal. We urgently need to give Pavel Ivanovich a note, and so that not a single soul knows, understand?

Uncle Pavel? - Utah was surprised. - So he ... Nikolai chuckled.

I'm waiting for you tomorrow with an answer. Here. - The accordion player leaned over to Utah and said quietly: - Young pioneer, be ready to fight for a working cause!

Yuta's hand shot up in a salute.

Always ready!

Her heart began to beat anxiously and joyfully. And Uncle Pavel ... Here's to you and "I don't know anything!"

* * *

A German major was standing on the porch of the collective farm club. In a black uniform. The major's chest is a keg. There is an iron cross on the barrel and some other awards.

All those associated with the partisans will be shot!

"Dudki," thought Utah, "so the partisans will fall into your hands."

Pavel Ivanovich was standing not far from Utah, and there was surprise on his face. What are the guerrillas? Where did they come from here?

The Germans in the village looked benevolently at the old teacher. He was always there for them, ready to serve. I wrote announcements for them ... It never occurred to them that every time Utah took his note to where it should be, enemy trains flew downhill, as if cars with fascists were blown up on the roads by themselves.

Utik, hello! I haven't seen you for a long time. You are growing!

“Everything is all right, - Utah was delighted, - it means that the task is not canceled and Masha is waiting for me at the copse”.

Rain is coming. The gray dust on the road crumpled and darkened.

Utah left the house with a wicker basket in her hand. She walked in the middle of the street and caught the raindrops with her mouth. The Germans, bored, looked at her from the windows. Utah became familiar with them. Clearly, he is again gathering pieces of bread in the village. Look how many humpbacks are piled in the basket. And Utah has grown bolder. She went up to the very house where the Germans lived and shouted:

Mister German, give me some bread!

The fat German threw open the window.

Fuck it, fuck it, fuck it!

Utah made a plaintive grimace and wandered away.

Masha met her at the copse.

Before the war, Masha lived in the village, and now she came here from time to time. Secretly. With important tasks. Utah was jealous of Masha. Passing information, posting leaflets is one thing, but fighting with a real pistol in your hands is a completely different matter.

Well done, Utik, let me carry it now, - said Masha.

Yuta handed Masha a basket and began rubbing her whitened fingers. The basket was heavy.