Chechens Tale
After The Great Patriotic War 1944.
Chechnya
A train stopped at the station. From outside, a commissar blew his whistle.
"FROM MOSCOW TO CHECHNYA, THIS IS YOUR STOP," he said as he blew his whistle again. From box cars meant for cattle, numerous soldiers piled out. The lucky ones had loving arms to greet them. Some had no arms to embrace. Some didn't even survive long enough to embrace their loved ones. Malik looked around, seeing none of his family. He was happy they did not come, for the journey to this village was far from the house. Malik gathered his things and walked alone down a dirt road. To him, there was no time for celebration. Instead, he had a journey to embark on alone. No one bothered to check Malik for his rifle. One rifle missing form a billion was no concern to Stalin. In fact, Stalin would prefer if his weapons would disappear. More room for the new equipment to issue to the men. Malik walked out of this small village, distancing himself from the others.
Eventually, Malik was in the wilderness, listening to the songs of nature. For the first time in years, he smiled. Although the sounds of Mortars howling, Rifles reporting, and Artillery resounding, the songs of the birds overtook them all. Malik felt like a new man, free of the chains that held him back. He began to see color in ways he did not see in the war. The browns, greens, reds, and other multitudes of color seemed alive to him. It was a stark contrast to the blacks and whites of war. Malik looked to his right and saw a deer staring at him. The animal did not run at the sight of Malik, nor did Malik spook the deer. He was in Nature's home and, as such, would follow Nature's rules. He stopped at a cross stabbed into the ground. He stopped and stared at the cross. Most Muslims would spit or defile such sites. He was not such a Muslim. Instead, Malik took a clean cloth, and began to clean the old stone cross. As he did, he began to read the words.
"Edwin, the Wolf Hearted," Malik read from the stone.
"Well, Edwin, I am sure you must be happy that someone has stopped and paid their respects. I apologize for my Chechen brothers, they can be often blinded by the faith that gave them sight." Malik said as he stood up. He said a small prayer for the grave and carried on his way. He turned around for a moment to look back at the grave. He saw a white wolf laying on the grave, resting. Malik stared at the wolf.
"If you are a relative of Holo, I will tell you that I fought with your descendent. He was a good man and a good wolf," Malik simply said before turning back to the trail. The white wolf stood up, walked away from the grave, and vanished.
A mile later, Malik reached a field in the middle of the forest. He looked forward and saw a house with the chimney creating smoke.
"Home," Malik said as he looked around
"Sir, are you lost?" a voice said behind Malik. He turned around, seeing a young Chechen woman.
"I do not think so. Then again, I have been gone for years," Malik said as he lit a cigarette. He looked at the girl. "You have grown, Valida. Last I remember, you were 12. You must be 19, now."
The woman stepped back "Father?" she asked. Malik took a puff of his cigarette.
"Yes, my daughter?" he answered as he took the cigarette from his mouth. Valida embraced Malik.
"Father, it has been so long. We worried for you. We thought you had died," she said. Malik smiled
"Apparently, Allah has other plans for me... plans that included helping a former harvest deity" Malik said. Valida giggled.
"I forgot about Holo... how is she?" Valida asked.
"She is doing fine in Finland. Come, let us go to the house. I am sure Taisha, Toita, Muhammad, and your Mom are worried," Malik said.
Valida nodded. "We were," Valida said as she followed her Father to the house.
Once at the house, Malik opened the door. His family looked at him with awe, as if he had risen from the dead.
"Malik, is that you?" Nabeeha asked she walked forward to her husband.
"Yes, it is I Nabeeha, my wife," Malik said as he embraced her. Nabeeha began to cry as she held her husband.
"You had me worried, Malik. I feared you had left me," she said
"No, I would never. Not on my honor would I leave you," Malik said. Malik then felt a tug at his pants. Looking down, he saw his youngest daughter, Toita. Malik lifted her up.
"Toita, you have gotten bigger. Last I remember, you were smaller," Malik joked. Toita nodded. She did not speak for she was mute. Malik heard footsteps and turned to see another woman. He placed Toita on the ground and walked forward.
"Taisa, my daughter, you have matured more," Malik said looking at his eldest daughter.
"Many men have already offered their hand. I have turned them down in respect for you," she said
"A wise choice...but what if I had not returned?" Malik asked
"Then I would spin yarn 'til I could no longer," Taisa said. Malik's stopped smiling.
"I see," he said as he let go of his eldest daughter. He was not impressed with her answer.
"And of Muhammad, where is he?" Malik asked.
"Hunting with your father's Jazeel," Nabeeha answered.
"Has he killed any wolves in my absence?" Malik asked.
"No... he has not," Nabeeha answered.
"Good." Malik, then, placed his pack and rifle down next to the wall. He sat down on a wooden chair and began to rest. Soon enough, Muhammad arrived with a deer. He stared at Malik, surprised.
"Father... the war is..."
Malik nodded. "Over. The blasted war is over." Malik drank some water. Muhammad was saddened by news.
"Do not be sad, Muhammad. War is not a something that one should look for in life."
"Still, I wanted to fight near your side," Muhammad said.
"Allah only allows so much, my son. Go, let the meat dry. Bring some meat that is prepared for cooking," Malik said Muhammad nodded as he left.
"So, Father, tell us about you Sasha, Dmitri, and Holo," Valida said.
"Another time, my child. For now, I wish to forget the war." The young girl nodded as she went to help her mother and sisters prepare the food. Malik watched. Only one of his children was worthy to hear the tale.
Muhammad brought the meat, and the women cooked a meal. Malik was to himself, smoking his pipe. Once food was ready, the family prayed to Allah and began to eat.
"So, father, did you get any medals?" Muhammad asked.
"Muhammad!" Nabeeha corrected. Malik took the medal out and placed it on the table.
"They call it the medal of courage," Malik said as he ate.
"Wow... how did you get it? Did you kill hundreds of Germans?" Muhammad asked
"Muhammad, not at the table" Nabeeha said. Malik looked at him.
"No, I got it for helping destroy tanks," Malik answered.
"How is that any courage? " Muhammad said.
"You will never know, for you are foolish," Malik sighed.
"I am not foolish," Muhammad argued.
"A foolish man would say that," Malik said. Muhammad stood up and left the house. Malik continued to eat.
"Malik, be easy on your son; he is merely curious," Nabeeha said.
"I was easy. He merely made it hard," Malik replied. Nabeeha sighed. She knew Malik was right.
"Besides, he gave me the honor of defending himself. He is starting to become wise, but not wise enough," Malik said. The family continued to eat.
"Father, what happened to Sasha and Dmitri?" Taisa asked
"Sasha is in Moscow with his family. As for Dmitri, I have no idea,"
"Maybe with his own family," Taisa mused.
"He is," Malik answered. The three women began to talk amongst themselves, while Malik kept to himself. Once he was finished, he took his plate and placed it on the rack to be cleaned later. He went to his chair and began to smoke his pipe. Sensing he was in deep thought, Nabeeha picked up Toita and walked out of the room. Nabeeha also took Taisa's hand. She was about to take Valida's when Malik stopped her.
"I wish to speak with Valida alone," Malik requested. Nabeeha nodded as she took Malik's eldest and youngest daughters away to the sleeping area of the house.
"Yes father?" Valida asked. Malik puffed his pipe.
"My daughter, do you know why I wanted to talk to you alone?" Malik asked
"I do not have the slightest," Valida said.
"It,s about the war, Sasha, Dmitri, and Holo." Malik puffed his pipe.
"Muhammad is too immature to know about it, Toita is too young, and Taisa is unwise. Only you and your mother are worthy to talk about the war with me," Malik explained. Valida nodded as she took a seat.
"Father, it's about Dmitri. He was related to Holo, wasn't he?" she asked. Malik chuckled.
"Yes... he was. How did you know?"
"It made perfect sense in your letters," Valida said.
"Yes, I guess it did. Tell me, why the interest in Dmitri?" Malik questioned. Valida blushed and looked away.
"You like him," Malik concluded. Valida sighed.
"He sounded like he would make a great husband. He sounded like he was smart and brave," Valida said. Malik smoked his pipe.
"I actually asked him once if he wanted to come with me so I could offer a marriage between him and one of my daughters," Malik said. Valida looked at him.
'What... What did he say?" she shyly asked.
"He thought for a moment and said no. He said that it would cause problems seeing as he would be marrying a muslim women while he himself is catholic," Malik said. Valida was disheartened but still happy.
"So, he was wiser than I thought," Valida said. Malik nodded.
"He had to be. He lead the squad. One wrong order and we would have been dead." Malik smoked his pipe.
"What happened to him?" Valida asked.
Malik sighed, "During the last battle, Dmitri was shot." Valida gasped. "Holo took her blood and had Dmitri consume her blood. Dmitri became like Holo, a wolf."
Valida stared at Malik. "So, he is..." She smiled.
"Yes, my daughter, Dmitri is still alive. Although, he is currently a wolf pup and most likely not going to stay in Finland for long," Malik said. Valida smiled as she began to daydream. Malik chuckled. He did not know of Valida's love for Dmitri. He had to admit, she looked happy as she daydreamed.
"Father, if I am unable to be with Dmitri, do you think my descendent will?" Valida asked.
"Only time will tell, my daughter... only time will tell." Malik said as he smoked his pipe. Valida sat back, daydreaming. Malik chuckled as he watched his daughter, and wondered for the future. He wondered if his descendents would interact with the two immortal wolves.
"Valida, since you are now of wedding age, what is your plan for your life?" Malik asked. Valida looked at her father.
"I wish to leave this town eventually. Maybe head west. With Germany defeated, the allies will split the land. It will be easier to leave from this curtain the communists have." Valida said.
"And what of a occupation? Farming in a capitalist country is harder and not productive." Malik said.
"I do not intend to farm father. You forget that I did majority of the money handling and accounting." Valida answered. Malik patted his daughter's shoulder.
"That is why you are the wisest of my children. You will know what to do even in a foreign land." Malik then smoked a bit of his pipe.
"You and Dmitri would have made a great couple." Malik said as he smoked pipe. Valida took in a deep breath as she began to think about the future. A future she hoped she could acomplish.
I do appologize for the long wait, and the dissapointment that I am not going forward with Holo In America. But do not worry, that will be the next chapter. As for this chapter, cnsider it a OVA compared to the other chapters. Now while the chapter is rather lacking, it was not becouse I lost interest. It was becouse I found it hard to add information to the secrative Malik. Then I had to add information to the secreative man's family. As always, I ask you, my readers, to comment on this chapter. And please, comment on how I can improve.