John Adams High School - Clipper Yearbook (Ozone Park, NY)

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I4 - T Put your son to bed. He asks too many questions. Nicolas ran to his mother. She lifted him to his straw bed. Prayed. Hummed a tender lullaby in his ear. Pavel sat down and began writing. Tanya prayed again stopping every once in awhile to look at Pavel. She signed. Only the clutching fingers of the hand of dozing Nicolas answered her visions of the future. Her husband sat, his square jaw set as though he feared what might hap- pen if he didn't gain her confidence in going forward even though it meant such a sacrifice. A knock! Tanya, Tanya, who is knocking? See, it is near the sixth hour. I must be there early. Tanya hurried to the door. It is Michel Zonstov. Come, Michel. Zomstov, a rugged peasant stomped into the room. His face was unshaven and his hair was a tousled mat. There were signs of strain in his unusually nervous hands and twitching upper lip. Pavel, you are ready? he asked. And Pavel went toward the door. He told himself that Moscow was out there, calling to him, waiting for him. Work was waiting for him. Some great patriotic work. Some un- selfish work. Something, towering high above pride, conceit, and greed. Pavel faced his wife. Yes, I am ready. ' Tanya moved silently to a corner of the room. Pavel followed. Tanyaf' She looked up. He kissed her. Looked at his son. Shook his head and then followed Zomstov out into the night. Once outside they strode cautiously up the road. Zomstov, my friend, do you know what we are to do? We will know at Nicolai's. They walked on without speaking, for the advance French guard had entered the previous day and at night the street was dangerous for a Rus- sian. Pavel found himself thinking of how much would be left for Tanya and Nicolas if he died. He had reached his third field when Zom- stov stopped and quickly flattened himself against a house. French sol- diers! Nicolai's was steps away. Zomstov stepped cautiously. But his clumsy foot kicked some wood. They froze. Who goes there? The voice boomed and re-echoed through the street. Zomstov felt for Pavel's hand. Grasped it. Chuckled. Pavel gripped Zomstov's shoulder. Pulled him toward him. No, he whis- pered hoarsely, you'll be killed. Release me, Pavel. Do you want to die yourself ? Pavel tightened his grip. Zomstov would not be held. He was made of the fervor of the patriot. His fist went deep into Pavel's stomach. He broke loose. Ran down the street screaming, The Tsar, the Tsar! The soldiers fol- lowed. One stopped, took steady aim. Fired. Zomstov fell on his face. Dead. Ha, your aim is good tonight, jean. The soldiers walk- Tiff ed to the body. Kicked it over. That's three tonight. Fifty piece, Gentle- rn e n . The others cursed the speaker's luck and they i moved on. l llllllllll ???T 'Z' -- 1 lli -1- lmuwu n I . . lllllllv wmv ' - NQXXNX l K- ' lff 5.1-1.:' 1 rf. f 3-:I . -4 r.-T.: 4- f'- -Q:-f--S X' ' 1 ,.l ia . f 1- a n C S 3 59 1 .'..,...s..gNL,, iT Y ....r 'f 'u, 1.-.4,.i -i .1 3 ' .1 1 . - A,g,YZL.g..a,, ...l 6 Fifi: -, ,.-'ji ci' 1. jg -I ., 12,6 . ll is 7- i' .5 55 ' .--F-l.-3.5 if lil - ff? IZ-12 .Q 5' 3 ,. ff '-- f f -9 - it 3. 1 . . .-'I' f E 1 1 A l tif . 'v ' . ' 1.11igg1:1QM ' zu. .f '- ,rv--'

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'I' NICQOLAIS by the seventh h o u r Y Ivan, Zimkov, Rodya, Za- kim. All to Nicolai's! Wfhispers ll o a t i n g through Moscow fell on the ears of Pavel Alexandrovitch, hurry- ing home to his wife, Tanya, and his son, Nicolas. His brows were knotted in a frown and he walked, eyes down in deep thought, right up to his door. The seventh hour, enth, he called, we for the Tsar. Tanya, a slight woman in a shabby but clean dress, looked at Paval, frightened anxiety in her eyes. Wl1y must you go, Paval? You have a son. A son? Pavel patted Nicolas on the head. Be proud Nicolas. I, Pavel, your father will drive out Napoleon. He nodded his head slowly, ab- sent-mindedly, as if to assure himself of his success. A task in which the Russian troops, preceded by the mighty armies of Furope had failed. Napoleon was a man who would not scruple to use any means so long as he gained his end, he didn't know the word impossible a word that exists only in the dictionary of fools. Austria, Spain, Prussia, had felt the heels of his sure-footed grenadiers and the weight of their swords. Now he staked his fortunes on his Grande Aimee' and had hurled it against Russia. Tanya, sev- strike a blow Smolensk, Borodino, now Moscow had bowed to a tempest which sur- IRVING FINK Torch Over Moscow passed even the forces in the gales of the Russian winter. So the French entered Moscow, a city where soli- tude reigned almost unbroken. Rus- sian troops, ofhcial, nobles, merchants. and the great mass of people were gone. A few fanatics, clinging to the tra- dition that the Kremlin was impreg- nable, idly sought to defend it. Mad-men and those who had a duty had remained. Those who were driven mad by the sound of the invaders foot crunching upon Russian snow, trampling on Russian life. Men who sought to strike the last blow to pay for the pain caused by the bleeding wound inflicted upon them. Men, such as Pavel! Men upon whom Russia could count to wipe out the stain of shame and blood. Nicolas looked into his father's eyes innocently, Alone, Father? Wfill you do it alone? PaveI's face sob- ered. I-Ie grasped his son's shoulder. No, Nicolas, Russia drives out Napoleon. I but do my part. How will you do it, Father? Pavel shrugged. How it shall be done-but here, Tanya, take him.

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lrT'W'f' ulllll llllllll ! Pavel dared not move. He waited tive, ten minutes. Then one knock, a pause, three rapid knocks. The door opened and Pavel walked in. Deep inside, the otherwise empty house was filled with peasants. They were armed with guns supplied by Rus- sian patriots. There was little talk- ing. Silence was safety. Each one took orders and left. Pavel looked at the determined faces of the men gathered. He knew them all. His friends. Yasha, with the round belly and bald headg Ivan, flashing eyes, black mustaches. Even Sokol, the slight one, tenorvoiced, shifting eyes. was giving himself to the Tsar. Pavel shook their hands one by one and each smiled as if to say. So, I go. Wlmrlt does it matter? Ivan ven- tured to say goodbye as his hand clasped Pavel's. Hands meeting, hands that had guided ploughs through neighboring lields. Ivan turned, walked up as one of the of- ficers called Paval. Paval, we work together tonight. He pulled his mustaches. Glanced around the room. Come, he said. Pavel crossed himself, took a last look at his friends, and both went out. Outside Ivan explained. We set tire to the warehouse at the end of the market street. It will be a sign to the others to set fire to other ware- houses and E Fire? Pa- v el d i d not u n d e r - stand. Fire. He looked at Ivan puzzled. l llllllllllill 'E' f l ' fwfm: --fin! ,lg 'iff' ' .' .4-'fi'-.Y7'I! I ,.'..:. 'I 'L '22 :A.,f.,, !:.i'-':.5.?4.11a -lf i ii Mi, f' 3711 , ,.,, . ,. .M 1 .: , -' f X ft-2 -' 1 2, f barns.' 21.3. 1. ef ik P. fix. W -,mx :- 5 : -gr 5 '35 Q HL 1' . 1 ' ll 35 I- iii! . gi ll, 5-:Q .gt ff- X T gypsy: lllllllluulllli if Ei I But what ofthe city? It is better to have no city than one in the hands of Napoleon. You are right, Ivan. You lead the way. The two men stalked silently to- ward the market street. Clouds blot- ted out the moon and starsg the sky was black. It hid them in the folds of its great cloak. They groped un- certainly. But each step brought them nearer their goal. Ivan stopped.- Pavel, have you the torches? Are you ready? Yes, Ivan,H Pavel gasped at the thought of the danger. Do we go now? Soon, Pavel, soon. We must be successful. All depends on us. Wznit. The warehouse is guarded. See! One, two three soldiers around the fire. Shoot well, Pavel, for Russia . . and me. Steady! Ready! Fire! Pavel fired, loaded again, fired, loaded, fired. Two men fell, the third leaped for shelter and returned the shots. Ivan raced to the hre. Lit his torch. Ran toward the ware- house. A shot! Ivan fell. Pavel could see Ivan's form fall to the ground. Then he saw Ivan's torch. There it was . . . in his right hand. He could see the warm blood coursing down Ivan's wrists. The arm still moving, moving .... He was conscious of the inner re- cesses of his being. A flaming hope of radiant ecstacy invaded him. Pavel crawled a few yards. Strug- gled to one knee beside the fallen Ivan. Finally, we win! He shouted and flung his torch into the ware- house. I5