General Fiction posted September 24, 2025

Chapters:

...25 26 -27- 28 ...

tfawcus

Tony Fawcus, ex-RAF Navigator and Junior School teacher, spent 22 years living on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula where he ran a small farm and a B&B cottage before his recent move back to Adelaide.

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A chapter in the book Dmitri's Extraordinary Fate

Dmitri's Extraordinary Fate: 27

by tfawcus

The author has placed a warning on this post for violence.

Background
The scene is war-torn Ukraine. Dmitri is currently in Kyiv. He's desperately trying to rejoin Leila, whom he thinks is in Turkiye. However, she has just turned up in Velinkra, pursued by her father.

When they reached the manor house, Pavla led the way past Major Kolt's stables and across a cobbled courtyard. Dogs started barking as they approached the back door. An exterior light came on, and the door opened to the extent of its safety chain.

'Who is it?'

The disembodied voice was querulous and held a tinge of irritation.

'It's me, you old fool,' Pavla replied good-naturedly. 'Let us in. The major is expecting us.'

Fedir slid the safety chain off with one hand while restraining two black labradors with the other.

Leila shrank back, but Elena reassured her. 'Don't worry about them, dear. Yarchuk and Mavka. The worst they can do is lick you to death.'

As soon as Fedir released the dogs, they bounded out with their tails wagging and fawned, cringing low on their front legs as they circled the guests. So great was their show of welcome that no one at first noticed the tall and handsome figure of the major looming in the background.

Upon his order, the dogs backed away. 'What are you thinking, Fedir? Kennel the pair of them, then bring us some spiced wine. Oh—and put your jacket on and comb your hair. We have guests.'

Fedir touched his forelock, or the place where it would have been, had his hair not been a fuzzy white bird's nest encircling a bald pate.

'Very good, sir,' he said, raising despairing eyebrows at Pavla.

The major stepped forward, arms outstretched. 'My dear Pavla. How good to see you.' He gave her a theatrical air kiss on either cheek.

'And you, Leila. Saviour of fallen horsemen.' In her case, the kisses touched her cheeks and were held a fraction longer.

Finally, he turned to Elena, who swayed to one side as he advanced and proffered her hand.

'How very formal of you, Mrs Prishtina. I thought we knew each other better than that.'

'I know you well enough, sir.'

He took her hand, shook it warmly and, ignoring the sleight, led them through to his study, an intimate room with a fire blazing in the hearth. There, much to Leila's surprise, he took hold of a poker and thrust it deep into the embers before turning with his back to the blaze and addressing them all.

'Let me see if I have this straight. Pavla tells me you are seeking refuge, Leila. Is that right?'

Leila was looking past the major at the picture hanging above the fireplace. It was of a swirl of wild dancers in diaphanous robes. The question barely registered.

At that moment, Fedir entered carrying a silver tray with four stirrup cups and a silver bowl. He set it down carefully and withdrew in reverse, glancing over his shoulder like a backstroke swimmer as he neared the door. The major withdrew the red-hot poker and plunged it into the bowl, causing a marvellous seething and sizzling, together with a spreading aroma of caramelised sugar.

'Nothing like a cup of mulled wine at this time of the year,' he said. 'Particularly when you've just come in from the cold.'

He poured a liberal measure for Pavla and turned to Leila. 'May I tempt you, my dear?'

'Thank you, sir, I should like to try some.'

He passed her a cup, which she took gingerly, unsure how best to handle it. Its base was a miniature head of antlers.

'Call me Andriy, please. We'll have no formality here. Now, how about you, Elena? Will you partake? A little cup to help thaw you out?'

'Thank you. I believe I will,' she replied frostily.

During the ensuing conversation, they told the major the whole sorry story, sparing no detail.

'Poor girl. What a lot you've been through. Never mind, you'll be safe enough here. All of that, and then an encounter with a bear. Fedir told me he thought he'd seen one. I shall go out and shoot it in the morning.'

Leila looked up in alarm. 'No, please don't do that! Save your bullets for the Russian bears. They are the ones who deserve to die.'

'I see you have a soft heart, my dear, and not just for gentlemen in distress.'

'Perhaps,' Leila replied, 'but not a soft head. Which reminds me, you still have my scarf.'

'I am justly chastised. You shall have it in the morning. But now, we should all go to bed. You must be exhausted, and I have a busy day ahead.'

He put a wrought iron screen in front of the fire and helped Elena to her feet. I have put you and Leila in the east tower. It's a comfortable room with a good view of the mountains. I assume you will want to chaperone this charming young lady until I leave for the war.' He flashed his eyes at Elena in imitation of a ravening wolf and followed up with a sly wink at Leila, who burst into peals of laughter and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"Good night, Andriy. Sweet dreams.'

***

If they hadn't been so tired, Elena and Leila might have found sharing a room embarrassing, particularly after Andriy's mockery and Leila's ingenuous way of countering it, but sleep overtook them before recriminations set in. Eight hours later, when the sun peeped over the mountain, the first thing it set eye upon was the casement window in the eastern tower, and being of an impetuous nature, it rushed across the fields, lighting on Leila's face and urging her to get up and get going. Elena was curled in slumber with her face to the wall and didn't respond to the summons.

Leila lifted the coverlet, taking care not to disturb her, and went to the window. In the courtyard below, Andrij was tightening the girth of the bay gelding and about to put his foot in the stirrup. Fedor scarcely had time to open the gate before he was through at a canter and disappearing up the Birch Road.

Leila dressed silently and closed the door behind her before skipping down the circular stairwell, swinging on the handrail and taking the steps two at a time. She fully intended to take advantage of the major's absence to explore the house. However, she ran into Fedir at the foot of the stairs, nearly knocking him off his feet.

'Good morning, ma'am.'

'Good morning, Fedir. What a surprise.'

'Yes, indeed, ma'am,' he said, regaining his balance and scratching the back of his neck. 'Everyone seems to be in a hurry this morning. Would you like some breakfast?'

He led the way to the kitchen, where Cook was up to her armpits in flour and flattening a lump of dough with a rolling pin.

Fedir effected formal introductions.

'Miss Haddad, this is Mrs Kovalchuk, the light of my life.'

Mrs Kovalchuk put down the rolling pin and held out her hand. Leila took it gingerly.

'Take no note of that old fool. My name's Oksana. Ocky, for short. That's what everyone calls me. I'm guessing you must be Miss Leila. Set yourself down, and I'll get you something to eat.'

***

At about the same time as Leila started tucking into her boiled eggs, Andriy slid from his saddle. He was still a fair distance from the lodge but wanted to walk Marengo for the last few hundred metres to give him a chance to cool down before tethering him to the gatepost. He scratched the horse's neck gently and slipped a carrot out of his pocket.

'I'll be back soon with some water,' he whispered before setting off up the driveway, keeping in the shadow of the trees.

If Leila's father were here, he intended to take him by surprise. He guessed the man would still be around, waiting for Mrs Prishtina to return home with his daughter.

A brief reconnaissance assured Andriy that there had been no attempt at a break-in. If the man was still on the premises, the likelihood was that he'd be hiding out somewhere with a good view of the door. Somewhere like the garden shed.

He crept around the back and listened for signs of movement. There were none.

The major had not been idle overnight. After the ladies retired, he had set to work. Knowing that Leila's father came from Moreniv, he made an educated guess at which regiment he was from. Considering the state of communications at the front, he was lucky to get through to the duty sergeant almost immediately. Haddad was an unusual name for a Ukrainian soldier, and the circumstances of his departure had stuck in the sergeant's mind. He confirmed that a Corporal Haddad had been medically discharged two weeks earlier, having been diagnosed with a severe case of syphilis.

Perhaps it was the discomfort of the disease which caused him to emit a low groan. Or perhaps it was the result of spending the night on bales of pea straw. Either way, when Andriy flung the door open and pointed his pistol at the poor man's stomach, he was taken completely by surprise.

'Corporal Haddad. I am Major Kolt. I have reason to believe you are a deserter, and I am placing you under arrest.'

The man cringed into a corner and fumbled in his shirt pocket. 'You are wrong, sir. Here are my discharge papers. There must be some mistake.'

'Then what are you doing here?'

'I'm waiting to pick up my daughter and take her home to Moreniv. I understand that Mrs Prishtina has been taking care of her in my absence.' He held out the papers. 'Here. Take a look at these.'

Andrij scarcely glanced at the proffered papers. 'I don't believe a word of it. You can show those to the Military Police in Lviv. Meanwhile, you're coming with me.'

The man made a lunge for Andriy's pistol. There was a loud crack, and he spun around in agony, clutching his arm.

'Bad move, soldier. I wouldn't try that again if you value your life.'

Leila's father whimpered like an abused cur. 'Please ... please don't kill me, sir. I'll do anything you say.'

Andriy handed him an empty bucket. 'Take this outside and fill it from the garden tap ... and remember, I'm right behind you.'

After watering Marengo, Andriy remounted. He ordered Leila's father to walk on ahead, and they started down the Birch Road towards Velinkra.

Andriy was pleased with how easily he'd accomplished his mission and was quietly whistling a hunting tune to himself, taking scant notice of the man trudging ahead, still clutching his arm to stem the flow of blood. As they neared the denser part of the birch wood, his prisoner paused, as if contemplating a lunge down the embankment and into the undergrowth below. It might have been worth the risk, for the major could not have followed him on horseback.

However, if those had been his thoughts, they were rudely interrupted, for at that moment, the brown bear came crashing through the trees, doubtless attracted by the smell of fresh blood and the prospect of a tastier breakfast than blackberries. Corporal Haddad screamed in terror and threw himself down the slope, perhaps hoping to make his escape across the river, but instead landing alongside a somewhat startled bear cub.

Marengo reared up on his back legs, shying away from the unfolding drama, and Andriy had difficulty retaining his seat, but when he regained control, he applied gentle pressure with his calves and a tap with his heels to urge the horse forward.

One glance down the embankment was enough to tell him that Leila would have no further trouble from her father. Explaining the unfortunate accident might prove a problem, but it was, after all, she who had urged him to spare the bear and save his bullets for the Eastern Front.

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Main Characters:

Dmitri Zahir, a teenage boy trying to reach the love of his life.
Mira Zahir, his twin sister, who was killed in a bomb attack.
Elena Prishtina, a volunteer carer who looked after Dmitri during his recovery from catatonia.
Leila, a Syrian girl Dmitri fell in love with.
Pavla Miret, an art teacher who gave Dmitri lessons.
Andriy Kolt, an army major.

Photo by Cristina Glebova on Unsplash

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