A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum

Author:Rachel Barenbaum [Barenbaum, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2019-05-14T07:00:00+00:00

XVI

Vanya, Yuri, and Dima slept in the woods and rose at sunset to continue their hike toward Brovary. The terrain was flat but studded with fallen trees and unplowed fields, which made walking difficult, so Vanya was left alone with the muddle in his head. He stewed over Yuri’s admonishment that he needed to get a hold of himself. Vanya had always thought he was the one in control. He had stayed strong when Mama and Papa died. He had fought to get Miri into school and himself into the university. And he had stood against Kir. Why was he failing now?

Yuri had suggested Vanya try thinking about relativity from another angle. That was how Yuri approached symptoms when he didn’t have answers. And so as they walked, instead of imagining himself in a rocket as he considered acceleration and gravity, Vanya pictured an elevator so he could ride in both directions—up and down. There was something about that. He could feel it, but couldn’t quite explain why. “Damn it,” he yelled, but just as he did so, Dima clamped him hard on the shoulder and shoved him to the ground.

“Down. Get down,” Dima hissed. All three crouched behind a bush. On the road running parallel to the path, a line of military trucks bumped past, rising and falling in ruts, passing under an awning of leaves that formed a green tunnel. Their engines choked and left the stink of burnt oil in their wake. The front of the line was loaded with cannons. The back was filled with soldiers in uniform, boys who didn’t look old enough to grow a single whisker. Behind them came a man pushing a cart. A peasant. Then a priest holding a golden cross.

“What is it?” Yuri asked.

“A mobilization,” Dima whispered. “It means the war has started. Officially.”

“My God,” Yuri whispered back. The priest was followed by two others holding a banner depicting Jesus. As they walked, they prayed. Peasants followed, forming a long line, a procession marching to Kiev to become soldiers. The men had families walking with them: wives, sons, and daughters. Some held crying babies. From now on, those women would have to drive a plow on their own. If they couldn’t, their families would starve.

Vanya stopped one of the last men to pass. “Which way to Brovary?”

The man pointed. “Two hours’ walk,” he said.

“Two hours?” Vanya couldn’t keep the excitement from his voice. He could barely believe it. He’d crossed Russia. Hiking and hiding. Fighting and running. And they’d found it. Brovary. They’d found it.

The man narrowed his eyes. “Why aren’t you with us?”

“Let’s go,” Yuri said under his breath with his hand on Vanya’s elbow.

“Haven’t you been conscripted?” The man raised his voice. “Deserters?”

“Now,” Dima said, and the three men hurried back into the brush. Green plants slapped at Vanya’s knees. His boots bit at his blisters. Luckily, no one bothered to chase them.

“The timing, for the war,” Dima said once they slowed back down to a walk. “It’s bad for us.

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