It was Ayana on the other side of the felt curtain who spoke. She didn't know when she had woken up. Although her voice was weak, it was enough for Wei Ran, who was farthest away, to hear her clearly.

"I'm not ready to let my kids leave here either."

Ayana continued, "Since you are ready to wait patiently to search for the guerrillas around you, then I can also wait. After my injury is healed, I can also fight together. My children... they can't do it either."

will leave here, they are Afghans."

"I don't plan to leave either," Qiaoya, Multa and Sorayaza said in unison.

"I am also an Afkhan"

Multaza said seriously, "I am not a child anymore. I can hold a gun and I can shoot."

"I can also shoot," Qiao Ya followed, "I'm not a child anymore."

"I can also hold a gun," Soraya finally said.

For a moment, the only sound left in the cave was the crackling sound of the bonfire burning.

"Then let's wait together."

After a long time, Mahbub sighed and said, "Wait for me to recover from my injury, wait for Ayana to recover from her injury, and wait for the injured Soviet to recover from his injury."

"What about after you recover from your injuries?" Ayana asked.

"In the meantime, Habibullah, Hakim, you two go look for other guerrillas around."

Mahbub said, "If they can accept us, we will hand over the three Soviets to the other side and use them in exchange for weapons and ammunition."

"So before that, we still have to support the three of them?" Hakim asked subconsciously.

"We can't send them directly..."

"cannot"

It was Habibullah who answered this question, "We need doctors, my father and my sister, they need doctors, this is a real problem."

"Other guerrillas also need doctors"

Mahboob said, "I hate to say it, but they may be the only thing we have left over the next winter."

Seeing that everyone stopped saying anything, Mahbub sighed, "Habibullah, you and Hakim and me.

The three of us took turns to look after the three of them, not allowing them to leave the cave, and not allowing the children to get close to the three of them.

During the rest of the time, you take Multaza to the surrounding areas to look for other guerrilla camps, and that's it."

For a moment, the cave became quiet again, and even Kirill and Ruslan, who were writing and drawing on the sand, stopped what they were doing.

"I'm going to find the guerrillas."

Hakim seemed to be unable to bear the depressing and despairing atmosphere. He stood up and said, "I'm going to look around now."

"I'll go with you," Multaza said and got up.

“Leave after dark”

Mahbub shook his head helplessly, "You haven't had any rest all night. Get some sleep first and then set off again. This way you will avoid being discovered by Soviet planes during the day.

Hakim, you especially need to calm down now. If you are not willing to listen to my advice, just take the prisoners you captured and leave. As long as you keep Joya, it is enough. She is still young and cannot go with you.

adventure."

"I..."

Hakeem took a deep breath and said, "I know."

As he spoke, he walked to the side of the cave, laid out a blanket casually and lay down, but he tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep at all.

At the same time, Mahbub also refused the support of Habibullah and Multaza, stood up alone on crutches, limped to the bonfire surrounded by the three guards and sat down.

"Soviet people, let's talk."

Mahbub said in Russian, "Do you need more food?"

“We are full”

Kirill spoke before Ruslan could, "What do you want to say?"

"I am grateful to you for saving my daughter and her two children, and for treating the wounds of me, my son Habibullah, and Malalai."

Mahboob said, "So I don't want to treat you as prisoners, but I can't let you go."

"We understand this," Wei Ran said.

"You may have to live with us for a while."

Mahbub said bravely, "I will try my best to give you the greatest freedom, but there are preconditions for all this."

"We have the right to keep the military information we know confidential," Ruslan said.

"I have no interest in your military intelligence."

Mahbub shook his head and raised his finger to point to Multaza and others not far away, "I hope you will temporarily give up your plan to escape and keep a safe enough distance from the children as much as possible. This is everything.

The major premise.”

"We accept it," Kirill said.

"In exchange, we will provide you with as much food as possible, but if we need medical help, we also hope that you will lend a helping hand."

"A fair deal," Kirill continued.

"Finally, you cannot leave this cave unless approved by at least two adults in the cave." Mahbub set out new conditions.

"no problem"

Ruslan said nonchalantly that they had no right to refuse at this time. The other party was willing to sit down and talk to them. The conditions just now could only be regarded as "notification" at best.

"Accordingly, you will also have the greatest degree of freedom in this cave."

Mahboub continued, "You can chat as much as you like, and you can play with your personal belongings as you like, including the watch and camera that Habibullah returned to you, but you cannot hold weapons."

"There are a lot of scalpels in here," Kirill said, patting the medical bag beside him.

"So let us keep these for now," Mahbub said as gently as possible.

"I need to change the dressings and check the wounds of all the wounded regularly, including my companions."

Wei Ran then said, "I hope all the injured can be treated fairly."

"That's what I want to say," Mahbub said.

"We will abide by the rules you set." Kirill took the initiative and stretched out his hand to the other party.

"We will also keep our promise," Mahbub said while extending his hand to shake hands with the other party.

"But we cannot accept being locked up here for the rest of our lives," Ruslan reminded.

"certainly"

Mahbub nodded, "So how about we set the deadline for the last wounded person to recover? When the last wounded person in this cave recovers, we will have another negotiation."

"I need my survival vest"

Ruslan pointed to Habibullah not far away, "To be precise, there is a hip flask in the left pocket. I respect your beliefs, but my daughter gave me that hip flask. I want to get it back."

.”

"no problem"

Mahboub waved to Habibullah in the distance, "Give this comrade his wine bottle back."

Habibullah was far more rational than Hakim. He didn't say anything. He just walked over, opened the pocket that was originally used to hold the hand-held flame signal stick, and took out a slender leather jacket from inside.

The wine bottle was handed to Ruslan.

"Thanks"

As he spoke, Ruslan unscrewed the wine bottle and poured some of the remaining vodka on the sand behind him to express his sincerity.

Immediately afterwards, he pulled off the leather jacket of the wine bottle, pulled out a very familiar photo of Wei Ran, pointed at the woman and child on it and said, "This is my wife and daughter, and my watch is my wife's."

It was given to me, this wine flask was given to me by my daughter."

"You will meet them again," Mahbub said, standing up with difficulty with the help of Habibullah, "Habibullah, take their medical kit away."

"What should I call you?" Kirill stood up and asked, while ignoring Hakim who subconsciously raised his gun in the distance.

"Mahebub"

"Comrade Mahbub"

Kirill shook hands with the other party again, "The last two things are that the backpack containing the plasma needs to be stored at low temperature. If someone is injured again, at least within a month, the plasma will be the key to saving lives."

"I will pay attention to this matter"

Mahbub nodded seriously, "What is the other thing?"

"Your son Comrade Habibullah has returned my camera to me"

Kirill took out his camera and shook it, "Can I take pictures without leaving this cave and with permission?"

"sure"
To be continued...