7 Short Stories: From Petrograd to Rostov-on-Don

By Karlis Kadegis

A train that leaves Petrograd on March 14, 1918 at 7:55am towards Rostov-on-Don. A mother needs to get her child to Voronezh. A poet goes to meet a publisher in Moscow. A maid begins work at a new place. Soldiers are waiting for their supplies...
This collection of seven flash fiction stories explores how something as simple as a train ride can connect seemingly unrelated stories of adventure, courage, despair, love, sorrow, war and wittiness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karlis Kadegis
• Release date: Aug 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533730145

Karlis Kadegis

I'm from Latvia. BA Degree in English language & Literature acquired abroad. A tennis junkie. Interested in peace and conflict studies, politics, writing, editing and photography. My passion for crime fiction is inspired by Sherlock Holmes stories and British TV dramas. My passion for other fiction is not inspired by anyone in particular. Fantastic sense of humour.  As an author, I still consider myself novice. Therefore I very much like to experiment with styles, ideas and whatnot.

Book preview

7 Short Stories: From Petrograd to Rostov-on-Don

Karlis Kadegis

Published by Karlis Kadegis, 2016.

Table of Contents

Title Page

7 Short Stories: From Petrograd to Rostov-on-Don

I | The Musts and Must-Nots

II | Sapphire, Bright and Full of Colour

III | Two Dimwits and One Tall Story

IV | Three-card Monte

V | The Prize of War

VI | The Old Hag

VII | Irony of Circumstance

Tale of A Hunter and Its Prey

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7 Short Stories: from Petrograd to Rostov-on-Don

By Kārlis Kadeģis

Copyright 2016 Kārlis Kadeģis

All rights reserved

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The cover photograph is taken from a book called Healthy Living (p.152) by Winslow, Charles-Edward Amory; published in 1917. The photograph was digitally published by The Internet Archive (archive.org) on flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14760426756 under ‘no known copyright restrictions’ licence.

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License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This edition is free and you are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to your favourite ebook retailer to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

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The people, places, events, conversations and incidents described in this book might or might not be true. This is a blend of author’s imagination, knowledge of history and assumptions. Frankly, any further speculation on the matter would be missing the whole point of the book.

I

The Musts and Must-Nots

March 14, 1918

Petrograd

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So, does the father ever visit him?

Once in a while he sends a letter... but we shouldn’t discuss it now.

A letter?! What a joke! I doubt the boy even comprehends that he has a father.

Nevertheless...

I mean... that pig left a day after his child’s fourth birthday. Just like that, Nina snapped her fingers. Unbelievable!

Grisha. Hand, Arina extend her sturdy left hand to the child before they were to cross the street. Before he vanished, he was a good man, you know. Sure, he liked drinking, but it was usually my fault, when he raised his hand against me. But that’s just how men are, right? After all, when he was sober, he was so gentle and caring. And he brought sweets for the child.

I still think you could’ve done better. No, I take that back; you still can! It’s been two years now, why haven’t you already?

We’ve been over this a hundred times!

... And I still don’t get it.

... And as I’ve told you over and over again, Grisha has special needs, and he requires my full attention. I can’t afford to have my thoughts elsewhere.

Yes, but he will always need someone. Are you really ready to spend your whole life like this? Constantly on the edge, fighting?

For a moment Arina stayed silent. I don’t know.

The trio approached the train station. Its vaulted entrance hall amplified the buzzing sound made by people, who marched in every possible direction. Arina again grabbed Grisha’s hand, but this time squeezed it much tighter. They were quickly absorbed by the crowd and were forced to squeeze through it.

Grisha felt people brushing against him from all directions as they hurriedly passed. It made him increasingly uneasy. He tried to see the faces of everyone near him, but they all changed so hastily, he could not follow. The fact made Grisha even more alert, and soon he began to lose breath. His mother, however, was too busy paving way towards their train platform. Even frantic pulling of her arm couldn’t get her attention. Grisha’s legs began to shake and he felt that he was about to faint.

Arisha, you child’s not well, Nina finally got Arina’s attention.

"О Боже! She quickly kneeled and wrapped her arms around her child. It’s okay, all is well..."

Mother’s soothing voice calmed the boy down. He could again inhale and exhale properly. But his legs were still slightly shivering.

The platform is right over there, Nina gestured with her head to a place behind Grisha’s back.

I can’t carry you anymore; you’re too heavy. Will you be able to walk? Arina asked.

Grisha nodded.

My brave little boy! Arina cleared a few drops of tears from the boy’s cheeks and stood up again.

How often does that happen? Nina asked.

Whenever we’re in a crowed place and I haven’t calmed him beforehand. Arina explained.

I see...

"Gosh, I was