[December 16, 2009; morning.]
He’s the Scrawny Seventeen-year-old Conscript. He’s the type you conscript when you’re desperate in a war, or when your military doctrine calls for use of lots of cannon meat. The USSR found itself in both situations, and so the Scrawny Seventeen Conscript makes up one half of the vanguard flag-bearers posted by the company on the north roadway of University Avenue just east of Westmount Road today.
Why does University Avenue have two roadways during World War II, why it looks exactly the same as it does now, or indeed why it is called University Avenue, I do not know.
I couldn’t tell you why товарищ Сталин himself is in command of the company either, but that much is indisputable, and he is firmly planted on the southern roadway, calling out orders.
The American force is visible, easily; the vanguard placed a little past Minota Hagey, with main group slightly further back.
You can tell the Scrawny Seventeen Conscript is not comfortable here. He would much rather be someplace safe, or at least safer. He has the look of negative anticipation on him; the one when you hope an exam you’ve understudied for will be easy, or when you hope your evaluation will go better than it really should.
Unfortunately, everything seems to point to exam being worse than you hope it won’t be. After unambiguous preparations, a perfectly clear order to charge ahead sounds.
The Scrawny Seventeen Conscript, pressure and fear finally driving him over the edge moments after the order, plugs Stalin with three bullets.
Stalin is indifferent; he would rather get shot than retreat. Americans are winning the war, and have to be stopped. He is hurt, of course, badly, but the attack would go on.
The second flag-bearer is not afraid; whether it is machoism, adrenaline, or actual skill, he is not affected by the shooting and the subsequent scuffle as the Scrawny Seventeen Conscript is subdued. He was ordered to charge, and he does.
Why are flag-bearers leading the charge in 1940s, I do not know.
Befitting (European) military strategy circa 1410, the American vanguard counter-charges at her opponents. She is a young woman; this is unsurprising.
After very brief scuffle, the Brave Flag-Bearer breaks the American’s wooden standard, which she considers very improper and offensive. We are shown a picture of the broken standard. The link is a direct JPG URL of a Facebook picture.
The battle continues in the background.
We find out all of Stalin, the Scrawny Seventeen Conscript, and the Brave Flag-Bearer survived.