Wide is my motherland

[Kazansk]

​

Barrikad jumped as he heard knocking at the door the door. it was nearly three in the morning, he and Dekabrina his partner had only just managed to get the baby back to sleep, she'd been sick all week with a fever and they were still waiting for an appointment with the doctor in the next Kolkhoz.

Half asleep he shambled towards the sound of the knocking, in his sleep deprived state he barely registered what time it was as he flung open the door " We've just got the fucking baby to settle who the fuck are y-". The blast of cool night air brought him to his senses and he quickly stopped himself mid sentence as he realized the seriousness of the situation. there was only one reason anyone would be at his door at this time of night. " Comrade-Citizen for-forgive my outburst I have not slept much lately, I meant not offence". The man in front of him only stared impassively, he was dressed like a common agricultural worker, a grey boiler suit and long jacket to keep out the chill it was only the bulge of a pistol under his coat that marked him out as something different.

" There is no offence taken Comrade-Citizen Barrikad Ivanovich Mishulin, but perhaps we should talk inside". He brushed past Barrikad without waiting for a reply and straight into the sitting room where he gestured for Barrikad to sit as he reached into the inside of his jacket Barrikad flinched only for the man to pull out a notepad and pen. " Now Comrade-Citizen Mishulin it says here that you have not attending any of the weekly Kolkhoz struggle session for the past three weeks, would you care to explain your repeated absence from the community?" Barrikad was shocked, this was the reason for a visit from an apparatchik he saw Dekabrina peer through the door way and gestured her to go back to bed" Well the first week I had to work late, several of my colleagues were sick so the rest of my shift had to work extra hours to meet the new quotas....we were happy to do it of course, the second week we were away visiting my partner's family in Rostovsko-Minskoye for the week and this week honestly Comrade-Citizen we've just been too busy with little Kima's health".

The apparatchik just scratched into his notepad, occasionally glancing up at him. " Of course I intend to attend the next struggle session and to accept full responsibility for my absence and I will take steps in the future to make sure this does not happen again". The apparatchik continued scratching into his notepad then put it away " Your work effort is commendable Comrade-Citizen Mishulin and so is your sense of contrition, please ensure that you contribute more to your local community I would be very disheartened to hear that you were continuing to engage in anti-social behaviour, I wish you a goodnight and good health for you family".

With that the man stood up and walked out of the house without a backwards glance leaving Barrikad all alone, he went back to bed but try as he might he could not manage to sleep, his mind was racing with what had happened and the implications.