Winter Sniper 03 Assaulting the Commissar, page 32
part #3 of Winter Sniper Series
The Commissar, safely in the rear of the regiment, frowned as he caught sight of dozens of his men running toward him. Cursing, he pulled out his looted pistol and fired it three times into the air while yelling, “Stop, or I’ll start shooting!”
Reluctantly the fleeing soldiers halted in front of the Commissar whose withering glare caused most to take an involuntary step backwards, “Why are you running? There can’t be but a handful of the Finns left.”
Mortified by the Commissar’s statement, the men of the 5th Guards Regiment dropped their heads in shame, “Despite your cowardice you have a chance to redeem yourselves through victory over our enemy. If you turn and face them the handful that still draws breath will surely crumble before your numbers. Do you want victory?”
“Yes!”
“I can’t hear you. What do you want?”
“Victory!” The men of the regiment roared in unison.
“Then deliver it.” Volkov pointed at the direction of the Finnish camp and added, “Victory is that way. Move!”
The men spun on their heels and ran toward the camp clearing. As one they burst from the trees without breaking stride. Hale seeing the overwhelming numbers started to panic, Summer of cunts, I’m going to be overrun!
The young Sergeant opened up on the advancing horde with his PPD 34, as Leo supported him with rifle fire. The men of the 5th Guards Regiment quickly spotted Hale’s muzzle flashes and shifted their advance towards him. As the PPD 34’s magazine was exhausted the weapon pinged.
With the men concentrating on his position, Hale picked up one of the grenades, pulled the pin, and hurled it at the crowd of men bearing down on him. He quickly followed the first up with two more. As the green cylinders flew through the air and started landing amongst the soldiers of the Soviet Union, cries of, “Granata!” Went up moments before the explosions detonated in sequence, with a loud boom, boom, boom.
Dozens of enemy soldiers were felled by the explosion and shrapnel from the grenades. Hale, then replaced his empty magazine and poured fire into the massed group of Soviets. Simultaneously, Leo continued to aid Hale with rifle fire. As Hale exhausted the ammunition in his second magazine, he pulled the pin on his fourth grenade and threw it at the advancing horde.
Simultaneously, several of the enemy soldiers, who were hungry, noticed the campfire and moved toward it to check the contents of the steaming pot. As they neared the edge of the firepit, they triggered the two mines Hale had buried in the snow. The starving men, seeking sustenance, immediately suffered the same fate of the previous four unfortunates to step on the mines.
As the Red Army’s attention was drawn toward the exploding mines, Hale crawled backwards out of his hiding place. He then quickly strapped his boots to a pair of skis that he had pre-positioned behind the tent and hastily departed. As he skied cross country putting distance between himself and the Soviets, first one, then the second booby trap grenade detonated, I hope capturing the camp is enough to stop their pursuit.
As Hale’s thought finished, a rifle roared, and the crack of a bullet zipped by inches from his face. Startled, Hale lost his balance and toppled face first into a gully. Kuznetsov cursed the injury that caused his inaccurate shooting, You are a lucky bastard Hale Karhonen, if not for my injury you’d be on your way to the afterlife.
Kuznetsov operated the bolt on his rifle. His Mosin-Nagant ejected the spent bullet casing and pulled another into the chamber from the rifle’s internal magazine. He then peered through the scope trying to locate his quarry. Where did you disappear to?
Hale came to his senses and looked around. Seeing that he was at the bottom of a gully and therefore under cover his shoulders relaxed. Now what?
Kuznetsov waited patiently over the course of several minutes. He’s not getting up. Did I actually hit him?
Losing his patience, the Soviet Sniper came to his feet. He slowly scanned the area where Hale disappeared with his eyes. Satisfied his quarry wasn’t waiting for him to show himself, he started trekking through the deep snow to find the corpse of Hale Karhonen.
Hale pulled his rifle off of his back and began to clamber up the side of the ditch. He slowly raised his head up until his eyes peered over the edge. As his head broke above the edge of the gully, his ears immediately registered the sound of snow being crunched under a single pair of boots. He turned his head toward the sound and his eyes widened as he caught sight of the Soviet sniper out in the open and heading in his direction, He thinks he slew me!
Hale, eager to put an end to the confrontation, brought his rifle up to take aim at the enemy. As he peered over the sights of his SK Mosin-Nagant, his stomach sank, Where did he go?
Hale’s question was answered when a bullet slammed into the ground less than an inch from his left hand as the appendage cradled the bottom of his rifle. The young sniper started his mental count to four, as he looked around frantically, trying to spot the enemy. When his count reached four, he ducked down into the protective cover of the gully just as another shot zipped through the space Hale’s head had just occupied.
Kuznetsov cursed, Does this bastard share ancestry with a cat? I swear to God he has nine lives.
Hale looked around frantically trying to devise a means of escape. The gully he was in quickly turned on either side of him, so he couldn’t get a good feel for where it would take him. Coming to a decision, he removed the skis from his boots, slid them into the strap on his backpack designed to carry them, and began crawling northward. The crawling motion sent bolts of fiery pain through his injured shoulder, but he ignored his body and kept moving.
Kuznetsov, wary of his skilled opponent, now waited patiently for Hale to show himself. As he waited, the Russian's ears caught the faint sound of his enemy slowly crawling away from him. He smiled and stood up. Careful not to make a sound he started creeping toward the gully that concealed Hale.
Slowly, over the course of several minutes Kuznetsov closed the distance between himself and his quarry. Pinpointing Hale’s location, he moved ahead and positioned himself in a location that looked down the gully as it turned in a new direction. All he had to do was wait for Hale to appear, and he would have him.
Hale, oblivious to the presence of Kuznetsov, kept crawling at a steady pace, Another twenty meters or so, and I should be far enough away to stand and run away.
His thought was interrupted by the sound of two dozen boots crunching through the snow as they rapidly approached Hale’s location. Soldiers of the Red Army leaped into the gully Hale was using as cover and pointed their rifles at him. A moment later Volkov appeared and demanded, “On your knees, spy!”
Hale, with no way out, nodded slowly and raised his hands up into the air. The motion caused a shooting pain to erupt in his bad shoulder and he winced. Volkov smiled at his discomfort and reached out with his left hand and squeezed Hale’s injured shoulder. Seeing tears of pain begin to run down Hale’s cheeks, the Commissar smiled and asked, “Does that hurt?”
Hale glared definitely at the Commissar prompting Volkov to tighten his grip, “Speak dog.”
Hale, grimacing from the pain, said, “Yes, that hurts.”
“Good. It’s nothing compared to the pain you have caused many brave sons of the revolution to endure but it will have to do.” Volkov paused and then added in a menacing tone, “For now.”
I’m so sorry Nea. Please God, keep her, Aina, and the baby safe. Hale prayed as he waited for the inevitable bullet.
“Just get it over with Volkov.” Hale spat.
The Commissar smiled malevolently and drew his pistol, “Is this what you want?”
Hale nodded slowly. “I said, is this what you want? Don’t make me repeat myself.” Volkov said.
“Yes, comrade Commissar. I am an enemy of the revolution and I deserve nothing, save a bullet to end my worthless life.” Hale spat. His words tasted of bile.
Volkov smiled broadly, “Good. I’m glad you finally understand what you are, and most importantly what your fate should be.” Turning to the two dozen surviving members of the 5th Guards Regiment, Volkov asked, “What should I do with this man that has caused the deaths of so many of your comrades today?”
The men gave the expected response, “Execution!”
Volkov smiled at their response, “A wise choice.”
The Commissar reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his silver cigarette case. He opened the case and removed one of the cigarettes. Taking his time, he tapped the end of the cigarette on the case three times, before raising it to his mouth, striking a match, and lighting it.
Volkov took a deep drag on the cigarette filling his lungs with warm smoke. Sighing in contentment as the nicotine filled his bloodstream, he exhaled it slowly into Hale’s face. Then he placed the cigarette back into his mouth. He very slowly drew his pistol from its holster and placed the barrel of the weapon against Hale’s forehead.
Kuznetsov, some one hundred meters away finally reached a good firing position to look down the gully and spot his quarry. The injured sniper winced as he raised up his rifle and rested it on a low tree branch. Looking through the scope he quickly spotted Hale Karhonen. His eyes widened in surprise upon seeing Commissar Volkov with his pistol against the young Finn’s forehead.
Finally, justice will be had for that criminal. Kuznetsov thought.
“Any final words, dog?” Volkov demanded.
“Yes.” Ignoring Volkov, Hale turned to the men nervously pointing their rifles at him and said, “Finland is not and has never been your enemy. Your true enemy is men such as Volkov who use their position to control your lives to increase their power at the expense of your blood. How many of your comrades lie dead here in Finland because of the greed of that little man in Moscow? How many mothers have lost their sons, wives their husbands, or children a father because of his greed? How many more of you must pay the price, so that an evil and vile man can steal our homes and enslave us under the same boot you have spent the last two decades suffering beneath?”
Before Hale could continue to speak Volkov struck the top of his head with his pistol and roared, “Silence!”
Volkov looked around hoping the men couldn’t understand Hale’s words. Several of the men were whispering to each other as the few who understood Finnish, translated Hale’s message and they passed it amongst themselves. Though their rifles remained pointed at Hale, their eyes shifted to gaze upon Volkov. Volkov peered through their eyes and into the men’s souls. Upon seeing what lay within, an ember of rebellious thought, which glowed brightly after Hale had fanned it to life with his words. For a moment the Commissar knew fear.
Kuznetsov continued to watch through his scope as the Finn stopped speaking and the Commissar struck him with his pistol. He then shifted the scope to the Commissar’s face, as he watched the man quiver with rage. Whatever the Finn said must have been infuriating to Volkov.
The Soviet Sniper shifted his scope back to Hale Karhonen and gazed upon his face. He looks at peace and ready for his end. He has been a worthy opponent. I should grant him the swift end he deserves instead of allowing that monster Volkov to shatter him.
Making a decision, Kuznetsov zeroed in on his target, drew in a breath, and held it. Volkov loomed above Hale, quivering in rage, “May you burn in Hell for all of the innocent men you have butchered, but first I think you should spend some time with me. Under my tender ministrations you will beg for your end. Perhaps in a few weeks, maybe even a month from now, when you are nothing but a shattered shadow of who you were, you’ll gaze up at me with your empty eye sockets, and bring your fingerless palms together to beg for my mercy. I might even deliver it at that point. Let's start with one of your fingers now so that you will get a taste of what you have to look forward to. I’ll even let you choose the first finger. Raise your right hand and stick out the finger you wish to sacrifice for your crimes.” Volkov said.
Hale ignored Volkov’s request, “I’ll ask you one more time Finnish swine. Choose which finger you wish to lose, or I’ll take your manhood instead.”
Hale shuddered at the thought of feeling Volkov’s blade down there. Not wanting to give all the way into Volkov, he extended the pinky finger of his left hand. Volkov, his rage blinding him to the fact that Hale raised a finger on the opposite hand he asked for, grabbed Hale’s left hand. He then drew the young Finn’s puukko blade from the sheathe on his belt.
Not wanting to watch what was to come, Hale closed his eyes and waited for white hot pain to sear across his brain. A long moment later, he was spattered with liquid. Surprised at this, and the fact that he still had all of his fingers, he opened his eyes. His vision was filled with the shocked expression on Volkov’s face as he fell to his knees and the cigarette in his mouth tumbled to the earth. It took a moment for Hale’s shocked eyes to register the large hole in the side of Volkov’s head as the Commissar toppled to Hale’s left.
Kuznetsov smiled and thought, There, the enemy of the Russian people has been dealt with.
Stunned, the remaining Soviets dropped their rifles, and put their hands up as they nervously looked around for Volkov’s killer. A voice speaking in Russian told them to, “Leave the Finn and return to the vehicles.”
Hearing an authoritative voice, the men obeyed and fled eastward towards the road. Hale looked around trying to spot the man who had saved his life. When Kuznetsov appeared less than fifty meters away, he had his rifle leveled at Hale’s chest, “Why?” Hale asked.
“Because you have been a worthy opponent and you did not deserve the fate Volkov was going to impart upon you for defending your home.” Kuznetsov replied in broken Finnish.
Hale’s shoulders slumped, realizing that he still was likely to die in the ditch he currently knelt in and asked, “I appreciate what you have done. Will you please make it quick?”
“No, I think not.” Kuznetsov said.
“You wish to torture me yourself?” Hale asked.
Kuznetsov shook his head and said, “No. I wish us to part ways today as respected enemies. We should have never invaded your county and tried to take your homes. You have done what you needed to do, to preserve your people. Be warned, I will not be as magnanimous next time. If I should encounter you again, I will not hesitate to kill you; however, if you ever find me within your sights, remember today. You owe me a life.”
Hale let his breath out slowly as he realized that he was going to survive this encounter, “That seems fair. I promise, that should I find you in my sights, that I will spare your life to repay the debt I have incurred to you today.”
“See that you don’t forget those words. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” Hale replied.
Chapter 23
Mid-Afternoon, Kuokkala Point, Near the Finnish/Soviet Border, Karelia Isthmus, Finland, Karelia
December 25th, 1939
Hale stepped out of the woods near Kuokkala Point onto the frozen shoreline of the Finland Sea. His eyes immediately went to the large gray tower of the Vesihiisi that jutted through the ice nearly two hundred meters offshore. Standing on the ice, just below Vesihiisi's bow, Tomas and Cunnar lifted Pekka up into the waiting arms of Leo and a sailor. Simultaneously, Sergeant Kivi was being helped by another sailor to climb the conning tower of the submarine. Hale smiled, We’re going home!
Suddenly the Vesihiisi’s deck fired a shell. Stunned by the sudden roar of the gun, Hale slowly turned his head as his eyes followed the shell arcing through the air. His insides froze as he caught sight of a steel behemoth only half a kilometer away. The sound of crackling and breaking ice could be heard as the metal monster smashed its way toward the Vesihiisi.
The long and slender vessel hurtled through the thinner ice far from shore as it charged towards the idle submarine. With a loud boom, the forward most four-inch gun on the bow responded to Vesihiisi's shot with one of its own. The smoke from the enemy vessel’s cannon fire flowed over the fast-moving vessel as it plowed through the dissipating cloud.
Hale could hear the four-inch shell as it arced its way through the sky and then descended, smashing through the ice twenty meters from the stern of the Vesihiisi. The shell created a giant plume of water to erupt skyward as it detonated. An alarm could be heard on the Vesihiisi as the 20mm deck gun responded to the Soviet destroyer’s attack.
Hale’s eyes shifted to the Soviet vessel bearing down on his countrymen. The long steel behemoth, several times the length of the Vesihiisi, bristled with dozens of guns. On the vessel’s bow in addition to the large four-inch gun which had just fired, the angular nose of the Soviet vessel boasted several smaller cannons and machine guns. Immediately aft of the bridge tower, three smokestacks jutted up into the sky. The smokestacks spat black smoke into the air at a furious pace as the vessel continued to pick up speed as it closed in on the Vesihiisi. To the aft of the smokestacks a long flat deck boasted several more four-inch guns, torpedo tubes, smaller guns, and machine guns. Two depth charges, ready to fire, jutted from the stern of the vessel.
The alarm on the Vesihiisi continued to blare as everyone on deck scrambled up the tower and into the vessel. The 20mm deck gun fired two more shots, the first flying one hundred meters beyond the Soviet Destroyer the Rykov, and smashing through the ice, causing a plume of water to reach skyward. Vesihiisi’s second shot came much closer falling just twenty meters directly in front of the bow.
As the deck gun crew scrambled up the tower’s ladder, the Rykov responded with its four-inch gun. The shell slowly arced through the air as it descended toward the Vesihiisi. The shell smashed into the ice only ten meters from the Vesihiisi, sending a large plume of water skyward and causing the submarine to shudder from the blast concussion. The Soviet gunners scrambled to reload their gun, as the Vesihiisi began to disappear into the depths of the sea.
As the Vesihiisi’s conning tower slipped beneath the waves, the Rykov fired again. The well-aimed shell crashed into the water a few meters from where the Vesihiisi had disappeared. Hale watched as the Rykov smashed its way towards the spot where the Vesihiisi had vanished into the depths. His keen eyes noticed several men on the deck of the vessel dashing towards the aft depth charge launchers, What are they up to? Hale wondered.
