Chapter 15 of "How Steel Was Tempered" What was Paul's reaction when he learned that Lida was married?

"It's a little late, Comrade Gadfly."

Lida smiled and said this joke, and then she explained: "I already have a little girl. She has He is a father and a good friend of mine. The three of us live in harmony and are now inseparable."

She touched Paul's hand lightly with her fingers to express her concern for him. . But she immediately understood that this action was unnecessary. Yes, he has grown not just physically in the past three years. Lida knew that he was sad now - it could be seen from his eyes, but he said without any pretense and sincerely: "No matter what, I still gained much more than what I just lost." There is no comparison with it."

Paul and Lida stood up. I should sit somewhere closer to the stage.

They walked towards the seats of the Ukrainian delegation. The band played music. The huge banner was bright red, and the shining characters seemed to shout: "The future belongs to us." The thousands of seats and boxes upstairs and downstairs were already full. These thousands of people come together to form a powerful transformer - an inexhaustible driving force. The magnificent theater hosted the best of the great working-class Young Guards. Thousands of pairs of eyes stared at the top of the heavy curtain, each pair of eyes was shining, reflecting the shining words "The future belongs to us".

People are still pouring into the venue. In a few minutes, the heavy velvet curtain will slowly open. Chaplin, secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Russian Communist Youth League, will temporarily lose his calm at this extremely solemn moment. He will excitedly announce: "All The Sixth Congress of the Communist Youth League of Russia is now opening."

Paul has never felt the greatness and power of the revolution so clearly and deeply. He feels an indescribable pride. and unprecedented joy. This was what life had given him. It was life that had sent him, a warrior and a builder, here to participate in the victorious congress of the Bolshevism Young Guards.

The conference runs from early morning to late night every day, taking up all the time of the participants. Paul only saw Leda again at the last meeting. She was with a group of Ukrainian representatives. [There is also a passage here in the author's manuscript describing a party held by members of the Communist Youth League at Lida's brother's house. Lida said at the party: "Friends, I deeply believe that within a few years, the *** Youth League will launch several great writers from its own ranks, and they will tell our heroic past through artistic images. Telling about our equally glorious present, who knows, maybe someone among you here will use a sharp pen to ridicule those of us..." - Editor]. Lida said to him: "I will go back immediately after the conference ends tomorrow. I don't know if we can have another talk before we say goodbye. So today I found the two diaries from the past and wrote a text message. , prepare to leave it to you. After you read it, send it back to me. These things will tell you everything I haven’t told you.”

Paul shook her hand and stared at it. He looked at her for a while, as if he wanted to memorize her face in his heart.

The next day, they met at the gate as promised. Leda handed him a bag and a sealed letter. There were many people around, so they were very reserved when they said goodbye. Paul only saw deep tenderness and a touch of sadness in her moist eyes.

One day later, the train took them in different directions.

The Ukrainian representatives sat in several carriages. Paul is with the Kyiv group.

At night, everyone was asleep, and Okunev snored softly on the bunk next to him. Paul moved closer to the light and opened the letter:

Povrusha, my dear!

I could have told you these words face to face, but it is better to write them down. My only hope is that what I talked about with you on the opening day of the conference will not leave painful memories in your life. I know you are strong, so I believe what you say.

My view on life is not too formal. In personal relationships, sometimes, of course, it is very rare. If it is really out of unusual and deep feelings, there can be exceptions. You can get this exception, but I gave up the idea of ??repaying the debt of our youth. I don't think that would bring us much pleasure. Paul, don't be so hard on yourself. There are not only struggles in our lives, but also the joy that beautiful relationships bring.

As for other aspects of your life, that is to say, I am completely reassured about the main content of your life. Hold your hands tightly.

Lida.

Paul thought deeply, tore the letter into pieces, then stretched out the window with both hands, letting the wind blow the pieces of paper away. The next morning, Paul finished reading both diaries, wrapped them up and tied them up.