“A group of White Russians will go with you. Follow the Selenga River. We don’t have enough ships for the entire group. The Russians will take the boats down the first half. You’ll switch at Novoselenginsk, unless you catch the Bolsheviks before then. Lavrov and Karandashwilli fled after our last battle on the lake, so they have a head start.” Kral sighed. “One last effort, then you’ll have a break. Nazdar, Sedlák.”
“Nazdar, Brother Lieutenant.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Nadia and the rest of the women caught up with the Sixth Regiment at Verkhne-Udinsk in September, but she couldn’t find Filip among the legionnaires.
Dalek was easier to locate, at the telegraph station.
“I haven’t seen Filip yet, nor Anton,” she said after her initial greeting. “Are they well?”
Dalek’s face grew sober. Nadia held her breath. Were they dead? They’d had news of the battles around the lake, but she’d hoped Filip and Anton weren’t among the casualties. “They were dispatched to the Mongolian border. Supposed to cut off some of the Bolsheviks who escaped.”
“Oh.” They were alive at least, or had been recently. “Do you know when they’ll return?”
“I’m not sure. But don’t frown. I’ve got good news. We met up with the legionnaires from Vladivostok. The rest of the rail line is open—all the way to the Pacific.”
That had been their goal since setting out from the Ukraine. Now it was finally a reality. “That’s wonderful.” She sat when Dalek gestured to a chair.
“It seems a group of legionnaires also captured part of the imperial treasury when they took Kazan. It was moved from Petrograd when the Germans got too close.”
“Well, I’m glad the Bolsheviks didn’t get it.” She preferred them to stay unorganized, underfunded, and at risk of collapse.
“Eight boxcars full of gold.” Dalek whistled. “The Bolsheviks took Kazan again, but the gold is on its way east. Ought to be enough to fund an army capable of stopping the Communists. Of course, being a Czech, I have no desire to get involved in internal Russian affairs, not
Nadia walked back to the women’s coach. Eight boxcars full of gold. Enough to turn the tide against the Bolsheviks? And if the Bolsheviks fell, could she reclaim her family’s lands? The manors and homes might not be there anymore. The hidden art might have burned to the ground. But the land, that would still be there. Part of her heritage, part of her soul.
In March or April, even in May or June, she would have let that hope keep her in Russia. But not now. She wanted Filip more than she wanted Lavanda Selo. But would he want her? Months had passed since their last meeting. She couldn’t begin to guess how he felt.
“They aren’t here, are they?” Veronika asked when Nadia climbed into the coach. She held Marek against her shoulder and patted the baby’s back.
“No. They followed a few groups of Bolsheviks down to the border with Mongolia. But they were alive a week ago.”
Veronika shifted Marek so she could see his face. “Anton’s missed so much.”
Nadia sat beside her friend. “Marek won’t remember that his father was gone for so long.”
“Sometimes I just have a horrible feeling that he won’t know both of his parents.”
Nadia put her hand on Veronika’s forehead without even asking permission.
“I’m not feverish. Haven’t been for a week.”
Indeed, Veronika’s temperature felt normal. But she’d had fevers often enough since the baby’s birth that the worry stayed in Nadia’s head. “If you’re not sick, is there another reason you’re so gloomy? Other than Anton’s absence?”
Veronika sucked on her lower lip. “It’s just a feeling. Probably nothing.”
Veronika didn’t speak of her premonition again. As the days passed, Nadia continued helping at the hospital, but now that the entire Trans-Siberian Railway was in legion hands, most of the wounded were sent to hospitals in Vladivostok. Nadia had less and less to do as their first week in Verkhne-Udinsk passed and the second began.
On a crisp autumn morning, she washed diapers after finishing her tasks in the hospital. It wasn’t the most pleasant of chores, but baby Marek was worth it, and she was glad to give Veronika a hand. There was also something satisfying in knowing she could get them clean. Her laundry skills had room for improvement, but they’d advanced considerably since that spring.
On her way back from the river, she saw Anton. “You’re back!” She peered at the other returning faces, hoping to see Filip. He wasn’t there, and something heavy grew in her stomach. What if he’d been hurt or killed?
“He’s reporting.”
Nadia searched Anton’s face, making sure she hadn’t misunderstood. “So he’s well?”
“Nothing worse than a few blisters. How’s Veronika? And the baby?”