Случай в ресторане [Sluchay v restorane] [English translation]

On a pub walls, here and there, - paintings are put up..

They are:

"The Tree Bears",

"Pierced (by a spear) Knight".

At the table - alone, - a captain vodka drinks.

"May I?" I asked.

"You may!" he replied.

- "Have my baccy"!- the captain put forth his pack.

- "No. "Kazbek"

I don't smoke.

Thanks"

- "O'key. Let's, drink!

-Where is your flask?

- Don't waist your time.

-Drink! I say!

- Your health"!

- "Thanks. I will"!

- "And, so", - said the captain in wine.

-"Good gulp you have, Boy!

-But!

- Did you touch gun machine or stroke the tank?

- Did you go, I'd say, to a battle attack?

In the nineteen forty third

in the Battle of Kursk...

I was a sergeant.

Behind my back there were a lot of...

I cannot say what

It was.

It's - for your life...for you, to have peace in your life".

He scolded and drunk,

About my father he asked.

He cried, dull looking at plate.

- "My life. I gave it for yours. - heck.

And you fire your life, you are Judas.

May be give you a shotgun?

And sent to front line?

But, you drink vodka, non-stop, here, with me".

- Sitting before him, I was like in trench, in the Battle of Kursk,

where the captain was a sergeant...

He got more and more drunk,

I was hard behind him.

Only at the end of the talk

I abused him, I told:

-"Never ...will you be the sergeant.

Major!... "

• Artist:Vladimir Vysotsky