Chapter 68 Chapter Eight Escape by Will and Escape by Skill

As for escapes in ordinary labor camps, if the escapees did not flee to some kind of Vienna or cross the Bering Strait, the ruler of the Gulag Islands and the various laws and regulations on the Gulag can still treat them calmly.They regard this escape as a natural phenomenon, as the inevitable occurrence of individual mismanagement in a very large industry, like the loss of an animal in a large herd, or the flooding of a log in a lumberyard, It is like smashing a few bricks and tiles in a brick and tile factory. However, escapes from special labor camps are treated differently.In order to carry out the special will of the fatherly people of all nationalities, they have multiplied the security of special labor camps and equipped them with modern and well-equipped motorized units (that is, those units that should not be eliminated in general disarmament).Those detained in the special labor camps had no social kinsmen (the escape of the social kinsmen would not cause much loss).Here, too, there is no longer an excuse for insufficient submachine gunners or poor equipment.Therefore, when the special labor camps were first established, it was stipulated in the relevant directives that it should be absolutely impossible to escape from these labor camps.Any prisoner escaping from here is tantamount to a great spy sneaking across the border, which will be a disgrace to the entire labor camp authorities and a political stain on the command of the security forces.

However, it was also since then that prisoners sentenced under Article 58 have been sentenced not to ten years, but to the maximum sentence of the Penal Code - a quarter of a century.In fact, this senseless and uniform cruelty also has its weaknesses: just as there is nothing to restrain the murderer from killing. (Because killing another one is nothing more than counting the ten-year sentence from the beginning.) Now the criminal code can no longer play a role in restricting the escape of political prisoners. Moreover, the men who were sent to these camps, who did not think in terms of the only correct theory of justification for the camp authorities' rampage, fought throughout the war and still hold the hand grenade in their fingers Not fully straightened, they are strong healthy individuals.Georgi Tenno, Ivan Vorobyov, Vasily Bryukhin and their comrades and many others like them in the labor camps can stand up to regular army motorized infantry even without weapons new guards.

Although the escapees in the special camps were fewer in number than in the ordinary camps (and the special camps had been established for a shorter period of time), they were more powerful, more stoic, more irreversible, more desperate, and therefore more honorable. Talking about these escape incidents can help us figure out whether the people of our country have been so tolerant and obedient over the years. See a few examples below. There was an escape incident a year before Tenno's escape, which became a reference for Tenno.In September 1949, two political convicts were released from the 1st Division of the Steppe Special Battalion (Mine, Zhezkazgan) - Grigory Kudla and Ivan Dushech gold.Kudela is a Ukrainian, strong, mature, and clear-headed, but once he gets angry, he is like a Cossack in Zapolosh, and even criminals are afraid of him.Dushechkin was a quiet Belarusian of about thirty-five.The two of them discover a test shaft at the mine labor site.The upper mouth of the exploration well is covered with an iron grate.They took advantage of their night shifts to secretly shake the iron grates loose bit by bit.At the same time, they dry out the rusk.The knife and the hot water bottle stolen from the health center were quietly brought into the well and hidden.On the night of their escape, when they went down to work in the well, they asked the squad leader for leave, saying that they were very unwell and could not work, and wanted to lie down for a while.It turned out that there were no guards underground at night, and the squad leader had full authority. However, the squad leader didn't dare to push too hard when working at night, because sometimes the squad leader's head was smashed and thrown underground.The two fugitives filled their hot-water bottles with water, drilled into the exploratory well with their supplies, climbed to the top, removed the iron grate and climbed out.Although this exit is not far from the watchtower, it is already outside the quarantine area.They ran away quietly, undetected.

From Jezkazgan they headed northwest through the steppes.Lying on the ground during the day, traveling at night.No water was found anywhere.A week later Dushechkin lay on the ground and did not want to get up again.Kudla encouraged him with hope, telling him there were a few hills ahead where there might be water.At last they struggled to get there, but there was only mud and no water in the hole on the hill.At this time, Dushechkin said to Kudla: "I can't go anyway. You stab me to death and drink my blood!" Moralists!What decision is the right one in this situation?Kudla himself had stars in his eyes.Dushechkin would not survive anyway.So why let Kudela also die of thirst? . . . But what would he think of Dushechkin for the rest of his life, if he found water soon? ... Kudla told Dushechkin his decision: I will go on alone, and if I can't find water before dawn, I will come back to save you from this pain, it is better than both of us dying .Kudela climbed again towards the hill ahead.He saw a small ditch, and here, as in some very implausible novels, he found water!Kudela rolled down, lay down by the water and drank, drank! (It was only after dawn that he saw many tadpoles and aquatic plants in the water.) He filled a bag full of water with a hot water bottle, and crawled back to where Dushechkin was lying: "I brought you water! Water! "Dushchkin didn't believe it.He drank water, but did not believe it (because for many hours he had been dreaming that he was drinking water...).Then, the two climbed to the edge of the small ditch together and drank there for a long time.

After drinking water, I feel hungry.But the next night they climbed a hill, and before them lay a heavenly valley: with rivers, grass, bushes, horses, full of life.After dark, Kudela quietly approached the horses and stabbed one to death.The pair sucked the horse's blood directly from the horse's wound. (Guardians of the peace! You were having noisy peace conferences in Vienna or Stockholm that year, and you were drinking cocktails out of straw! Among you were Tikhonov, who was good at poetry, and Ehrenburg, who was good at news features , but did it ever occur to you that the countrymen of Tikhonov and Ehrenburg were sucking the carcasses of dead horses? Did they explain to you: Is this how peace should be understood in the Soviet way?)

Kudla and Dushechkin lit a fire and cooked the horse meat.In this way, go for a long time.Walked around the Amangold Mountains on the Turgay Plateau; but on the main road, we met trucks whose Kazakhs had asked them to show their papers.And threatened to send them to the police station. Going further, they often encountered small rivers and small lakes.At this time, Kudela caught another sheep, slaughtered it and ate it.It's been a month since they escaped!October is coming to an end and the weather is getting colder.They came across an unoccupied adobe house as they passed the first big wood, and settled there: they didn't want to leave this place of abundance again.Because their hometown does not attract them and does not offer them the hope of a quiet life, their escape has no final destination.Escape in this situation is doomed to failure.

At night, they often go to the nearby villages, sometimes to steal a pot, sometimes to break open the lock of other people’s warehouses to take some flour and salt, and steal an ax and some dishes and so on (runners are like guerrillas, Ordinary peaceful life must soon become a thief...).Once they stole a cow from the village, took it to the woods and slaughtered it.However, there was a snowfall at this time, and they should have been hiding in the house so that no one would find their footprints.But Kudla wanted to go out and get some dry wood.As soon as he left the house, the ranger spotted him and shot him immediately. "Is it you, thieves? You stole the cow?" Blood was found next to the earthen house.They were taken to the village and locked in houses.People shouted: Kill them immediately!What are you keeping them for? !But the prosecutor from the district brought photos of the most wanted criminals across the country and announced to the villagers: "You guys are doing well! You are not catching thieves, but two big political bandits!"

Then, the situation changed suddenly: no one around shouted anymore.The owner of the cow is a Chechen, who migrated from the Caucasus.Instead, he sent bread, mutton, and even money from Chechens to the captured people.He said: "Oh, really! If you had come to me earlier and told me who you were, I would have given you anything you wanted!..." (There is no doubt about this, Chechens are like this.) Kudla was I was moved to cry.After so many years of cruel and pitiless life, the soul could no longer stand this sympathy. The two were taken to the town of Kostanay, where, in the temporary holding cell of the Railway Administration, the soldiers not only took away all the things that the Chechens gave to the prisoners (keep them for their own use!), but also did not feed them . (Konechuk probably didn’t talk about these things at the World Peace Conference, did he?) Before boarding the train, handcuffed Kudla and Dushechkin behind their backs and made them kneel at the Kostanay train station on the platform for passengers to watch.

If this had happened on the platforms of Moscow, Leningrad, Kyiv, and any other satisfactory city station, passengers would probably have hurried past, and no one would have noticed that the image came out of a Repin painting. A white-haired old man who was bound and kneeling there.Whether it is editors of literary book publishing houses, directors of progressive films, humanitarian preachers and military officers, not to mention trade union workers and party workers-everyone will have a headache. Walk over without turning.As for those ordinary people, those ordinary people who are not outstanding and do not hold any responsible positions, they will try their best to pretend not to see them and walk past: they are worried that the guards will interrogate them and write down their names. (Their household registration is in Moscow, where the shops are complete and the supply is so good! You can't take this risk...) (In 1949, this phenomenon was still understandable. However, in 1966 Isn’t it the same for five years? Will our youth and civilized people today stop to defend this white-haired old man kneeling on the ground in handcuffs in front of the guards?)

However, this is not Moscow.The people of Kostanay have nothing to lose, they are all hated people, or have been exiled here.They came up to the two arrested men and threw horses, cigarettes, and bread to the kneeling men.Kudla's hands were handcuffed behind his back, and he had to bend down to eat bread with his mouth.However, the guard kicked the bread from his mouth.Kudela fell, and then knelt forward again.Wanting to bite that piece of bread, the guard kicked it further away! (Hey, you progressive film directors, can you remember the scene of this old man?) At this time, the people around did not agree, and they started to shout: "Let them go! Let them go!" A team of police.Of course, this team is better than the crowd.The crowd was dispersed.

The train is coming.The two escapees were taken back to the Kenjill labor camp prison. The escapes around Khalukstan are as uniform as the steppes here.However, perhaps it is easier to understand the most important thing in this sameness? 1951.Again in Zhezkazgan, again from the mine, three people climbed out through an abandoned manhole at night.They ran for three nights.I can't stand the thirst.Not far away, I saw several Kazakh yurts.Two of them suggested going to the Kazakhs for some water, but the third, Stepan, decided not to go and stayed on the mound to watch.He saw two of his comrades were chased out by the Kazakhs shortly after they entered, and were arrested on the spot.Stepan, who was not tall and thin, continued to escape along the small ravine alone, with nothing but a knife.He tried to go northwest.In order to avoid people, often have to deviate from the direction.It is more important to avoid people than to avoid wild animals.He cut a stick with a knife and used it to beat ground squirrels and jerboas to eat: first he threw stones at them from a distance, and when they ran back to the hole and lifted their front legs and screamed, he could kill them with the stick. up.He sucked out as much blood as he could, then roasted the meat over a fire with dried caragana. It was the barbecue fire that had betrayed him.Once, Stepan saw a man wearing a large Kazakh fur hat running towards him on horseback. He hurriedly stepped on the bonfire and covered his "kebab" with hay: the Kazakhs could not see what he was eating. .Ha, the Sax came up and asked: Who are you?from where?Stepan told him that he had been working in the manganese mines in Jezda (there were indeed free laborers there), and now he was looking for his wife who worked on the state farm, about 150 kilometers away.The Kazakh asked the name of the state farm.Stepan named one of the most likely names: Stalin State Farm. Son of the prairie!How well you ride your own way! ?Where does this poor boy get in your way?But the Kazakh rider said to him sternly in broken Russian: "You are lying! You are in prison! Come with me!" Stepan cursed, ignored him, got up and went his own way.But the Kazakh rode alongside him on horseback, repeating his previous order—follow me!Then he rode to the side to see if there was anyone there.But there was no one on the grassland.Son of the prairie!Just let him go, didn't you see that he was trying to walk hundreds of miles on the grassland with only a stick?He had nothing to eat, and would have died of hunger anyway.Maybe you need the reward of that kilo of vegetable leaves? For a week Stepan had been living the same life as the wild beasts on the steppe, and he had grown accustomed to hearing the small rustling and whistling noises in the steppe, when suddenly he felt a new whistling in the air, which he did not follow. Judgment, but instinctively felt that some kind of danger was coming, and couldn't help jumping to the side.This jump saved him!It turned out that the Kazakh rider had thrown a lasso to trap him.Stepan jumped out of the trap just in time. Hunt animals on two legs! !VIPs still want a kilogram of vegetables! ?The Kazakh cursed and pulled back the noose.Stepan walked on, thinking as he went, trying to keep an eye on the Kazakh.The man urged the horse to come closer again, prepared the lasso again, and threw it again.At that very moment Stepan rushed at him and knocked him off his horse with a club. (Stepan had no strength at first, but this is a matter of life and death!) "Get your reward, you bastard!"--Stepan's stick continued to hit the Kazakh with endless hatred, and Like a beast tearing apart another beast with its teeth.He didn't stop until the blood came out.Stepan took the Kazakh noose and whip and rode away.There is also a backpack with food hanging from the saddle. He continued to flee for a long time, walking for two weeks.But he made a strict rule for himself: to resolutely avoid everywhere the main enemy - man, his fellow-citizens.He had given up his horse and crossed a river (he couldn't swim! He did it on a little raft he made himself out of reeds. Of course he couldn't make one either).He hunted and ate wild animals.Once at night, I met a big bear-like beast, and I managed to avoid it.Once he was hungry, thirsty, and tired, and he really wanted something hot.He saw a lonely yurt and decided to go in and ask for something to eat.There is a small courtyard surrounded by adobe walls in front of the yurt.There are two saddled horses tied in front of the gate outside the courtyard.When he saw a young Kazakh in military uniform, breeches and a medal on his chest coming out of the door, it was too late to dodge.too late.The man had approached the wall.Stepan thought: It's over!The Kazakh came out to relieve himself, and he was already very drunk.He was so happy to see Stepan that he didn't seem to notice Stepan's tattered clothes. "Come in, please! Come in! You can be a guest!" An old father sat in the middle of the yurt, and another young Kazakh wearing a medal.These are two brothers, who have been to the front line, and now they can be regarded as two people in Almaty; this time they came to visit their father (I asked for two horses from the farm, and rode to the yurt).Both had been through the war and were therefore still human.And got drunk today.Drunken magnanimity (a magnanimity which the great Stalin tried to eradicate, but was not able to completely eradicate) took them completely.To their delight, there was another guest at the banquet, although it was an ordinary worker in the mine.The worker said he was going to Orsk, where his wife was about to give birth.They did not ask the guest to show his ID, but gave him wine, food, and let him lie down and rest.Look, there is such a thing... (Is alcoholism always a bad thing for a person? Is it also bad when it brings out something good in a person?) Stepan woke up earlier than his masters; he was always afraid of a trap.When he woke up, he slipped out quietly.No, there is no trap: the two horses are still hanging nicely by the gate.In fact, he could have ridden on one of them and escaped, but he didn't want to do this kind of thing to the two good people, so he left on foot. He walked for several days, and cars could sometimes be seen on the road.Whenever a car came, he always ducked aside in time.He approached the railway line, followed it, and at night came to Orsk station.Then take the train!He won!He created a miracle: he crossed the vast grassland alone with only a homemade knife and a wooden stick, and the destination was ahead! But in the lights of the station he saw armed soldiers standing guard along the railway line.So he walked along the path next to the railway again.The next morning he was no longer hiding: he was in the Russian Republic, in his native land!For the first time a car was approaching with a cloud of dust, and Stepan no longer avoided the car.A policeman from his hometown jumped out of the first car in his hometown that did not escape: "What are you doing? Take out your ID to see!" Stepan explained that he was a tractor driver and was looking for a job.Just at this time, a farm chairman came over and said to the police: "Don't trouble him! Our farm is short of tractor drivers! Who in the countryside will bring what documents!" Stepan drove for a day with the chairman of the farm, negotiated working conditions, drank and ate vegetables together.But in the evening Stepan couldn't help it, and wanted to run to the woods two hundred meters away.However, the police is very neat: a shot!Two shots!Had to stop.He is tied up. It seems that there is no trace of him, and people think he has died on the grassland.Here the soldiers were waiting for someone else, not him.When the police first saw him, they didn't think he was alike, so they agreed to let him go with the chairman of the farm.After capturing him, he was sent to the detention cell of the sub-division of the Ministry of the Interior, and at first he was very polite; he was given tea and bread with ham, good cigarettes, interrogated by the sub-division himself and called him "you" ( God knows, these big spies will be taken to Moscow tomorrow, maybe he will sue). "Where's your transmitter? What squad sent you here?" "The team sent me here?" Stepan wondered. "I didn't work in the geological survey team. I worked mostly in the mines." However, the result of Stepan's escape was not eating sandwiches, it was even worse than sucking the blood of corpses: after he was taken back to the labor camp, he was brutally beaten for a long time, and later, the man was tortured and damaged. The old Stepan turned out to be depraved, plummeting from his original state; he signed Belyaev, the operative of the Kengil Battalion, to help the authorities find those who tried to escape.He became a "decoy bird".He often told the whole process of the escape in detail to this or that person in the same cell, observing and waiting for the reaction of the other party.If there is a reaction, showing the idea of ​​​​running away, Stepan will report to the prison's operatives. Escapes from special labor camps were horrific.This trait is present in every difficult escape.But it was prominently and concentratedly expressed in a irrational and bloody escape in the summer of 1951.It also happened in Jezkazgan. As the six escapees began their escape from the mine, they first killed another prisoner they believed to be an eyeliner.Then six people crawled out of an abandoned well and entered the grassland.These are six completely different types of prisoners.Therefore, I just escaped and didn't want to run away together.Of course, if they had a clever plan, scattered escapes wouldn't necessarily be wrong. However, they have no plan.One of them immediately ran to the free workers' village not far from the labor camp to find his girlfriend.He called to open the door, not for a while in her house, to hide under the floor or above the ceiling for a while out of the wind (which would be very clever if so), but for a brief reunion with her (which It made us see his criminal face clearly at once).He fooled around at her house all night and all day.The next night he put on her ex-husband's clothes and went to the club with her to see a movie!Some guards in the labor camp also came to watch the movie, recognized him, and kidnapped him on the spot. Two other Georgians walked blithely and confidently towards the railway station, intending to catch the train to Karaganda.However, the road from Zhezkazgan to the outside world, apart from the trails taken by shepherds and fugitives, there is only one railway to Karaganda. There are many labor camps along the railway, and there are operational personnel posts at each station.Therefore, they were caught before reaching Karaganda. The other three fled to the southwest, taking the most difficult road.There are no people here, but there is no water either.One of them, an elderly Ukrainian who had been to the front at Prokopenko, had a map and he persuaded the other two to take this route and said he could lead them to water.One of the two companions was a Crimean Tatar charlatan, and the other was a former thief, thin and wizened.The three of them walked for four days and four nights without eating or drinking.I can't stand it anymore.So the Lele and the thief said to Prokopenko: "We have to say goodbye to you!" "What's the matter, my friends? You want to go away?" Prokopenko didn't immediately understand what they were saying. "No, we want to kill you! We can't all escape anyway." Prokopenko begged them bitterly, he let go of his hat, and took out a picture of his wife and children from the cloth interlining to show them, trying to impress them: "Boys, buddies! We escaped together to seek Free! I will surely lead you out. There should be a well not far ahead! There must be water! Be patient a little longer! Spare me! Have pity on me!" But the two still barreled him to death, hoping to drink his blood.They cut his blood vessels, but the blood did not flow out, it immediately coagulated! ... This is another shot that can be included in a commemorative film: two people kill another person on the grassland, and the blood does not flow out... They watched each other like wolves, for next time it would be one of them who was going to suffer.They walked forward with mutual vigilance, and walked in the direction pointed by the old man Prokopenko just now... They actually saw a well two hours later! ... But, the next day, search parties found them from the plane and took them back. During interrogation they recognized it.Then word got around the camp, and it was decided to avenge Prokopenko by stabbing them.However, the camp authorities kept them in separate cells.Later, he was transferred to another place for trial. I had to believe in fate.I believe that the success or failure of your escape depends on whether you run out against auspicious or inauspicious stars.No matter how careful and long-term plans you have, but at a critical moment all the lights in the camp suddenly went out, so you didn't get the car and all the plans fell through.But the other escape was started entirely on impulse, but all the circumstances seemed to have been arranged by coincidence. In the summer of 1948, also in the first branch of Zhezkazgan (there was no special labor camp established here at that time), one morning a dump truck was sent to a sand quarry far away to pull sand, and the The sand is transported to the mortar mixing plant.The sand mining field is not a fixed construction site, which means that there are no dedicated guards there.We had to let the three prisoners who were loaded in the car also go in the car and come back with the car.All three of them had received long-term sentences, some for ten years, some for twenty-five years.Among the three soldiers escorting the cart was a corporal.The driver is a criminal who has been released from prison camp labor.Chance!But the opportunity must be seized as swiftly and timely as if it came suddenly.They have to make up their minds and discuss with each other, and all this has to be done before the eyes and ears of the soldiers escorting the car.Soldiers stood by with guns while the truck was being loaded with sand.The experience of the three prisoners was the same as that of millions of people at that time: first they went to the front line, then they went to the German prisoner camp, they escaped from the German prisoner camp, they were captured by the enemy again, and they were sent to the punishment concentration camp. Released from concentration camps, then, as a token of gratitude for all this, the Soviet authorities put them in "one's own" prison!Since they dared to escape in Germany back then, why don’t they dare to escape in their own country today?A truckload of sand is ready.The corporal took the seat next to the driver in the cab.Two submachine gunners sat in the front of the car, with their backs against the driver's cab, facing the rear of the car, pointing their guns at the prisoner sitting on the sand at the back of the car.As soon as the car left the sand mining area, the three prisoners threw sand into the eyes of the two escort soldiers at the same time with a secret signal, then fell on them, grabbed the submachine gun, and shot the first class soldier with the butt of the gun from the rear window of the driver's cab. Fainted.The car stopped.The driver was scared to death.The prisoners said to the driver: "Don't be afraid! We won't touch you! You are not their dog's leg!? Unload the car!" The motor started, and in a blink of an eye a car full of sand, which was more precious than gold, brought freedom to three people sand, unloaded on the ground. At this point, as in almost all cases of escape (let history remember this forever!), the slaves behaved far more leniently than their escorts: they did not shoot the three soldiers, did not beat them, only ordered them Take off their clothes and boots and let them walk away barefoot and in their underwear. "What about you, driver? Who are you going with?" "Of course I'm going with you, so there's no need to say!" The driver immediately made up his mind. To confuse the three barefoot escorts, the prisoners (who will pay for their magnanimity!) first drive west (flat steppe, wherever you want!).On the way, one person put on the uniform of a first-class soldier, and the other two put on the uniform of ordinary soldiers, and then drove to the north.All three have weapons, and the driver has a driver's license, so there is nothing to doubt!Still, when passing a telephone line, it is necessary to break the telephone line in order to cut their connection (drive the car close, hang a small rock on the rope and throw it over, hang it on the wire, pull the rope, bring the hook up, break the wire).This of course takes time, but it's worth it.The car drove at full speed for a whole day, and didn't stop until it ran out of gasoline after running 300 kilometers.So they pay attention to the car coming from the opposite side.A "Victory" small sleeping car drove over.They pulled over the car. "I'm sorry, Comrade, I'm on duty, we have to check your documents." It turned out to be two dignitaries!The leader of the district party committee!Those who go to the farm to check the work or to boost the morale of the farm may just want to have a good meal. "Hey, come out! Take off your clothes!" People begged for fear of killing them.They took the two men who only wore underwear into the grassland, tied them up, took their documents, money and clothes, got into a "Victory" car, and drove away. (The soldiers who were stripped of their uniforms in the morning did not go to the nearest mine until evening. The watchtower of the mine shouted to them: "Don't come near!" "We are our own people!" !") The fuel tank of the "Victory" car was not full, and even the spare tank was used up after a total of 200 kilometers.It was already dark.They saw a herd of grazing horses, although they had no bridles, they managed to grab a few of them, grabbed the mane, mounted them, and continued to escape.However, the driver fell off the horse and broke his leg.The three suggested that he sit in the back, and the two of them would ride a horse and take him away.However, he refused.He said, "My friends, you have nothing to fear. I will never report it!" They gave him some money and a driver's license for a "Victory" car, and rode away.The driver was the last person who saw the fugitives, and he has not been seen since and has never been sent back to the labor camp.The few of them just left their "twenty-five yuan coupons" and "ten yuan coupons" in the safe in the special place, and without any change, they ran away without looking back.Bratty prosecutors always love a brave man! The driver did not report it.He found work on a farm near Petropavlovsk and lived quietly for four years.but.Art love has ruined him.He can play the Russian accordion very well, and he often performs in the club on his farm.Later, he participated in the district-wide entertainment performance, and later went to participate in the state-wide performance.He himself had almost forgotten his past life.However, one of the Zhezkazgan guards in the audience recognized him and took him away backstage on the spot.He was sentenced to another twenty-five years according to Article 58, and he was escorted back to Zhezkazgan. There is another class of escapees, too.Such people do not escape with impulsive and desperate desperate mood, but with skill and a pair of dexterous hands. There was a famous train escape at Camp Kengil.There is a construction site where trucks of cement and asbestos ore often come.Unload the cargo in the quarantine area and drive away the empty trucks.Thus, five prisoners began to prepare for a technical escape.They were going to put another layer of planks inside the side of the pullman type wagon, so that people could hide in the middle.This side of the car should be folded with hinges, like a screen, and when it is carried on the train, it looks like a buttress for unloading the car.Everything has been carefully planned: when unloading, the prisoner responsible for unloading is the owner of the vehicle. At that time, he can take the prepared things into the trunk, pull it apart, and fix it on the hard side with clips. Five people Stand with your back against the side of the car, pull up the side of the fake car with a rope, and fix it.The trunk is full of asbestos powder, and the side of the fake car is also covered with asbestos powder.As for the fact that this Pullman vehicle is slightly shorter in depth, it cannot be seen from a distance.However, the time calculation is more complicated: the vehicle must be unloaded before the train leaves. At this time, the prisoners must still stay on the construction site and cannot get on the train in advance. They can only go up when they are sure that they will drive soon.At the last moment they ran with knives and food, but one of them got his foot caught on a railway switch and broke his bone.This wasted everyone's time, and they failed to install the fake car gang before the escorts assembled for roll call.They were found.A public trial was later held for the escape. Batanov, who had studied at the Air Force Academy, also tried a similar method, but he was alone.The timber processing factory in Ekbastuz makes the doors, and these prefabricated doors are trucked from the factory to the construction site for installation.The work in the wood processing plant is around the clock, so there are always guards on the watchtower.But there are only guards on the construction site during the day, and they are removed at night.With the help of his comrades, Batanov was packed in a bundle of door frames, nailed with door panels on both sides, loaded into a car, and unloaded on the construction site.In the lumber processing factory, taking advantage of the confusion during the shift change, the number of people was counted.So no one escaped that night.On the construction site, he crawled out of the door frame at night and escaped.But he was caught again on the way to Pavlodar. (The escape came a year after his last escape, in which a car had a punctured tire.) Those who escaped and were captured and those who were detected before fleeing; those who took part in events that set the entire ground of the labor camp ablaze; those who were placed under special surveillance because of the deliberation of the operatives; those who refused to obey orders; There were other kinds of untamed people--all of whom kept the reinforcement sheds in Ekbastuz growing and expanding.The newly built hatchback brick building could no longer accommodate it, and the punishment room (No. 2 workshop not far from the battalion headquarters) could not accommodate it either.A new punishment space (work shed No. 8) was newly opened, which was specially established for "Bangera elements". 每发生一次逃跑，每发生一次骚乱事件，三个惩戒棚的制度都要变得更加严厉一些。（为了忠实地反映刑事惯犯们的历史，这里应该指出：埃克巴斯图兹加强管制棚里的"每狗"们对此是十分不满的，他们经常嘀咕："坏蛋们！别再逃跑吧！因为你们逃跑，我们都快要被这严厉的制度给卡死啦！……在一般劳改营里，这种事只打几个嘴巴就了事了。"这些话也正是监狱当局希望他们说的。） 一九五一年夏天，整个第八号工棚惩戒室在计划集体逃跑。这个工棚距营区障碍地带只有三十米远，所以他们决定挖地道。但是，他们干得太明显，几个小伙子在自己人中间公开议论、商量。他们以为，既然大家都是"班杰拉分子"，就不会有眼线。实际上却早已有人当了眼线。他们那不像样子的地道刚挖了几米，就被出卖了。 第二号工棚惩戒室的领袖人物对于八号工棚的吵吵嚷嚷的逃跑计划十分不满。倒不是怕暴露之后加强管制，而是因为自己也离障碍地带三十米，也正在挖一个高质量的地道，而且在八号工棚开挖前就开始了。他们担心：既然两个惩戒室都想到了挖地道，那么猎犬们也会想到这一点并且会开始检查。但埃克巴斯图兹营的主人们最怕的还是抢汽车逃跑，所以他们把主要精力放在这方面的防范上，决心把所有的工地和生活区全用一米深的地沟围起来，使任何汽车都通不过，就像中世纪嫌城墙不够，还要挖护城河一样。这些日子囚犯们已经在工地和隔离区周围挖出了一条条整齐的地沟。 第二号惩戒工棚是在整个埃克巴斯图兹隔离区内部又用铁丝网圈起来的一个小区。铁丝网围墙上的小门经常锁着。除了在石灰场劳动的时间之外，这里的囚犯每天只有二十分钟可以在小区内活动，其余时间全被关在工棚里，只有去上工和回来时才通过大营区；他们不能到大食堂去吃饭，饭由炊事员用木桶给他们送来。 惩戒室的囚犯把去石灰场只看作晒太阳和呼吸新鲜空气的机会，谁也不去用力铲那有害健康的石灰。一九五一年八月底发生过一起打死人的事件。（刑事惯犯阿斯帕诺合用铁棒打死了阿尼金。阿尼金曾经在暴风雪中利用大风旋起的大雪堆爬过铁丝网逃跑过，但一昼夜后又被捉回来，关进了惩戒室。关于他的事已见第三部第十四章。）从那以后，这里的囚犯更是拒绝当这种"工人"了，因此，整个九月间惩戒室没有人去劳动，实际上等于蹲在监狱里。 这些人中间有不少"坚定不移的逃跑者"，从夏天开始，他们逐渐集结到一起，终于组成了一个"十二人逃跑小组"（哈吉耶夫?穆罕默德，他是埃克巴斯图兹地区伊斯兰教徒的领袖；瓦西里?库斯塔尔尼科夫；瓦西里?布留欣；瓦连京?雷日科夫；穆吉亚诺夫；一个喜欢挖地道的波兰军官及其他几个人）。大家都是平等的，但其中库班的哥萨克人斯捷潘?科带瓦洛夫还是居于主要地位。他们订了盟约：谁要是泄露哪怕一个字，谁就别想活，或者自己自杀，或者别人把他捅死。 这时候，整个埃克巴斯图兹营区已经被四米高的围墙围得严严实实。顺着围墙还有一条四米宽的耕翻过的前沿地带，墙外还有一条十五米宽的隔离禁区，最后是一条一米深的沟。逃跑者们决定使地道通过这整个障碍地带，而且要把地道挖得十分可靠，让谁也不能提前发现它。 初步调查表明：房子的基础较低，整个工棚的地板下面的空间很小，挖出的上没有地方放。看来，这个困难很难克服。那么，就不逃跑？……于是有人提议：天花板上面有很大的空间，把土弄到天花板上去！通过无法隐蔽的、经常受到检查的工棚的居住空间偷偷把几十立方米的土运到天花板上的顶楼去？每日每时都要这样往上运，还不能掉下来一点点，不能留下痕迹？这似乎不可想象！ 但是，一旦想出了解决办法，人们欢呼起来了。只有这时才算把逃跑计划最后确定下来。解决办法是在分小组选择住房的同时找到的。这座按芬兰式建筑的工棚原本是为自由工人们建造的宿舍，把它合并到劳改营营区内是个错误，整个营区再没有第二栋这样房子了：工棚里分成一个个小房间，而这种房间又不像其他房间那样可以塞进七个"小车厢"，而只能接三个，也就是说只能住十二个人。十二名逃跑者中有几个人是住在同一房间里的，于是逃跑者也就选中这一间作为基地。他们通过各种手段--通过自愿换床位或者用玩笑或嘲笑来排挤那些碍事的人（"你睡觉打鼾太厉害了……""你……"理由多得很呢！），慢慢地把"小组"外的人统统挤到别的房间去了，十二个"自己人"终于集中到这间屋里。 惩戒室与一般营区隔绝得越是严格，惩戒室里的人受到的惩罚和压迫越是厉害、这些人在整个营区中的精神作用力也就越大。对全营的囚犯来说，惩戒室的人要求定制一件什么东西，那就像是传下一道圣旨。现在，凡是技术上需要的东西都可以订货，这些东西会在某个工地上制作出来，会冒险通过营门口的搜查带进隔离区，然后再留着第二次危险（放在烂菜汤里，面包里，或者放在药品箱里）带进惩戒室里。 他们首先定制和得到的是刀子和磨刀石。然后又要来了钉子、小螺丝、油石灰、水泥、白粉子、电线、小滑轮。他们用小刀整齐地锯断了三块地板木条上的阳榫，取下了一块压住这几条地板的护墙板，拔掉这几条木板两端（靠墙的一端和搭在房间中部地板横梁上的一端）的钉子，就把这三块板掀了起来。然后，在它们朝下的一面用小木条把三块板拼起来钉成一个整块托板。在其靠墙的一端，钉小木条的钉子中有一颗大钉子是从L向下钉的，但没有把它钉到底，稍稍留一点钉子帽，把这个钉子帽用地板颜色的灰腻子填腻上，再弄上一点尘土。把这整块托板放回原处，它就仍然非常严密地和整个地板合在一起，没有一点缝和损伤，也没有可以把它拿起来的地方，因为从来没有在板缝处使用过刀斧之类。然后再把护墙板放回原处，压住这块板。取下这块托板的方法是：先把那块活动的护墙板拿掉，用一个铁丝圈套住大钉子帽，把托板拉起来。这就是地道入口。进入地下挖土的人每次换班都要把护墙板取下来再装回去。他们每天要"擦地板"（为的是使地板保持湿润膨胀，不出现干裂缝）。这个进入地下的任务是主要任务之一。总的说来，他们这个房间一直收拾得非常干净整齐，从来没有人穿着鞋躺在床上，也没有人吸烟，个人的东西从不乱放。床头小柜里也没有碎屑残渣之类。因此，每次来检查内务的看守都是在这个房间停留的时间最短。"搞得好，有文化！"看守们一边这样说着，就去检查下一间了。 第二个任务是土的提升工作：要把挖出的土提到天花板上面去。这个房间里，也和其他房间一样，有一个砖砌的俄式大火炉，它和墙之间有一条空隙，可以挤进一个人去。想出的办法是：把这个空间封死，把它从居住空间变为坑道的一部分。他们在一间空房里干净彻底地拆卸了一个"小车厢"床，用拆下的木板把这个空间的开口封死，立即钉上灰板条，抹上灰泥，刷成和炉子一样的白色。看守们难道会记住工棚里二十个小房间中哪一间的炉子和墙连在一起，哪一间的炉子稍微离开墙一点吗？空房里的"小车厢"少了一张也没有被发现，因为人们拆得干净利落，毫不露马脚。只是在头一两天中，看守有可能发现墙上的灰泥是湿的。但是，要发现这一点，他就得绕过炉子弯腰到床后去看。这间屋子是清洁整齐的模范呀，何必呢！即使被他看出来，这还不等于全部坑道计划的暴露，可以推说：这是为了使房间整洁美观，那个没有用的空隙经常落灰，又很不好看！ 灰泥都干了之后，这才用刀子把已经封死的这个空间的地板和天花板剜掉。在这里，又用拆床的木料装了一个梯子。这样，狭小的地板下面的空间就同天花板上宽敞的空间连在一起了，像是一口看守们看不到的竖井。它也是多年来第一口能够使那些刚强的男子汉们心甘情愿地在里面拚命劳动的竖井！ 劳改营中也会有同梦想结合在一起的工作吗？会有把你的整个身心都吸引住的、使你废寝忘食地去干的工作吗？Have.这样的工作只有一件，那就是为了逃跑而进行的准备工作！ ! 下一个任务就是挖土。用刀子挖，磨刀子，这是勿须多说的。但还有不少别的问题。这里还需要进行矿山测量学的计算（这由工程师穆吉亚诺夫担任），既要到达安全深度，但又不要超过需要的深度；要使坑道的走向符合最短距离；要确定坑道的最合理的截面；要随时知道自己处在什么地方；要正确地规划好坑道出口。还有换班的组织工作：每天挖土的时间越多越好，又不能换班太勤；还要毫无破绽地全员按时接受早晚两次点名。这里还有个劳动服装问题，洗手洗脸问题。（总不能带着一身泥土到上面来接受点名吧！）也有照明问题：一条六十米长的坑道怎么能在完全黑暗中挖成呢？他们把电线拉入地下坑道。（还得在不被发觉的情况下接通才行！）也还需要安装信号装置：如果有人突然向工棚这边走来的话，怎样才能及时地从长长的、不透气的坑道里把挖土的人叫上来呢？或者，坑道里的人怎样才能安全而及时地通知上面他们必须立即上来呢？ 惩戒室的制度很严格，但严格也有它的弱点：看守们不可能悄悄地突然进入工棚，他们必须通过铁丝网之间的唯一道路走近工棚外的栅栏门，打开门上的锁，然后走到工棚的门，再打开锁。拉开门上的铁栓时也要有响声。这一切都可以从小窗户里观察到，不过不是从自己屋里的窗户，而是从门口附近的一间空"单间"的小窗里可以看到；在那里设一个"观察哨"就行了。坑道里使用灯光信号：闪两下--注意，准备退出坑道；连续闪光--紧急警报！火速出来！ 进入坑道时把衣服全脱光，脱下的衣服放到枕头和床垫下面。进入地板下的地道口之后，要通过一条狭窄的裂缝似的小道，谁也不会想到前面就有一间宽敞的"小屋"，这里的灯经常亮着，备有工作服和裤子。另外四个光着身子沾满泥土的人（换班下来的）爬上来，仔细地在这里洗掉身上的泥土（泥土在汗毛上结成小泥球，需要把它泡软，或者就连汗毛一起扯下来）。 第八号惩戒棚挖地道的事被发觉时，第二号惩戒棚的上述工作已经进行一些时候了。所以，不难理解这些创造家们当时多么担心自己的心血付诸东流。那可太遗憾了，甚至是屈辱。幸而一切都平安地过去了。 九月初，腾诺和日丹诺克在监狱里蹲了将近一年之后又被送到（实际上是回到）这二号惩戒室来。在这里刚刚喘了一口气，腾诺就又开始不安分了；他需要准备新的逃跑！他指责人们说，目前这个最好的逃跑时期很快就会过去，不能总是无所作为地呆着！但是，那些坚定不移、不顾一切的逃跑者们对于他的话却毫无反映（挖地道的人正好十二个，分成三班，不需要第十三个人）。这时腾诺便直接向他们提出了挖地道的建议！但是，人们回答说：考虑过了，但基础太低。（盯着这个久经考验的逃跑者的探索的眼睛硬是摇头说"不"，这自然是冷酷的。简直就像不允许一只受过训练的伶俐的猎犬去搜索猎物一样。）但是，腾诺太了解这些人了，他不能相信他们这种普遍的冷漠态度，他认为这些人不可能全都一样地堕落了！ 于是腾诺和日丹诺克便开始对他们进行热心而内行的观察，这种内行的观察是看守们办不到的。腾诺发现：他们几个人经常到门口的同一间小屋里去吸烟，而且总是一个出来，另一个再进去，从没有结伴去过；白天他们的房门总是从里面插上的，别人叫门时从不立即开门；屋里总有几个人在熟睡，好像夜晚还睡不够似的；有一次，他看见瓦西里?布留欣从放马桶的地方转出来，全身是湿的。"你怎么啦？""噢，我刚才洗了洗身子。" 他们是在挖掘，很明显，一定在挖掘！但是，在哪儿？为什么不说？……腾诺找这个人谈，找那个人谈，试探他们："你们太不谨慎啦，朋友们！你们这个招法可不够谨慎！还好，是我看出来了，要是叫眼线发现了呢？！" 终于，经过大家讨论，决定接受腾诺带领的四人小组参加进来。首先，他们建议腾诺对房间进行检查，发现痕迹。腾诺检查了每一块地板和墙，竟什么也没有发现！大家都十分满意。于是腾诺就高高兴兴地又开始为自己劳动了。 地下的劳动是这样组织的：一个人躺着凿掉工作面上的土；另一人在他后面弯着腰把凿下的土扒进特制的帆布小口袋；第三个人把绳子套在两肩上拉着小口袋往回爬行，通过坑道和地板下面拉到"竖井"下口，在这里把小口袋一个一个地挂在从天花板上系下来的钩子上，第四个人在天花板上把空口袋放下去，把装上的口袋拉上来，轻轻地在天花板上把土撤成薄薄的一层。每次换班之前都要用炉渣把新土盖上，天花板上的顶间里有的是炉渣。每班内部的分工也变动，但不常变，因为不是每个人都能够迅速而高效率地完成最累最重的挖土和运土工作。 运土时，起初是一次拉两个口袋，后来从炊事员那里"抄"来一只木托盘，把土口袋放在托盘上，这样就可以一次拉四个口袋了。绳子从颈后绕到胸前经过两腋下拉着身后的托盘。后颈的皮磨破了，两肩两膝酸痛，拉一趟就满身是汗，作完一班下来，简直累死人。 挖土时的姿势非常不方便。只有一把短柄铁锹，每天都要磨。先要用它挖出一道一尺左右深的竖沟，然后半躺半卧地背靠着挖出的土，铲下土块来扔到身后。地下有时是石头，有时是粘土。遇到非常大的石头就只好绕过去，使地道拐弯。每八至十小时换一次班，每班控不到两米，有时连一米也挖不到。 最困难的是坑道里空气不够：人们头晕、恶心，甚至失去知觉。必须解决通风问题。通风孔只能通向地面，打在障碍地带附近，也就是打在最危险的、经常处于观察下的地带。但是，没有通风孔不行，简直无法呼吸。他们定做了一块"螺旋桨"式的钢片，装上横把，做成像手摇钻似的东西，就用它从下面向上挖出了一个通到地面的垂直孔道。可以通风了，呼吸轻快多了。（地道通过障碍地带之后。他们又在外面挖了第二个通风孔。） 哪一项工作怎样作才更好？他们不断总结经验。随时计算着地道的进度。 地道，或曰隧道，穿过带状地基之后渐渐向外直伸出去。只是遇到大石头或工作面不准确时稍微出现些弯曲。地道宽半米，高九十公分，顶是拱券形的。根据计划，顶面距地面为一米三、四十公分。地道两旁用木板加固。随着工程的进展，在地道里拉的电线也越来越长，接上的新灯泡已不只一个了。 顺着地道看去，它像一条地下铁道。这是劳改营内的"地铁"！ ... 地道已经挖成几十米了，已经挖到了障碍地带以外。头顶上有时可以清楚地听到换岗哨兵的脚步声，军犬的叫声。 可是，突然……突然一天早点名之后，他们看到监狱首长、短小精悍的马切霍夫斯基中尉亲自带领一群看守朝惩戒室这边走来了。这时白班的四个人还没有进入地道，屋里倒是没有可指摘的地方。（这是逃跑者严格规定的。）逃跑者们的心一下子就凉了：被发现了吗？被谁出卖了吗？或者只是临时抽查？ 一声命令；"各自带着自己的东西，全到工棚外边来！一个也不许留！" 命令执行了。所有囚犯都被赶出来，集合在放风的小院里，坐在各自的布口袋上。只听见工棚里面一片响声--看守们在扔下"小车箱"上的木板。又听见马切霍夫斯基喊道： "拿工具来！" 看守们把铁棍、斧头等拿进去。听见用力拆卸木板的声音。 逃跑者的命运就是这样的！用了多少智慧，花了多少劳动，寄托了多少希望和经历了多少兴奋的日夜啊！--一下子，不但全成泡影，还得蹲禁闭，遭毒打、审讯，再判新刑期…… 但是，不！不论是马切霍夫斯基，还是看守们，谁也没有幸灾乐祸地挥着手高兴地跑出来。他们一个个累得满头大汗，掸落着身上的尘土，灰溜溜、气呼呼地从工棚里出来了：搜查毫无结果。"给我一个一个走过来！"--又下达了一个气急败坏的命令。开始一个人一个人地检查个人的物品了。囚犯们经过搜查后回到自己的房间。这是一场大破坏！好几个地方（凡是钉得不牢或者有个小缝的地方）的地板都被撬起来了。各个小房间里的东西扔得乱七八糟，有些床被恶狠狠地翻过来。只是逃跑者这间有文化的房间没有遭到破坏！ 不了解逃跑情况的人们气愤地说： "这些兔崽子们怎么就坐不住呢？！他们搜什么？" 逃跑者们则庆幸自己没有把挖出的土撒在地板下面该是多么正确，否则这次肯定会被发现。看守们并没有到天花板上的顶楼去搜查（只有鸟儿才能够从顶楼上飞走！），何况顶楼上的新上也全都用炉渣盖得好好的。 猎犬们没有嗅到！没有嗅到！啊，多么高兴！只要顽强地劳动，严格地谨慎小心，就不可能没有成果。这回一定可以控成功了！距离障碍地带外围的防护壕只有六米到八米了（最后这几米必须挖得十分准确，必须使洞口不高不低正对准壕沟的底部）。 Then what to do?这个问题科诺瓦洛夫、穆吉亚诺夫、哈吉耶夫和睦诺四个人这时已经计划好了，并且已由十六人全体通过。决定晚上十点来钟，在全营晚点名结束之后逃跑。那时看守们都各自回家或回到自己的工棚里去了，岗楼上哨肖兵已经换岗，下岗的哨兵也已经离去了。 到那时全员一个一个地进入地道。最后一人要在"小窗口"对营区进行监视。然而他要同倒数第二人把抽掉的那块护墙板对好，钉在那块活动地板上，好使人们进入坑道后盖上地板时护墙板正好安在原来的地方。那个还露出一点的大钉帽要拉下来，固定住，还要在那块地板下面装一个木闩，盖上后从下面关死，好使人们不能再从上面把它拉起来。 还有：逃跑前要把走廊里的一个小窗上的铁格子取下来。这样，早上点名时发现缺少十六个人，看守们就不会立即断定是挖地道逃跑的了。必然会到隔离区的其他部分去找，也会以为是蹲惩戒室的人们去找某个眼线算帐去了。也会到特种营的其他分部去找，认为是跳墙跑到其他分部去了。Clean and neat!地道不会被发现，窗子下面又没有足迹，十六个人像是让天使带到天上去了！ 从地道进入环营壕沟之后，要一个人一个人地沿着沟底爬到离岗楼较远的地方（地道出口离它很近），再一个一个从沟里爬出来上路。每上去四个人就停一会儿，以免引起怀疑，并且可以借这个时间观察一下。（最后一个人还要采取预防措施：他要把事先准备好的抹了泥的木盖子从外面堵在地道出口上，用身体把它靠进洞口，再从外面扔上一些土！这样，第二天早晨从壕沟里也不会发现地道出口的痕迹。） 经过村子的时候，要一组一组地走，还要大声谈笑。如果遇有阻拦，大家合力抵抗，直到动刀子。 总集合地点是铁路道口附近，那里常有许多汽车通过。铁路道口比旁边的马路高，大家趴在附近地上，不会被发现。这个道口修得不很好（逃跑者们平时上工经过这里，看见过），只是随便铺了一些厚木板，所以运煤的汽车和空火车车皮经过这里时都开得很慢。等汽车一过路口，便有两个人举起手来要求汽车停下，从两旁走过去，请求司机捎一段路。晚间汽车上大都只有一个司机。这时立即抽力抓住司机，强迫他坐到驾驶室中间去。瓦连京?雷日科夫立即掌握方向盘，其他人迅速跳进车厢，向巴夫洛达全速前进！一百三、四十公里的路程，有几个小时就可以达到。快到渡船渡口时，沿河岸往上游开，那里有灌木丛（押送他们来的时候，他们留意到了），把司机绑起来，放在灌木丛里，扔掉汽车，坐小船渡过额尔齐斯河，以后就分成小组，各奔前程了。现在正是征购粮食的季节，到处路上都有许多汽车通过。 挖掘工作计划在十月六日完成。在这之前两天，十月四日，两名参加者，腾诺和一个小偷瓦洛佳?克里沃舍因，突然被编到另一批犯人中间去，准备押到其他地方。他们原想耍个花招，想法生病，争取留下来。但是行动人员威胁说不服从就给他们戴上手铸，哪怕半死也得押走。他俩担心过分坚持可能引起怀疑，所以也就只好服从了，为了朋友们作出了牺牲。 起初，腾诺执意要加入这个挖地道小组，现在他的愿望完全落空了，他没能成为第十三个人。倒是被他拉进来的、他所庇护的、过于散漫和缺乏自制力的日丹诺克成了第十三名。当初是斯捷潘?科诺瓦洛夫和他的朋友们最后向腾诺让了步，才把秘密告诉他的。 挖掘完成了。出口恰好：穆吉亚诺夫没有计算错。这时下了一场雪。所以他们把行动时间推迟了两天：等地面干一干。 十月九日晚上，一切都按原来的设想准备妥当。第一批四个人是科诺瓦洛夫、雷日科夫、穆吉亚诺夫和他那个经常的技术助手波兰人。 接着就是倒霉的小个子科利亚?日丹诺克爬出坑道进入壕沟了。这时，当然不是由于他的过错、他听到沟上面不远处有脚步声。他本该沉住气，趴下不动，等人们走过去再往前爬。而他却过分机伶了：他探出头去想看看是什么人在走路？ 俗话说得好：跑得快的虱子总是先被篦子梳掉。但他这个"跑得快的虱子"却毁掉了一组逃跑者，毁掉了一组难能可贵地配合得这么好而又计划得这么周密的逃跑者！毁掉了在这次逃跑中交织在一起的十四条漫长而复杂的生活道路！这次逃跑对其中每个人的生活都有着特殊的、使过去和将来都具有意义的重要作用，他们中间每人都有另外一些人--一妇女们，子女们以及尚未出世的孩子们--在某个地方等待着他们呢！这个"虱子"一抬头，这些人的一切就全都陷入了十八层地狱！ 原来，上面走的正是警卫队副队长。他看见了这个"虱子"，喊了一声，开了一枪。于是，他的那些卫兵们，那些连想也没有想到这个逃跑计划，因而根本不配同它作斗争的卫兵们，竟然成了抓获这些逃跑者的"大英雄"。而我的读者，马克思主义历史学家，却还在用平尺敲着书页傲然地、一字一顿地对我说： "是啊！……可你们为什么不逃跑呢？……你们为什么不起来反抗呢？……" 这时，所有逃跑者都已经钻进地道，取下了窗上的铁格子，把护墙板钉好在那块活地板上了。现在他们一个个只好向后爬去，向后！向后！ 谁能真正完全理解这绝望的懊恼？理解这对于自己辛勤努力的蔑视？ 他们爬回去了，熄灭了地道里的灯，又把走廊窗上的铁格子装上去。不一会儿，整个惩戒工棚里挤满了劳改营的军官，警卫营的军官，卫兵和看守们。开始按档案卡片点名了，然后把所有的囚犯全都赶进了石砌的监狱。 小屋里的坑道入口始终没被找到！（如果一切都能按原来的设想实现，看守们还不知道要寻找多久呢！）不过。他们在日丹诺克"露馅儿"的地方发现了一个半堵塞的窟窿。但是，即使顺着地道来到工棚下面，也还弄不清人们究竟是从哪里进入地道的？把挖地道的上藏到哪里去了？ 他们只是发现了那个有文化的房间里少了四个人。现在只好狠狠地殴打剩下来的八个人了--殴打便是蠢人探求真实情况的最简单的办法。 现在为什么还要隐瞒它呢？ ... 后来，当局组织了全体警备人员和看守人员到这个地道里来参观。埃克巴斯图兹营的负责人马克西缅柯少校还曾在总局的会议上向其他劳改营的负责人夸耀说： "是啊，我们营里有过地道。是的，那简直是一条地铁！但是，我们呢……我们有高度的警惕性……" 其实，只不过是由于一个"虱子"…… 立即响起了警报。已经逃出的四个人自然不能再逃往铁路道口。计划全打乱了！他们跳过大路对面的围墙，进入无人的工区，穿过工区，又跳墙出去，向草原跑去。他们不敢留在村庄里拦汽车，因为村庄里已经布满哨兵了。 就像一年前的腾诺一样，他们立即失去了前进的速度和逃脱的信心。 他们朝东南方向的塞米巴拉金斯克前进。他们既没有路上吃的食物，也没有力气，因为最后几天为了早些挖通地道已经累得筋疲力尽了。一逃跑的第五天，他们进入一个蒙古包想向哈萨克人要点食物。不出所料，哈萨克人拒绝给东西吃，并且用猎枪向要饭的人开枪。（这难道是草原上放牧人民的传统吗？如果这不是他们的旧传统，那么这个传统是从哪儿来的？……） 斯捷潘?科诺瓦洛夫用刀子对付了猎枪，刺伤哈萨克人，夺了猎枪和食物。他们继续前进。但是，哈萨克人骑马追寻他们，在他们快到额尔齐斯河岸的时