Son las 7 de la mañana y el tren está a punto de llegar a Novosibirsk, última parada para Nikolai. Desde que ayer le diera las buenas noches a eso de las 2, he visto que no ha parado de retorcerse en su asiento y hace ya horas que ya se puso el uniforme militar que lucirá orgulloso a su llegada.
Ninguno puede dormir el día que vuelve a casa…
Tiene unos 21. Salió de Kemerovo, Siberia, por primera vez en su vida hará un año y medio para hacer el servicio militar cerca de Moscú. Ni él ni nadie de su familia ni amigos habían estado allí nunca antes. Aún cuenta con los ojos como platos el día de permiso que le dieron para ver la Plaza Roja, el metro y algo más. Por lo visto llamaba a su madre a cada paso para contarle que estaba delante de…
Acabó el conservatorio de piano justo antes de salir hacia Moscú y había empezado a tocar en alguna banda. Ahora dice que ya no es tiempo para música, que debe encontrar trabajo y empezar a pensar en boda y niños.
Le viene a buscar su hermano mayor que al verle le tiende la mano serio y firme. Con un orgullo algo amargo, Nikolai aprieta los dientes y evitando una reacción infantil, le devuelve el saludo de modo casi militar. Ya es un hombre. Y los dos echan a andar.
It's 7 a.m. and the train is about to arrive to Novosibirsk, the last stop for Nikolai. Since I went to bed at about 2, I have seen how he has been squirming so nervous in his seat. Already a few hours ago, he put on the military uniform which will show proudly on their arrival.
No one can sleep in the day they return home ...
He is about 21. He left Kemerovo, Siberia, for the first time in his life a year and a half ago to do the military service near Moscow. Neither he nor relatives or friends had never been there before. He still shows wide eyes when he tells about the day he was on leave to see Red Square, the subway and so on. Apparently he was calling her mother every time to tell her he was in front of some significant monument…
He finished the piano conservatory just before leaving to Moscow and began to play in some bands. Now he says it is no time for music: he must find a job in order to get married as soon as possible.
His older brother is coming to pick him up. He has seen Nikolai and is holding out his hand seriously and firmly. With a sort of bitter pride, Nikolai looks at him and, avoiding a knee-jerk reaction, he shakes his hands almost in a military way. He's a man. And they both just leave walking.
