“Why, I was only a year in the battalion, Alexandr Petrovitch, and I came here because I killed my commanding officer.”

“I’d heard it, Sirotkin, but I can’t believe it. How could you kill anyone?”

“It happened so, Alexandr Petrovitch. I was awfully miserable.”

“But how do the other recruits manage? Of course it’s hard at first, but they get used to it and in the end they become fine soldiers. Your mother must have spoiled you; she fed you on milk and goodies till you were eighteen.”