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Glorious Chairman nodded and ordered the firing squad to shoulder their weapons and march the two to the execution site. Once there, they selected a tree on the outer edge of the clearing and shoved them up against it. “Do you want blindfolds?”
Stepha shook his head. “You don't have to bind us either. We won't run away.”
Glorious Chairman turned to Vanya. “Are you sure you don't want to beg?”Vanya eyed Stepha and remained silent.
The Chief Agitator took this as his cue, pumped his fist and began the chant, “Death to the kulak pigs. Death to the kulak pigs.” Following his lead the remaining on-lookers took up the chant, “Death to the kulak pigs. Death to the kulak pigs.”“It’s settled. The citizens will it.” Glorious Chairman stepped away from Stepha and gave the command to fire. Six rifles were leveled at the brothers, three directly at Stepha's chest, and the others at Vanya’s.
“Be strong,” Stepha said. “Don't cry and do what I do.” The pair joined hands and faced their executioners. “All power to the Russian people. Long live the revolution.”
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About the Book
Seven-year old Stepha and his little brother Vanya never mistook their Russian village of Unkurda for Eden, but after the Communist revolution in 1917, they found Hell. The two were among the millions of children cast adrift by a succession of soul crushing events. War, revolution, epidemic, and starvation, all conspire to force even the youngest of them to mature beyond their years. The brothers, armed only with the memories of their dead mother and absent father, vow to do more than just survive. They swear a blood oath to reach their dream or die trying. Their dream—a far off place they know only as America.
About the Author
Steve Pribish was born in Joliet, Illinois of Russian immigrants and learned stories of “years ago” first hand from his father and grandfather. After college, Steve spent thirty-three years working for the United States government monitoring the Soviet Union. He was deeply involved in Russian culture and made prolonged trips into European Russia. His first two novels, “Ikons” and “Banners” are the result of several generations of experience. Steve is the author of over two hundred government reports and has written for “Home and Away” and “Videomaker” magazines, and several Midwestern newspapers. His short stories, “There Will Be Crosses” and “The MiG and I” both won regional first place awards.