Sotnikov detailed retelling of the chapters. Sotnikov, in abbreviation. Bykov's story "Sotnikov": the main characters A summary of Bykov's centurions by chapter

Vasil Bykov

Sotnikov

Chapter first

They walked through the forest along a deaf, snow-covered road, on which there was no longer a trace of horse hooves, runners or human legs. Here, probably, they traveled a little in the summer, but now, after the long February snowstorms, everything was leveled with snow, and, if not for the forest - they ate interspersed with alder, which unevenly parted in both directions, forming a corridor dully whitening in the night - it would be it is difficult to understand that this is the road. And yet they were not wrong. Peering through the bare shrubbery shrouded in twilight, Rybak became more and more aware of the places he had remembered since autumn. Then he and four more from Smolyakov's group, one evening, also made their way to the farm along this road, also with the intention of getting hold of some food. There is just a familiar ravine, on the edge of which the three of them sat and smoked, waiting for the two who had gone ahead to give a signal to everyone to go. Now, however, one could not poke his head into the ravine: a cornice swept by a blizzard hung from its edge, and the bare trees on the slope were buried up to their very tops in snow.

Nearby, above the tops of the firs, the erased half of the moon glided lightly in the sky, which hardly shone - only faintly gleamed in the cold twinkling of the stars. But with him it was not so lonely at night - it seemed like someone alive and kind unobtrusively accompanies them on this journey. Away in the forest it was gloomy from the dark medley of firs, undergrowth, some kind of indistinct shadows, a disorderly tangle of frozen branches; close up, on the pure whiteness of the snow, the road was easily visible. The fact that it lay here on untouched virgin soil, although it made walking difficult, at the same time insured against surprises, and Rybak thought that hardly anyone would lie in wait for them in this wilderness. But still, they had to be on their guard, especially after Glinyan, near which they almost ran into the Germans about two hours ago. Fortunately, an uncle with firewood met on the outskirts of the village, he warned of the danger, and they turned into the forest, where they wandered through the thickets for a long time until they got out onto this road.

However, a random skirmish in the forest or in the field did not frighten Rybak very much: they had weapons. True, there were not enough rounds of ammunition, but there was nothing to be done: those that remained in the Burnt Swamp gave them what they could from their also more than meager stocks. Now, in addition to the five pieces in the carbine, Rybak had three more clips jingling in the pockets of his sheepskin coat, and Sotnikov had the same number. It's a pity they didn't take the grenades, but maybe they won't need the grenades yet, and by morning they'll both be in the camp. At least they should be. True, Rybak felt that after the failure in Glinyany they were a little late, they had to hurry, but their partner let them down.

All the while they were walking through the forest, Rybak heard behind him a dull, cold cough, sometimes closer, sometimes farther. But then he completely calmed down, and Rybak, slowing down his pace, looked around - pretty much lagging behind, Sotnikov was barely dragging himself in the dusk of the night. Suppressing his impatience, Rybak watched for a minute as he rowed wearily through the snow in his clumsy, worn-out cloaks, his head somehow unfamiliarly lowered in a Red Army cap pulled down deeply over his ears. Even from a distance, in the frosty silence of the night, his frequent, labored breathing was heard, with which Sotnikov, even having stopped, still could not cope.

Well, how? Tolerable?

A! - he vaguely squeezed out and adjusted the rifle on his shoulder. - Is it still far?

Before answering, Rybak hesitated, peering inquisitively at the thin, tightly belted figure of his partner over a short overcoat. He already knew that he would not confess, although he fell ill, would be invigorated: they say, it would cost - to avoid someone else's participation, or what? Nothing else, but this Sotnikov's pride and stubbornness would be enough for three. He got on the mission partly because of his pride - he was sick, but did not want to tell the commander about it when he was picking up a partner for Rybak by the fire. At first, two were called - Vdovets and Glushchenko, but Vdovets had just dismantled and began to clean his machine gun, and Glushchenko referred to wet feet: he went for water and fell knee-deep into a quagmire. Then the commander called Sotnikov, and he silently got up. When they were already on their way and Sotnikov began to cough, Rybak asked why he was silent, while the other two refused, to which Sotnikov replied: "Because he did not refuse, because the others refused." This was not entirely clear to the fisherman, but after a while he thought that in general there was nothing to worry about: a person is on his feet, is it worth paying attention to some kind of cough, they don’t die from a cold in war. He will reach the dwelling, warm himself, eat hot potatoes, and take off all the ailment as if by hand.

Nothing, now it's close, - Rybak said encouragingly and turned to continue his journey.

But before he had time to take a step, Sotnikov choked again from behind and went into a long internal cough. Trying to restrain himself, he bent over, covered his mouth with his sleeve, but the cough only intensified because of this.

And you are snow! Take the snow, he interrupts! Fisher suggested.

Struggling with an attack of coughing that ripped through his chest, Sotnikov scooped up a handful of snow, sucked, and the cough really subsided a little.

Crap! Tie down, even break!

The fisherman frowned in concern for the first time, but said nothing, and they walked on.

An even chain of tracks ran out of the ravine onto the road, looking closer at which Rybak realized that a wolf had recently passed here (also, probably, it is drawn to human habitation - it’s not sweet in such a frost in the forest). Both of them took a little to the side and did not leave this track any further, which in the misty gray of the night not only marked the road, but also indicated where there was less snow: the wolf determined this unmistakably. However, their journey was coming to an end, the farm was about to appear, and this set Rybak in a new, more joyful mood.

Lyubka is there, here is the fire girl! he said softly, without turning around.

What? - did not hear Sotnikov.

The girl, I say, is on the farm. You will see, you will forget all the ailment.

Do you still have girls on your mind?

Dragging behind with noticeable effort, Sotnikov dropped his head and stooped even more. Apparently, all his attention was now focused only on not losing his stride, not losing the pace he could manage.

Well! Just eat...

But even the mention of food had no effect on Sotnikov, who again began to lag behind, and Rybak, slowing down, looked around.

You know, yesterday I took a nap in the swamp - I dreamed about bread. Warm loaf in the bosom. I woke up, and it warmed from the fire. Such an annoyance...

It’s not surprising, I’ll dream, ”Sotnikov agreed deafly. - A week on steamed rye ...

And yes, the chick is over. Yesterday Gronsky distributed the leftovers, - said Rybak and fell silent, trying not to start a conversation about what really interested him this time.

In addition, there was no time for talking: the forest was ending, the road went out into the field. Further along one side of the path stretched small shrubs, thickets of willows across the swamp, the road from which turned sharply onto a hillock. The fisherman was waiting for the holey roof of the punka to appear from behind the alder tree, and there, behind the hedge, there would be a house with sheds and a crane over the well. If the crane sticks out with its end up, then everything is in order, you can go in; if it is hooked in a well frame, then turn back - strangers are in the house. So, at least, once agreed with Uncle Roman. True, that was a long time ago, since autumn they had not looked here - they circled in other places, on the other side of the highway, until hunger and the gendarmes again drove them to where they had driven them out a month ago.

With a quick step, Rybak reached a bend in the road and turned onto a hillock. The wolf's trail in the snow also turned in the direction of the farm. Obviously feeling the proximity of housing, the wolf cautiously and narrowly stepped along the roadside, closely clinging to the bushes. However, Rybak had already ceased to follow the road - all his attention was now directed forward, to where the bushes ended.

Finally, he hurried up the slope to the top of the hillock and immediately thought that he must have been mistaken - probably the farm buildings were a little further. It often happens on an unfamiliar road that some sections of it disappear from memory, and then the whole path seems shorter than it really is. Rybak hastened his pace yet again, but Sotnikov again began to lag behind. However, Rybak had already ceased to pay attention to Sotnikov - suddenly, and as if for no reason, anxiety seized him.

Punka was still not in the dullness of the night, just as there were no other buildings ahead, but several gusts of wind from there brought the bitterly acrid stench of burning to the travelers. The fisherman at first thought that it seemed to him that it was coming from somewhere in the forest. He walked another hundred paces, trying to see through the thickets of habitually snow-covered roofs of the estate. However, his expectation did not come true - there was no farm. On the other hand, there was still a hint of burning - not fresh, with fire or smoke, but the nasty stench of long-cooled coals and ashes. Realizing that he was not mistaken, Rybak cursed in an undertone and almost ran running in the middle of the road until he stumbled upon a fence.

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Sotnikov and Rybak, who were tasked to find food for the partisans, walked through the winter fields, trying not to catch the eye of the Germans. Sotnikov felt completely unimportant - he was tormented by a cough, he could hardly walk. Entering one of the villages, they found the hut of the headman, who told them that he was “not an enemy” to “his people”. Rybak and Sotnikov took the sheep from him and went on.

Further, the path lay through the field, where it was difficult to hide. Rybak and Sotnikov heard the noise of the cart, they had to quickly run forward to get to the copse, but Sotnikov could not do this - he was very weak. Then, having heard the order to stop, he lay down in the field and began to shoot. Having been wounded, he only thought that Rybak might have reached a safe place - Sotnikov did not want both Rybak and the partisans who needed food to suffer because he himself could not move quickly. But Rybak did not leave - he returned for Sotnikov, and helped him get to the nearest village, where they entered the house in which there were four children. The eldest girl was 9 years old, she fed them boiled potatoes. The fisherman told Sotnikov that he would leave him in this house, while he himself would go further. At that moment, the mother of the children entered the house. She first mistook Rybak and Sotnikov for the Germans, and then, having learned that they were Red Army soldiers, she began to treat the wound on Sotnikov's leg. The fisherman, looking out the window, saw that the policemen were approaching the house. Demikha (that's what everyone called the woman) ordered Rybak and Sotnikov to go up to the attic. The police came for vodka and were about to leave when they heard a cough coming from the attic. They seized Rybak and Sotnikov, and along with them arrested Demikha.

On the way to the police station, Sotnikov was only worried that both Rybak and the mother of four children were arrested because of him. During the interrogation, Sotnikov did not say anything to the investigator, despite the torture. But Rybak tried to politely and in detail answer the questions of the investigator, and he offered him to serve Germany in the police if what he told turned out to be true. Returning to the basement and seeing what happened to Sotnikov, Rybak was glad in his heart that he had not been subjected to such torture.

And in the morning, everyone who was in the basement - and apart from Rybak and Sotnikov, there was also Demichikha, the headman from whom they took the sheep, and who was arrested for not giving them away, and the Jewish girl, was taken to "liquidation" . And then Rybak, coming forward, told the investigator that he agreed to serve in the police. Sotnikov felt ashamed both for him and for the fact that he, Sotnikov, could not save people who got into trouble because of him, but he thought that he had no right to condemn Rybak. They were led to the place of execution, where five loops of rope had already been prepared. Rybak helped Sotnikov to climb onto a low bench, and he himself knocked the bench out from under Sotnikov's feet. After the execution, Rybak was ordered to line up with other policemen. At first, he still hoped that right now he would be able to run away, get to his own people, but when he saw the eyes of a peasant passing by him in a cart, he realized that he had nowhere to run.

The story "Sotnikov" Bykov wrote in 1969. In the story, Bykov raises the existential problems of heroism and betrayal, the influence of circumstances on a person. On our website you can read online a summary of "Sotnikov" chapter by chapter. The author reveals the struggle between good and evil in the souls of the heroes, explores the psychological state of people during the war.

Bykov does not give final assessments of the characters, leaving this right to the reader. Brief retelling will help prepare for the lesson of literature, fill in the reader's diary. The original title of the work is "Liquidation".

The main characters of the story

Main characters:

• Sotnikov - former commander of an artillery battalion, graduated from a teacher's institute before the war; Red Army soldier, partisan; was hanged by the police.
• Rybak - former foreman of the infantry; Red Army soldier, partisan; to avoid death, he agreed to become a policeman.

Other characters:

• Pyotr Kachan, the headman of the village of Lyasiny, involuntarily began to serve the Germans.
• Avginya Demchikha - mother of four children; hid Sotinkov and Rybak, because of which she got to the policemen and was hanged.
• Portkov is a police investigator who interrogated the captives.

Bulls "Sotnikov" very brief content

Vasil Bykov "Sotnikov" summary for reader's diary will talk about how the horrors of war destroy not only lives, but also the souls of people and their morality:

Sotnikov and Rybak are sent to a farm to get provisions for a detachment hiding in the forest. The headman of the farm gave them a sheep. On the way, they come across to the Germans, Sotnikov, who is already sick, is wounded in the leg, but they manage to escape. They find the nearest house and enter, being fed by a girl.

There are two other children in the house with her. Soon their mother, Demchikha, arrives, she is not happy with the partisans, but treats Sotnikov's wounds. The Germans come and take away not only the men, but also the woman. Sotnikov is trying in every possible way to shield Demchikha, Rybak blames his comrade for everything.

They are interrogated and tortured, Rybak tells everything, Sotnikov and Demchikha hold on. The fisherman is offered to become a policeman, he agrees to save himself.

In the morning the execution is scheduled. The fisherman is ordered to lead his comrades to the scaffold, Sotnikov, Demchikha and the Headman are hanged. The fisherman understands that there is no turning back, he wants to hang himself, but he does not have a belt, now he cannot return to his own.

Conclusion:

Life is dear to every person, but betraying comrades and destroying the innocent for the sake of one's own skin is ignoble, it is unlikely that a person will live the rest of his life without remorse.

See also: The story “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” by Boris Vasiliev is one of the most heartfelt and tragic works about the Great Patriotic War. First published in 1969. To understand the event series of the story, you can read the summary "" by chapters on our website.

A short retelling of the Centurions with quotes

On a winter night, burying themselves from the Germans, Rybak and Sotnikov circled the fields and copses, having received the task of obtaining food for the partisans. The fisherman walked easily and quickly, Sotnikov lagged behind. He should not have gone on a mission at all - he fell ill: he coughed, his head was spinning, he was tormented by weakness. He could hardly keep up with Rybak.

The farm to which they were heading turned out to be burned down. We reached the village, chose the elder's hut.

- Hello, - trying to be polite, Rybak greeted. - Can you guess who we are?

- Hello, - without a shadow of obsequiousness or fear, an elderly man who was sitting at the table over the Bible answered.

- Do you serve the Germans? Rybak continued. - Aren't you ashamed to be an enemy?

“I am not an enemy to my people,” the old man replied just as calmly.

- Do you have cattle? Let's go to the barn.

They took a sheep from the headman and moved on without delay.

They were walking across the field towards the road when they suddenly heard a noise ahead. Someone was driving down the road. "Let's run," Rybak commanded. Two carts full of people were already visible. There was still hope that they were peasants, then everything would have worked out. “Well, stop! came an angry cry. "Stop, we'll shoot!"

And Rybak added to the run. Sotnikov backed off. He fell on the slope - dizzy. Sotnikov was afraid that he would not be able to get up. He groped for his rifle in the snow and fired at random. Having been in a good dozen hopeless situations, Sotnikov was not afraid of death in battle. I was only afraid to become a burden.

He was able to take a few more steps and felt his thigh burned and blood flowed down his leg. Shot. Sotnikov lay down again and began to shoot back at the pursuers already visible in the darkness. After a few of his shots, everything was quiet. Sotnikov could make out the figures returning to the road.

"Sotnikov! He suddenly heard a whisper. - Sotnikov! This is Rybak, who has already gone far, yet returned for him. Together in the morning they reached the next village. In the house where they entered, the partisans were met by a nine-year-old girl.

- What is your mother's name? Rybak asked.

“Demichiha,” the girl replied. - She's at work. And the four of us are sitting here. I am the oldest.

And the girl hospitably put a bowl of boiled potatoes on the table.

- I want to leave you here, - said Rybak to Sotnikov. - Lie down.

- Mom is coming! the children shouted.

The woman who entered was not surprised or frightened, only something trembled in her face when she saw an empty bowl on the table.

- What else do you need? she asked. - Of bread? Sala? eggs?

We are not Germans.

- And who are you? Red Army? So those at the front are fighting, and you are running around in the corners, - the woman uttered angrily, but immediately took up Sotnikov’s wound.

The fisherman looked out the window and recoiled: "Germans!" “Quickly to the attic,” Demikha ordered. The police were looking for vodka. “I have nothing,” Demikha scolded angrily. - To you around. And then from above, from the attic, a cough rang out. "Who do you have there?" The policemen were already climbing up. "Hands up! Get it, doves."

Bound Sotnikov, Rybak and Demikha were taken to a nearby town to the police. That they were gone, Sotnikov had no doubt. He was tormented by the thought that they were the cause of death for this woman and her children ... Sotnikov was the first to be taken for interrogation.

- Do you think I'll tell you the truth? Sotnikov asked investigator Portnov.

“Tell me,” the policeman said softly. - You say everything. We'll make stuffing out of you. Let's stretch all the veins, break the bones. And then we will announce that you betrayed everyone ... I woke up to me! - ordered the investigator, and a buffalo-like fellow appeared in the room, his huge hands tore Sotnikov from the chair ...

The fisherman, meanwhile, was languishing in the basement, in which he unexpectedly met the headman.

- And what were you imprisoned for?

- For not informing you. There will be no mercy for me, - the old man answered somehow very calmly.

- What humility! Rybak thought. - No, I still fight for my life.

And when he was brought in for interrogation, Rybak tried to be accommodating, not to irritate the investigator in vain - he answered in detail and, as it seemed to him, very cunningly. “You seem to be a guy with a head,” the investigator approved. - We'll check your testimony. We might save your life. You will also serve the great Germany in the police. Think."

Returning to the basement and seeing Sotnikov's broken fingers - with torn nails, caked in blood clots - Rybak experienced a secret joy that he had avoided this. No, he will dodge to the last. There were already five of them in the basement. They brought the Jewish girl Basya, from whom they demanded the names of those who hid her, and Demichikha.

The basement door opened: “Come out: liquidation!” The police were already standing in the yard with weapons at the ready. German officers and police authorities came out onto the porch.

“I want to make a message,” Sotnikov shouted. - I'm a partisan. It was I who wounded your policeman. That one,” he nodded at Rybak, “turned up here by accident.

But the elder only waved his hand: "Lead."

- Mr. Investigator, - Rybak rushed. - You offered me yesterday. I agree.

“Come closer,” they suggested from the porch. - Do you agree to serve in the police?

- I agree, - Rybak answered with all the sincerity he was capable of.

“Bastard,” Sotnikov’s shout hit him on the back of the head like a blow.

Sotnikov was now painfully ashamed of his naive hopes to save at the cost of his life people in trouble. The policemen led them to the place of execution, where the inhabitants of the town had already been rounded up and where five hemp loops were already hanging from above. The condemned were brought to the bench. Rybak had to help Sotnikov climb it. “Bastard,” Sotnikov thought about him again and immediately reproached himself: where did you get the right to judge ... Rybak knocked out the support from under Sotnikov's feet.

When it was all over and the people dispersed, and the policemen began to line up, Rybak stood aside, waiting for what would happen to him. “Well! the elder yelled at him. - Get in line. Step march! And this was usual and familiar to Rybak, he mindlessly stepped in time with the others. What's next? The fisherman glanced down the street: he had to run. Now, let's say, thump into a passing sleigh, hit a horse!

But, meeting the eyes of the peasant sitting in the sleigh, and feeling how much hatred was in those eyes, Rybak realized that this would not work. But who will he go out with? And then he, like a butt on the head, was deafened by the thought: there is nowhere to run away. After liquidation - nowhere. There was no way out of this formation.

See also: B. Polevoy's book "The Tale of a Real Man" was written in 1946. On our website you can read the summary "" chapter by chapter. The prototype of the protagonist of the work was a real historical character - the hero of the USSR, pilot Alexei Maresyev. Boris Polevoy's book was awarded the Stalin Prize.

The plot of the story "Sotnikov" Bykov

"Sotnikov" Bykov summary of the work:

Rybak and Sotnikov walked through the forest, "along a deaf, snow-covered road." Sotnikov could hardly drag himself: he had a severe cold and was coughing. The fisherman asked why he agreed to go on the mission. Sotnikov replied: “That’s why I didn’t refuse, because others refused.”

After the recent crossing of the highway, when it fell to Rybak and Sotnikov to cover the retreat of the detachment, the Red Army men drew closer and last days kept together.

The men went to the village. A woman who lived in an extreme hut said that the village was called Lyasiny and showed where the local headman, Pyotr Kachan, lives. Rybak and Sotnikov entered the headman's house without knocking. The owner was not surprised. When Rybak asked if he served the Germans, Kachan replied that he "had to." On the wall in the house hung a photograph of the headman's son, who had gone to the front. Rybak noted that the headman disgraced his son, who fought against the Germans.

The elder's wife set the table. Sotnikov refused to eat, he felt very bad. The fisherman ate with pleasure. The Red Army men were surprised that there was a Bible in the headman's house.

The fisherman told the owner to go outside with him. The hostess began to lament, but Sotnikov did not succumb to this. The Red Army soldier remembered how last year "excessive gullibility in the same aunt almost cost him his life": that woman offered to feed him, and while the soldier was eating, she called the policemen. The fisherman took the sheep from the elder.

The men moved back. Rybak had a slight dissatisfaction with his partner: without him he would have gone far. The men walked across the field for a long time, but there was still no necessary road. The fisherman noticed the approaching people and ordered Sotnikov to run. The fisherman did not have time to orient himself and ended up on the road along which the policemen were driving. With a sheep on his back, he ran forward even faster, overcame a hillock, leaving Sotnikov behind.

The pursuers started shooting. The fisherman hurried forward, but at the last moment he came to his senses, abandoned the sheep and decided to return to his friend.

Sotnikov, trying to escape, was shot in the thigh. Sitting on the snow, the man began to shoot at his pursuers, trying to detain them. He was not afraid of death - "it was terrible to become a burden for others." Sotnikov was getting worse when he suddenly heard the voice of Rybak nearby.

Rybak and Sotnikov crawled towards the bushes. The fisherman, helping his comrade, began to be exhausted himself. They barely reached the road and headed towards the grove.

Sotnikov did not feel his foot, his thigh hurt excruciatingly, but he continued to walk. The men went to the village cemetery, went into the nearest hut. There were only four children at home. The hostess's daughter said that Demchikha's mother was not at home and treated the men to potatoes and cucumbers.

The fisherman was angry with Sotnikov, because he could not leave his wounded comrade to the children, and he had to wait for the arrival of the hostess. Returning home, Demchikha was angry with uninvited guests, but seeing that Sotnikov was wounded, she bandaged him. The fisherman noticed three policemen through the window. Demchikha told the partisans to hide in the attic.

When the police searched the hut, Sotnikov began to cough loudly. The partisans had to surrender.

Sotnikov was not afraid that he might be killed, but "he was painfully worried because he had let Rybak and Demchikha down like that." For the fact that the woman hid the "bandits", the policemen also arrested her. On the way, Rybak "cursed himself for his indiscretion." He "already clearly realized that if not for Sotnikov, not for his cold, and then for his injury, they would certainly have reached the forest."

“That they were gone, Sotnikov did not doubt for a minute.” Sotnikov was taken to the investigator Portnov, they began to interrogate him. The prisoner realized that the police knew about their visit to the headman. Despite pressure from the investigator, Sotnikov refused to give information about his unit. Then Portkov called Budila - "the local police executioner."

Rybak and Demchikha were locked in the basement. In the cell where the Red Army soldier was put, there was the headman Peter. Rybak tried to come up with a way, if not to avoid, then at least delay the punishment.

Rybak was summoned for interrogation. He began to lie plausibly, giving the name of the captain of another detachment and saying that supposedly their detachment was in the forest. Satisfied with the interrogation, Portnov said that he might pardon Rybak, help him join the police and serve Germany.

“Sotnikov was saved by his weakness: as soon as Budila began to torture, he quickly lost consciousness.” The bones of the hands were broken to the prisoner, the nails were torn off. After half an hour of torture, Sotnikov was thrown into a cell with the elder and Rybak. Rybak thought that “if Sotnikov dies, then his chances will improve significantly. He can say whatever he wants."

Rybak tried to negotiate with Sotnikov that they give the same testimony, but he refused. Sotnikov, realizing that his comrade was being called to the police, said: “It's a car! Either you will serve her, or she will grind you to powder!

After interrogation, Peter said that he was asked to find out from Rybak and Sotnikov about the detachment, but he refused. After interrogation, a Jewish girl and Demchikha were thrown into their cell.

The fisherman began to realize that "now there was no way out", although "always and everywhere he managed to find some way out." "No, he could not agree to death, he would not accept death in submission for anything."

Sotnikov decided that "tomorrow he will tell the investigator that he went to intelligence." He dreamed of his father, who, it seemed to Sotnikov, was quoting the Bible.

In the morning the five prisoners were taken outside. Sotnikov shouted to the released authorities: “I am a partisan. It was I who wounded your policeman.<…>The rest are nothing. Take me alone." But the police did not react to his words.

Rybak noticed Portnov among the authorities and personally addressed him with the words that he was not guilty of anything. Portnov called Rybak to him and asked if he agreed to join the police. The fisherman agreed. "Bastard!" Sotnikov shouted.

Sotnikov was offended that he was going to save others.

On the crossbar of the street arch hung "five flexible hemp loops." One by one, the captives "began to be bred along the gallows." Sotnikov climbed a block of wood standing under a noose. The fisherman held the stand at this time. The policeman threw a noose around his neck, nearby Demchikha was crying loudly. The fisherman said to his friend: "Forgive me brother!" “Go to hell! - Sotnikov briefly threw.

“The fisherman released the stand and recoiled - Sotnikov’s legs swayed nearby, the hat knocked off by them fell on the snow.” After the execution, the Germans began to disperse "in a cheerful, high spirits, as after a successfully completed,<…>interesting activity."

Seeing Rybak standing on the sidewalk, the senior policeman ordered him to line up. Confused for a moment, Rybak joined the column. He realized that "there was no way to escape from this formation" and "by this liquidation they twisted him more reliably than with a belt suponya." “Now he is an enemy to everyone and everywhere. And, apparently, to himself too.

During a smoke break, Rybak went into the closet, hoping to hang himself with a belt, but only now remembered that the belt had been taken away before the interrogation. Yesterday's dream of becoming a policeman turned into a disaster for him. “Such is fate. The insidious fate of a man who got lost in the war.

Conclusion

In the story "Sotnikov" Vasil Bykov contrasts the two main characters - Rybak and Sotnikov. From the first chapters, it seems that the active, cunning Rybak is more adapted to the conditions of war than the sickly, low-initiative Sotnikov.

However, with the disclosure of the characters, it becomes clear that Sotnikov has greater morality, spiritual strength. Until his death, he remains true to his principles, unlike Rybak, who becomes an enemy to himself.

This is interesting: The story "Ivan" by Bogomolov was written in 1957. We recommend reading chapter by chapter, which is useful both for the reader's diary and in preparation for a literature lesson. This is a tragic and true story about a scout boy who decided to put own life in the fight against the fascist invaders.

Video summary Sotnikov

Bykov's stories about the war are considered the most truthful and psychological in all the literature of the 20th century. It was he who managed to show her face like no other, the fact that the writer himself was a participant in the war played a significant role. The story about two partisan friends, which is studied in the 11th grade, is complex and diverse thematically and compositionally.

Vasily Vladimirovich Bykov is a talented Soviet writer, whose works still do not leave the reader indifferent today. And all because most of his novels and short stories describe the times of the Great Patriotic War. In this article we will consider one of the most famous works of the writer and pay special attention to its summary. "Sotnikov" is a story with an interesting fate and an exciting plot, which will become the center of our article.

About the book

The story "Sotnikov", a brief summary of which will take all our attention in the future, was written in the Belarusian language in 1969. Initially, the work had the title "Liquidation". The first publication of the story took place in 1970 in the 5th issue of the Novy Mir magazine.

History of creation

In order to more fully understand the summary (“Sotnikov” is a difficult work), it is necessary to turn to the history of the creation of the story. It was based on Bykov's meeting with his former fellow soldier, who was considered dead.

Bykov was shocked by the story of this man. "Sotnikov" (we will discuss the summary in more detail below) is a difficult work, if only because, in fact, it is based on a story about betrayal.

So, the fellow soldier of the writer did not die during the war, but ended up in a concentration camp. There he became one of the Vlasovites, intending to wait for the right opportunity to escape. But time passed, and the right moment did not turn up. As a result, he was captured by the Soviet troops and met with Bykov in 1944 in the role of a captured fascist. Such is the unusual story of the story "Sotnikov". Summary will be another proof of how much this event shocked the author himself. Bykov understood the terrible tragedy of a man who was unable to influence his fate in any way and change the situation.

In the center of the description is a partisan detachment. Two of its participants, Sotnikov and Rybak, go for provisions. Winter night, around the field and copse, the Germans could be anywhere, so we had to be careful. The ill Sotnikov, who was continually overtaken by a cough, could hardly keep up with Rybak's light, springy step. This is the first inequality of heroes, which is indicated by the summary. Sotnikov was not supposed to go for provisions in such a state at all.

The heroes head to the nearest farm, which turns out to be burned by the Germans. I had to move on to the village. Here we went straight to the elder's hut. The fisherman accused him of conspiring with the Germans, to which the old man calmly replied that he was not their enemy. However, Sotnikov did not enter into the conversation. The summary very reliably describes the life of people in wartime. So, the headman, despite cooperation with the enemy, gives his sheep to the partisans.

Shootout

The heroes continued on their way. They were just crossing the field when a noise was heard from afar and carts with people became visible. Rybakov rushed to run, urging his comrade on, but was unable to catch up with him Sotnikov. The summary describes the physical weakness of the hero caused by the disease. Due to sudden dizziness, he falls. From afar, a cry is heard demanding to stop. Fearing that he cannot get up, Sotnikov shoots at random. He is not afraid of death, but does not want to be a burden to a comrade.

With difficulty, the hero rises, takes a few steps and realizes that he has been shot. Dryly and competently describes Bykov the skirmish, which is confirmed by the brief content of Sotnikov. Even the wounded partisans do not give up, continuing to shoot back. And then Rybak returns for a friend. Together they manage to get away from the chase. By morning they go to the next village.

captivity

The summary of Sotnikov is gradually gaining more and more intensity. The partisans enter the very first house, where a girl meets them and says that her mother, Demichikha, is at work. It turns out that the child is not alone in the hut, but the children share a single bowl of potatoes. Demichkha returns, she is angry at the uninvited guests. However, noticing the wound, the woman immediately begins to treat it. Sotnikov gratefully accepts her help.

interrogation

Further, a summary of "Sotnikov" tells about the interrogation of prisoners by the police. First in line is Sotnikov. The hero refuses to hand over the partisans voluntarily. Then the investigator calls a huge kid who will have to shake out the whole truth from the intractable prisoner.

The brief content of Sotnikov is not embellished, Bykov accurately depicts the realities of the war. While one of the partisans is under interrogation, the action is transferred to the cell. Here Rybak meets with the headman. The surprised hero asks why he ended up here. In response, he hears: “Because I didn’t inform on you.” It is the turn of the interrogation of Rybak himself. Unlike Sotnikov, he does not anger the investigator, he tries to answer questions, albeit dodging. As a result, he receives the praise of a policeman and a promise to save his life and the opportunity to serve in the police.

Returning to the cell, Rybak sees Sotnikov, disfigured by torture, and rejoices at the fact that he himself so deftly wriggled out. The summary of Sotnikov very well conveys the dark sides of human nature and the desire to survive even at the cost of betrayal.

liquidation

Bykov brings the actions of his heroes to the reader's judgment. Sotnikov (a brief summary reveals the resilience of this person) and Rybak, who did not leave his friend at the beginning, but dramatically changed his attitude to life at the end of the book, both show the truth of their nature precisely in the final scene of the story.

So, it's morning. Talk about shovels began to reach the prisoners. The fisherman, beginning to suspect evil, is worried. The door swings open, a policeman enters and announces the impending liquidation of prisoners. At this moment, it becomes clear what Vasil Bykov wanted to show the reader. Sotnikov (a summary cannot convey all the emotions of the protagonist) rises and shouts out a confession that he shot that German, while Rybak was not involved in the shooting. But no one pays attention to this statement.

Realizing the proximity of death, Rybak rushes to the investigator and says that he agrees to become a policeman. The German accepts a new subordinate. The prisoners are brought to the gallows benches. Shame and resentment for the behavior of a friend - that's what Sotnikov feels. The fisherman turns out to be the one who knocks out the support from under the feet of a former friend. Quite unhappily ends the summary of Sotnikov.

After the execution, the traitor walks in line with other policemen and contemplates escaping. Here a sleigh catches his eye. If you jump into them unnoticed, then maybe you can get away. But, faced with hatred in the eyes of the driver, he understands: there is nowhere to run.

Thus ends the story of "Sotnikov". A summary of the chapters perfectly illustrated the path of a person from loyalty to betrayal.

The post was inspired by the reading of Vasil Bykov's novel "Sotnikov". According to the old tradition, I continue to close school gaps, because "Sotnikov" was in the program, but I, of course, did not read it then :)

Summary of Vasil Bykov's story "Sotnikov"
The story "Sotnikov" by Vasil Bykov tells us about two Soviet partisans who are on the territory of Belarus occupied by the Germans. It's 1942. The weak partisan movement is forced to hide in forests and swamps, there is no ammunition, medicine, uniforms, food. On a cold February night in 1942, partisans Sotnikov and Rybak go for food. Rybak is an experienced strong young man, not deprived of strength and health. Sotnikov went on a mission sick. According to him, he did not refuse the assignment, because several more experienced comrades in the partisan detachment refused him.

The task of finding food did not work out from the very beginning: Sotnikov was exhausted and walked more slowly than necessary. The village they were looking for turned out to be deserted: it was burned by the Germans. At random, the partisans went to a neighboring village. Having reached it, they came to the house of the local headman, appointed by the occupying German troops. The headman turned out to be an old man named Pyotr Sych. Despite the fact that the partisans at first wanted to punish him for collaborating with the Germans, they were satisfied with the sheep they found with him. Having set off on their way back, Rybak and Sotnikov ran into a police patrol. Rybak, being strong and healthy, most likely could have left, but he could not leave the sick Sotnikov, who was also wounded in the leg. After a shootout, in which one of the policemen was wounded, they nevertheless left the fire and tried to hide, hiding in a randomly turned up house in a village unfamiliar to them. There were only small children in the house. There were no adults. Soon the hostess named Demchikha came, and the policemen came up to her house. The partisans hiding in the cherbak were betrayed by Sotnikov's strong cough. Rybak, Sotnikov and the mistress of the house were arrested and taken to prison.

During interrogations, the comrades behaved differently: Sotnikov knew that this time they would not get out, and did not say anything to the policemen, did not betray his comrades, despite the torture. The fisherman, who many times walked under death and being a brave man, could not stand it and wanted to save his life at any cost. He gave confused information to the policeman and was sent to the cell. In the cell were Sotnikov, mutilated by torture, the headman Pyotr Sych, accused of aiding the partisans, the Jewish girl Basya, who took refuge in the headman's house, Demchikha, whom Rybak and Sotnikov let down so much, and Rybak himself.

They spent their last night together, the next morning they were to be executed. Everyone resigned themselves to their fate, except for Rybak, who passionately wanted to live. The next morning, when they were taken to the place of execution, Rybak turned to the German authorities and expressed his desire to become a policeman. He was accepted and ordered to help Sotnikov reach the gallows. The fisherman also had to knock the block out from under Sotnikov's feet.

Some time after the execution, Rybak realized that now he had nowhere to run from the Germans, since the execution of his comrades kept him from the Germans much stronger than prison walls or ropes. Realizing that he was a traitor, he decided to commit suicide, but he did not have a belt. In the end, he realized that you couldn’t get away from fate and went to the German authorities who were already waiting for him ...

Meaning
The main characters of Vasil Bykov's story "Sotnikov" face a difficult choice: to save their lives by betraying, or to die with dignity, keeping their friends, colleagues, brothers in arms safe and sound. The hero makes different decisions:
1) Grandfather Petr Sych, who at first seems like an ordinary traitor, turns out to be a strong man and able to take responsibility. He became a headman so that his friends and relatives could live better. He also hid a Jewish girl in his house at his own peril and risk.
2) Demchikha, trying to hide partisans at home, greatly risked the lives of her children;
3) Sotnikov was able to find the strength in himself to hold on to the end, without changing his views;
4) A strong, brave and dexterous Rybak, who seemed almost a model soldier, broke down and crossed the line before which other heroes of the story "Sotnikov" could stop.

Each hero of the story pays his price for decisions made. All but one: the little Jewish girl Basya was hanged simply because she belonged to a nationality that the German troops sought to destroy.

Conclusion
The story "Sotnikov" by Vasil Bykov raises a very important question for me personally: what can a person do under the most terrible burden that one can imagine. Will he remain loyal to the Motherland, family, friends under the threat of death? What choice will he make in a difficult situation for him?

PS. According to the book by Vasil Bykov "Sotnikov" directed by Larisa Shapitko, the film "Ascent" was also made.

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