“Tatia: I think its too big to fit”

“Only one bear eats from this honey pot, Tatia”

“I'm going to die with Alexander's hand on my face, Tatiana thought. That is not a bad way to die. I cannot move. I can't get up. Just can't. She closed her eyes and felt herself drifting. Through the haze in front of her she heard Alexander's voice. "Tatiana, I love you. Do you hear me? I love you like I've never loved anyone in my whole life. Now, get up. For me, Tatia. For me, please get up and go take care of your sister. Go on. And I'll take care of you.”

“Alexander speaks. “Anthony, I’m going to tell you something. In 1941, when I met your mother, she had turned seventeen and was working at the Kirov factory, the largest weapons production facility in the Soviet Union. Do you know what she wore? A ratty brown cardigan that belonged to her grandmother. It was tattered and patched and two sizes too big for her. Even though it was June, she wore her much larger sister’s black skirt that was scratchy wool. The skirt came down to her shins. Her too-big thick black cotton stockings bunched up around her brown work boots. Her hands were covered in black grime she couldn’t scrub off. She smelled of gasoline and nitrocellulose because she had been making bombs and flamethrowers all day. And still I came every day to walk her home.”

“Tatiana fretted over him before he left as if he were a five-year-old on his first day of school.Shura, don't forget to wear your helmet wherever you go, even if it's just down the trail to the river.Don't forget to bring extra magazines. Look at this combat vest. You can fit more than five hundred rounds. It's unbelievable. Load yourself up with ammo. Bring a few extra cartridges. You don't want to run out. Don't forget to clean your M-16 every day. You don't want your rifle to jam."Tatia, this is the third generation of the M-16. It doesn't jam anymore. The gunpowder doesn't burn as much. The rifle is self-cleaning."When you attach the rocket bandolier, don't tighten it too close to your belt, the friction from bending will chafe you, and then irritation follows, and then infection......Bring at least two warning flares for the helicopters. Maybe a smoke bomb, too?"Gee, I hadn't thought of that."Bring your Colt - that's your lucky weapon - bring it, as well as the standard -issue Ruger. Oh, and I have personally organized your medical supplies: lots of bandages, four complete emergency kits, two QuickClots - no I decided three. They're light. I got Helena at PMH to write a prescription for morphine, for penicillin, for -"Alexander put his hand over her mouth. "Tania," he said, "do you want to just go yourself?"When he took the hand away, she said, "Yes."He kissed her.She said, "Spam. Three cans. And keep your canteen always filled with water, in case you can't get to the plasma. It'll help."Yes, Tania"And this cross, right around your neck. Do you remember the prayer of the heart?"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."Good. And the wedding band. Right around your finger. Do you remember the wedding prayer?"Gloria in Excelsis, please just a little more."Very good. Never take off the steel helmet, ever. Promise?"You said that already. But yes, Tania."Do you remember what the most important thing is?"To always wear a condom."She smacked his chest.To stop the bleeding," he said, hugging her.Yes. To stop the bleeding. Everything else they can fix."Yes, Tania.”

“Do I think she has forgotten me; found a new life? Assumed that I was dead, accepted that I was dead. Alexander shrugged. I think about it all the time. I live inside my heart. But what can I do? I have to move toward her.”

“But first my feet will freeze and thenmy legs and then my insides, they will all turn to ice. And my blood, too, andmy heart, and I will forget.”