The Kruglyansky Bridge is a story by Vasil Bykov, which tells us about the relationship between people, humanism, as well as the inhuman and at the same time human face of war. This realistic work reflects the images of people who exist in real life, with their empathy and devotion, hatred and friendship, love and fear.
It refers to the price of a person’s life compared to a high purpose. Ambiguously it is possible to interpret the act of the protagonist. The eternal value of human feelings is discussed in Bykov’s work “The Circular Bridge”, a summary of which you can read below.
The beginning of the story
There was no special room for those arrested in the partisan detachment, so Styopka Tolkach sat in the pit and recalled the events of recent days. In this detachment, he was uncomfortable, there was little trust in the hero, and he was sent to serve in the economic platoon. But once the demolitionist Maslakov called Styopka on a mission. He was delighted with this event, because, despite his age (18 years), he had considerable experience in such activities.
Two more people went with them: the former battalion commander Britvin, who was demoted for some reason, and he wanted to earn forgiveness, and Danila Shpak, who was well acquainted with this area. On assignment it was necessary to burn a wooden bridge near the small village of Kruglyany.
Fatal shot
It was already gathering rain and dusk was approaching when they were in place. Maslakov decided that it was necessary to go right now, since night protection had not yet been set near the bridge, and even if the rain intensified, the object might not catch fire. Under various pretexts, Shpak and Britvin refused to go, then Maslakov ordered Styopka to follow him.
Further, the book of Vasil Bykov includes a description of the tragic events. At the exit from the forest, the heroes seemed completely deserted bridge and road. Approaching closer, they saw that in a rainy fog some kind of figure suddenly flickered. They continued their movement, since it was too late to hide. A shot thundered from the side of the bridge, and Styopka and Maslakov darted on opposite sides of the road. Moving along the embankment, which was getting lower, Styopka, holding a canister in one hand and a rifle in the other, was able to see the figure of the shooter. Then he threw gasoline, practically without aiming, fired.
Having appeared on the opposite side of the road, Styopka found the fatally wounded Maslakov. Silence reigned, no more shots were heard.
New commander
After the fateful event of the story "The Kruglyansky Bridge" (a summary is presented in the article) Styopka dragged backward, taking over the body of the commander. He expected Shpak and Britvin to help him, but they only met in the forest. Despair and grief filled Stepkin’s mind, because the commander was wounded, and he left the canister near the bridge. Moreover, there was no sense in it, since it was no longer possible to get to the object due to the fact that the Germans strengthened the guard. Britvin, who took command of the group, ordered Styopka to look for a supply.
Quite quickly Styopka found a horse grazing in the forest. But the owner of the animal, a teenager of fifteen, Mitya, did not want to give it to the Pusher, because in the morning the guy had to bring milk to Kruglyany. Styopka offered him a compromise: to go together, and in the morning to return home with a horse. All this turned out to be in vain, since Maslakov had already died.
Razor was alarmed by the fact that the teenager was the son of a policeman, so it was decided to leave Mitya until the morning. When he heard that in the morning the boy should take milk across this bridge, a plan matured in the head of the new commander.
Britvin's plan
The author of the story (V. Bykov) “Kruglyansky bridge” further tells us that Britvin sent the teenager home on the condition that he would call in with them in the morning with milk. Shpak went for explosives. But the ammonite brought by him was very damp, so the new commander ordered Styopka and Shpak to dry it directly on fire. At that time he himself observed the actions of his subordinates.
When the explosives dried out a little, Britvin made fun of Styopka, as he and Maslakov decided to burn the bridge with a canister of gasoline, the guy objected that the deceased commander did not want to risk anyone. Britvin decided to convince him that war is a risk to people, because the one who takes the greatest risk wins. After such words, Styopka decided that the new commander knew much more about the war than the deceased.
Undermining the bridge
Further in the work “Kruglyansky bridge” (we give a brief summary), as soon as morning came, Mitya appeared with a cart and cans. Having poured milk from one container, they filled it with explosives, and the Bikford cord was brought out. It was planned to set it on fire thirty meters before the bridge, and then throw off the can and whip the horses. By the time the policemen come to their senses, the bridge will already be blown up.
Styopkino place was near the bridge, where he, in fact, went. For a long time the road was empty. Finally, a supply appeared on it, in which Mitya sat and clumsily smoked a cigarette. He did not see Shpak and Razvin. The boy was worried. Literally ten meters from the bridge, one of the guards shouted something, after which Mitya stopped the cart and jumped to the ground.
The young demoman was frightened that the German would see the
Bickford cord, and, having thrown up his machine gun, gave the line in order to save Mitya. After that, the horse rushed to the bridge, and stumbled, fell to his knees. On one side, a boy rushed towards him, and on the other, three policemen. Styopka aimed at them, but did not have time to shoot, as a powerful explosion followed, the wave of which threw the guy back. Half-muffled, he fled to the forest, where Shpak and Britvin were waiting for him. The joyful commander said that it was they who shot the horse, to which Mitya ran.
Calling Britvin a scum and not obeying the order to surrender weapons, Styopka threw up a machine gun and shot the commander in the stomach.
The final
The Kruglyansky bridge ends (for a brief summary see above) with the fact that Styopka is waiting for the court sitting in the pit. Shpak, who visited him, says that Razor is being operated on, and nothing threatens his life. He does not hold evil against a young demoman and asks that he not tell about Mitya and the whole story. Styopka decided for himself that he was guilty and ready to be punished, but the main thing is that he will not withhold these events and will tell everyone about Mitya.
The summary cannot fully convey the images of the heroes, so it is advisable to read the full version of the work.