It was raining. Dozens of people gathered at the TokhMakh cemetery. It was the funeral of General Emin.
Ahead of the procession were soldiers carrying the photo of the general. The deceased in the photograph smiled, staring into the distance. After that, the military marched with wreaths of red roses and flowers of the colors of the Crotho flag. A coffin was carried in the middle of the procession. At the very end was a 40-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy with his head down. The guy had a drooping face, but his eyes burned with black hatred.
Suddenly an old man approached the guy. It was the caretaker of the cemetery.
"What does such a young man do at such a sad event?" asked the old man.
The guy raised his head and stared into the caretaker. After a pause, he said.
"I bury my father."
"I see," he drawled. "My condolences," the old man said slowly.
The boy moved forward.
When the general was already buried, people lined up at the grave. Ahead stood a man of about 60 years old, a woman and the same boy.
"Clara, you need to be careful. Since Emin was killed by terrorists, it means it's all not easy. Husband didn't devote to you in any of his affairs?"
"No. He always knew how to separate family and work. But I don't want to talk about it now. My heart is breaking," Clara said, wiping away a tear.
"You need to pull yourself together. You have a son, and you have no right to drown in your grief and not think about the future. Emin is no longer here, which means that your family no longer has any defenders."
"And you? Won't you help us?"
"I..." he drawled, "with my health, ahahaha," George laughed nervously. "Of course, I'll help. The question is, how long can I protect you. And I still need to protect myself and my children."
"Yes," General Emin's wife said dismissively. "I realized. I need to pull myself together. But now I can't. I'm sorry," she said sadly.
"I understand." General George continued after a short pause. "Listen, it would be nice if our children became friends. Bring Zen to visit us."
"Let some time pass. Zen needs to be alone. It will be wrong on my part ... you understand."
"Yes."
A gray sky was visible from under the umbrella. It was still raining.
"Listen, Clara…"
"Yes."
"Do you think Emin was scared to die?"
Clara looked at George with bulging eyes. Although she stood at her husband's funeral, every word about death threw her in a shiver and panic.
"Enough! Don't tell me about death anymore! Please," she was ready to kneel down and beg the whole world to shut up. "Show respect. I beg you. I can't listen to this anymore. I, I can't do this anymore," she said, and falling to her knees, she began to cry.
"I am an egoist. Forgive me, again, Clara. Sorry."
Clara did not react in any way and sobbed. Meanwhile, her son stood nearby and looked at the grave with his evil eyes. Even when his mother fell to the ground, he did not approach her. At this moment, all emotions were alien to him except anger and hatred.
A lone bird flew in the sky. General George dropped the umbrella on the side and stepped forward.
"I want to personally say goodbye to Emin. Please, could you move away from a little," George asked those present.
The military helped Clara to get up and step back. George walked over to the grave and, startled, fell to his knees.
"So this is in the en..."
Before he could finish, his body flew up into the sky. An explosion thundered.