As the soldier tended to his wound, Vasily couldn't help but notice the missing left eye of his companion. It was a gruesome reminder of the brutality of war and the sacrifices made by those who fought in it. He wondered how the soldier had lost his eye, but he didn't want to pry.
Instead, the conversation turned to politics. The soldier began to talk about the reasons why he had joined the Confederate army, citing his belief in states' rights and his opposition to what he saw as Northern aggression. Vasily listened politely, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
He had grown up in a small town in Russia, and while he had never been particularly interested in politics, he had always believed in the importance of individual freedom and the rule of law. He had come to America to start a new life, but now he found himself caught up in a conflict that seemed to be tearing the country apart.
As the soldier continued to talk, Vasily found himself growing increasingly uncomfortable. He didn't want to argue with his fellow soldier, but he couldn't help but feel that the war was a tragic mistake.
Finally, the soldier finished speaking, and there was a moment of awkward silence between them. Vasily looked up at the sky, watching as the clouds drifted overhead. He wondered how many more soldiers would have to die before the war was over.
"Thanks for patching me up," he said, breaking the silence. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we should be fighting this war."
The soldier looked at him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I hear you," he said. "But we've got to fight for what we believe in, don't we?"
Vasily didn't know what to say. He wanted to tell the soldier that there had to be a better way, that there had to be a way to resolve their differences without resorting to violence. But he knew that he couldn't change the course of history on his own.
Instead, he simply nodded, grateful for the soldier's help and his willingness to listen. As he lay there, catching his breath, he realized that he had a newfound respect for his fellow soldiers, even if he didn't always agree with their beliefs. They were all fighting for what they thought was right, and in the end, that was something to be admired.