Early in the morning, 6 people gathered at a large oak tree to leave for Artsakh. Earlier, about 80 people showed a desire to volunteer to defend their land. These were the regulars of the Republic Square who demanded the freedom of Artsakh. However, the next day, only 6 people showed up.
The volunteers got into the Ural truck to leave for their destination. They silently settled next to each other.
No matter how hard they tried, but the obsessive idea that not everyone was destined to return wouldn’t leave them. To repel the unnecessary thoughts, the guys introduced themselves to each other.
Karen Khalatyan was a freshman. Arshak Galstyan left 4 minor children at home and came here with the last 10 rubles in his pocket. Spartak was 62 years old. Norik was 55 years old. Sergei didn’t tell much about himself – only that he was from the Bangladesh district of Yerevan.
Sergey’s silence seemed strange and even threatening to Robert, nicknamed “Tkhur” (“Sad”):
“Brother, you are coming, but will you be able to chase the enemy or withstand heavy loads, lack of sleep, great distances? Can you handle a weapon at least?”
Sergey, without raising his head, answered shortly:
“We’ll see on the spot!”
Suddenly, a boy crawled out from under the seat where the men’s belongings were lying.
“I almost broke my back, let me sit next to you!”
“Who are you? Where are you going?”
“My name is Hayk, the famous Hayk from the Erebuni district of Yerevan, I’m going to beat the Turks in Artsakh!”
“And how old are you?”
“Thirteen!”
Armen, an officer sent to accompany the recruits, tapped on the driver’s cab:
“Stop the truck!” And he strictly told the boy:
“Get off and go home!”
However, Hayk did not budge. He was stubborn!
“Keri jan, even if you send me back, I’ll run away and come back! I’ve been already caught and sent back five times! Five times, I came back! Don’t believe me? Here is my trophy!”
He took a scimitar-like dagger from behind his belt and handed it to Armen. On its handle was the Russian inscription “Death to the Armenians”, and a little lower in Azerbaijani was the word “Vagif.”
