“Who would support her?” I appealed to Heaven. “She will be forced to go begging in her old age if I am killed.” Life became very precious to me, the same life that I had exposed to a hundred perils. I did not want to die an infamous death, to lie on the field unburied, food for carrion crows.
“Why haven’t you allowed me to die from an enemy’s bullet?” I asked of God. “How have I deserved being butchered by the hands of my own people?”
The door swung open. About forty soldiers filed in. Their leader had a list of names in his hand.
“Botchkareva!” he called out first.
Somehow my heart leaped with joy. I thought that I was to be released. But the officers immediately disillusioned me with the statement that it was a call for execution. I stepped forward and answered:
“I am here!”
“Take off your clothes!”
The order stupefied me. I remained motionless.
Some soldiers came up, pushed me forward and repeated the order several times. I awoke at last and began to undress.
The old General’s name was read off the list next. Then a number of other officers were called out. Every one of them was ordered to cast off the uniform and remain in his undergarments.