Lukashka, pale as death, was holding a wounded Chechen by the arms and shouting, 'Don't kill him.

I'll take him alive!' The Chechen was the red-haired man who had fetched his brother's body away after Lukashka had killed him.

Lukashka was twisting his arms.

Suddenly the Chechen wrenched himself free and fired his pistol.

Lukashka fell, and blood began to flow from his stomach.