Red Calvary: An Overview, Part III (pages 106-169)

“We went, limping with broken legs, waving our crippled arms, holding each other up” (152).

The young journalist is “overcome with self-pity and loneliness; and numb with despair.” As his narrative voice changes, Babel’s emotions and perspectives shift from warfare to loss and emotional attachments. The death of one’s steed produces uncharacteristic and candid sentiments from the regiment: ‘“A horse—that’s a friend,” Orlov answered.”’ ‘“A horse―that’s a father,”’ Bitsenko sighed. ‘“The horse saves your life more times than you can count. Bida is finished without his horse”’ (120). Babel places the reader in the epicenter of his emotions.

Edith