Another trick of Pulyaevsky was the last straw. Almost simultaneously the hospital received two patients with a very rare injury. They both had rapture of urethra. Once it was lethal but Kuznetsov used to operate those cases easily and successfully: he made an incision in the perineum, catheterised the bladder and put the other end of the catheter, through the urethra, out into a bottle where urine went. When the urethra healed the catheter was removed.
Kuznetsov had operated both patients and they were place in the ward of Pulyaevsky. And Pulya said,
«We used to cut the bladder and insert the tube.»
«Yes! And all patients died. Of maceration - sepsis and death.
«But we used to do that,» the old idiot balked.
Both patients were already on the road to recovery. And then came that day, Sunday, when Pulya was on duty at the hospital and he, being in charge, to make surgery on the both convalescent, to remove the catheter and insert the the tube through the abdominal wall. I was outraged and refused to unlock the dressing room. Pulya ordered to break the door. I wanted to call the chief, Urvantseva. They did not let to the phone. I rushed to the camp commander. He said,
«Pulyaevsky is on duty, he represents the chief of the TsBL. He is responsible for everything you meddle in affairs. It would be better place you in the isolation cell.»
«But they both will die a painful death!»
«None of your business. Get out!»
Everything happened as I foresaw. After Pulyaevsky's surgery the both convalescent rotted alive and died in pain. Pulya repeated again and again, «We used to do so.» Kuznetsov only shrugged, «They are in his ward.»
There was no decent person at the TsBL. I set a rule not to compromise with the conscience. At the TsBL it is clean, warm and not too empty; in the mine - filth, hunger, cold, dangerous work. I'm going to the mine!