Lieutenant Colonel Malaveyev walked out of the desert, anxious and cursing all the while.
When he felt the soft sand beneath his feet turn into the hard gravel of the Gobi, his impatience intensified; he only wanted to occupy Kabul as quickly as possible, so he could be redeployed and return home.
General Bakhov's orders arrived promptly, instructing him to send out two companies to gather supplies nearby.
Yet, when a Cossack cavalry battalion returned at twilight, they brought back less than half a cart of food, only scraps of potatoes, barley, and sandthorn mixed together.
Malaveyev glared fiercely at the Company Commander: "Damn it, did you go to some village looking for women?"
The latter hurriedly replied, "Colonel, all the villages within a 10-li radius are empty. You can ask Captain Vorobyev."
Just then, another cavalry battalion returned, bearing even fewer gains.
Bakhov quickly received news that the nearby Afghan tribes had all relocated, sending him into a panic.
