It will soon be another cold winter in the Ukraine. But it‘s a war time, and things are different this year. Max, the devoted caretaker of an animal preserve, must learn to live with the Nazis who have overtaken this precious land. He must also learn to keep secrets—for there is a girl, Kalinka, who is hiding in the park.

One morning Max was walking about the preserve and looking at the animals. He brought them some food. Kalinka saw him and ran up to him. She was very lonely and unhappy. She said:

-“I want to see my parents, I miss them. Will you please help me find them? I’m afraid of going back home. There is so much killing and shooting.”

-“But, dear, it is dangerous you know. The Nazis are everywhere. We should make a good plan how to bring them here.”

Suddenly he cried out, “I have great idea. I will send the horses to your parents’ house, they will find it easily as your parents helped me to look after them from time to time and they will bring your parents here. I hope the Nazis will not shoot the horses”

Next day the horses went to Kalinka’s parents. They lived at the edge of the town where the Nazis lived. Everyone in the town was scared of them because they killed everyone who they saw in the streets. Luckily, shortly after the horses came back with Kalinka’sparents but the poor animals were wounded. The Nazis shot at them too.

Then, Max knew that Kalinka’s father was a vet and mother was a nurse. They saved the horses’ lives. They stayed in the animal preserve with Max and Kalinka in Max’s small hut. But they were happy now.

Finally, the war ended. Everything was getting well. Kalinka, Max and the parents lived together. They built a bigger house in the preserve and looked after the animals for many years.