Бесплатный фрагмент - The way to the Wunderland and Heartland. Immortals

The way to the Wunderland and Heartland. Immortals.

There is much in the world, my friend Horatio, that our sages never dreamed of

Shakespeare,» Hamlet»

PROLOGUE

Above all: be true to yourself.

William Shakespeare

The monk Victorius made his way through dense branches of bushes and dense coppice, along a path punched among the dark forest. He tried to carefully step over sharp branches, fallen trees. The monk carefully, trying not to tear off the moss from the trunk lying on the ground, hardly crossed it, holding his hands on the huge branches. The bird shouted, and he squatted down, waiting for danger. If necessary, I looked around, it was necessary, hid among the branches. There was nothing to be ashamed of, it was only necessary to survive, and fulfill the mission. His head became only a compass for hands and feet, for what he had to commit. The mind cleared, there was no more fear and trembling in the hands and feet. He delivered himself into the hands of God and had to fulfill his destiny and cleanse the earth of fear and filth. Yesterday I asked myself: «Why am I, Lord?» But today I realized that God has no other warriors, and only he can, and will stand here for God’s truth. But, he should not die ahead of time, but simply had to reach this hidden place…

True, he remembered with gratitude that he had sent a suite. The hand, or rather, the left hand, covered with a cortex, was cured. That source, shown by a big secret by a mansi hunter, really turned out to be miraculous. For two days he washed his hand with that water, and the skin was cleansed, with the blessing of the Lord. But, the hunter warned:

«You can’t drink that water, you’ll die. This water is only good to heal wounds, but not for drinking»

The traveler offered a prayer of thanks to Heaven, which was not forgotten by either the Virgin Mary or St. Martin in these distant lands. And he was given healing, for courage, honesty and loyalty to his word.

The monk listened to every cod of the twig, to the quietest rustle of leaves. I was very afraid of the chase, although I poured a sleepy potion at the meal to the owners of the estate. When he left, he waited a long time for everyone to fall asleep. Even the dog fell asleep in his booth, otherwise he would definitely have followed him. And then the tailed one would definitely give it away. Now the monk’s throat was dry again, and he reached for a flask of water. He took out the cork and took just one sip. Water followed to protect, and Victorius knew it. But now, the night bird shouted again, and the monk stopped again. Caution was not superfluous.

So he got up, and froze, becoming like a pillar next to a tree, to which he pressed himself. He had to walk, he just has to… Here, I noticed how an alarmed squirrel screamed along the trunk. It helped him that he saw in the dark like a gray owl. No one knew about his ability, only the father of the abbot of the old monastery, Father Julian…

***

He recalled that place that now seemed so distant — predestined, just beautiful.. This island of Margit, with an incredibly beautiful Gothic church. There, as the monk recalled, it was warm even in winter, we can say that it is warmer than here in summer… And everything would be fine if King Lajos the Great did not want to find out about the ancestral home of the Magyars… Where was the First Magyarok? That, the Great Country of Hungarians, the country of songs and legends? Victorius stood now before his father the abbot, reading out the message of their king:

…«I command you, Julian, to send a monk from your monastery so that he can know for certain where our Motherland, our ancient Dentumoger, is located. The land about which there are only legends, and inescapable longing and sadness in the heart of every Hungarian. Here and money, I send two hundred gold coins, and letters so that my messenger would be greeted with honor…»

— You see, my son… You know Russian, Turkish and Latin well. You know medicine, and you can feed yourself on a long and difficult road. Young, smart and strong, and you can withstand the hardships of a dangerous path. Your journey will begin in Poland, then you will reach Danzig, and on the ship you will reach the Royal City, Riga. (Rika, Rikka- kingdom, kingdom in Scandinavian languages. Sverige, Svearike — translated by the Kingdom of the Swedes). Dі, you will reach Novograd, and you will go to the distant Ugra Land. There you will look for Dentumoger.

— I will try to fulfill what I have to, my father, — and Victorius kissed the abbot’s hand.

He put his hands on the shoulders of a still young monk, looked into the eyes of the student for a long time, and quietly said:

— Remember the main thing, Victorius… And let you see in the dark, like a forest cat, but you are not a devilish spawn, but a beautiful God’s creation. After all, God decided so, and put this skill into you. Not a curse, namely skill, and it will help to survive in distant countries. I will expect your return… But, be ready for trials — after all, the history of the Hungarians is full of fear and horror, you yourself know our tales and legends. Take care of your soul, do not let it disappear in Darkness, because I am sending you to the land of Death.

— Thank you, Father Superior. I am ready for the feat, — and Victorius kissed the hands of the abbot.

Two monks held a mule loaded with packs under the bridle. And the monastery leaving with longing and hope looked at the walls covered with grapes, with already large, sharp, leaves.

«I will be able to return, I will definitely be able to return,» he simply ordered himself.

The monk was ardently and long baptized on the holy crucifix at the gates of the monastery. With his head down, he sat down in the saddle, and without turning around, sent the mule with a light trot along a dusty road.

***

Victorius straightened the floors of his felt jacket, or locally, an Armenian, and went on. This place was shown to him by the son of the owner of the Kushchi house, Sotr. Then his father broke his leg, and the monk straightened the bone, applied a sensible tourniquet and a tire made of a wooden die. A month later, the glorious hunter Kushcha could already safely walk along paths and forest paths, and almost did not limp. Then Sotr began to show the stranger some cherished places. But he said, so quietly, and at the same time confidently:

«Forbidden is a place, Vityai (as the locals called it, Mansi). There are also old people here, very old. Those who don’t die. There, further, beyond the pass, their hunting trail. They drive deer there. I saw, my dad saw it happen. This giant will catch up with his prey and tear off his head. They are immensely strong, much stronger than an ordinary person… But people are not touched, without need. Sometimes, however, the girl is taken away.»

Victorius then asked, just in case. The habit was such, and the abbot sent to these places to find out everything. The monk tried:

«And where are their secret sanctuaries, or just holy places? Who was the ruler here before you?»

The variety then sat for a long time by the fire, stirred the embers with a twig, looked at the monk through the tongues of flame, and began the story:

«Long ago it was, where how long ago… And the rules, and Kaltas-ekva herself rules these places, in Russian-Zlatogorka, or Zaryanitsa, and those immortal giants are her servants. But the time came, Zlatogorka fell asleep, froze, and hid her in a secret place. And now people call her nothing more than the Heart of the Earth, and in a dream she helps those who ask her. But you only need to ask good, from the bottom of your heart, then it will help. And there, Vityai, are forbidden places, thin, where her immortal servants sleep. Those who chose not to stay on the ground…»

Well, Victorius began to prepare. He knew that he had to do everything he planned in one night. It is good that the hunting capture of Kushcha was not far from the forbidden pass. And in the evening, the monk boiled a good potion, drank the owners, and so he was able to go to this place. Did you regret your cunning? No, I did not regret it. After all, he acted so for the sake of knowledge, which gives true power to the seeker. So he was instructed by the teacher Julian.

There was very little left to go, he noticed numerous failures on this plateau. Apparently, because of this, the area was called forbidden. It was necessary to go carefully, and carelessness led to death. Many hunters laid down their heads here.

Victorius took a break, put his staff on the ground, and began to unwind the rope. And before his eyes, as if live, there were images of those sailors, from the large nave «Old Goose.»

***

Now he remembered, the sea road, their ship, smelling of herring from the hold, to the pennant of a large mast. Their boat left the pier of the free imperial city of Rostock.

He searched at the wharf for a vessel ready to take him to Riga, the Royal City built by the Danes. Life was in full swing around him. Porters carried huge rolls of precious cloth, wrapped for protection in a gray canvas, large sealed jugs of wine, huge bundles of iron rods suitable for various jobs.

— Be careful, monk! Look, otherwise they will give your piety here! ’one of the sailors laughed.

«So I am on business, my son,» said Victorius, although he was half the age of this man, «I must get to Riga, at the behest of my elder, Julian.»

«That’s how my ship is leaving today. There are only five silver coins, and we take you along the East Sea (Ostsee, the Germans called the Baltic Sea) to the lands of the Teutonic Order. And, for feeding, if you don’t eat a lot, then four more coppers a day!

— I studied to be a physician, — Victorius humbly said, lowering his eyes down, as a humble minister of the church should, — I also know good potions. Many masters instructed me. I can help you…

— Then you have only five coins, if you promise to treat my ragged people, on the ship «Old Goose.»

— I will be glad to help you, for the glory of the Lord…

And the monk is located on the ship, and with good comfort. Rested on bags of wool. True, the herring smell soaked through even the boards, and the habit was hard. And on the deck, even harder, to see how the lead surface of the sea rolls, slides, captivates their ship, and Victorius became ill again. He grabbed the side of the vessel with both hands, dangled his head down, and vomited. Yes, it’s so hard, as if he was all, from the inside, now rushing out.

On the road, one sailor severely tore his arm, and Victorius skillfully sewed up the wound, bandaged it. And it did not rot, fever did not fall on the unfortunate, everything came out of his honest prayer. Here the feeder himself was trying to settle the monk in his cabin, but Victorius did not want to leave the sailors with whom he managed to make friends.

Two days later, a caravan was to go from Riga to Pskov, to the Russian lands. The senior military guard of the city examined the monk’s letters, looked respectfully at the heavy seals.

— Drive, — the gray-bearded warrior said almost with obsequiousness, — there is a good tavern nearby, — the streets are blocked at night, so finish your business before sunset.

Victorius looked after the porter, who slowly drove his things on the wheelbarrow. The wooden wheel of this thing bounced and creaked on the cobblestone pavement, and the monk was afraid to death that now his two larks would fall into the ditch. This is the center of slops and all kinds of sewage, it stank mercilessly, and it was probably like the Acherontes and Kotsit of the ancient legegnd. At least this is what Victorius thought now, he even imposed the sign of the cross on himself.

«What is it, holy father?» said the porter.

«All is well, my son,» the monk reassured him.

Actually, the ditch was far away, three feet away, but still the monk imagined it very vividly. Victorius entered the house, where so seductively smelled of fried sausage and fresh bread. The monk crossed himself, put the money and took possession of such a warm rug. He just wanted to eat now incredibly.

Finally, the innkeeper took the new guest to his room, and Victorius whiled away the whole day not at all in prayer, but after eating, slept soundly under a warm blanket. I tried to sleep off, for a whole week of my sleepless journey by sea.

They stomped on land a week before the border, and then, in just two days, they reached the New City itself. The new hail struck the monk with wooden houses, and wooden pavement. And then, along the rivers, we got to Velikaya Perm. And here, Victorius was just crushed by the grandeur of these places. These mountains, winding rivers, deep forests. And, it is not clear where the treasures came from — an abundance of silver dishes. The price of these items was considerable, one dish would allow the whole family to feed for a year. And here, there were whole carts of this good, and this was not an exaggeration…

What seemed like myths, a legend, a fairy tale, was true, much worse than it is. In one village, Vityai, as Victorius was now called, spent the day waiting for a boat. I whiled away the day in front of a pot of berry boil, which his mistress was visiting. Not for that, but for a good deed, he managed to pull out an iron splinter from the hand of the owner of the house. I did everything as it should, washed it, poured it with bread wine, and then smeared it with honey and applied a clean bandage.

— Well, thank you foreigner, helped… And then, and the fever could fall on me, — thanked him strict Kudim.

— Where did the wife go? I said that nothing is needed…

— Will come soon, Vityai, don’t worry. Here, eat bread.

The monk poured himself more drink, and did not refuse bread. Who turns the nose from a good treat? And he himself was glad that he helped a good person, so it was good at heart.

— Come in, come in, Ulta, do not bother the house, — the hostess’s voice rang out and the door creaked, and the steps of another woman rang out.

— Alien here? — Words cut through the ears, but as if not a person spoke them.

Kudim jumped up, so that he almost knocked over the table. He grabbed the stick, but saw who entered, and dropped his club. He did not say a word, only hastily turned away, and jumped out of the room.

The monk was all tense, frightened in earnest. He reached for the knife, but still put his hands on the table, showing that he trusted the owners. This Ulta came in, and behind her was Leah, Kudim’s wife.

— Here he, Vityai, saved my husband. You help him, Ulta. Reveal what he should do? What’s his road?

The stranger looked hard at him, so his heart was frozen. Light and so it was not thick here, but now as if the shadows of a thick mass climbed to the table. The woman sighed, and said:

— As hiccups want… I’m out of my power.

She sat down, looked at him for a long time, then her head threw back, and the woman began to speak, now in a completely different voice:

— Handsome, hello. I waited, I did not know, you will come, you will not come! — and laughed so that Victorius’s teeth turned, — you will come, I know… You see in the dark, right?

At first, the woman’s speeches seemed ridiculous to Vityai, but as the fortuneteller said about noctolopia, then the monk’s goosebumps ran down his back. He smiled delicately.

— But don’t you dare destroy ours, or I’ll tear it up, so only your head will remain on the stake!» — and laughed again, — and so you will return alive to your monastery, to the island of Margit. And don’t grab the knife, but fear your mentor, Julian! Ulta finished her speech with her hands covering her face.

So she sat for a long time, rested. And then Ulta took her away. Vityai thought for a long time, remembering what happened. That’s what an invisible! And in the imperial lands they lead to the fire for witchcraft, but here — a witch lives among people, they take her to the house! Treat, take care!

— Well, got it, Wanderer? Well, go with God, you are already expected in the boat!

He was taken with him by Vataga, a trading people who gathered to go beyond the Stone, as the Ripean mountains were called here. They went up the Kama, where long merchant lodges were often found along the way, and the members of the local Permians. It happened that they pulled their ship and twine when there was a strong wind. And the sky changed often, showing its harsh disposition, then frowned, then shone. The winding river slowly carried ships and boats, carried away the brave with unexplored dals. On the banks, old trees blackened with huge trunks, swayed, waved huge branches at them. So they walked and walked along the water, then they got into Chusovaya. That river was not easy, with a harsh and furious character. Such, full of secrets and menacingly inhospitable at first glance.

«Here is Chusovaya, our great river,» the feeder told Victorius with a unique dialect, leaning on the oar, «she has such a frisky character

«What’s in it?»

— After all, only she passed through the Stone, as if she had cut the rocks with a hot knife — and the frisky Vishere even then turned out to be such a difficult task. I didn’t burn out. And after all, she gained strength on the other side of the Stone, and made her way here. Here, look how beautiful we have… Both rocks and stones have grown right up to the sky, there is no such thing anywhere. See how kind Zlatogorka is to us, — the feeder unexpectedly said, — The places here are not easy, we’ll go with an eye to not get caught on the Ancients, or that the Vogul guards would not overshadow. There are places there, marked with stones, there is no stranger there, they will not say a word, they will immediately decide. But, nothing, we will reach the town, and there it will be seen.

It was in this town that Victorius met with the young hunter Sort and his father Tabernacle.

***

Victorius carefully made his way between the stones, began to unwind a long rope. He fixed its end, exhaled almost frantically, and climbed into this move in grief. Each step was not easy, and the monk was still afraid to stumble, held on to the rough wall with his hand, put his foot with the entire sole. But, walked and walked, went downhill. True, again and again he told himself that it would be better, and he should reach. True, behind the stones, I noticed someone’s backbone, in scraps of fur clothes. The case, as you can see, was not easy, and very dangerous.

He passed the boulders, passed the destroyed arch, where he noticed unfamiliar letters. He could not resist, and redrawn strange letters carved in stone. I felt that I was very tired. He took out a flask and drank a little from it. He knelt and prayed. He also remembered the Lord God, the whole Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary. And he thanked them all that he sees in the dark. Here, this arch had another move down. A black, black hole that looked completely hellish. The monk tried to sniff, and suddenly smells of gray, as in the Hell prison, where sinners burn forever… But, Victorius tied a rag around his mouth and nose and began to go down.

He now hit a high corridor. The tunnel was high, and dark, very dark. The floor here, surprisingly, has been sanded smooth. Victorius began to measure in steps by ear, and through fifteen of his eyes wonderful drawings on the walls opened, with people’s heads surrounded by a light-bearing aura. The colors faded, but it was clear where red was and where gold was…,

The paints hadn’t faded in years and the wall paintings were very bright and beautiful. Looked closely, and noticed next to these creatures and little men. He had heard before about fingertips, small people the width of a finger, and about the mysterious ice giants of the distant North.

Step by step, the monk moved forward and forward, and it seemed that it seemed that the door flashed with gold True, all covered with cobwebs… The mighty jamb shone with gold splashes in a black stone, as if gold was spilled in a fine rain over aspid granite.

Victorius impressed himself with the sign of the cross, and looked around, fearing traps. This door was closed with a bronze bolt, and it was easy to open it. Somehow, obeying instinct, the monk jumped, and only then noticed a huge, green copper trap at the door. Now he exhaled carefully. The dust covered everything here, and a layer of probably half a foot for sure. The monk noticed stone beds, and on them, or in them, flooded with clay, were human bones. And near them stood huge stone vessels, and in them human skulls, also flooded with clay. The dead seemed to be asleep, and expected to be woken from sleep…

The monk took out a heavy hammer from a shoulder bag. He heard how the Inquisitor fathers destroy the remains of heretics and sorcerers, burning their sinful bodies, and crushing bones with heavy hammers. Victorius weighed that instrument of God’s Will in his hand, and looked again at these skeletons. Earlier, when I thought about this monastery, I imagined how he crushed these demons, and became like David. And so, here is not one Goliath, but almost three dozen of these indomitable giants. And he is one, the most, the most… But, somehow it was unpleasant in my soul, as I imagined that fragments of bones were flying in all directions…

To be honest, he did not kick the akin and the stray dog, did not hit the cat. And here to deprive the hope of resurrection, of revival, of these.., still people… Or maybe try to resurrect them yourself, such a crazy thought originated in his head. He threw the hammer, and decided that he would definitely return here.

And then, in another hall, he saw Zlatogorka herself… No, just a statue, expressive, made of white stone, and decorated with gold. He again took up the lead pencil, sketching what he had found. The monk grabbed one piece, and hid it under his cloak, here, as proof. Just a golden ring lying by the statue. There were many products made of hot metal, but Victorius did not come for him, but only for Knowledge, and he received it.

It seemed to him that in the dark, near the floor, small, finger-wide men snooped. A strong, pressing, whistling, very high tone suddenly hit his ears. His heart beat often, often, he breathed with difficulty, bent from abdominal pain. The monk grabbed his ears in fear, and just ran from these mountain chambers, I had to get out of here, one thought was beating in his head…

***

The monk sat at a table in the cell of his father-abbot, in front of him stood a clay mug with wine. This modest abode was barely lit by a greasy candle crackling with its own heat. He looked at his older brother, who lowered his eyes to the voluminous volume that he eagerly clutched in his hands, as if he feared that some kind of force would deprive him of such a coveted thing.

— Tokayskoe? — Victorius asked with hope in his voice, — he lived for three years without our golden wine, in distant northern countries.

Father Julian slowly looked through the monk’s book, sometimes returning to the beginning of the story. Presbyter considered the matured face of the interlocutor, his student. Yes, this book was worth such an effort, oh how it cost…

And Victorius now recalled the terrible words of that Perm sorceress, said almost two years ago. He sometimes looked out of the corner of his eye at his presbyter, pretending to drink from a mug. That witch, Leah, predicted everything accurately. There was no desire to check the last saying.

— But, there are some things that I cannot understand, my son… Julian asked, «Have I read that you have discovered the Heart of the Earth itself and its guardians?»

«I dare not destroy the creation of God. What is created by God means that it is right. According to His unspoken and undiscovered craft. Who am I to judge this? And I shared the news of this, so that the unworthy could not read and touch this secret. I gave part of the diary with a map of the area and the marks that I left for preservation in Perm, in the monastery there. Everything is written in Latin, they cannot read it there, in addition, everything is encrypted… And so, this code, promising genuine power, I hid in this volume, and without it the diary cannot be read. The code is a stencil for reading a diary, and it is hidden in the binding of the book. So, it will be most reasonable to dispose of this secret.

«Maybe you’re right my son. There could be an ingenious trap, disastrous for the wicked. In their sense, not in ours. And then a terrible death would await you, — Julian spoke sublimely, and even squeezed the cross of God with his dry hand.

Victorius grinned knowingly, and nodded easily, agreeing with the mentor. But, then his face grimaced, as if in terrible pain, and the monk began to speak, as if squeezing out grave words:

— Are you going to poison me, Father Superior?»

Julian bent down, just all stretched out over the old table, and his pectoral cross dragged along the oak tabletop. He grinned slyly, and showed a suede bag. Most of all, he now resembled a snake-tempter, as he is painted on holy icons.

— No, now no… You passed the last test. And its meaning is…

— That you can’t trust anyone?»

— Of course. And any loyalty must be paid, my son… Everything has a price, and everyone should be ready to pay it!

Presbyter looked at such a brilliant monk with pleasure. And imperceptibly removed the already prepared bag of poison. Yes, the abbot at first would really like to poison him in order to permanently close the mouth of this messenger. A book without a diary is interesting to read, but completely harmless. And a person who does not know a diary in life will not read. Presbyter Julian is now quite sure of that. Only the enlightened will keep the secret, and then, when the appointed time comes, they will receive true power and power…

PART 1 Between the old hills

«Not in the stars is our destiny, but in ourselves»

William Shakespeare

CHAPTER 1 Kashchei and his bride

This deer hunter was tracking for a long time. Looking for traces on this rocky soil was generally not easy. But he patiently walked and walked when necessary, ran, not allowing the prey to break away from him, and hide, go into the thickets. It went on for a long time. But finally, the deer again decided to run. The head, proudly crowned with branched horns, held straight on the strong neck of a beautiful animal, and somehow deviated slightly back while running. It was incredibly beautiful, and the pursuer just admired the natural grace of the animal. The dark eyes of the deer mowed back, the male looked with surprise at his tireless pursuer, at such a strange creature. Neither potholes nor branches were a hindrance to him, even the fallen trees, the terrible pursuer jumped over with such ease, as if he even had wings behind his back. The deer ran away from the pack of wolves, once he was able to throw even a lynx from his back, and here, he could not tear himself away from the indomitable and strange creature.

It was covered with short fur, with a very familiar smell. And, apparently, the predator was the most terrible. Strong, strong and unprecedentedly hardy.

Only here is strange, because he ran on only two legs. True, to his regret, this was not a consequence of injury, or ugliness. It was not a giant bird, and not a bear, suddenly standing on its hind legs. Everything was much simpler and worse…

It’s just that a man was running after the deer. A man dressed in leather clothes, summer time. And, the stubborn hunter overtook the beast. The deer bent its head back, protecting its neck from the bite, but the pursuer’s weapons were his hands. With a huge, incredible force, the jerk threw the horned handsome man to the ground, so much so that they only cracked the branches of the dead man. The deer tried to hit the enemy with his powerful forked hooves, but the hunter only laughed, jumped, and grabbing his horns, whispered:

— Sorry, forest giant!

And powerful hands at once tore off the deer’s head. Blood covered the fallen tree, legs became convulsed, and finally everything died down. Fear hung in the overgrowth, no one dared to tweet. Forest inhabitants have seen this more than once, and immediately hid, only smelling the smell of the Hunter.

And so, this man, in a few movements, skinned the prey, pulling off like a stocking from his leg. Then he spread the meat, putting it in a bag, did not forget about the horns, which he simply broke off from the deer’s head, but as if they were only thin spruce branches.

Taking all this, he threw back the hood of his fur jacket, and laughed, looking around his lands. No one dared to challenge them — neither wolves nor bears, everything here was his. In the stream, he busily washed his hands from blood, rinsed his face and head, even though there was only a silver strand on the back of his head from his hair. The hunter was not old, his face seemed very young, about twenty years old, no more. It’s just that his ancestors awarded him with such hair, as well as height, a little change her adult bear.

But finally, this young man went with his springy gait between the hills, where small stones rustled under his soft boots. Finally, he turned off the road, and in front of him there seemed to be a high stone fence surrounding this hidden place. Composed of huge, mossy smoothly combed blocks. But a person is unusual or inexperienced, would take this masonry for a stone rock or ridge. But how could ordinary people do this?

Rather, not quite as a random person who has wandered here would have thought. Well, the Hunter knocked on the gate, and he was opened by a young man who was also tall to match him.

— Hello to you, Kashoy, we were waiting, we didn’t know when you would return!

«Not empty-handed. Here, brought meat. Fresh, otherwise, right, everyone is tired of the fish!

— nothing. Let’s put something on the glacier, and what Visna will bake. Let’s go eat, otherwise the porridge will cool down! Tata excellent porridge millet boiled, in milk! Porridge went inside this house — safe. From the inside, everything looked much more pleasant, more fun than from the outside. The solid building was worked out in the old days, round in plan, in two floors. A dozen small windows allowed the rays of the sun to penetrate inside. The yard was well maintained, cleanly swept out.

Two huskies ran up to the people, one of them poked her nose into Kashey’s hand. He stroked the dogs, sat down nearby.

— Well, what? I haven’t forgotten about you. Come with me.

He stood at the dog kennels, where large clay bowls stood, without traces of dirt, clean and washed. In them and put bones for fluffs.

— Here, eat, well done, — said Tivda, — and you are Gray, and you, Naida. Now you have enough food for a long time!

Dogs gnawed at bones with rumbling, scraping meat, veins and fat clean from them. The hunter didn’t need to think about something yet…

A ring was also dug in the courtyard, in one of the huge basement. A couple of cows were placed further away from the living rooms, so as not to interfere with people. But they gave out their presence with a loud moo. It was necessary to think about the animal.

— Salit, it’s time to drive the cows away for grazing! — Kashchey reminded, — why did you forget, or what?

— Yes I remember, I am now! I’ll do it, Tivda!

This is actually the name of the Hunter, Tivda, and Kashchey is only the nickname given by Alma, the Second of the Dead Princes.

Salit looked like all the inhabitants of this building, the fortress house. Tall, slender, with a shaved head, and a pigtail of silver hair on the back of his head. And this young man, and in appearance no one would have given him more than twenty years, opened the gate, and began to drive the cows out of the gate. One of them was stubborn, not wanting to leave the warm barn. Then the giant, without saying a word, got hooked, put this huge pied on his shoulders, did not sigh and did not bother, as if he had raised a small pebble. The cow, however, did not feel fear, did not moo and did not fight, only turned its head, and licked Salit’s face, rough as a grater. He just grinned, and came out with a cow on his shoulders from the yard, on a puddle. Another cow, another calf, quickly ran, waving her tail cheerfully. A tall girl looked at it with a smile, with silver hair pulled into a tight braid. The elegant sundress and shirt went well for her, as did the low dress.

«Good afternoon, Tata,» said the hunter.

— And you, Tivda, — the girl answered somehow strained, tortured.

But the young man noticed that he was somehow hiding Tat’s eyes, as if something had happened. He looked around again, I think everything was fine, or? Something seemed to hit the heart with a needle, it became harder to breathe.

— Where is Nastasya? What does not meet? asked Kashchei, not yet understanding.

He said, not because he knew, but just wanted to calm down. Remove the ugly sense of expectation from my head and heart. He just hated him.

«So she begged to let her go. Say, he doesn’t love you and that’s it… She cried endlessly, asked to regret… We allowed her to leave. She’s kind and good…

— And who was so clever?

He asked so simply to annoy Tatu. And she could decide with Lut, no one else?

— Have you forgotten to ask me? Nevertheless, you know, I gave her father a whole pound of gold for her daughter, — I didn’t say anymore, but Kashchey shouted, — what are you doing? Don’t you let me live?

— Why did you shout like that? Just think, girl… True, she does not love you!

— Because, as he does not know yet, fooling, what a smart and skillful I am! And we need her daddy, change gold for bread. Or do not remember, — Kashchey already said with the echidza, — how did we sit without bread for a year because of Salitova Duri?

Both recalled how their shepherd killed merchants under the hot hand, who alone went to the monastery, to the Old Believers. Traders — of course, were burnt crooks, while others were afraid to trade in this village.

— Well, I got excited from old memory, could not restrain myself, — even Visna, who came here, stood up, — well, and killed… Cheat his bargains. Sil did not calculate, and pulled out both hands, because by chance it turned out…

«Why nailed heads to a tree?» Why nailed something? It is good that stories went to the monastery about some evil spirits, they did not send the police here, and the Cossacks too.

«What do you remember?» It was already sixty years ago, so you will reproach us for everything? And do you remember Lyut’s paper wings? Visna was angry now.

— So my house, I built. They came to me, promised, — Kashchey said wearily, — that you will not give yourself away. And Lute too… Well, for what? He flew over the monastery, but drowned in the river. And I again suffered, dug the grave. Well, at least he waited for darkness, and only then left the cemetery.

— And you did it all alone? — and Tata now stood up — in the sides, — forgot how we pressed the stones, the water conduits and plums got along? And now, he alone turns out, everything was arranged here? And I was probably tired, I slept off my face, even walked…

— Okay, I’ll go look for Nastasya myself, otherwise it will disappear here, on these paths…

And sighing, Kashchey went to his cell, all looking back at his comrades’ friends. No, well, of course, living together is always more fun, and he did not hold his evil. But the girl easily here, in these places, the abyss could, that’s for sure. So thinking, went into his chambers. Several rooms with a stove, and a great bedroom. And what didn’t you like? The bed is rich, covered with sables, and the furniture, as the merchants brought it from Severouralsk, brought it from the monastery on its back. And in the closet, Japanese porcelain replaced sable skins with five magpies. Yes, even he has a gramophone! And Nastasya escaped. And what did the girl need? I could not understand.,.

He opened the closet, carved, beautiful, walnut tree, took out unusual clothes to look like a traveler from a wealthy family. He looked at himself in the mirror. It seemed that he looked good. Wool knitted sweater, breeches, leggings, boots with laces. Leather jacket to the knee, and kepi complemented the appearance. He also took a «hard drive» with a hundred rounds of ammunition, threw a backpack with supplies behind his back.

And something remembered again those distant days when I met Tsarevna Alma for the first time…

CHAPTER 2 Remember to Forget

He walked and walked along the path in these deserted places. I looked for, and found the slightest trace — a trampled flower, a trace of skating rinks, a place on gravel where a heavy load was placed. As his twin brothers walked with granite coffins on their shoulders, all six… Those with whom he loyally served Ella the sovereign, and saw the Magi Ramid and his unots Pakal and Zend take them, the Immortals, to a distant tract. I watched, from a distant hill, as Pakal and Unod cut off their heads, and then the remains, alternately, were boiled in a huge bronze cauldron. As a wolf, Ramid takes the bones personally to the dungeon, and then the skulls placed in clay taverns.

All his friends did not resist the orders of the Magi, but he, Tivda, did not want! No, I didn’t want to! Why should he wait for the End of Time, and Resurrection, and lie covered with a web in a dark cave? He wanted to help people, and to begin with, help his brothers. He must decide, and resurrect them. None of the Immortals could die. It was only necessary to combine the skeleton and the skull, and wait, wait, almost two weeks, until the bones sprout again with new flesh.

Tivda felt, no, he was just sure it would be better. In every way they will do such things, they will perform so many feats! And there, you see, the New Dead Princess will appear, as everyone was promised. And they will still serve her faithfully. So Tivda consoled himself.

— Well, I think I went through all the traps — the Immortal Knight whispered quietly.

Indeed, he passed the traps and walked around a dozen traps, strangles and self-arrows. He passed a ridge of stones, crawled through a destroyed arch, walked around a terrible gate. I almost lit a torch, but I remembered that I saw perfectly in the dark.

So he went down and down, down several steps of a huge black staircase, leading even deeper, to the lower level, into this terrible blackness pressing on the brains. He erased, crawled almost squatting, trying not to touch even more sophisticated traps.

It should be black and black, there was complete darkness for an ordinary person. But for his eyes, the eyes of the Immortal, everything was painted only in different tones of gray. But, it was possible to navigate, heavy blackness could not take him prisoner so easily. Tivda felt like a master and winner here, and not a victim.

He walked and walked, sometimes winding along the back streets, until he ran into a wall completely covered with inscriptions. He read the warnings drawn by the Magi Ramid

— Scare others, dedicated, — whispered Tivda, you won’t take me for it…

He went on and on. Step by step he ordered himself to go forward and forward, and it seemed that it seemed that at last that cherished door flashed, dwelling in gold… An incredibly powerful and powerful jamb shone with gold splashes in a black stone, as if gold had poured in a fine rain over aspid granite.

Tivda sighed heavily, anticipating the unknown, what he would do now. He looked at the cunning lock, and grinned.

«No, Ramid, you can’t take me with such a trick…» he said quietly.

With a cunning master key, he unlocked the lock, closed the door behind him, and the bolt again fell into the same grooves. Taking his time, Immortal stepped on the polished floor of this shelter, listening for the slightest rustle. Haste could destroy everything… But now, he crept up to a number of sarcophagi, in the headboards of which were clay taverns with skulls. Tivda read the first inscription on the dishes:" Olin.»

On top of the vessel, along the rim there was another inscription: «Since you have come to awaken us, you pray before this.» Below it was another inscription:" We are all from Ella’s deck.»

I remembered Tivd Olina, after all, only three years passed, as six from their deck, went here, to these distant limits. There was a place for him, one sarcophagus stood empty.

— Hello to you all, friends… Olin, Khvylya, Shakra, Ata, Rasta, and you, Tia… Nothing, I can handle it, I will wake you up, — he whispered.

He turned around, lost his guard, rolled down and felt a sharp spear tip enter the body. His chest was pierced through, he could hardly breathe, he pulled like a fish on a prison, trying to get off, but only bled and lost strength. Finally, he himself was forgotten in a bad dream.

It is not known when I woke up, and my head was as if not my own. And he woke up from the light, an oil lamp was burning in front of him. But that’s not the point! Tivda, alone, noticed a priggish girl sitting on a bag. Such was the beauty that it’s scary to think… Immortal, opened another eye, but, the guest really was not lost…

— Immortal, — said the girl, not a drop doubting what was said.

— Tivda, — the young man called himself, — I am Immortal from Ella’s deck. Now I owe you, Chosen, for life.

— I-Alma. How… — everything that the healer was able to say so far.

— I came to help out. Yes, and hung on the edge of seventy years. Thank you, you saved. Now I will serve you. Only my own wake up.

— Don’t do that, warrior. It will be bad.

— So how? — the warrior was confused, — to leave his own?

— For thousands of years you will wait in the wings for what happens, what is predetermined. Pity them. They will see loved ones die endlessly. They will not be able to live among people.

— So I am alone… Too bad. Why, it’s boring!

— In the Urals, in the mountains, Lute hides. From the deck of Ilsa, the first Princess. You can find it easily. There and live, away from people, before the term. And then the unots of the magi will hunt for you, and many people will die.

— Your truth, Alma. And I don’t want to kill unots. Nothing, I will wait for the next Princess, and I will offer my loyalty to her, if you allow it.

— Be your way, — the girl gladly agreed, — but you just need to get out of here.

And then, the fire went out. Tivda, grinning, noticed that the girl was scared. Otherwise, it would be bad to deal with completely fearless!

— Now we will go out, do not worry, — said the Immortal, — I see well in the dark. I’ll take us out.

He gently put one hand around the maiden. Alma only felt his hands on her waist, and heard a cry:

— Cling to your fingers and pull yourself up! In another way!

The girl pulled her body to the floor of the dungeon corridor, and again Tivda’s palm fell on her shoulder:

«I’ll get it out. In the dark I see everything as during the day. Don’t worry, girl.

And they went, and then Tivda grabbed Alma in his arms and ran. It seemed so easy. They got out quickly. Tivda seated the witch doctor on the stones. laying his felt cloak. The girl again looked at his appearance, and unexpectedly, through force, suggested:

— You need to wash, blood scrape. Yes, and cut and shave you need.

«All right, madam,» the warrior chuckled.

Nearby was a stream, cold, worse than ice. Tivda threw off his clothes. Alma turned away hastily. And the Immortal noticed how a bird curls above them, and not simple.

Finally, the big raven began to hurriedly go down, and jumped on a stone next to the girl, croaked deafeningly, and mowed everything with a black eye on the healer. Alma groped for food in her bag, took bread for herself, and treated the bird to smoked fish. But the raven was not going to fly away, only it was important to walk around. and thrust his beak into Tivda’s clothes.

Immortal with pleasure while splashing in the water, trying to wash off all the blood. I tried to wipe off my shirt, pants and boots. Although there was such a crust of dirt, but the efforts of the knight still surpassed. He was able to put on his pants and boots, and returned to the girl with the raven.

— Almost frozen, it’s good that I can’t get sick, — he said, as if boasting.

She looked without moving at his slender body. Tivda has already settled down, yet he is not so bad! But it finally got to him! She looks out for scars, and there really, even from this spear on which he hung, and there was no trace left!

— Here, you sing, — and she handed him a fish, — completely emaciated. Straight porridge immortal.

«And for sure,» he laughed, «I’ll call it that now!» Well, nothing, as Ella said, there would be bones, the meat would grow.

He swallowed the treat almost without chewing, and then emptied the entire bag of supplies. The food was over, but the blush began to play on the tanned cheeks of a young man aged ninety years.

— Let’s sit down, I’ll cut my hair now, — ordered Alma.

He nodded his porridge, sat down on a stone and put his throat under the knife. Alma just sighed, soaping her hair. First, she cut off an almost planted beard, and then slowly began to shave her cheeks, she also did not hurt her chin and thickest mustache.

The ward’s hair was first cut off on the shoulders, twisted a pigtail on the back of her head, and then began to shave off the excess. Blond hair fell to the ground like winter snow, such a rather big snowdrift of hair came out. But the young man turned out to be so wonderfully prigozhny and okay that the girl liked a little, for nothing, that she was thin. Yes, it is clear that this did not interfere with his strength at all. Even the bird became interested in such a transformation. The raven, waddling funny, approached a new acquaintance closer, and poked his heavy beak, saying hello.

— Yes, you yourself are already like a witch, you know a lot, and you can see from the signs that you are still a novice, — he noticed that there are no tattoos on the hands.

— Nothing, already one Dedication has passed, — the girl answered with resentment, — Tell me about Ella. And how did she lead her Dead Rat into battle? Was she like Ilsa, or not? Just as beautiful and strong?

— Well, listen… They say that she came unrecognized, to the childless old man and old woman, and began to take care of them. True, everyone was surprised at her face, as if sculpted from snow. Skin, whiter than white. But the character was always kind, attentive, did not do bad to anyone, did not say bad words. Well, to be honest, I didn’t see her myself until the bad times in Siberia began. Here, after all, strangers attacked Siberia — mother. The Black News came to Oum that they had beaten the whole army in the open Field, and there was no one to stand up for the giants. So she found us, our Deck, we swallow blood-ichor, became Immortal knights, and fought for her in all wars where she would not send us. That’s it, girl…

He looked again at her beautiful face, at the mole of her right eye. I didn’t see her alive anymore, only then, on a campaign against Taimyr, when they helped out Lyuta and Tatu, but then the Lady of the Dead Princess became…

CHAPTER 3 ON THE ROAD

I drank Bessmertny kvass on the track, looked in the mirror, luring good luck, and trying to forget the past. Sleep now Alma-Princess, like the others, all Seven. And he, Tivda-Koschey, is alive and healthy, and you have to go for a walk a little…

I looked at the wall, Tivda, where the calendar hung. He emphasized the date with a chemical pencil, it turned out that today is the second of June 1912. Sighed, sat down on the track. I thought really, do I have to go, laziness has become something… There, girl, even put his gift, a golden necklace, on the table. And the weather is good, the sun, here, it shines, it is better to go fishing with Lut in the evening… But here, the tongued Geda and Visna will laugh, they will begin to sneer:" they say promised, but I didn’t intend to go on a hike like that!»

He sighed, went down the stone stairs to the courtyard, where Lute and Tata were doing business, the courtyard was shallow. They worked with brooms to the beat, raking branches and other garbage. They even watered the water so that the dust would not stand in a pillar.

— And really, Kashoy went on a hike, for a girl! — The languid Visna did not calm down, — hey, hero, or maybe you need help, you yourself, you can’t cope!

— It’s you, girl, angry that all the same your Jaromir will not return to you. Everything in the works, the knight, is fighting in Pomerania. Or maybe I found someone, more beautiful. I forgot about you a long time ago! Tivda could not resist either.

But, it’s good that Bessmertny was fast, ducked at the very gate. An old barrel of salted cucumbers flew over it, hit the stone arch of the gate, and shattered to smithereens. Kashchei turned away, and shook his head reproachfully. And then, not to mess with the girl, the honor to drop the heroic?

And already leaving the gate of their house, I heard the girl’s cry:

— Jaromir will return to me! Visna shouted, he loves me! Will definitely come back! And no one ever loved you, they were always only afraid!

CHAPTER 4 Artisans

Gold prospectors vataga went from Narym, south, to Severouralsk. Afanasy Kharatyov himself led his five fishermen, the man was from an old Pomeranian family. We contracted on the far road, for the gold, Semyon Pankratov, Alexey Usoltsev, Fedor Myasnikov, and the youngest of them, Eremey Krasilnikov. And then, it was not easy, from Narym to go through small rivers to the Ural Mountains. On occasion, they were not going to return, they wanted to winter in Petropavlovsk, and it would not work out, so go to Obdorsk.

Now they were walking along the river, and Usoltsev and Myasnikov were sitting on the oars. Rowing artisans briskly and skillfully. Baidara, a boat with leather sides and an easy frame, was going well.

Fyodor Myasnikov, although he looked like an elderly man, was only fifty-two years old. But hard wrinkles seemed to be imprinted in the face of the prospector, making him look much older. And a gray, trimmed beard added age. But Fyodor did not hunch down, was distinguished by a hosane and a firm gait. Honestly, he was not weaker than others, or tired faster, this confident northerner. And he served in the army, happened to fight with boxers in China.

Kharatyev and Eremey spoke quietly on the stern, and Pankratov, a dozen man, stood with a crimson, trying so that the boat would not hit the stones of the bottom or shore. It turned out at Vataga okay and spore, and went well, walking. And although the river was shallow, with an abundance of stones on the water, it has not yet hit once, and the sides of the boat were not damaged.

— Darkens, it would be necessary to stick! Pankratov shouted, «we’ll spend the night drinking tea and eat bread!»

Semyon Pankratov was perhaps the strongest of all, stocky like a bear, and the same hair color, a man in his forties. He himself came to these places from Arkhangelsk. And before that he served in the army, in the linear Siberian battalion, fought with the Japanese in 1905. And he, as a seasoned person, was respected in the artel.

— You have to move on. It doesn’t hurt that good here. Trouble may happen, we will disappear without a trace. These are bad places, — Usoltsev said meaningfully, — and our eldest knows that. Is it true, Afanasy Ivanovich?

Andrei Usoltsev was younger than the rest, perhaps only Eremey Krasilnikov stood up years younger than Usoltsev. The guy is prominent and strong, like everyone else, with hair cut in a circle and a small beard. And dressed like everyone else, in a fake, shirt-shirt, boots and harem pants. Only now, perhaps, with particular daring wore a cap on his head.

— We’ll go a mile, we can stop. But on the other side, out, then we will stand up as a cape, — Kharatyev agreed, — and then there is no need to anger God, and so they went well. And here we will stop, it will be bad. The main thing is that women are not with us. Otherwise, for sure…

Kharatyev looked much less powerful in appearance, and Pankratov’s height would change. But a tough, strong-willed face betrayed a real leader. In his forty-two years, Athanasius visited many troubles, but from everywhere he was able to bring his people alive and with arrival in addition.

And Athanasius began to look, squinting, at the gentle shore, as if he could see something. Other artisans instantly grimaced, they knew that they were not joking with the elder. This person saw a lot of things, and such that others did not have to. Only now, a little like, stuck her nose out of the shop, sniffed, and let’s bark. And then, as no one expected, she rushed into the water, and in a minute she rushed along the gentle shore, where Kharatyev did not want to pester.

— What should the elder do?» — Pankratov walked, — went to the shore, otherwise our Druzhok will disappear.

— Come on… It seems the rain is going, and the old people say that he does not like bad weather. Maybe we will be lucky…

And the artelshiki raked to the shore. They pulled out all the goodness from the boat, and put their boat on the stones. Three, Pankratov, Kharyatyev and Myasnikov threw their guns behind their backs and gathered on the road.

— Afanasy Petrovich, take me with you. I will come to life, honestly, — asked Yeremey Krasilnikov, also throwing a bag behind his back, — and I shoot well!

Of course, Eremey was young for years, no more than six years, as the elder vataga Athanasius knew. He looked nice, with a thin face, gray eyes. And although, in appearance, he was flimsy, but he never whined, he didn’t complain about fatigue on a hard journey. Srodu was not a burden, and he cooked his ear or porridge well.

— What do you say? — Vataga must decide, — said Athanasius, knocking his cap to the back of his head.

Why vataga? — Fedor also spoke, as the eldest by age, — as the lot decides that everything would be according to custom.

— Will we throw a coin, or will we drag straws? Kharatyev asked the artisans.

— So in the old days, let’s on straws. Yeryom will pull out a long one, he will go with you, and Semyon Ivanovich will stay with Andrei here, «Myasnikov reasoned.

«How is it without me?» -good Pankratov, — always I went to search, Fedor Palych, you know.

— Here, as fate decides, — Fedor chuckled, — not everything a person decides. And as everything goes, so it should go. It will stretch long, it will come with us.

— Okay, so we’ll decide. You, grandfather, know better, — agreed Pankratov.

And Myasnikov got down to business. The idea was not cunning, the main thing was to find a couple of straws. But even this did not take much time. And soon the grandfather got the necessary foals.

— Well, look for yourself! — and Fedor showed everyone straws, long and short, and hid both behind his back, — pull come on, guy!

And here, as if to help, the sun escaped from behind the clouds, it became even warmer in this cold place. Grandfather grinned rather, showing his still strong yellow teeth. Yeryoma sighed heavily, took off his cap, and threw it on a stone. Then he crossed himself, and said:

— In your left hand!

— Exactly decided?

— More precisely it doesn’t happen!

Grandfather Fedor slowly extended his hand to Erema, and showed that he was hiding in it — a long straw.

CHAPTER 5 Through the Woods Behind the Dog

So three artisans went to search, with bags and guns behind their backs. Everyone has a staff in their hands, not for beauty, but for business, that if and whoever slipped, they would not break their hands. Although people are all accustomed to the taiga, and different wild places, and mother nature is not painfully kind, and can take the life of anyone at once. Athanasius has seen this more than once. It seems to be a harmless place, and an experienced person, but stumbled here, on a slippery stone, and broke his head. And Usoltsev three years ago, in the same way, on a similar path, broke his leg, and the artisans had to return to the capture, then they lost two weeks. And it was hard to turn home on time, they did not have time to the first snow.

And so, they walked watchfully, carefully, only the mosquito bothered the anger very much. And small, but boring these creatures, buzz and buzz, and everything strives to get into the eyes and nose. I looked at the senior artel at the newcomer, the youngest, Yeryoma. But no, Krasilnikov kept well done, did not lag behind, breathed smoothly, walked and walked like a seasoned hunter, a real Siberian.

Grandfather was also great. That’s exactly who Kharatyev was hoping for on this track is Fyodor Myasnikov. The old hunter’s eyes only sunk even more, but his face became tougher, as if he had become not a living person, but just a mask carved from wood.

«We’ll get to the undergrowth, which of the beasts we catch, but outgrown. He is not indifferent to the eviscerations. He teaches, but he will come, he will not resist, — said Fedor, slightly adjusting the straps of the shoulder bag.

— So you say correctly, and our like is not afraid of shots, — agreed Athanasius, — Jeremah, don’t push forward, so as not to get shot.

Fedor in one movement took the gun off his shoulder, loaded it with two cartridges, took the left handguard comfortably, and the right one lay down on the butt next to the trigger. Grandfather ducked a little, and with slow steps moved to the copse. The elderly artisan managed to make almost no noise, the old branches on the ground were not cracked, and dense bushes of bushes let Myasnikov pass, like a native. The hunter walked quietly, without scaring off the flax inhabitants.

And Athanasius and Yerema remained waiting. They couldn’t really help a friend now, but it’s easy to interfere. Kharatyev, after thinking a little, took out the snares from his shoulder bag. The man was still experienced, he knew that this simple tackle can be more reliable than guns in the taiga, when you just need to get food.

— Why is he alone?» Krasilnikov worried.

— It will cope, and we are only a burden for him, — the elder reassured the young man, — but for now we will prepare a fire. And you, Yeryoma, bring water. Here, two leather folding buckets, one for steaming, the other for tea.

— Now, I’m going! -and the guy threw off the annoying bag from his shoulders, and tried to remove the gun.

— No, leave the double-barreled, you never know what. And look, be careful in the bushes, do not run into the beast!

— Nothing, not for the first time!

Kharatyev looked doubtfully at the young man. And then, because for the first time the guy went to try… For him, stepmother, Fyodor Semyonovna asked the whole artel, otherwise in life she would not have taken Eremu on a campaign. After all, it hurts a boy, sixteen years old, no more.

Chapter 6 Eremeev hunt

Yeremey quickly went down to the flowing narrow river, closed by bushes from two banks. But, and an uncomfortable gun beat on the back, and the belt cut the shoulders. Tired in general, boy. However, he endured. After all, he promised Afanasy Petrovich that he would be careful, and tried his best. One thing is bad that there were no berries, otherwise the currants grew here extremely well.

And the young man, so with a gun behind his back, went to the river, entered the water with his feet, but tried not to collect slurry in the tops of his boots. He bent down, and instantly gained two full buckets. The deed was done, no danger fell on him, forest animals did not rush to eat it at once. Yeryoma smiled, put the bucket on the ground, so that he could also wash in the river. I just really wanted to sleep, I had to wash off the fatigue. He captured a handful of cold, clean oxen, and began to bitterly rub his face so that his eyes would no longer stick together.

Then I heard a sharp deaf growl, the branches of bushes rustled, and the huge carcass of the forest owner rose up. The bear stood on its hind legs, showing its impressive growth and become, opened its mouth, exposing its fangs, and growled again, only even more fiercely. Yeryoma began to retreat into the water, and holding the buckets in his hands.

— And then, artel buckets, Afanasy Petrovich swears, he will definitely swear, he will no longer let go of one. May you always cook only porridge, they will not be allowed to work, but they will laugh,» the young man thought.

It seems that Eryom pretended not to be afraid, only his knees trembled treacherously. He took the gun off his shoulder, but his hands were not firm, and the barrel, as if made of oil, suddenly slipped out of his hands and fell into the water. The young man shuddered all over, but dived headlong, trying to find a weapon in the tin. And then, the bear screamed terribly almost humanly, and suddenly fell silent.

«What is it, no matter how it gets worse» — Eremey immediately thought, looking around.

Slowly returned to the shore, the buckets stood still. And from the side of the bushes there was a trickle, which, it seems, did not exist before. And here, Yeryoma, despite the fact that the wash from head to toe in cold water, sweated at once. It flowed thick blood, making the water of this rivulet pink.

— Lord… — he whispered, and crossed himself, and immediately squeezed out the cap from the water, and again knocked on his head.

The boy almost sat down, and the cold water flowed from the cap on the ears and the back of the head right behind his back. You don’t want to tremble here, but you will cover yourself with goosebumps at once…

— No, no one has called me that yet, — Yeremey heard the voice of a stranger, — Alexey Gorn, at your service!

The bushes cracked, and Eremey was about to give a dragonfly, and so he stood in the water. I tried to dive, but then I looked at the stranger. And for sure, the person looked like a foreigner from the picture. Well, or from the magazine «Niva.» Clean shaven, blue-eyed. Tall, almost a fathom tall, dressed like a rich traveler. Kepi, leather jacket, breeches pants, boots with leggings. With a winchester behind him, a big backpack. True, instead of the whitest shirt with a starched collar and tie, there was only a thin knitted sweater with a collar under the throat.

He slowly wiped the bloody blade of a hunting knife on the grass and hid the blackened blade in a sheath.

And, as an addition to the picture, there was a bloody bear hide. She lay, however, in the manner of a rug, in front of the legs of this Alexei. And at the bushes, their small husky greedily guzzled the bear tree.

— Oh, Buddy! Buddy, where did you run away from us! — the boy was so happy that he forgot to identify himself as a guest.

«Your dog?» Escaped? So even the dog must be fed, starved. Here, yesterday I got nailed to me. Come on, we’ll make a fire now, otherwise you need to dry yourself, freeze, get sick.

«No,» the young man said rather frightened, taking a step back, «they are waiting for me with water. And you come with us, everything is more fun by the fire. We’ll drink tea. And they call me Yeremey Ivanovich Krasilnikov, — the water carrier added importantly.

«Ah,» Alexey said quietly with a smile, «let’s go.» Only I will put the meat, and your Friend is still plenty of food!

And then, the dog swallowed hefty pieces of blood, and without chewing. As you can see, he did not want to go at all. The pretzel’s tail now looked up cheerfully, and the cunning man pressed his ears to his head, still waiting for a catch. And he mowed everything with blue eyes on the cradle. Well, the Swede slowly laid bear meat in the fabric, deftly linking the prey. Eryoma was waiting for a new comrade, and then went ahead, showing the way.

CHAPTER 7 Out of the Woods

— Who is it? — Athanasius did not understand, getting up, and grabbing the gun.

The senior artel was taken away by a tall stranger, with a backpack behind his back, walking behind Yeryoma. He is somewhere washed to the thread, but with buckets in his hands full of water. Not too Kharatiev liked it, but the guest did not have weapons in his hands, an American hard drive hung behind him, and a hunting knife on his belt.

Myasnikov, as always, was faster than talking. He, like the most experienced in the artel, was already with a gun in his hands, moving a little to the right, taking the best position for an accurate shot. And he even left alone a bunch of coals, which he stirred with a stick. Judging by the smell, the meat was baked there, covered with clay, so that it would not burn out from the intense heat.

But then Druzhok ran forward, stood on his hind legs, resting his front against Kharatyev’s chest, and licked the owner’s face. He twisted his tail without ceasing, rejoicing that he saw his own. Tension, and some fear immediately subsided. Fedor lowered his gun.

— Well, exactly, your dog, — the guest grinned, — Well, I am Alexey Gorn, bachelor of the University of Gothenburg, botanist, Swedish citizen, at your service!

Athanasius suggested that the guest sit down by the fire with a gesture. He immediately took out a folding seat, and settled down comfortably. He took off his cap, shone his shaved head with a wonderful pigtail on the back of his head. And the cunning Yerema, taking advantage of a slight turmoil, disappeared. The elder did not even understand how it all happened.

— Here, I have meat, bear. It is necessary to bake, otherwise it will disappear. And so for a couple of days there is enough food for everyone, — said this tall foreigner.

— And your hairstyle is wonderful, and now, I filled the drawing in my hands, — asked Myasnikov, who had seen a lot, — are you not a convict, a kind person? Or maybe the gendarmes are following your trail? If that’s all, then go away, for good, but for good. Wherever you want.

— Fair, — agreed the Swede, — Here, and my passport. Look, — and took out a document from his jacket pocket, with a photograph, and three crowns on the cover, — here, look, kind man.

— I will not understand anything, it is not written in our letters, but the face is exactly yours. Eryoma, read, you are the smartest here! — added Myasnikov, and taking two fingers, and lowered the peak of his cap to the very nose, covering his eyes.

Fedor noticed everything. And exactly, the boy returned to the fire, already in dry and clean clothes. He went up to the artisans, picked up a passport, and slowly, letter by letter, read:

— Alexis Svante Horn, born in Gothenburg, 1889 Here, take the papers, Swedes. So he helped me, he filled up a bear near the river, — Eremey stood up for his acquaintance.

— What? — Kharatyev did not believe, — and how did he contrive? I didn’t hear any gunshots.

— Yes, I could. A knife, a wooden slingshot and ingenuity in addition. Coped with the forest owner, that’s his skin with me. I have already sprinkled salt, so as not to sting, — said Alexey.

«All the same, you look strange, Mr. Horn. Wonderfully straight, — Fedor said slowly, — as if Chinese, or Mongol. Tattoo on the arms. The pigtail is just the same…

«So I am Vaishnav. He grew up in India, such customs there. Then we returned to Stockholm. And there the parents died of cholera.

Kharatyev doubtfully appreciated becoming a foreigner. He saw both the Chinese and the Mongols during his service. This Swede was not particularly similar to those and others. Well, that height is still a tower, and you can’t see that such a great power is a foreign person. It is clear that the leader of the artel, used to live in the taiga, and saw different things. Therefore, I decided not to go into questions yet. And then they will begin to torture, what, and what…

— A reliable person is always needed, — Kharatyev slowly spoke, thinking over his every word, — Moreover, such a skillful hunter. We followed our dog, now, in the morning, we will return to the river. My name is Athanasius, I am the eldest in our artel. This is Fedor, — nodded to Myasnikov, — and with Yeryoma, you, I think, are already familiar. Settle down, now the tea will be ready, your meat will soon roast, and ours is ready!

— Thank you, Athanasius, and you, kind people! ’the guest replied.

Yeryoma prepared artel wooden spoons and plates, enameled iron mugs. The most necessary things in any hike. Myasnikov pulled out two hazel grouse from the coals, broke and peeled the clay that covered them, and with a large knife divided the food into all the eaters, giving everyone equally.

«Where’s your bowl?» he asked the Swede.

«Exactly, now,» the guest nodded with a shaved head.

And the foreigner fished out a metal bowl from his backpack, dull silver, the same spoon and mug. The artist only grunted when he saw this. And then, abroad, they have everything there, not like people. He took the bowl in his hand, and was surprised at the light weight of the dishes. But, he did not say anything, he only put his share to the guest.

«It’s aluminum. Very light metal, — explained Alexey, — very convenient, — repeated the Swede.

— Okay, let’s eat. Then you have to go to bed. Tomorrow is not an easy day. Yes, and mosquitoes raged, — the elder shouted quietly.

But first they milked hazel grouse, then tried bear meat, which was then removed into a clay pot with a lid. The dog was spinning nearby, begging for his share. And he was fed to the dump. It came to tea, and artisans, and their new acquaintance with pleasure and slowly drank a hot and invigorating drink.

So far, the point is, behind the male conversations, from which the youngest of the artisans now and then threw into the heat, then into the cold. And the face. became brightly punchy. You touch it — it’s easy and you can get burned!

Kharatyev looked at the young man, even smiled, so, for the good. He recalled that he himself was young, he walked in students for a long time, until he was entrusted with the artel at the gathering. He squinted, looked like the sun was bathing in the clouds, making the white heavenly lamb bright red.

— The sun is already setting in the clouds, and tomorrow the day will be windy. And we need to get to our boat, and then go, already on the water! You need to protect your strength! We will take turns on duty at night, — Afanasy ordered, — you will lift me, Fedor, at midnight.

— I’ll do it,» Myasnikov replied, and taking off his boots, climbed into the tent.

Yeryom did not even have to persuade to go to bed, it is clear that he bowed for the whole day, and also climbed under the canopy.

The canopy is such a grid with small cells, so as not to allow mosquitoes to reach human blood. You can sleep peacefully and even get enough sleep. Alexey took off his jacket, hera and boots, pulled out an unprecedented sleeping bag from his backpack.

— This is such a bag for sleep. I climbed and sleep, — explained the Swede.

He also put an electric flashlight nearby. Yeryoma looked at these curiosities with interest, but soon he was dreamed. Alexey, trying not to wake anyone up, got out of the tent outside. There, Kharatyev was strong at the fire, and fought sleep, yawning fiercely, opening almost his entire mouth.

«What are you awake for?» — whispered the elder, — tomorrow is a hard day.

— Yes, I have insomnia, Athanasius. Come on, I’d rather sit.

— This is a mess.

— There is no point in robbing you. And I could have killed you yesterday. What was there to postpone overnight?

— What a quick one… Well, if you beat me in your arms, you will be on duty, like everyone else.

Kharatyev believed in old signs. If a person is honest, so his hand is strong, not trembling. And, such a person can be trusted!

The Swede nodded, agreeing. And they started a fight on an old stump. Three times they decided to grab, both agreed that it would be more honest.

Athanasius grabbed the palm of a foreigner, and it seemed as if he had taken up the stone, and not a living person. We started to fight. Yes, it was easier to move the rock than the hand of this new acquaintance. Finally, Kharatyev whispered so as not to wake the others up with a loud conversation:

— Fit… Put the kettle on the fire in the morning. Well, don’t get bored, Swede…

And the senior artel himself took off his boots and went to the tent. Alexey calmly sat on his folding chair and put the twigs into the fire, so that it would not be gas, but it would not flare up in a violent flame. And it was not bad to sit alone, and look and look at the tongues of the fire, at the bright crackling embers. And, it’s nice that people trusted him. True, he was surprised, but what, the senior artel does not know who Yeryoma is?

CHAPTER 8 ON THE RUN

Nastasya was now in no hurry, she took care of her strength. And although she escaped from this stone fortress, and looked around, she was afraid that Tivda was following. The place, it also turned out, although the priest said:

— Lucky you girl, Tivda himself missed you. He is rich, so rich that words cannot convey… And not greedy, not evil, we paid our debts to the merchants. Think for yourself, why do you need this, inaudible?. No stake, no yard.. Why do you need this, Thomas… All he has is good, that the horse is half-dead, but the gun is old from ot. You will become tormented in poverty… And Tivda, although of these, sectarians, is so very rich prospector, limp knows him, and he is good-looking.»

Anastasia did not believe her father, Timofey Lukich, is not a fool. And then I was afraid and waited. But three days later he came to them, to the capture, a wonderful man, riding a moose. No, I saw this, but behind it, the dry one ran just like a dog. He was dressed, in the usual way, in armor, shirt, harem pants and good boots. And for sure, he looked just like an overseas prince from a fairy tale, she sometimes read about such, he is an illiterate fool. Well, right royal Elisha from the picture… Tall, slender and cool, blue eyes, heavenly. And as he came up, he gave me a golden necklace, so he smiled, his heart broke straight.

— Be you a beauty, just a princess in my castle. Everything is rich and beautiful with me.»

She heard those words. That evening, in the church and got married. And the next morning, sat on his horned horse, and drove straight into the forest… She tenaciously held on to the neck of the dry, all trying to remember the road, but where is it… They wound for a long time, passed between stone hills, and found themselves at the oak gates, upholstered in copper, green sheets. And then, not everyone will understand that the place is residential. The stones from which this castle was built were huge. In her height, no less, and in length, in the girth of the hands of Tivda, her unfortunate groom.

The gates opened, behind them stood two, a young man and a girl, and in appearance, as if the brother and sister of her fiancé. Also, tall and marvelous. True, it was ringing in my heart that here and what a girl, when it was she, Anastasia Timofeevna, now the wife of Tivda Gartovich. And there will be someone else to dispose of here! And then, here’s what kind of wife broke off, not otherwise, so that the wife would suffer more!

But now, her husband jumped off the saddle, took her in his arms, kissed her and slowly carried her into the house. How’s the house? Chambers, in this vast tower-fortress. Indeed, it was beautiful in these several rooms, in a rich way. Even in the house of the priest of their village, the furniture was much poorer, and there were no carpets at all. And the gramophone… He twisted the handle of a cunning car, then put on a record, and music sounded. Hoarse, but still, much better than when Filka the neighbor played the accordion.

She changed into the best when another man familiar to the table called. Later I found out that he was called Lut. The table was laid, where as noble. Silver dishes sparkled with polished sides, pleased the eye. This, of course, Anastasia did not see such a thing. The groom, Tivda, appeared dressed to smithereens. In a red silk shirt, with a bright pattern, suede pants, chrome, well-sewn boots. Handsome, in general. And his relatives, or who they were to him, looked no worse. Also, rich and expensive. But now, while the men were drinking wine, she overheard what Geda and Wisna were saying.

— How long will she live here? Probably since ten years. Three children, give birth, whom we will give to her father, as persuaded. And Tivda, our Kasha Immortal, will continue to live, — said the one whom Visnaya called.

— Yes, and we will never die, — the so-called Geda quietly said, — and Nastya, like everyone else, will grow old and die. There, in the copse, a whole cemetery of the Kashcheev wives.

— But he can give birth to children. And we, here, are not destined. We can do everything, but we cannot bring new life into the world.

— Maybe when the Chosen One comes again, but the Princesses wake up? But, so far — nothing.

She heard everything, all these speeches, to the last word. And I realized what was waiting for her. She was frightened here, shaking Nastasya with her whole body, fell to her knees in front of the Immortal Maidens, grabbed Geda’s knees, and asked:

«Let me go, beautiful maid! I swear I won’t tell anyone about you!»

«Do you know what you’re asking for? The path is long, and you won’t reach it yourself. You’ll be lost on these paths.»

«Yes, it’s better to disappear into the wild than to languish here!»

I remembered that I answered that way, these tall beauties. And she lowered her head, waiting for an answer. To be honest, I did not hope that they would help.

«Okay, wait until I bring you suitable clothes, but food for three days,» Visna said quietly.

Geda left with a friend, and soon both girls returned this with a whole heap of clothes.

«It’s okay. Now Tivda went hunting for fresh meat. You see, he wanted venison. So you’ve got the whole day. But go quickly, do not hesitate» — Visna delighted her

Nastasya quickly picked up boots, then harem pants, tying them higher, shirt, fake. I have not forgotten the old felt blanket. A considerable bag was hung on her back, they even gave her a knife and a small hatchet.

«All right, hurry up!» Visna whispered.

Anastasia impetuously hugged both girls in turn, whom she had already considered real sisters, cleaner and more suitable than real, relatives. The gate was opened to her, and the fugitive’s legs themselves carried the former prisoner away from this hidden place.

I walked quickly at first, almost ran. I walked around two hills, and the trail seemed to be gone. She walked and walked, to the forest, and the river, about which Geda and Visna told her. Now Anastasia decided to go to Aunt Natalia, and n to her father. She trusted her more, her material sister, that she would not give up her niece, would not expel her, and would not send her to an empty house.

By evening I wanted to eat, I ate, but for the sake of apprehension I climbed a tree with a convenient fork. She tied her belts to thick branches, wrapped herself in a blanket, and was able to fall asleep. At night, owls were walking on the branches, because they were sitting next to her abode. But she was not afraid, what is she now afraid of if she ran away from Kashchei the Immortal himself? She drank water from the flask, and again forgot her anxious dream.

And in her dream, Tivda ghosted, held his head in his hands, and smiled. Then, he bled to death, and then, with the shaman together, jumped around the fire. She woke up, sweating with fear. And, the sun was already rising above the trees. I ate quickly, and went to the bank of the river. And when she saw the hunters in the bidar, she waved her hands, shouted, and that she had the strength to run to her rescuers.

CHAPTER 9 Simple road

Now four, or rather five, were returning from the forest, if with a dog. But, Druzhka was now on Yeryom’s leash, although it was difficult to immediately understand who was leading whom. The dog was extremely curious, and could not pass by the most invisible bush

And Alexey went behind everyone, already with two bags. Unloaded the youngest artist. Ahead, leading, was Fedor, with a gun at the ready. Beasts were feared. Although these animals quickly left the trail of hunters. Kharatyev was now walking a little from the side, and noticed that the Swede saw a whole fox brood in the grass, but he didn’t even reach for a gun.

And then the frisky Druzhok scared the black grouse out of the thickets with his bark. Fedor threw up his gun, but then Alexei changed everything. He threw off a backpack with a bag and a gun, took a step, and in the manner of a forest cat, tall, one and a half fathoms, jumped up and grabbed the birds with his bare hands. He fell to the ground, as if nothing had happened, threw his burden behind his back, and the grouse on his belt, in a canvas bag.

— Here, and dinner is available! ’he laughed.

Kharatyev walked crazy. And then, a good fellow traveler, there are no words, but some unprecedented… And he, as if nothing had happened, looked at the sun, stuck two sticks in the ground, and said:

«Two o’clock in the afternoon.

«Where did you get it from?» — Kharatyev did not understand, and took out his pocket watch.

It was a breget, a good old job, bought as two years ago, in Tobolsk, in a pawnshop. But, I forgot to let the spring down yesterday, and the watch stopped.

— Don’t worry, Athanasius, — Alexey laughed, — I remember the calendar by heart. Sunset, today, June 6th, sunset at twenty-one hours forty-two minutes. Or, he looked with a smile at the brooding faces of his new comrades, on my Omega, and he looked at the wristwatch hidden under the sleeve of his sweater, now two and a half hours, thirty-two minutes.

Everyone laughed, even the gloomy and suspicious Myasnikov. Athanasius quickly set his breget, according to the announced exact time.

Soon the travelers made a halt, rest with half an hour. We sat down, lying down on the trees. Yeryoma sat not far from Alexei, adjusted his bag, smoothed his hair, and said:

— Here are the elephants also resting. They are not iron.

— And you saw the elephant,» Kharatyev did not believe.

— I looked at him in the zoo, in Tobolsk. Big such, gray, with a trunk.

But the Swede, who was in India, for some reason remained silent. I just looked at my watch and adjusted the cap on my head. As if elephants became uninteresting to him.

Athanasius took out a flask, drank some water. Fedor took up the Holy Scripture, and then the Psalter, and quietly read to himself:" And I will go with the valley of mortal shadow, but I will not fear evil. For the Lord, my Shepherd… Haratyev was surprised how it had changed, even strained such a calm face of the Swedish «Buddhist,» as if he had heard something familiar.

Alexey put his goodness by the tree, took off his jacket. Then, he lifted something from the ground, dusted it off from old needles, and quickly, almost like a marten, climbed the tree, despite the fact that he held on to the branches with one hand. I ended up at the hollow of a tree just noticed by the artisans, which I put there, a squirrel jumped out to it, and let’s chirp, in my own way. And the one, a mile from Kolomna, as if he understood what. Finally, Alexey began to go down, and the squirrel behind him, fluffing his tail. He jumped to the ground, she cracked something, waved her red tail, and instantly flew back up the trunk of the tree. True, the cap fell off his head, but instantly put it back on.

But then the Swede looked anxiously at his hand, with which blood oozed profusely.

— Come on, I’ll help you! — Yeryom immediately jumped up from his seat, — I have a scarf!

The Swede just grinned, did not argue, took out his flask and gave it to the kid. He quickly poured clean water on the bloody wound and wrapped it in a clean handkerchief.

— Everything is fine, everything heals quickly, — Alexey reassured.

— You just unscrew the birds’ heads on the fly, but you regret it, — Fedor said with a cunning in his face, — it is not clear…

— So you need to eat and drink, — answered the Swede, — Therefore, I catch the prey. And what is the squirrel? And if you do not do good to others, then there will be no way.

Kharatyev just chuckled. And what you don’t hear enough on the road! From one, from the other, and everything is different, but smartly — almost never. But after thinking, I decided that there was something sensible in the words of a foreigner. Without luck in their risky business, well, no way!

— Okay, let’s go… Go before the evening…

This time we stopped at the stream, Myasnikov took up cooking, with a dexterous mouth gutted two forest birds caught by the Swede. And he, waiting for the water in one pot to warm up, began to shave. —

— It was not enough for a person to entertain by catching squirrels and birds, — Myasnikov forgot, — shave, you say, it got wild.

But Eryom willingly volunteered to hold a mirror, and Alexei took out two wonderful knives. One, with a concave blade. As the Swede lathered his head, so Kharatyev immediately guessed. It dawned on the elder simply. You see, for some, as it turns out, the head is not square, but round, which means that not to cut, and the blade needs a cunning shape.

And it was not only this that surprised the elder. And also tattoos of this foreigner. After all, he undressed to the waist, so that the sweater and lower shirt would not get dirty. And it was complicated well, not a drop of fat, but there were no outstanding muscles, like a circus athlete, either. But the fact that this Swede was strong was incredible, so everyone saw it. And, in half an hour, Alexey shaved, and with visible pleasure checked the smoothness of his head, swiping his thumb over it.

«I’ll go to the creek. Maybe I’ll catch fish! — he added, — otherwise the birds, probably, will ripen only in an hour. I’ll take a walk.

«There is no net, but you can’t take much with a fishing rod,» Myasnikov said.

— I will try, — the Swede noticed, — maybe it will turn out something.

***

He walked slowly to the stream, hesitated a little, or reproached himself along the way.

«And what was there to catch these tetraceans on the fly? What kind of fun? There was nothing to do? What would you like? Well, I brought a squirrel to my mother-squirrel, another thing. And here, in the evening, he will beat hard, who wants to like it? And now, for the fish gathered… You are looking for what a fine fellow! The strongest, the smartest, and most importantly, the most beautiful»

He said everything to himself. He began to sigh a little along the way. And even thought, or maybe not catch anything? But then he heard the ringing voice of Eremey:

— Wait! I’m with you! Will you show how to deal with a big catch?

Almost by accident, well, of course, everything was just like that, looked after a small tree, cut it off, hewn it with a knife, and built a two-toothed ostrug for catching.

— Here, sit down nearby, and look. Just keep quiet, then I’ll tell you everything.

Yeryoma only nodded, hiding his eyes under the visor of the cap from the bright sun. Well, himself, began to look for fish. In six strokes, he took five fish from the stream. It seems quite good. Well, Yeremey muttered:

— Great, Alexey! I wish I did!

— Nothing, learn. Let’s go to the tent, — a clear answer was given.

But even there Eryoma did not calm down. He came up when he put on his jacket and asked:

— I cleaned the fish, teach the trees to climb while dinner is preparing!

He did not refuse, but patiently showed how to put his hand, rest his feet. And soon Yeryoma was able to climb the lower branches.

— Look, don’t break your legs! Athanasius shouted, — go eat, everything is ready!

— I’m careful! Come on, Alexey! — answered Yeryoma, — oh you, your hand has healed! And there is no scar left!

— Yes, nonsense, — and hid his palm behind his back, — let’s go!

So this day ended, on which everyone was waiting for a dinner of two dishes — for the first baked fish, and for the second — well-cooked forest birds. The friend was modestly content with scraps. However, the dog did not murmur. Habitual.

CHAPTER 10 Unexpected meeting

At night, Alexey again shook the peace of the artel, and Athanasius looked all in the morning, was their assistant tired? No, and the eyes did not redden, and walked also confidently, sweeping step. And one more thing that was wonderful. Even the Swede did not feel the itch from mosquito bites, did not scratch, and Kharatyev did not notice red plaques on his hands, neck or shaved head. Wisely somehow everything came out… Afanasy walked behind the Swede, tried to find suspicious, and could not. Nothing came out, just a person and a person, well, a little strange…

— Senior! Soon the river, here, the bushes are familiar!

— And that! Well done Fedor, your eye is visible! Well, what did you decide, Alexey, with us, will you go to Petropavlovsky, or will you move your way?

— With you… What. And there it will be seen.

— Well. all right. Not far away, there is a good place. We will try to become gold with a pound of four. Enough will feed for the winter, and there will be more in reserve!

— It’s a good thing,» the Swede agreed.

Yeremey, as he heard it, also amused. But now, the artisans approached the parking lot. Semyon Pankratov quickly walked towards them, almost covered with the sun with heroic statues.

— He knew that you would come, — Semyon said and hugged everyone, in turn, — here, and our Friend is with us, — he added, and the dog ran up to say hello, — and another friend… Who will you be, kind man? he asked the Swede.

— He’ll come with us. A sensible person, a good hunter. He will not be a burden. They call Alexey Gorny. He took the bear on the hunt, Yeryoma helped ours, — Kharatyev explained to his own.

— Well, if the elder says so, then it is, — Semyon said doubtfully, — and Andryukha prepares dinner. You’re just in time!

— Sit down to the fire, already lunch ripe! — Andrey added his word, — and you, Swede, also sit down!

— Now, I’ll rinse my hands! answered the foreigner quickly.

And the rest followed his example. And start washing your hands and washing right by the river bank. The water, albeit cold, relieved fatigue. The artisans were amused, smiled.

Now everyone is together again. Andrei, taking a ladle, endowed each share with a so seductively smelling brew.

— Wow, and good! — Fedor immediately praised the efforts of the Kashevar.

— And then! Semyon supported, sitting with a spoon in his hand.

Indeed, the ear turned out to be glorious, even with pearl barley. And then, everyone who has been on campaigns understands how sad it is for a Russian person to sit without bread for a long time, even if he has meat and fish to his liking. Well, everything is wrong, everything is not good and unusual. And if there is cereal or even porridge, it’s a completely different matter! Immediately, the mood of anyone rose. After all, Usoltsev cooked porridge, and the Swede brought meat. Here a whole feast went out, and not just a camp dinner.

— And a nice bear! — Pankratov praised, — here, after all, the most important thing is to keep him more in a hole with coals, which would languish longer.

— Exactly, — Usoltsev supported, — and do not forget about currant leaves.

— And especially good with gravy from cranberries, — Fedor continued dreamily, — and add a little honey, for taste…

«And my mother also added horseradish and ginger roots,» even Yeryom could not resist eating a piece of meat.

Athanasius’s laugh was the answer. No one could resist, and all the artisans amused themselves.

— Well, we are still far from the tavern in Petropavlovsky. But, and here there is enough food, — said Myasnikov, — let’s eat! True, in those places there are a lot of curiosities, as people say…

— What is it, grandfather? — Yeremey whispered, however, without letting go of the plate and spoon.

— Yes, different things, — Myasnikov looked at Alexei, at his shaved head with a pigtail, — here, beyond the Urals, rumors are about immortal people. Well, they are giants, incredible forces. And they all serve the Princess, the one who sleeps in grief…

Everyone was silent, only you could hear the embers cracking in the fire. Yeryom noticed how the flame reflects in the almost transparent eyes of Gorn, how he squinted and looked at his grandfather strangely.

— And Tsarevna that difficult, after all from ice all, but doesn’t break. And the girl is the same as the Heart of the Whole Russian Earth, its support and protection. Gives everyone happiness, wealth, and good luck. And therefore there is a lot of gold, and the old people say that there is a Golden Mountain in those places. Everyone wants to find her, but the hostess does not give those places unworthy. But, there are true rumors that the hunters saw those inhabitants, and returned with great wealth.

— Wow…» Yeremey whispered.

— Well, you never know what they say, — Andrey added doubtfully, however, adjusting the gates of his shirt, as if he was worried.

— Let’s drink it better than a hot drink, — Pankratov also spoke out, — nevertheless, it’s more interesting about peddling, — and substituted a mug.

— No, it’s interesting, — Yeryoma said dreamily, «just like in a fairy tale, Pushkin…

— It’s already dark — Kharatyev said quietly, — Indeed! We’ll finish tea, and we need to go to bed, otherwise in the morning, until dawn, we need to go further down the river! ’the elder sentenced.

And Nastasya was now sitting in a kayak with three convicts. I got caught like a fool, everything reproached myself for credulity. And what went to these? I would sit calmly in the bushes, no, I already ran, but quickly so, shouted… I knocked with my legs, asked, take it with you… And there I noticed, traces of shackles on my hands, and government shoes, which only inmates are given… True, Luka, their initial one said that they say, they will be released as soon as they approach the Peter and Paul village. Yes, she, tea and not a fool… Or, a fool at all, since you got here?

I noticed how last night the convicts transferred one of their own to meat. And then, last night there were five of them, and today there are already four left. She had not eaten anything for two days… I figured that this meat would be enough for them for two days, and there they would devour it. I didn’t even doubt it. Here is the fate of the fool… She escaped from Kashchei, and these villains, murderers and scoundrels will eat her…

— Yes, you sing, girl, you look as starving. We don’t have sauerkraut, and we don’t have mushrooms either! Luke said, with a laugh.

— Exactly. Meat only! ’the beast-like Winter added.

The strongest he was from this gang, or gang of convicts who fled from the prison. He and the rake are now, along with Nestor, a gloomy bearded uncle. I would have seen such a bargain, or in church — I thought that a clerk, but it turned out… He decided that at night, hit in the heart, and then chopped off his head. And he undertook to eviscerate. And in appearance, a handsome and God-fearing person, out, and a copper cross on a shoelace dangles…

And at the stern, at the helm, Kuzma was sitting… He was staring at her, immediately tried to drag her into the bushes, but Luka did not give. Nastasya did not immediately understand this, but only when they slipped past the village of her aunt unnoticed on the night. Luke was afraid that if she had been killed there, the locals could chase. Cunning it was a leader, confident. And in the village he did not allow robbing, he beat both Zima and Kuzma when they dared to object to him.

I wanted to get to the city Luka, to Petropavlovsk. There was something waiting for him, very important. And it was possible to get on the gorge to Yekaterinburg, and there… Take off, walk through the raspberries, show off in front of friends. And then, they will envy how business he has become…

Endlessly twisted Luke one notebook in his hands, for nothing that he did not lick. It can be seen that this valuable and expensive thing was for a convict. He noticed how Nastasya looks at it, and joked:

— Poems it, beauty. Love… They promised to print in St. Petersburg!

His friends — comrades already laughed, and she only swallowed out of fear, was afraid that they would kill for an extra word. But, again I wanted to eat. True, I read in books that people can live without food for almost forty days…

So they walked for two days, and in the evening, they stuck to the shore. They made a fire, sat around the fire, like owls, on a lap. Now Nastasya knew for sure that her hour had come, and was wondering how to escape, but her bound legs were numb. It seemed to fall asleep. And, as if in a dream I saw Tivda-Kashchei, with some friend, and they talked with Luka.

— Tivda! It’s me, Nastasya! They tied me up! They are fugitive convicts! ’she screamed as loudly as she could.

CHAPTER 11 A Tricky Business

Artelshiki went further and further along the river, worked harmoniously in line with oars, urging their kayak. It was not an easy task, but people accustomed to work were selected, both who did the work themselves and who helped their comrades. There was no such thing here that:" he did his own, and then it’s none of my business,» That’s why she and the artel, what to do together, and everyone helps everyone. Therefore, it turned out that it is easier to be together than alone.

Already, it’s really evening, and the elder was looking for a place where to stick better, and put his tent for the night. In the meantime, we walked along the river.

Alexey is now in line with the coffins along with Pankratov. Semyon, for the sake of mischief, tried to test the strength of the Swede, and worked much faster than usual. But he, as if he had not noticed the catch, rake to the beat with Pankratov, and it was not noticeable that he was at least a little tired.

— Enough Semyon, — Comrade Kharatyev reassured, — Alexey is two-core, and maybe even stronger… And then you will jump out aground…

Experienced and attentive to all the little things, Fedor looked closer to the shore, as if he saw there, finally, something sensible for everyone.

— Hear, senior, and there is a baydara Demyan. And people, not from his artel, I’m telling you for sure, — Myasnikov quickly said, — something bad happened, you need to figure it out.

— Get close and ask in a row. Row faster, — Kharatyev commanded.

— Here, take the binoculars, — Alexey handed the box, — it will be better with him!

— Indeed, — admired looking through the eyepieces, and twisted the lamb, adjusting the clarity, — you are right, Fedor. Pestimory himself!

Grandfather looked, and immediately gave this optics back to the Swede in his hands. Myasnikov himself reached for a gun and took out loaded cartridges from his bag. And the baidara tizo came to the shore, poked into the thickets of reeds. Athanasius listened, but no, it was quiet in this backwater. Artelchiki hid in the bushes, trying not to notice them

— With good you remain, Andryukha da Yeryoma. Sit here, wait for us, protect the belongings. In the four, we will quickly manage. Are you clear? Haratyev asked sharply.

Both noticed how the elder immediately looked down on his face, and somehow thought about entering into disputes. Both were silent.

***

— Listen, Athanasius, — Alexey continued to say slowly, putting his words like bricks in masonry, — let me deal with them alone, Del for a minute, and you will not have to risk it. It will be better. That’s right Fedor said, thin people are people… They ate their comrade, from their cauldron, and from them now they carry a human…

Kharatiev furrowed his eyebrows, reflecting. For order, the prince himself smelled of nothing but burning and smoke from a distant fire. And he could not decide without talking to strangers…

— And what will you do, Swede? asked the elder, squinting his eyes.

— I will kill all the villains, and that’s it. We will take the baydar and prey, I will drown the corpses in the river, no one will find. I know how to do it well. Believe me, it will be better. If we start a conversation, I can’t be in time everywhere, and someone can die.

Even Pankratov was surprised when listening to such speeches. And then, such a foreigner, slender, clean-shaven and free, and broadcasts more terrible than any Yakut or Buryat who embarked on the path of bloody revenge. So he says, as if he was going to gut the fish and fry, and not take people’s lives. One Myasnikov was not surprised, only smiled slyly, and scratched his head.

— Yes, I immediately knew, soaring, — he said, looking directly into the eyes of Alexei, — Elbasy, so? Did you decide to hunt? Then you won’t kill us for an hour? You let him go, Athanasius. He needs to drink blood.

— Yes, I don’t drink blood, grandfather Fedor, what are you doing? ’the Swede laughed.

But he looked as if he had now recognized Grandfather anew. But, in the face did not change, he was also calm.

— Okay. There is nothing to argue. Semyon, keep your gun ready, and you, Fedor, too. Do not kill strangers right away, you need to listen to who they are, — Kharatyev decided everything.

The Swede did not argue, only quickly loaded his hard drive with ten cartridges, and took a belt on a gun, holding the pile in the ground, and his palm lay on the neck of the butt. He was ready to fire. Athanasius only shook his head, accepting the inevitable. Pankratov also loaded his double-barreled gun. There was nothing to hesitate, it seems they were noticed, and the artelshiki quickly went to the tent of strangers.

***

— Hello, kind people! — Athanasius immediately said to strangers, — who will be? Where are you going?

This was customary, and the elder wanted to do as he should. He is not a beast, and not a man without a clan without a tribe, that without law or custom to act. But now he spoke quickly, assertively. I just wanted to crush the eccentrics, deprive me of self-confidence, and maybe scare me.

Forward came out, the eldest of their vatagi, knocked down his cap on the back of his head, nodded up, put his left leg forward, showing that he was not afraid of all one thing.

— Call me Zovutkoy, and on the business here, and where we go — and not your business. It’s not for you to tell us! And if you want, if with good, then sit down, we will treat you with tea! For the sake of a new acquaintance!

Athanasius himself sat down, once offered and Semyon was located nearby. Fedor thought about everything, corrected the gate of his shirt. And the Swede stood still.

— Bring tea to the guests! shouted the elder strangers.

Alexey kept watching how three came up on the left and right, and had already found the handle of a knife in his pocket. As the cry came:

— Tivda! It’s me, Nastasya! They tied me up! They are fugitive convicts!

It turned out as if the alarm from the bell tower rang. Everything seemed to freeze at once. But strangers tried to take up arms, this grandfather Fedor still managed to notice. And then I saw how only three bodies fell to the ground, pouring it with their blood. Fedor threw up his gun, as he thought very quickly, and a revolver shot was already heard. A Swede fell to the ground with a shot through his head, who suddenly appeared in front of Athanasius. Here Pankratov did not blunder, with a blow of the butt he knocked down the ground of the surviving convict.

The elder immediately sat down with the lying Alexei, took out a bloody knife from his hand. Blood oozed from the wound above the left ear, the new comrade was no longer breathing. Kharatyev sighed heavily, his soul became so nasty and dreary that he breathed with difficulty.

— Fedor, come back, let Andryukha and Yeryoma sula go with a kaydara, — nevertheless Athanasius could dispose of, — Sema, knit this bastard! — and the elder kicked the lying

And Kharatyev, again briefly looked at the murdered Alexei, and only now ran to the bound girl. Squatted down, untied the rope on his feet. His hands trembled disgustingly, and his head became like a stone. He looked closely at the captive. Beautiful, of course, you just can’t take your eyes off. And then, you will not say right away who is what class. Dress was sewn by an excellent cutter, a good craftsman and the fabric was not cheap. A fashionable skirt made of expensive fabric, a women’s jacket, a magnificent woolen Orenburg scarf on the shoulders, and silk, covered the hair. Athanasius saw so well-dressed young ladies only in Tobolsk. So this girl did not look like a peasant woman.

— My name is Anastasia, — said the former captive, — from the capture of Timofey Lukich, I am his daughter.

«Daughter?» Not far from here, — Kharatyev answered out of place, but he himself felt like cotton wool in his ears, — Well, maybe. It’s good that everything…

And he undertook to untie the hands of the girl. He tried to work with a knife, but almost pricked it, and again began to pull with his fingers, and then removed the tight ropes. He took his breath away from Natuga and experienced, but quite a bit, and the hunter sat down. He began to tremble. He turned his head to the clearing where the body of a comrade remained. The head was now completely empty, and then they would explain to the girl! And it was a pity for Alexei, he did not listen to a good man! The thoughts in the elder’s head were confused, and he grabbed the whiskey in exhaustion.

— Where’s Tivda? asked the girl anxiously, rubbing her stiff arms and legs, where was he? I saw him here, — and looked into the eyes of Kharatiev.

— It never happened to us. Let’s go. We will gather. It’s time to get out of here.

CHAPTER 12 Unexpectedly Resurrected

They passed quite a bit, and suddenly a terrible cry cut through the ears. The dog howled loudly. Athanasius even died when he heard this. And Nastasya ran to the killed Alexei, where he shouted and sobbed Eryom. The boy just beat on the chest of the dead, as if he could wake up and get up. Druzhok also ran up, licked the victim’s whitened face several times, poked his nose in the shoulder a couple of times, and lay down nearby.

Kharatyev did not know where to put himself, his legs themselves carried him into the tent of strangers. There he began to pull out bags and other luggage, throwing them next to a barely burning fire. Simple work distracted a little, and he was able to calm down a little.

Semyon sighed heavily, threw his gun and the Swede’s hard drive behind his back, and looked around the bodies of the murdered convicts.

— Exactly convicts, senior… Here, and traces from shackles on the wrists, — Semyon said loudly, — but Alexey famously put them right at once…

Again he breathed heavier, but there was no one to regret him. Then he sat down, and began to turn out the pockets of convicts. It was simple, just unpleasant. And, it’s good that a little blood came out, everyone received a knife injection in the heart.

— How Lyokha managed everything, it is not clear, — Pankratov muttered under his breath, — I honestly did not notice anything.

But there was nothing special. So, three Finnish knives and a couple of brass knuckles. Money, with credit tickets, for one hundred and twenty rubles, and in a silver coin, for another twenty rubles. There was no one to argue and argue with him. And then, dead, he will not say anything against anything. He looked, then pulled off his bodies and boots, but good did not disappear. Put it in a heap. Well, then, Pankratov was dragged by the hands into the distant bushes of the dead, all three at once.

And then he seemed to wake up from Yeryom’s grief, as if he remembered. He stood up, looked around with red eyes from tears, and shouted:

«Who killed him?»

«Who killed me?» So he shot, a song of soul, — grandfather Fedor nodded at the bound, and thoroughly kicked the convict under the very ribs.

The bound convict rolled over and tried to crawl away. He pushed himself absurdly, resting his heels on the ground, and so glided his back on the grass. As if he hoped to hide from here to hell. It was funny, but no one smiled.

True, Myasnikov did not expect what would happen next. Yeryom grabbed an ax lying near the branches prepared for the fire, and went to the culprit.

— No, no! — screamed foolishly the bound villain, already saying goodbye to life.

It’s good that Fedor grabbed Yeryoma from behind, pressed his hands tightly, and he dropped the ax. True, the grandfather felt something under his palms that should not have been. And the boy suddenly turned painfully red and quietly asked:

— Don’t tell anyone grandfather…

He only nodded with meaning, and released Krasilnikov from his iron embrace.

— Do not be afraid, everything will be fine, — Fyodor whispered, — by the evening it will form…

Yeryoma only looked at his grandfather incomprehensibly, and having calmed down, he sat down on a churbachok next to the murdered man. Nastasya, now with a leather bucket full of water, began to wash the head of the dead from blood. Her good satin scarf turned pink, but there were no traces of blood on the temple of the murdered.

— It would be necessary to put it in a tent, or something like that, — Andrey said quietly.

— Come on, carried, — agreed grandfather.

Together, by the arms by the legs, they brought the body, almost colliding with Kharatiev. He retreated a little inward, allowing the artisans to pass.

«They came up with the right idea,» he whispered, and covered the face of the dead found here with a towel.

— It is necessary to tie both hands and feet, according to custom, — said Usoltsev.

— Yes don’t, children, — Fedor didn’t agree, — to anything it is.

«Let’s tie it up, if necessary,» Athanasius said louder, «we’ll do everything as it should.» He did not regret himself for us. And in the morning and bury, as it should. Okay, grandfather, look how you can remember here. I found two bottles of vodka here. And we have one more in the kayak. And you also need to dig a grave. I’ll do it…

— Okay, let’s go to the table to set…, — Andrey said quietly.

CHAPTER 13 He Who Never Dies

Yeremey sat on an old tree, no longer crying. I could not, as if the tears were over. Usoltsev and Myasnikov were busy with dinner, put a pot and a kettle on fire. And an unfamiliar girl still looked sympathetically at the boy, then picked him up from the ground and dusted off his fallen cap.

«Here, take it,» the girl said quietly.

«Thank you,» Yeryom replied nasal, «how do you know Alexei?» And why did Tivda call him? — and looked so, not good.

«That’s how Tivda is. I escaped from his monastery. I am his bride.

Anastasia said so, and did not regret it. And then, you can’t tell the whole truth, they won’t believe it. And, is he Immortal, if now the dead lies? And here, she was deceived. Everything turned out badly, Nastasya reproached herself, nodded endlessly.

— Why? — and Yeryoma made round eyes, turned white, so much so that freckles on his snub nose became visible..

Nastya decided that this guy would be a girl, it would look so nice. And very. And so, while awkward a little.

«Yes, she was a fool, I didn’t understand right away,» she answered honestly now, «she was frightened of him. They knew little.

— Yes, he was brave, and a good hunter, even caught birds on the fly. And very strong. And now… Dead…

But this time Yeryoma restrained himself, did not burst into tears. Although it was clear that it was hard for the young man. He was suffocating, and hastily opened the gates of his kosovorotka.

Meanwhile, everything was ready. Athanasius returned, tapped the shovel from the adhering earth, rinsed his hands. It was evident that his body shirt was soaked through. The elder worked today, not sorry for himself. He took a towel and went to wash himself at the river. I didn’t come back very quickly.

The collected good Pankratov, together with Usoltsev, carried the artisans to the kayak, and Krasilnikov and Myasnikov prepared a decent commemoration. The elder returned already in a clean shirt, patted things on the shoulder, thanks to his work.

Everyone sat down near the fire, and the grandfather carefully, so as not to burn himself, put all the food in wooden bowls. The aluminum plate remained empty, vodka was poured into the deceased’s mug, and a cracker was placed. Of course, there was no bread. After all, not only wine is remembered, but food. Those who gathered here, these people worked together, and walked side by side along the river and taiga. And now they remembered the one who left for good.

— Well, it seems that’s all… — Kharatyev stood up, with a mug in his hand, — for the memory of the soul of Alexei, our brave comrade. A man laid down his head for us, and let the earth rest in peace!

— Let’s remember,» the rest of the artisans said at once.

Pankratov and Usoltsev drained the mugs at once, and began to eat. Quickly, I bet, as they did any business, even on hunting or fishing, and doing diligence, washing gold out of the ground. Yeryoma only touched the edge of his mug with his lips, and gradually ate fish, breaking off a piece.

Hungry Nastasya tried to restrain herself, although she did not eat for three days. Chinno ate porridge, slowly. I was afraid that it would rumble in my stomach now, but no, nothing happened. And having eaten what they put to her, she moved an empty bowl away from her. Although she was also trying smoked venison, she stopped herself.

One grandfather smiled slyly, and looked at his old watch. As if waiting for something. No, I sipped vodka from a mug, ate boiled fish from a pot, and meat. And it was not noticeable that he was at least a little upset. But somehow patience left him. Fedor swallowed a cap on his gray head, and went to the tent. Nobody understood why? But the canopy closed, and they heard that grandfather sat down on the flooring on which the dead body lay.

— Hey, guy, they’re good! — they heard Myasnikov’s voice from there, — you look, scattered! Why persuade you, or something!

— Grandfather, what are you doing? — shouted seriously frightened Kharatyev, — did the meryachka attack you? Semyon, Fedor needs to be knitted, otherwise it will be bad!

Siberians knew how suddenly this ailment attacks, depriving people of their minds at once. Many drown in the sea or on the river, not remembering themselves. And it helps if a person is tied up, and left motionless for a couple of days. Many after this disease let go.

— Now, senior! — and Pankratov immediately jumped up.

— And your ropes are strong, good, — suddenly they heard a familiar voice, — okay, I’m going. Do you have a wake there? — and the «dead» Swede laughed — you can’t start without me! So the biggest share is due to me!

— Yes, there is a lot of food, let’s go, — answered the grandfather, — they were waiting for you. Enough supplies for everyone!

Of those sitting by the fire, who blushed, who turned white. Nastasya grabbed her braid, and Yeryoma, putting a bowl with a spoon on the ground, ran to his voice. The friend barked happily, and also rushed into the tent, wagging his tail.

And so, all three came out, with the dog, which happily jumped, trying to get to the face of the new born.

— Yes, this is the case, and the head does not hurt, — said Alexey toYeryoma, who was walking nearby, — so, a little spinning.

Behind them, the grandfather also appeared. He was busy, rewinding the rope into a ball, but he was all yelling, looking at the revived.

— Oh, could you, demonic soul, not tear the rope? Would he unleash what is difficult for you? I already knew that you would soon wake up, — Fedor turned to Alexei.

— Yes, I honestly thought to wait in the morning, but to leave. The deed was done, you can return home to me, so as not to scare you in vain. I didn’t understand my grandfather that you immediately found out who I was. And Nastasya is alive, not lost. So everything is fine.

— I’m not leaving you all alone. I will not live there, on your capture, — the girl stubbornly told Alexei.

— And don’t. And not about you talk. Did they promise me here that they would feed me?

— So should you be fooled? Moreover, with food. What kind of foolishness will be angry with Elbasy? Fedor grinned, and endowed Alexei with a full bowl of fish.

Others only kept quiet. Silently, the artisans looked at the Swede’s head, but there was no trace of the bullet, only a small bruise remained. And there was nothing to say. He was killed, right? Exactly, he was. Resurrected, though lying deader than dead? And it happened. Alexey did not say why it turned out so — it means he could not say, but why ask in vain? Again the artisans sat down by the fire, but not sad, but joyful.

Semyon and Andrei again sipped vodka from mugs, as if it were cranberry kisel, and Athanasius simply did not take his eyes off Nastasya.

— And who are Elbasy? Yeryom quietly asked his grandfather, and again looked at the resurrected one.

— So these are old, diva people in our opinion that they have always lived here. They do not die, and such appearance as our guest. Very tall, in fathoms, ashen-haired, eyes very light. Siberians are very afraid of them. They say that one Elbasy could cut out an entire village overnight. And you can’t kill them, and they are on the trees, they sleep for weeks when they want to gain strength. People have been talking about them for a long time, but I had a chance to see them for the first time, — said Myasnikov.

— Well, for Alexey’s health! — raised a mug Kharatyev, — once with a wake, the matter fell through! But, we are not offended!

— And for sure! — did not argue immortal, — and for you!

Whether it was a feast or not, the dinner was still noble. Everyone ate and got drunk, but Athanasius and Nastasya whispered everything at the bidars, and Fedor did not interfere with them. He checked again how the senior convict was tied to the tree, and only then he sighed calmly. It would be possible to sleep, for nothing, that Alexey and Yeryoma sat and spoke at the fire.

***

— Well, what will we do? Drown the convict in the river? Alexey asked, stretching at the elder vataga.

Kharatyev raised his head wet with water on a slender and tattooed giant, washing nearby. I understood why Elbasy wants to do this.

— In Petropavlovsk we will hand over his bailiff. Nothing, we’ll come according to Vagran. Like the baydara that they stole. Don’t think about the bad, who will believe his bikes, that they say, an immortal person has started in Priobye.

— Well, you know better, Athanasius, — the giant answered, scooping up more cold water in his hands, and continuing to wash his face, — here, by the way, behind the bushes, right by the river, there is gold.. With two pounds of sand from a quarter pound wash, no less.

— Thank you, Alexey. Or, is it better to call you Tivda?

— Yes, when I am among people, the name Alexey is more familiar to me, — he grinned, — sorry that you were deceived. But, you know, I could not say directly, still would not believe.

«You wouldn’t believe it, that’s what you said.

— You see, the giant grinned, wiping his head with a towel.

— Will you take Anastasia with you? Haratyev asked unexpectedly.

— Is she a chest or something? I don’t fit her, okay. Well, let’s go, it’s time to have breakfast, and I need to get ready.

Kharatyev was delighted with the words of Elbasy. And then, he liked this girl. But, something else was spinning disgustingly in my head. And what could he do if the immortal decided to take the girl with him? It was better not to think about it…

— Porridge ripened! — there was a cry of Eremey, — eat go!

— Well, let’s go old, — Alexey smiled with his open smile.

And then, you look at this, and you will never believe that this cheerful man is the warrior of the first. Only sometimes, quite sometimes, Athanasius had a picture in front of his eyes, how this giant dealt with three robbers, how they fell in the blink of an eye, under his blows, three, already dead bodies. And as if quickly he killed, and them too, if only he wanted. And as if listening to these thoughts, the immortal quietly said:

«I wouldn’t kill you. Don’t think bad of me…

In the meantime, they went ashore, to the fire, to the so seductively smelling porridge. Everyone expected them, and so did Krasilnikov. Kharatyev now saw Yeryoma’s very tense face, and his bag lying under a tree, as if a young prospector was going somewhere. And then Fedor came up, with a guilty face. He spread his arms wide, bowed.

— Killed the villain in the morning. The cunning scoundrel turned out to be, — my grandfather uttered penitential words, — I did not get tired! I’m sorry, Alexey.

— Come on. The main thing is that the kayaks are in place. And we will not need to communicate with the police officer, — Kharatyev found smart words.

And then, there is nothing to reproach grandfather in vain. And if, to think, a deep grave prepared for Alexei would be waiting for a convict here. I was going to kill him with Elbasy, and I would have killed him, the elder knew this very well.

«It’s bad that I left. Again, the news will spread through the taiga, but I hope no one will believe the convict, — said the immortal, — where is the porridge?

— Here, — and Yeremey handed him the bowl, and he sat down next to him.

The rest also sat down and had breakfast with obvious pleasure. Why? The day was good, the sun shone brightly. It was already warm, after a cool night. The last, hard, long and terrible day, with deaths and rhinestone, remained yesterday. And it was clear how all the artisans had fun, recovered, and there were no dull or lean faces among them.

— Well, okay… — said Tivda, rising and putting down the bowl, — I’ll go, it’s time for me to get ready for the road.

— And then stay, — suggested Kharatyev, — everything is more fun with us!

— Exactly, — Semyon punched, — it’s sad in the taiga alone!

— And there are enough cases, — Andrey added.

Only Myasnikov kept quiet, but smiled slyly, stuffing his old tube with good tobacco. I reached for the coal from the fire, lit a cigarette, and sat on the sidelines. He began to let smoke into the sky.

— Well, it is, of course, — the immortal grinned, — It was not boring with you. But we have to leave. You Nastasya, stay, I will not keep you.

Immediately, despite the others, Yeryoma took the bag and approached the immortal.

«And you take me with you, Alexey!» he said.

— The girl herself, you know what you’re asking for? — the immortal smiled, and holding his cap in his hand, — you know who I am… And you won’t be able to return.

— Girl? — Kharatyev did not believe, turning to the all-knowing Myasnikov, — come on!

— Girl, not a guy, exactly I tell you! ’the grandfather laughed.

— Why were you silent?

«So you didn’t ask, old man. Why should I climb into someone else’s business without asking?

Other artisans rushed to Yeryoma, not knowing what and how to say. They fell silent, remembering the whole campaign. But, the first laughed Semyon, followed by Andrei.

— And you can’t say anything, — Andrey muttered, reaching for a mug of tea.

— Yeah, — Pakratov asked, smoothing the hair on his head with his palms.

— I apologize to the whole artel for deception. I wanted to see the world, and get to Petropavlovsk. My aunt and uncle live there. And my name is Irina Ivanovna Krasnova, — and she bowed to all the artisans, — so what are you, Tivda, will you answer?

— Don’t they refuse such beauties, — and the immortal smiled, — now I won’t take it with me. In a year, you think, but you decide for yourself. I will wait for you in the Mashkov tavern, in Petropavlovsk. And this day will be… — And he looked at his watch — no, better early. June 6, 1913. And take this, as a sign that I will be waiting for you, and the giant took off his big golden ring and put it in the girl’s hand.

She smiled, but she could only put on her middle finger to not fall off. But even then, the gift looked very beautiful on the right hand. She looked again at the picture — a perfectly depicted girl’s head, in a kokoshnik, with a beautiful and sad face.

— I will definitely come, — Irina answered, — and who is this, on the ring?

— Dead Princess Alma. She gave it to me as a keepsake.

To be honest, no one understood these words. What kind of Princess, and why immediately Dead?

«Well, that’s all… I have to go,» said Tivda, «I have to say goodbye.» Happy to you, Athanasius, and you Fedor. And to you, Semyon and Andrey, — and hugged each of them, — and to you, Nastasya…

— And to me? ’the other girl’s reply was brief.

Irina did not understand what she was bypassed, and herself, standing on tiptoe, hugged the immortal and kissed. I didn’t let go right away, and he stood still. Finally, she took her hands away, and Tivda supported her by the waist, held her and gently and carefully put her on the ground. He nodded to all those who remained here, threw his bag and his hard drive behind him, raised his hand, saying goodbye, and went down the river bank. Then he ran, and so quickly that he soon disappeared behind the hills, as if he was not here.

Kharatyev thoughtfully looked where Tivda disappeared, turned to the artisans. Those also looked slightly lost.

«And then, no one will believe us,» Semyon muttered, «and I myself would not have believed if someone had said such a thing!»

— They will laugh, for sure, — and Fedor again released smoke from his pipe, — it is necessary to keep quiet!

— So it is, deeds… We saw the Resurrection in reality… This is a miracle, — Andrey said quietly, — and Easter has long been…

One Irina, it seems, was now calm and happy. Only sometimes she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. But, she looked at the confused Nastasya, endlessly pulling the knot of her scarf on her head. She no longer felt hostility or anger towards the girl, because all this was from jealousy. And Irina hugged her so happily as a friend, said:

— It won’t be long. Less than a year, because today is the twentieth of June 1912!

PART 2 Moscow-Berlin

Love is able to forgive low, and turn vices into valor

William Shakespeare

Chapter 1 Geographical lecture

The audience filled with listeners quickly. Students of Moscow University, seated in places, preparing writing supplies. It is clear that it was always difficult to record a lecture for a professor, and only pencils were suitable, there was ink out of place here. The whole notebook could be dirty, gag with blots, then you won’t understand anything.

— Senka, give me a pencil, my lead has broken! — shouted a student sitting at the aisle, with a whirlwind forelock.

— What am I? Gregory, you yourself broke, you yourself and point! — and handed him a wooden sharpener with a blade inside.

— Well, you are Semyon! — his comrade hissed displeased, quickly working as a sharpener, and hiding the garbage in a piece of newspaper — now the lecture of Arseniy Arkadyevich will begin, and then the discussion! Eh, you!

Indeed, Semyon Dmitrievich Tsybin and Grigory Ilyich Tsyplakov, these were the full names of the students, and looked more ordinary than usual, they did not grow beards or glasses on their nose, they were fond of cycling and boxing. It would seem that such not close types of physical activities, but, on the other hand, allowed them to express their attitude towards each other from time to time, so to speak, in a contact form.

We arrived in Moscow studying, Tsybin from Ryazan, and Tsyplakov from the Kursk province, both were the sons of officials. And prompted them to study in the department of geography passion for books by Jules Verne. True, one was carried away by the Arctic, and the other by the Northern Urals, which was the subject of frequent controversy. However, they even argued where to gather for parties — in the Cyclist cafe, in Petrovskrm Park, or in the Russian Tavern on Mokhovaya, the usual refuge of students of Moscow University

Oddly enough, anyway, they were bosom comrades, both studied at the Faculty of Philosophy, the geographical department, and even rented rooms in one three-story building, one apartment, right there, on Mokhovaya. It was not possible to get state rooms for living, due to the wealth of their parents.

— Calm down! — hissed the head of the course, Fedor Feofanov, their best student. — Tsybin, Tsyplakov! I urge you to order!

Fedor Ivanovich Feofanov was an undoubted model of a student for the rector and dean of the faculty. An absolutely positive person, in every sense of the word, who lived in the student dormitory of the trustee. It just happened and he was more fortunate than others, as he personally believed.

Semyon and Gregory looked at each other, sat down, and took on a completely gymnasium appearance, straightening their backs, and putting their left hand on their right. Their other fellow students watched with curiosity, hoping for a continuation of this play. Actually, their expectations were not deceived.

— Gentlemen, — Fedor continued his escapade, who decided to consolidate his success, — why turn order into a comedy? Why behave so picturesquely?

— You, Mr. Feofanov, should recall the circular of Mr. Pobedonostsev, number 15—20 bis. The students have the right position during the lecture, — said Tsyplakov.

The reaction of the unfortunate head of the course was simply incredible. He grabbed a thick book with instructions, and curiously began to look for, that, 15—20 bis.

— No such! said the headman.

— Better look,» was Gregory’s brief reply.

Feofanov rushed at his opponent with all his ardor. No, undoubtedly, he defended only the instructions, the routine of times and n always prescribed by the unforgettable Mr. Pobedonostsev! And only this, and not at all personal resentment, became the reason that now the headman was trying to knock student Tsyplakov to the floor. And, both did not notice how the desks clapped. Listeners stood up, greeting their beloved professor.

— If I’m not mistaken, Fedor Ivanovich, the head of the course?, — Arseniy Arkadyevich Lvov spoke, — And, not otherwise, like Grigory Ilyich Tsyplakov? Well, get up, get up gentlemen immediately! Right word, cold, April month, catch a cold! I look like that, did your argument continue in a physical sense? I hope it was just about science?

— Yes, Arseniy Arkadyevich! — Tsyplakov was responsible for both.

Feofanov hung his head in despair, anticipating his overthrow from the administrative Olympus. The dean, Yevgeny Andrianovich, will not tolerate such a scandal, especially if he learns about it from Professor Lvov.

Arseniy Arkadyevich Lvov, meanwhile, sat down on a chair, and curiously surveyed two zabiyak. It was impossible to say that he was angry, rather, he became just fun. And judging by the way he trampled on his pince-nez, the professor generally came in a great mood. Yes, by the way, the professor was not a prince, but only a monophomile of Prince Lvov, and simply did not tolerate being mistakenly called «your ladyship.» Actually Arseniy Arkadyevich, doctor of geographical sciences, had a difficult character, but was famous for his excellent outlook and knowledge. He was a student of Semenov Tyan-Shansky himself, and accompanied this great scientist on famous expeditions in Central Asia. Mr. Lvov looked quite friendly, but he was hot-tempered and often even unbearable if he believed that they treated him badly, or the science he loved so much. He was married, living in a state-owned apartment on Arbat. A small academic beard, a strict three-piece suit, invariably gray, complemented the appearance of this geographer. And although he looked somewhat subtilized, due to his average height and habit, he slouched, but loved cycling and fishing.

— So, gentlemen, — Lviv quickly began to say, gesturing with his hands, — in the history of science, such discussions ending in a fight were far from rare! Yes, very frequent! — and he hit the table with his very strong fist — And so, in 1355, February, and a whole massacre took place, and in the city of Oxford. The tragedy occurred on the day of St. Scholastica, and began in a drinking establishment, the Swindlestock Tavern. Then students at Oxford Town Hall started a fight with the townspeople, in which 65 students and 30 townspeople died. So, the police suppression of student unrest has a deep history, gentlemen… the professor uttered his escapade and fell silent.

The wooditorium also died down, and Arseniy Arkadyevich gladly watched his pince-nez on his thoughtful students. Finally, he smiled, took out a notebook and began to read:

«Such sought-after knowledge is worth more than any other treasure, it helps the poor to rise from the dust, it makes the noble noble, rewards him with a brilliant reputation, allowing the noble to surpass the low-born, to belong to the chosen ones.» These are the words of the great Grammar Mino da Colet, a French scientist of the fifteenth century. Even then, reasonable people understood the full benefits of the Enlightenment and science. And you, Tsyplakov and Feofanov, sit in your places and write down. Do not worry, I will not report anything to the dean’s office.

He got up, armed himself with a pointer, like Ivan Tsarevich with a sword-follower, and approached the map. In front of it is the Ural Range with the Urals. The area was depicted in full detail. Nearby there was also a map of the areas adjacent to the White Sea.

— So, gentlemen, I consider it important to acquaint you with the opus of an Oxford University professor about Heartland, Hearts of the Earth. This is not some self-taught person without a degree, an understudied pseudogeny, but John Halford Mackinder himself. And Mackinder calls the territory of Russia from the Arkhangelsk province to Taimyr, including the Northern Urals, the Heart of the Earth. This event took place on January 2, 1904, shortly before the memorable Japanese War, and does not look random at all…

Professor Lvov re-read this article to students, the essence of which was that these lands were key to ensuring dominance throughout Eurasia. The audience silently listened to such an interesting lecture. And then, those things that were considered semi-fantastic, unclear and unconvincing received quite a harmonious justification.

«Actually, the peoples of the Upper Volga have a similar legend about the Heart of the Earth, and it is clear that it is more mysterious,» the professor continued, «that a certain crystal is hidden in the ground, which gives its owner incredible strength and power over the world. Well, and besides all these legends and newfangled theories, it can be argued for sure that the North of the Urals is very rich in mineral resources, from iron ores to deposits of copper and gold. And, even more interesting, radon sources are also open in the Petropavlovsk area. And, through the efforts of our industrialists, the settlements of the Urals are now not cut off from indigenous Russia. The narrow gauge road is laid from Yekaterinburg and goes to the very village of Petropavlovsky, standing on the Vagran River, with its incredible wealth.

— And the legends of the Urals? About Golden Mountain, her mistress? Tsybin could not stand it.

— Legends should be studied… For example, Mangazeya was called golden boiling. But then, in the sixteenth century, gold was not brought to Russia from these places, — the professor replied, — And there is a mountain, the Golden Stone, on the eastern spurs of the Urals, that’s for sure. Like the famous place now among domestic tourists, this is «Denezhkin Stone.» Well, gentlemen, the lecture is over, now we will meet only at the examination session.

And Arseniy Arkadyevich left the quiet audience. He knew how to interest his students, and today, he was just able to surpass himself.

CHAPTER 2 «Russian Tavern»

— Well, business time, and as they say, and fun hour, — turned to Tsybin and Tsyplakov their friend, Boris Zamyatiev.

Nearby stood their other fellow students, apparently, the matter was very, very serious.

— Do you really offer to go to the Rumyantsev Museum? — did Tsybin deliberately misunderstand his face, — so to speak, plunge into science, sit in the reading room, alone with a green lamp?

— So this, just for an hour, nothing more,“ Boris chuckled, „we have a serious business to do…

— What is incredible? — asked Tsyplakov, stacking notebooks in a briefcase, — to inspect the collection of Fersman?

— No, everything is much more complicated. In a well-known place, an ichthyological collection has been brought in, and we have to explore it, but in the culinary sense of the word, — Zamyatiev continued his, so to speak, report, — the session is over, and I propose to sprinkle this achievement with a trip to the Russian Tavern! So to speak, until the sea fish lost their some freshness.

Semyon and Gregory exchanged glances, silently asking each other. But, the answer was clear and so. They rarely refused friendship gatherings.

«Certainly,» was Gregory’s brief reply on behalf of both comrades.

The students left the audience in a friendly crowd, and Tsybin and Tsyplakov noticed that their headman was still sitting at the table, and was quickly scribbling something with a small pencil in his notebook. They did not want to interfere with a busy person, and so give a hand to goodbye too.

They left the building of their Alma Mater, or simply, in Russian, the Sacred Mother, and quickly set off towards the apartment they occupied. Their temporary refuge was located in the second line of houses, in the old three-story single-entrance house on Mokhovaya Street. But, very close to the university, and this was extremely useful.

Near the house, Semyon and Grigory, noticed a young lady sitting on a bench with a book. Gregory delicately stepped aside, and slowly started a conversation with the janitor, Dormidont.

— Good afternoon, Dormidont Ivanovich, how is our weather? — and opened a box of cigarettes, offering to treat himself.

— Nothing, calmly, — and the janitor lyelikatno took the cigarette and put it in the breast pocket of his apron, — only here, Stepan Ivanovich, the owner of the house, remembered about the rent.