The way to the Wunderland and Heartland. Immortals. The abode of Immortals

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.”