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