,*APT] #be 

#aidaid 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,L\ISE ,MAUDE 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,AYLM] ,MAUDE 

,TEXT 3 

,HAJJI ,MURAD WAS ALL[$ TO GO \T RID+ 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD ( ! T[N1 BUT NEV] )\T A CONVOY ( ,COSSACKS4  ,!RE WAS ONLY HALF A TROOP ( !M ALTOGE!R 9 ,NUKHA1 T5 ( :OM W]E EMPLOY$ BY ! (FIC]S1 SO ?AT IF T5 W]E S5T \T ) ,HAJJI ,MURAD 7ACCORD+ TO ! ORD]S RECEIV$7 ! SAME M5 W\LD HAVE HAD TO GO EV]Y O!R DAY4  ,!RE=E AFT] T5 HAD BE5 S5T \T ! FIR/ DAY1 IT WAS DECID$ TO S5D ONLY FIVE 9 FUTURE & ,HAJJI ,MURAD WAS ASK$ NOT TAKE ALL HIS H5*M5 ) HIM4  ,BUT ON ,APRIL ! #b#e? HE RODE \T ) ALL FIVE4  ,:5 HE M\NT$1 ! COMM&]1 NOTIC+ ?AT ALL FIVE H5*M5 W]E GO+ ) HIM1 TOLD HIM ?AT HE WAS =BIDD5 TO TAKE !M ALL1 BUT ,HAJJI ,MURAD PRET5D$ NOT TO HE>1 T\*$ HIS HORSE1 & ! COMM&] DID NOT 9SI/4 

,) ! ,COSSACKS RODE A NONCOMMISSION$ (FIC]1 ,NAZ>OV1 :O HAD RECEIV$ ! ,CROSS ( ,/4 ,GEORGE = BRAV]Y4  ,HE WAS A Y\NG1 HEAL?Y1 BR[N-HAIR$ LAD1 AS FRE% AS A ROSE4  ,HE WAS ! ELDE/ ( A POOR FAMILY BELONG+ TO ! SECT ( ,OLD ,BELIEV]S1 HAD GR[N UP )\T A FA!R1 & HAD MA9TA9$ HIS OLD MO!R1 ?REE SI/]S1 & TWO BRO!RS4 

0,M9D1 ,NAZ>OV1 KEEP CLOSE TO HIM60 %\T$ ! COMM&]4 

0,ALL RI<T1 Y\R HONOR60 ANSW]$ ,NAZ>OV1 & RIS+ 9 HIS /IRRUPS & ADJU/+ ! RIFLE ?AT HUNG AT HIS BACK HE />T$ HIS F9E L>GE ROAN GELD+ AT A TROT4  ,F\R ,COSSACKS FOLL[$ HIM3  ,F]APONTOV1 TALL & ?91 A REGUL> ?IEF & PLUND]] 7IT WAS HE :O HAD SOLD GUNP[D] TO ,GAMZALO72 ,IGNATOV1 A /URDY PEASANT :O BOA/$ ( HIS /R5G?1 ?\< HE WAS NO LONG] Y\NG & HAD NE>LY COMPLET$ HIS S]VICE2 ,MI%K91 A WEAKLY LAD AT :OM EV]YBODY LAU<$2 & ! Y\NG FAIR-HAIR$ ,PETRAKOV1 HIS MO!R'S ONLY SON1 ALWAYS AMIABLE & JOLLY4 

,! MORN+ HAD BE5 MI/Y1 BUT IT CLE>$ UP LAT] ON & ! OP5+ FOLIAGE1 ! Y\NG VIRG9 GRASS1 ! SPR\T+ CORN1 & ! RIPPLES ( ! RAPID RIV] JU/ VISIBLE TO ! LEFT ( ! ROAD1 ALL GLITT]$ 9 ! SUN%9E4 

,HAJJI ,MURAD RODE SL[LY ALONG FOLL[$ BY ! ,COSSACKS & BY HIS H5*M54  ,!Y RODE \T ALONG ! ROAD BEYOND ! =T AT A WALK4  ,!Y MET WOM5 C>RY+ BASKETS ON !IR HEADS1 SOLDI]S DRIV+ C>TS1 & CREAK+ WAGONS DRAWN BY BUFFALOES4  ,:5 HE HAD GONE AB\T A MILE & A HALF ,HAJJI ,MURAD T\*$ UP HIS :ITE ,KAB>DA HORSE1 :I* />T$ AT AN AMBLE ?AT OBLIG$ ! H5*M5 & ,COSSACKS TO RIDE AT A QUICK TROT TO KEEP UP ) HIM4 

0,AH1 HE'S GOT A F9E HORSE UND] HIM10 SAID ,F]APONTOV4  0,IF ONLY HE W]E /ILL AN 5EMY ,I'D SOON BR+ HIM D[N40 

0,YES1 MATE4  ,?REE HUNDR$ RUBLES W]E (F]$ = ?AT HORSE 9 ,TIFLIS40 

0,BUT ,I CAN GET AHEAD ( HIM ON M9E10 SAID ,NAZ>OV4 

0,Y\ GET AHEAD8  ,A LIKELY ?+60 

,HAJJI KEPT 9CREAS+ HIS PACE4 

0,HEY1 KUNAK1 Y\ MU/N'T DO ?AT4  ,/EADY60 CRI$ ,NAZ>OV1 />T+ TO OV]TAKE ,HAJJI ,MURAD4 

,HAJJI ,MURAD LOOK$ R\ND1 SAID NO?+1 & CONT9U$ TO RIDE AT ! SAME PACE4 

0,M9D1 !Y'RE UP TO SOME?+1 ! DEVILS60 SAID ,IGNATOV4  0,SEE H[ !Y >E TE>+ ALONG40 

,SO !Y RODE = ! BE/ P>T ( A MILE 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! M\NTA9S4 

0,I TELL Y\ IT WON'T DO60 %\T$ ,NAZ>OV4 

,HAJJI ,MURAD DID NOT ANSW] OR LOOK R\ND1 BUT ONLY 9CREAS$ HIS PACE TO A GALLOP4 

0,HUMBUG6  ,Y\ WON'T GET AWAY60 %\T$ ,NAZ>OV1 /UNG TO ! QUICK4  ,HE GAVE HIS BIG ROAN GELD+ A CUT ) HIS :IP &1 RIS+ 9 HIS /IRRUPS & B5D+ =W>D1 FLEW FULL SPE$ 9 PURSUIT ( ,HAJJI ,MURAD4 

,! SKY WAS SO BRI<T1 ! AIR SO CLE>1 & LIFE PLAY$ SO JOY\SLY 9 ,NAZ>OV'S S\L AS1 BECOM+ ONE ) HIS F9E /RONG HORSE1 HE FLEW ALONG ! SMOO? ROAD BEH9D ,HAJJI ,MURAD1 ?AT ! POSSIBILITY ( ANY ?+ SAD OR DREADFUL HAPP5+ NEV] OCCURR$ TO HIM4  ,HE REJOIC$ ?AT ) EV]Y /EP HE WAS GA9+ ON ,HAJJI ,MURAD4 

,HAJJI ,MURAD JUDG$ BY ! APPROA*+ TRAMP ( ! BIG HORSE BEH9D HIM ?AT HE W\LD SOON BE OV]TAK51 & SEIZ+ HIS PI/OL ) HIS RI<T H&1 ) HIS LEFT HE BEGAN SLI<TLY TO RE9 9 HIS ,KAB>DA HORSE :I* WAS EXCIT$ BY HE>+ ! TRAMP ( HO(S BEH9D IT4 

0,Y\ MU/N'T1 ,I TELL Y\60 %\T$ ,NAZ>OV1 ALMO/ LEVEL ) ,HAJJI ,MURAD & /RET*+ \T HIS H& TO SEIZE ! LATT]'S BRIDLE4  ,BUT BE=E HE REA*$ IT A %OT WAS FIR$4  0,:AT >E Y\ DO+80 HE SCREAM$1 CLUT*+ AT HIS BREA/4  0,AT !M1 LADS60 & HE REEL$ & FELL =W>D ON HIS SADDLE B[4 

BUT ! M\NTA9E]S W]E BE=EH& 9 TAK+ TO !IR WEAPONS1 & FIR$ !IR PI/OLS AT ! ,COSSACKS & HEW$ AT !M ) !IR SWORDS4 

,NAZ>OV HUNG ON ! NECK ( HIS HORSE1 :I* C>E]$ R\ND HIS COMRADES4  ! HORSE UND] ,IGNATOV ELL1 CRU%+ HIS LEG1 & TWO ( ! M\NTA9E]S1 )\T DISM\NT+1 DREW !IR SWORDS & HACK$ AT HIS HEAD & >MS4  ,PETRAKOV WAS AB\T TO RU% TO HIS COMRADE'S RESCUE :5 TWO %OTS -- ONE 9 HIS BACK & ! O!R 9 HIS SIDE -- /UNG HIM1 & HE FELL FROM HIS HORSE LIKE A SACK4 

,MI%K9 TURN$ R\ND & GALLOP$ (F T[>DS ! =TRESS4  ,KHANEFI & ,BATA RU%$ AFT] HIM1 BUT HE WAS ALREADY TOO F> AWAY & !Y C\LD NOT CAT* HIM4  ,:5 !Y SAW ?AT !Y C\LD NOT OV]TAKE HIM !Y RETURN$ TO ! O!RS4 

,PETRAKOV LAY ON HIS BACK1 HIS /OMA* RIPP$ OP51 HIS Y\NG FACE TURN$ TO ! SKY1 & :ILE DY+ HE GASP$ = BREA? LIKE A FI%4 

,GAMZALO HAV+ F9I%$ (F ,IGNATOV ) HIS SWORD1 GAVE A CUT TO ,NAZ>OV TOO & ?REW HIM FROM HIS HORSE4  ,BATA TOOK !IR C>TRIDGE-P\*ES FROM ! SLA94  ,KHANEFI WI%$ TO TAKE ,NAZ>OV'S HORSE1 BUT ,HAJJI ,MURAD CALL$ \T TO HIM TO LEAVE IT1 & DA%$ =W>D ALONG ! ROAD4  ,HIS MURIDS GALLOP$ AFT] HIM1 DRIV+ AWAY ,NAZ>OV'S HORSE ?AT TRI$ TO FOLL[ !M4  !Y W]E ALREADY AMONG RICE-FIELDS MORE ?AN SIX MILES FROM ,NUKHA :5 A %OT WAS FIR$ FROM ! T[] ( ?AT PLACE TO GIVE ! AL>M4 

"9 "9 

0,O GOOD ,LORD6  ,O ,GOD6 MY ,GOD6  ,:AT HAVE !Y DONE80 CRI$ ! COMM&] ( ! =T SEIZ+ HIS HEAD ) HIS H&S :5 HE HE>D ( ,HAJJI ,MURAD'S ESCAPE4  0,!Y'VE DONE = ME6  ,!Y'VE LET HIM ESCAPE1 ! VILLA9S60 CRI$ HE1 LI/5+ TO ,MI%K9'S ACC\NT4 

,AN AL>M WAS RAIS$ EV]Y:]E & NOT ONLY ! ,COSSACKS ( ! PLACE W]E S5T AFT] ! FUGITIVES BUT ALSO ALL ! MILITIA ?AT C\LD BE MU/]$ FROM ! PRO-,RUSSIAN A\LS4  ,A ?\S& RUBLES REW>D WAS (F]$ = ! CAPTURE ( ,HAJJI ,MURAD ALIVE OR DEAD1 & TWO H\RS AFT] HE & HIS FOLL[]S HAD ESCAP$ FROM ! ,COSSACKS MORE ?AN TWO HUNDR$ M\NT$ M5 W]E FOLL[+ ! (FIC] 9 *>GE AT A GALLOP TO F9D & CAPTURE ! RUNAWAYS4 

,AFT] RID+ SOME MILES ALONG ! HI< ROAD ,HAJJI ,MURAD *ECK$ HIS PANT+ HORSE1 :I*1 WET ) SWEAT1 HAD TURN$ FROM :ITE TO GRAY4 

,TO ! RI<T ( ! ROAD C\LD BE SE5 ! SAKLYAS & M9>ETS ( ! A\L ,B5]DZHIK1 ON ! LEFT LAY SOME FIELDS1 & BEYOND !M ! RIV]4  ,AL?\< ! WAY TO ! M\NTA9S LAY TO ! RI<T1 ,HAJJI ,MURAD TURN$ TO ! LEFT1 9 ! OPPOSITE DIRECTION1 ASSUM+ ?AT HIS PURSU]S W\LD BE SURE TO GO TO ! RI<T1 :ILE HE1 AB&ON+ ! ROAD1 W\LD CROSS ! ,ALAZAN & COME \T ONTO ! HI< ROAD ON ! O!R SIDE1 :]E NO ONE W\LD EXPECT HIM -- RIDE ALONG IT TO ! =E/1 & !N AFT] RECROSS+ ! RIV] MAKE HIS WAY TO ! M\NTA9S4 

,HAV+ COME TO ?IS CONCLUSION HE TURN$ TO ! LEFT2 BUT IT PROV$ IMPOSSIBLE TO REA* ! RIV]4  ,! RICE-FIELD :I* HAD TO BE CROSS$ HAD JU/ BE5 FLOOD$1 AS IS ALWAYS DONE 9 SPR+1 & HAD BECOME A BOG 9 :I* ! HORSES'S LEGS SANK ABOVE !IR PA/]NS4  ,HAJJI ,MURAD & HIS H5*M5 RODE N[ TO ! LEFT1 N[ TO ! RI<T1 HOP+ TO F9D DRI] GR\ND2 BUT ! FIELD !Y W]E 9 HAD BE5 EQUALLY FLOOD$ ALL OV] & WAS N[ SATURAT$ ) WAT]4  ,! HORSES DREW !IR FEET \T ( ! /ICKY MUD 9TO :I* !Y SANK1 ) A POP LIKE ?AT ( A CORK DRAWN FROM A BOTTLE1 & /OPP$1 PANT+1 AFT] EV]Y FEW /EPS4  ,!Y /RUGGL$ 9 ?IS WAY SO LONG ?AT IT BEGAN TO GR[ DUSK & !Y HAD /ILL NOT REA*$ ! RIV]4  ,TO !IR LEFT LAY A PAT* ( HI<] GR\ND OV]GR[N ) %RUBS & ,HAJJI ,MURAD DECID$ TO RIDE 9 AMONG !SE CLUMPS & REMA9 !RE TILL NI<T TO RE/ !IR EXHAU/$ HORSES & LET !M GRAZE4  ,! M5 !MSELVES AT SOME BREAD & *EESE !Y HAD BR\<T ) !M4  ,AT LA/ NI<T CAME ON & ! MOON ?AT HAD BE5 %9+ AT FIR/1 HID BEH9D ! HILL & IT BECAME D>K4  ,!RE W]E A GREAT MANY NI<T+ALES 9 ?AT NEI<BORHOOD & !RE W]E TWO ( !M 9 !SE %RUBS4  ,AS LONG AS ,HAJJI ,MURAD & HIS M5 W]E MAK+ A NOISE AMONG ! BU%ES ! NI<T+ALES HAD BE5 SIL5T1 BUT :5 !Y BECAME /ILL ! BIRDS AGA9 BEGAN TO CALL TO ONE ANO!R & TO S+4 

,HAJJI ,MURAD1 AWAKE TO ALL ! S\NDS ( NI<T1 LI/5$ TO !M 9VOLUNT>ILY1 & !IR TRILLS REM9D$ HIM ( ! SONG AB\T ,HAMZAD :I* HE HAD HE>D ! NI<T BE=E :5 HE W5T TO  GET WAT]4  ,HE MI<T N[ AT ANY MOM5T F9D HIMSELF 9 ! POSITION 9 :I* ,HAMZAD HAD BE54  ,HE FANCI$ ?AT IT W\LD BE SO1 & SUDD5LY HIS S\L BECAME S]I\S4  ,HE SPREAD \T HIS BURKA & P]=M$ HIS ABLUTIONS1 & SC>CELY HAD HE F9I%$ BE=E A S\ND WAS HE>D APPROA*+ !IR %ELT]4  ,IT WAS ! S\ND ( MANY HORSES' FEET SPLA%+ ?R\< ! BOG4 

,! KE5-SI<T$ ,BATA RAN \T TO ONE $GE ( ! CLUMP1 & PE]+ ?R\< ! D>KNESS SAW BLACK %AD[S1 :I* W]E M5 ON FOOT & ON HORSEBACK4  ,KHANEFI DISC]N$ A SIMIL> CR[D ON ! O!R SIDE4  ,IT WAS ,K>GANOV1 ! MILIT>Y COMM&] ( ! DI/RICT1 ) HIS MILITIA4 

0,WELL1 !N1 WE %ALL FI<T LIKE ,HAMZAD10 ?\<T ,HAJJI ,MURAD4 

,:5 ! AL>M WAS GIV51 ,K>GANOV ) A TROOP ( MILITIAM5 & ,COSSACKS HAD RU%$ (F 9 PURSUIT ( ,HAJJI ,MURAD1 BUT HAD BE5 UNABLE TO F9D ANY TRACE ( HIM4  ,HE HAD ALREADY LO/ HOPE & WAS RETURN+ HOME :51 T[>DS EV5+1 HE MET AN OLD MAN & ASK$ HIM IF HE HAD SE5 ANY HORSEM5 AB\T4  ,! OLD MAN REPLI$ ?AT HE HAD4  ,HE HAD SE5 SIX HORSEM5 FL\ND]+ 9 ! RICE-FIELD1 & !N HAD SE5 !M 5T] ! CLUMP :]E HE HIMSELF WAS GETT+ WOOD4  ,K>GANOV TURN$ BACK1 TAK+ ! OLD MAN ) HIM1 & SEE+ ! HOBBL$ HORSES HE MADE SURE ?AT ,HAJJI ,MURAD WAS !RE4  ,9 ! NI<T HE SURR\ND$ ! CLUMP & WAIT$ TILL MORN+ TO TAKE ,HAJJI ,MURAD ALIVE OR DEAD4 

,HAV+ UND]/OOD ?AT HE WAS SURR\ND$1 & HAV+ DISCOV]$ AN OLD DIT* AMONG ! %RUBS1 ,HAJJI ,MURAD DECID$ TO 5TR5* HIMSELF 9 IT & TO RESI/ AS LONG AS /R5G? & AMMUNITION LA/$4  ,HE TOLD HIS COMRADES ?IS1 & ORD]$ !M TO ?R[ UP A BANK 9 FRONT ( ! DIT*1 & HIS H5*M5 AT ONCE SE TO WORK TO CUT D[N BRAN*ES1 DIG UP ! E>? ) !IR DAGG]S1 & MAKE AN 5TR5*M5T4  ,HAJJI ,MURAD HIMSELF WORK$ ) !M4 

,AS SOON AS IT BEGAN TO GR[ LI<T ! COMM&] ( ! MILITIA TROOP RODE UP TO A CLUMP & %\T$3 

0,HEY6  ,HAJJI ,MURAD1 SURR5D]6  ,WE >E MANY & Y\ >E FEW60 

,9 REPLY CAME ! REPORT ( A RIFLE1 A CL\DLET ( SMOKE ROSE FROM ! DIT* & A BULLET HIT ! MILITIAMAN'S HORSE1 :I* /AGG]$ UND] HIM & BEGAN TO FALL4  ,! RIFLES ( ! MILITIAM5 :O /OOD AT ! \TSKIRTS ( ! CLUMP ( %RUBS BEGAN CRACK+ 9 !IR TURN1 & !IR BULLETS :I/L$ & HUMM$1 CUTT+ (F LEAVES & TWIGS & /RIK+ ! EMBANKM5T1 BUT NOT ! M5 5TR5*$ BEH9D IT4  ,ONLY ,GAMZALO'S HORSE1 ?AT HAD /RAY$ FROM ! O!RS1 WAS HIT 9 ! HEAD BY A BULLET4  ,IT DID NOT FALL1 BUT BREAK+ ITS HOBBLES & RU%+ AMONG ! BU%ES IT RAN TO ! O!R HORSES1 PRESS+ CLOSE TO !M & WAT]+ ! Y\NG GRASS ) ITS BLOOD4  ,HAJJI ,MURAD & HIS M5 FIR$ ONLY :5 ANY ( ! MILITIAM5 CAME =W>D1 & R>ELY MISS$ !IR AIM4  ,?REE MILITIAM5 W]E W\ND$1 & ! O!RS1 F> FROM MAK+ UP !IR M9DS TO RU% ! 5TR5*M5T1 RETREAT$ F>!R & F>!R BACK1 ONLY FIR+ FROM A DI/ANCE & AT R&OM4 

,SO IT CONT9U$ = MORE ?AN AN H\R4  ,! SUN HAD RIS5 TO AB\T HALF ! HEI<T ( ! TREES1 & ,HAJJI ,MURAD WAS ALREADY ?9K+ ( LEAP+ ON HIS HORSE & TRY+ TO MAKE HIS WAY TO ! RIV]1 :5 ! %\TS W]E HE>D ( MANY M5 :O HAD JU/ >RIV$4  ,!SE W]E ,HAJJI ,AGA ( ,MEKHTULI ) HIS FOLL[]S4  ,!RE W]E AB\T TWO HUNDR$ ( !M4  ,HAJJI ,AGA HAD ONCE BE5 ,HAJJI ,MURAD'S KUNAK & HAD LIV$ ) HIM 9 ! M\NTA9S1 BUT HE HAD AFT]W>DS GONE OV] TO ! ,RUSSIANS4  ,) HIM WAS ,AKHMET ,KHAN1 ! SON ( ,HAJJI ,MURAD'S OLD 5EMY4 

,LIKE ,K>GANOV1 ,HAJJI ,AGA BEGAN BY CALL+ TO ,HAJJI ,MURAD TO SURR5D]1 & ,HAJJI ,MURAD ANSW]$ AS BE=E ) A %OT4 

0,SWORDS \T1 MY M560 CRI$ ,HAJJI ,AGA1 DRAW+ HIS [N2 & A HUNDR$ VOICES W]E RAIS$ BY M5 :O RU%$ %RIEK+ 9 AMONG ! %RUBS4 

,! MILITIAM5 RAN 9 AMONG ! %RUBS1 BUT FROM BEH9D ! 5TR5*M5T CAME ! CRACK ( ONE %OT AFT] ANO!R4  ,SOME ?REE M5 FELL1 & ! ATTACK]S /OPP$ AT ! \TSKIRTS TO ! CLUMP & ALSO BEGAN FIR+4  ,AS !Y FIR$ !Y GRADUALLY APPROA*$ ! 5TR5*M5T1 RUNN+ ACROSS FROM BEH9D ONE %RUB TO ANO!R4  ,SOME SUCCE$$ 9 GETT+ ACROSS1 O!RS FELL UND] ! BULLETS ( ,HAJJI ,MURAD OR ( HIS M54  ,HAJJI ,MURAD FIR$ )\T MISS+2 ,GAMZALO TOO R>ELY WA/$ A %OT1 & %RIEK$ ) JOY EV]Y TIME HE SAW ?AT HIS BULLET HAD HIT ITS AIM4  ,KHAN ,MAHOMA SAT AT ! $GE ( ! DIT* S++ 0,IL LYAKHA IL ,ALLAKH60 & FIR$ LEISURELY1 BUT (T5 MISS$4  ,ELD>'S :OLE BODY TREMBL$ ) IMPATI5CE TO RU% DAGG] 9 H& AT ! 5EMY1 & HE FIR$ (T5 & AT R&OM1 CON/ANTLY LOOK+ R\ND AT ,HAJJI ,MURAD & /RET*+ \T BEYOND ! 5TR5*M5T4  ,! %AGGY ,KHANEFI1 ) HIS SLEEVES ROLL$ UP1 DID ! DUTY ( A S]VANT EV5 H]E4  ,HE LOAD$ ! GUNS :I* ,HAJJI ,MURAD & ,KHAN ,MAHOMA PASS$ TO HIM1 C>EFULLY DRIV+ HOME ) A RAMROD ! BULLETS WRAPP$ 9 GREASY RAGS1 & P\R+ DRY P[D] \T ( ! P[D] FLASK ONTO ! PANS4  ,BATA DID NOT REMA9 9 ! DIT* AS ! O!RS DID1 BUT KEPT RUNN+ TO ! HORSES1 DRIV+ !M AWAY TO A SAF] PLACE & %RIEK+ 9CESSANTLY1 FIR$ )\T US+ A PROP = HIS GUN4  ,HE WAS ! FIR/ TO BE W\ND$4  ,A BULLET 5T]$ HIS NECK & HE SAT D[N SPITT+ BLOOD & SWE>+4  ,!N ,HAJJI ,MURAD WAS W\ND$1 ! BULLET PI]C+ HIS %\LD]4  ,HE TORE SOME COTTON WOOL FROM ! L9+ ( HIS BE%MET1 PLUGG$ ! W\ND ) IT1 & W5T ON FIR+4 

0,LET US FLY AT !M ) \R SWORDS60 SAID ,ELD> = ! ?IRD TIME1 & HE LOOK$ \T FROM BEH9D ! BANK ( E>? READY TO RU% AT ! 5EMY2 BUT AT ?AT 9/ANT A BULLET /RUCK HIM & HE REEL$ & FELL BACKW>DS ONTO ,HAJJI ,MURAD'S LEG4  ,HAJJI ,MURAD GLANC$ AT HIM4  ,HIS EYES1 BEAUTIFUL LIKE ?OSE ( A RAM1 GAZ$ 9T5TLY & S]I\SLY AT ,HAJJI ,MURAD4  ,HIS M\?1 ! UPP] LIP P\T+ LIKE A *ILD'S1 TWIT*$ )\T OP5+4  ,HAJJI ,MURAD DREW HIS LEG AWAY FROM UND] HIM & CONT9U$ FIR+4 

,KHANEFI B5T OV] ! DEAD ,ELD> & BEGAN TAK+ ! UNUS$ AMMUNITION \T ( ! C>TRIDGE CASES ( HIS COAT4 

,KHAN ,MAHOMA MEAN:ILE CONT9U$ TO S+1 LOAD+ LEISURELY & FIR+4  ,! 5EMY RAN FROM %RUB TO %RUB1 HALLOO+ & %RIEK+ & DRAW+ EV] NE>] & NE>]4 

,ANO!R BULLET HIT ,HAJJI ,MURAD 9 ! LEFT SIDE4  ,HE LAY D[N 9 ! DIT* & AGA9 PULL$ SOME COTTON WOOL \T ( HIS BE%MET & PLUGG$ ! W\ND4  ,?IS W\ND 9 ! SIDE WAS FATAL & HE FELT ?AT HE WAS DY+4  ,MEMORIES & PICTURES SUCCE$$ ONE ANO!R ) EXTRAORD9>Y RAPIDITY 9 HIS IMAG9ATION4  N[ HE SAW ! P[]FUL ,ABU ,NUTSAL ,KHAN1 DAGG] 9 H& & HOLD+ UP HIS SEV]$ *EEK AS HE RU%$ AT HIS FOE2 !N HE SAW ! WEAK1 BLOODLESS OLD ,VORONTSOV ) HIS CUNN+ :ITE FACE1 & HE>D HIS S(T VOICE2 !N HE SAW HIS SON ,YUSUF1 HIS WIFE ,S(IAT1 & !N ! PALE1 R$-BE>D$ FACE ( HIS 5EMY ,%AMIL ) ITS HALF-CLOS$ EYES4  ,ALL !SE IMAGES PASS$ ?R\< HIS M9D )\T EVOK+ ANY FEEL+ )9 HIM -- NEI!R PITY NOR ANG] NOR ANY K9D ( DESIRE3  EV]Y?+ SEEM$ SO 9SIGNIFICANT 9 COMP>ISON ) :AT WAS BEG9N+1 OR HAD ALREADY BEGUN1 )9 HIM4 

,YET HIS /RONG BODY CONT9U$ ! ?+ ?AT HE HAD COMM5C$4  ,GA!R+ TOGE!R HIS LA/ /R5G? HE ROSE FROM BEH9D ! BANK1 FIR$ HIS PI/OL AT A MAN :O WAS JU/ RUNN+ T[>DS HIM1 & HIT HIM4  ,! MAN FELL4  ,!N ,HAJJI ,MURAD GOT QUITE \T ( ! DIT*1 & LIMP+ HEAVILY W5T DAGG] 9 H& /RAI<T AT ! FOE4 

,SOME %OTS CRACK$ & HE REEL$ & FELL4  ,SEV]AL MILITIAM5 ) TRIUMPHANT %RIEKS RU%$ T[>DS ! FALL5 BODY4  ,BUT ! BODY ?AT SEEM$ TO BE DEAD SUDD5LY MOV$4  ,FIR/ ! UNCOV]$1 BLE$+1 %AV5 HEAD ROSE2 !N ! BODY ) H&S HOLD+ TO ! TRUNK ( A TREE4  ,HE SEEM$ SO T]RIBLE1 ?AT ?OSE :O W]E RUNN+ T[>DS HIM /OPP$ %ORT4  ,BUT SUDD5LY A %UDD] PASS$ ?R\< HIM1 HE /AGG]$ AWAY FROM ! TREE & FELL ON HIS FACE1 /RET*$ \T AT FULL L5G? LIKE A ?I/LE ?AT HAD BE5 M[N D[N1 & HE MOV$ NO MORE4 

,HE DID NOT MOVE1 BUT /ILL HE FELT4 

,:5 ,HAJJI ,AGA1 :O WAS ! FIR/ TO REA* HIM1 /RUCK HIM ON ! HEAD ) A L>GE DAGG]1 IT SEEM$ TO ,HAJJI ,MURAD ?AT SOMEONE WAS /RIK+ HIM ) A HAMM] & HE C\LD NOT UND]/& :O WAS DO+ IT OR :Y4  ,?AT WAS HIS LA/ CONSCI\SNESS ( ANY CONNECTION ) HIS BODY4  ,HE FELT NO?+ MORE & HIS 5EMIES KICK$ & HACK$ AT :AT HAD NO LONG] ANY?+ 9 COMMON ) HIM4 

,HAJJI ,AGA PLAC$ HIS FOOT ON ! BACK ( ! CORPSE & ) TWO BL[S CUT (F ! HEAD1 & C>EFULLY -- NOT TO SOIL HIS %OES ) BLOOD -- ROLL$ IT AWAY ) HIS FOOT4  ,CRIMSON BLOOD SPURT$ FROM ! >T]IES ( ! NECK1 & BLACK BLOOD FL[$ FROM ! HEAD1 SOAK+ ! GRASS4 

,K>GANOV & ,HAJJI ,AGA & ,AKHMET ,KHAN & ALL ! MILITIAM5 GA!R$ TOGE!R -- LIKE SPORTSM5 R\ND A SLAU<T]$ ANIMAL -- NE> ! BODIES ( ,HAJJI ,MURAD & HIS M5 7,KHANEFI1 ,KHAN ,MAHOMA1 & ,GAMZALO !Y B\ND71 & AMID ! P[D]-SMOKE :I* HUNG OV] ! BU%ES !Y TRIUMPH$ 9 !IR VICTORY4 

! NI<T+ALES1 ?AT HAD HU%$ !IR SONGS :ILE ! FIR+ LA/$1 N[ />T$ !IR TRILLS ONCE MORE3  FIR/ ONE QUITE CLOSE1 !N O!RS 9 ! DI/ANCE4 

,FROM 3 ,WIKIS\RCE4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #aic 3 ,*APT] #be -- ,PUBLICATION4 

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