,*APT] #b 

#ahieahie 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,! GOOD /ALLION TOOK ! SL$GE ALONG AT A BRISK PACE OV] ! SMOO?-FROZ5 ROAD ?R\< ! VILLAGE1 ! RUNN]S SQUEAK+ SLI<TLY AS !Y W5T4 

',LOOK AT HIM HANG+ ON !RE6 ,H& ME ! :IP1 ,NIKITA6' %\T$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 EVID5TLY 5JOY+ ! SI<T ( HIS 'HEIR1' :O /&+ ON ! RUNN]S WAS HANG+ ON AT ! BACK ( ! SL$GE4 ',I'LL GIVE IT Y\6 ,BE (F TO MAMA1 Y\ DOG6' 

,! BOY JUMP$ D[N4 ,! HORSE 9CREAS$ HIS AMBLE &1 SUDD5LY *ANG+ FOOT1 BROKE 9TO A FA/ TROT4 

,! ,CROSSES1 ! VILLAGE :]E ,VASILI ,&REEVI* LIV$1 CONSI/$ ( SIX H\SES4 ,AS SOON AS !Y HAD PASS$ ! BLACKSMI?'S HUT1 ! LA/ 9 ! VILLAGE1 !Y REALIZ$ ?AT ! W9D WAS MU* /RONG] ?AN !Y HAD ?\<T4 ,! ROAD C\LD H>DLY BE SE54 ,! TRACKS LEFT BY ! SL$GE-RUNN]S W]E IMM$IATELY COV]$ BY SN[ & ! ROAD WAS ONLY DI/+UI%$ BY ! FACT ?AT IT WAS HI<] ?AN ! RE/ ( ! GR\ND4 ,!RE WAS A SWIRL ( SN[ OV] ! FIELDS & ! L9E :]E SKY & E>? MET C\LD NOT BE SE54 ,! ,TELYAT9 =E/1 USUALLY CLE>LY VISIBLE1 N[ ONLY LOOM$ UP OCCASIONALLY & DIMLY ?R\< ! DRIV+ SN[Y DU/4 ,! W9D CAME FROM ! LEFT1 9SI/5TLY BL[+ OV] TO ONE SIDE ! MANE ON ,MUKHORTY'S SLEEK NECK & C>RY+ ASIDE EV5 HIS FLUFFY TAIL1 :I* WAS TI$ 9 A SIMPLE KNOT4 ,NIKITA'S WIDE COAT-COLL>1 AS HE SAT ON ! W9DY SIDE1 PRESS$ CLOSE TO HIS *EEK & NOSE4 

',?IS ROAD DOESN'T GIVE HIM A *ANCE--IT'S TOO SN[Y1' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 :O PRID$ HIMSELF ON HIS GOOD HORSE4 ',I ONCE DROVE TO ,PA%UT9O ) HIM 9 HALF AN H\R4' 

',:AT8' ASK$ ,NIKITA1 :O C\LD NOT HE> ON ACC\NT ( HIS COLL>4 

',I SAY ,I ONCE W5T TO ,PA%UT9O 9 HALF AN H\R1' %\T$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

',IT GOES )\T SAY+ ?AT HE'S A GOOD HORSE1' REPLI$ ,NIKITA4 

,!Y W]E SIL5T = A :ILE4 ,BUT ,VASILI ,&REEVI* WI%$ TO TALK4 

',WELL1 DID Y\ TELL Y\R WIFE NOT TO GIVE ! COOP] ANY VODKA8' HE BEGAN 9 ! SAME L\D TONE1 QUITE CONV9C$ ?AT ,NIKITA MU/ FEEL FLATT]$ TO BE TALK+ ) SO CLEV] & IMPORTANT A P]SON AS HIMSELF1 & HE WAS SO PLEAS$ ) HIS JE/ ?AT IT DID NOT 5T] HIS HEAD ?AT ! REM>K MI<T BE UNPLEASANT TO ,NIKITA4 

,! W9D AGA9 PREV5T$ ,NIKITA'S HE>+ HIS MA/]'S WORDS4 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* REPEAT$ ! JE/ AB\T ! COOP] 9 HIS L\D1 CLE> VOICE4 

',?AT'S !IR BUS9ESS1 ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 ,I DON'T PRY 9TO !IR AFFAIRS4 ,AS LONG AS %E DOESN'T ILL-TREAT \R BOY--,GOD BE ) !M4' 

',?AT'S SO1' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 ',WELL1 & WILL Y\ BE BUY+ A HORSE 9 SPR+8' HE W5T ON1 *ANG+ ! SUBJECT4 

',YES1 ,I CAN'T AVOID IT1' ANSW]$ ,NIKITA1 TURN+ D[N HIS COLL> & LEAN+ BACK T[>DS HIS MA/]4 

,! CONV]SATION N[ BECAME 9T]E/+ TO HIM & HE DID NOT WI% TO LOSE A WORD4 

',! LAD'S GR[+ UP4 ,HE MU/ BEG9 TO PL[ = HIMSELF1 BUT TILL N[ WE'VE ALWAYS HAD TO HIRE SOMEONE1' HE SAID4 

',WELL1 :Y NOT HAVE ! LEAN-CRUPP]$ ONE4 ,I WON'T *>GE MU* = IT1' %\T$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 FEEL+ ANIMAT$1 & CONSEQU5TLY />T+ ON HIS FAVORITE OCCUPATION--?AT ( HORSE-DEAL+--:I* ABSORB$ ALL HIS M5TAL P[]S4 

',OR Y\ MI<T LET ME HAVE FIFTE5 RUBLES & ,I'LL BUY ONE AT ! HORSE-M>KET1' SAID ,NIKITA1 :O KNEW ?AT ! HORSE ,VASILI ,&REEVI* WANT$ TO SELL HIM W\LD BE DE> AT SEV5 RUBLES1 BUT ?AT IF HE TOOK IT FROM HIM IT W\LD BE *>G$ AT TW5TY-FIVE1 & !N HE W\LD BE UNABLE TO DRAW ANY MONEY = HALF A YE>4 

',IT'S A GOOD HORSE4 ,I ?9K ( Y\R 9T]E/ AS ( MY [N--ACCORD+ TO CONSCI5CE4 ,BREKHUNOV ISN'T A MAN TO WRONG ANYONE4 ,LET ! LOSS BE M9E4 ,I'M NOT LIKE O!RS4 ,HONE/LY6' HE %\T$ 9 ! VOICE 9 :I* HE HYPNOTIZ$ HIS CU/OM]S & DEAL]S4 ',IT'S A REAL GOOD HORSE4' 

',QUITE SO6' SAID ,NIKITA ) A SI<1 & CONV9C$ ?AT !RE WAS NO?+ MORE TO LI/5 TO1 HE AGA9 RELEAS$ HIS COLL>1 :I* IMM$IATELY COV]$ HIS E> & FACE4 

,!Y DROVE ON 9 SIL5CE = AB\T HALF AN H\R4 ,! W9D BLEW %>PLY ONTO ,NIKITA'S SIDE & >M :]E HIS %EEPSK9 WAS TORN4 

,HE HUDDL$ UP & BREA!D 9TO ! COLL> :I* COV]$ HIS M\?1 & WAS NOT :OLLY COLD4 

',:AT DO Y\ ?9K--%ALL WE GO ?R\< ,K>AMY%EVO OR BY ! /RAI<T ROAD8' ASK$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

,! ROAD ?R\< ,K>AMY%EVO WAS MORE FREQU5T$ & WAS WELL M>K$ ) A D\BLE R[ ( HI< /AKES4 ,! /RAI<T ROAD WAS NE>] BUT LITTLE US$ & HAD NO /AKES1 OR ONLY POOR ONES COV]$ ) SN[4 

,NIKITA ?\<T A:ILE4 

',?\< ,K>AMY%EVO IS F>!R1 IT IS BETT] GO+1' HE SAID4 

',BUT BY ! /RAI<T ROAD1 :5 ONCE WE GET ?R\< ! HOLL[ BY ! =E/1 IT'S GOOD GO+--%ELT]$1' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 :O WI%$ TO GO ! NE>E/ WAY4 

',JU/ AS Y\ PLEASE1' SAID ,NIKITA1 & AGA9 LET GO ( HIS COLL>4 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* DID AS HE HAD SAID1 & HAV+ GONE AB\T HALF A V]/ CAME TO A TALL OAK /AKE :I* HAD A FEW DRY LEAVES /ILL DANGL+ ON IT1 & !RE HE TURN$ TO ! LEFT4 

,ON TURN+ !Y FAC$ DIRECTLY AGA9/ ! W9D1 & SN[ WAS BEG9N+ TO FALL4 ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 :O WAS DRIV+1 9FLAT$ HIS *EEKS1 BL[+ ! BREA? \T ?R\< HIS MU/A*E4 ,NIKITA DOZ$4 

,SO !Y W5T ON 9 SIL5CE = AB\T T5 M9UTES4 ,SUDD5LY ,VASILI ,&REEVI* BEGAN SAY+ SOME?+4 

',EH1 :AT8' ASK$ ,NIKITA1 OP5+ HIS EYES4 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* DID NOT ANSW]1 BUT B5T OV]1 LOOK+ BEH9D !M & !N AHEAD ( ! HORSE4 ,! SWEAT HAD CURL$ ,MUKHORTY'S COAT BETWE5 HIS LEGS & ON HIS NECK4 ,HE W5T AT A WALK4 

',:AT IS IT8' ,NIKITA ASK$ AGA94 

',:AT IS IT8 ,:AT IS IT8' ,VASILI ,&REEVI* MIMICK$ HIM ANGRILY4 ',!RE >E NO /AKES TO BE SE56 ,WE MU/ HAVE GOT (F ! ROAD6' 

',WELL1 PULL UP !N1 & ,I'LL LOOK = IT1' SAID ,NIKITA1 & JUMP+ D[N LI<TLY FROM ! SL$GE & TAK+ ! :IP FROM UND] ! /RAW1 HE W5T (F TO ! LEFT FROM HIS [N SIDE ( ! SL$GE4 

,! SN[ WAS NOT DEEP ?AT YE>1 SO ?AT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO WALK ANY:]E1 BUT /ILL 9 PLACES IT WAS KNEE-DEEP & GOT 9TO ,NIKITA'S BOOTS4 ,HE W5T AB\T FEEL+ ! GR\ND ) HIS FEET & ! :IP1 BUT C\LD NOT F9D ! ROAD ANY:]E4 

',WELL1 H[ IS IT8' ASK$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI* :5 ,NIKITA CAME BACK TO ! SL$GE4 

',!RE IS NO ROAD ?IS SIDE4 ,I MU/ GO TO ! O!R SIDE & TRY !RE1' SAID ,NIKITA4 

',!RE'S SOME?+ !RE 9 FRONT4 ,GO & HAVE A LOOK4' 

,NIKITA W5T TO :AT HAD APPE>$ D>K1 BUT F\ND ?AT IT WAS E>? :I* ! W9D HAD BL[N FROM ! B>E FIELDS ( W9T] OATS & HAD /REWN OV] ! SN[1 COLOR+ IT4 ,HAV+ SE>*$ TO ! RI<T ALSO1 HE RETURN$ TO ! SL$GE1 BRU%$ ! SN[ FROM HIS COAT1 %OOK IT \T ( HIS BOOTS1 & SEAT$ HIMSELF ONCE MORE4 

',WE MU/ GO TO ! RI<T1' HE SAID DECID$LY4 ',! W9D WAS BL[+ ON \R LEFT BE=E1 BUT N[ IT IS /RAI<T 9 MY FACE4 ,DRIVE TO ! RI<T1' HE REPEAT$ ) DECISION4 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* TOOK HIS ADVICE & TURN$ TO ! RI<T1 BUT /ILL !RE WAS NO ROAD4 ,!Y W5T ON 9 ?AT DIRECTION = SOME TIME4 ,! W9D WAS AS FI]CE AS EV] & IT WAS SN[+ LI<TLY4 

',IT SEEMS1 ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 ?AT WE HAVE GONE QUITE A/RAY1' ,NIKITA SUDD5LY REM>K$1 AS IF IT W]E A PLEASANT ?+4 ',:AT IS ?AT8' HE ADD$1 PO9T+ TO SOME POTATO V9ES ?AT %[$ UP FROM UND] ! SN[4 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* /OPP$ ! P]SPIR+ HORSE1 :OSE DEEP SIDES W]E HEAV+ HEAVILY4 

',:AT IS IT8' 

',:Y1 WE >E ON ! ,ZAKH>OV L&S4 ,SEE :]E WE'VE GOT TO6' 

',NONS5SE6' RETORT$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

',IT'S NOT NONS5SE1 ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 ,IT'S ! TRU?1' REPLI$ ,NIKITA4 ',Y\ CAN FEEL ?AT ! SL$GE IS GO+ OV] A POTATO-FIELD1 & !RE >E ! HEAPS ( V9ES :I* HAVE BE5 C>T$ H]E4 ,IT'S ! ,ZAKH>OV FACTORY L&4' 

',DE> ME1 H[ WE HAVE GONE A/RAY6' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 ',:AT >E WE TO DO N[8' 

',WE MU/ GO /RAI<T ON1 ?AT'S ALL4 ,WE %ALL COME \T SOME:]E--IF NOT AT ,ZAKH>OVA1 !N AT ! PROPRIETOR'S F>M1' SAID ,NIKITA4 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* AGRE$1 & DROVE AS ,NIKITA HAD 9DICAT$4 ,SO !Y W5T ON = A CONSID]ABLE TIME4 ,AT TIMES !Y CAME ONTO B>E FIELDS & ! SL$GE-RUNN]S RATTL$ OV] FROZ5 LUMPS ( E>?4 ,SOMETIMES !Y GOT ONTO A W9T]-RYE FIELD1 OR A FALL[ FIELD ON :I* !Y C\LD SEE /ALKS ( WORMWOOD1 & /RAWS /ICK+ UP ?R\< ! SN[ & SWAY+ 9 ! W9D2 SOMETIMES !Y CAME ONTO DEEP & EV5 :ITE SN[1 ABOVE :I* NO?+ WAS TO BE SE54 

,! SN[ WAS FALL+ FROM ABOVE & SOMETIMES ROSE FROM BEL[4 ,! HORSE WAS EVID5TLY EXHAU/$1 HIS HAIR HAD ALL CURL$ UP FROM SWEAT & WAS COV]$ ) HO>-FRO/1 & HE W5T AT A WALK4 ,SUDD5LY HE /UMBL$ & SAT D[N 9 A DIT* OR WAT]-C\RSE4 ,VASILI ,&REEVI* WANT$ TO /OP1 BUT ,NIKITA CRI$ TO HIM3 

',:Y /OP8 ,WE'VE GOT 9 & MU/ GET \T4 ,HEY1 PET6 ,HEY1 D>L+6 ,GEE UP1 OLD FELL[6' HE %\T$ 9 A *E]FUL TONE TO ! HORSE1 JUMP+ \T ( ! SL$GE & HIMSELF GETT+ /UCK 9 ! DIT*4 

,! HORSE GAVE A />T & QUICKLY CLIMB$ \T ONTO ! FROZ5 BANK4 ,IT WAS EVID5TLY A DIT* ?AT HAD BE5 DUG !RE4 

',:]E >E WE N[8' ASK$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

',WE'LL SOON F9D \T6' ,NIKITA REPLI$4 ',GO ON1 WE'LL GET SOME:]E4' 

',:Y1 ?IS MU/ BE ! ,GORYA*K9 =E/6' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 PO9T+ TO SOME?+ D>K ?AT APPE>$ AMID ! SN[ 9 FRONT ( !M4 

',WE'LL SEE :AT =E/ IT IS :5 WE GET !RE1' SAID ,NIKITA4 

,HE SAW ?AT BESIDE ! BLACK ?+ !Y HAD NOTIC$1 DRY1 OBLONG WILL[-LEAVES W]E FLUTT]+1 & SO HE KNEW IT WAS NOT A =E/ BUT A SETTLEM5T1 BUT HE DID NOT WI% TO SAY SO4 ,& 9 FACT !Y HAD NOT GONE TW5TY-FIVE Y>DS BEYOND ! DIT* BE=E SOME?+ 9 FRONT ( !M1 EVID5TLY TREES1 %[$ UP BLACK1 & !Y HE>D A NEW & MELAN*OLY S\ND4 ,NIKITA HAD GUESS$ RI<T3 IT WAS NOT A WOOD1 BUT A R[ ( TALL WILL[S ) A FEW LEAVES /ILL FLUTT]+ ON !M H]E & !RE4 ,!Y HAD EVID5TLY BE5 PLANT$ ALONG ! DIT* R\ND A ?RE%+-FLOOR4 ,COM+ UP TO ! WILL[S1 :I* MOAN$ SADLY 9 ! W9D1 ! HORSE SUDD5LY PLANT$ HIS =ELEGS ABOVE ! HEI<T ( ! SL$GE1 DREW UP HIS H9D LEGS ALSO1 PULL+ ! SL$GE ONTO HI<] GR\ND1 & TURN$ TO ! LEFT1 NO LONG] S9K+ UP TO HIS KNEES 9 SN[4 ,!Y W]E BACK ON A ROAD4 

',WELL1 H]E WE >E1 BUT HEAV5 ONLY KN[S :]E6' SAID ,NIKITA4 

,! HORSE KEPT /RAI<T ALONG ! ROAD ?R\< ! DRIFT$ SN[1 & BE=E !Y HAD GONE ANO!R HUNDR$ Y>DS ! /RAI<T L9E ( ! D>K WATTLE WALL ( A B>N %[$ UP BLACK BE=E !M1 ITS RO( HEAVILY COV]$ ) SN[ :I* P\R$ D[N FROM IT4 ,AFT] PASS+ ! B>N ! ROAD TURN$ TO ! W9D & !Y DROVE 9TO A SN[-DRIFT4 ,BUT AHEAD ( !M WAS A LANE ) H\SES ON EI!R SIDE1 SO EVID5TLY ! SN[ HAD BE5 BL[N ACROSS ! ROAD & !Y HAD TO DRIVE ?R\< ! DRIFT4 ,& SO 9 FACT IT WAS4 ,HAV+ DRIV5 ?R\< ! SN[ !Y CAME \T 9TO A /REET4 ,AT ! 5D H\SE ( ! VILLAGE SOME FROZ5 CLO!S HANG+ ON A L9E--%IRTS1 ONE R$ & ONE :ITE1 TR\S]S1 LEG-B&S1 & A PETTICOAT--FLUTT]$ WILDLY 9 ! W9D4 ,! :ITE %IRT 9 P>TICUL> /RUGGL$ DESP]ATELY1 WAV+ ITS SLEEVES AB\T4 

',!RE N[1 EI!R A LAZY WOMAN OR A DEAD ONE HAS NOT TAK5 H] CLO!S D[N BE=E ! HOLIDAY1' REM>K$ ,NIKITA1 LOOK+ AT ! FLUTT]+ %IRTS4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahid 3 ,*APT] #b -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,MAY #a#i1 #bba 3 ,*APT] #b -- ,ADD$4 

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