,*APT] #f 

#ahieahie 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,AL?\< ,VASILI ,&REEVI* FELT QUITE W>M 9 HIS TWO FUR COATS1 ESPECIALLY AFT] /RUGGL+ 9 ! SN[-DRIFT1 A COLD %IV] RAN D[N HIS BACK ON REALIZ+ ?AT HE MU/ REALLY SP5D ! NI<T :]E !Y W]E4 ,TO CALM HIMSELF HE SAT D[N 9 ! SL$GE & GOT \T HIS CIG>ETTES & MAT*ES4 

,NIKITA MEAN:ILE UNH>NESS$ ,MUKHORTY4 ,HE UN/RAPP$ ! BELLY-B& & ! BACK-B&1 TOOK AWAY ! RE9S1 LOOS5$ ! COLL>-/RAP1 & REMOV$ ! %AFT-B[1 TALK+ TO HIM ALL ! TIME TO 5C\RAGE HIM4 

',N[ COME \T6 COME \T6' HE SAID1 LEAD+ HIM CLE> ( ! %AFTS4 ',N[ WE'LL TIE Y\ UP H]E & ,I'LL PUT D[N SOME /RAW & TAKE (F Y\R BRIDLE4 ,:5 Y\'VE HAD A BITE Y\'LL FEEL MORE *E]FUL4' 

,BUT ,MUKHORTY WAS RE/LESS & EVID5TLY NOT COM=T$ BY ,NIKITA'S REM>KS4 ,HE /EPP$ N[ ON ONE FOOT & N[ ON ANO!R1 & PRESS$ CLOSE AGA9/ ! SL$GE1 TURN+ HIS BACK TO ! W9D & RUBB+ HIS HEAD ON ,NIKITA'S SLEEVE4 ,!N1 AS IF NOT TO PA9 ,NIKITA BY REFUS+ HIS (F] ( ! /RAW HE PUT BE=E HIM1 HE HURRI$LY SNAT*$ A WISP \T ( ! SL$GE1 BUT IMM$IATELY DECID$ ?AT IT WAS N[ NO TIME TO ?9K ( /RAW & ?REW IT D[N1 & ! W9D 9/ANTLY SCATT]$ IT1 C>RI$ IT AWAY1 & COV]$ IT ) SN[4 

',N[ WE WILL SET UP A SIGNAL1' SAID ,NIKITA1 & TURN+ ! FRONT ( ! SL$GE TO ! W9D HE TI$ ! %AFTS TOGE!R ) A /RAP & SET !M UP ON 5D 9 FRONT ( ! SL$GE4 ',!RE N[1 :5 ! SN[ COV]S US UP1 GOOD FOLK WILL SEE ! %AFTS & DIG US \T1' HE SAID1 SLAPP+ HIS MITT5S TOGE!R & PUTT+ !M ON4 ',?AT'S :AT ! OLD FOLK TAU<T US6' 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* MEAN:ILE HAD UNFA/5$ HIS COAT1 & HOLD+ ITS SKIRTS UP = %ELT]1 /RUCK ONE SULFUR MAT* AFT] ANO!R ON ! /EEL BOX4 ,BUT HIS H&S TREMBL$1 & ONE MAT* AFT] ANO!R EI!R DID NOT K9DLE OR WAS BL[N \T BY ! W9D JU/ AS HE WAS LIFT+ IT TO ! CIG>ETTE4 ,AT LA/ A MAT* DID BURN UP1 & ITS FLAME LIT UP = A MOM5T ! FUR ( HIS COAT1 HIS H& ) ! GOLD R+ ON ! B5T =EF+]1 & ! SN[-SPR9KL$ OAT-/RAW ?AT /UCK \T FROM UND] ! DRUGGET4 ,! CIG>ETTE LI<T$1 HE EAG]LY TOOK A :IFF OR TWO1 9HAL$ ! SMOKE1 LET IT \T ?R\< HIS MU/A*E1 & W\LD HAVE 9HAL$ AGA91 BUT ! W9D TORE (F ! BURN+ TOBACCO & :IRL$ IT AWAY AS IT HAD DONE ! /RAW4 

,BUT EV5 !SE FEW PUFFS HAD *E]$ HIM4 

',IF WE MU/ SP5D ! NI<T H]E1 WE MU/6' HE SAID ) DECISION4 ',WAIT A BIT1 ,I'LL >RANGE A FLAG AS WELL1' HE ADD$1 PICK+ UP ! K]*IEF :I* HE HAD ?R[N D[N 9 ! SL$GE AFT] TAK+ IT FROM R\ND HIS COLL>1 & DRAW+ (F HIS GLOVES & /&+ UP ON ! FRONT ( ! SL$GE & /RET*+ HIMSELF TO REA* ! /RAP1 HE TI$ ! H&K]*IEF TO IT ) A TI<T KNOT4 

,! K]*IEF IMM$IATELY BEGAN TO FLUTT] WILDLY1 N[ CL++ R\ND ! %AFT1 N[ SUDD5LY /REAM+ \T1 /RET*+ & FLAPP+4 

',JU/ SEE :AT A F9E FLAG6' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 ADMIR+ HIS H&IWORK & LETT+ HIMSELF D[N 9TO ! SL$GE4 ',WE %\LD BE W>M] TOGE!R1 BUT !RE'S NOT ROOM 5\< = TWO1' HE ADD$4 

',I'LL F9D A PLACE1' SAID ,NIKITA4 ',BUT ,I MU/ COV] UP ! HORSE FIR/--HE SWEAT$ SO1 POOR ?+4 ,LET GO6' HE ADD$1 DRAW+ ! DRUGGET FROM UND] ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

,HAV+ GOT ! DRUGGET HE FOLD$ IT 9 TWO1 & AFT] TAK+ (F ! BREE*B& & PAD1 COV]$ ,MUKHORTY ) IT4 

',ANYH[ IT WILL BE W>M]1 SILLY6' HE SAID1 PUTT+ BACK ! BREE*B& & ! PAD ON ! HORSE OV] ! DRUGGET4 ,!N HAV+ F9I%$ ?AT BUS9ESS HE RETURN$ TO ! SL$GE1 & ADDRESS+ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 SAID3 ',Y\ WON'T NE$ ! SACKCLO?1 WILL Y\8 ,& LET ME HAVE SOME /RAW4' 

,& HAV+ TAK5 !SE ?+S FROM UND] ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 ,NIKITA W5T BEH9D ! SL$GE1 DUG \T A HOLE = HIMSELF 9 ! SN[1 PUT /RAW 9TO IT1 WRAPP$ HIS COAT WELL R\ND HIM1 COV]$ HIMSELF ) ! SACKCLO?1 & PULL+ HIS CAP WELL D[N SEAT$ HIMSELF ON ! /RAW HE HAD SPREAD1 & LEAN$ AGA9/ ! WOOD5 BACK ( ! SL$GE TO %ELT] HIMSELF FROM ! W9D & ! SN[4 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* %OOK HIS HEAD DISAPPROV+LY AT :AT ,NIKITA WAS DO+1 AS 9 G5]AL HE DISAPPROV$ ( ! PEASANT'S /UPIDITY & LACK ( $UCATION1 & HE BEGAN TO SETTLE HIMSELF D[N = ! NI<T4 

,HE SMOO!D ! REMA9+ /RAW OV] ! BOTTOM ( ! SL$GE1 PUTT+ MORE ( IT UND] HIS SIDE4 ,!N HE ?RU/ HIS H&S 9TO HIS SLEEVES & SETTL$ D[N1 %ELT]+ HIS HEAD 9 ! CORN] ( ! SL$GE FROM ! W9D 9 FRONT4 

,HE DID NOT WI% TO SLEEP4 ,HE LAY & ?\<T3 ?\<T EV] ( ! ONE ?+ ?AT CON/ITUT$ ! SOLE AIM1 MEAN+1 PLEASURE1 & PRIDE ( HIS LIFE--( H[ MU* MONEY HE HAD MADE & MI<T /ILL MAKE1 ( H[ MU* O!R PEOPLE HE KNEW HAD MADE & POSSESS$1 & ( H[ ?OSE O!RS HAD MADE & W]E MAK+ IT1 & H[ HE1 LIKE !M1 MI<T /ILL MAKE MU* MORE4 ,! PUR*ASE ( ! ,GORYA*K9 GROVE WAS A MATT] ( IMM5SE IMPORTANCE TO HIM4 ,BY ?AT ONE DEAL HE HOP$ TO MAKE P]HAPS T5 ?\S& RUBLES4 ,HE BEGAN M5TALLY TO RECKON ! VALUE ( ! WOOD HE HAD 9SPECT$ 9 AUTUMN1 & ON FIVE ACRES ( :I* HE HAD C\NT$ ALL ! TREES4 

',! OAKS WILL GO = SL$GE-RUNN]S4 ,! UND]GR[? WILL TAKE C>E ( ITSELF1 & !RE'LL /ILL BE SOME ?IRTY SAZHE5S ( FIRE-WOOD LEFT ON EA* DESYAT91' SAID HE TO HIMSELF4 ',?AT MEANS !RE WILL BE AT LEA/ TWO HUNDR$ & TW5TY-FIVE RUBLES' WOR? LEFT ON EA* DESYAT94 ,FIFTY-SIX DESYATI9S MEANS FIFTY-SIX HUNDR$S1 & FIFTY-SIX HUNDR$S1 & FIFTY-SIX T5S1 & ANO!R FIFTY-SIX T5S1 & !N FIFTY-SIX FIVES4444' ,HE SAW ?AT IT CAME \T TO MORE ?AN TWELVE ?\S& RUBLES1 BUT C\LD NOT RECKON IT UP EXACTLY )\T A C\NT+-FRAME4 ',BUT ,I WON'T GIVE T5 ?\S&1 ANYH[4 ,I'LL GIVE AB\T EI<T ?\S& ) A D$UCTION ON ACC\NT ( ! GLADES4 ,I'LL GREASE ! SURVEYOR'S PALM--GIVE HIM A HUNDR$ RUBLES1 OR A HUNDR$ & FIFTY1 & HE'LL RECKON ?AT !RE >E SOME FIVE DESYAT9S ( GLADE TO BE D$UCT$4 ,& HE'LL LET IT GO = EI<T ?\S&4 ,?REE ?\S& CA% D[N4 ,?AT'LL MOVE HIM1 NO FE>6' HE ?\<T1 & HE PRESS$ HIS POCKET-BOOK ) HIS =E>M4 

',GOD ONLY KN[S H[ WE MISS$ ! TURN+4 ,! =E/ \<T TO BE !RE1 & A WAT*MAN'S HUT1 & DOGS B>K+4 ,BUT ! DAMN$ ?+S DON'T B>K :5 !Y'RE WANT$4' ,HE TURN$ HIS COLL> D[N FROM HIS E> & LI/5$1 BUT AS BE=E ONLY ! :I/L+ ( ! W9D C\LD BE HE>D1 ! FLAPP+ & FLUTT]+ ( ! K]*IEF TI$ TO ! %AFTS1 & ! PELT+ ( ! SN[ AGA9/ ! WOODWORK ( ! SL$GE4 ,HE AGA9 COV]$ UP HIS E>4 

',IF ,I HAD KN[N ,I W\LD HAVE /AY$ ! NI<T4 ,WELL1 NO MATT]1 WE'LL GET !RE TO-MORR[4 ,IT'S ONLY ONE DAY LO/4 ,& ! O!RS WON'T TRAVEL 9 SU* WEA!R4' ,!N HE REMEMB]$ ?AT ON ! #i? HE HAD TO RECEIVE PAYM5T FROM ! BUT*] = HIS OX54 ',HE MEANT TO COME HIMSELF1 BUT HE WON'T F9D ME1 & MY WIFE WON'T KN[ H[ TO RECEIVE ! MONEY4 ,%E DOESN'T KN[ ! RI<T WAY ( DO+ ?+S1' HE ?\<T1 RECALL+ H[ AT !IR P>TY ! DAY BE=E %E HAD NOT KN[N H[ TO TREAT ! POLICE-(FIC] :O WAS !IR GUE/4 ',( C\RSE %E'S ONLY A WOMAN6 ,:]E C\LD %E HAVE SE5 ANY?+8 ,9 MY FA!R'S TIME :AT WAS \R H\SE LIKE8 ,JU/ A RI* PEASANT'S H\SE3 JU/ AN OATMILL & AN 9N--?AT WAS ! :OLE PROP]TY4 ,BUT :AT HAVE ,I DONE 9 !SE FIFTE5 YE>S8 ,A %OP1 TWO TAV]NS1 A FL\R-MILL1 A GRA9-/ORE1 TWO F>MS LEAS$ \T1 & A H\SE ) AN IRON-RO($ B>N1' HE ?\<T PR\DLY4 ',NOT AS IT WAS 9 ,FA!R'S TIME6 ,:O IS TALK$ ( 9 ! :OLE DI/RICT N[8 ,BREKHUNOV6 ,& :Y8 ,BECAUSE ,I /ICK TO BUS9ESS4 ,I TAKE TR\BLE1 NOT LIKE O!RS :O LIE AB$ OR WA/E !IR TIME ON FOOLI%NESS :ILE ,I DON'T SLEEP ( NI<TS4 ,BLIZZ>D OR NO BLIZZ>D ,I />T \T4 ,SO BUS9ESS GETS DONE4 ,!Y ?9K MONEY-MAK+ IS A JOKE4 ,NO1 TAKE PA9S & RACK Y\R BRA9S6 ,Y\ GET OV]TAK5 \T ( DOORS AT NI<T1 LIKE ?IS1 OR KEEP AWAKE NI<T AFT] NI<T TILL ! ?\<TS :IRL+ 9 Y\R HEAD MAKE ! PILL[ TURN1' HE M$ITAT$ ) PRIDE4 ',!Y ?9K PEOPLE GET ON ?R\< LUCK4 ,AFT] ALL1 ! ,MIRONOVS >E N[ MILLIONAIRES4 ,& :Y8 ,TAKE PA9S & ,GOD GIVES4 ,IF ONLY ,HE GRANTS ME HEAL?6' 

,! ?\<T ?AT HE MI<T HIMSELF BE A MILLIONAIRE LIKE ,MIRONOV1 :O BEGAN ) NO?+1 SO EXCIT$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI* ?AT HE FELT ! NE$ ( TALK+ TO SOMEBODY4 ,BUT !RE WAS NO ONE TO TALK TO4444 ,IF ONLY HE C\LD HAVE REA*$ ,GORYA*K9 HE W\LD HAVE TALK$ TO ! L&LORD & %[N HIM A ?+ OR TWO4 

',JU/ SEE H[ IT BL[S6 ,IT WILL SN[ US UP SO DEEP ?AT WE %AN'T BE ABLE TO GET \T 9 ! MORN+6' HE ?\<T1 LI/5+ TO A GU/ ( W9D ?AT BLEW AGA9/ ! FRONT ( ! SL$GE1 B5D+ IT & LA%+ ! SN[ AGA9/ IT4 ,HE RAIS$ HIMSELF & LOOK$ R\ND4 ,ALL HE C\LD SEE ?R\< ! :IRL+ D>KNESS WAS ,MUKHORTY'S D>K HEAD1 HIS BACK COV]$ BY ! FLUTT]+ DRUGGET1 & HIS ?ICK KNOTT$ TAIL2 :ILE ALL R\ND1 9 FRONT & BEH9D1 WAS ! SAME FLUCTUAT+ :ITY D>KNESS1 SOMETIMES SEEM+ TO GET A LITTLE LI<T] & SOMETIMES GR[+ D5S] /ILL4 

',A PITY ,I LI/5$ TO ,NIKITA1' HE ?\<T4 ',WE \<T TO HAVE DRIV5 ON4 ,WE %\LD HAVE COME \T SOME:]E1 IF ONLY BACK TO ,GRI%K9O & /AY$ ! NI<T AT ,T>AS'S4 ,AS IT IS WE MU/ SIT H]E ALL NI<T4 ,BUT :AT WAS ,I ?9K+ AB\T8 ,YES1 ?AT ,GOD GIVES TO ?OSE :O TAKE TR\BLE1 BUT NOT TO LOAF]S1 LIE-AB$S1 OR FOOLS4 ,I MU/ HAVE A SMOKE6' 

,HE SAT D[N AGA91 GOT \T HIS CIG>ETTE-CASE1 & /RET*$ HIMSELF FLAT ON HIS /OMA*1 SCRE5+ ! MAT*ES ) ! SKIRT ( HIS COAT4 ,BUT ! W9D F\ND ITS WAY 9 & PUT \T MAT* AFT] MAT*4 ,AT LA/ HE GOT ONE TO BURN & LIT A CIG>ETTE4 ,HE WAS V]Y GLAD ?AT HE HAD MANAG$ TO DO :AT HE WANT$1 & ?\< ! W9D SMOK$ MORE ( ! CIG>ETTE ?AN HE DID1 HE /ILL GOT TWO OR ?REE PUFFS & FELT MORE *E]FUL4 ,HE AGA9 LEAN$ BACK1 WRAPP$ HIMSELF UP1 />T$ REFLECT+ & REMEMB]+1 & SUDD5LY & QUITE UNEXPECT$LY LO/ CONSCI\SNESS & FELL ASLEEP4 

,SUDD5LY SOME?+ SEEM$ TO GIVE HIM A PU% & AWOKE HIM4 ,:E!R IT WAS ,MUKHORTY :O HAD PULL$ SOME /RAW FROM UND] HIM1 OR :E!R SOME?+ )9 HIM HAD />TL$ HIM1 AT ALL EV5TS IT WOKE HIM1 & HIS HE>T BEGAN TO BEAT FA/] & FA/] SO ?AT ! SL$GE SEEM$ TO TREMBLE UND] HIM4 ,HE OP5$ HIS EYES4 ,EV]Y?+ >\ND HIM WAS JU/ AS BE=E4 ',IT LOOKS LI<T]1' HE ?\<T4 ',I EXPECT IT WON'T BE LONG BE=E DAWN4' ,BUT HE AT ONCE REMEMB]$ ?AT IT WAS LI<T] BECAUSE ! MOON HAD RIS54 ,HE SAT UP & LOOK$ FIR/ AT ! HORSE4 ,MUKHORTY /ILL /OOD ) HIS BACK TO ! W9D1 %IV]+ ALL OV]4 ,ONE SIDE ( ! DRUGGET1 :I* WAS COMPLETELY COV]$ ) SN[1 HAD BE5 BL[N BACK1 ! BREE*+ HAD SLIPP$ D[N & ! SN[-COV]$ HEAD ) ITS WAV+ =ELOCK & MANE W]E N[ MORE VISIBLE4 ,VASILI ,&REEVI* LEAN$ OV] ! BACK ( ! SL$GE & LOOK$ BEH9D4 ,NIKITA /ILL SAT 9 ! SAME POSITION 9 :I* HE HAD SETTL$ HIMSELF4 ,! SACK+ ) :I* HE WAS COV]$1 & HIS LEGS1 W]E ?ICKLY COV]$ ) SN[4 

',IF ONLY ?AT PEASANT DOESN'T FREEZE TO DEA?6 ,HIS CLO!S >E SO WRET*$4 ,I MAY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE = HIM4 ,:AT %IFTLESS PEOPLE !Y >E--SU* A WANT ( $UCATION1' ?\<T ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 & HE FELT LIKE TAK+ ! DRUGGET (F ! HORSE & PUTT+ IT OV] ,NIKITA1 BUT IT W\LD BE V]Y COLD TO GET \T & MOVE AB\T &1 MOREOV]1 ! HORSE MI<T FREEZE TO DEA?4 ',:Y DID ,I BR+ HIM ) ME8 ,IT WAS ALL H] /UPIDITY6' HE ?\<T1 RECALL+ HIS UNLOV$ WIFE1 & HE ROLL$ OV] 9TO HIS OLD PLACE AT ! FRONT P>T ( ! SL$GE4 ',MY UNCLE ONCE SP5T A :OLE NI<T LIKE ?IS1' HE REFLECT$1 '& WAS ALL RI<T4' ,BUT ANO!R CASE CAME AT ONCE TO HIS M9D4 ',BUT :5 !Y DUG ,SEBA/IAN \T HE WAS DEAD--/IFF LIKE A FROZ5 C>CASS4 ,IF ,I'D ONLY /OPP$ ! NI<T 9 ,GRI%K9O ALL ?IS W\LD NOT HAVE HAPP5$6' 

,& WRAPP+ HIS COAT C>EFULLY R\ND HIM SO ?AT NONE ( ! W>M? ( ! FUR %\LD BE WA/$ BUT %\LD W>M HIM ALL OV]1 NECK1 KNEES1 & FEET1 HE %UT HIS EYES & TRI$ TO SLEEP AGA94 ,BUT TRY AS HE W\LD HE C\LD NOT GET DR[SY1 ON ! CONTR>Y HE FELT WIDE AWAKE & ANIMAT$4 ,AGA9 HE BEGAN C\NT+ HIS GA9S & ! DEBTS DUE TO HIM1 AGA9 HE BEGAN BRAGG+ TO HIMSELF & FEEL+ PLEAS$ ) HIMSELF & HIS POSITION1 BUT ALL ?IS WAS CONT9UALLY DI/URB$ BY A /EAL?ILY APPROA*+ FE> & BY ! UNPLEASANT REGRET ?AT HE HAD NOT REMA9$ 9 ,GRI%K9O4 

',H[ DIFF]5T IT W\LD BE TO BE LY+ W>M ON A B5*6' 

,HE TURN$ OV] SEV]AL TIMES 9 HIS ATTEMPTS TO GET 9TO A MORE COM=TABLE POSITION MORE %ELT]$ FROM ! W9D1 HE WRAPP$ UP HIS LEGS CLOS]1 %UT HIS EYES1 & LAY /ILL4 ,BUT EI!R HIS LEGS 9 !IR /RONG FELT BOOTS BEGAN TO A*E FROM BE+ B5T 9 ONE POSITION1 OR ! W9D BLEW 9 SOME:]E1 & AFT] LY+ /ILL = A %ORT TIME HE AGA9 BEGAN TO RECALL ! DI/URB+ FACT ?AT HE MI<T N[ HAVE BE5 LY+ QUIETLY 9 ! W>M HUT AT ,GRI%K9O4 ,HE AGA9 SAT UP1 TURN$ AB\T1 MUFFL$ HIMSELF UP1 & SETTL$ D[N ONCE MORE4 

,ONCE HE FANCI$ ?AT HE HE>D A DI/ANT COCK-CR[4 ,HE FELT GLAD1 TURN$ D[N HIS COAT-COLL> & LI/5$ ) /RA9$ ATT5TION1 BUT 9 SPITE ( ALL HIS EF=TS NO?+ C\LD BE HE>D BUT ! W9D :I/L+ BETWE5 ! %AFTS1 ! FLAPP+ ( ! K]*IEF1 & ! SN[ PELT+ AGA9/ ! FRAME ( ! SL$GE4 

,NIKITA SAT JU/ AS HE HAD DONE ALL ! TIME1 NOT MOV+ & NOT EV5 ANSW]+ ,VASILI ,&REEVI* :O HAD ADDRESS$ HIM A C\PLE ( TIMES4 ',HE DOESN'T C>E A BIT--HE'S PROBABLY ASLEEP6' ?\<T ,VASILI ,&REEVI* ) VEXATION1 LOOK+ BEH9D ! SL$GE AT ,NIKITA :O WAS COV]$ ) A ?ICK LAY] ( SN[4 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* GOT UP & LAY D[N AGA9 SOME TW5TY TIMES4 ,IT SEEM$ TO HIM ?AT ! NI<T W\LD NEV] 5D4 ',IT MU/ BE GETT+ NE> MORN+1' HE ?\<T1 GETT+ UP & LOOK+ >\ND4 ',LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT MY WAT*4 ,IT WILL BE COLD TO UNBUTTON1 BUT IF ,I ONLY KN[ ?AT IT'S GETT+ NE> MORN+ ,I %ALL AT ANY RATE FEEL MORE *E]FUL4 ,WE C\LD BEG9 H>NESS+4' 

,9 ! DEP? ( HIS HE>T ,VASILI ,&REEVI* KNEW ?AT IT C\LD NOT YET BE NE> MORN+1 BUT HE WAS GR[+ MORE & MORE AFRAID1 & WI%$ BO? TO GET TO KN[ & YET TO DECEIVE HIMSELF4 ,HE C>EFULLY UNDID ! FA/5+ ( HIS %EEPSK91 PU%$ 9 HIS H&1 & FELT AB\T = A LONG TIME BE=E HE GOT TO HIS WAI/COAT4 ,) GREAT DIFFICULTY HE MANAG$ TO DRAW \T HIS SILV] WAT* ) ITS 5AMEL$ FL[] DESIGN1 & TRI$ TO MAKE \T ! TIME4 ,HE C\LD NOT SEE ANY?+ )\T A LI<T4 ,AGA9 HE W5T D[N ON HIS KNEES & ELB[S AS HE HAD DONE :5 HE LI<T$ A CIG>ETTE1 GOT \T HIS MAT*ES1 & PROCE$$ TO /RIKE ONE4 ,?IS TIME HE W5T TO WORK MORE C>EFULLY1 & FEEL+ ) HIS F+]S = A MAT* ) ! L>GE/ HEAD & ! GREATE/ AM\NT ( PHOSPHORUS1 LIT IT AT ! FIR/ TRY4 ,BR++ ! FACE ( ! WAT* UND] ! LI<T HE C\LD H>DLY BELIEVE HIS EYES4444 ,IT WAS ONLY T5 M9UTES PA/ TWELVE4 ,ALMO/ ! :OLE NI<T WAS /ILL BE=E HIM4 

',OH1 H[ LONG ! NI<T IS6' HE ?\<T1 FEEL+ A COLD %UDD] RUN D[N HIS BACK1 & HAV+ FA/5$ HIS FUR COATS AGA9 & WRAPP$ HIMSELF UP1 HE SNUGGL$ 9TO A CORN] ( ! SL$GE 9T5D+ TO WAIT PATI5TLY4 ,SUDD5LY1 ABOVE ! MONOTON\S RO> ( ! W9D1 HE CLE>LY DI/+UI%$ ANO!R NEW & LIV+ S\ND4 ,IT /EADILY /R5G!N$1 & HAV+ BECOME QUITE CLE> DIM9I%$ JU/ AS GRADUALLY4 ,BEYOND ALL D\BT IT WAS A WOLF1 & HE WAS SO NE> ?AT ! MOVEM5T ( HIS JAWS AS HE *ANG$ HIS CRY WAS BR\<T D[N ! W9D4 ,VASILI ,&REEVI* TURN$ BACK ! COLL> ( HIS COAT & LI/5$ ATT5TIVELY4 ,MUKHORTY TOO /RA9$ TO LI/51 MOV+ HIS E>S1 & :5 ! WOLF HAD CEAS$ ITS H[L+ HE %IFT$ FROM FOOT TO FOOT & GAVE A W>N+ SNORT4 ,AFT] ?IS ,VASILI ,&REEVI* C\LD NOT FALL ASLEEP AGA9 OR EV5 CALM HIMSELF4 ,! MORE HE TRI$ TO ?9K ( HIS ACC\NTS1 HIS BUS9ESS1 HIS REPUTATION1 HIS WOR? & HIS WEAL?1 ! MORE & MORE WAS HE MA/]$ BY FE>1 & REGRETS ?AT HE HAD NOT /AY$ ! NI<T AT ,GRI%K9O DOM9AT$ & M+L$ 9 ALL HIS ?\<TS4 

',DEVIL TAKE ! =E/6 ,?+S W]E ALL RI<T )\T IT1 ?ANK ,GOD4 ,AH1 IF WE HAD ONLY PUT UP = ! NI<T6' HE SAID TO HIMSELF4 ',!Y SAY IT'S DRUNK>DS ?AT FREEZE1' HE ?\<T1 '& ,I HAVE HAD SOME DR9K4' ,& OBS]V+ HIS S5SATIONS HE NOTIC$ ?AT HE WAS BEG9N+ TO %IV]1 )\T KN[+ :E!R IT WAS FROM COLD OR FROM FE>4 ,HE TRI$ TO WRAP HIMSELF UP & LIE D[N AS BE=E1 BUT C\LD NO LONG] DO SO4 ,HE C\LD NOT /AY 9 ONE POSITION4 ,HE WANT$ TO GET UP1 TO DO SOME?+ TO MA/] ! GA!R+ FE> ?AT WAS RIS+ 9 HIM & AGA9/ :I* HE FELT HIMSELF P[]LESS4 ,HE AGA9 GOT \T HIS CIG>ETTES & MAT*ES1 BUT ONLY ?REE MAT*ES W]E LEFT & !Y W]E BAD ONES4 ,! PHOSPHORUS RUBB$ (F !M ALL )\T LI<T+4 

',! DEVIL TAKE Y\6 ,DAMN$ ?+6 ,CURSE Y\6' HE MUTT]$1 NOT KN[+ :OM OR :AT HE WAS CURS+1 & HE FLUNG AWAY ! CRU%$ CIG>ETTE4 ,HE WAS AB\T TO ?R[ AWAY ! MAT*BOX TOO1 BUT *ECK$ ! MOVEM5T ( HIS H& & PUT ! BOX 9 HIS POCKET 9/EAD4 ,HE WAS SEIZ$ ) SU* UNRE/ ?AT HE C\LD NO LONG] REMA9 9 ONE SPOT4 ,HE CLIMB$ \T ( ! SL$GE & /&+ ) HIS BACK TO ! W9D BEGAN TO %IFT HIS BELT AGA91 FA/5+ IT L[] D[N 9 ! WAI/ & TI<T5+ IT4 

',:AT'S ! USE ( LY+ & WAIT+ = DEA?8 ,BETT] M\NT ! HORSE & GET AWAY6' ,! ?\<T SUDD5LY OCCURR$ TO HIM4 ',! HORSE WILL MOVE :5 HE HAS SOMEONE ON HIS BACK4 ,AS = HIM1' HE ?\<T ( ,NIKITA--'IT'S ALL ! SAME TO HIM :E!R HE LIVES OR DIES4 ,:AT IS HIS LIFE WOR?8 ,HE WON'T GRUDGE HIS LIFE1 BUT ,I HAVE SOME?+ TO LIVE =1 ?ANK ,GOD4' 

,HE UNTI$ ! HORSE1 ?REW ! RE9S OV] HIS NECK & TRI$ TO M\NT1 BUT HIS COATS & BOOTS W]E SO HEAVY ?AT HE FAIL$4 ,!N HE CLAMB]$ UP 9 ! SL$GE & TRI$ TO M\NT FROM !RE1 BUT ! SL$GE TILT$ UND] HIS WEI<T1 & HE FAIL$ AGA94 ,AT LA/ HE DREW ,MUKHORTY NE>] TO ! SL$GE1 CAUTI\SLY BALANC$ ON ONE SIDE ( IT1 & MANAG$ TO LIE ON HIS /OMA* ACROSS ! HORSE'S BACK4 ,AFT] LY+ LIKE ?AT = A :ILE HE %IFT$ =W>D ONCE & AGA91 ?REW A LEG OV]1 & F9ALLY SEAT$ HIMSELF1 SUPPORT+ HIS FEET ON ! LOOSE BREE*+-/RAPS4 ,! %AK+ ( ! SL$GE AWOKE ,NIKITA4 ,HE RAIS$ HIMSELF1 & IT SEEM$ TO ,VASILI ,&REEVI* ?AT HE SAID SOME?+4 

',LI/5 TO SU* FOOLS AS Y\6 ,AM ,I TO DIE LIKE ?IS = NO?+8' EXCLAIM$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 ,& TUCK+ ! LOOSE SKIRTS ( HIS FUR COAT 9 UND] HIS KNEES1 HE TURN$ ! HORSE & RODE AWAY FROM ! SL$GE 9 ! DIRECTION 9 :I* HE ?\<T ! =E/ & ! =E/]'S HUT MU/ BE4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
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