,*APT] #ba 

#ahfcahfc 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,SUDD5LY IT WAS AS ?\< ! SUN HAD %ONE 9TO HIS S\L4 ,HE HE>D ,RUSSIAN BE+ SPOK51 & ALSO HE>D ! RAPID SMOO? FL[ ( ! ,T]EK1 & A FEW /EPS F>!R 9 FRONT ( HIM SAW ! BR[N MOV+ SURFACE ( ! RIV]1 ) ! DIM-COLOR$ WET S& ( ITS BANKS & %ALL[S1 ! DI/ANT /EPPE1 ! CORDON WAT*-T[] \TL9$ ABOVE ! WAT]1 A SADDL$ & HOBBL$ HORSE AMONG ! BRAMBLES1 & !N ! M\NTA9S OP5+ \T BE=E HIM4 ,! R$ SUN APPE>$ = AN 9/ANT FROM UND] A CL\D & ITS LA/ RAYS GLITT]$ BRI<TLY ALONG ! RIV] OV] ! RE$S1 ON ! WAT*-T[]1 & ON A GR\P ( ,COSSACKS1 AMONG :OM ,LUKA%KA'S VIGOR\S FIGURE ATTRACT$ ,OL59'S 9VOLUNT>Y ATT5TION4 

,OL59 FELT ?AT HE WAS AGA91 )\T ANY APP>5T CAUSE1 P]FECTLY HAPPY4 ,HE HAD COME UPON ! ,NIZHNI-,PROTOTSK PO/ ON ! ,T]EK1 OPPOSITE A PRO-,RUSSIAN ,T>T> VILLAGE ON ! O!R SIDE ( ! RIV]4 ,HE ACCO/$ ! ,COSSACKS1 BUT NOT F9D+ AS YET ANY EXCUSE = DO+ ANYONE A K9DNESS1 HE 5T]$ ! HUT2 NOR 9 ! HUT DID HE F9D ANY SU* OPPORTUNITY4 ,! ,COSSACKS RECEIV$ HIM COLDLY4 ,ON 5T]+ ! MUD HUT HE LIT A CIG>ETTE4 ,! ,COSSACKS PAID LITTLE ATT5TION TO HIM1 FIR/ BECAUSE HE WAS SMOK+ A CIG>ETTE1 & SECONDLY BECAUSE !Y HAD SOME?+ ELSE TO DIV]T !M ?AT EV5+4 ,SOME HO/ILE ,*E*5S1 RELATIVES ( ! ABREK :O HAD BE5 KILL$1 HAD COME FROM ! HILLS ) A SC\T TO RANSOM ! BODY2 & ! ,COSSACKS W]E WAIT+ = !IR ,COMM&+ ,(FIC]'S >RIVAL FROM ! VILLAGE4 ,! DEAD MAN'S BRO!R1 TALL & WELL %AP$ ) A %ORT CROPP$ BE>D :I* WAS DY$ R$1 DESPITE HIS V]Y TATT]$ COAT & CAP WAS CALM & MAJE/IC AS A K+4 ,HIS FACE WAS V]Y LIKE ?AT ( ! DEAD ABREK4 ,HE DID NOT DEIGN TO LOOK AT ANYONE1 & NEV] ONCE GLANC$ AT ! DEAD BODY1 BUT SITT+ ON HIS HEELS 9 ! %ADE HE SPAT AS HE SMOK$ HIS %ORT PIPE1 & OCCASIONALLY UTT]$ SOME FEW GUTTURAL S\NDS ( COMM&1 :I* W]E RESPECTFULLY LI/5$ TO BY HIS COMPANION4 ,HE WAS EVID5TLY A BRAVE :O HAD MET ,RUSSIANS MORE ?AN ONCE BE=E 9 QUITE O!R CIRCUM/ANCES1 & NO?+ AB\T !M C\LD A/ONI% OR EV5 9T]E/ HIM4 ,OL59 WAS AB\T TO APPROA* ! DEAD BODY & HAD BEGUN TO LOOK AT IT :5 ! BRO!R1 LOOK+ UP AT HIM FROM UND] HIS BR[S ) CALM CONTEMPT1 SAID SOME?+ %>PLY & ANGRILY4 ,! SC\T HA/5$ TO COV] ! DEAD MAN'S FACE ) HIS COAT4 ,OL59 WAS /RUCK BY ! DIGNIFI$ & /EM EXPRESSION ( ! BRAVE'S FACE4 ,HE BEGAN TO SPEAK TO HIM1 ASK+ FROM :AT VILLAGE HE CAME1 BUT ! ,*E*51 SC>CELY GIV+ HIM A GLANCE1 SPAT CONTEMPTU\SLY & TURN$ AWAY4 ,OL59 WAS SO SURPRIS$ AT ! ,*E*5 NOT BE+ 9T]E/$ 9 HIM ?AT HE C\LD ONLY PUT IT D[N TO ! MAN'S /UPIDITY OR IGNORANCE ( ,RUSSIAN2 SO HE TURN$ TO ! SC\T1 :O ALSO ACT$ AS 9T]PRET]4 ,! SC\T WAS AS RAGG$ AS ! O!R1 BUT 9/EAD ( BE+ R$-HAIR$ HE WAS BLACK-HAIR$1 RE/LESS1 ) EXTREMELY :ITE GLEAM+ TEE? & SP>KL+ BLACK EYES4 ,! SC\T WILL+LY 5T]$ 9TO CONV]SATION & ASK$ = A CIG>ETTE4 

',!RE W]E FIVE BRO!RS1' BEGAN ! SC\T 9 HIS BROK5 ,RUSSIAN4 ',?IS IS ! ?IRD BRO!R ! ,RUSSIANS HAVE KILL$1 ONLY TWO >E LEFT4 ,HE IS A BRAVE1 A GREAT BRAVE6' HE SAID1 PO9T+ TO ! ,*E*54 ',:5 !Y KILL$ ,AHMET ,KHAN 7! DEAD BRAVE7 ?IS ONE WAS SITT+ ON ! OPPOSITE BANK AMONG ! RE$S4 ,HE SAW IT ALL4 ,SAW HIM LAID 9 ! SKIFF & BR\<T TO ! BANK4 ,HE SAT !RE TILL ! NI<T & WI%$ TO KILL ! OLD MAN1 BUT ! O!RS W\LD NOT LET HIM4' 

,LUKA%KA W5T UP TO ! SPEAK]1 & SAT D[N4 ',( :AT VILLAGE8' ASK$ HE4 

',FROM !RE 9 ! HILLS1' REPLI$ ! SC\T1 PO9T+ TO ! MI/Y BLUI% GORGE BEYOND ! ,T]EK4 ',DO Y\ KN[ ,SUUK-SU8 ,IT IS AB\T EI<T MILES BEYOND ?AT4' 

',DO Y\ KN[ ,GIREY ,KHAN 9 ,SUUK-SU8' ASK$ ,LUKA%KA1 EVID5TLY PR\D ( ! ACQUA9TANCE4 ',HE IS MY KUNAK4' 

',HE IS MY NEI<BOR1' ANSW]$ ! SC\T4 

',HE'S A TRUMP6' & ,LUKA%KA1 EVID5TLY MU* 9T]E/$1 BEGAN TALK+ TO ! SC\T 9 ,T>T>4 

,PRES5TLY A ,COSSACK CAPTA91 ) ! HEAD ( ! VILLAGE1 >RIV$ ON HORSEBACK ) A SUITE ( TWO ,COSSACKS4 ,! CAPTA9--ONE ( ! NEW TYPE ( ,COSSACK (FIC]S--WI%$ ! ,COSSACKS ',GOOD HEAL?1' BUT NO ONE %\T$ 9 REPLY1 ',HAIL6 ,GOOD HEAL? TO Y\R HONOR1' AS IS CU/OM>Y 9 ! ,RUSSIAN ,>MY1 & ONLY A FEW REPLI$ ) A B[4 ,SOME1 & AMONG !M ,LUKA%KA1 ROSE & /OOD ]ECT4 ,! CORPORAL REPLI$ ?AT ALL WAS WELL AT ! \TPO/S4 ,ALL ?IS SEEM$ RIDICUL\S3 IT WAS AS IF !SE ,COSSACKS W]E PLAY+ AT BE+ SOLDI]S4 ,BUT !SE =MALITIES SOON GAVE PLACE TO ORD9>Y WAYS ( BEHAVIOR1 & ! CAPTA91 :O WAS A SM>T ,COSSACK JU/ LIKE ! O!RS1 BEGAN SPEAK+ FLU5TLY 9 ,T>T> TO ! 9T]PRET]4 ,!Y FILL$ 9 SOME DOCUM5T1 GAVE IT TO ! SC\T1 & RECEIV$ FROM HIM SOME MONEY4 ,!N !Y APPROA*$ ! BODY4 

',:I* ( Y\ IS ,LUKE ,GAVRILOV8' ASK$ ! CAPTA94 

,LUKI%KA TOOK (F HIS CAP & CAME =W>D4 

',I HAVE REPORT$ Y\R EXPLOIT TO ! ,COMM&]4 ,I DON'T KN[ :AT WILL COME ( IT4 ,I HAVE RECOMM5D$ Y\ = A CROSS2 Y\'RE TOO Y\NG TO BE MADE A S]GEANT4 ,CAN Y\ READ8' 

',I CAN'T4' 

',BUT :AT A F9E FELL[ TO LOOK AT6' SAID ! CAPTA91 AGA9 PLAY+ ! COMM&]4 ',PUT ON Y\R CAP4 ,:I* ( ! ,GAVRILOVS DOES HE COME (8 444 ! ,BROAD1 EH8' 

',HIS NEPHEW1' REPLI$ ! CORPORAL4 

',I KN[1 ,I KN[4 ,WELL1 L5D A H&1 HELP !M1' HE SAID1 TURN+ TO ! 

 ,COSSACKS4 

,LUKA%KA'S FACE %ONE ) JOY & SEEM$ H&SOM] ?AN USUAL4 ,HE MOV$ AWAY FROM ! CORPORAL1 & HAV+ PUT ON HIS CAP SAT D[N BESIDE ,OL594 

,:5 ! BODY HAD BE5 C>RI$ TO ! SKIFF ! BRO!R ,*E*5 DESC5D$ TO ! BANK4 ,! ,COSSACKS 9VOLUNT>ILY /EPP$ ASIDE TO LET HIM PASS4 ,HE JUMP$ 9TO ! BOAT & PU%$ (F FROM ! BANK ) HIS P[]FUL LEG1 & N[1 AS ,OL59 NOTIC$1 = ! FIR/ TIME ?REW A RAPID GLANCE AT ALL ! ,COSSACKS & !N ABRUPTLY ASK$ HIS COMPANION A QUE/ION4 ,! LATT] ANSW]$ SOME?+ & PO9T$ TO ,LUKA%KA4 ,! ,*E*5 LOOK$ AT HIM &1 TURN+ SL[LY AWAY1 GAZ$ AT ! OPPOSITE BANK4 ,?AT LOOK EXPRESS$ NOT HATR$ BUT COLD CONTEMPT4 ,HE AGA9 MADE SOME REM>K4 

',:AT IS HE SAY+8' ,OL59 ASK$ ( ! FIDGETY SC\T4 

',Y\RS KILL \RS1 \RS SLAY Y\RS4 ,IT'S ALWAYS ! SAME1' REPLI$ ! SC\T1 EVID5TLY 9V5T+1 & HE SMIL$1 %[+ HIS :ITE TEE?1 AS HE JUMP$ 9TO ! SKIFF4 

,! DEAD MAN'S BRO!R SAT MOTIONLESS1 GAZ+ AT ! OPPOSITE BANK4 ,HE WAS SO FULL ( HATR$ & CONTEMPT ?AT !RE WAS NO?+ ON ?IS SIDE ( ! RIV] ?AT MOV$ HIS CURIOSITY4 ,! SC\T1 /&+ UP AT ONE 5D ( ! SKIFF & DIPP+ HIS PADDLE N[ ON ONE SIDE N[ ON ! O!R1 /E]$ SKILLFULLY :ILE TALK+ 9CESSANTLY4 ,! SKIFF BECAME SMALL] & SMALL] AS IT MOV$ OBLIQUELY ACROSS ! /REAM1 ! VOICES BECAME SC>CELY AUDIBLE1 & AT LA/1 /ILL )9 SI<T1 !Y L&$ ON ! OPPOSITE BANK :]E !IR HORSES /OOD WAIT+4 ,!RE !Y LIFT$ \T ! CORPSE & 7?\< ! HORSE %I$7 LAID IT ACROSS ONE ( ! SADDLES1 M\NT$1 & RODE AT A FOOT-PACE ALONG ! ROAD PA/ A ,T>T> VILLAGE FROM :I* A CR[D CAME \T TO LOOK AT !M4 ,! ,COSSACKS ON ! ,RUSSIAN SIDE ( ! RIV] W]E HI<LY SATISFI$ & JOVIAL4 ,LAU<T] & JOKES W]E HE>D ON ALL SIDES4 ,! CAPTA9 & ! HEAD ( ! VILLAGE 5T]$ ! MUD HUT TO REGALE !MSELVES4 ,LUKA%KA1 VA9LY /RIV+ TO IMP>T A S$ATE EXPRESSION TO HIS M]RY FACE1 SAT D[N ) HIS ELB[S ON HIS KNEES BESIDE ,OL59 & :ITTL$ AWAY AT A /ICK4 

',:Y DO Y\ SMOKE8' HE SAID ) ASSUM$ CURIOSITY4 ',IS IT GOOD8' 

,HE EVID5TLY SPOKE BECAUSE HE NOTIC$ ,OL59 FELT ILL AT EASE & ISOLAT$ AMONG ! ,COSSACKS4 

',IT'S JU/ A HABIT1' ANSW]$ ,OL594 ',:Y8' 

',H'M1 IF ONE ( US W]E TO SMOKE !RE W\LD BE A R[6 ,LOOK !RE N[1 ! M\NTA9S >E NOT F> (F1' CONT9U$ ,LUKA%KA1 'YET Y\ CAN'T GET !RE6 ,H[ WILL Y\ GET BACK ALONE8 ,IT'S GETT+ D>K4 ,I'LL TAKE Y\1 IF Y\ LIKE4 ,Y\ ASK ! CORPORAL TO GIVE ME LEAVE4' 

',:AT A F9E FELL[6' ?\<T ,OL591 LOOK+ AT ! ,COSSACK'S BRI<T FACE4 ,HE REMEMB]$ ,M>YANKA & ! KISS HE HAD HE>D BY ! GATE1 & HE WAS SORRY = ,LUKA%KA & HIS WANT ( CULTURE4 ',:AT CONFUSION IT IS1' HE ?\<T4 ',A MAN KILLS ANO!R & IS HAPPY & SATISFI$ ) HIMSELF AS IF HE HAD DONE SOME?+ EXCELL5T4 ,CAN IT BE ?AT NO?+ TELLS HIM ?AT IT IS NOT A REASON = ANY REJOIC+1 & ?AT HAPP9ESS LIES NOT 9 KILL+1 BUT 9 SACRIFIC+ ONESELF8' 

',WELL1 Y\ HAD BETT] NOT MEET HIM AGA9 N[1 MATE6' SAID ONE ( ! ,COSSACKS :O HAD SE5 ! SKIFF (F1 ADDRESS+ ,LUKA%KA4 ',DID Y\ HE> HIM ASK+ AB\T Y\8' 

,LUKA%KA RAIS$ HIS HEAD4 

',MY GODSON8' SAID ,LUKA%KA1 MEAN+ BY ?AT WORD ! DEAD ,*E*54 

',Y\R GODSON WON'T RISE1 BUT ! R$ ONE IS ! GODSON'S BRO!R6' 

',LET HIM ?ANK ,GOD ?AT HE GOT (F :OLE HIMSELF1' REPLI$ ,LUKA%KA4 

',:AT >E Y\ GLAD AB\T8' ASK$ ,OL594 ',SUPPOS+ Y\R BRO!R HAD BE5 KILL$2 W\LD Y\ BE GLAD8' 

,! ,COSSACK LOOK$ AT ,OL59 ) LAU<+ EYES4 ,HE SEEM$ TO HAVE UND]/OOD ALL ?AT ,OL59 WI%$ TO SAY TO HIM1 BUT TO BE ABOVE SU* CONSID]ATIONS4 

',WELL1 ?AT HAPP5S TOO6 ,DON'T \R FELL[S GET KILL$ SOMETIMES8' 

7,S\RCE3 ,! ,COSSACKS3 ,A ,TALE ( #a#h#e#b1 BY ,LEO ,TOL/OY1 TRANSLAT$ BY ,L\ISE & ,AYLM] ,MAUDE1 PUBLI%$ #a#h#f#c47 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfb 3 ,*APT] #ba -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,MAY #a#c1 #bba 3 ,*APT] #ba -- ,ADD$4 

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