,*APT] #h 

#ahfcahfc 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,IT WAS QUITE D>K :5 ,UNCLE ,]O%KA & ! ?REE ,COSSACKS1 9 !IR CLOAKS & %\LD]+ !IR GUNS1 LEFT ! CORDON & W5T T[>DS ! PLACE ON ! ,T]EK :]E !Y W]E TO LIE 9 AMBU%4 ,NAZ>KA DID NOT WANT TO GO AT ALL1 BUT ,LUKA%KA %\T$ AT HIM & !Y SOON />T$4 ,AFT] !Y HAD GONE A FEW /EPS 9 SIL5CE ! ,COSSACKS TURN$ ASIDE FROM ! DIT* & W5T ALONG A PA? ALMO/ HIDD5 BY RE$S TILL !Y REA*$ ! RIV]4 ,ON ITS BANK LAY A ?ICK BLACK LOG CA/ UP BY ! WAT]4 ,! RE$S >\ND IT HAD BE5 REC5TLY BEAT5 D[N4 

',%ALL WE LIE H]E8' ASK$ ,NAZ>KA4 

',:Y NOT8' ANSW]$ ,LUKA%KA4 ',SIT D[N H]E & ,I'LL BE BACK 9 A M9UTE4 ,I'LL ONLY %[ ,DADDY :]E TO GO4' 

',?IS IS ! BE/ PLACE2 H]E WE CAN SEE & NOT BE SE51' SAID 

 ,]GU%OV1 'SO IT'S H]E WE'LL LIE4 ,IT'S A FIR/-RATE PLACE6' 

,NAZ>KA & ,]GU%OV SPREAD \T !IR CLOAKS & SETTL$ D[N BEH9D ! LOG1 :ILE ,LUKA%KA W5T ON ) ,UNCLE ,]O%KA4 

',IT'S NOT F> FROM H]E4 ,DADDY1' SAID ,LUKA%KA1 /EPP+ S(TLY 9 FRONT ( ! OLD MAN2 ',I'LL %[ Y\ :]E !Y'VE BE5--,I'M ! ONLY ONE ?AT KN[S4 ,DADDY4' 

',%[ ME6 ,Y\'RE A F9E FELL[1 A REGUL> ,SNAT*]6' REPLI$ ! OLD MAN1 ALSO :ISP]+4 

,HAV+ GONE A FEW /EPS ,LUKA%KA /OPP$1 /OOP$ D[N OV] A PUDDLE1 & :I/L$4 ',?AT'S :]E !Y COME TO DR9K1 D'Y\ SEE8' ,HE SPOKE 9 A SC>CELY AUDIBLE VOICE1 PO9T+ TO FRE% HO(-PR9TS4 

',*RI/ BLESS Y\1' ANSW]$ ! OLD MAN4 ',! BO> WILL BE 9 ! HOLL[ BEYOND ! DIT*1' HE ADD$4 ,TIL WAT*1 & Y\ CAN GO4' 

,LUKA%KA PULL$ HIS CLOAK UP HI<] & WALK$ BACK ALONE1 ?R[+ SWIFT GLANCES N[ TO ! LEFT AT ! WALL ( RE$S1 N[ TO ! ,T]EK RU%+ BY BEL[ ! BANK4 ',I D>ESAY HE'S WAT*+ OR CREEP+ ALONG SOME:]E1' ?\<T HE ( A POSSIBLE ,*E*5 HILLSMAN4 ,SUDD5LY A L\D RU/L+ & A SPLA% 9 ! WAT] MADE HIM />T & SEIZE HIS MUSKET4 ,FROM UND] ! BANK A BO> LEAP$ UP--HIS D>K \TL9E %[+ = A MOM5T AGA9/ ! GLASSY SURFACE ( ! WAT] & !N DISAPPE>+ AMONG ! RE$S4 ,LUKA%KA PULL$ \T HIS GUN & AIM$1 BUT BE=E HE C\LD FIRE ! BO> HAD DISAPPE>$ 9 ! ?ICKET4 ,LUKA%KA SPAT ) VEXATION & W5T ON4 ,ON APPROA*+ ! AMBUSCADE HE HALT$ AGA9 & :I/L$ S(TLY4 ,HIS :I/LE WAS ANSW]$ & HE /EPP$ UP TO HIS COMRADES4 

,NAZ>KA1 ALL CURL$ UP1 WAS ALREADY ASLEEP4 ,]GU%OV SAT ) HIS LEGS CROSS$ & MOV$ SLI<TLY TO MAKE ROOM = ,LUKA%KA4 

',H[ JOLLY IT IS TO SIT H]E6 ,IT'S REALLY A GOOD PLACE1' SAID HE4 ',DID Y\ TAKE HIM !RE8' 

',%[$ HIM :]E1' ANSW]$ ,LUKA%KA1 SPREAD+ \T HIS CLOAK4 ',BUT :AT A BIG BO> ,I R\S$ JU/ N[ CLOSE TO ! WAT]6 ,I EXPECT IT WAS ! V]Y ONE6 ,Y\ MU/ HAVE HE>D ! CRA%8' 

',I DID HE> A BEA/ CRA%+ ?R\<4 ,I KNEW AT ONCE IT WAS A BEA/4 ,I ?\<T TO MYSELF3 0,LUKA%KA HAS R\S$ A BEA/10' ,]GU%OV SAID1 WRAPP+ HIMSELF UP 9 HIS CLOAK4 ',N[ ,I'LL GO TO SLEEP1' HE ADD$4 ',WAKE ME :5 ! COCKS CR[4 ,WE MU/ HAVE DISCIPL9E4 ,I'LL LIE D[N & HAVE A NAP1 & !N Y\ WILL HAVE A NAP & ,I'LL WAT*--?AT'S ! WAY4' 

',LUCKILY ,I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP1' ANSW]$ ,LUKA%KA4 

,! NI<T WAS D>K1 W>M1 & /ILL4 ,ONLY ON ONE SIDE ( ! SKY ! />S W]E %9+1 ! O!R & GREAT] P>T WAS OV]CA/ BY ONE HUGE CL\D /RET*+ FROM ! M\NTA9TOPS4 ,! BLACK CL\D1 BL5D+ 9 ! ABS5CE ( ANY W9D ) ! M\NTA9S1 MOV$ SL[LY ONW>DS1 ITS CURV$ $GES %>PLY D5N$ AGA9/ ! DEEP />RY SKY4 ,ONLY 9 FRONT ( HIM C\LD ! ,COSSACK DISC]N ! ,T]EK & ! DI/ANCE BEYOND4 ,BEH9D & ON BO? SIDES HE WAS SURR\ND$ BY A WALL ( RE$S4 ,OCCASIONALLY ! RE$S W\LD SWAY & RU/LE AGA9/ ONE ANO!R APP>5TLY )\T CAUSE4 ,SE5 FROM D[N BEL[1 AGA9/ ! CLE> P>T ( ! SKY1 !IR WAV+ TUFTS LOOK$ LIKE ! FEA!RY BRAN*ES ( TREES4 ,CLOSE 9 FRONT AT HIS V]Y FEET WAS ! BANK1 & AT ITS BASE ! RU%+ TORR5T4 ,A LITTLE F>!R ON WAS ! MOV+ MASS ( GLASSY BR[N WAT] :I* $DI$ RHY?MICALLY ALONG ! BANK & R\ND ! %ALL[S4 ,F>!R /ILL1 WAT]1 BANKS1 & CL\D ALL M]G$ TOGE!R 9 IMP5ETRABLE GLOOM4 ,ALONG ! SURFACE ( ! WAT] FLOAT$ BLACK %AD[S1 9 :I* ! EXP]I5C$ EYES ( ! ,COSSACK DETECT$ TREES C>RI$ D[N BY ! CURR5T4 ,ONLY V]Y R>ELY %EET-LI<TN+1 MIRROR$ 9 ! WAT] AS 9 A BLACK GLASS1 DISCLOS$ ! SLOP+ BANK OPPOSITE4 ,! RHY?MIC S\NDS ( NI<T--! RU/L+ ( ! RE$S1 ! SNOR+ ( ! ,COSSACKS1 ! HUM ( MOSQUITOES1 & ! RU%+ WAT]1 W]E EV]Y N[ & !N BROK5 BY A %OT FIR$ 9 ! DI/ANCE1 OR BY ! GURGL+ ( WAT] :5 A PIECE ( BANK SLIPP$ D[N1 ! SPLA% ( A BIG FI%1 OR ! CRA%+ ( AN ANIMAL BREAK+ ?R\< ! ?ICK UND]GR[? 9 ! WOOD4 ,ONCE AN [L FLEW PA/ ALONG ! ,T]EK1 FLAPP+ ONE W+ AGA9/ ! O!R RHY?MICALLY AT EV]Y SECOND BEAT4 ,JU/ ABOVE ! ,COSSACK'S HEAD IT TURN$ T[>DS ! WOOD & !N1 /RIK+ ITS W+S NO LONG] AFT] EV]Y O!R FLAP BUT AT EV]Y FLAP1 IT FLEW TO AN OLD PLANE TREE :]E IT RU/L$ AB\T = A LONG TIME BE=E SETTL+ D[N AMONG ! BRAN*ES4 ,AT EV]Y ONE ( !SE UNEXPECT$ S\NDS ! WAT*+ ,COSSACK LI/5$ 9T5TLY1 /RA9+ HIS HE>+1 & SCREW+ UP HIS EYES :ILE HE DELIB]ATELY FELT = HIS MUSKET4 

,! GREAT] P>T ( ! NI<T WAS PA/4 ,! BLACK CL\D ?AT HAD MOV$ WE/W>D REVEAL$ ! CLE> />RY SKY FROM UND] ITS TORN $GE1 & ! GOLD5 UPTURN$ CRESC5T ( ! MOON %ONE ABOVE ! M\NTA9S ) A R$DI% LI<T4 ,! COLD BEGAN TO BE P5ETRAT+4 ,NAZ>KA AWOKE1 SPOKE A LITTLE1 & FELL ASLEEP AGA94 ,LUKA%KA FEEL+ BOR$ GOT UP1 DREW ! KNIFE FROM HIS DAGG]-H&LE & BEGAN TO FA%ION HIS /ICK 9TO A RAMROD4 ,HIS HEAD WAS FULL ( ! ,*E*5S :O LIV$ OV] !RE 9 ! M\NTA9S1 & ( H[ !IR BRAVE LADS CAME ACROSS & W]E NOT AFRAID ( ! ,COSSACKS1 & MI<T EV5 N[ BE CROSS+ ! RIV] AT SOME O!R SPOT4 ,HE ?RU/ HIMSELF \T ( HIS HID+-PLACE & LOOK$ ALONG ! RIV] BUT C\LD SEE NO?+4 ,& AS HE CONT9U$ LOOK+ \T AT 9T]VALS UPON ! RIV] & AT ! OPPOSITE BANK1 N[ DIMLY DI/+UI%ABLE FROM ! WAT] 9 ! FA9T MOONLI<T1 HE NO LONG] ?\<T AB\T ! ,*E*5S BUT ONLY ( :5 IT W\LD BE TIME TO WAKE HIS COMRADES1 & ( GO+ HOME TO ! VILLAGE4 ,9 ! VILLAGE HE IMAG9$ ,DUNAYKA1 HIS 'LITTLE S\L'1 AS ! ,COSSACKS CALL A MAN'S MI/RESS1 & ?\<T ( H] ) VEXATION4 ,SILV]Y MI/S1 A SIGN ( COM+ MORN+1 GLITT]$ :ITE ABOVE ! WAT]1 & NOT F> FROM HIM Y\NG EAGLES W]E :I/L+ & FLAPP+ !IR W+S4 ,AT LA/ ! CR[+ ( A COCK REA*$ HIM FROM ! DI/ANT VILLAGE1 FOLL[$ BY ! LONG-SU/A9$ NOTE ( ANO!R1 :I* WAS AGA9 ANSW]$ BY YET O!R VOICES4 

',TIME TO WAKE !M1' ?\<T ,LUKA%KA1 :O HAD F9I%$ HIS RAMROD & FELT HIS EYES GR[+ HEAVY4 ,TURN+ TO HIS COMRADES HE MANAG$ TO MAKE \T :I* PAIR ( LEGS BELONG$ TO :OM1 :5 IT SUDD5LY SEEM$ TO HIM ?AT HE HE>D SOME?+ SPLA% ON ! O!R SIDE ( ! ,T]EK4 ,HE TURN$ AGA9 T[>DS ! HORIZON BEYOND ! HILLS1 :]E DAY WAS BREAK+ UND] ! UPTURN$ CRESC5T1 GLANC$ AT ! \TL9E ( ! OPPOSITE BANK1 AT ! ,T]EK1 & AT ! N[ DI/9CTLY VISIBLE DRIFTWOOD UPON IT4 ,= ONE 9/ANT IT SEEM$ TO HIM ?AT HE WAS MOV+ & ?AT ! ,T]EK ) ! DRIFT+ WOOD REMA9$ /ATION>Y4 ,AGA9 HE PE]$ \T4 ,ONE L>GE BLACK LOG ) A BRAN* P>TICUL>LY ATTRACT$ HIS ATT5TION4 ,! TREE WAS FLOAT+ 9 A /RANGE WAY RI<T D[N ! MIDDLE ( ! /REAM1 NEI!R ROCK+ NOR :IRL+4 ,IT EV5 APPE>$ NOT TO BE FLOAT+ ALTOGE!R ) ! CURR5T1 BUT TO BE CROSS+ IT 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! %ALL[S4 ,LUKA%KA /RET*+ \T HIS NECK WAT*$ IT 9T5TLY4 ,! TREE FLOAT$ TO ! %ALL[S1 /OPP$1 & %IFT$ 9 A PECULI> MANN]4 ,LUKA%KA ?\<T HE SAW AN >M /RET*$ \T FROM B5EA? ! TREE4 ',SUPPOS+ ,I KILL$ AN ABREK ALL BY MYSELF6' HE ?\<T1 & SEIZ$ HIS GUN ) A SWIFT1 UNHURRI$ MOVEM5T1 PUTT+ UP HIS GUN-RE/1 PLAC+ ! GUN UPON IT1 & HOLD+ IT NOISELESSLY 9 POSITION4 ,COCK+ ! TRIGG]1 ) BAT$ BREA? HE TOOK AIM1 /ILL PE]+ \T 9T5TLY4 ',I WON'T WAKE !M1' HE ?\<T4 ,BUT HIS HE>T BEGAN BEAT+ SO FA/ ?AT HE REMA9$ MOTIONLESS1 LI/5+4 ,SUDD5LY ! TRUNK GAVE A PLUNGE & AGA9 BEGAN TO FLOAT ACROSS ! /REAM T[>DS \R BANK4 ',ONLY NOT TO MISS 444' ?\<T HE1 & N[ BY ! FA9T LI<T ( ! MOON HE CAU<T A GLIMPSE ( A ,T>T>'S HEAD 9 FRONT ( ! FLOAT+ WOOD4 ,HE AIM$ /RAI<T AT ! HEAD :I* APPE>$ TO BE QUITE NE>--JU/ AT ! 5D ( HIS RIFLE'S B>REL4 ,HE GLANC$ CROSS4 ',RI<T 5\< IT IS AN ABREK6 HE ?\<T JOYFULLY1 & SUDD5LY RIS+ TO HIS KNEES HE AGA9 TOOK AIM4 ,HAV+ F\ND ! SI<T1 B>ELY VISIBLE AT ! 5D ( ! LONG GUN1 HE SAID3 ',9 ! NAME ( ! ,FA!R & ( ! ,SON1' 9 ! ,COSSACK WAY LE>N$ 9 HIS *ILDHOOD1 & PULL$ ! TRIGG]4 ,A FLA% ( LI<TN+ LIT UP = AN 9/ANT ! RE$S & ! WAT]1 & ! %>P1 ABRUPT REPORT ( ! %OT WAS C>RI$ ACROSS ! RIV]1 *ANG+ 9TO A PROLONG$ ROLL SOME:]E 9 ! F> DI/ANCE4 ,! PIECE ( DRIFTWOOD N[ FLOAT$ NOT ACROSS1 BUT ) ! CURR5T1 ROCK+ & :IRL+4 

',/OP1 ,I SAY6' EXCLAIM$ ,]GU%OV1 SEIZ+ HIS MUSKET & RAIS+ HIMSELF BEH9D ! LOG NE> :I* HE WAS LY+4 

',%UT UP1 Y\ DEVIL6' :ISP]$ ,LUKA%KA1 GR9D+ HIS TEE?4 'ABREKS6' 

',:OM HAVE Y\ %OT8' ASK$ ,NAZ>KA4 ',:O WAS IT1 ,LUKA%KA8' 

,LUKA%KA DID NOT ANSW]4 ,HE WAS RELOAD+ HIS GUN & WAT*+ ! FLOAT+ WOOD4 ,A LITTLE WAY (F IT /OPP$ ON A S&-BANK1 & FROM BEH9D IT SOME?+ L>GE ?AT ROCK$ 9 ! WAT] CAME 9TO VIEW4 

',:AT DID Y\ %OOT8 ,:Y DON'T Y\ SPEAK8' 9SI/$ ! ,COSSACKS4 

',ABREKS1 ,I TELL Y\6' SAID ,LUKA%KA4 

',DON'T HUMBUG6 ,DID ! GUN GO (F8 444' 

',I'VE KILL$ AN ABREK1 ?AT'S :AT ,I FIR$ AT1' MUTT]$ ,LUKA%KA 9 A VOICE *OK$ BY EMOTION1 AS HE JUMP$ TO HIS FEET4 ',A MAN WAS SWIMM+444' HE SAID1 PO9T+ TO ! S&BANK4 ',I KILL$ HIM4 ,JU/ LOOK !RE4' 

',HAVE DONE ) Y\R HUMBUGG+6' SAID ,]GU%OV AGA91 RUBB+ HIS EYES4 

',HAVE DONE ) :AT8 ,LOOK !RE1' SAID ,LUKA%KA1 SEIZ+ HIM BY ! %\LD]S & PULL+ HIM ) SU* =CE ?AT ,]GU%OV GROAN$4 

,HE LOOK$ 9 ! DIRECTION 9 :I* ,LUKA%KA PO9T$1 & DISC]N+ A BODY IMM$IATELY *ANG$ HIS TONE4 

',O ,LORD6 ,BUT ,I SAY1 MORE WILL COME6 ,I TELL Y\ ! TRU?1' SAID HE S(TLY1 & BEGAN EXAM9+ HIS MUSKET4 ',?AT WAS A SC\T SWIMM+ ACROSS3 EI!R ! O!RS >E H]E ALREADY OR >E NOT F> (F ON ! O!R SIDE--,I TELL Y\ = SURE6' ,LUKA%KA WAS UNFA/5+ HIS BELT & TAK+ (F HIS ,CIRCASSIAN COAT4 

',:AT >E Y\ UP TO1 Y\ IDIOT8' EXCLAIM$ ,]GU%OV4 ',ONLY %[ Y\RSELF & Y\'VE LO/ ALL = NO?+1 ,I TELL Y\ TRUE6 ,IF Y\'VE KILL$ HIM HE WON'T ESCAPE4 ,LET ME HAVE A LITTLE P[D] = MY MUSKET-PAN--Y\ HAVE SOME8 ,NAZ>KA1 Y\ GO BACK TO ! CORDON & LOOK ALIVE2 BUT DON'T GO ALONG ! BANK OR Y\'LL BE KILL$--,I TELL Y\ TRUE4' 

',CAT* ME GO+ ALONE6 ,GO Y\RSELF6' SAID ,NAZ>KA ANGRILY4 

,HAV+ TAK5 (F HIS COAT1 ,LUKA%KA W5T D[N TO ! BANK4 

',DON'T GO 91 ,I TELL Y\6' SAID ,]GU%OV1 PUTT+ SOME P[D] ON ! PAN4 ',LOOK1 HE'S NOT MOV+4 ,I CAN SEE4 ,IT'S NE>LY MORN+2 WAIT TILL !Y COME FROM ! CORDON4 ,Y\ GO1 ,NAZ>KA4 ,Y\'RE AFRAID6 ,DON'T BE AFRAID1 ,I TELL Y\4' 

',LUKE1 ,I SAY1 ,LUKA%KA6 ,TELL US H[ Y\ DID IT6' SAID ,NAZ>KA4 

,LUKA%KA *ANG$ HIS M9D AB\T GO+ 9TO ! WAT] JU/ !N4 ',GO QUICK TO ! CORDON & ,I WILL WAT*4 ,TELL ! ,COSSACKS TO S5D \T ! PATROL4 ,IF ! ,A,B,R,E,K,S >E ON ?IS SIDE !Y MU/ BE CAU<T1' SAID HE4 

',?AT'S :AT ,I SAY4 ,!Y'LL GET (F1' SAID ,]GU%OV1 RIS+4 ',TRUE1 !Y MU/ BE CAU<T6' 

,]GU%OV & ,NAZ>KA ROSE &1 CROSS+ !MSELVES1 />T$ (F = ! CORDON--NOT ALONG ! RIV]BANK BUT BREAK+ !IR WAY ?R\< ! BRAMBLES TO REA* A PA? 9 ! WOOD4 

',N[ M9D1 ,LUKA%KA--!Y MAY CUT Y\ D[N H]E1 SO Y\'D BE/ KEEP A %>P LOOK-\T1 ,I TELL Y\6' 

',GO ALONG2 ,I KN[1' MUTT]$ ,LUKA%KA2 & HAV+ EXAM9$ HIS GUN AGA9 HE SAT D[N BEH9D ! LOG4 

,HE REMA9$ ALONE & SAT GAZ+ AT ! %ALL[S & LI/5+ = ! ,COSSACKS2 BUT IT WAS SOME DI/ANCE TO ! CORDON & HE WAS TORM5T$ BY IMPATI5CE4 ,HE KEPT ?9K+ ?AT ! O!R ,A,B,R,E,K,S :O W]E ) ! ONE HE HAD KILL$ W\LD ESCAPE4 ,HE WAS VEX$ ) ! ,A,B,R,E,K,S :O W]E GO+ TO ESCAPE JU/ AS HE HAD BE5 ) ! BO> ?AT HAD ESCAP$ ! EV5+ BE=E4 ,HE GLANC$ R\ND & AT ! OPPOSITE BANK1 EXPECT+ EV]Y MOM5T TO SEE A MAN1 & HAV+ >RANG$ HIS GUN-RE/ HE WAS READY TO FIRE4 ,! IDEA ?AT HE MI<T HIMSELF BE KILL$ NEV] 5T]$ HIS HEAD4 

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 
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,MAY #a#c1 #bba 3 ,*APT] #h -- ,ADD$4 

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