,*APT] #ac #ahfcahfc ,PEOPLE 3 ,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY ,TEXT 3 ,MEAN:ILE ! TATTOO HAD S\ND$ 9 ! VILLAGE SQU>E4 ,! PEOPLE HAD RETURN$ FROM !IR WORK4 ,! H]D L[$ AS 9 CL\DS ( GOLD5 DU/ IT CR[D$ AT ! VILLAGE GATE4 ,! GIRLS & ! WOM5 HURRI$ ?R\< ! /REETS & Y>DS1 TURN+ 9 !IR CATTLE4 ,! SUN HAD QUITE HIDD5 ITSELF BEH9D ! DI/ANT SN[Y PEAKS4 ,ONE PALE BLUI% %AD[ SPREAD OV] L& & SKY4 ,ABOVE ! D>K5$ G>D5S />S JU/ DISC]NIBLE W]E K9DL+1 & ! S\NDS W]E GRADUALLY HU%$ 9 ! VILLAGE4 ,! CATTLE HAV+ BE5 ATT5D$ TO & LEFT = ! NI!N EMBANKM5TS ( ! H\SES4 ,LAT] ON ,M>YANKA1 HAV+ F9I%$ MILK+ ! BUFFALO & ! O!R TWO C[S1 ALSO JO9$ ONE ( !SE GR\PS4 ,! GR\P CONSI/$ ( SEV]AL WOM5 & GIRLS & ONE OLD ,COSSACK MAN4 ,!Y W]E TALK+ AB\T ! ABREK :O HAD BE5 KILL$4 ,! ,COSSACK WAS N>RAT+ & ! WOM5 QUE/ION+ HIM4 ',I EXPECT HE'LL GET A H&SOME REW>D1' SAID ONE ( ! WOM54 ',( C\RSE4 ,IT'S SAID ?AT !Y'LL S5D HIM A CROSS4' ',MOSEV DID TRY TO WRONG HIM4 ,TOOK ! GUN AWAY FROM HIM1 BUT ! AU?ORITIES AT ,KIZLY> HE>D ( IT4' ',A MEAN CREATURE ?AT ,MOSEV IS6' ',!Y SAY ,LUKA%KA HAS COME HOME1' REM>K$ ONE ( ! GIRLS4 ',HE & ,NAZ>KA >E M]RY-MAK+ AT ,YAMKA'S4' 7,YAMKA WAS AN UNM>RI$1 DISREPUTABLE ,COSSACK WOMAN :O KEPT AN ILLICIT POT-H\SE47 ',I HE>D SAY !Y HAD DRUNK HALF A PAILFUL4' ',:AT LUCK ?AT ,SNAT*] HAS1' SOMEBODY REM>K$4 ',A REAL SNAT*]4 ,BUT !RE'S NO D5Y+ HE'S A F9E LAD1 SM>T 5\< = ANY?+1 A RIE1' ADD$ ! SPEAK]1 PO9T+ TO ! ,COSSACKS :O W]E COM+ D[N ! /REET T[>DS !M4 ',& ,]GU%OV HAS MANAG$ TO COME ALONG ) !M TOO6 ,! DRUNK>D6' ,LUKA%KA1 ,NAZ>KA1 & ,]GU%OV1 HAV+ EMPTI$ HALF A PAIL ( VODKA1 W]E COM+ T[>DS ! GIRLS4 ,! FACES ( ALL ?REE1 BUT ESPECIALLY ?AT ( ! OLD ,COSSACK1 W]E R$D] ?AN USUAL4 ,]GU%OV WAS REEL+ & KEPT LAU<+ & NUDG+ ,NAZ>KA 9 ! RIBS4 ',:Y >E Y\ NOT S++8' HE %\T$ TO ! GIRLS4 ',S+ TO \R M]RY-MAK+1 ,I TELL Y\6' ,!Y W]E WELCOM$ ) ! WORDS1 ',HAD A GOOD DAY8 ,HAD A GOOD DAY8' ',:Y S+8 ,IT'S NOT A HOLIDAY1' SAID ONE ( ! WOM54 ',Y\'RE TI$ ) LAUKA4 ',Y\'D BETT] S+4 ,& ,I'LL BEG9 TOO4 ,I'M CLEV]1 ,I TELL Y\4' ',>E Y\ ASLEEP1 FAIR ONES8' SAID ,NAZ>KA4 ',WE'VE COME FROM ! CORDON TO DR9K Y\R HEAL?4 ,WE'VE ALREADY DRUNK ,LUKA%KA'S HEAL?4' ,LUKA%KA1 :5 HE REA*$ ! GR\P1 SL[LY RAIS$ HIS CAP & /OPP$ 9 FRONT ( ! GIRLS4 ,HIS BROAD *EEKBONES & NECK W]E R$4 ,HE /OOD & SPOKE S(TLY & S$ATELY1 BUT 9 HIS TRANQUILITY & S$AT5ESS !RE WAS MORE ( ANIMATION & /R5G? ?AN 9 ALL ,NAZ>KA'S LOQUACITY & BU/LE4 ,HE REM9D$ ONE ( A PLAYFUL COLT ?AT ) A SNORT & A FL\RI% ( ITS TAIL SUDD5LY /OPS %ORT & /&S AS ?\< NAIL$ TO ! GR\ND ) ALL F\R FEET4 ,LUKA%KA /OOD QUIETLY 9 FRONT ( ! GIRLS1 HIS EYES LAU<$1 & HE SPOKE BUT LITTLE AS HE GLANC$ N[ AT HIS DRUNK5 COMPANIONS & N[ AT ! GIRLS4 ,:5 ,M>YANKA JO9$ ! GR\P HE RAIS$ HIS CAP ) A FIRM DELIB]ATE MOVEM5T1 MOV$ \T ( H] WAY & !N /EPP$ 9 FRONT ( H] ) ONE FOOT A LITTLE =W>D & ) HIS ?UMBS 9 HIS BELT1 F+]+ HIS DAGG]4 ,M>YANKA ANSW]$ HIS GREET+ ) A LEISURELY B[ ( H] HEAD1 SETTL$ D[N ON ! E>?-BANK1 & TOOK SOME SE$S \T ( ! BOSOM ( H] SMOCK4 ,LUKA%KA1 KEEP+ HIS EYES FIX$ ON ,M>YANKA1 SL[LY CRACK$ SE$S & SPAT \T ! %ELLS4 ,ALL W]E QUIET :5 ,M>YANKA JO9$ ! GR\P4 ',HAVE Y\ COME = LONG8' ASK$ A WOMAN1 BREAK+ ! SIL5CE4 ',TILL TO-MORR[ MORN+1' QUIETLY REPLI$ ,LUKA%KA4 ',WELL1 ,GOD GRANT Y\ GET SOME?+ GOOD1' SAID ! ,COSSACK2 ',I'M GLAD ( IT1 AS ,I'VE JU/ BE5 SAY+4' ',& ,I SAY SO TOO1' PUT 9 ! TIPSY ,]GU%OV1 LAU<+4 ',:AT A LOT ( VISITORS HAVE COME1' HE ADD$1 PO9T+ TO A SOLDI] :O WAS PASS+ BY4 ',! SOLDI]S' VODKA IS GOOD--,I LIKE IT4' ',!Y'VE S5T ?REE ( ! DEVILS TO US1' SAID ONE ( ! WOM54 ',GR&DAD W5T TO ! VILLAGE ,ELD]S1 BUT !Y SAY NO?+ CAN BE DONE4' ',AH1 HA6 ,HAVE Y\ MET ) TR\BLE8' SAID ,]GU%OV4 ',I EXPECT !Y HAVE SMOK$ Y\ \T ) !IR TOBACCO8' ASK$ ANO!R WOMAN4 ',SMOKE AS MU* AS Y\ LIKE 9 ! Y>D1 ,I SAY1 BUT WE WON'T ALL[ IT 9SIDE ! HUT4 ,NOT IF ! ,ELD] HIMSELF COMES1 ,I WON'T ALL[ IT4 ,BESIDES1 !Y MAY ROB Y\4 ,HE'S NOT QU>T]$ ANY ( !M ON HIMSELF1 NO FE>1 ?AT DEVIL'S SON ( AN ,ELD]4' ',Y\ DON'T LIKE IT8' ,]GU%OV BEGAN AGA94 ',& ,I'VE ALSO HE>D SAY ?AT ! GIRLS WILL HAVE TO MAKE ! SOLDI]S' B$S & (F] !M *IKHIR & HONEY1' SAID ,NAZ>KA1 PUTT+ ONE FOOT =W>D & TILT+ HIS CAP LIKE ,LUKA%KA4 ,]GU%OV BUR/ 9TO A RO> ( LAUE/ TO HIM1 HE EMBRAC$ H]4 ',I TELL Y\ TRUE4' ',N[ !N1 Y\ BLACK PIT*6' SQUEAL$ ! GIRL1 ',I'LL TELL Y\R OLD WOMAN4' ',TELL H]1' %\T$ HE4 ',?AT'S QUITE RIKA SAYS2 A CIRCUL> HAS BE5 S5T R\ND4 ,HE CAN READ1 Y\ KN[4 ,QUITE TRUE6' ,& HE BEGAN EMBRAC+ ! NEXT GIRL4 ',:AT >E Y\ UP TO1 Y\ BEA/8' SQUEAL$ ! ROSY1 R\ND-FAC$ ,U/5KA1 LAU<+ & LIFT+ H] >M TO HIT HIM4 ,! ,COSSACK /EPP$ ASIDE & NE>LY FELL4 ',!RE1 !Y SAY GIRLS HAVE NO /R5G?1 & Y\ NE>LY KILL$ ME4' ',GET AWAY1 Y\ BLACK PIT*1 :AT DEVIL HAS BR\KA1 LAU<+4 ',H[L$6 ,A LIKELY ?+4' ',JU/ LOOK1 %E DOESN'T C>E4 ,%E'D H[L1 ,NAZ>KA1 EH8 ,W\LD %E8' SAID ,]GU%OV4 ,LUKI%KA ALL ?IS TIME HAD /OOD SIL5TLY LOOK+ AT ,M>YANKA4 ,HIS GAZE EVID5TLY CONFUS$ ! GIRL4 ',WELL1 ,M>YANKA6 ,I HE> !Y'VE QU>T]$ ONE ( ! *IEFS ON Y\8' HE SAID1 DRAW+ NE>]4 ,M>YANKA1 AS WAS H] WONT1 WAIT$ BE=E %E REPLI$1 & SL[LY RAIS+ H] EYES LOOK$ AT ! ,COSSACK4 ,LUKA%KA'S EYES W]E LAU<+ AS IF SOME?+ SPECIAL1 AP>T FROM :AT WAS SAID1 WAS TAK+ PLACE BETWE5 HIMSELF & ! GIRL4 ',YES1 IT'S ALL RIYANKA'S BEHALF1 'BUT AT ,FOMU%K9'S N[ !Y ALSO HAVE ONE ( ! *IEFS QU>T]$ ON !M & !Y SAY ONE :OLE CORN] IS PACK$ FULL ) HIS ?+S1 & ! FAMILY HAVE NO ROOM LEFT4 ,WAS SU* A ?+ EV] HE>D ( AS ?AT !Y %\LD TURN A :OLE HORDE LOOSE 9 ! VILLAGE8' %E SAID4 ',& :AT ! PLAGUE >E !Y GO+ TO DO H]E8' ',I'VE HE>D SAY !Y'LL BUILD A BRIDGE ACROSS ! ,T]EK1' SAID ONE ( ! GIRLS4 ',& ,I'VE BE5 TOLD ?AT !Y WILL DIG A PIT TO PUT ! GIRLS 9 BECAUSE !Y DON'T LOVE ! LADS1' SAID ,NAZ>KA1 APPROA*+ ,U/5KA2 & HE AGA9 MADE A :IMSICAL GE/URE :I* SET EV]YBODY LAU<+1 & ,]GU%OV1 PASS+ BY ,M>YANKA1 :O WAS NEXT 9 TURN1 BEGAN TO EMBRACE AN OLD WOMAN4 ',:Y DON'T Y\ HUG ,M>YANKA8 ,Y\ %\LD DO IT TO EA* 9 TURN1' SAID ,NAZ>KA4 ',NO1 MY OLD ONE IS SWEET]1' %\T$ ! ,COSSACK1 KISS+ ! /RUGGL+ OLD WOMAN4 ',Y\'LL ?ROTTLE ME1' %E SCREAM$1 LAU<+4 ,! TRAMP ( REGUL> FOOT/EPS AT ! O!R 5D ( ! /REET 9T]RUPT$ !IR LAU*+ 9 /EP TO RELIEVE GU>D BY ! AMMUNITION WAGON4 ,! CORPORAL1 AN OLD CAVALRY MAN1 LOOK$ ANGRILY AT ! ,COSSACKS & L$ HIS M5 /RAIKA W]E /&+1 SO ?AT !Y %\LD HAVE TO GET \T ( ! WAY4 ,NAZ>KA MOV$1 BUT ,LUKA%KA ONLY SCREW$ UP HIS EYES & TURN$ HIS BROAD BACK )\T MOV+ FROM HIS PLACE4 ',PEOPLE >E /&+ H]E1 SO Y\ GO R\ND1' HE MUTT]$1 HALF TURN+ HIS HEAD & TOSS+ IT CONTEMPTU\SLY 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! SOLDI]S4 ,! SOLDI]S PASS$ BY 9 SIL5CE1 KEEP+ /EP REGUL>LY ALONG ! DU/Y ROAD4 ,M>YANKA BEGAN LAU<+ & ALL ! O!R GIRLS *IM$ 94 ',:AT SWELLS6' SAID ,NAZ>KA1 ',JU/ LIKE LONG-SKIRT$ *ORI/]S1' & HE WALK$ A FEW /EPS D[N ! ROAD IMITAT+ ! SOLDI]S4 ,AGA9 EV]YONE BROKE 9TO PEALS ( LAUYANKA4 ',& :]E HAVE Y\ PUT UP ! *IEF8' HE ASK$4 ,M>YANKA ?\TLOAD ( ?+S4' ,& %E DROPP$ H] EYES4 ',OH1 H[ GLAD ,I AM ?AT ,I GOT LEAVE FROM ! CORDON6' SAID ,LUKA%KA1 MOV+ CLOS] TO ! GIRL & LOOK+ /RAIYANKA1 SMIL+ SLIYANKA N[ SMIL$ \TRI ,I DID1' HE SAID 9 A CALM1 RE/RA9$ :ISP]1 HELP+ HIMSELF TO SOME SE$S \T ( ! BOSOM ( ! GIRL'S SMOCK1 & /OOP+ /ILL CLOS] OV] H] HE CONT9U$ ) LAU<+ EYES TO TALK TO H] 9 L[ TONES4 ',I WON'T COME1 ,I TELL Y\1' ,M>YANKA SUDD5LY SAID AL\D1 LEAN+ AWAY FROM HIM4 ',NO REALLY 444 :AT ,I WANT$ TO SAY TO Y\1 444' :ISP]$ ,LUKA%KA4 ',BY ! ,HEAV5S6 ,DO COME6' ,M>YANKA %OOK H] HEAD1 BUT DID SO ) A SMILE4 ',NURSEY ,M>YANKA6 ,HALLOO ,NURSEY6 ,MAMMY IS CALL+6 ,SUPP] TIME6' %\T$ ,M>YANKA'S LITTLE BRO!R1 RUNN+ T[>DS ! GR\P4 ',I'M COM+1' REPLI$ ! GIRL4 ',GO1 MY DE>1 GO ALONE--,I'LL COME 9 A M9UTE4' ,LUKA%KA ROSE & RAIS$ HIS CAP4 ',I EXPECT ,I HAD BETT] GO HOME TOO1 ?AT WILL BE BE/1' HE SAID1 TRY+ TO APPE> UNCONC]N$ BUT H>DLY ABLE TO REPRESS A SMILE1 & HE DISAPPE>$ BEH9D ! CORN] ( ! H\SE4 ,MEAN:ILE NIS W]E SCATT]$ OV] ! D>K SKY4 ,! /REETS BECAME D>K & EMPTY4 ,NAZ>KA REMA9$ ) ! WOM5 ON ! E>?-BANK & !IR LAUD1 BUT ,LUKA%KA1 HAV+ SL[LY MOV$ AWAY FROM ! GIRLS1 CR\*$ D[N LIKE A CAT & !N SUDD5LY />T$ RUNN+ LID1 H[EV]1 BUT T[>DS ! CORNET'S H\SE4 ,HAV+ PASS$ TWO /REETS HE TURN$ 9TO A LANE & LIFT+ ! SKIRT ( HIS COAT SAT D[N ON ! GR\ND 9 ! %AD[ ( A F5CE4 ',A REGUL> CORNET'S DAUYANKA4 ',WON'T EV5 HAVE A L>K--! DEVIL6 ,BUT JU/ WAIT A BIT4' ,! APPROA*+ FOOT/EPS ( A WOMAN ATTRACT$ HIS ATT5TION4 ,HE BEGAN LI/5+1 & LAU<$ ALL BY HIMSELF4 ,M>YANKA ) B[$ HEAD1 /RIK+ ! PALES ( ! F5CES ) A SWIT*1 WAS WALK+ ) RAPID REGUL> /RIDES /RAIDS HIM4 ,LUKA%KA ROSE4 ,M>YANKA />T$ & /OPP$4 ',:AT AN ACCURS$ DEVIL6 ,Y\ FRIM R\ND H] & ) ! O!R H& RAIS$ H] FACE4 ',:AT ,I WANT$ TO TELL Y\1 BY ,HEAV56' HIS VOICE TREMBL$ & BROKE4 ',:AT >E Y\ TALK+ (1 AT NIYANKA4 ',MO!R IS WAIT+ = ME1 & Y\'D BETT] GO TO Y\R SWEE!>T4' ,& FREE+ H]SELF FROM HIS >MS %E RAN AWAY A FEW /EPS4 ,:5 %E HAD REA*$ ! WATTLE F5CE ( H] HOME %E /OPP$ & TURN$ TO ! ,COSSACK :O WAS RUNN+ BESIDE H] & /ILL TRY+ TO P]SUADE H] TO /AY A :ILE ) HIM4 ',WELL1 :AT DO Y\ WANT TO SAY1 MIDNIYANKA6 ,BY ! ,HEAV56 ,WELL1 :AT IF ,I HAVE A SWEE!>T8 ,MAY ! DEVIL TAKE H]6 ,ONLY SAY ! WORD & N[ ,I'LL LOVE Y\--,I'LL DO ANY?+ Y\ WI%4 ,H]E !Y >E6' & HE J+L$ ! MONEY 9 HIS POCKET4 ',N[ WE CAN LIVE SPL5DIDLY4 ,O!RS HAVE PLEASURES1 & ,I8 ,I GET NO PLEASURE FROM Y\1 ,M>YANKA DE>6' ,! GIRL DID NOT ANSW]4 ,%E /OOD BE=E HIM BREAK+ H] SWIT* 9TO LITTLE BITS ) A RAPID MOVEM5T ( H] F+]S4 ,LUKA%KA SUDD5LY CL5*$ HIS TEE? & FI/S4 ',& :Y KEEP WAIT+ & WAIT+8 ,DON'T ,I LOVE Y\1 D>L+8 ,Y\ CAN DO :AT Y\ LIKE ) ME1' SAID HE SUDD5LY1 FR[N+ ANGRILY & SEIZ+ BO? H] H&S4 ,! CALM EXPRESSION ( ,M>YANKA'S FACE & VOICE DID NOT *ANGE4 ',DON'T BLU/]1 ,LUKA%KA1 BUT LI/5 TO ME1' %E ANSW]$1 NOT PULL+ AWAY H] H&S BUT HOLD+ ! ,COSSACK AT >M'S L5G?4 ',IT'S TRUE ,I AM A GIRL1 BUT Y\ LI/5 TO ME6 ,IT DOES NOT DEP5D ON ME1 BUT IF Y\ LOVE ME ,I'LL TELL Y\ ?IS4 ,LET GO MY H&S1 ,I'LL TELL Y\ )\T4--,I'LL M>RY Y\1 BUT Y\'LL NEV] GET ANY NONS5SE FROM ME1' SAID ,M>YANKA )\T TURN+ H] FACE4 ',:AT1 Y\'LL M>RY ME8 ,M>RIAGE DOES NOT DEP5D ON US4 ,LOVE ME Y\RSELF1 ,M>YANKA DE>1' SAID ,LUKA%KA1 FROM SULL5 & FURI\S BECOM+ AGA9 G5TLE1 SUBMISSIVE1 & T5D]1 & SMIL+ AS HE LOOK$ CLOSELY 9TO H] EYES4 ,M>YANKA CLUNG TO HIM & KISS$ HIM FIRMLY ON ! LIPS4 ',BRO!R DE>6' %E :ISP]$1 PRESS+ HIM CONVULSIVELY TO H]4 ,!N1 SUDD5LY TE>+ H]SELF AWAY1 %E RAN 9TO ! GATE ( H] H\SE )\T LOOK+ R\ND4 ,9 SPITE ( ! ,COSSACK'S 5TREATIES TO WAIT ANO!R M9UTE TO HE> :AT HE HAD TO SAY1 ,M>YANKA DID NOT /OP4 ',GO1' %E CRI$1 'Y\'LL BE SE56 ,I DO BELIEVE ?AT DEVIL1 \R LODG]1 IS WALK+ AB\T ! Y>D4' ',CORNET'S DAURY ME4 ,M>RIAGE IS ALL V]Y WELL1 BUT Y\ JU/ LOVE ME6' ,HE F\ND ,NAZ>KA AT ,YAMKA'S H\SE1 & AFT] HAV+ A SPREE ) HIM W5T TO ,DUNAYKA'S H\SE1 :]E1 9 SPITE ( H] NOT BE+ FAI?FUL TO HIM1 HE SP5T ! NI