,*APT] #e 

#aidaid 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,L\ISE ,MAUDE 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,AYLM] ,MAUDE 

,TEXT 3 

,E>LY 9 ! MORN+1 :ILE IT WAS /ILL D>K1 TWO COMPANIES C>RY+ AXES & COMM&$ BY ,POLTORATSKY M>*$ SIX MILES BEYOND ! ,%AGIR9SK ,GATE1 & HAV+ ?R[N \T A L9E ( %>P%OOT]S SET TO WORK TO FELL TREES AS SOON AS ! DAY BROKE4  ,T[>DS EI<T O'CLOCK ! MI/ :I* HAD M+L$ ) ! P]FUM$ SMOKE ( ! HISS+ & CRACKL+ DAMP GRE5 BRAN*ES ON ! BONFIRES BEGAN TO RISE & ! WOOD-FELL]S -- :O TILL !N HAD NOT SE5 FIVE PACES (F BUT HAD ONLY HE>D ONE ANO!R -- BEGAN TO SEE BO? ! BONFIRES & ! ROAD ?R\< ! =E/1 BLOCK$ ) FALL$ TREES4  ,! SUN N[ APPE>$ LIKE A BRI<T SPOT 9 ! FOG & N[ AGA9 WAS HIDD54 

,9 ! GLADE1 SOME WAY FROM ! ROAD1 ,POLTORATSKY1 HIS SUBALT]N ,TIKHONOV1 TWO (FIC]S ( ! ,?IRD ,COMPANY1 & ,B>ON ,FREZE1 AN EX-(FIC] ( ! ,GU>DS & A FELL[ /UD5T ( ,POLTORATSKY AT ! ,CADET ,COLLEGE1 :O HAD BE5 R$UC$ TO ! RANKS = FI<T+ A DUEL1 W]E SITT+ ON DRUMS4  ,BITS ( PAP] ?AT HAD CONTA9$ FOOD1 CIG>ETTE /UMPS1 & EMPTY BOTTLES1 LAT SCATT]$ >\ND !M4  ,! (FIC]S HAD HAD SOME VODKA & W]E N[ EAT+1 & DR9K+ PORT]4  ,A DRUMM] WAS UNCORK+ !IR ?IRD BOTTLE4 

,POLTORATSKY1 AL?\< HE HAD NOT HAD 5\< SLEEP1 WAS 9 ?AT PECULI> /ATE ( ELATION & K9DLY C>ELESS GAIETY :I* HE ALWAYS FELT :5 HE F\ND HIMSELF AMONG HIS SOLDI]S & ) HIS COMRADES :]E !RE WAS A POSSIBILITY ( DANG]4 

,! (FIC]S W]E C>RY+ ON AN ANIMAT$ CONV]SATION1 ! SUBJECT ( :I* WAS ! LATE/ NEWS3  ! DEA? ( ,G5]AL ,SLETPSOV4  ,NONE ( !M SAW 9 ?IS DEA? ?AT MO/ IMPORTANT MOM5T ( A LIFE1 ITS T]M9ATION & RETURN TO ! S\RCE :5 IT SPRANG -- !Y SAW 9 IT ONLY ! VALOR ( A GALLANT (FIC] :O RU%$ AT ! M\NTA9E]S SWORD 9 H& & HACK$ !M DESP]ATELY4 

,?\< ALL ( !M -- & ESPECIALLY ?OSE :O HAD BE5 9 ACTION -- KNEW & C\LD NOT HELP  KN[+ ?AT 9 ?OSE DAYS 9 ! ,CAUCASUS1 & 9 FACT ANY:]E & AT ANY TIME1 SU* H&-TO- H& HACK+ AS IS ALWAYS IMAG9$ & DESCRIB$ NEV] OCCURS 7OR IF HACK+ ) SWORDS & BAYONETS EV] DOES OCCUR1 IT IS ONLY ?OSE :O >E RUNN+ AWAY ?AT GET HACK$71 ?AT FICTION ( H&- TO-H& FI<T+ 5D[$ !M ) ! CALM PRIDE & *E]FULNESS ) :I* !Y SAY ON ! DRUMS -- SOME ) A JAUNTY AIR1 O!RS ON ! CONTR>Y 9 A V]Y MODE/ POSE1 & DRANK & JOK$ )\T TR\BL+ AB\T DEA?1 :I* MI<T OV]TAKE !M AT ANY MOM5T AS IT HAD OV]TAK5 ,SLEPTSOV4  ,& 9 ! MID/ ( !IR TALK1 AS IF TO CONFIRM !IR EXPECTATIONS1 !Y HE>D TO ! LEFT ( ! ROAD ! PLEASANT /IRR+ S\ND ( A RIFLE %OT2 & A BULLET1 M]RILY :I/L+ SOME:]E 9 ! MI/Y AIR1 FLEW PA/ & CRA%$ 9TO A TREE4 

0,HULLO60 EXCLAIM$ ,POLTORATSKY 9 A M]RY VOICE2 0,:Y ?AT'S AT \R L9E4 444 ,!RE N[1 ,KO/YA10 & HE TURN$ TO ,FREZE1 0N['S Y\R *ANCE4  ,GO BACK TO ! COMPANY4  ,I WILL LEAD ! :OLE COMPANY TO SUPPORT ! CORDON & WE'LL >RANGE A BATTLE ?AT WILL BE SIMPLY DELI<TFUL 444 & !N WE'LL MAKE A REPORT40 

,FREZE JUMP$ TO HIS FEET & W5T AT A QUICK PACE T[>DS ! SMOKE-5VELOP$ SPOT :]E HE HAD LEFT HIS COMPANY4 

,POLTORATSKY'S LITTLE ,KAB>DA DAPPLE-BAY WAS BR\<T TO HIM1 & HE M\NT$ & DREW UP HIS COMPANY & L$ IT 9 ! DIRECTION :5CE ! %OTS W]E FIR$4  ,! \TPO/S /OOD ON ! SKIRTS ( ! =E/ 9 FRONT ( ! B>E DESC5D+ SLOPE ( A RAV9E4  ,! W9D WAS BL[+ 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! =E/1 & NOT ONLY WAS IT POSSIBLE TO SEE ! SLOPE ( ! RAV9E1 BUT ! OPPOSITE SIDE ( IT WAS ALSO DI/9CTLY VISIBLE4  ,:5 ,POLTORATSKY RODE UP TO ! L9E ! SUN CAME \T FROM BEH9D ! MI/1 & ON ! O!R SIDE ( ! RAV9E1 BY ! \TSKIRTS ( A Y\NG =E/1 A FEW HORSEM5 C\LD BE SE5 AT A DI/ANCE ( A QU>T] ( A MILE4  ,!SE W]E ! ,*E*5S :O HAD PURSU$ ,HAJJI ,MURAD & WANT$ TO SEE HIM MEET ! ,RUSSIANS4  ,ONE ( !M FIR$ AT ! L9E4  ,SEV]AL SOLDI]S FIR$ BACK4  ,! ,*E*5S RETREAT$ & ! FIR+ CEAS$4 

,BUT :5 ,POLTORATSKY & HIS COMPANY CAME UP HE NEV]!LES GAVE ORD]S TO FIRE1 & SC>CELY HAD ! WORD BE5 PASS$ ?AN ALONG ! :OLE L9E ( %>P%OOT]S ! 9CESSANT1 M]RY1 /IRR+ RATTLE ( \R RIFLES BEGAN1 ACOMPANI$ BY PRETTY DISSOLV+ CL\DLETS ( SMOKE4  ,! SOLDI]S1 PLEAS$ TO HAVE SOME DI/RACTION1 HA/5$ TO LOAD & FIR$ %OT AFT] %OT4 ,! ,*E*5S EVID5TLY CAU<T ! FEEL+ ( EXCITEM5T1 & LEAP+ =W>D ONE AFT] ANO!R FIR$ A FEW %OTS AT \R M54  ,ONE ( !SE %OTS W\ND$ A SOLDI]4  ,IT WAS ! SAME ,AVDEEV :O HAD LA9 9 AMBU% ! NI<T BE=E4 

,:5 HIS COMRADES APPROA*$ HIM HE WAS LY+ PRONE1 HOLD+ HIS W\ND$ /OMA* ) BO? H&S1 & ROCK+ HIMSELF ) A RHY?MIC MOTION MOAN$ S(TLY4  ,HE BELONG$ TO ,POLTORATSKY'S COMPANY1 & ,POLTORATSKY1 SEE+ A GR\P ( SOLDI]S COLLECT$1 RODE UP TO !M4 

0,:AT IS IT1 LAD8  ,BE5 HIT80 SAID ,POLTORATSKY4  0,:]E80 

,AVDEEV DID NOT ANSW]4 

0,I WAS JU/ GO+ TO LOAD1 Y\R HONOR1 :5 ,I HE>D A CLICK10 SAID A SOLDI] :O HAD BE5 ) ,AVDEEF2 0& ,I LOOK & SEE HE'S DROPP$ HIS GUN40 

0,TUT1 TUT1 TUT60 ,POLTORATSKY CLICK$ HIS TONGUE4  0,DOES IT HURT MU*1 ,AVDEEV80 

0,IT DOESN'T HURT BUT IT /OPS ME WALK+4  ,A DROPU ( VODKA N[1 Y\R HONOR60 

,SOME VODKA 7OR RA!R ! SPIRIT DRUNK BY ! SOLDI]S 9 ! ,CAUCASUS7 WAS F\ND1 & ,PANOV1 SEV]ELY FR[N+1 BR\<T ,AVDEEV A CAN-LID FULL4  ,AVDEEV TRI$ TO DR9K IT BUT IMM$IATELY H&$ BACK ! LID4 

0,MY S\L TRUNS AGA9/ IT10 HE SAID4  0,DR9K IT Y\RSELF40 

,PANOV DRANK UP ! SPIRIT4 

,AVDEEV RAIS$ HIMSELF BUT SANK BACK AT ONCE4  ,!Y SPREAD \T A CLOAK & LAID HIM ON IT4 

0,Y\R HONOR1 ! COLONEL IS COM+10 SAID ! S]GEANT-MAJOR TO ,POLTORATSKY4 

0,ALL RI<T4  !N WILL Y\ SEE TO HIM80 SAID ,POLTORATSKY1 & FL\RI%+ HIS :IP HE RODE AT A FA/ TROT TO MEET ,VORONTSOV4 

,VORONTSOV WAS RID+ HIS ?OR\<BR$ ,5GLI% *E/NUT GELD+1 & WAS ACCOMPANI$ BY ! ADJUTANT1 A ,COSSACK1 & A ,*E*5 9T]PRET]4 

0,:AT'S HAPP5+ H]E80 ASK$ ,VORONTSOV4 

0,:Y1 A SKIRMI%+ P>TY ATTACK$ \R ADVANC$ L9E10 ,POLTORATSKY ANSW]$4 

0,COME1 COME -- Y\ >RANG$ ! :OLE ?+ Y\RSELF60 

0,OH NO1 ,PR9CE1 NOT ,I10 SAID ,POLTORATSKY ) A SMILE2 0!Y PU%$ =W>D ( !IR [N ACCORD40 

0,I HE> A SOLDI] HAS BE5 W\ND$80 

0,YES1 IT'S A GREAT PITY4  ,HE'S A GOOD SOLDI]40 

0,S]I\SLY80 

0,S]I\SLY1 ,I BELIEVE 444 9 ! /OMA*40 

0,& DO Y\ KN[ :]E ,I AM GO+80 VORONTSOV ASK$4 

0,I DON'T40 

0,CAN'T Y\ GUESS80 

0,NO40 

0,HAJJI ,MURAD HAS SURR5D]$ & WE >E N[ GO+ TO MEET HIM40 

0,Y\ DON'T MEAN TO SAY SO80 

0,HIS 5VOY CAME TO ME YE/]DAY10 SAID ,VORONTSOV1 ) DIFFICULTY REPRESS+ A SMILE ( PLEASURE4  0,HE WILL BE WAIT+ = ME AT ! ,%AL9 GLADE 9 A FEW M9UTES4  ,PLACE %>P%OOT]S AS F> AS ! GLADE1 & !N COME & JO9 ME40 

0,I UND]/&10 SAID ,POLTORATSKY1 LIFT+ HIS H& TO HIS CAP1 & RODE BACK TO HIS COMPANY4  ,HE L$ ! %>P %OOT]S TO ! RI<T HIMSELF1 & ORD]$ ! SE>GEANT-MAJOR TO DO ! SAME ON ! LEFT SIDE4 

,! W\ND$ ,AVDEEV HAD MEAN:ILE BE5 TAK5 BACK TO ! =T BY SOME ( ! SOLDI]S4 

,ON HIS WAY BACK TO REJO9 VORONTSOV1 ,POLTORATSKY NOTIC$ BEH9D HIM SEV]AL HORSEM5 :O W]E OV]TAK+ HIM4  ,9 FRONT ON A :ITE-MAN$ HORSE RODE A MAN ( IMPOS+ APPE>ANCE4 ,HE WORE A TURBAN & C>RI$ WEAPONS ) GOLD ORNAM5TS4  ,?IS MAN WAS ,HAJJI ,MURAD4  ,HE APPROA*$ ,POLTORATSKY & SAID SOME?+ TO HIM 9 ,T>T>4  ,RAIS+ HIS EYEBR[S1 ,POLTORATSKY MADE A GE/URE ) HIS >MS TO %[ ?AT HE DID NOT UND]/&1 & SMIL$4  ,HAJJI ,MURAD GAVE HIM SMILE = SMILE1 & ?AT SMILE /RUCK ,POLTORATSKY BY ITS *ILDLIKE K9DL9ESS4  ,POLTORATSKY HAD NEV] EXPECT$ TO SEE ! T]RIBLE M\NTA9 *IEF LOOK LIKE ?AT4  ,HE HAD EXPECT$ TO SEE A MOROSE1 H>D-FEATUR$ MAN1 & H]E WAS A VIVACI\S P]SON :OSE SMILE WAS SO K9DLY ?AT ,POLTORATSKY FELT AS IF HE W]E AN OLD ACQUA9TANCE4  ,HE HAD ONLY ONE PECULI>ITY3  HIS EYES1 SET WIDE AP>T1 :I* GAZ$ FROM UND] !IR BLACK BR[S CALMLY1 ATT5TIVELY1 & P5ETRAT+LY 9TO ! EYES ( O!RS4 

,HAJJI ,MURAD'S SUIT CONSI/$ ( FIVE M51 AMONG !M WAS ,KHAN ,MAHOMA1 :O HAD BE5 TO SEE ,PR9CE ,VORONTSOV ?AT NI<T4  ,HE WAS A ROSY1 R\ND-FAC$ FELL[ ) BLACK LA%LESS EYES & A BEAM+ EXPRESSION1 FULL ( ! JOY ( LIFE4  ,!N !RE WAS ! ,AV> ,KHANEFI1 A ?ICK-SET1 HAIRY MAN1 :OSE EYEBR[S MET4  ,HE WAS 9 *>GE ( ALL ,HAJJI ,MURAD'S PROP]TY & L$ A /UD-BR$ HORSE :I* C>RI$ TI<TLY PACK$ SADDLE BAGS4  ,TWO M5 ( ! SUITE W]E P>TICUL>LY /RIK+4  ,! FIR/ WAS A ,LES<IAN3  A Y\?1 BROAD-%\LD]$ BUT ) A WAI/ AS SLIM AS A WOMAN'S1 BEAUTIFUL RAM-LIKE EYES1 & ! BEG9N+S ( A BR[N BE>D4  ,?IS WAS ,ELD>4  ,! O!R1 ,GAMZALO1 WAS A ,*E*5 ) A %ORT R$ BE>D & NO EYEBR[S OR EYELA%ES2 HE WAS BL9D 9 ONE EYE & HAD A SC> ACROSS HIS NOSE & FACE4  ,POLTORATSKY PO9T$ \T ,VORONTSOV1 :O HAD JU/ APPE>$ ON ! ROAD4  ,HAJJI ,MURAD RODE TO MEET HIM1 & PUTT+ HIS RI<T H& ON HIS HE>T SAID SOME?+ 9 ,T>T> & /OPP$4  ,! ,*E*5 9T]PRET] TRANSLAT$4 

0,HE SAYS1 ',I SURR5D] MYSELF TO ! WILL ( ! ,RUSSIAN ,CZ>4 

,I WI% TO S]VE HIM1' HE SAYS4  ',I WI%$ TO SO DO LONG AGO BUT ,%AMIL W\LD NOT LET ME4'0 

,HAV+ HE>D :AT ! 9T]PRET] SAID1 ,VORONTSOV /RET*$ \T HIS H& 9 ITS WA%-LEA!R GLOVE TO ,HAJJI ,MURAD4  ,HAJJI ,MURAD LOOK$ AT IT HE/ITAT+LY = A MOM5T & !N PRESS$ IT FIRMLY1 AGA9 SAY+ SOME?+ & LOOK+ FIR/ AT ! 9T]PRET] & !N AT ,VORONTSOV4 

0,HE SAYS HE DID NOT WI% TO SURR5D] TO ANY ONE BUT Y\1 AS Y\ >E ! SON ( ! ,SIRD> & HE RESPECTS Y\ MU*40 

,VORONTSOV NODD$ TO EXPRESS HIS ?ANKS4  ,HAJJI ,MURAD AGA9 SAID SOME?+1 PO9T+ TO HIS SUITE4 

0,HE SAYS ?AT !SE M51 HIS H5*M51 WILL S]VE ! ,RUSSIANS AS WELL AS HE40 

,VORONTSOV TURN$ T[>DS !N & NODD$ TO !M TOO4  ,! M]RY1 BLACK-EY$1 LA%LESS ,*E*51 ,KHAN ,MAHOMA1 ALSO NODD$ & SAID SOME?+ :I* WAS PROBABLY AMUS+1 = ! HAIRY ,AV> DREW HIS LIPS 9TO A SMILE1 %[+ HIS IVORY-:ITE TEE?4  ,BUT ! R$- HAIR$ ,GAMZALO'S ONE R$ EYE JU/ GLANC$ AT ,VORONTSOV & !N WAS AGA9 FIX$ ON ! E>S ( HIS HORSE4 

,:5 ,VORONTSOV & ,HAJJI ,MURAD ) !IR RET9UES RODE BACK TO ! =T ! SOLDI]S RELEAS$ =M ! L9ES GA!R$ 9 GR\PS & MADE !IR [N COMM5TS4 

0,:AT A LOT ( M5 ?AT DAMN$ FELL[ HAS DE/ROY$6  ,& N[ SEE :AT A FUSS !Y WILL MAKE ( HIM60 

0,NATURALLY4  ,HE WAS ,%AMIL'S RI<T H&1 & N[ -- NO FE>60 

0,/ILL !RE'S NO D5Y+ IT6 HE'S A F9E FELL[ -- A REGUL> DZHIGIT60 

0,& ! R$ ONE6  ,HE SQU9TS AT Y\ LIKE A BEA/60 

0,U<6  ,HE MU/ BE A H\ND60 

,!Y HAD ALL SPECIALLY NOTIC$ ! R$ ONE4  ,:]E ! WOOD- FELL+ WAS GO+ ON ! SOLDI]S NE>E/ TO ! ROAD RAN \T TO LOOK4  ,!IR (FIC] %\T$ TO !M1 BUT ,VORONTSOV /OPP$ HIM4 

0,LET !M HAVE A LOOK AT !IR OLD FRI5D40 

0,Y\ KN[ :O ?AT IS80 HE ADD$1 TURN+ TO ! NE>E/ SOLDI]1 & SPEAK+ ! WORDS SL[LY ) HIS ,5GLI% ACC5T4 

0,NO1 Y\R ,EXCELL5CY40 

0,HAJJI ,MURAD4 444 ,HE>D ( HIM80 

0,H[ C\LD WE HELP IT1 Y\R ,EXCELL5CY8  ,WE'VE BEAT5 HIM MANY A TIME60 

0,YES1 & WE'VE HAD IT HOT FROM HIM TOO40 

0,YES1 ?AT'S TRUE1 Y\R ,EXCELL5CY10 ANSW]$ ! SOLDI]1 PLEAS$ TO BE TALK+ ) HIS *IEF4  

,HAJJI ,MURAD UND]/OOD ?AT !Y W]E SPEAK+ AB\T HIM1 & SMIL$ BRI<TLY ) HIS EYES4 

,VORNOTSOV RETURN$ TO ! =T 9 A V]Y *E]FUL MOOD4 

,FROM 3 ,WIKIS\RCE4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #aic 3 ,*APT] #e -- ,PUBLICATION4 

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