,*APT] #d 

#ahieahie 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,! H\SEHOLD TO :I* ,VASILI ,&REEVI* HAD COME WAS ONE ( ! RI*E/ 9 ! VILLAGE4 ,! FAMILY HAD FIVE ALLOTM5TS1 BESIDES R5T+ O!R L&4 ,!Y HAD SIX HORSES1 ?REE C[S1 TWO CALVES1 & SOME TW5TY %EEP4 ,!RE W]E TW5TY-TWO MEMB]S BELONG+ TO ! HOME/EAD3 F\R M>RI$ SONS1 SIX GR&*ILDR5 7ONE ( :OM1 ,PETRU%KA1 WAS M>RI$71 TWO GREAT-GR&*ILDR51 ?REE ORPHANS1 & F\R DAU<T]S-9-LAW ) !IR BABIES4 ,IT WAS ONE ( ! FEW HOME/EADS ?AT REMA9$ /ILL UNDIVID$1 BUT EV5 H]E ! DULL 9T]NAL WORK ( DIS9TEGRATION :I* W\LD 9EVITABLY LEAD TO SEP>ATION HAD ALREADY BEGUN1 />T+ AS USUAL AMONG ! WOM54 ,TWO SONS W]E LIV+ 9 ,MOSC[ AS WAT]-C>RI]S1 & ONE WAS 9 ! >MY4 ,AT HOME N[ W]E ! OLD MAN & HIS WIFE1 !IR SECOND SON :O MANAG$ ! HOME/EAD1 ! ELDE/ :O HAD COME FROM ,MOSC[ = ! HOLIDAY1 & ALL ! WOM5 & *ILDR54 ,BESIDES !SE MEMB]S ( ! FAMILY !RE WAS A VISITOR1 A NEI<BOR :O WAS GODFA!R TO ONE ( ! *ILDR54 

,OV] ! TABLE 9 ! ROOM HUNG A LAMP ) A %ADE1 :I* BRI<TLY LIT UP ! TEA-?+S1 A BOTTLE ( VODKA1 & SOME REFRE%M5TS1 BESIDES ILLUM9AT+ ! BRICK WALLS1 :I* 9 ! F> CORN] W]E HUNG ) ICONS ON BO? SIDES ( :I* W]E PICTURES4 ,AT ! HEAD ( ! TABLE SAT ,VASILI ,&REEVI* 9 A BLACK %EEPSK9 COAT1 SUCK+ HIS FROZ5 MU/A*E & OBS]V+ ! ROOM & ! PEOPLE >\ND HIM ) HIS PROM95T HAWK-LIKE EYES4 ,) HIM SAT ! OLD1 BALD1 :ITE-BE>D$ MA/] ( ! H\SE 9 A :ITE HOMESPUN %IRT1 & NEXT HIM ! SON HOME FROM ,MOSC[ = ! HOLIDAY--A MAN ) A /URDY BACK & P[]FUL %\LD]S & CLAD 9 A ?9 PR9T %IRT--!N ! SECOND SON1 ALSO BROAD-%\LD]$1 :O ACT$ AS HEAD ( ! H\SE1 & !N A LEAN R$-HAIR$ PEASANT--! NEI<BOR4 

,HAV+ HAD A DR9K ( VODKA & SOME?+ TO EAT1 !Y W]E AB\T TO TAKE TEA1 & ! SAMOV> /&+ ON ! FLOOR BESIDE ! BRICK OV5 WAS ALREADY HUMM+4 ,! *ILDR5 C\LD BE SE5 9 ! TOP BUNKS & ON ! TOP ( ! OV54 ,A WOMAN SAT ON A L[] BUNK ) A CRADLE BESIDE H]4 ,! OLD H\SEWIFE1 H] FACE COV]$ ) WR9KLES :I* WR9KL$ EV5 H] LIPS1 WAS WAIT+ ON ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

,AS ,NIKITA 5T]$ ! H\SE %E WAS (F]+ H] GUE/ A SMALL TUMBL] ( ?ICK GLASS :I* %E HAD JU/ FILL$ ) VODKA4 

',DON'T REFUSE1 ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 Y\ MU/N'T6 ,WI% US A M]RY FEA/4 ,DR9K IT1 DE>6' %E SAID4 

,! SI<T & SMELL ( VODKA1 ESPECIALLY N[ :5 HE WAS *ILL$ ?R\< & TIR$ \T1 MU* DI/URB$ ,NIKITA'S M9D4 ,HE FR[N$1 & HAV+ %AK5 ! SN[ (F HIS CAP & COAT1 /OPP$ 9 FRONT ( ! ICONS AS IF NOT SEE+ ANYONE1 CROSS$ HIMSELF ?REE TIMES1 & B[$ TO ! ICONS4 ,!N1 TURN+ TO ! OLD MA/] ( ! H\SE & B[+ FIR/ TO HIM1 !N TO ALL ?OSE AT TABLE1 !N TO ! WOM5 :O /OOD BY ! OV51 & MUTT]+3 ',A M]RY HOLIDAY6' HE BEGAN TAK+ (F HIS \T] ?+S )\T LOOK+ AT ! TABLE4 

',:Y1 Y\'RE ALL COV]$ ) HO>-FRO/1 OLD FELL[6' SAID ! ELDE/ BRO!R1 LOOK+ AT ,NIKITA'S SN[-COV]$ FACE1 EYES1 & BE>D4 

,NIKITA TOOK (F HIS COAT1 %OOK IT AGA91 HUNG IT UP BESIDE ! OV51 & CAME UP TO ! TABLE4 ,HE TOO WAS (F]$ VODKA4 ,HE W5T ?R\< A MOM5T ( PA9FUL HESITATION & NE>LY TOOK UP ! GLASS & EMPTI$ ! CLE> FRAGRANT LIQUID D[N HIS ?ROAT1 BUT HE GLANC$ AT ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 REMEMB]$ HIS OA? & ! BOOTS ?AT HE HAD SOLD = DR9K1 RECALL$ ! COOP]1 REMEMB]$ HIS SON = :OM HE HAD PROMIS$ TO BUY A HORSE BY SPR+1 SI<$1 & DECL9$ IT4 

',I DON'T DR9K1 ?ANK Y\ K9DLY1' HE SAID FR[N+1 & SAT D[N ON A B5* NE> ! SECOND W9D[4 

',H['S ?AT8' ASK$ ! ELDE/ BRO!R4 

',I JU/ DON'T DR9K1' REPLI$ ,NIKITA )\T LIFT+ HIS EYES BUT LOOK+ ASKANCE AT HIS SCANTY BE>D & MU/A*E & GETT+ ! ICICLES \T ( !M4 

',IT'S NOT GOOD = HIM1' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 MUN*+ A CRACKNEL AFT] EMPTY+ HIS GLASS4 

',WELL1 !N1 HAVE SOME TEA1' SAID ! K9DLY OLD HO/ESS4 ',Y\ MU/ BE *ILL$ ?R\<1 GOOD S\L4 ,:Y >E Y\ WOM5 DAWDL+ SO ) ! SAMOV>8' 

',IT IS READY1' SAID ONE ( ! Y\NG WOM51 & AFT] FLICK+ ) H] APRON ! TOP ( ! SAMOV> :I* WAS N[ BOIL+ OV]1 %E C>RI$ IT ) AN EF=T TO ! TABLE1 RAIS$ IT1 & SET IT D[N ) A ?UD4 

,MEAN:ILE ,VASILI ,&REEVI* WAS TELL+ H[ HE HAD LO/ HIS WAY1 H[ !Y HAD COME BACK TWICE TO ?IS SAME VILLAGE1 & H[ !Y HAD GONE A/RAY & HAD MET SOME DRUNK5 PEASANTS4 ,!IR HO/S W]E SURPRIS$1 EXPLA9$ :]E & :Y !Y HAD MISS$ !IR WAY1 SAID :O ! TIPSY PEOPLE !Y HAD MET W]E1 & TOLD !M H[ !Y \<T TO GO4 

',A LITTLE *ILD C\LD F9D ! WAY TO ,MOL*ANOVKA FROM H]E4 ,ALL Y\ HAVE TO DO IS TO TAKE ! RI<T TURN+ FROM ! HI< ROAD4 ,!RE'S A BU% Y\ CAN SEE JU/ !RE4 ,BUT Y\ DIDN'T EV5 GET ?AT F>6' SAID ! NEI<BOR4 

',Y\'D BETT] /AY ! NI<T4 ,! WOM5 WILL MAKE UP B$S = Y\1' SAID ! OLD WOMAN P]SUASIVELY4 

',Y\ C\LD GO ON 9 ! MORN+ & IT W\LD BE PLEASANT]1' SAID ! OLD MAN1 CONFIRM+ :AT HIS WIFE HAD SAID4 

',I CAN'T1 FRI5D4 ,BUS9ESS6' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 ',LOSE AN H\R & Y\ CAN'T CAT* IT UP 9 A YE>1' HE ADD$1 REMEMB]+ ! GROVE & ! DEAL]S :O MI<T SNAT* ?AT DEAL FROM HIM4 ',WE %ALL GET !RE1 %AN'T WE8' HE SAID1 TURN+ TO ,NIKITA4 

,NIKITA DID NOT ANSW] = SOME TIME1 APP>5TLY /ILL 9T5T ON ?AW+ \T HIS BE>D & MU/A*E4 

',IF ONLY WE DON'T GO A/RAY AGA91' HE REPLI$ GLOOMILY4 ,HE WAS GLOOMY BECAUSE HE PASSIONATELY LONG$ = SOME VODKA1 & ! ONLY ?+ ?AT C\LD ASSUAGE ?AT LONG+ WAS TEA & HE HAD NOT YET BE5 (F]$ ANY4 

',BUT WE HAVE ONLY TO REA* ! TURN+ & !N WE %AN'T GO WRONG4 ,! ROAD WILL BE ?R\< ! =E/ ! :OLE WAY1' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

',IT'S JU/ AS Y\ PLEASE1 ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 ,IF WE'RE TO GO1 LET US GO1' SAID ,NIKITA1 TAK+ ! GLASS ( TEA HE WAS (F]$4 

',WE'LL DR9K \R TEA & BE (F4' 

,NIKITA SAID NO?+ BUT ONLY %OOK HIS HEAD1 & C>EFULLY P\R+ SOME TEA 9TO HIS SAUC] BEGAN W>M+ HIS H&S1 ! F+]S ( :I* W]E ALWAYS SWOLL5 ) H>D WORK1 OV] ! /EAM4 ,!N1 BIT+ (F A T9Y BIT ( SUG>1 HE B[$ TO HIS HO/S1 SAID1 ',Y\R HEAL?6' & DREW 9 ! /EAM+ LIQUID4 

',IF SOMEBODY W\LD SEE US AS F> AS ! TURN+1' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

',WELL1 WE CAN DO ?AT1' SAID ! ELDE/ SON4 ',PETRU%KA WILL H>NESS & GO ?AT F> ) Y\4' 

',WELL1 !N1 PUT 9 ! HORSE1 LAD1 & ,I %ALL BE ?ANKFUL TO Y\ = IT4' 

',OH1 :AT =1 DE> MAN8' SAID ! K9DLY OLD WOMAN4 ',WE >E HE>TILY GLAD TO DO IT4' 

',PETRU%KA1 GO & PUT 9 ! M>E1' SAID ! ELDE/ BRO!R4 

',ALL RI<T1' REPLI$ ,PETRU%KA ) A SMILE1 & PROMPTLY SNAT*+ HIS CAP D[N FROM A NAIL HE RAN AWAY TO H>NESS4 

,:ILE ! HORSE WAS BE+ H>NESS$ ! TALK RETURN$ TO ! PO9T AT :I* IT HAD /OPP$ :5 ,VASILI ,&REEVI* DROVE UP TO ! W9D[4 ,! OLD MAN HAD BE5 COMPLA9+ TO HIS NEI<BOR1 ! VILLAGE ELD]1 AB\T HIS ?IRD SON :O HAD NOT S5T HIM ANY?+ = ! HOLIDAY ?\< HE HAD S5T A ,FR5* %AWL TO HIS WIFE4 

',! Y\NG PEOPLE >E GETT+ \T ( H&1' SAID ! OLD MAN4 

',& H[ !Y DO6' SAID ! NEI<BOR4 ',!RE'S NO MANAG+ !M6 ,!Y KN[ TOO MU*4 ,!RE'S ,DEMO*K9 N[1 :O BROKE HIS FA!R'S >M4 ,IT'S ALL FROM BE+ TOO CLEV]1 IT SEEMS4' 

,NIKITA LI/5$1 WAT*$ !IR FACES1 & EVID5TLY W\LD HAVE LIK$ TO %>E 9 ! CONV]SATION1 BUT HE WAS TOO BUSY DR9K+ HIS TEA & ONLY NODD$ HIS HEAD APPROV+LY4 ,HE EMPTI$ ONE TUMBL] AFT] ANO!R & GREW W>M] & W>M] & MORE & MORE COM=TABLE4 ,! TALK CONT9U$ ON ! SAME SUBJECT = A LONG TIME--! H>MFULNESS ( A H\SEHOLD DIVID+ UP--& IT WAS CLE>LY NOT AN AB/RACT DISCUSSION BUT CONC]N$ ! QUE/ION ( A SEP>ATION 9 ?AT H\SE2 A SEP>ATION DEM&$ BY ! SECOND SON :O SAT !RE MOROSELY SIL5T4 

,IT WAS EVID5TLY A SORE SUBJECT & ABSORB$ !M ALL1 BUT \T ( PROPRIETY !Y DID NOT DISCUSS !IR PRIVATE AFFAIRS BE=E /RANG]S4 ,AT LA/1 H[EV]1 ! OLD MAN C\LD NOT RE/RA9 HIMSELF1 & ) TE>S 9 HIS EYES DECL>$ ?AT HE W\LD NOT CONS5T TO A BREAKUP ( ! FAMILY DUR+ HIS LIFETIME1 ?AT HIS H\SE WAS PROSP]+1 ?ANK ,GOD1 BUT ?AT IF !Y SEP>AT$ !Y W\LD ALL HAVE TO GO BEGG+4 

',JU/ LIKE ! ,MATVEEVS1' SAID ! NEI<BOR4 ',!Y US$ TO HAVE A PROP] H\SE1 BUT N[ !Y'VE SPLIT UP NONE ( !M HAS ANY?+4' 

',& ?AT IS :AT Y\ WANT TO HAPP5 TO US1' SAID ! OLD MAN1 TURN+ TO HIS SON4 

,! SON MADE NO REPLY & !RE WAS AN AWKW>D PAUSE4 ,! SIL5CE WAS BROK5 BY ,PETRU%KA1 :O HAV+ H>NESS$ ! HORSE HAD RETURN$ TO ! HUT A FEW M9UTES BE=E ?IS & HAD BE5 LI/5+ ALL ! TIME ) A SMILE4 

',!RE'S A FABLE AB\T ?AT 9 ,PAULSON1' HE SAID4 ',A FA!R GAVE HIS SONS A BROOM TO BREAK4 ,AT FIR/ !Y C\LD NOT BREAK IT1 BUT :5 !Y TOOK IT TWIG BY TWIG !Y BROKE IT EASILY4 ,& IT'S ! SAME H]E1' & HE GAVE A BROAD SMILE4 ',I'M READY6' HE ADD$4 

',IF Y\'RE READY1 LET'S GO1' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 ',& AS TO SEP>AT+1 DON'T Y\ ALL[ IT1 ,GR&FA!R4 ,Y\ GOT EV]Y?+ TOGE!R & Y\'RE ! MA/]4 ,GO TO ! ,JU/ICE ( ! ,PEACE4 ,HE'LL SAY H[ ?+S %\LD BE DONE4' 

',HE C>RIES ON SO1 C>RIES ON SO1' ! OLD MAN CONT9U$ 9 A :9+ TONE4 ',!RE'S NO DO+ ANY?+ ) HIM4 ,IT'S AS IF ! DEVIL POSSESS$ HIM4' 

,NIKITA HAV+ MEAN:ILE F9I%$ HIS FIF? TUMBL] ( TEA LAID IT ON ITS SIDE 9/EAD ( TURN+ IT UPSIDE D[N1 HOP+ TO BE (F]$ A SIX? GLASS4 ,BUT !RE WAS NO MORE WAT] 9 ! SAMOV>1 SO ! HO/ESS DID NOT FILL IT UP = HIM4 ,BESIDES1 ,VASILI ,&REEVI* WAS PUTT+ HIS ?+S ON1 SO !RE WAS NO?+ = IT BUT = ,NIKITA TO GET UP TOO1 PUT BACK 9TO ! SUG>-BAS9 ! LUMP ( SUG> HE HAD NIBBL$ ALL R\ND1 WIPE HIS P]SPIR+ FACE ) ! SKIRT ( HIS %EEPSK91 & GO TO PUT ON HIS OV]COAT4 

,HAV+ PUT IT ON HE SI<$ DEEPLY1 ?ANK$ HIS HO/S1 SAID GOOD-BYE1 & W5T \T ( ! W>M BRI<T ROOM 9TO ! COLD D>K PASSAGE1 ?R\< :I* ! W9D WAS H[L+ & :]E SN[ WAS BL[+ ?R\< ! CRACKS ( ! %AK+ DOOR1 & FROM !RE 9TO ! Y>D4 

,PETRU%KA /OOD 9 HIS %EEPSK9 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! Y>D BY HIS HORSE1 REPEAT+ SOME L9ES FROM ,PAULSON'S PRIM]4 ,HE SAID ) A SMILE3 

 ',/ORMS ) MI/ ! SKY CONCEAL1 ,SN[Y CIRCLES :EEL+ WILD4 ,N[ LIKE SAVAGE BEA/ 'TWILL H[L1 ,& N[ 'TIS WAIL+ LIKE A *ILD4'  
  

,NIKITA NODD$ APPROV+LY AS HE >RANG$ ! RE9S4 

,! OLD MAN1 SEE+ ,VASILI ,&REEVI* (F1 BR\<T A LANT]N 9TO ! PASSAGE TO %[ HIM A LI<T1 BUT IT WAS BL[N \T AT ONCE4 ,& EV5 9 ! Y>D IT WAS EVID5T ?AT ! SN[/ORM HAD BECOME MORE VIOL5T4 

',WELL1 ?IS IS WEA!R6' ?\<T ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 ',P]HAPS WE MAY NOT GET !RE AFT] ALL4 ,BUT !RE IS NO?+ TO BE DONE4 ,BUS9ESS6 ,BESIDES1 WE HAVE GOT READY1 \R HO/'S HORSE HAS BE5 H>NESS$1 & WE'LL GET !RE ) ,GOD'S HELP6' 

,!IR AG$ HO/ ALSO ?\<T !Y \<T NOT TO GO1 BUT HE HAD ALREADY TRI$ TO P]SUADE !M TO /AY & HAD NOT BE5 LI/5$ TO4 

',IT'S NO USE ASK+ !M AGA94 ,MAYBE MY AGE MAKES ME TIMID4 ,!Y'LL GET !RE ALL RI<T1 & AT LEA/ WE %ALL GET TO B$ 9 GOOD TIME & )\T ANY FUSS1' HE ?\<T4 

,PETRU%KA DID NOT ?9K ( DANG]4 ,HE KNEW ! ROAD & ! :OLE DI/RICT SO WELL1 & ! L9ES AB\T 'SN[Y CIRCLES :EEL+ WILD' DESCRIB$ :AT WAS HAPP5+ \TSIDE SO APTLY ?AT IT *E]$ HIM UP4 ,NIKITA DID NOT WI% TO GO AT ALL1 BUT HE HAD BE5 ACCU/OM$ NOT TO HAVE HIS [N WAY & TO S]VE O!RS = SO LONG ?AT !RE WAS NO ONE TO H9D] ! DEP>T+ TRAVEL]S4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahid 3 ,*APT] #d -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,MAY #a#i1 #bba 3 ,*APT] #d -- ,ADD$4 

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