,*APT] #e 

#ahieahie 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* W5T OV] TO HIS SL$GE1 F\ND IT ) DIFFICULTY 9 ! D>KNESS1 CLIMB$ 9 & TOOK ! RE9S4 

',GO ON 9 FRONT6' HE CRI$4 

,PETRU%KA KNEEL+ 9 HIS L[ SL$GE />T$ HIS HORSE4 ,MUKHORTY1 :O HAD BE5 NEI<+ = SOME TIME PA/1 N[ SC5T+ A M>E AHEAD ( HIM />T$ AFT] H]1 & !Y DROVE \T 9TO ! /REET4 ,!Y DROVE AGA9 ?R\< ! \TSKIRTS ( ! VILLAGE & ALONG ! SAME ROAD1 PA/ ! Y>D :]E ! FROZ5 L95 HAD HUNG 7:I*1 H[EV]1 WAS NO LONG] TO BE SE571 PA/ ! SAME B>N1 :I* WAS N[ SN[$ UP ALMO/ TO ! RO( & FROM :I* ! SN[ WAS /ILL 5DLESSLY P\R+ PA/ ! SAME DISMALLY MOAN+1 :I/L+1 & SWAY+ WILL[S1 & AGA9 5T]$ 9TO ! SEA ( BLU/]+ SN[ RAG+ FROM ABOVE & BEL[4 ,! W9D WAS SO /RONG ?AT :5 IT BLEW FROM ! SIDE & ! TRAVEL]S /E]$ AGA9/ IT1 IT TILT$ ! SL$GES & TURN$ ! HORSES TO ONE SIDE4 ,PETRU%KA DROVE HIS GOOD M>E 9 FRONT AT A BRISK TROT & KEPT %\T+ LU/ILY4 ,MUKHORTY PRESS$ AFT] H]4 

,AFT] TRAVEL+ SO = AB\T T5 M9UTES1 ,PETRU%KA TURN$ R\ND & %\T$ SOME?+4 ,NEI!R ,VASILI ,&REEVI* NOR ,NIKITA C\LD HE> ANY?+ BECAUSE ( ! W9D1 BUT !Y GUESS$ ?AT !Y HAD >RIV$ AT ! TURN+4 ,9 FACT ,PETRU%KA HAD TURN$ TO ! RI<T1 & N[ ! W9D ?AT HAD BL[N FROM ! SIDE BLEW /RAI<T 9 !IR FACES1 & ?R\< ! SN[ !Y SAW SOME?+ D>K ON !IR RI<T4 ,IT WAS ! BU% AT ! TURN+4 

',WELL N[1 ,GOD SPE$ Y\6' 

',?ANK Y\1 ,PETRU%KA6' 

',/ORMS ) MI/ ! SKY CONCEAL6' %\T$ ,PETRU%KA AS HE DISAPPE>$4 

',!RE'S A POET = Y\6' MUTT]$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 PULL+ AT ! RE9S4 

',YES1 A F9E LAD--A TRUE PEASANT1' SAID ,NIKITA4 

,!Y DROVE ON4 

,NIKITA1 WRAPP+ HIS COAT CLOSELY AB\T HIM & PRESS+ HIS HEAD D[N SO CLOSE TO HIS %\LD]S ?AT HIS %ORT BE>D COV]$ HIS ?ROAT1 SAT SIL5TLY1 TRY+ NOT TO LOSE ! W>M? HE HAD OBTA9$ :ILE DR9K+ TEA 9 ! H\SE4 ,BE=E HIM HE SAW ! /RAI<T L9ES ( ! %AFTS :I* CON/ANTLY DECEIV$ HIM 9TO ?9K+ !Y W]E ON A WELL-TRAVEL$ ROAD1 & ! HORSE'S SWAY+ CRUPP] ) HIS KNOTT$ TAIL BL[N TO ONE SIDE1 & F>!R AHEAD ! HI< %AFT-B[ & ! SWAY+ HEAD & NECK ( ! HORSE ) ITS WAV+ MANE4 ,N[ & !N HE CAU<T SI<T ( A WAY-SIGN1 SO ?AT HE KNEW !Y W]E /ILL ON A ROAD & ?AT !RE WAS NO?+ = HIM TO BE CONC]N$ AB\T4 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* DROVE ON1 LEAV+ IT TO ! HORSE TO KEEP TO ! ROAD4 ,BUT ,MUKHORTY1 ?\< HE HAD HAD A BREA?+-SPACE 9 ! VILLAGE1 RAN RELUCTANTLY1 & SEEM$ N[ & !N TO GET (F ! ROAD1 SO ?AT ,VASILI ,&REEVI* HAD REPEAT$LY TO CORRECT HIM4 

',H]E'S A /AKE TO ! RI<T1 & ANO!R1 & H]E'S A ?IRD1' ,VASILI ,&REEVI* C\NT$1 '& H]E 9 FRONT IS ! =E/1' ?\<T HE1 AS HE LOOK$ AT SOME?+ D>K 9 FRONT ( HIM4 ,BUT :AT HAD SEEM$ TO HIM A =E/ WAS ONLY A BU%4 ,!Y PASS$ ! BU% & DROVE ON = ANO!R HUNDR$ Y>DS BUT !RE WAS NO F\R? WAY-M>K NOR ANY =E/4 

',WE MU/ REA* ! =E/ SOON1' ?\<T ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 & ANIMAT$ BY ! VODKA & ! TEA HE DID NOT /OP BUT %OOK ! RE9S1 & ! GOOD OB$I5T HORSE RESPOND$1 N[ AMBL+1 N[ SL[LY TROTT+ 9 ! DIRECTION 9 :I* HE WAS S5T1 ?\< HE KNEW ?AT HE WAS NOT GO+ ! RI<T WAY4 ,T5 M9UTES W5T BY1 BUT !RE WAS /ILL NO =E/4 

',!RE N[1 WE MU/ BE A/RAY AGA91' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 PULL+ UP4 

,NIKITA SIL5TLY GOT \T ( ! SL$GE & HOLD+ HIS COAT1 :I* ! W9D N[ WRAPP$ CLOSELY AB\T HIM & N[ ALMO/ TORE (F1 />T$ TO FEEL AB\T 9 ! SN[1 GO+ FIR/ TO ONE SIDE & !N TO ! O!R4 ,?REE OR F\R TIMES HE WAS COMPLETELY LO/ TO SI<T4 ,AT LA/ HE RETURN$ & TOOK ! RE9S FROM ,VASILI ,&REEVI*'S H&4 

',WE MU/ GO TO ! RI<T1' HE SAID /]NLY & P]EMPTORILY1 AS HE TURN$ ! HORSE4 

',WELL1 IF IT'S TO ! RI<T1 GO TO ! RI<T1' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 YIELD+ UP ! RE9S TO ,NIKITA & ?RU/+ HIS FREEZ+ H&S 9TO HIS SLEEVES4 

,NIKITA DID NOT REPLY4 

',N[ !N1 FRI5D1 /IR Y\RSELF6' HE %\T$ TO ! HORSE1 BUT 9 SPITE ( ! %AKE ( ! RE9S ,MUKHORTY MOV$ ONLY AT A WALK4 

,! SN[ 9 PLACES WAS UP TO HIS KNEES1 & ! SL$GE MOV$ BY FITS & />TS ) HIS EV]Y MOVEM5T4 

,NIKITA TOOK ! :IP ?AT HUNG OV] ! FRONT ( ! SL$GE & /RUCK HIM ONCE4 ,! GOOD HORSE1 UNUS$ TO ! :IP1 SPRANG =W>D & MOV$ AT A TROT1 BUT IMM$IATELY FELL BACK 9TO AN AMBLE & !N TO A WALK4 ,SO !Y W5T ON = FIVE M9UTES4 ,IT WAS D>K & ! SN[ :IRL$ FROM ABOVE & ROSE FROM BEL[1 SO ?AT SOMETIMES ! %AFT-B[ C\LD NOT BE SE54 ,AT TIMES ! SL$GE SEEM$ TO /& /ILL & ! FIELD TO RUN BACKW>DS4 ,SUDD5LY ! HORSE /OPP$ ABRUPTLY1 EVID5TLY AW>E ( SOME?+ CLOSE 9 FRONT ( HIM4 ,NIKITA AGA9 SPRANG LI<TLY \T1 ?R[+ D[N ! RE9S1 & W5T AHEAD TO SEE :AT HAD BR\<T HIM TO A /&/ILL1 BUT H>DLY HAD HE MADE A /EP 9 FRONT ( ! HORSE BE=E HIS FEET SLIPP$ & HE W5T ROLL+ D[N AN 9CL9E4 

',:OA1 :OA1 :OA6' HE SAID TO HIMSELF AS HE FELL1 & HE TRI$ TO /OP HIS FALL BUT C\LD NOT1 & ONLY /OPP$ :5 HIS FEET PLUNG$ 9TO A ?ICK LAY] ( SN[ ?AT HAD DRIFT$ TO ! BOTTOM ( ! HOLL[4 

,! FR+E ( A DRIFT ( SN[ ?AT HUNG ON ! $GE ( ! HOLL[1 DI/URB$ BY ,NIKITA'S FALL1 %[]$ D[N ON HIM & GOT 9SIDE HIS COLL>4 

',:AT A ?+ TO DO6' SAID ,NIKITA REPROA*FULLY1 ADDRESS+ ! DRIFT & ! HOLL[ & %AK+ ! SN[ FROM UND] HIS COLL>4 

',NIKITA6 ,HEY1 ,NIKITA6' %\T$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI* FROM ABOVE4 

,BUT ,NIKITA DID NOT REPLY4 ,HE WAS TOO OCCUPI$ 9 %AK+ \T ! SN[ & SE>*+ = ! :IP HE HAD DROPP$ :5 ROLL+ D[N ! 9CL9E4 ,HAV+ F\ND ! :IP HE TRI$ TO CLIMB /RAI<T UP ! BANK :]E HE HAD ROLL$ D[N1 BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO3 HE KEPT ROLL+ D[N AGA91 & SO HE HAD TO GO ALONG AT ! FOOT ( ! HOLL[ TO F9D A WAY UP4 ,AB\T SEV5 Y>DS F>!R ON HE MANAG$ ) DIFFICULTY TO CRAWL UP ! 9CL9E ON ALL F\RS1 !N HE FOLL[$ ! $GE ( ! HOLL[ BACK TO ! PLACE :]E ! HORSE %\LD HAVE BE54 ,HE C\LD NOT SEE EI!R HORSE OR SL$GE1 BUT AS HE WALK$ AGA9/ ! W9D HE HE>D ,VASILI ,&REEVI*'S %\TS & ,MUKHORTY'S NEI<+1 CALL+ HIM4 

',I'M COM+6 ,I'M COM+6 ,:AT >E Y\ CACKL+ =8' HE MUTT]$4 

,ONLY :5 HE HAD COME UP TO ! SL$GE C\LD HE MAKE \T ! HORSE1 & ,VASILI ,&REEVI* /&+ BESIDE IT & LOOK+ GIGANTIC4 

',:]E ! DEVIL DID Y\ VANI% TO8 ,WE MU/ GO BACK1 IF ONLY TO ,GRI%K9O1' HE BEGAN REPROA*+ ,NIKITA4 

',I'D BE GLAD TO GET BACK1 ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 BUT :I* WAY >E WE TO GO8 ,!RE IS SU* A RAV9E H]E ?AT IF WE ONCE GET 9 IT WE %AN'T GET \T AGA94 ,I GOT /UCK SO FA/ !RE MYSELF ?AT ,I C\LD H>DLY GET \T4' 

',:AT %ALL WE DO1 !N8 ,WE CAN'T /AY H]E6 ,WE MU/ GO SOME:]E6' SAID ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

,NIKITA SAID NO?+4 ,HE SEAT$ HIMSELF 9 ! SL$GE ) HIS BACK TO ! W9D1 TOOK (F HIS BOOTS1 %OOK \T ! SN[ ?AT HAD GOT 9TO !M1 & TAK+ SOME /RAW FROM ! BOTTOM ( ! SL$GE1 C>EFULLY PLUGG$ ) IT A HOLE 9 HIS LEFT BOOT4 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* REMA9$ SIL5T1 AS ?\< N[ LEAV+ EV]Y?+ TO ,NIKITA4 ,HAV+ PUT HIS BOOTS ON AGA91 ,NIKITA DREW HIS FEET 9TO ! SL$GE1 PUT ON HIS MITT5S & TOOK UP ! RE9S1 & DIRECT$ ! HORSE ALONG ! SIDE ( ! RAV9E4 ,BUT !Y HAD NOT GONE A HUNDR$ Y>DS BE=E ! HORSE AGA9 /OPP$ %ORT4 ,! RAV9E WAS 9 FRONT ( HIM AGA94 

,NIKITA AGA9 CLIMB$ \T & AGA9 TRUDG$ AB\T 9 ! SN[4 ,HE DID ?IS = A CONSID]ABLE TIME & AT LA/ APPE>$ FROM ! OPPOSITE SIDE TO ?AT FROM :I* HE HAD />T$4 

',VASILI ,&REEVI*1 >E Y\ ALIVE8' HE CALL$ \T4 

',H]E6' REPLI$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 ',WELL1 :AT N[8' 

',I CAN'T MAKE ANY?+ \T4 ,IT'S TOO D>K4 ,!RE'S NO?+ BUT RAV9ES4 ,WE MU/ DRIVE AGA9/ ! W9D AGA94' 

,!Y SET (F ONCE MORE4 ,AGA9 ,NIKITA W5T /UMBL+ ?R\< ! SN[1 AGA9 HE FELL 91 AGA9 CLIMB$ \T & TRUDG$ AB\T1 & AT LA/ QUITE \T ( BREA? HE SAT D[N BESIDE ! SL$GE4 

',WELL1 H[ N[8' ASK$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

',:Y1 ,I AM QUITE WORN \T & ! HORSE WON'T GO4' 

',!N :AT'S TO BE DONE8' 

',:Y1 WAIT A M9UTE4' 

,NIKITA W5T AWAY AGA9 BUT SOON RETURN$4 

',FOLL[ ME6' HE SAID1 GO+ 9 FRONT ( ! HORSE4 

,VASILI ,&REEVI* NO LONG] GAVE ORD]S BUT IMPLICITLY DID :AT ,NIKITA TOLD HIM4 

',H]E1 FOLL[ ME6' ,NIKITA %\T$1 /EPP+ QUICKLY TO ! RI<T1 & SEIZ+ ! RE9 HE L$ ,MUKHORTY D[N T[>DS A SN[-DRIFT4 

,AT FIR/ ! HORSE HELD BACK1 !N HE J]K$ =W>D1 HOP+ TO LEAP ! DRIFT1 BUT HE HAD NOT ! /R5G? & SANK 9TO IT UP TO HIS COLL>4 

',GET \T6' ,NIKITA CALL$ TO ,VASILI ,&REEVI* :O /ILL SAT 9 ! SL$GE1 & TAK+ HOLD ( ONE %AFT HE MOV$ ! SL$GE CLOS] TO ! HORSE4 ',IT'S H>D1 BRO!R6' HE SAID TO ,MUKHORTY1 'BUT IT CAN'T BE HELP$4 ,MAKE AN EF=T6 ,N[1 N[1 JU/ A LITTLE ONE6' HE %\T$4 

,! HORSE GAVE A TUG1 !N ANO!R1 BUT FAIL$ TO CLE> HIMSELF & SETTL$ D[N AGA9 AS IF CONSID]+ SOME?+4 

',N[1 BRO!R1 ?IS WON'T DO6' ,NIKITA ADMONI%$ HIM4 ',N[ ONCE MORE6' 

,AGA9 ,NIKITA TUGG$ AT ! %AFT ON HIS SIDE1 & ,VASILI ,&REEVI* DID ! SAME ON ! O!R4 

,MUKHORTY LIFT$ HIS HEAD & !N GAVE A SUDD5 J]K4 

',?AT'S IT6 ,?AT'S IT6' CRI$ ,NIKITA4 ',DON'T BE AFRAID--Y\ WON'T S9K6' 

,ONE PLUNGE1 ANO!R1 & A ?IRD1 & AT LA/ ,MUKHORTY WAS \T ( ! SN[-DRIFT1 & /OOD /ILL1 BREA?+ HEAVILY & %AK+ ! SN[ (F HIMSELF4 ,NIKITA WI%$ TO LEAD HIM F>!R1 BUT ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 9 HIS TWO FUR COATS1 WAS SO \T ( BREA? ?AT HE C\LD NOT WALK F>!R & DROPP$ 9TO ! SL$GE4 

',LET ME GET MY BREA?6' HE SAID1 UNFA/5+ ! K]*IEF ) :I* HE HAD TI$ ! COLL> ( HIS FUR COAT AT ! VILLAGE4 

',IT'S ALL RI<T H]E4 ,Y\ LIE !RE1' SAID ,NIKITA4 ',I WILL LEAD HIM ALONG4' ,& ) ,VASILI ,&REEVI* 9 ! SL$GE HE L$ ! HORSE BY ! BRIDLE AB\T T5 PACES D[N & !N UP A SLI<T RISE1 & /OPP$4 

,! PLACE :]E ,NIKITA HAD /OPP$ WAS NOT COMPLETELY 9 ! HOLL[ :]E ! SN[ SWEEP+ D[N FROM ! HILLOCKS MI<T HAVE BURI$ !M ALTOGE!R1 BUT /ILL IT WAS P>TLY %ELT]$ FROM ! W9D BY ! SIDE ( ! RAV9E4 ,!RE W]E MOM5TS :5 ! W9D SEEM$ TO ABATE A LITTLE1 BUT ?AT DID NOT LA/ LONG & AS IF TO MAKE UP = ?AT RESPITE ! /ORM SWEPT D[N ) T5FOLD VIGOR & TORE & :IRL$ ! MORE FI]CELY4 ,SU* A GU/ /RUCK !M AT ! MOM5T :5 ,VASILI ,&REEVI*1 HAV+ RECOV]$ HIS BREA?1 GOT \T ( ! SL$GE & W5T UP TO ,NIKITA TO CONSULT HIM AS TO :AT !Y %\LD DO4 ,!Y BO? B5T D[N 9VOLUNT>ILY & WAIT$ TILL ! VIOL5CE ( ! SQUALL %\LD HAVE PASS$4 ,MUKHORTY TOO LAID BACK HIS E>S & %OOK HIS HEAD DISCONT5T$LY4 ,AS SOON AS ! VIOL5CE ( ! BLA/ HAD ABAT$ A LITTLE1 ,NIKITA TOOK (F HIS MITT5S1 /UCK !M 9TO HIS BELT1 BREA!D ONTO HIS H&S1 & BEGAN TO UNDO ! /RAPS ( ! %AFT-B[4 

',:AT'S ?AT Y\ >E DO+ !RE8' ASK$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

',UNH>NESS+4 ,:AT ELSE IS !RE TO DO8 ,I HAVE NO /R5G? LEFT1' SAID ,NIKITA AS ?\< EXCUS+ HIMSELF4 

',CAN'T WE DRIVE SOME:]E8' 

',NO1 WE CAN'T4 ,WE %ALL ONLY KILL ! HORSE4 ,:Y1 ! POOR BEA/ IS NOT HIMSELF N[1' SAID ,NIKITA1 PO9T+ TO ! HORSE1 :I* WAS /&+ SUBMISSIVELY WAIT+ = :AT MI<T COME1 ) HIS /EEP WET SIDES HEAV+ HEAVILY4 ',WE %ALL HAVE TO /AY ! NI<T H]E1' HE SAID1 AS IF PREP>+ TO SP5D ! NI<T AT AN 9N1 & HE PROCE$$ TO UNFA/5 ! COLL>-/RAPS4 ,! BUCKLES CAME UNDONE4 

',BUT %AN'T WE BE FROZ58' REM>K$ ,VASILI ,&REEVI*4 

',WELL1 IF WE >E WE CAN'T HELP IT1' SAID ,NIKITA4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

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

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