,*APT] #f 

#ahfcahfc 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,! MALE POPULATION ( ! VILLAGE SP5D !IR TIME ON MILIT>Y EXP$ITIONS & 9 ! CORDON--OR 'AT !IR PO/S'1 AS ! ,COSSACKS SAY4 ,T[>DS EV5+1 ?AT SAME ,LUKA%KA ! ,SNAT*]1 AB\T :OM ! OLD WOM5 HAD BE5 TALK+1 WAS /&+ ON A WAT*-T[] ( ! ,NIZHNI-,PROTOTSK PO/ SITUAT$ ON ! V]Y BANKS ( ! ,T]EK4 ,LEAN+ ON ! RAIL+ ( ! T[] & SCREW+ UP HIS EYES1 HE LOOK$ N[ F> 9TO ! DI/ANCE BEYOND ! ,T]EK1 N[ D[N AT HIS FELL[ ,COSSACKS1 & OCCASIONALLY HE ADDRESS$ ! LATT]4 ,! SUN WAS ALREADY APPROA*+ ! SN[Y RANGE ?AT GLEAM$ :ITE ABOVE ! FLEECY CL\DS4 ,! CL\DS UNDULAT+ AT ! BASE ( ! M\NTA9S GREW D>K] & D>K]4 ,! CLE>NESS ( EV5+ WAS NOTICEABLE 9 ! AIR4 ,A S5SE ( FRE%NESS CAME FROM ! WOODS1 ?\< R\ND ! PO/ IT WAS /ILL HOT4 ,! VOICES ( ! TALK+ ,COSSACKS VIBRAT$ MORE SONOR\SLY ?AN BE=E4 ,! MOV+ MASS ( ! ,T]EK'S RAPID BR[N WAT]S CONTRA/$ MORE VIVIDLY ) ITS MOTIONLESS BANKS4 ,! WAT]S W]E BEG9N+ TO SUBSIDE & H]E & !RE ! WET S&S GLEAM$ DRAB ON ! BANKS & 9 ! %ALL[S4 ,! O!R SIDE ( ! RIV]1 JU/ OPPOSITE ! CORDON1 WAS DES]T$2 ONLY AN IMM5SE WA/E ( L[-GR[+ RE$S /RET*$ F> AWAY TO ! V]Y FOOT ( ! M\NTA9S4 ,ON ! L[ BANK1 A LITTLE TO ONE SIDE1 C\LD BE SE5 ! FLAT-RO($ CLAY H\SES & ! FUNNEL-%AP$ *IMNEYS ( A ,*E*5 VILLAGE4 ,! %>P EYES ( ! ,COSSACK :O /OOD ON ! WAT*-T[] FOLL[$1 ?R\< ! EV5+ SMOKE ( ! PRO-,RUSSIAN VILLAGE1 ! T9Y MOV+ FIGURES ( ! ,*E*5 WOM5 VISIBLE 9 ! DI/ANCE 9 !IR R$ & BLUE G>M5TS4 

,AL?\< ! ,COSSACKS EXPECT$ ABREKS TO CROSS OV] & ATTACK !M FROM ! ,T>T> SIDE AT ANY MOM5T1 ESPECIALLY AS IT WAS ,MAY :5 ! WOODS BY ! ,T]EK >E SO D5SE ?AT IT IS DIFFICULT TO PASS ?R\< !M ON FOOT & ! RIV] IS %ALL[ 5\< 9 PLACES = A HORSEMAN TO =D IT1 & DESPITE ! FACT ?AT A C\PLE ( DAYS BE=E A ,COSSACK HAD >RIV$ ) A CIRCUL> FROM ! COMM&] ( ! REGIM5T ANN\NC+ ?AT SPIES HAD REPORT$ ! 9T5TION ( A P>TY ( SOME EI<T M5 TO CROSS ! ,T]EK1 & ORD]+ SPECIAL VIGILANCE--NO SPECIAL VIGILANCE WAS BE+ OBS]V$ 9 ! CORDON4 ,! ,COSSACKS1 UN>M$ & ) !IR HORSES UNSADDL$ JU/ AS IF !Y W]E AT HOME1 SP5T !IR TIME SOME 9 FI%+1 SOME 9 DR9K+1 & SOME 9 HUNT+4 ,ONLY ! HORSE ( ! MAN ON DUTY WAS SADDL$1 & ) ITS FEET HOBBL$ WAS MOV+ AB\T BY ! BRAMBLES NE> ! WOOD1 & ONLY ! S5T9EL HAD HIS ,CIRCASSIAN COAT ON & C>RI$ A GUN & SWORD4 ,! CORPORAL1 A TALL ?9 ,COSSACK ) AN EXCEPTIONALLY LONG BACK & SMALL H&S & FEET1 WAS SITT+ ON ! E>?-BANK ( A HUT ) HIS BE%MET UNBUTTON$4 ,ON HIS FACE WAS ! LAZY1 BOR$ EXPRESSION ( A SUP]IOR1 & HAV+ %UT HIS EYES HE DROPP$ HIS HEAD UPON ! PALM FIR/ ( ONE H& & !N ( ! O!R4 ,AN ELD]LY ,COSSACK ) A BROAD GRAYI%-BLACK BE>D WAS LY+ 9 HIS %IRT1 GIRDL$ ) A BLACK /RAP1 CLOSE TO ! RIV] & GAZ+ LAZILY AT ! WAVES ( ! ,T]EK AS !Y MONOTON\SLY FOAM$ & SWIRL$4 ,O!RS1 ALSO OV]COME BY ! HEAT & HALF NAK$1 W]E R9S+ CLO!S 9 ! ,T]EK1 PLAIT+ A FI%+ L9E1 OR HUMM+ TUNES AS !Y LAY ON ! HOT S& ( ! RIV] BANK4 ,ONE ,COSSACK1 ) A ?9 FACE MU* BURNT BY ! SUN1 LAY NE> ! HUT EVID5TLY DEAD DRUNK1 BY A WALL :I* ?\< IT HAD BE5 9 %AD[ SOME TWO H\RS PREVI\SLY WAS N[ EXPOS$ TO ! SUN'S FI]CE SLANT+ RAYS4 

,LUKA%KA1 :O /OOD ON ! WAT*-T[]1 WAS A TALL H&SOME LAD AB\T TW5TY YE>S OLD & V]Y LIKE HIS MO!R4 ,HIS FACE & :OLE BUILD1 9 SPITE ( ! ANGUL>ITY ( Y\?1 9DICAT$ GREAT /R5G?1 BO? PHYSICAL & MORAL4 ,?\< HE HAD ONLY LATELY JO9$ ! ,COSSACKS AT ! FRONT1 IT WAS EVID5T FROM ! EXPRESSION ( HIS FACE & ! CALM ASSURANCE ( HIS ATTITUDE ?AT HE HAD ALREADY ACQUIR$ ! SOME:AT PR\D & W>LIKE BE>+ PECULI> TO ,COSSACKS & TO M5 G5]ALLY :O CONT9UALLY C>RY >MS1 & ?AT HE FELT HE WAS A ,COSSACK & FULLY KNEW HIS [N VALUE4 ,HIS AMPLE ,CIRCASSIAN COAT WAS TORN 9 SOME PLACES1 HIS CAP WAS ON ! BACK ( HIS HEAD ,*E*5 FA%ION1 & HIS LEGG+S HAD SLIPP$ BEL[ HIS KNEES4 ,HIS CLO?+ WAS NOT RI*1 BUT HE WORE IT ) ?AT PECULI> ,COSSACK FOPPI%NESS :I* CONSI/S 9 IMITAT+ ! ,*E*5 BRAVE4 ,EV]Y?+ ON A REAL BRAVE IS AMPLE1 RAGG$1 & NEGLECT$1 ONLY HIS WEAPONS >E CO/LY4 ,BUT !SE RAGG$ CLO!S & !SE WEAPONS >E BELT$ & WORN ) A C]TA9 AIR & MAT*$ 9 A C]TA9 MANN]1 NEI!R ( :I* CAN BE ACQUIR$ BY EV]YBODY & :I* AT ONCE /RIKE ! EYE ( A ,COSSACK OR A HILLSMAN4 ,LUKA%KA HAD ?IS RESEMBLANCE TO A BRAVE4 ,) HIS H&S FOLD$ UND] HIS SWORD1 & HIS EYES NE>LY CLOS$1 HE KEPT LOOK+ AT ! DI/ANT ,T>T> VILLAGE4 ,TAK5 SEP>ATELY HIS FEATURES W]E NOT BEAUTIFUL1 BUT ANYONE :O SAW HIS /ATELY C>RIAGE & HIS D>K-BR[$ 9TELLIG5T FACE W\LD 9VOLUNT>ILY SAY1 ',:AT A F9E FELL[6' 

',LOOK AT ! WOM51 :AT A LOT ( !M >E WALK+ AB\T 9 ! VILLAGE1' SAID HE 9 A %>P VOICE1 LANGUIDLY %[+ HIS BRILLIANT :ITE TEE? & NOT ADDRESS+ ANYONE 9 P>TICUL>4 

,NAZ>KA :O WAS LY+ BEL[ IMM$IATELY LIFT$ HIS HEAD & REM>K$3 

',!Y MU/ BE GO+ = WAT]4' 

',SUPPOS+ ONE SC>$ !M ) A GUN8' SAID ,LUKA%KA1 LAU<+1 

 ',W\LDN'T !Y BE FRI<T5$8' 

',IT W\LDN'T REA*4' 

',:AT6 ,M9E W\LD C>RY BEYOND4 ,JU/ WAIT A BIT1 & :5 !IR FEA/ COMES R\ND ,I'LL GO & VISIT ,GIREY ,KHAN & DR9K BUZA !RE1' SAID ,LUKA%KA1 ANGRILY SWI%+ AWAY ! MOSQUITOES :I* ATTA*$ !MSELVES TO HIM4 

,A RU/L+ 9 ! ?ICKET DREW ! ,COSSACK'S ATT5TION4 ,A PI$ MONGREL HALF-SETT]1 SE>*+ = A SC5T & VIOL5TLY WAGG+ ITS SCANTILY FURR$ TAIL1 CAME RUNN+ TO ! CORDON4 ,LUKA%KA RECOGNIZ$ ! DOG AS ONE BELONG+ TO HIS NEI<BOR1 ,UNCLE ,]O%KA1 A HUNT]1 & SAW1 FOLL[+ IT ?R\< ! ?ICKET1 ! APPROA*+ FIGURE ( ! HUNT] HIMSELF4 

,UNCLE ,]O%KA WAS A GIGANTIC ,COSSACK ) A BROAD1 SN[-:ITE BE>D & SU* BROAD %\LD]S & *E/ ?AT 9 ! WOOD1 :]E !RE WAS NO ONE TO COMP>E HIM )1 HE DID NOT LOOK P>TICUL>LY TALL1 SO WELL PROPORTION$ W]E HIS P[]FUL LIMBS4 ,HE WORE A TATT]$ COAT &1 OV] ! B&S ) :I* HIS LEGS W]E SWA!D1 S&ALS MADE ( UNDRESS$ DE]'S HIDE TI$ ON ) /R+S2 :ILE ON HIS HEAD HE HAD A R\< LITTLE :ITE CAP4 ,HE C>RI$ OV] ONE %\LD] A SCRE5 TO HIDE BEH9D :5 %OOT+ PHEASANTS1 & A BAG CONTA9+ A H5 = LUR+ HAWKS1 & A SMALL FALCON2 OV] ! O!R %\LD]1 ATTA*$ BY A /RAP1 WAS A WILD CAT HE HAD KILL$2 & /UCK 9 HIS BELT BEH9D W]E SOME LITTLE BAGS CONTA9+ BULLETS1 GUNP[D]1 & BREAD1 A HORSE'S TAIL TO SWI% AWAY ! MOSQUITOES1 A L>GE DAGG] 9 A TORN SCABB>D SME>$ ) OLD BLOOD/A9S1 & TWO DEAD PHEASANTS4 ,HAV+ GLANC$ AT ! CORDON HE /OPP$4 

',HY1 ,LYAM6' HE CALL$ TO ! DOG 9 SU* A R++ BASS ?AT IT AWOKE AN E*O F> AWAY 9 ! WOOD2 & ?R[+ OV] HIS %\LD] HIS BIG GUN1 ( ! K9D ! ,COSSACKS CALL A 'FL9T'1 HE RAIS$ HIS CAP4 

',HAD A GOOD DAY1 GOOD PEOPLE1 EH8' HE SAID1 ADDRESS+ ! ,COSSACKS 9 ! SAME /RONG & *E]FUL VOICE1 QUITE )\T EF=T1 BUT AS L\DLY AS IF HE W]E %\T+ TO SOMEONE ON ! O!R BANK ( ! RIV]4 

',YES1 YES4 ,UNCLE6' ANSW]$ FROM ALL SIDES ! VOICES ( ! Y\NG 

 ,COSSACKS4 

',:AT HAVE Y\ SE58 ,TELL US6' %\T$ ,UNCLE ,]O%KA1 WIP+ ! SWEAT FROM HIS BROAD R$ FACE ) ! SLEEVE ( HIS COAT4 

',AH1 !RE'S A VULTURE LIV+ 9 ! PLANE TREE H]E1 ,UNCLE4 ,AS SOON AS NI<T COMES HE BEG9S HOV]+ R\ND1' SAID ,NAZ>KA1 W9K+ & J]K+ HIS %\LD] & LEG4 

',COME1 COME6' SAID ! OLD MAN 9CR$UL\SLY4 

',REALLY1 ,UNCLE6 ,Y\ MU/ KEEP WAT*1' REPLI$ ,NAZ>KA ) A LAU<4 

,! O!R ,COSSACKS BEGAN LAU<+4 

,! WAG HAD NOT SE5 ANY VULTURE AT ALL1 BUT IT HAD LONG BE5 ! CU/OM ( ! Y\NG ,COSSACKS 9 ! CORDON TO TEASE & MISLEAD ,UNCLE ,]O%KA EV]Y TIME HE CAME TO !M4 

',EH1 Y\ FOOL1 ALWAYS LY+6' EXCLAIM$ ,LUKA%KA FROM ! T[] TO 

 ,NAZ>KA4 

,NAZ>KA WAS IMM$IATELY SIL5C$4 

',IT MU/ BE WAT*$4 ,I'LL WAT*1' ANSW]$ ! OLD MAN TO ! GREAT DELI<T ( ALL ! ,COSSACKS4 ',BUT HAVE Y\ SE5 ANY BO>S8' 

',WAT*+ = BO>S1 >E Y\8' SAID ! CORPORAL1 B5D+ =W>D & SCRAT*+ HIS BACK ) BO? H&S1 V]Y PLEAS$ AT ! *ANCE ( SOME DI/RACTION4 ',IT'S ABREKS ONE HAS TO HUNT H]E & NOT BO>S6 ,Y\'VE NOT HE>D ANY?+1 ,UNCLE1 HAVE Y\8' HE ADD$1 NE$LESSLY SCREW+ UP HIS EYES & %[+ HIS CLOSE-SET :ITE TEE?4 

',ABREKS1' SAID ! OLD MAN4 ',NO1 ,I HAV5'T4 ,I SAY1 HAVE Y\ ANY *IKHIR8 ,LET ME HAVE A DR9K1 !RE'S A GOOD MAN4 ,I'M REALLY QUITE DONE UP4 ,:5 ! TIME COMES ,I'LL BR+ Y\ SOME FRE% MEAT1 ,I REALLY WILL4 ,GIVE ME A DR9K6' HE ADD$4 

',WELL1 & >E Y\ GO+ TO WAT*8' 9QUIR$ ! CORPORAL1 AS ?\< HE HAD NOT HE>D :AT ! O!R SAID4 

',I DID MEAN TO WAT* TONI<T1' REPLI$ ,UNCLE ,]O%KA4 ',MAYBE1 ) ,GOD'S HELP1 ,I %ALL KILL SOME?+ = ! HOLIDAY4 ,!N Y\ %ALL HAVE A %>E1 Y\ %ALL 9DE$6' 

',UNCLE6 ,HALLOO1 ,UNCLE6' CALL$ \T ,LUKA%KA %>PLY FROM ABOVE1 ATTRACT+ EV]YBODY'S ATT5TION4 ,ALL ! ,COSSACKS LOOK$ UP AT HIM4 ',JU/ GO TO ! UPP] WAT]-C\RSE1 !RE'S A F9E H]D ( BO>S !RE4 ,I'M NOT 9V5T+1 REALLY6 ,! O!R DAY ONE ( \R ,COSSACKS %OT ONE !RE4 ,I'M TELL+ Y\ ! TRU?1' ADD$ HE1 READJU/+ ! MUSKET AT HIS BACK & 9 A TONE ?AT %[$ HE WAS NOT JOK+4 

',AH6 ,LUKA%KA ! ,SNAT*] IS H]E6' SAID ! OLD MAN1 LOOK+ UP4 

 ',:]E HAS HE BE5 %OOT+8' 

',HAV5'T Y\ SE58 ,I SUPPOSE Y\'RE TOO Y\NG6' SAID ,LUKA%KA4 ',CLOSE BY ! DIT*1' HE W5T ON S]I\SLY ) A %AKE ( ! HEAD4 ',WE W]E JU/ GO+ ALONG ! DIT* :5 ALL AT ONCE WE HE>D SOME?+ CRACKL+1 BUT MY GUN WAS 9 ITS CASE4 ,ELIAS FIR$ SUDD5LY 444 ,BUT ,I'LL %[ Y\ ! PLACE1 IT'S NOT F>4 ,Y\ JU/ WAIT A BIT4 ,I KN[ EV]Y ONE ( !IR FOOTPA?S 444 ,DADDY ,MOSEV1' SAID HE1 TURN+ RESOLUTELY & ALMO/ COMM&+LY TO ! CORPORAL1 'IT'S TIME TO RELIEVE GU>D6' & HOLD+ AL(T HIS GUN HE BEGAN TO DESC5D FROM ! WAT*-T[] )\T WAIT+ = ! ORD]4 

',COME D[N6' SAID ! CORPORAL1 AFT] ,LUKA%KA HAD />T$1 & GLANC$ R\ND4 ',IS IT Y\R TURN1 ,GURKA8 ,!N GO 444 ,TRUE 5\< Y\R ,LUKA%KA HAS BECOME V]Y SKILLFUL1' HE W5T ON1 ADDRESS+ ! OLD MAN4 ',HE KEEPS GO+ AB\T JU/ LIKE Y\1 HE DOESN'T /AY AT HOME4 ,! O!R DAY HE KILL$ A BO>4' 

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 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfb 3 ,*APT] #f -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,MAY #a#c1 #bba 3 ,*APT] #f -- ,ADD$4 

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