,BOOK #g1 ,*APT] #a 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

0,DOES IT EV] HAPP5 TO Y\10 SAID ,NATA%A TO H] BRO!R1 :5 !Y 
 SETTL$ D[N 9 ! SITT+ ROOM1 0DOES IT EV] HAPP5 TO Y\ TO FEEL AS 
 IF !RE W]E NO?+ MORE TO COME--NO?+2 ?AT EV]Y?+ GOOD IS 
 PA/8 ,& TO FEEL NOT EXACTLY DULL1 BUT SAD80 

0,I %\LD ?9K SO60 HE REPLI$4 0,I HAVE FELT LIKE ?AT :5 EV]Y?+ 
 WAS ALL RI<T & EV]YONE WAS *E]FUL4 ,! ?\<T HAS COME 9TO MY M9D 
 ?AT ,I WAS ALREADY TIR$ ( IT ALL1 & ?AT WE MU/ ALL DIE4 ,ONCE 9 ! 
 REGIM5T ,I HAD NOT GONE TO SOME M]RYMAK+ :]E !RE WAS MUSIC444 & 
 SUDD5LY ,I FELT SO DEPRESS$4440 

0,OH YES1 ,I KN[1 ,I KN[1 ,I KN[60 ,NATA%A 9T]RUPT$ HIM4 0,:5 ,I WAS 
 QUITE LITTLE ?AT US$ TO BE SO ) ME4 ,DO Y\ REMEMB] :5 ,I WAS 
 PUNI%$ ONCE AB\T SOME PLUMS8 ,Y\ W]E ALL DANC+1 & ,I SAT SOBB+ 9 
 ! S*OOLROOM8 ,I %ALL NEV] =GET IT3 ,I FELT SAD & SORRY = 
 EV]YONE1 = MYSELF1 & = EV]YONE4 ,& ,I WAS 9NOC5T--?AT WAS 
 ! *IEF ?+10 SAID ,NATA%A4 0,DO Y\ REMEMB]80 

0,I REMEMB]10 ANSW]$ ,NI*OLAS4 0,I REMEMB] ?AT ,I CAME TO Y\ AFT]W>DS 
 & WANT$ TO COM=T Y\1 BUT DO Y\ KN[1 ,I FELT A%AM$ TO4 ,WE W]E 
 T]RIBLY ABSURD4 ,I HAD A FUNNY DOLL !N & WANT$ TO GIVE IT TO Y\4 ,DO 
 Y\ REMEMB]80 

0,& DO Y\ REMEMB]10 ,NATA%A ASK$ ) A P5SIVE SMILE1 0H[ ONCE1 
 LONG1 LONG AGO1 :5 WE W]E QUITE LITTLE1 ,UNCLE CALL$ US 9TO ! /UDY--?AT 
 WAS 9 ! OLD H\SE--& IT WAS D>K--WE W5T 9 & SUDD5LY 
 !RE /OOD4440 

0,A ,NEGRO10 *IM$ 9 ,NI*OLAS ) A SMILE ( DELI<T4 0,( C\RSE ,I 
 REMEMB]4 ,EV5 N[ ,I DON'T KN[ :E!R !RE REALLY WAS A ,NEGRO1 OR IF WE 
 ONLY DREAM$ IT OR W]E TOLD AB\T HIM40 

0,HE WAS GRAY1 Y\ REMEMB]1 & HAD :ITE TEE?1 & /OOD & LOOK$ AT 
 US44440 

0,SONYA1 DO Y\ REMEMB]80 ASK$ ,NI*OLAS4 

0,YES1 YES1 ,I DO REMEMB] SOME?+ TOO10 ,SONYA ANSW]$ TIMIDLY4 

0,Y\ KN[ ,I HAVE ASK$ ,PAPA & ,MAMA AB\T ?AT ,NEGRO10 SAID ,NATA%A1 
 0& !Y SAY !RE WAS NO ,NEGRO AT ALL4 ,BUT Y\ SEE1 Y\ REMEMB]60 

0,( C\RSE ,I DO1 ,I REMEMB] HIS TEE? AS IF ,I HAD JU/ SE5 !M40 

0,H[ /RANGE IT IS6 ,IT'S AS IF IT W]E A DREAM6 ,I LIKE ?AT40 

0,& DO Y\ REMEMB] H[ WE ROLL$ H>D-BOIL$ EGGS 9 ! BALLROOM1 & 
 SUDD5LY TWO OLD WOM5 BEGAN SP9N+ R\ND ON ! C>PET8 ,WAS ?AT REAL 
 OR NOT8 ,DO Y\ REMEMB] :AT FUN IT WAS80 

0,YES1 & Y\ REMEMB] H[ ,PAPA 9 HIS BLUE OV]COAT FIR$ A GUN 9 ! 
 POR*80 

,SO !Y W5T ?R\< !IR MEMORIES1 SMIL+ ) PLEASURE3 NOT ! SAD 
 MEMORIES ( OLD AGE1 BUT POETIC1 Y\?FUL ONES--?OSE IMPRESSIONS ( 
 ONE'S MO/ DI/ANT PA/ 9 :I* DREAMS & REALITIES BL5D--& !Y 
 LAU<$ ) QUIET 5JOYM5T4 

,SONYA1 AS ALWAYS1 DID NOT QUITE KEEP PACE ) !M1 ?\< !Y %>$ 
 ! SAME REM9ISC5CES4 

,MU* ?AT !Y REMEMB]$ HAD SLIPP$ FROM H] M9D1 & :AT %E RECALL$ 
 DID NOT >\SE ! SAME POETIC FEEL+ AS !Y EXP]I5C$4 ,%E SIMPLY 
 5JOY$ !IR PLEASURE & TRI$ TO FIT 9 ) IT4 

,%E ONLY REALLY TOOK P>T :5 !Y RECALL$ ,SONYA'S FIR/ >RIVAL4 ,%E 
 TOLD !M H[ AFRAID %E HAD BE5 ( ,NI*OLAS BECAUSE HE HAD ON A CORD$ 
 JACKET & H] NURSE HAD TOLD H] ?AT %E1 TOO1 W\LD BE SEWN UP ) 
 CORDS4 

0,& ,I REMEMB] !IR TELL+ ME ?AT Y\ HAD BE5 BORN UND] A CABBAGE10 
 SAID ,NATA%A1 0& ,I REMEMB] ?AT ,I D>$ NOT DISBELIEVE IT !N1 BUT 
 KNEW ?AT IT WAS NOT TRUE1 & ,I FELT SO UNCOM=TABLE40 

,:ILE !Y W]E TALK+ A MAID ?RU/ H] HEAD 9 AT ! O!R DOOR ( ! 
 SITT+ ROOM4 

0,!Y HAVE BR\<T ! COCK1 ,MISS10 %E SAID 9 A :ISP]4 

0,IT ISN'T WANT$1 ,POLYA4 ,TELL !M TO TAKE IT AWAY10 REPLI$ ,NATA%A4 

,9 ! MIDDLE ( !IR TALK 9 ! SITT+ ROOM1 ,DIMML] CAME 9 & W5T 
 UP TO ! H>P ?AT /OOD !RE 9 A CORN]4 ,HE TOOK (F ITS CLO? 
 COV]+1 & ! H>P GAVE \T A J>R+ S\ND4 

0,MR4 ,DIMML]1 PLEASE PLAY MY FAVORITE NOCTURNE BY ,FIELD10 CAME ! OLD 
 C\NTESS' VOICE FROM ! DRAW+ ROOM4 

,DIMML] /RUCK A *ORD &1 TURN+ TO ,NATA%A1 ,NI*OLAS1 & ,SONYA1 
 REM>K$3 0,H[ QUIET Y\ Y\NG PEOPLE >E60 

0,YES1 WE'RE PHILOSOPHIZ+10 SAID ,NATA%A1 GLANC+ R\ND = A MOM5T & 
 !N CONT9U+ ! CONV]SATION4 ,!Y W]E N[ DISCUSS+ DREAMS4 

,DIMML] BEGAN TO PLAY2 ,NATA%A W5T ON TIPTOE NOISELESSLY TO ! TABLE1 
 TOOK UP A C&LE1 C>RI$ IT \T1 & RETURN$1 SEAT+ H]SELF QUIETLY 9 
 H] =M] PLACE4 ,IT WAS D>K 9 ! ROOM ESPECIALLY :]E !Y W]E 
 SITT+ ON ! S(A1 BUT ?R\< ! BIG W9D[S ! SILV]Y LI<T ( ! 
 FULL MOON FELL ON ! FLOOR4 ,DIMML] HAD F9I%$ ! PIECE BUT /ILL SAT 
 S(TLY RUNN+ HIS F+]S OV] ! /R+S1 EVID5TLY UNC]TA9 :E!R 
 TO /OP OR TO PLAY SOME?+ ELSE4 

0,DO Y\ KN[10 SAID ,NATA%A 9 A :ISP]1 MOV+ CLOS] TO ,NI*OLAS & 
 ,SONYA1 0?AT :5 ONE GOES ON & ON RECALL+ MEMORIES1 ONE AT LA/ 
 BEG9S TO REMEMB] :AT HAPP5$ BE=E ONE WAS 9 ! WORLD44440 

0,?AT IS METEMPSY*OSIS10 SAID ,SONYA1 :O HAD ALWAYS LE>N$ WELL1 & 
 REMEMB]$ EV]Y?+4 0,! ,EGYPTIANS BELIEV$ ?AT \R S\LS HAVE LIV$ 
 9 ANIMALS1 & WILL GO BACK 9TO ANIMALS AGA940 

0,NO1 ,I DON'T BELIEVE WE EV] W]E 9 ANIMALS10 SAID ,NATA%A1 /ILL 9 A 
 :ISP] ?\< ! MUSIC HAD CEAS$4 0,BUT ,I AM C]TA9 ?AT WE W]E ANGELS 
 SOME:]E !RE1 & HAVE BE5 H]E1 & ?AT IS :Y WE REMEMB]44440 

0,MAY ,I JO9 Y\80 SAID ,DIMML] :O HAD COME UP QUIETLY1 & HE SAT D[N BY 
 !M4 

0,IF WE HAVE BE5 ANGELS1 :Y HAVE WE FALL5 L[]80 SAID ,NI*OLAS4 0,NO1 
 ?AT CAN'T BE60 

0,NOT L[]1 :O SAID WE W]E L[]8444 ,H[ DO ,I KN[ :AT ,I WAS BE=E80 
 ,NATA%A REJO9$ ) CONVICTION4 0,! S\L IS IMMORTAL--WELL !N1 
 IF ,I %ALL ALWAYS LIVE ,I MU/ HAVE LIV$ BE=E1 LIV$ = A :OLE 
 ET]NITY40 

0,YES1 BUT IT IS H>D = US TO IMAG9E ET]NITY10 REM>K$ ,DIMML]1 :O 
 HAD JO9$ ! Y\NG FOLK ) A MILDLY CONDESC5D+ SMILE BUT N[ SPOKE 
 AS QUIETLY & S]I\SLY AS !Y4 

0,:Y IS IT H>D TO IMAG9E ET]NITY80 SAID ,NATA%A4 0,IT IS N[ TODAY1 & 
 IT WILL BE TOMORR[1 & ALWAYS2 & !RE WAS YE/]DAY1 & ! DAY 
 BE=E44440 

0,NATA%A6 ,N[ IT'S Y\R TURN4 ,S+ ME SOME?+10 !Y HE>D ! C\NTESS 
 SAY4 0,:Y >E Y\ SITT+ !RE LIKE CONSPIRATORS80 

0,MAMA1 ,I DON'T AT ALL WANT TO10 REPLI$ ,NATA%A1 BUT ALL ! SAME %E 
 ROSE4 

,NONE ( !M1 NOT EV5 ! MIDDLE-AG$ ,DIMML]1 WANT$ TO BREAK (F !IR 
 CONV]SATION & QUIT ?AT CORN] 9 ! SITT+ ROOM1 BUT ,NATA%A GOT UP 
 & ,NI*OLAS SAT D[N AT ! CLAVI*ORD4 ,/&+ AS USUAL 9 ! MIDDLE 
 ( ! HALL & *OOS+ ! PLACE :]E ! RESONANCE WAS BE/1 ,NATA%A 
 BEGAN TO S+ H] MO!R'S FAVORITE SONG4 

,%E HAD SAID %E DID NOT WANT TO S+1 BUT IT WAS LONG S9CE %E HAD SUNG1 
 & LONG BE=E %E AGA9 SANG1 AS %E DID ?AT EV5+4 ,! C\NT1 FROM 
 HIS /UDY :]E HE WAS TALK+ TO ,MIT5KA1 HE>D H] &1 LIKE A S*OOLBOY 
 9 A HURRY TO RUN \T TO PLAY1 BLUND]$ 9 HIS TALK :ILE GIV+ ORD]S 
 TO ! /EW>D1 & AT LA/ /OPP$1 :ILE ,MIT5KA /OOD 9 FRONT ( HIM 
 ALSO LI/5+ & SMIL+4 ,NI*OLAS DID NOT TAKE HIS EYES (F HIS SI/] 
 & DREW BREA? 9 TIME ) H]4 ,SONYA1 AS %E LI/5$1 ?\<T ( ! 
 IMM5SE DIFF]5CE !RE WAS BETWE5 H]SELF & H] FRI5D1 & H[ 
 IMPOSSIBLE IT WAS = H] TO BE ANY?+ LIKE AS BEWIT*+ AS H] C\S94 
 ,! OLD C\NTESS SAT ) A BLISSFUL YET SAD SMILE & ) TE>S 9 H] 
 EYES1 OCCASIONALLY %AK+ H] HEAD4 ,%E ?\<T ( ,NATA%A & ( H] [N 
 Y\?1 & ( H[ !RE WAS SOME?+ UNNATURAL & DREADFUL 9 ?IS 
 IMP5D+ M>RIAGE ( ,NATA%A & ,PR9CE ,&REW4 

,DIMML]1 :O HAD SEAT$ HIMSELF BESIDE ! C\NTESS1 LI/5$ ) CLOS$ 
 EYES4 

0,AH1 ,C\NTESS10 HE SAID AT LA/1 0?AT'S A ,EUROPEAN TAL5T1 %E HAS 
 NO?+ TO LE>N--:AT S(TNESS1 T5D]NESS1 & /R5G?44440 

0,AH1 H[ AFRAID ,I AM = H]1 H[ AFRAID ,I AM60 SAID ! C\NTESS1 NOT 
 REALIZ+ TO :OM %E WAS SPEAK+4 ,H] MAT]NAL 9/9CT TOLD H] ?AT 
 ,NATA%A HAD TOO MU* ( SOME?+1 & ?AT BECAUSE ( ?IS %E W\LD NOT 
 BE HAPPY4 ,BE=E ,NATA%A HAD F9I%$ S++1 F\RTE5-YE>-OLD ,PETYA 
 RU%$ 9 DELI<T$LY1 TO SAY ?AT SOME MUMM]S HAD >RIV$4 

,NATA%A /OPP$ ABRUPTLY4 

0,IDIOT60 %E SCREAM$ AT H] BRO!R &1 RUNN+ TO A *AIR1 ?REW 
 H]SELF ON IT1 SOBB+ SO VIOL5TLY ?AT %E C\LD NOT /OP = A LONG 
 TIME4 

0,IT'S NO?+1 ,MAMA1 REALLY IT'S NO?+2 ONLY ,PETYA />TL$ ME10 %E 
 SAID1 TRY+ TO SMILE1 BUT H] TE>S /ILL FL[$ & SOBS /ILL *OK$ 
 H]4 

,! MUMM]S 7SOME ( ! H\SE S]FS7 DRESS$ UP AS BE>S1 ,TURKS1 
 9NKEEP]S1 & LADIES--FRI<T5+ & FUNNY--BR++ 9 ) 
 !M ! COLD FROM \TSIDE & A FEEL+ ( GAIETY1 CR[D$1 AT FIR/ 
 TIMIDLY1 9TO ! ANT]OOM1 !N HID+ BEH9D ONE ANO!R !Y PU%$ 
 9TO ! BALLROOM :]E1 %YLY AT FIR/ & !N MORE & MORE M]RILY & 
 HE>TILY1 !Y />T$ S++1 DANC+1 & PLAY+ ,*RI/MAS GAMES4 ,! 
 C\NTESS1 :5 %E HAD ID5TIFI$ !M & LAU<$ AT !IR CO/UMES1 W5T 
 9TO ! DRAW+ ROOM4 ,! C\NT SAT 9 ! BALLROOM1 SMIL+ RADIANTLY 
 & APPLAUD+ ! PLAY]S4 ,! Y\NG PEOPLE HAD DISAPPE>$4 

,HALF AN H\R LAT] !RE APPE>$ AMONG ! O!R MUMM]S 9 ! BALLROOM 
 AN OLD LADY 9 A HOOP$ SKIRT--?IS WAS ,NI*OLAS4 ,A ,TURKI% GIRL WAS 
 ,PETYA4 ,A CL[N WAS ,DIMML]4 ,AN HUSS> WAS ,NATA%A1 & A ,CIRCASSIAN WAS 
 ,SONYA ) BURNT-CORK MU/A*E & EYEBR[S4 

,AFT] ! CONDESC5D+ SURPRISE1 NONRECOGNITION1 & PRAISE1 FROM ?OSE 
 :O W]E NOT !MSELVES DRESS$ UP1 ! Y\NG PEOPLE DECID$ ?AT !IR 
 CO/UMES W]E SO GOOD ?AT !Y \<T TO BE %[N ELSE:]E4 

,NI*OLAS1 :O1 AS ! ROADS W]E 9 SPL5DID CONDITION1 WANT$ TO TAKE 
 !M ALL = A DRIVE 9 HIS TROYKA1 PROPOS$ TO TAKE ) !M AB\T A 
 DOZ5 ( ! S]F MUMM]S & DRIVE TO 0,UNCLE'S40 

0,NO1 :Y DI/URB ! OLD FELL[80 SAID ! C\NTESS4 0,BESIDES1 Y\ 
 W\LDN'T HAVE ROOM TO TURN R\ND !RE4 ,IF Y\ MU/ GO1 GO TO ! 
 ,MELYUKOVS'40 

,MELYUKOVA WAS A WID[1 :O1 ) H] FAMILY & !IR TUTORS & 
 GOV]NESSES1 LIV$ ?REE MILES FROM ! ,RO/OVS4 

0,?AT'S RI<T1 MY DE>10 *IM$ 9 ! OLD C\NT1 ?OR\<LY >\S$4 
 0,I'LL DRESS UP AT ONCE & GO ) !M4 ,I'LL MAKE ,PA%ETTE OP5 H] 
 EYES40 

,BUT ! C\NTESS W\LD NOT AGREE TO HIS GO+2 HE HAD HAD A BAD LEG ALL 
 !SE LA/ DAYS4 ,IT WAS DECID$ ?AT ! C\NT MU/ NOT GO1 BUT ?AT IF 
 ,L\ISA ,IVANOVNA 7,MADAME ,S*OSS7 W\LD GO ) !M1 ! Y\NG LADIES MI<T 
 GO TO ! ,MELYUKOVS'1 ,SONYA1 G5]ALLY SO TIMID & %Y1 MORE URG5TLY 
 ?AN ANYONE BEGG+ ,L\ISA ,IVANOVNA NOT TO REFUSE4 

,SONYA'S CO/UME WAS ! BE/ ( ALL4 ,H] MU/A*E & EYEBR[S W]E 
 EXTRAORD9>ILY BECOM+4 ,EV]YONE TOLD H] %E LOOK$ V]Y H&SOME1 & 
 %E WAS 9 A SPIRIT$ & 5]GETIC MOOD UNUSUAL ) H]4 ,SOME 9N] 
 VOICE TOLD H] ?AT N[ OR NEV] H] FATE W\LD BE DECID$1 & 9 H] 
 MALE ATTIRE %E SEEM$ QUITE A DIFF]5T P]SON4 ,L\ISA ,IVANOVNA CONS5T$ 
 TO GO1 & 9 HALF AN H\R F\R TROYKA SLEI<S ) L>GE & SMALL BELLS1 
 !IR RUNN]S SQUEAK+ & :I/L+ OV] ! FROZ5 SN[1 DROVE UP TO 
 ! POR*4 

,NATA%A WAS =EMO/ 9 SETT+ A M]RY HOLIDAY TONE1 :I*1 PASS+ FROM 
 ONE TO ANO!R1 GREW /RONG] & REA*$ ITS CLIMAX :5 !Y ALL CAME 
 \T 9TO ! FRO/ & GOT 9TO ! SLEI<S1 TALK+1 CALL+ TO ONE 
 ANO!R1 LAU<+1 & %\T+4 

,TWO ( ! TROYKAS W]E ! USUAL H\SEHOLD SLEI<S1 ! ?IRD WAS ! OLD 
 C\NT'S ) A TROTT] FROM ! ,ORLOV /UD AS %AFT HORSE1 ! F\R? WAS 
 ,NI*OLAS' [N ) A %ORT %AGGY BLACK %AFT HORSE4 ,NI*OLAS1 9 HIS OLD 
 LADY'S DRESS OV] :I* HE HAD BELT$ HIS HUSS> OV]COAT1 /OOD 9 ! 
 MIDDLE ( ! SLEI<1 RE9S 9 H&4 

,IT WAS SO LI<T ?AT HE C\LD SEE ! MOONLI<T REFLECT$ FROM ! METAL 
 H>NESS DISKS & FROM ! EYES ( ! HORSES1 :O LOOK$ R\ND 9 AL>M 
 AT ! NOISY P>TY UND] ! %AD[ ( ! POR* RO(4 

,NATA%A1 ,SONYA1 ,MADAME ,S*OSS1 & TWO MAIDS GOT 9TO ,NI*OLAS' SLEI<2 
 ,DIMML]1 HIS WIFE1 & ,PETYA1 9TO ! OLD C\NT'S1 & ! RE/ ( ! 
 MUMM]S SEAT$ !MSELVES 9 ! O!R TWO SLEI<S4 

0,Y\ GO AHEAD1 ,ZAKH>60 %\T$ ,NI*OLAS TO HIS FA!R'S COA*MAN1 WI%+ 
 = A *ANCE TO RACE PA/ HIM4 

,! OLD C\NT'S TROYKA1 ) ,DIMML] & HIS P>TY1 />T$ =W>D1 
 SQUEAK+ ON ITS RUNN]S AS ?\< FREEZ+ TO ! SN[1 ITS DEEP-TON$ 
 BELL CLANG+4 ,! SIDE HORSES1 PRESS+ AGA9/ ! %AFTS ( ! MIDDLE 
 HORSE1 SANK 9 ! SN[1 :I* WAS DRY & GLITT]$ LIKE SUG>1 & ?REW 
 IT UP4 

,NI*OLAS SET (F1 FOLL[+ ! FIR/ SLEI<2 BEH9D HIM ! O!RS MOV$ 
 NOISILY1 !IR RUNN]S SQUEAK+4 ,AT FIR/ !Y DROVE AT A /EADY TROT 
 ALONG ! N>R[ ROAD4 ,:ILE !Y DROVE PA/ ! G>D5 ! %AD[S ( ! 
 B>E TREES (T5 FELL ACROSS ! ROAD & HID ! BRILLIANT MOONLI<T1 BUT 
 AS SOON AS !Y W]E PA/ ! F5CE1 ! SN[Y PLA9 BA!D 9 MOONLI<T 
 & MOTIONLESS SPREAD \T BE=E !M GLITT]+ LIKE DIAMONDS & DAPPL$ 
 ) BLUI% %AD[S4 ,BANG1 BANG6 W5T ! FIR/ SLEI< OV] A CRADLE HOLE 
 9 ! SN[ ( ! ROAD1 & EA* ( ! O!R SLEI<S JOLT$ 9 ! SAME 
 WAY1 & RUDELY BREAK+ ! FRO/-B\ND /ILLNESS1 ! TROYKAS BEGAN TO 
 SPE$ ALONG ! ROAD1 ONE AFT] ! O!R4 

0,A H>E'S TRACK1 A LOT ( TRACKS60 RANG \T ,NATA%A'S VOICE ?R\< ! 
 FRO/-B\ND AIR4 

0,H[ LI<T IT IS1 ,NI*OLAS60 CAME ,SONYA'S VOICE4 

,NI*OLAS GLANC$ R\ND AT ,SONYA1 & B5T D[N TO SEE H] FACE CLOS]4 
 ,QUITE A NEW1 SWEET FACE ) BLACK EYEBR[S & MU/A*ES PEEP$ UP AT HIM 
 FROM H] SABLE FURS--SO CLOSE & YET SO DI/ANT--9 ! 
 MOONLI<T4 

0,?AT US$ TO BE ,SONYA10 ?\<T HE1 & LOOK$ AT H] CLOS] & SMIL$4 

0,:AT IS IT1 ,NI*OLAS80 

0,NO?+10 SAID HE & TURN$ AGA9 TO ! HORSES4 

,:5 !Y CAME \T ONTO ! BEAT5 HI<ROAD--POLI%$ BY SLEI< 
 RUNN]S & CUT UP BY R\<-%OD HO(S1 ! M>KS ( :I* W]E VISIBLE 9 
 ! MOONLI<T--! HORSES BEGAN TO TUG AT ! RE9S ( !IR [N 
 ACCORD & 9CREAS$ !IR PACE4 ,! NE> SIDE HORSE1 >*+ HIS HEAD & 
 BREAK+ 9TO A %ORT CANT]1 TUGG$ AT HIS TRACES4 ,! %AFT HORSE SWAY$ 
 FROM SIDE TO SIDE1 MOV+ HIS E>S AS IF ASK+3 0,ISN'T IT TIME TO BEG9 
 N[80 ,9 FRONT1 ALREADY F> AHEAD ! DEEP BELL ( ! SLEI< R++ 
 F>!R & F>!R (F1 ! BLACK HORSES DRIV5 BY ,ZAKH> C\LD BE 
 CLE>LY SE5 AGA9/ ! :ITE SN[4 ,FROM ?AT SLEI< ONE C\LD HE> ! 
 %\TS1 LAU<T]1 & VOICES ( ! MUMM]S4 

0,GEE UP1 MY D>L+S60 %\T$ ,NI*OLAS1 PULL+ ! RE9S TO ONE SIDE & 
 FL\RI%+ ! :IP4 

,IT WAS ONLY BY ! KE5] W9D ?AT MET !M & ! J]KS GIV5 BY ! 
 SIDE HORSES :O PULL$ H>D]--EV] 9CREAS+ !IR GALLOP--?AT 
 ONE NOTIC$ H[ FA/ ! TROYKA WAS FLY+4 ,NI*OLAS LOOK$ BACK4 ,) 
 SCREAMS SQUEALS1 & WAV+ ( :IPS ?AT CAUS$ EV5 ! %AFT HORSES TO 
 GALLOP--! O!R SLEI<S FOLL[$4 ,! %AFT HORSE SWUNG /EADILY 
 B5EA? ! B[ OV] ITS HEAD1 ) NO ?\<T ( SLACK5+ PACE & 
 READY TO PUT ON SPE$ :5 REQUIR$4 

,NI*OLAS OV]TOOK ! FIR/ SLEI<4 ,!Y W]E DRIV+ D[NHILL & COM+ 
 \T UPON A BROAD TRODD5 TRACK ACROSS A MEAD[1 NE> A RIV]4 

0,:]E >E WE80 ?\<T HE4 0,IT'S ! ,KOSOY MEAD[1 ,I 
 SUPPOSE4 ,BUT NO--?IS IS SOME?+ NEW ,I'VE NEV] SE5 BE=E4 ,?IS 
 ISN'T ! ,KOSOY MEAD[ NOR ! ,DEMK9 HILL1 & HEAV5 ONLY KN[S :AT IT IS6 
 ,IT IS SOME?+ NEW & 5*ANT$4 ,WELL1 :ATEV] IT MAY BE4440 ,& %\T+ 
 TO HIS HORSES1 HE BEGAN TO PASS ! FIR/ SLEI<4 

,ZAKH> HELD BACK HIS HORSES & TURN$ HIS FACE1 :I* WAS ALREADY COV]$ 
 ) HO>FRO/ TO HIS EYEBR[S4 

,NI*OLAS GAVE ! HORSES ! RE91 & ,ZAKH>1 /RET*+ \T HIS >MS1 
 CLUCK$ HIS TONGUE & LET HIS HORSES GO4 

0,N[1 LOOK \T1 MA/]60 HE CRI$4 

,FA/] /ILL ! TWO TROYKAS FLEW SIDE BY SIDE1 & FA/] MOV$ ! FEET 
 ( ! GALLOP+ SIDE HORSES4 ,NI*OLAS BEGAN TO DRAW AHEAD4 ,ZAKH>1 :ILE 
 /ILL KEEP+ HIS >MS EXT5D$1 RAIS$ ONE H& ) ! RE9S4 

0,NO Y\ WON'T1 MA/]60 HE %\T$4 

,NI*OLAS PUT ALL HIS HORSES TO A GALLOP & PASS$ ,ZAKH>4 ,! HORSES 
 %[]$ ! F9E DRY SN[ ON ! FACES ( ?OSE 9 ! SLEI<--BESIDE 
 !M S\ND$ QUICK R++ BELLS & !Y CAU<T CONFUS$ GLIMPSES ( 
 SWIFTLY MOV+ LEGS & ! %AD[S ( ! TROYKA !Y W]E PASS+4 ,! 
 :I/L+ S\ND ( ! RUNN]S ON ! SN[ & ! VOICES ( GIRLS 
 %RIEK+ W]E HE>D FROM DIFF]5T SIDES4 

,AGA9 *ECK+ HIS HORSES1 ,NI*OLAS LOOK$ >\ND HIM4 ,!Y W]E /ILL 
 SURR\ND$ BY ! MAGIC PLA9 BA!D 9 MOONLI<T & SPANGL$ ) />S4 

0,ZAKH> IS %\T+ ?AT ,I %\LD TURN TO ! LEFT1 BUT :Y TO ! LEFT80 
 ?\<T ,NI*OLAS4 0,>E WE GETT+ TO ! ,MELYUKOVS'8 ,IS ?IS ,MELYUKOVKA8 
 ,HEAV5 ONLY KN[S :]E WE >E GO+1 & HEAV5 KN[S :AT IS HAPP5+ 
 TO US--BUT IT IS V]Y /RANGE & PLEASANT :ATEV] IT IS40 ,& HE 
 LOOK$ R\ND 9 ! SLEI<4 

0,LOOK1 HIS MU/A*E & EYELA%ES >E ALL :ITE60 SAID ONE ( ! /RANGE1 
 PRETTY1 UNFAMILI> PEOPLE--! ONE ) F9E EYEBR[S & MU/A*E4 

0,I ?9K ?IS US$ TO BE ,NATA%A10 ?\<T ,NI*OLAS1 0& ?AT WAS ,MADAME 
 ,S*OSS1 BUT P]HAPS IT'S NOT1 & ?IS ,CIRCASSIAN ) ! MU/A*E ,I 
 DON'T KN[1 BUT ,I LOVE H]40 

0,>5'T Y\ COLD80 HE ASK$4 

,!Y DID NOT ANSW] BUT BEGAN TO LAU<4 ,DIMML] FROM ! SLEI< BEH9D 
 %\T$ SOME?+--PROBABLY SOME?+ FUNNY--BUT !Y C\LD NOT 
 MAKE \T :AT HE SAID4 

0,YES1 YES60 SOME VOICES ANSW]$1 LAU<+4 

0,BUT H]E WAS A FAIRY =E/ ) BLACK MOV+ %AD[S1 & A GLITT] ( 
 DIAMONDS & A FLI<T ( M>BLE /EPS & ! SILV] RO(S ( FAIRY 
 BUILD+S & ! %RILL YELLS ( SOME ANIMALS4 ,& IF ?IS IS REALLY 
 ,MELYUKOVKA1 IT IS /ILL /RANG] ?AT WE DROVE HEAV5 KN[S :]E & HAVE 
 COME TO ,MELYUKOVKA10 ?\<T ,NI*OLAS4 

,IT REALLY WAS ,MELYUKOVKA1 & MAIDS & FOOTM5 ) M]RY FACES CAME 
 RUNN+1 \T TO ! POR* C>RY+ C&LES4 

0,:O IS IT80 ASK$ SOMEONE 9 ! POR*4 

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