The way to the Wunderland and Heartland. Immortals. The abode of Immortals

– Enough Semyon, – Comrade Kharatyev reassured, – Alexey is two-core, and maybe even stronger… And then you will jump out aground…

Experienced and attentive to all the little things, Fedor looked closer to the shore, as if he saw there, finally, something sensible for everyone.

– Hear, senior, and there is a baydara Demyan. And people, not from his artel, I’m telling you for sure, – Myasnikov quickly said, – something bad happened, you need to figure it out.

– Get close and ask in a row. Row faster, – Kharatyev commanded.

– Here, take the binoculars, – Alexey handed the box, – it will be better with him!

– Indeed, – admired looking through the eyepieces, and twisted the lamb, adjusting the clarity, – you are right, Fedor. Pestimory himself!

Grandfather looked, and immediately gave this optics back to the Swede in his hands. Myasnikov himself reached for a gun and took out loaded cartridges from his bag. And the baidara tizo came to the shore, poked into the thickets of reeds. Athanasius listened, but no, it was quiet in this backwater. Artelchiki hid in the bushes, trying not to notice them

– With good you remain, Andryukha da Yeryoma. Sit here, wait for us, protect the belongings. In the four, we will quickly manage. Are you clear? Haratyev asked sharply.

Both noticed how the elder immediately looked down on his face, and somehow thought about entering into disputes. Both were silent.

***

– Listen, Athanasius, – Alexey continued to say slowly, putting his words like bricks in masonry, – let me deal with them alone, Del for a minute, and you will not have to risk it. It will be better. That’s right Fedor said, thin people are people… They ate their comrade, from their cauldron, and from them now they carry a human…

Kharatiev furrowed his eyebrows, reflecting. For order, the prince himself smelled of nothing but burning and smoke from a distant fire. And he could not decide without talking to strangers…

– And what will you do, Swede? asked the elder, squinting his eyes.

– I will kill all the villains, and that’s it. We will take the baydar and prey, I will drown the corpses in the river, no one will find. I know how to do it well. Believe me, it will be better. If we start a conversation, I can’t be in time everywhere, and someone can die.

Even Pankratov was surprised when listening to such speeches. And then, such a foreigner, slender, clean-shaven and free, and broadcasts more terrible than any Yakut or Buryat who embarked on the path of bloody revenge. So he says, as if he was going to gut the fish and fry, and not take people’s lives. One Myasnikov was not surprised, only smiled slyly, and scratched his head.

– Yes, I immediately knew, soaring, – he said, looking directly into the eyes of Alexei, – Elbasy, so? Did you decide to hunt? Then you won’t kill us for an hour? You let him go, Athanasius. He needs to drink blood.

– Yes, I don’t drink blood, grandfather Fedor, what are you doing? ‘the Swede laughed.

But he looked as if he had now recognized Grandfather anew. But, in the face did not change, he was also calm.

– Okay. There is nothing to argue. Semyon, keep your gun ready, and you, Fedor, too. Do not kill strangers right away, you need to listen to who they are, – Kharatyev decided everything.

The Swede did not argue, only quickly loaded his hard drive with ten cartridges, and took a belt on a gun, holding the pile in the ground, and his palm lay on the neck of the butt. He was ready to fire. Athanasius only shook his head, accepting the inevitable. Pankratov also loaded his double-barreled gun. There was nothing to hesitate, it seems they were noticed, and the artelshiki quickly went to the tent of strangers.

***

– Hello, kind people! – Athanasius immediately said to strangers, – who will be? Where are you going?

This was customary, and the elder wanted to do as he should. He is not a beast, and not a man without a clan without a tribe, that without law or custom to act. But now he spoke quickly, assertively. I just wanted to crush the eccentrics, deprive me of self-confidence, and maybe scare me.

Forward came out, the eldest of their vatagi, knocked down his cap on the back of his head, nodded up, put his left leg forward, showing that he was not afraid of all one thing.

– Call me Zovutkoy, and on the business here, and where we go – and not your business. It’s not for you to tell us! And if you want, if with good, then sit down, we will treat you with tea! For the sake of a new acquaintance!

Athanasius himself sat down, once offered and Semyon was located nearby. Fedor thought about everything, corrected the gate of his shirt. And the Swede stood still.

– Bring tea to the guests! shouted the elder strangers.

Alexey kept watching how three came up on the left and right, and had already found the handle of a knife in his pocket. As the cry came:

– Tivda! It’s me, Nastasya! They tied me up! They are fugitive convicts!

It turned out as if the alarm from the bell tower rang. Everything seemed to freeze at once. But strangers tried to take up arms, this grandfather Fedor still managed to notice. And then I saw how only three bodies fell to the ground, pouring it with their blood. Fedor threw up his gun, as he thought very quickly, and a revolver shot was already heard. A Swede fell to the ground with a shot through his head, who suddenly appeared in front of Athanasius. Here Pankratov did not blunder, with a blow of the butt he knocked down the ground of the surviving convict.

The elder immediately sat down with the lying Alexei, took out a bloody knife from his hand. Blood oozed from the wound above the left ear, the new comrade was no longer breathing. Kharatyev sighed heavily, his soul became so nasty and dreary that he breathed with difficulty.

– Fedor, come back, let Andryukha and Yeryoma sula go with a kaydara, – nevertheless Athanasius could dispose of, – Sema, knit this bastard! – and the elder kicked the lying

And Kharatyev, again briefly looked at the murdered Alexei, and only now ran to the bound girl. Squatted down, untied the rope on his feet. His hands trembled disgustingly, and his head became like a stone. He looked closely at the captive. Beautiful, of course, you just can’t take your eyes off. And then, you will not say right away who is what class. Dress was sewn by an excellent cutter, a good craftsman and the fabric was not cheap. A fashionable skirt made of expensive fabric, a women’s jacket, a magnificent woolen Orenburg scarf on the shoulders, and silk, covered the hair. Athanasius saw so well-dressed young ladies only in Tobolsk. So this girl did not look like a peasant woman.

– My name is Anastasia, – said the former captive, – from the capture of Timofey Lukich, I am his daughter.

“Daughter?” Not far from here, – Kharatyev answered out of place, but he himself felt like cotton wool in his ears, – Well, maybe. It’s good that everything…

And he undertook to untie the hands of the girl. He tried to work with a knife, but almost pricked it, and again began to pull with his fingers, and then removed the tight ropes. He took his breath away from Natuga and experienced, but quite a bit, and the hunter sat down. He began to tremble. He turned his head to the clearing where the body of a comrade remained. The head was now completely empty, and then they would explain to the girl! And it was a pity for Alexei, he did not listen to a good man! The thoughts in the elder’s head were confused, and he grabbed the whiskey in exhaustion.

– Where’s Tivda? asked the girl anxiously, rubbing her stiff arms and legs, where was he? I saw him here, – and looked into the eyes of Kharatiev.

– It never happened to us. Let’s go. We will gather. It’s time to get out of here.

CHAPTER 12 Unexpectedly Resurrected

They passed quite a bit, and suddenly a terrible cry cut through the ears. The dog howled loudly. Athanasius even died when he heard this. And Nastasya ran to the killed Alexei, where he shouted and sobbed Eryom. The boy just beat on the chest of the dead, as if he could wake up and get up. Druzhok also ran up, licked the victim’s whitened face several times, poked his nose in the shoulder a couple of times, and lay down nearby.

Kharatyev did not know where to put himself, his legs themselves carried him into the tent of strangers. There he began to pull out bags and other luggage, throwing them next to a barely burning fire. Simple work distracted a little, and he was able to calm down a little.

Semyon sighed heavily, threw his gun and the Swede’s hard drive behind his back, and looked around the bodies of the murdered convicts.

– Exactly convicts, senior… Here, and traces from shackles on the wrists, – Semyon said loudly, – but Alexey famously put them right at once…

Again he breathed heavier, but there was no one to regret him. Then he sat down, and began to turn out the pockets of convicts. It was simple, just unpleasant. And, it’s good that a little blood came out, everyone received a knife injection in the heart.

– How Lyokha managed everything, it is not clear, – Pankratov muttered under his breath, – I honestly did not notice anything.

But there was nothing special. So, three Finnish knives and a couple of brass knuckles. Money, with credit tickets, for one hundred and twenty rubles, and in a silver coin, for another twenty rubles. There was no one to argue and argue with him. And then, dead, he will not say anything against anything. He looked, then pulled off his bodies and boots, but good did not disappear. Put it in a heap. Well, then, Pankratov was dragged by the hands into the distant bushes of the dead, all three at once.

And then he seemed to wake up from Yeryom’s grief, as if he remembered. He stood up, looked around with red eyes from tears, and shouted:

“Who killed him?”

“Who killed me?” So he shot, a song of soul, – grandfather Fedor nodded at the bound, and thoroughly kicked the convict under the very ribs.

The bound convict rolled over and tried to crawl away. He pushed himself absurdly, resting his heels on the ground, and so glided his back on the grass. As if he hoped to hide from here to hell. It was funny, but no one smiled.

True, Myasnikov did not expect what would happen next. Yeryom grabbed an ax lying near the branches prepared for the fire, and went to the culprit.

– No, no! – screamed foolishly the bound villain, already saying goodbye to life.

It’s good that Fedor grabbed Yeryoma from behind, pressed his hands tightly, and he dropped the ax. True, the grandfather felt something under his palms that should not have been. And the boy suddenly turned painfully red and quietly asked:

– Don’t tell anyone grandfather…

He only nodded with meaning, and released Krasilnikov from his iron embrace.

– Do not be afraid, everything will be fine, – Fyodor whispered, – by the evening it will form…

Yeryoma only looked at his grandfather incomprehensibly, and having calmed down, he sat down on a churbachok next to the murdered man. Nastasya, now with a leather bucket full of water, began to wash the head of the dead from blood. Her good satin scarf turned pink, but there were no traces of blood on the temple of the murdered.

– It would be necessary to put it in a tent, or something like that, – Andrey said quietly.

– Come on, carried, – agreed grandfather.

Together, by the arms by the legs, they brought the body, almost colliding with Kharatiev. He retreated a little inward, allowing the artisans to pass.

“They came up with the right idea,” he whispered, and covered the face of the dead found here with a towel.

– It is necessary to tie both hands and feet, according to custom, – said Usoltsev.

– Yes don’t, children, – Fedor didn’t agree, – to anything it is.

“Let’s tie it up, if necessary,” Athanasius said louder, “we’ll do everything as it should.” He did not regret himself for us. And in the morning and bury, as it should. Okay, grandfather, look how you can remember here. I found two bottles of vodka here. And we have one more in the kayak. And you also need to dig a grave. I’ll do it…

– Okay, let’s go to the table to set…, – Andrey said quietly.

CHAPTER 13 He Who Never Dies

Yeremey sat on an old tree, no longer crying. I could not, as if the tears were over. Usoltsev and Myasnikov were busy with dinner, put a pot and a kettle on fire. And an unfamiliar girl still looked sympathetically at the boy, then picked him up from the ground and dusted off his fallen cap.

“Here, take it,” the girl said quietly.

“Thank you,” Yeryom replied nasal, “how do you know Alexei?” And why did Tivda call him? – and looked so, not good.

“That’s how Tivda is. I escaped from his monastery. I am his bride.

Anastasia said so, and did not regret it. And then, you can’t tell the whole truth, they won’t believe it. And, is he Immortal, if now the dead lies? And here, she was deceived. Everything turned out badly, Nastasya reproached herself, nodded endlessly.

– Why? – and Yeryoma made round eyes, turned white, so much so that freckles on his snub nose became visible..

Nastya decided that this guy would be a girl, it would look so nice. And very. And so, while awkward a little.

“Yes, she was a fool, I didn’t understand right away,” she answered honestly now, “she was frightened of him. They knew little.

– Yes, he was brave, and a good hunter, even caught birds on the fly. And very strong. And now… Dead…

But this time Yeryoma restrained himself, did not burst into tears. Although it was clear that it was hard for the young man. He was suffocating, and hastily opened the gates of his kosovorotka.

Meanwhile, everything was ready. Athanasius returned, tapped the shovel from the adhering earth, rinsed his hands. It was evident that his body shirt was soaked through. The elder worked today, not sorry for himself. He took a towel and went to wash himself at the river. I didn’t come back very quickly.

The collected good Pankratov, together with Usoltsev, carried the artisans to the kayak, and Krasilnikov and Myasnikov prepared a decent commemoration. The elder returned already in a clean shirt, patted things on the shoulder, thanks to his work.

Everyone sat down near the fire, and the grandfather carefully, so as not to burn himself, put all the food in wooden bowls. The aluminum plate remained empty, vodka was poured into the deceased’s mug, and a cracker was placed. Of course, there was no bread. After all, not only wine is remembered, but food. Those who gathered here, these people worked together, and walked side by side along the river and taiga. And now they remembered the one who left for good.

– Well, it seems that’s all… – Kharatyev stood up, with a mug in his hand, – for the memory of the soul of Alexei, our brave comrade. A man laid down his head for us, and let the earth rest in peace!

– Let’s remember,” the rest of the artisans said at once.

Pankratov and Usoltsev drained the mugs at once, and began to eat. Quickly, I bet, as they did any business, even on hunting or fishing, and doing diligence, washing gold out of the ground. Yeryoma only touched the edge of his mug with his lips, and gradually ate fish, breaking off a piece.

Hungry Nastasya tried to restrain herself, although she did not eat for three days. Chinno ate porridge, slowly. I was afraid that it would rumble in my stomach now, but no, nothing happened. And having eaten what they put to her, she moved an empty bowl away from her. Although she was also trying smoked venison, she stopped herself.

One grandfather smiled slyly, and looked at his old watch. As if waiting for something. No, I sipped vodka from a mug, ate boiled fish from a pot, and meat. And it was not noticeable that he was at least a little upset. But somehow patience left him. Fedor swallowed a cap on his gray head, and went to the tent. Nobody understood why? But the canopy closed, and they heard that grandfather sat down on the flooring on which the dead body lay.

– Hey, guy, they’re good! – they heard Myasnikov’s voice from there, – you look, scattered! Why persuade you, or something!

– Grandfather, what are you doing? – shouted seriously frightened Kharatyev, – did the meryachka attack you? Semyon, Fedor needs to be knitted, otherwise it will be bad!

Siberians knew how suddenly this ailment attacks, depriving people of their minds at once. Many drown in the sea or on the river, not remembering themselves. And it helps if a person is tied up, and left motionless for a couple of days. Many after this disease let go.

– Now, senior! – and Pankratov immediately jumped up.

– And your ropes are strong, good, – suddenly they heard a familiar voice, – okay, I’m going. Do you have a wake there? – and the “dead” Swede laughed – you can’t start without me! So the biggest share is due to me!

– Yes, there is a lot of food, let’s go, – answered the grandfather, – they were waiting for you. Enough supplies for everyone!

Of those sitting by the fire, who blushed, who turned white. Nastasya grabbed her braid, and Yeryoma, putting a bowl with a spoon on the ground, ran to his voice. The friend barked happily, and also rushed into the tent, wagging his tail.

And so, all three came out, with the dog, which happily jumped, trying to get to the face of the new born.

– Yes, this is the case, and the head does not hurt, – said Alexey toYeryoma, who was walking nearby, – so, a little spinning.

Behind them, the grandfather also appeared. He was busy, rewinding the rope into a ball, but he was all yelling, looking at the revived.

– Oh, could you, demonic soul, not tear the rope? Would he unleash what is difficult for you? I already knew that you would soon wake up, – Fedor turned to Alexei.

– Yes, I honestly thought to wait in the morning, but to leave. The deed was done, you can return home to me, so as not to scare you in vain. I didn’t understand my grandfather that you immediately found out who I was. And Nastasya is alive, not lost. So everything is fine.

– I’m not leaving you all alone. I will not live there, on your capture, – the girl stubbornly told Alexei.

– And don’t. And not about you talk. Did they promise me here that they would feed me?

– So should you be fooled? Moreover, with food. What kind of foolishness will be angry with Elbasy? Fedor grinned, and endowed Alexei with a full bowl of fish.

Others only kept quiet. Silently, the artisans looked at the Swede’s head, but there was no trace of the bullet, only a small bruise remained. And there was nothing to say. He was killed, right? Exactly, he was. Resurrected, though lying deader than dead? And it happened. Alexey did not say why it turned out so – it means he could not say, but why ask in vain? Again the artisans sat down by the fire, but not sad, but joyful.

Semyon and Andrei again sipped vodka from mugs, as if it were cranberry kisel, and Athanasius simply did not take his eyes off Nastasya.

– And who are Elbasy? Yeryom quietly asked his grandfather, and again looked at the resurrected one.

– So these are old, diva people in our opinion that they have always lived here. They do not die, and such appearance as our guest. Very tall, in fathoms, ashen-haired, eyes very light. Siberians are very afraid of them. They say that one Elbasy could cut out an entire village overnight. And you can’t kill them, and they are on the trees, they sleep for weeks when they want to gain strength. People have been talking about them for a long time, but I had a chance to see them for the first time, – said Myasnikov.

– Well, for Alexey’s health! – raised a mug Kharatyev, – once with a wake, the matter fell through! But, we are not offended!

– And for sure! – did not argue immortal, – and for you!

Whether it was a feast or not, the dinner was still noble. Everyone ate and got drunk, but Athanasius and Nastasya whispered everything at the bidars, and Fedor did not interfere with them. He checked again how the senior convict was tied to the tree, and only then he sighed calmly. It would be possible to sleep, for nothing, that Alexey and Yeryoma sat and spoke at the fire.

***

– Well, what will we do? Drown the convict in the river? Alexey asked, stretching at the elder vataga.

Kharatyev raised his head wet with water on a slender and tattooed giant, washing nearby. I understood why Elbasy wants to do this.

– In Petropavlovsk we will hand over his bailiff. Nothing, we’ll come according to Vagran. Like the baydara that they stole. Don’t think about the bad, who will believe his bikes, that they say, an immortal person has started in Priobye.

– Well, you know better, Athanasius, – the giant answered, scooping up more cold water in his hands, and continuing to wash his face, – here, by the way, behind the bushes, right by the river, there is gold.. With two pounds of sand from a quarter pound wash, no less.

– Thank you, Alexey. Or, is it better to call you Tivda?

– Yes, when I am among people, the name Alexey is more familiar to me, – he grinned, – sorry that you were deceived. But, you know, I could not say directly, still would not believe.

“You wouldn’t believe it, that’s what you said.

– You see, the giant grinned, wiping his head with a towel.

– Will you take Anastasia with you? Haratyev asked unexpectedly.

– Is she a chest or something? I don’t fit her, okay. Well, let’s go, it’s time to have breakfast, and I need to get ready.

Kharatyev was delighted with the words of Elbasy. And then, he liked this girl. But, something else was spinning disgustingly in my head. And what could he do if the immortal decided to take the girl with him? It was better not to think about it…

– Porridge ripened! – there was a cry of Eremey, – eat go!

– Well, let’s go old, – Alexey smiled with his open smile.

And then, you look at this, and you will never believe that this cheerful man is the warrior of the first. Only sometimes, quite sometimes, Athanasius had a picture in front of his eyes, how this giant dealt with three robbers, how they fell in the blink of an eye, under his blows, three, already dead bodies. And as if quickly he killed, and them too, if only he wanted. And as if listening to these thoughts, the immortal quietly said:

“I wouldn’t kill you. Don’t think bad of me…

In the meantime, they went ashore, to the fire, to the so seductively smelling porridge. Everyone expected them, and so did Krasilnikov. Kharatyev now saw Yeryoma’s very tense face, and his bag lying under a tree, as if a young prospector was going somewhere. And then Fedor came up, with a guilty face. He spread his arms wide, bowed.

– Killed the villain in the morning. The cunning scoundrel turned out to be, – my grandfather uttered penitential words, – I did not get tired! I’m sorry, Alexey.

– Come on. The main thing is that the kayaks are in place. And we will not need to communicate with the police officer, – Kharatyev found smart words.

And then, there is nothing to reproach grandfather in vain. And if, to think, a deep grave prepared for Alexei would be waiting for a convict here. I was going to kill him with Elbasy, and I would have killed him, the elder knew this very well.

“It’s bad that I left. Again, the news will spread through the taiga, but I hope no one will believe the convict, – said the immortal, – where is the porridge?

– Here, – and Yeremey handed him the bowl, and he sat down next to him.

The rest also sat down and had breakfast with obvious pleasure. Why? The day was good, the sun shone brightly. It was already warm, after a cool night. The last, hard, long and terrible day, with deaths and rhinestone, remained yesterday. And it was clear how all the artisans had fun, recovered, and there were no dull or lean faces among them.

– Well, okay… – said Tivda, rising and putting down the bowl, – I’ll go, it’s time for me to get ready for the road.

– And then stay, – suggested Kharatyev, – everything is more fun with us!

– Exactly, – Semyon punched, – it’s sad in the taiga alone!

– And there are enough cases, – Andrey added.

Only Myasnikov kept quiet, but smiled slyly, stuffing his old tube with good tobacco. I reached for the coal from the fire, lit a cigarette, and sat on the sidelines. He began to let smoke into the sky.

– Well, it is, of course, – the immortal grinned, – It was not boring with you. But we have to leave. You Nastasya, stay, I will not keep you.