,*APT] #e 

#ahfcahfc 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,IT WAS ONE ( ?OSE WOND]FUL EV5+S ?AT OCCUR ONLY 9 ! ,CAUCASUS4 ,! SUN HAD SUNK BEH9D ! M\NTA9S BUT IT WAS /ILL LI<T4 ,! EV5+ GL[ HAD SPREAD OV] A ?IRD ( ! SKY1 & AGA9/ ITS BRILLIANCY ! DULL :ITE IMM5SITY ( ! M\NTA9S WAS %>PLY DEF9$4 ,! AIR WAS R>EFI$1 MOTIONLESS1 & FULL ( S\ND4 ,! %AD[ ( ! M\NTA9S REA*$ = SEV]AL MILES OV] ! /EPPE4 ,! /EPPE1 ! OPPOSITE SIDE ( ! RIV]1 & ! ROADS1 W]E ALL DES]T$4 ,IF V]Y OCCASIONALLY M\NT$ M5 APPE>$1 ! ,COSSACKS 9 ! CORDON & ! ,*E*5S 9 !IR A\LS 7VILLAGES7 WAT*$ !M ) SURPRIS$ CURIOSITY & TRI$ TO GUESS :O ?OSE QUE/IONABLE M5 C\LD BE4 ,AT NI<TFALL PEOPLE FROM FE> ( ONE ANO!R FLOCK TO !IR DWELL+S1 & ONLY BIRDS & BEA/S FE>LESS ( MAN PR[L 9 ?OSE DES]T$ SPACES4 ,TALK+ M]RILY1 ! WOM5 :O HAVE BE5 TY+ UP ! V9ES HURRY AWAY FROM ! G>D5S BE=E SUNSET4 ,! V9EY>DS1 LIKE ALL ! SURR\ND+ DI/RICT1 >E DES]T$1 BUT ! VILLAGES BECOME V]Y ANIMAT$ AT ?AT TIME ( ! EV5+4 ,FROM ALL SIDES1 WALK+1 RID+1 OR DRIV+ 9 !IR CREAK+ C>TS1 PEOPLE MOVE T[>DS ! VILLAGE4 ,GIRLS ) !IR SMOCKS TUCK$ UP & TWIGS 9 !IR H&S RUN *ATT+ M]RILY TO ! VILLAGE GATES TO MEET ! CATTLE ?AT >E CR[D+ TOGE!R 9 A CL\D ( DU/ & MOSQUITOES :I* !Y BR+ ) !M FROM ! /EPPE4 ,! WELL-F$ C[S & BUFFALOES DISP]SE AT A RUN ALL OV] ! /REETS & ,COSSACK WOM5 9 COLOR$ BE%METS GO TO & FRO AMONG !M4 ,Y\ CAN HE> !IR M]RY LAU<T] & %RIEKS M+L+ ) ! L[+ ( ! CATTLE4 ,!RE AN >M$ & M\NT$ ,COSSACK1 ON LEAVE FROM ! CORDON1 RIDES UP TO A HUT &1 LEAN+ T[>DS ! W9D[1 KNOCKS4 ,9 ANSW] TO ! KNOCK ! H&SOME HEAD ( A Y\NG WOMAN APPE>S AT ! W9D[ & Y\ CAN HE> C>ESS+1 LAU<+ VOICES4 ,!RE A TATT]$ ,NOGAY LABOR]1 ) PROM95T *EEKBONES1 BR+S A LOAD ( RE$S FROM ! /EPPES1 TURNS HIS CREAK+ C>T 9TO ! ,COSSACK CAPTA9'S BROAD & CLEAN C\RTY>D1 & LIFTS ! YOKE (F ! OX5 ?AT /& TOSS+ !IR HEADS :ILE HE & HIS MA/] %\T TO ONE ANO!R 9 ,T>T>4 ,PA/ A PUDDLE ?AT REA*ES NE>LY ACROSS ! /REET1 A B>EFOOT$ ,COSSACK WOMAN ) A BUNDLE ( FIREWOOD ON H] BACK MAKES H] LABORI\S WAY BY CL++ TO ! F5CES1 HOLD+ H] SMOCK HI< & EXPOS+ H] :ITE LEGS4 ,A ,COSSACK RETURN+ FROM %OOT+ CALLS \T 9 JE/3 ',LIFT IT HI<]1 %AMELESS ?+6' & PO9TS HIS GUN AT H]4 ,! WOMAN LETS D[N H] SMOCK & DROPS ! WOOD4 ,AN OLD ,COSSACK1 RETURN+ HOME FROM FI%+ ) HIS TR\S]S TUCK$ UP & HIS HAIRY GRAY *E/ UNCOV]$1 HAS A NET ACROSS HIS %\LD] CONTA9+ SILV]Y FI% ?AT >E /ILL /RUGGL+2 & TO TAKE A %ORT CUT CLIMBS OV] HIS NEI<BOR'S BROK5 F5CE & GIVES A TUG TO HIS COAT :I* HAS CAU<T ON ! F5CE4 ,!RE A WOMAN IS DRAGG+ A DRY BRAN* ALONG & FROM R\ND ! CORN] COMES ! S\ND ( AN AX4 ,COSSACK *ILDR51 SP9N+ !IR TOPS :]EV] !RE IS A SMOO? PLACE 9 ! /REET1 >E %RIEK+2 WOM5 >E CLIMB+ OV] F5CES TO AVOID GO+ R\ND4 ,FROM EV]Y *IMNEY RISES ! ODOR\S KISYAK SMOKE4 ,FROM EV]Y HOME/EAD COMES ! S\ND ( 9CREAS$ BU/LE1 PRECURSOR TO ! /ILLNESS ( NI<T4 

,GRANNY ,ULITKA1 ! WIFE ( ! ,COSSACK CORNET :O IS ALSO TEA*] 9 ! REGIM5TAL S*OOL1 GOES \T TO ! GATES ( H] Y>D LIKE ! O!R WOM51 & WAITS = ! CATTLE :I* H] DAU<T] ,M>YANKA IS DRIV+ ALONG ! /REET4 ,BE=E %E HAS HAD TIME FULLY TO OP5 ! WATTLE GATE 9 ! F5CE1 AN 5ORM\S BUFFALO C[ SURR\ND$ BY MOSQUITOES RU%ES UP BELL[+ & SQUEEZES 94 ,SEV]AL WELL-F$ C[S SL[LY FOLL[ H]1 !IR L>GE EYES GAZ+ ) RECOGNITION AT !IR MI/RESS AS !Y SWI% !IR SIDES ) !IR TAILS4 ,! BEAUTIFUL & %APELY ,M>YANKA 5T]S AT ! GATE & ?R[+ AWAY H] SWIT* QUICKLY SLAMS ! GATE TO & RU%ES ) ALL ! SPE$ ( H] NIMBLE FEET TO SEP>ATE & DRIVE ! CATTLE 9TO !IR %$S4 ',TAKE (F Y\R SLIPP]S1 Y\ DEVIL'S W5*6' %\TS H] MO!R1 'Y\'VE WORN !M 9TO HOLES6' ,M>YANKA IS NOT AT ALL (F5D$ AT BE+ CALL$ A 'DEVIL'S W5*'1 BUT ACCEPT+ IT AS A T]M ( 5DE>M5T *E]FULLY GOES ON ) H] TASK4 ,H] FACE IS COV]$ ) A K]*IEF TI$ R\ND H] HEAD4 ,%E IS WE>+ A P9K SMOCK & A GRE5 BE%MET4 ,%E DISAPPE>S 9SIDE ! LEAN-TO %$ 9 ! Y>D1 FOLL[+ ! BIG FAT CATTLE2 & FROM ! %$ COMES H] VOICE AS %E SPEAKS G5TLY & P]SUASIVELY TO ! BUFFALO3 ',WON'T %E /& /ILL8 ,:AT A CREATURE6 ,COME N[1 COME OLD DE>6' ,SOON ! GIRL & ! OLD WOMAN PASS FROM ! %$ TO ! DAIRY C>RY+ TWO L>GE POTS ( MILK1 ! DAY'S YIELD4 ,FROM ! DAIRY *IMNEY RISES A ?9 CL\D ( KISYAK SMOKE3 ! MILK IS BE+ US$ TO MAKE 9TO CLOTT$ CREAM4 ,! GIRL MAKES UP ! FIRE :ILE H] MO!R GOES TO ! GATE4 ,TWILI<T HAS FALL5 ON ! VILLAGE4 ,! AIR IS FULL ( ! SMELL ( VEGETABLES1 CATTLE1 & SC5T$ KISYAK SMOKE4 ,FROM ! GATES & ALONG ! /REETS ,COSSACK WOM5 COME RUNN+1 C>RY+ LI<T$ RAGS4 ,FROM ! Y>DS ONE HE>S ! SNORT+ & QUIET *EW+ ( ! CATTLE EAS$ ( !IR MILK1 :ILE 9 ! /REET ONLY ! VOICES ( WOM5 & *ILDR5 S\ND AS !Y CALL TO ONE ANO!R4 ,IT IS R>E ON A WEEK-DAY TO HE> ! DRUNK5 VOICE ( A MAN4 

,ONE ( ! ,COSSACK WIVES1 A TALL1 MASCUL9E OLD WOMAN1 APPROA*ES ,GRANNY ,ULITKA FROM ! HOME/EAD OPPOSITE & ASKS H] = A LI<T4 ,9 H] H& %E HOLDS A RAG4 

',HAVE Y\ CLE>$ UP4 ,GRANNY8' 

',! GIRL IS LI<T+ ! FIRE4 ,IS IT FIRE Y\ WANT8' SAYS ,GRANNY 

 ,ULITKA1 PR\D ( BE+ ABLE TO OBLIGE H] NEI<BOR4 

,BO? WOM5 5T] ! HUT1 & CO>SE H&S UNUS$ TO DEAL+ ) SMALL >TICLES TREMBL+LY LIFT ! LID ( A MAT*BOX1 :I* IS A R>ITY 9 ! ,CAUCASUS4 ,! MASCUL9E-LOOK+ NEW-COM] SITS D[N ON ! DOOR/EP ) ! EVID5T 9T5TION ( HAV+ A *AT4 

',& IS Y\R MAN AT ! S*OOL4 ,MO!R8' %E ASK$4 

',HE'S ALWAYS TEA*+ ! Y\NG/]S4 ,MO!R4 ,BUT HE WRITES ?AT HE'LL COME HOME = ! HOLIDAYS1' SAID ! CORNET'S WIFE4 

',YES1 HE'S A CLEV] MAN1 ONE SEES2 IT ALL COMES USEFUL4' 

',( C\RSE IT DOES4' 

',& MY ,LUKA%KA IS AT ! CORDON2 !Y WON'T LET HIM COME HOME1' SAID ! VISITOR1 ?\< ! CORNET'S WIFE HAD KN[N ALL ?IS LONG AGO4 ,%E WANT$ TO TALK AB\T H] ,LUKA%KA :OM %E HAD LATELY FITT$ \T = S]VICE 9 ! ,COSSACK REGIM5T1 & :OM %E WI%$ TO M>RY TO ! CORNET'S DAU<T]1 ,M>YANKA4 

',SO HE'S AT ! CORDON8' 

',HE IS4 ,MO!R4 ,HE'S NOT BE5 HOME S9CE LA/ HOLIDAYS4 ,! O!R DAY ,I S5T HIM SOME %IRTS BY ,FOMU%K94 ,HE SAYS HE'S ALL RI<T1 & ?AT HIS SUP]IORS >E SATISFI$4 ,HE SAYS !Y >E LOOK+ \T = ABREKS AGA94 ,LUKA%KA IS QUITE HAPPY1 HE SAYS4' 

',AH WELL1 ?ANK ,GOD1' SAID ! CORNET'S WIFE4' 0,SNAT*]0 IS C]TA9LY ! ONLY WORD = HIM4' ,LUKA%KA WAS SURNAM$ '! ,SNAT*]' BECAUSE ( HIS BRAV]Y 9 SNAT*+ A BOY FROM A WAT]Y GRAVE1 & ! CORNET'S WIFE ALLUD$ TO ?IS1 WI%+ 9 H] TURN TO SAY SOME?+ AGREEABLE TO ,LUKA%KA'S MO!R4 

',I ?ANK ,GOD1 ,MO!R1 ?AT HE'S A GOOD SON6 ,HE'S A F9E FELL[1 EV]YONE PRAISES HIM1' SAYS ,LUKA%KA'S MO!R4 ',ALL ,I WI% IS TO GET HIM M>RI$2 !N ,I C\LD DIE 9 PEACE4' 

',WELL1 >5'T !RE PL5TY ( Y\NG WOM5 9 ! VILLAGE8' ANSW]$ ! CORNET'S WIFE SLYLY AS %E C>EFULLY REPLAC$ ! LID ( ! MAT*BOX ) H] HORNY H&S4 

',PL5TY1 ,MO!R1 PL5TY1' REM>K$ ,LUKA%KA'S MO!R1 %AK+ H] HEAD4 ',!RE'S Y\R GIRL N[1 Y\R ,M>YANKA--?AT'S ! SORT ( GIRL6 ,Y\'D HAVE TO SE>* ?R\< ! :OLE PLACE TO F9D SU* ANO!R6' ,! CORNET'S WIFE KN[S :AT ,LUKA%KA'S MO!R IS AFT]1 BUT ?\< %E BELIEVES HIM TO BE A GOOD ,COSSACK %E HANGS BACK3 FIR/ BECAUSE %E IS A CORNET'S WIFE & RI*1 :ILE ,LUKA%KA IS ! SON ( A SIMPLE ,COSSACK & FA!RLESS1 SECONDLY BECAUSE %E DOES NOT WANT TO P>T ) H] DAU<T] YET1 BUT *IEFLY BECAUSE PROPRIETY DEM&S IT4 

',WELL1 :5 ,M>YANKA GR[S UP %E'LL BE M>RIAGEABLE TOO1' %E ANSW]S SOB]LY & MODE/LY4 

',I'LL S5D ! MAT*MAK]S TO Y\--,I'LL S5D !M6 ,ONLY LET ME GET ! V9EY>D DONE & !N WE'LL COME & MAKE \R B[S TO Y\1' SAYS ,LUKA%KA'S MO!R4 ',& WE'LL MAKE \R B[S TO ,ELIAS ,VASILI* TOO4' 

',ELIAS1 9DE$6' SAYS ! CORNET'S WIFE PR\DLY4 ',IT'S TO ME Y\ MU/ SPEAK6 ,ALL 9 ITS [N GOOD TIME4' 

,LUKA%KA'S MO!R SEES BY ! /]N FACE ( ! CORNET'S WIFE ?AT IT IS NOT ! TIME TO SAY ANY?+ MORE JU/ N[1 SO %E LI<TS H] RAG ) ! MAT* & SAYS1 RIS+3 ',DON'T REFUSE US1 ?9K ( MY WORDS4 ,I'LL GO1 IT IS TIME TO LI<T ! FIRE4' 

,AS %E CROSSES ! ROAD SW++ ! BURN+ RAG1 %E MEETS ,M>YANKA1 :O B[S4 

',AH1 %E'S A REGUL> QUE51 A SPL5DID WORK]1 ?AT GIRL6' %E ?9KS1 LOOK+ AT ! BEAUTIFUL MAID54 ',:AT NE$ = H] TO GR[ ANY MORE8 ,IT'S TIME %E WAS M>RI$ & TO A GOOD HOME2 M>RI$ TO ,LUKA%KA6' 

,BUT ,GRANNY ,ULITKA HAD H] [N C>ES & %E REMA9$ SITT+ ON ! ?RE%OLD ?9K+ H>D AB\T SOME?+1 TILL ! GIRL CALL$ H]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] #e -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,MAY #a#c1 #bba 3 ,*APT] #e -- ,ADD$4 

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