- You … you have helped me … Why?
- You are not from those who have attacked us. I have understood that immediately. Our … my … brothers … have mislead attackers into woods … to find their death there … survived barbarians returned here … and plundered the monastery. All those whom my brothers have overcome in battle remained in the woods - and you have approached the front of monastery walls instead. If you were among the attackers - you wouldn’t even risk doing that. You are not from the ones who have killed my brothers, - she said solidly.
- Y..y..e..s … t..ha..ths … so …, - he uttered quietly with still disobeying tongue.
- Then why have you come here? - and she moved very close to him, studying his face with her demanding sight.
- I wanted … desired to stop them … and … couldn’t … forgive … forgive me, if you … still can.
- You wanted to aid us? - her eyes opened widely in surprise, - why is that so? You are a one of their kind … you have stood against them?
- I … couldn’t …. allow … slaughter …., - words came out very slowly and hardly from his throat.
- But it had taken place nevertheless … However, what difference does it make for now! Take a rest, sleep - and tell me the rest afterwards.
She was right, he required a rest now - lots of resting - and thus he plunged into that attractable dream once more.
* * *
He woke up and felt her warm hand lying on a forehead.
He decided to keep his eyes closed - only tried to listen to her measured breathing. When at last he opened them - she removed her hand from his forehead, and brought a sponge to his face, impregnated with something cold.
- Woke up, did you? - this time her voice was much more affable, than the last time, - alright, stand up, now you should be quite able to do it.
He tried to rise - and for the first time in many days his body obeyed him. He sat down on a bed and with a cleared sight looked at her. She was surprisingly beautiful - at least she should be considered as such by the measures of her people. Fair hair were stretching down to shoulders, smile was playing on her lips - for the first time in many days. Her eyes reflected own vivacity and at the same time some form of adult firmness. A white robe she was wearing.
- H … how much did I sleep?
- A week, for almost a week you have remained here. Ate very little, has been practically sleeping for all day long. You, probably, don’t even remember that for now - minutes should have passed for you, I guess.
- W … why have you helped me?
- You strived to help us, after all, yes? Even if you … if it wasn’t possible for you - you still weren’t among these barbarians. I was obliged to lend you aid, it was my personal debt. Oh, if only you have come here in time … were in time … but what could you possibly do against one hundred of fighters …
- N … not alone. I wasn’t battling them alone … there were … twelve of us. They all … died.
Following these words tears came out on his coarse cheeks - but he hasn’t allowed himself such inexcusable weaknesses before at all.
Girl smiled somehow sadly and with a hope at the same time.
- All in all, there are still those men on earth who haven’t lost their heart, still they do exist. A pity you couldn’t help us. But what twelve soldiers could make against one hundred …
- You said previously, that your brothers have died …
- Yes, barbarians slaughtered them all. I was the only sister of this monastery … and the only survived one. Only to mourn over their death.
And she, despite all external firmness, started crying.
- How have you survived then? Haven’t they touched you?
- I … have hidden in a monastery. We had … a secret … entrance … and tunnel, leading from a monastery, - she was speaking, still sobbing, - I have survived a storm in there, how my father has ordered me … However, this storm has destroyed everything close to my heart …
It seemed that she would be totally overwhelmed by her grief from returning memories. He stretched his hand and took her hand in own palms. May she know she’s not lonely in this world still …
They have been sitting quietly, having strongly compressed hands of each other. So ten minutes passed. Finally she managed to calm down.
- Have a rest, warrior, - she whispered silently and left the room.
* * *
The first day, the second, the third … Week, another, third …
He finally completely recovered from his wounds and they have got a possibility to talk every evening. She missed these simple human conversations greatly now - and so did he. They shared a same trait in this - they both have become exiles, both lost their relatives.
Gradually she started to come visiting him more often. When she, suddenly, started remembering of these memorable grief days of her recent past - he consoled her. Sometimes she asked him to tell of his former battles - and listened to what he was saying with such an attention and care, which he hasn’t noticed in any woman before.
Then their days of joint walks on monastery vicinities have come. These were remarkable days - bright and sunny days of spring. Winter snow has finally thawed - and has apparently taken away all worries with him. It was a wonderful time. Perhaps, one of the best in both his and her lives.
They were standing, having embraced, under a crone of some tree, through foliage of which a sun was playing with its beams on their faces. He was saying these words that moment - ones of his heart. He has sworn that they will never part ways and always, forever, both in life and death - will be together.
Eternally will be together. Forever.
With her, unique her - he has truly fallen in love. Unlike he loved anyone else he loved her. He is still loving her. And will always be - in life - and in death.
* * *
- Get ready! Move away! Ignite!
The flame rushed upwards, desperately trying to devour in a flash of time a tenacious piece of a tree together with a man, bounded to it. Here its tongues are coming closer and closer - already dancing before his eyes. Soon it will all come to an end. It ends all so very soon …
Their common happiness didn’t last for long.
A new raid of his horde came a year after - and only two defenders remained to protect the monastery - he and she. They have been captured - and he was recognized. At first they have considered him as the Messiah - a one revived from dead - but shortly afterwards someone has declared that he simply hasn’t managed to thrust this traitor through a breast well enough with his axe. He didn’t observe the one speaking these words - only his voice seemed somehow very familiar to him …
Traitors are never forgiven. Death is the fate of theirs. Through burning. Unprecedented execution for his people - they were usually killed in a fair fight. Probably he didn’t even deserve such a fight judging by his brothers’ decision - only a stab in the back.
She too must be burned to the death - as his accomplice - and that was the most terrible thing of all. But, as it came out, not for her - only not for her.
- I will remain with you forever - remember? In life and in death.
- In life and in death - always, - he answered. And they embraced - for the last time in this life.
She was dragged away. Then she was fastened with iron ropes to a same pillar. And then a fire was ignited.
The flame assaulted with blinding and burning waves, devouring its legal victim. But the pain wasn’t felt any longer. Two burning pillars. Two courageous persons.
- Together - forever! - he cried out with all remaining powers.
- Always! - her words reached his ears.
A new impact of elements - and they both have disappeared in the fire.
The crowd was shouting in ecstasy.
And only few ones, who have turned away from this fire-site, swore to themselves - were giving a sacred oath of true warriors - to never in their lives allow such a thing anymore. To struggle for justice. Always. Only these few ones hav
e seen, how two light spirits have soared high from burning columns. How they embraced and smiled to each other - and have risen up to the heavens.
- Together - forever, - they have overheard.
- Always, - repeated they.
09.04.2012
Notes of the Nameless One
Denying self-portrait
I am not passive – I simply chose my goals carefully.
I am not zealot – I believe in the victory of human reason.
I am not aggressive – it’s hardly possible to speak differently with unreasonable ones.
I am not romanticist – I simply love life.
I am not a meek creature – it’s just useless to shout in a room alone.
I am not lonely – I am simply not part of the crowd.
I am not liar – I simply do not tell all the truth.
I am not reserved – I am simply not egocentric.
I am not rigid – there are simply times when one needs to be strong.
I am not defenseless – there are simply times when it’s required to pretend to be weak.
I am not silly – sometimes it’s simply necessary to deny common reason.
I am not uneasy – life simply demands movement.
I am not gloomy – I happen to be similarly “normal” sometimes.
I am not shy – my spirit simply soars too high sometimes.
I am not egoist – it’s simply necessary to think about myself sometimes
I am not pessimist – sometimes I simply forget to be happy.
I am not slave – it’s simply necessary sometimes to work for others.
I am not enemy – someone simply desire war sometimes.
I am not friend – someone simply desire to find allies in war sometimes.
I am not silent – I simply carefully select words.
I am not cynic – sometimes I simply call things by their proper names.
I am not insensible – sometimes it’s simply necessary to be closed from idly curios.
I am not mad – I simply do not always meet other’s expectations.
I am not indifferent – not all tears are simply true.
I am not impudent – it’s simply necessary to be the proprietor from time to time.
I am not helpless – it’s simply pleasantly to go down the stream sometimes.
I am not bored – someone simply does not understand from the first time sometimes.
I am not haughty – simply not everyone is capable to understand my language.
I am not warrior – it’s simply necessary to battle sometimes.
I am not hero – the times simply demand so.
27.09.2010
Extremism
Let’s try to imagine how a notorious political action of last centuries could look like, being presented by a mass media channel, loyal to current political powers
Petrashevsky case in the eyes of modern pro-imperious mass media (ironical sketch)
All names aren’t invented, all coincidence could be casual, all meanings are meaningful by definition
Plot of the day
Greetings, our respected televiewers!
And we do remind you that today a court has taken place in the matter of bandit group of the terrorist Petrashevsky. Let’s remind our televiewers that very recently thanks to a denunciation of operatively introduced by intelligence services in the network of terrorist group agent I.P.Liprandi, they managed to uncover the extremist and undermining nature of activity of mentioned underground organization, after which policemen within their operative operation of interception detained all rank-and-file members of this group, including Sergey Durov, Alexander Palm, Alexey Pleshcheev, Feodor Dostoevsky. Other so-called cultural figures of literature and arts, including M.E.Saltykov-Schedrin, N.G.Chernyshevsky, V. G. Belinsky and A.Maykov are also subject to suspicion. About forty people in total were arrested during that special operation. Let’s note that according to the report of police department which was carrying out that special operation, all suspects didn’t provide any armed resistance to forces of tranquility and law in spite of the fact that according to Liprandi’s report they were considered as very dangerous and well-armed criminals.
Suspects are being incriminated the distribution of materials with extremist contents, including so-called “Belinsky’s letter to Gogol”, as well as development of utopian by definition ideas of the French philosophers and educators, including ideas of socialism, public equality and brotherhood, social justice and some other, which are considered the ones undermining all public state foundations and dogmas, and kindling intra national discord on an interclass sign. A number of statements of mentioned figures concerning ruling party and the president himself are considered to be frankly slanderous. Several philosophical remarks, uttered by some of the members, can also be treated as appeals to violent overthrow of existing political system. Let’s note that drugs were found in apartments of several members of this organization. Suspects argue that drugs were injected by law enforcement bodies, but such statements certainly have no real basis in them. At the present moment all confiscated extremist literature is liable to destruction as being resolutely pernicious for consciousness of citizens of our great country.
All right obedient citizens of our country are enraged by similar obscene tricks of these under-philosophers. The president together with orthodox church and the majority of the patriotically adjusted public resolutely condemned this terrorist organization in a uniform rush and demanded to punish them all according to all severity of the law.
According to today’s judgment, such a desire has been fully fulfilled. Taking into account all severity of the committed crime and absence of any facilitating circumstances, the court sentenced twenty one members of this bandit group to a capital punishment - to deprive them of lives through execution. The sentence will be carried out in the next few days. We welcome all interested parties to look at this surprising and touching event! And may the God help them all…
Thank you, these were all the main news for today. And now, talking of the weather …
17.08.2012
Fish and Lion
One day everything has changed in the Great Desert. For many month the scorching sun was so bright and a heat so intolerable that every source of water, even the largest ones, have dried up. Animals have been confused, they were tormented by thirst. So they have gathered for Great Deserted Council, which was not gathered for almost ten years, to think up a way to rescue from the sun. And each of them came into the Council’s center, and each was questioned by others of how it’s possible to find a salvation, yet nobody could give the answer.
In desperation, animals have called for their last hope – they have summoned a desert Lion into the center of Council, who had a reputation of being most courageous, wise and strong from all of them and by the right was considered their tsar.
- I will find water for all of you, I swear with the honor of the tsar of animals ! – the Lion has growled. – I will find it and I will show you a way.
And, having this said, the Lion has gone on searches of a source of revival, and the rest of animals started waiting for his return.
For many days and nights the Lion tirelessly ran and ran through the desert, driven by a sandy wind and thoughts of his dying comrades and of his debt before them. And when it seemed that his forces have completely left him, a great, boundless and endless ocean has opened before his eyes.
- At last I have found it ! I have discovered water ! Now we are saved ! – the Lion cried, and with the last bit of strength ran downwards to a coast.
When he at last has managed to creep up to a coast and scooped saving water in paws, he has suddenly noticed a fish, swimming in this water. The Fish played on the sun by all colors of a rainbow, and looked at him, as if studying.
- Do you desire to drink from my spring ? – she asked suddenly.
- Yes, - the Lion has either growled or whispered. I have been running for many days, my powers have
run out, and my comrade are dying from thirst. I have to drink to restore my strength and return to them to inform of this great source of a saving moisture.
- But do you know about its properties ? – a Fish questioned.
- Of what properties are you talking ? – the Lion was surprised. – I see water, and I am going to tell about its source to others. Please, do not weary me, swim away, so I can drink this luring moisture and restore my powers !
- The water, which you are going to drink, may kill you, - replied the Fish.
What a strange fish, - the Lion has thought. How can water kill somebody ?
- To kill me ? Of what death are you talking about ? I have already almost died from thirst,- the Lion growled. Move aside, let me drink it !
- If you drink from my spring, your thirst will only grow and strengthen, - Fish responded. The more you will drink, the greater your thirst will become.
- But how can you live in this spring of yours and drink from it without dying ? – The tsar of all animals questioned.
- What is death for you, terrestrial ones, - is a birth for us, - she said. We were born in this bitter source – and are destined to spend our entire live in it. It has ceased to be deadly for us – and became our air and now we enjoy it.
- But what am I supposed to do then ? – The Lion inquired. I must help my relatives by any means possible ! I am considered as the strongest and wisest tsar of animals by right !
- You can drink from my spring and rescue them, - the Fish replied. There is a river in the north that runs into this sea – its water can bring you relief. Besides, you can also find my brothers in that river – for we can live even in your waters – who will aid you further. However, this river is far away, and you will hardly manage to reach it.
- Then what options do I still have? – the Lion questioned.
- You will have to drink from my spring, but remember, that your own price for this act can be too high. Waters of my sea will suffice for short duration, so you must travel with haste. However, even if you will finally come to a river, you will probably still not manage to return to your comrades. But my river brothers will help you to bring the message of a river source – but first you should reach it.
On the Wings of Hope : Prose Page 10
