getting dark. My path went past the Berdskaya settlement, Pugachev's port. The straight road was covered with snow; but horse tracks were visible throughout the steppe, daily updated. I rode at a big trot. Savelich could hardly follow me from afar and shouted to me every minute: "It's quiet, sir, for God's sake he suppresses. My damned nag can't keep up with your long-legged demon. Where are you in a hurry? Welcome to the feast, and then under the butt, just look ... Pyotr Andreevich ... Father Pyotr Andreevich!.. Don't ruin it!.. Lord lord, the master's child will be lost!»
Soon the Berd lights flashed. We drove up to the ravines, natural fortifications of the settlement. Savelich did not lag behind me, without interrupting my plaintive prayers. I hoped to bypass the settlement safely, when suddenly I saw in the twilight right in front of me a man five men, armed with clubs: it was the front guard of the Pugachev refuge. We were called. Without knowing the password, I wanted to drive past them in silence, but they immediately surrounded me, and one of them grabbed my horse by the bridle. I drew my saber and hit the guy in the head; the hat saved him, however, he staggered and let go of the bridle. The others got embarrassed and ran away; I took advantage of this minute, spurred the horse and galloped.
The darkness of the approaching night could spare me all danger, Suddenly, looking back, I saw, that Savelich was not with me. The poor old man on his lame horse could not gallop away from the robbers. What was to be done? After waiting for him for a few minutes and making sure, that he was detained, I turned my horse around and went to rescue him.
Approaching the ravine, I heard a noise from afar, the screams and voice of my Savelich. I drove as soon as possible and soon found myself again between the guard men., who stopped me a few minutes ago. Savelich was between them. They pulled the old man off his nag and got ready to knit. My arrival made them happy. They rushed at me with a shout and in an instant pulled me from the horse. One of them, apparently the main, announced to us, that he will now lead us to the sovereign. “And our father, - he added,, - is free to order: Should I hang you now?, or wait for the light of God ". I did not resist; Savelich followed my example, and the guards led us triumphantly.
We crossed the ravine and entered the settlement. Lights were burning in all the huts. Noises and screams rang out everywhere. I met a lot of people on the street; but no one noticed us in the dark and did not recognize me as an Orenburg officer. We were led straight to the hut, standing at the corner of the intersection. There were several wine barrels and two cannons at the gate.. “Here is the palace, - said one of the men;- we will report on you now ". He entered the hut. I looked at Savelich; the old man was baptized, reading a prayer to myself. I've been waiting for a long time; finally the man came back and told me: "Go: our father ordered to let the officer in ".
I entered the hut, or to the palace, as the men called her. It was lit by two tallow candles, and the walls were covered with gold paper; however, shops, table, washstand on a string, towel on a nail, grip in the corner and wide pole, potted, - everything was like in an ordinary hut. Pugachev sat under the images, in a red caftan, in a high hat and it is important to akim. Several of his main companions stood beside him., with a kind of feigned kindness. It was seen, that the news of the arrival of an officer from Orenburg aroused strong curiosity in the rebels and that they were preparing to welcome me with triumph. Pugachev recognized me at first sight. His fake importance suddenly disappeared. "A, your honor! - he told me lively. - How are you? Why did God bring you?»I answered, that he was driving on his own business and that his people stopped me. "And in what case?"- he asked me. I did not know, what to answer. Pugachev, believing, that I do not want to explain myself in front of witnesses, turned to his comrades and told them to leave. Everyone obeyed, except two, who did not budge. “Speak boldly in front of them, - Pugachev told me - from them I do not conceal anything ". I looked sideways at the confidants of the impostor. One of them, generous and hunched-over old man with a gray beard, didn't have anything wonderful in myself, except for the blue ribbon, worn over the shoulder over a gray jacket. But I will never forget his friend. He was a tall, stout and broad-shouldered, and seemed to me about forty-five. Bushy red beard, gray sparkling eyes, a nose without nostrils and reddish spots on his forehead and cheeks gave his pockmarked broad face an expression of inexplicable. He was wearing a red shirt, in a Kyrgyz robe and in Cossack trousers. First (as I found out after) there was a fugitive corporal Beloborodov *; second - Afanasy Sokolov * (nicknamed the Cracker), exiled criminal, escaped from Siberian mines three times. Despite the feelings, which worried me exclusively, society, in which I so accidentally found myself, greatly entertained my imagination. But Pugachev brought me to his senses with his question: "Speak: on what business did you leave Orenburg?»
A strange thought crossed my mind: it seemed to me, what providence, the second time brought me to Pugachev, gave me a chance to put my intent into action. I decided to use it and, without having time to think about it, what did you decide on, answered Pugachev's question:
- I went to the Belogorsk fortress to rescue an orphan, that it hurt.
Pugachev's eyes sparkled. "Which of my men dares to offend an orphan? - he cried. - Be he seven spans in the forehead, and the court will not leave my. Speak: whose fault is it?»
- Shvabrin is guilty, - I answered. - He keeps that girl in captivity, you saw, sick, in Popadom, and forcibly wanted to marry her.
- I will teach Shvabrin a lesson, - said Pugachev menacingly. - He will know, what I svoevolnichat and hurt people. I'm going to hang it.
- Show the word to pray, - said Khlopusha in a hoarse voice. - You hurried to appoint Shvabrin as commandant of the fortress, and now you are in a hurry to hang it. You have already insulted the Cossacks, having put the nobleman in their chiefs; don't scare the nobles, executing them by the first spell.
- There is nothing to pity them, nor favor! - said the old man in the blue ribbon. - Shvabrin does not matter to tell; and it is not bad to interrogate the officer in order: why are you welcome. If he does not recognize you as sovereign, so there is nothing to look for from you, and if he admits, that he was sitting in Orenburg with your adversaries until today? Would you like to order him to be brought to the office and light a fire there?: it seems to me, that his mercy was sent to us from the Orenburg commanders.
The old villain's logic seemed pretty convincing to me.. Frost ran all over my body at the thought, in whose hands I was. Pugachev noticed my embarrassment. "As, your honor? - he said winking at me. - My Field Marshal, it seems, says business. What do you think?»
Pugachev's mockery returned my courage. I answered calmly, that I am in his power and that he is free to deal with me, as he pleases.
- Good, - said Pugachev. - Now tell me, what is the state of your city.
- Thank God, - I answered;- everything is all right.
- Safely? - repeated Pugachev. - And the people are dying of hunger!
The impostor spoke the truth; but on duty I began to assure, that all these are empty rumors and that Orenburg has quite all kinds of reserves.
- You see, - picked up the old man, - that he deceives you in the eyes. All the fugitives show in agreement, that in Orenburg there is hunger and pestilence, what are they eating carrion, and that's an honor; and his grace assures, that there is plenty of everything. If you want to hang the mop, then hang this fellow on the same gallows, so that no one is jealous.
The words of the damned old man, it seemed, shook Pugachev. Fortunately, Khlopusha began to contradict his comrade.
- full, Naumych, - he said to him,. - You should choke and cut everything. What kind of hero are you? Take a look, so what keeps the soul. You look into the grave yourself, and you ruin others. Isn't there little blood on your conscience?
- What kind of saint are you?? - objected Beloborodov. - Where did the pity come from??
- Of course, Replied Hlopuša, - and I'm wrong, and this hand (then he clenched his bony fist and, roll up your sleeves, opened a shaggy hand), and this hand is guilty of shed Christian blood. But I lost the enemy, not a guest; at a free crossroads yes in a dark forest, not at home, sitting at the stove; flail and butt, and not a grandmother's persuasion.
The old man turned away and grumbled words: "Torn nostrils!»…
- What are you whispering there, old bastard? Cried Hlopuša. - I'll give you torn nostrils; " - And, your time will come too; God will give, and you will sniff the tongs ... But in the meantime, look, so I don't rip out your beards!
- Lord Enaraly! - proclaimed Pugachev important. - Full of you quarreling. No problem, if only all Orenburg dogs jerked their legs under one crossbar; trouble, if our males gnaw among themselves. Well, make peace.
Khlopusha and Beloborodov did not say a word and looked gloomily at each other.. I saw the need to change the conversation, which could have ended in a very unfavorable way for me, and, turning to Pugachev, told him with a cheerful look: “Ah! I was and forgot to thank you for the horse and for the sheepskin coat. Without you, I would not have reached the city and would freeze on the road. ".
My trick succeeded. Pugachev cheered. "Debt good turn deserves another, - he said, blinking and squinting. - Tell me now, what do you care about that girl, whom Shvabrin offends? Isn't it sweetheart to a young man's heart? a?»
- She is my bride, - I answered Pugachev, seeing the favorable change in the weather and not finding the need to hide the truth.
- Your bride! - shouted Pugachev. - What did you not say before? Yes, we will marry you and feast on your wedding! - Later, addressing Beloborodov - Listen, field marshal! We are old friends with his honor; let's sit down and have supper; The morning is wiser than the evening. We'll see tomorrow, what will we do with it.
I was glad to refuse the offered honor, but there was nothing. Two young Cossacks, daughters of the owner of the hut, covered the table with a white tablecloth, brought bread, fish soup and a few shtoffs with wine and beer, and for the second time I found myself at the same meal with Pugachev and his terrible comrades.
Orgy, which I was an unwitting witness, lasted until late at night. Finally, the hops began to prevail over the interlocutors.. Pugachev dozed off, sitting in place; his comrades got up and gave me a sign to leave him. I went out with them. By order of Khlopushi, the guard took me to the command hut, where I found Savelich and where they left me locked up with him. Uncle was so amazed at the sight of everything, what's happened, that didn't make me any question. He lay down in the dark and sighed and sighed for a long time; finally snored, and I indulged in thought, which did not let me sleep for one minute all night.
In the morning they came to call me on behalf of Pugachev. I went to him. There was a wagon at the gate, harnessed by three Tatar horses. People crowded in the street. I met Pugachev in the hallway: he was dressed for the road, in a fur coat and in a Kyrgyz hat. Yesterday's interlocutors surrounded him, assuming an air of servility, who strongly contradicted everything, what I witnessed the day before. Pugachev greeted me cheerfully and ordered me to sit with him in the wagon.
We sat down. "To the Belogorsk fortress!"- said Pugachev to a broad-shouldered Tatar, standing by the ruling three. My heart beat fast. The horses are moving, the bell rang, the wagon flew ...
«Stay! wait!"- a voice rang out, too familiar to me, - and I saw Savelich, running towards us. Pugachev ordered to stop. "Father, Petr ANDREIĆ! - shouted the uncle. - Do not leave me in my old age in the midst of these frauds ... "-" And, old bastard! - Pugachev told him. - Again God gave me a chance to meet. Well, sit on the beam ".
- Thank, prince, thank, dear father! - Savelich said sitting down. - God grant you a hundred years of good health for that, that the old man looked after me and reassured me. For a century I will pray to God for you, but I won't even mention the hare's sheepskin coat.
This hare sheepskin coat could finally anger Pugachev in earnest. Fortunately, the impostor either did not hear or neglected an inappropriate hint. The horses jumped; people on the street stopped and bowed to the waist. Pugachev nodded his head on both sides. A minute later we drove out of the settlement and rushed along the smooth road.
It is easy to imagine, what I felt at that moment. In a few hours I was supposed to see that, which I revered already lost to me. I imagined the minute of our connection ... I also thought about that person, in whose hands my fate was and who, by a strange coincidence of circumstances, was mysteriously connected with me. I thought of reckless brutality, about the bloodthirsty habits of that, who volunteered to be my dear deliverer! Pugachev did not know, that she was the daughter of Captain Mironov; embittered Shvabrin could reveal everything to him; Pugachev could have found out the truth in another way ... Then what will become of Marya Ivanovna? Cold ran through my body, and the hair stood on end ...
Suddenly Pugachev interrupted my reflections, contact me with a question:
- About what, your honor, deign to think?
- How not to think, - I answered him. - I am an officer and a nobleman; yesterday I fought against you, and today I am going with you in the same wagon, and the happiness of my whole life depends on you.
- Well? - asked Pugachev. - Terrible of you?
I answered, what, having already been pardoned by him once, I hoped not only for his mercy, but even to the rescue.
- And you're right, golly right! - said the impostor. - You've seen, that my guys looked askance at you; and the old man still insisted on that, that you are a spy and that you should be tortured and hanged; but I didn’t agree, - he added,, lowered his voice, so that Savelich and the Tatar could not hear him, - remembering your glass of wine and bunny sheepskin coat. You see, that I'm not that bloodsucker yet, as your brothers say about me.
I remembered the capture of the Belogorsk fortress; but did not consider it necessary to challenge him and did not answer a word.
- What they say about me in Orenburg? - asked Pugachev, after a little silence.
- To speak, that it's hard to cope with you; nothing to say: let you know.
The impostor's face showed contented self-esteem. "Yes! - he said with a cheerful look. - I am fighting wherever. Do you know about the battle of Yuzeeva in Orenburg *? Forty Enaral slain, four armies are full. What do you think: the prussian king could compete with me?»
The robber's boast struck me as funny.
- What do you think? - I said to him,, - would you handle Frederick?
- With Fedor Fedorovich? Why not? After all, I manage with your enaral; and they beat him. Until now, my weapon was happy. Give time, it's only the beginning, how will I go to Moscow.
- And you suppose to go to Moscow?
The impostor pondered a little and said in an undertone: “God knows. My street is cramped; love me a little. My guys are getting smart. They are thieves. I gotta keep my ears open; at the first failure they will redeem their neck with my head ".
- To-to! - I said to Pugachev. - Wouldn't you better keep up with them yourself?, early, yes resort to the mercy of the empress?
Pugachev smiled bitterly. "Not, - he answered;- it's too late for me to repent. There will be no mercy for me. I will continue as I started. who knows? Perhaps it will succeed! Grishka Otrepyev reigned over Moscow. ".
- Do you know, how did he finish? He was thrown out of the window, stabbed, burned, loaded a cannon with ash and fired!
- listen, - said Pugachev with some wild inspiration. - I'll tell you a story, which an old Kalmyk woman used to tell me as a child. Once an eagle asked a raven: tell, bird raven, why do you live in this world for three hundred years, and I'm only-for-all only thirty-three years old? - Because, father, the raven answered him, that you drink living blood, and I feed on carrion. The eagle thought: let's try and we eat the same. Good. The eagle and the raven flew. Here we saw a dead horse; went down and sat down. The raven began to peck and praise. The eagle pecked once, pecked another, flapped his wing and said to the crow: not, brother crow, than eat carrion for three hundred years, it's better to drink living blood once, and there what God will give! - What is a Kalmyk tale?
- Intricate, - I answered him. - But to live by murder and robbery means to peck at the carrion for me.
Pugachev looked at me in surprise and did not answer. We both fell silent, each immersed in his own thoughts. The Tartar sung a sad song; Savelich, napping, rocked on irradiation. The kibitka flew along a smooth winter path ... Suddenly I saw a village on the steep bank of the Yaik, with a palisade and a bell tower - and a quarter of an hour later we drove into the Belogorsk fortress.
Chapter XII The Orphan
Like our apple tree
There is no top, no process;
Like our princess
There is no father, no mother.
There is no one to equip her,
There is no one to bless her. *
Wedding song.
The wagon drove up to the porch of the commandant's house. The people recognized Pugachev's bell and ran after us in a crowd. Shvabrin met the impostor on the porch. He was dressed as a Cossack and grew a beard. The traitor helped Pugachev to get out of the wagon, in vile expressions expressing their joy and zeal. Seeing me, he was embarrassed; but soon recovered, held out your hand to me, speaking: “And you are our? Would have long since!"- I turned away from him and did not answer anything..
My heart ached, when we found ourselves in a long familiar room, where the diploma of the late commandant still hung on the wall, as a sad epitaph for the past tense. Pugachev sat down on that sofa, on which, happened, Ivan Kuzmich dozed, lulled to sleep by his wife's grunts. Shvabrin himself brought him vodka. Pugachev drank a glass and told him, pointing at me: "Savor and His Honor". Shvabrin came up to me with his tray; but I turned away from him for the second time. He didn't seem like himself. With his usual sharpness, he, of course, guessed, that Pugachev was unhappy with him. He cowed in front of him, and looked at me with incredulity. Pugachev inquired about the state of the fortress, rumors about enemy troops and the like, and suddenly asked him unexpectedly: "Tell, brother, what kind of girl do you keep under your guard? Show me her ".
Shvabrin turned pale as dead. "Sovereign, - he said in a trembling voice ... - Sovereign, she is not under guard ... she is ill ... she lies in the parlor ".
"Lead me to her", - said the impostor, getting up. It was impossible to excuse. Shvabrin took Pugachev to Marya Ivanovna's room. I followed them.
Shvabrin stopped on the stairs. "Sovereign! - he said. - You have the power to demand from me, What is your pleasure; but do not order a stranger to enter my wife's bedroom ".
I was in awe. "So you're married!"- I said to Shvabrin, getting ready to tear him to pieces.
- Hush! - interrupted me Pugachev. - It's my business. And you, - he continued, referring to Shvabrin, - do not be clever and do not break: whether she is your wife or not, and I lead whoever I want to her. Your honor, follow me.
At the door of the parlor Shvabrin stopped again and said in a broken voice: "Sovereign, I warn you, that she is in delirium tremens * and for the third day she has been raving incessantly ".
"Open it."! - said Pugachev.
Shvabrin began to look in his pockets and said, that I didn't take the key with me. Pugachev pushed the door with his foot; the lock bounced; the door opened, and we entered.
I looked and measured. On the floor, Marya Ivanovna was sitting in a tattered peasant dress, pale, thin, with disheveled hair. Before her stood a jug of water, covered with a slice of bread. Seeing me, she shuddered and screamed. What happened to me then - I don't remember.
Pugachev looked at Shvabrin and said with a bitter smile: "You have a good infirmary!" - Later, approached Marya Ivanovna: "Tell me, darling, what is your husband punishing you for?? what have you done to him??»
- My husband! She repeated. - He is not my husband. I will never be his wife! I'd rather dare to die, and die, if they don't spare me.
Pugachev looked menacingly at Shvabrin: “And you dared to deceive me! - he said to him,. - Do you know, loafer, what are you worthy?»
Shvabrin fell to his knees ... At that moment contempt drowned out all feelings of hatred and anger in me. I looked with disgust at the nobleman, a fugitive Cossack lying at his feet. Pugachev relented. "Sweetheart this time, - he said to Shvabrin;- but know, that at the first fault you will remember this one too ". Then he turned to Marya Ivanovna and told her kindly: "Come out, red girl; I give you freedom. I am the sovereign ".
Marya Ivanovna glanced quickly at him and guessed, that before her is the murderer of her parents. She covered her face with both hands and fell unconscious. I rushed to her; but at that moment my old friend Broadsword very boldly rubbed into the room and began to look after her young lady. Pugachev left the room, and the three of us went into the living room.
- What, your honor? - said laughing Pugachev. - Rescued the red maiden! What do you think, whether to send for the priest, why not make him marry his niece? Perhaps, I will be a planted father, Shvabrin friend; zakutim, we will drink - and we will close gates!
What i feared, then it happened. Schwabrin, after hearing Pugachev's proposal, lost my temper. "Sovereign! He shouted in a frenzy. - It's my fault, I lied to you; but Grinev is deceiving you. This girl is not the niece of the local priest: she is the daughter of Ivan Mironov, who was executed during the capture of the local fortress ".
Pugachev fixed his fiery eyes on me. "What else is this?"- he asked me in bewilderment..
- Shvabrin told you the truth, - I answered with firmness.
- You didn't tell me that, - noticed Pugachev, whose face darkened.
- Judge for yourself, - I answered him, - was it possible to announce in front of your people, that Mironov's daughter is alive. Yes they would have gnawed her. Nothing would have saved her!
- And that's true, - said laughing Pugachev. - My drunks would not spare the poor girl. Well done by the godfather, what deceived them.
- listen, - I went, seeing his good disposition. - I don’t know what to call you, and I don’t want to know ... But God knows, that with my life I would be glad to pay you for that, what did you do for me. Just don't demand it, which is contrary to my honor and Christian conscience. You are my benefactor. Finish how you started: let me go with the poor orphan, where God will show us the way. And we, wherever you are and whatever happens to you, every day we will pray to God for the salvation of your sinful soul ...
Seemed, the harsh soul of Pugachev was touched. "Yin be your way! - he said. - Execute so execute, favor so favor: this is my custom. Take yourself your beauty; see her, wherever you want, and God give you love and advice!»
Then he turned to Shvabrin and ordered to give me a pass to all the outposts and fortresses., subject to him. Schwabrin, completely destroyed, stood dumbfounded. Pugachev went to inspect the fortress. Shvabrin accompanied him; and I stayed under the pretext of preparations for departure.
I ran to the light room. Doors were locked. I knocked. "Who's there?"- asked Palasha. I gave my name. Marya Ivanovna's sweet voice rang out from behind the door. "You guessed it, Petr ANDREIĆ. I'm changing clothes. Go to Akulina Pamfilovna: I'll be there now ".
I obeyed and went to the house of Father Gerasim. And he and the ass ran out to meet me. Savelich has already warned them. "Hello, Petr ANDREIĆ, - said the priest. - God brought me to see you again. How are you? And we remembered about you every day. And Marya Ivanovna has endured everything without you, my dear!.. Yes tell, my father, How did you and Pugachev get along?? How did he not kill you? good, thanks to the villain and for that ". - "Complete, old woman, - interrupted Father Gerasim. - Don't lie all that, What do you know. There is no salvation in many verb. Father Petr Andreevich! sign in, welcome. then, haven't seen each other for a long time ".
Booty began to treat me with what God sent. And meanwhile she spoke incessantly. She told me, how Shvabrin forced them to hand over Marya Ivanovna to him; how Marya Ivanovna cried and did not want to part with them; how Marya Ivanovna had regular relations with her through Palashka (lively girl, which makes the police officer dance on his own tune); how she advised Marya Ivanovna to write a letter to me and so on. I, in turn, told her briefly my story.. Pop and ass were baptized, hearing, that Pugachev knows their deception. “The power of the godmother is with us! - said Akulina Pamfilovna. - Prompt god pass the cloud. Ay-yes Alexey Ivanovich; nothing to say: good goose!"- At that very moment the door opened, and Marya Ivanovna entered with a smile on her pale face. She left her peasant dress and was still dressed simply and cute..
I grabbed her hand and for a long time could not utter a single word. We were both silent with a full heart. Our owners felt, that we had no time for them, and left us. We were left alone. Everything was forgotten. We talked and could not stop talking. Marya Ivanovna told me everything, what has happened to her since the capture of the fortress; described to me the horror of her situation, all tests, to which the vile Shvabrin subjected her. We also remembered the old happy time ... We both cried ... Finally I began to explain my assumptions to her. Stay her in the fortress, subject to Pugachev and controlled by Shvabrin, it was impossible. It was impossible to think about Orenburg, undergoing all the calamities of the siege. She did not have a single loved one in the world. I invited her to go to the village to my parents. She hesitated at first: my father's disagreement she knew frightened her. I calmed her down. I knew, that the father will honor for happiness and make it his duty to accept the daughter of an honored warrior, who died for the fatherland. "Dear Marya Ivanovna! I said finally. - I consider you my wife. Wonderful circumstances united us inextricably: nothing in the world can separate us ". Marya Ivanovna just listened to me, without feigned shyness, without intricate excuses. She felt, that her fate was connected with mine. But she repeated, what will not otherwise be my wife, as with the consent of my parents. I did not contradict her. We kissed passionately, sincerely - and thus everything was decided between us.
