of the caves scattered on a steep slope rose.
Slightly farther on the left, on a slope of the towering over the village, woody mountain, the majestic temple topped with the sharp spires piercing the sky was located. The temple was abandoned many years ago, with departure of the priest from the village, but still kept the primitive beauty. The thick stone walls which were slightly showered from East side where the base of the temple acted from the slope which is washed away for hundreds of years by rains, were decorated with the reliefs which are cut out on a stone and harmonious columns in all height of the building. Sharp lancet windows squinted with careful suspiciousness looked at rare guests.
Damp and cool autumn evening softly fell by this picturesque valley, decking it warm colors. Dim beams setting the sun did not give enough heat any more. Cold wind blew, and yellow leaves broken by it from native branches were turned in air for a long time, slowly falling down. It was necessary to hurry not to remain to spend the night on the street after all gate in the village are locked for the night.
The sharp movement having picked up a hem of a long checkered skirt, the girl slipped down a footpath. The soft leather shoes altered by her grandmother with hardly audible rustle slid on the soft soil, reserving superficial long strips.
Having gone down to the foot of the mountain, the girl looked back and, having distinguished under the yellow-orange arch of the wood only a withered grass, brownish islands looking out from under a dense layer of the fallen-down foliage and helplessly groundless roots of trees which acted over the showered sandy-argillaceous slope, broke and ran towards the lop-sided lodges.
hiding among the shadows cast by trees which were going among fields to small golden islands the girl reached the village, sideways jumped through the low wattle fence which quietly creaked near at hand and immediately, having sat down on knees, stood, listening. Ahead not clear movement seemed. The girl tensely blinked the eyes.
The huge fluffy dog darted off and rushed towards to the girl, breaking fragile branches of an undersized bush which filled the lower tier of the small forest grow zarostk hiding the village from eyes of the foreign observer examining the village from the hill. The girl wanted to jump and rush away, but the dog already soared up in a jump. The long whitish and cream wool which rolled up in dirty lumps on a belly dangled here and there at each movement of a dog.
The huge animal pushed the girl to the ground, having pressed down to a wet grass the huge paws. Warm, damp and rough language joyfully concerned to the face skin soiled in road dust and dirt. From warm, dense dog wool smelled of mustiness, the crude earth and fresh meat.
– Tomasz, faugh! Stop to lick me! – the girl exclaimed, trying to escape from dog paws.
The dog receded on several steps backwards, hopping on the place and wagging a short fluffy tail. The girl rose from the earth, shook off a woolen skirt and tightened more tightly a belt on which the warm shawl thrown shoulders and crossed by the ends on a waist was picked up. Having sat down, the girl opened the small rag bag hanging at it on a shoulder and got the small piece of bread which remained off the road. The dog licked lips and, having inclined the huge shaggy head forward, timidly came nearer.
The girl stretched to a dog a piece of bread, having started fingers in dense wool on a dog nape. The gray crumbs of bread showered on the earth immediately razmokat, merging with a grass.
The girl rose and, having clicked a dog, ran through a coppice, protecting a face hands from biting blows of branches. A dog, having opened a mouth and with the tongue hanging out from which saliva dripped, followed the hostess, clumsily breaking dry branches.
On the huge field located to the right of the village the herd of sheep seemed. The girl for a second stood, peering. Here, at last, she could distinguish the shepherd – the gray-haired old man who is wrapped up in a sheepskin vest from under which once bright red shirt which is broken off on a collar looked out.
– Hi, Miloš! – loudly the girl shouted, having waved here and there is high over the head.
The old man some time absent-mindedly looked around, trying to find eyes shouting, then, at last, noticed the girl standing near the road through a coppice.
– Hi, Ilina! You already… – cried out the old man slightly shivering, but still thick and pleasant deep voice.
But the girl did not hear it any more. With a force having pulled hard on a heavy shutter, it opened the wooden gate separating the village from surrounding it water.
Here in the village enclosed with a high paling the strong log houses connected to the yards and sheds were located. The girl slipped to one of narrow streets laid in a narrow gleam between houses. Here even on sunny days the twilight reigned – high houses did not pass light in tiny back streets.
Having left several houses behind, the girl curtailed to the right and in a few minutes it appeared at a fence of the old two-storeyed lodge standing a little alone. Having run a hand over a native gate, she sighed. Yes, these houses built by her great-grandfathers were built for ages.
Having called up a dog, the girl pushed a hand in a narrow crack near a gate. The latch clicked. Having opened a door, Ilina waited until the dog steps into the familiar narrow footpath conducting to the house and will reach the doghouse under a porch, then closed a door, having thrown with a heavy iron hook a gate loop, and passed after a dog.
Tomasz, having half leaned out of the doghouse in which there was not enough place for his huge body, clamped the powerful paws a dirty brain bone and with visible pleasure tried to get to the core of it to reach at last delicious marrow. Having climbed creaking steps, the girl several times punched at a door and, expecting until it is let in the house, looked back. On a small kitchen garden two obstrizhenny lambs imposingly walked about, and on a low small fence near the shed the sheep skin removed obviously, since morning was dried. Fat black flies a swarm flew up from a skin when the crow attracted with a smell of blood clapped the black-gray wings too close.
The girl with astonishment raised eyebrows, looking at a skin.
– Ilina! – was distributed suddenly from the opened door.
The girl did not manage to come round as something heavy hung at her on a neck and began to pull down.
– More carefully, more carefully, Taleyta! The sister off the road … – the dryish low voice was distributed from the house.
Ilina was carefully released from embraces of average height of the thin girl with long black as a resin, the hair braided to the thick spit. Having departed on couple of steps, she from legs to the head inspected the sister and again rushed to it, strong embracing. Girls loudly laughed loudly, being turned on the place and pulling each other clothes. At last, having got over that Ilina again of house, both slowly dispersed in the parties. Ilina took a step to darkness of the house and is constrained bowed. The gray-haired woman in a heavy bluish dress stood, having put hands on a breast and smiling.
– Hello, grandmother, – Ilina told, entering the house.
– How are you? How did reach? Lost weight … – the old woman whispered, – You sold? Was enough…
– I sold everything that was, – Ilina told, having smiled, and having bent, got a small rag purse from a bag and stretched it to the old woman.
The woman opened a purse and counted money. Taleyta curiously listened attentively to a conversation, blinking big brown eyes.
– But here…
– Yes, it is more, than had to be, – Ilina confirmed.
– From where? – the old woman asked.
– I bypassed the mountain – strongly washed out the road, and there was not to pass – and came across the swamp. And there on each hummock of a cranberry – multitudes! – Ilina began to tell, drawing in air the swamp and hummocks with a cranberry, – Yes such berries