Читать книгу Immortals. Alma and Scythe of Death - Сергей Соловьёв, Ар'лан ис'Дрекхэм - Страница 7

There was a lot of work for Almy- to apply water, sweep out the house, grind grain. The bread was baked more often by the stepmother, and he left the oven, fine and baked.

The girl fed the bird, putting the chopped nettle in a trough. Suddenly something poked her in the leg.

— Ha — Ga — Ga, — the goose gave an offended voice.

— Come on, get in, ‘she replied, and picked up the bird.

He pinched Alma lightly, politely greeting the hostess, then spread his wings and raised his tail higher, and the bird was next to the trough with food, and began to grab food with its beak. There were two wild cats nearby, which rubbed against the girl’s leg, and immediately rushed off, raising their tails. On the doorstep of the house stood Fita and Vita with stones in their hands.

“Why?” — the girl was indignant, — what prevented the cats?

“The birds will be devoured,” Fita frowned, but threw a stone on the ground.

— Exactly. Forest cats — they are evil, — even Vita noticed, proudly turning her back to Alma.

She just sighed bitterly, and again began to work. There were many cases. Then again there was a cry in the house, Alma ran to the door, and her snake flew into the girl’s face. I caught it and hid my favorite in a sum on her side. I was always to blame. Well, everything is better than how to get a hot poker in the leg.

— Oh, you damn witch, a snake under the deck! ‘the stepmother shouted, blushing with anger.

— She doesn’t touch anyone… ‘the girl tried to intercede for Skara.

“Come here. Vita’s stomach hurts again.

— Now, let’s fly.

Alma went to her potions, scattered on clay pots. All this wealth was on the shelves, in true order, each pot was marked with different signs. She ran her fingers through the signs and removed the necessary drug from the shelf. Birch coal is great for stomach pain, and the witch’s student stirred tar coal with water, poured the potion into a wooden cup. Alma brought the medicine to Vita, who was lying on the bench.

— Now half drink, and the other — in the evening, — she said sick.

— Okay, — the sister answered reluctantly, but drank a drink.

The stepmother looked attentively at the treatment, without saying a word of gratitude, but did not forget to remind about the work:

— We also need to ask the cows food.

So there were enough things to do, except for those days when Alma studied with Agna. Nobody dared to argue with the witch, it is more expensive for themselves. The work of the bull is over, everyone was waiting for dinner, wheat porridge with cow oil and cottage cheese. And drinking from dry forest berries.

Resa, the father of the family, was not at home as always. Now he led twenty people on plows along the Ob with goods to Gandvik, for great bargaining. So Iya became the head of the house, and she also kept order.

Alma ate with pleasure, during the day of work the desire to eat did not disappear. The wooden bowl was freed from porridge, and so was the spoon. Then, after the meal, it was always the turn to wash the unwise dishes in the house. Fita and Vita did not wash their hands.

It was time to sleep, and the house was locked for the night. Alma also went to bed. The mattress, stuffed with fresh grass, took the girl in its cozy embrace, and the felt blanket quickly warmed up. But for some reason the dream was alarming, she saw all the terrible things. And then through the drag there was an angry eggnog of a goose:

— Ha-Ha-Ga!

Alma jumped up, but the dog did not bark and apparently was already killed. She ran to wake her stepmother and sisters. They hardly wiped their eyes, did not understand what was the matter. But, then they began to break into the house, trying to break the doors. Iya quickly realized what was the matter. First of all, her hand reached for a rope tied to a bill, a copper plate. A deafening ringing rang very close, and after a couple of seconds the ringing spread throughout the area. But before help, you had to save yourself.

— Quickly, in the underground! ‘the stepmother shouted.

The stepmother grabbed the coveted lark with the most expensive property, and ran down, the girls rushed after her. The shield of the secret passage leaned back, Alma lit an oil lamp, illuminating a long-dug underground passage. They entered there, and closed the passage with a shield, and pulling out a rope, closed the strong shield of the secret passage. Now they crawled to the exit, to the bank of the river, where the house stood — the fortress. But now, in clothes smeared in the ground, they rushed to the fortress. Warriors were already gathering here, new and new giants ran up with spears and shields, bows and arrows. The Res family was noticed by one of the elders, Gooday.

“Hello, beauties. Have you heard your first call? ‘he asked.

— Yes, for sure, — answered the stepmother, — they began to break into our house. I hit, and we ran.

— Thank you. Sit down, wait. Strangers attacked us. But nothing, we’ll fight back.

The soldiers let the family go along the bridges to the fortress, and they themselves stood guard. The rest, about fifty armed people, ran faster than the wind to the estates of the village.

Alma sat down on the bench, and roaring with her snake. Scarah then wrapped around her wrist, becoming like a bizarre gray-sulfur bracelet, then crawled away

around the body, making the girl giggle, and fit around her neck with a wonderful necklace. Fita and Vita lay nearby, but no longer climbed and did not interfere. Iya measured the earthen floor with steps, sometimes looking at her stepdaughter.

“Sleep better. “It’ll be over soon,” she said quietly.

The woman sat on her three-legged stool, and looked at her daughters and stepdaughter who had fallen asleep. She stroked the head of Fit and Vita, then, in thoughtfulness, brought her palm to Alma’s hair. But on the girl’s neck, in warmth and comfort, Scara was dozing, her head next to the hostess’s ear. Iya pulled her hand away in fright, and only shook her head, trying to sort out her feelings. Now she heard noise in neighboring houses, cells, quickly filled with people, like a big hive of bees. The woman took a black pot and went to get water. And I met a neighbor.

— Hi, Iya.

— hi.

“Thank you for raising the alarm. Everyone was saved. Both we and the neighbors. Let’s go to the well. Do you want a gingerbread treat? Managed to capture.

Iya did not believe her own ears. Is this Tuya, whose water in the rain will not be interrogated and she treats with gingerbread? But she went nearby, trying not to be surprised at anything. Four more hostesses passed by them, not too lazy to bow low to Iya. Ten women stood near the well, animatedly communicating and gesturing. The neighbors got up, waiting for their turn to get water. Two men tirelessly pulled up buckets of water. Excellent, fresh and cool water filled the clay vessel, Iya went to her cell, Tuya caught up with her and handed her a treat.

“From the bottom of my heart,” said a neighbor.

— Thanks. ‘the woman replied.

But there were no daughters on the benches, and the hostess was worried in earnest, and again went out into the yard. But soon the children returned from a walk.

The girls found the latrine they needed. Large wooden pipes at an angle were directed from the fortress, preventing sewage from poisoning residents in a crowded place, where they only waited out the danger. There was where to rinse your hands. So, it wasn’t that bad, even here.

Food was found, the woman brought water, and the family quickly satisfied the hunger. So we spent three long days in this shelter.

But now, the fortress was again filled with a cry. Iya jumped out, and the children peeked in fright at the doorway. But then there was a cry of joyful messenger:

— Enemies chased away! Go back to your homes!

People gathered, leaving their almost cozy, but cramped shelter.