Master and Man and Other Stories by Leo Tolstoy

Author:Leo Tolstoy
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141913667
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2008-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

6

Life was sheer hell now. The shackles were never taken off and they were not allowed out of the pit for a breath of fresh air. They were thrown unbaked dough, as if they were dogs, and water was lowered in a pitcher. There was a terrible stench in that damp, stuffy pit. Kostylin became quite ill and his body was bloated and ached all over. He either slept or just lay there moaning. Zhilin's spirits fell too – he could see that the outlook was bleak, but he had no idea how they could escape.

He started to dig a tunnel, but there was nowhere to hide the earth, and his captor spotted it and threatened to kill him.

One day he was squatting on his haunches on the floor of the pit; he felt wretched and yearned for freedom. Suddenly a millet cake dropped into his lap, then another, and then a shower of cherries. He looked up and there was Dina. She glanced down, laughed and ran off. Zhilin wondered, ‘Perhaps Dina can help me?’

He cleared a small space in the pit, scraped up some clay and started making models. He made men, horses, dogs. ‘When Dina comes I'll throw them up to her, he thought. But Dina did not come next day. Zhilin heard horses rushing past and the Tatars gathered at the mosque, where they started arguing, shouting and kept mentioning Russians. He could hear the old man's voice and although he could not quite make out all that was said, he gathered that the Russians were not far off, that the Tatars were afraid they might attack the village and that they did not know what to do with their prisoners.

After their talk, they all went away. Suddenly Zhilin heard a rustling noise up above. He looked up and saw Dina squatting there, her knees higher than her head. She leaned over the edge, her necklace of coins dangling. Her eyes sparkled like tiny stars. She took two cheese cakes out of her sleeves and threw them down. Zhilin took them and asked, ‘Where did you get to? I've made you some toys. Here, catch!’

And he started throwing them up, one at a time. But Dina shook her head and would not look at them.

‘I don't need them,’ she said. After sitting silently for a few minutes, she continued, ‘Ivan, they want to kill you!’ – and she pointed to her throat.

‘Who wants to kill me?’

‘My father. The old men have ordered it. I feel so sorry for you.’

Zhilin said, ‘Well, if you feel so sorry, you can bring me a long pole.’

She shook her head as if to say that this was impossible. Zhilin clasped his hands and pleaded with her, ‘Please, Dina! Please bring me one!’

‘I can't!’ she replied. ‘Everyone's home now and they'd see me.’ And she left.

That evening Zhilin sat wondering what would happen. He kept looking up – there were stars in the sky, but the moon had not risen yet. The mullah called and then all was quiet.

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