Vasilisa by Julie Mathison

Author:Julie Mathison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Julie Mathison
Published: 2021-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

THEY WALKED IN SILENCE, each in their own thoughts. At first, the forest was much as they had found it yesterday, marked by widely spaced birch trees and light undergrowth, breaking through the snow. The black marks still reminded Vasilisa of eyes, but where yesterday the trees had seemed friendly, protective even, today she felt unsettled by their gaze, though she knew that must be nonsense. Even here, in Old Rus, the trees would not be watching, would they? It was likely last night’s conversation, so full of danger and atmosphere, that had put such ideas into her impressionable mind. What Mama would say!

This thought was bittersweet, and Vasilisa fell to memories of home as they traveled on. As morning deepened toward noon, the lay of the land sloped downward, and the forest flora began to change, birches replaced by fir and spruce. The snowfall was lighter here, dusting the ferns which crowded the slender path Andrei had made, and in the middle distance, bogs meandered between stout trees, their murky reaches tumbled with fallen logs. Vasilisa was so taken with the changing view that she did not see the trail’s end until they were upon it—the massive bole of a tree, sprouting from the center of their path.

“Can’t miss that!” Ivan said. “Now, for the tricky part. Andrei said to keep northeast, right?” They both gazed skyward through the trees to spy the sun’s position. Luckily, the day was fine, and they soon struck off in their agreed upon direction.

At first, the way was clear, and Ivan’s mood seemed to lighten as they fell into conversation about Andrei and Marfa, their warm ways and their charming hut. What luck to have found such hospitable folk so quickly! Where would Ivan and Vasilisa be without clothes and food, not to mention Andrei’s guidance? But even more, it was the sense of good will that sustained them, here, so far from home.

They stopped to eat, settling in a mossy clearing under a particularly old and grand fir. Marfa had stuffed their packs full to bursting—tarts with cabbage and pickled onions, hearty bread, even kvas in a corked wooden flask for each of them. But hungry as they were, they ate sparingly, mindful of the journey ahead.

“You really think it’s that way?” Vasilisa said when they were done, shouldering their packs as they prepared to resume their course. High clouds now masked the sun, casting everything in whiteness.

Ivan squinted skyward, then walked a few paces over to the nearest tree. “Look here, see the moss? It grows on the north side of trees.”

“Useful!” Vasilisa said with a warm smile that seemed to fluster him. “The information, I mean,” she teased, “not you.”

Ivan was surprised into a laugh, his face relaxing at once into that natural good humor. What would he have been like had his life been easier? Probably full of himself! she thought and allowed herself a private smile.

Their mood much improved, they ventured on, bantering as they went, a skill Ivan seemed to have honed during his years at expensive schools.

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