Overnight childcare near me: Child Care Plus – Infant Toddler

and so that the Aleshka does not violate the regime, so that the regime does not break out of the time. They took the pipe from him and locked it in a cupboard. Well, what could Alyosha do? Maybe he even cried, wrapped in a blanket, after lights out, but you still won’t return the pipe. So I fell asleep.

The bugler is sleeping. What does he dream about?

Maybe he is dreaming about how the echo of a signal
Elastically pushed into the warm air
And beyond the black forest pass
Distant chimneys woke up …

in the throat, and he squeezed a pine branch that fell under his arm like a saber handle.

The horses began to snore in alarm,
Squadrons turned in an arc –
And the heavy spears bowed,
And the banners rose above the ranks.
In the clear sky – dawn color,
Golden ridges of clouds.
As if in a fairy tale, but not in a fairy tale at all
Detachments fly out onto the field.
A black scattering of horsemen rushes
Through the bushes, dressed in mist,
Through the cold early morning dews
Under the orange flag of dawn.

Then there were other songs. But this one was always sung at every fire. And Seryozha was always waiting for her, and joyful alarm began to ring in him in advance. As if a miracle could happen, and the riders from the song were ready to break out into the clearing and stand by the fire: the reflections of fire on the muzzles of the horses, golden sparks on the bridles, stirrups and copper sheath rings. And the faces are not visible in the shadows, only the stars show through on high helmets…

0003

– Kostya, who came up with this song?

“Yes…” Kostya said reluctantly. “One person…” And it looked like he was embarrassed.

Strange. In fact, Kostya was rarely embarrassed. He was cheerful, tireless, fair. He didn’t drive the guys out of the river ahead of time, dragged October babies on his shoulders and never shouted at the boys, like the leader of Serezha’s detachment with the stupid name Hortensia.

Hortense often screamed because there was no discipline in the detachment. Everyone wanted to go on a hike, then to the river, then to play football, but no one wanted to hold thematic camps and fulfill the regime. Hydrangea climbed out of the skin to achieve order. But nothing worked out for her, although she tried her best to resemble the senior counselor Evgenia Semyonovna.

But Kostya didn’t try to be like him. He wore dark glasses and green shorts with a wide command belt.

Everyone knew that the head of the camp, Tikhon Mikhailovich Sovkov, was dissatisfied with Kostya. The chief thought that it was indecent for an adult to walk in short pants, and the counselor also had no right to wear black glasses, because they separated him from the children. But Kostya continued to walk around in shorts, and his glasses did not separate him from anyone …

And when Seryozha asked about the song, Kostya was a little confused. And Seryozha did not ask anymore, everything was clear anyway. And Kostya threw the guitar over his shoulder and took Seryozha by the hand.

– Let’s go, Sergey… Does it matter who came up with the song? The main thing is that they sing…

And Seryozha felt good, good because Kostya remembers, it turns out, his name, and now they are walking side by side, and Kostya is holding his palm in his palm, and over the camp there is such a warm, quiet evening, and the moon is laughing among the dark pines…

The moon was not quite round, but very bright. And in the north the yellow dawn did not go out. The moonlight merged with the dawn, and golden dust settled on the pine branches. Nobody wanted to sleep. The guys moved the beds and began to tell different stories. It was not very noisy and very interesting. Many even from other chambers came running. Hortense screamed for order, and then disappeared imperceptibly.

– Gee … I ran to a date with Stasik, – Vovka Paderin, nicknamed Powder, scoffed.

Stasik – it was Stanislav Andreevich, a physical education teacher. But no one began to laugh, it was not such a mood. Everyone wanted to sit quietly next to each other and listen.

The stories were, of course, terrible. Pavlik Maksimov told about the severed hand that two boys found in an old chest, and Valerka Sotnikov about how their flatmate turned out to be a sorceress and flew in a washing machine.

And then Vitka Soloboev from the first detachment started talking about the Baskervilles’ dog. He only spoke badly, confused everything, lost his way. In addition, Vitka overate at dinner and was now puffing heavily. It became uninteresting to listen to, especially since many guys knew the story about the Baskerville dog better than Vitka. They began to interrupt, correct, make noise. Vitka, tired and offended, fell silent. And everyone started talking about dogs: what breed is better, who had what kind of puppies, how to train …

Seryozha never had a dog, but he listened with interest all the same.

Suddenly, when the conversation had already begun to subside, little Dimka Solomin said:

– I also had a dog. Only I’ve never seen her…

“Gee,” Powder immediately responded. “She was smaller than a flea, huh?” Mixture of microbe with kabyzdoh.

Several people giggled readily. But the rest of them made noise: almost everyone wanted to hear about Dimka’s dog.

And Serezha really wanted to. It’s not even about the dog. He just liked Dimka.

They met on the very first camp day. Seryozha walked into the pioneer room and saw that a boy of about eight years old was standing right in front of him on the path. Thin, golden-haired, with a battle abrasion on the bridge of his nose. He stands with his legs firmly apart and his palms behind the strap on his pants. The boy’s face was good, with a big smiling mouth and green eyes.

“And I remember you,” he said and tilted his head to his shoulder. – You studied in the fifth “B”, in our school. Your name is Seryoga.

– That’s right, – Seryozha was delighted. “Only I… don’t remember your name.” He was ashamed to say that he did not remember this boy at all.

“My name is Dimka,” he said eagerly. And he went next to Seryozha.

They probably would have started talking, but then someone shouted from afar: “Dimka! Solomin!” And Dimka galloped off to the call.

Then he came across many times and always smiled at Seryozha, as if he were an old acquaintance.

Seryozha has not yet made friends with anyone in the camp. And with Dima too. But he liked Dimka more than anyone, it’s only a pity that he was small …

Dimka began to tell:

– I was living with our grandmother then. Not in the city, but in the village. There is a ravine, and around the house. I couldn’t sleep the first night. Because I’m not used to it. In our city at night, a thousand lights are immediately visible in the window, but at my grandmother there are no lights, because the ravine is outside the window. Only the moon. Well, I didn’t sleep, I didn’t sleep, and then the dog started barking. At first I even got angry: why doesn’t it let me sleep? And then I kind of felt sorry for her. She barked so sadly. She must have been chained all the time, night and day. It’s boring after all … My window was open. I came up and let’s whistle. Well, not loudly, but as if calling her. She fell silent. Then she barked like she was asking. Well, I whistled some more. And she again: “Woof, woof.” As if he was answering … That’s how we talked for a long, long time. And then I whistled three times that we were ending the conversation, and went to bed. She, too, barked a little more and fell silent.

– And then? Seryozha asked.

– When another night came, we again spoke in the same way. And then more. Every night She already recognized me by the whistle, this dog. And she responded in every way. If I start whistling merrily, she will bark merrily too! And if quietly, sadly, she also barks plaintively like that … In general, we had whole conversations.

– What was her name? – asked from a far corner.

– How do I know? Dima was surprised. “I never even saw her. I don’t even know what she is. I was looking for her during the day, but there are vegetable gardens and high fences around the ravine, you can’t get through. And she did not respond to the whistle during the day.

– What is yours? – puffing offendedly, said Vitka Soloboev. “You don’t even know if she’s red or what. The owner of a dog is the one who gives it food.

“But she talked to me,” Dimka answered quietly.

Seryozha said with annoyance:

– You, Soloboev, do not interfere with the story… Well, then what, Dimka?

Dimka sighed.

– Then I had a fight with Vovka Kobasenko, and my lip swelled up. I couldn’t whistle anymore. And she barked, barked. All night long. I just didn’t know what to do. Scream, right? Well, I didn’t know her name. And grandma would have woken up… And the dog kept barking, barking, and suddenly squealing! And she fell silent immediately … Then, when the lip passed, I whistled all night, but she no longer answered.

Everyone was sympathetically silent.

“Somebody nailed it,” said Zhenya Skatov, an angry, ugly boy from the first detachment. – There are such bastards. They kill a dog that crush a bug.

Seryozha did not like Zhenya. But now Zhenya took pity on Dimkin’s dog and immediately seemed likeable to Seryozha.

In general, everyone around was now good and kind. They sat alternately on their own and other people’s beds, leaning against each other and wrapping themselves in blankets no matter whose. And some guy from another detachment, unfamiliar, but still nice, stumbled up to Seryozha. The moon shone brighter and brighter, and I didn’t feel like sleeping at all, and it was good to be next to each other.

There were comrades around, and Seryozha decided to give them his fairy tale.

He said:

– And I have riders…

5

It happened the summer before last. Seryozha asked Aunt Galya for permission to go with the guys out of town, to Sandy Lake. The days were sultry, all the boys were dressed very lightly. After all, no one thought that in the middle of the day an evil wind would fly from behind the edge of the northern forest with scalding cold rain. It was one of those fast-moving cyclones that weather forecasters do not have time to warn about.

The boys were caught by bad weather when they were on a meadow path, two kilometers from the bus stop. Summer quickly turned into autumn. The sun burrowed into the shaggy clouds and probably trembled there like a wet red puppy. The grasses bent under the springy blows of the jets.

When Seryozha ran home, he could be squeezed out and hung on a rope along with his pants and T-shirt. Aunt Galya groaned and rushed to heat the water. But the hot bath did not help. And the raspberries didn’t help either. By evening, Seryozha was hoarse, weakened, trembling from chills …

Angina is not fun, especially during the holidays. You lie and miss. On the first day, Aunt Galya sat with Seryozha, gave hot milk to drink and fed her with pills. And then the temperature subsided, and Aunt Galya began to go to work.

Father was on a business trip, Marinka was in kindergarten, Natasha, who lived in the same apartment, was in the village with her grandmother. Serezha was even forbidden to stick his nose out onto the street.

And what was there to do on the street? The wind and rain took their toll. A dull puddle spread under the window, ripples red from clay scattered across it. Branches of mountain ash and yellow acacia swirled in the wind. The red bar in the thermometer, nailed to the eaves behind the window, shrank and stuck out at ten degrees.

Finally one evening the cold rain stopped and rolled over the distant rooftops. In the west, a sun slit erupted. But the chilly wind still blew in gusts, and the wet bushes shuddered, as small children shudder after long tears.

Seryozha shuddered too: it was cool by the window. Aunt Galya came and drove him to bed. Seryozha was slightly offended. He lay with his nose to the wall and did not turn around all evening, although it was very important for him to know whether a bright streak was growing outside the window. He lay and looked at the old wallpaper. A small pattern, specks and scratches formed into pictures. It was possible, if you tried, to see strange birds, camels, an old steamer and the lame hut of Baba Yaga. But most clearly visible was the rider.

The rider was sitting on a thin-legged horse. The horse had an upturned head and a disheveled mane. The rider was wearing a sharp helmet and overcoat. In one hand – a curved sword, in the other – a long spear (Seryozha inflicted this scratch with a wooden saber when he fought with a pillow).

The eyelashes stuck together and the patterns on the wall began to move. The horse moved its legs, and the rider looked back at Seryozha, as if calling with him.

Seryozha shook his head, the rider froze. Seryozha glanced furtively out the window. Sunslit was now orange. Along it, as if along a fiery road, small clouds flew, similar to cavalrymen with shaggy cloaks. They seemed to be on the attack against bad weather.

It was raining during the night. Seryozha woke up with anxiety: will there really be no sun tomorrow? The rider on the wall was not visible at dusk, but Seryozha knew that he was there, and asked in a whisper:

– Well, drive away these clouds! Well, please…

It was a gray morning, but the rain stopped. Seryozha padded to the window. The cyclone is gone. Dark clouds rolled back to the south row after row. They were like an army that is retreating, although not yet completely defeated. By noon, the sky began to flicker with blue glimpses, and then a hot sun flew out into a wide gap like a cannonball, and the red column of the thermometer, saluting, soared nine divisions.

Bright rays hit the wall. All the evening drawings on the wallpaper crumbled from the light, disappeared. And the rider was gone. But he did not crumble, of course: he galloped off to beat the retreating enemy.

It was difficult for him, this rider, to fight alone. Seryozha sat down at the table and began to prepare the army.

First, Seryozha drew a cavalryman on cardboard (maybe not very skillfully, but he tried). The rider turned out to be the size of a matchbox. Seryozha cut it out with little aunt Galina’s scissors. Then he circled eleven more on this figure – how much cardboard was enough. And he also cut it out, and then painted it with my father’s colored ink. The result was a squadron of twelve horsemen. With thin pikes made of rice straw from a broom, with shiny sabers made of silver tea wrappers, with stars on their helmets.

Seryozha lined up riders on the windowsill so that they would race after the fleeing clouds.

And the clouds, frightened, soon completely left the battlefield. The day became bright, sparkling with blue puddles, and warm. Steam rose from the drying asphalt.

Try to stay at home in this weather! When Aunt Galya came, Seryozha said that he would die if he did not go out into the street. Aunt Galya sighed and allowed. She only told me to wear rubber boots, long pants and a sweater.

Only a madman can walk around in such an outfit on a wonderful summer day. Sergei said so. Aunt Galya was offended. Seryozha was also offended. He even wanted to shed a tear (in those days he still threw out such jokes), but it was inconvenient to dissolve nurses in the face of twelve horsemen. Seryozha declared that he would not go for a walk, and began to build an enemy fortress from dominoes on the windowsill. The horsemen took this fortress from a raid. They were as angry as Seryozha.

However, it didn’t take long to get angry. My father suddenly returned from a trip. It turns out that he was in a hurry to make it to his good friend’s birthday party. Upon learning that Seryozha was unwell, his father was upset. He didn’t want to visit. But Seryozha did not want his father to be upset. He said that he wasn’t sick a bit anymore, and that let dad and Aunt Galya go, otherwise Uncle Volodya would wait and be offended. Just let them take Marinka with them, otherwise she will pester all evening so that Seryozha reads books to her. And he has a lot to do.

And so he was left alone that evening.

…First of all, he opened the window. Walking is not allowed, well, okay! And no one forbade him to sit in an open window.

The evening came warm and slightly damp. A pile of yellow cloud rose above the rooftops. The street was quiet, deserted, only sparrows roamed in the bushes. Seryozha began to fall asleep. Maybe he hasn’t fully recovered yet, or maybe he just got tired during the day. He lay down on the bed and looked out the window. The riders were still on the windowsill. They seemed to be racing across the evening sky towards a yellow cloud.

Seryozha fell asleep.

He woke up from a blow as loud as a shot. It was the wind that slammed the window.

A thunderstorm was unfolding over the city, which replaced a cold cyclone. It was a warm thunderstorm with blue flashes and rolling good-natured thunder.

Seryozha ran to the window. And I saw that there were no riders on the windowsill. The wind, before slamming the doors, picked up the cardboard cavalrymen and carried them away to no one knows where.

Of course, Seryozha was offended. And lonely. Dad and Aunt Galya had not yet returned, although it was late and dark, the riders rushed off and left him. Seryozha’s eyes stung. He didn’t look at the storm. He lay down again and nuzzled his nose into the pillow.

…And then he dreamed, or imagined, that the door was flung open with a soft push. And from the threshold to the bed there sounded firm steps with a metallic chime.

He opened his eyes and turned on his back.

The light grew in the room, as if the bulbs in the chandelier were slowly gaining strength by themselves.

Not far from Serezha’s bed stood a man in a sharp helmet and an overcoat to the heels. He wore tight yellow straps with a star buckle, a brown holster and a long sword in a black sheath with a copper tip. Tiny raindrops glistened on the overcoat. The man looked at Seryozha wearily, but kindly. Then he extended his hand to Seryozha and said:

“Don’t be angry… We didn’t have time to warn you. We rode away because an important military task was waiting for us.”

Seryozha hurriedly put his hand into the Horseman’s large hand and got up.

Whether it was a dream, or an invention, but Seryozha remembers everything clearly and clearly. As he stood in front of the Rider, grabbed his leather belt and pressed against his overcoat. The cloth turned out to be damp and prickly when Seryozha touched it with his bare elbows and knees. The belt smelled like a new briefcase, and the yellow buckle smelled like sour copper. The rider was tall, and Seryozha reached the buckle only with his chin. He stood there, clutching the belt and lifting his chin, and looked at the wonderful guest.

“Are you coming back?” Seryozha asked.

The rider said seriously:

“If need be. We can’t hang out on the windowsill all our lives. We have many more fights. But if you have a bad time, you call. We’ll come running.”

“How to call?” Seryozha asked in a whisper, because he wanted to cry. Not from bitterness, not from resentment, but on the contrary – as if from a favorite song, when something good is remembered.

The rider smiled.

“How to call… Well, stand up stronger, bend your elbows, clench your fists, as if you were holding reins in one hand and a saber in the other. And command quietly, to yourself: “Squadron-oh-he! To me!” And we will immediately be right there … Maybe no one will notice us, we can be invisible. But you must know that we are near.”

“I will…” Seryozha whispered.

The rider held a heavy hand on his shoulder, turned and went out the door, jingling his spurs. Horses neighed softly outside the window, and thunder rolled over the horizon. Seryozha lay down again…

Through his sleep he heard how Papa and Aunt Galya came, how Marinka was whimpering, it was high time for her to sleep.

Then Aunt Galya came into the room and groaned:

– Father, I fell asleep, didn’t even turn off the light. And do not undress.

She began to unbutton Seryozha’s shirt, and he pretended that he couldn’t wake up. Only stealthily, with one eye, glanced at the floor: if there were any marks from boots. But the tracks have already dried up. And only Serezha’s shoulder still seemed to feel the weight of a strong friendly palm ….

No, Seryozha has never called horsemen for help in his life. Because real enemies have not yet met.

But he knows: if you call, they will rush.

That’s for sure…

Seryozha had hardly finished speaking when Hortense appeared. This time she screamed in earnest, dispersed everyone to their beds and chambers. So Seryozha did not find out if the children liked his fairy tale. He only remembered that they listened to him attentively, silently.

If only he knew how it would end!

6

The head of the camp called Powder, Vitka Soloboev and Gutya “my musketeers”. They have been going to the camp for several years in a row. They knew every pebble, every path and gap in the fence. They knew all the rules. When and to whom they can be violated, and when and to whom to follow them. “Musketeers” were not elected to the pioneer leadership. But they already went to the main ones. When you need to drive boats from a neighboring village, go to the village for sour cream, or prepare wood for a fire in the forest and carry it on a horse, who will you send? The supply manager Uncle Vasya will not be torn into ten pieces. After all, you can’t send Svetka Maltseva, the chairman of the council of the squad, on such matters, even though she is a commander. And there is little hope for any other activists: they only know how to glue scrapbooks.

And when the little squad raises a ruckus at a quiet hour and starts a pillow fight, the council of the squad is of little use, and the maidens-counselors, too. You will never find Stanislav Andreevich, but with Kostya, the relationship with the boss is so-so. “Musketeers” are always right there.

Well, if they bathe one more time, when they are watching the order on the river, or they pull on the back of the head of the violator of discipline, the trouble is not great. But my heart is calm.

Chief among the “musketeers” was Gutya. Whether this was his name, or a nickname, Seryozha did not know. The girls from the senior Guta detachment sighed. He was handsome: swarthy, dark-haired, slender. Always in an ironed pioneer form, as from the picture. And very polite. With everyone. Even with those boys whom he was going to punch on the forehead for misconduct.

However, Gutya rarely used his hands. For this there were Powder and Vitka.

Powder was Gutin’s friend, although he didn’t look like Gutya in the slightest. Thin, long, in trousers with blisters on the knees, in a loose shirt, ungainly. He had a thin neck, a round head and yellow tufts of hair. They stuck out, and Powder looked like a sunflower.

Powder knew how to pretend to be a fool. As he says his “gee” and makes a dumber joke, it will immediately seem as if he is underdeveloped. But it will seem to those who do not know Powder.

And Vitka Soloboev went to Guti and Pudra as adjutants. And there was nothing special about him, except for rosy cheeks and appetite.

This year Zhenya Skatov joined the Musketeers. Such a gloomy, taciturn boy. They elected him to the council of the detachment, because, they say, he studied well at school, but Zhenya did not deal with detachment affairs, but all the time walked with the “musketeers”.

…Seryozha met these four when he saw Kostya off and returned to the camp.

Kostya left. He could not stay: a telegram came from the city that Kostya’s mother was ill. Hard. No one knew about Kostin’s departure and the telegram, except for the counselors.

Seryozha found out by accident. He finished breakfast before anyone else and sneaked out of the dining room: he always felt embarrassed to yell together with others, in chorus: “Thank you everyone!” He jumped out onto the porch and saw that Kostya was walking towards the camp gate with a raincoat on his arm and with a suitcase.

Seryozha’s heart beat unpleasantly. He caught up with Kostya.

– Are you leaving?

“I have to,” Kostya replied. And briefly spoke about the telegram.

Seryozha silently walked beside him. What can you say? Then he asked:

– Why don’t the guys see you off?

– I didn’t tell anyone. And so heartbreaking. And then forty people – forty partings. The girls are still crying.

“Not only girls,” Serezha thought. And he asked:

– May I see you? I won’t shed a tear.

– Let’s go, Sergey, – said Kostya.

Seryozha took his cloak from him and they walked towards the station. Through the forest, through the meadow. Silently.

When the station house rose among the grasses, Kostya stopped:

– Come back, Sergey, otherwise they will lose you. Thanks. Let the guys not be offended, I will write to them.

“And I will always remember the song,” Serezha wanted to say, but he kept silent. He stood and looked after Kostya. He didn’t even say goodbye. “Goodbye” means “see you later”. And where should they meet if Seryozha doesn’t even know Kostina’s address. I hesitated to ask. What addresses are there if a person has misfortune.

“Musketeers” met him at the very gate.

– Very nice. Another unauthorized person,” Gutya said lazily. Who gave permission to leave the camp?

Seryozha was sad. He was not up to the “musketeers”. Seryozha did not even think that there were four of them, and he was alone. He just said:

– What do you care?

– Wow… – Powder and Soloboev were indignant at the same time and wanted to grab Seryozha.

Gutya held them back with a movement of his palm.

“Here’s the deal,” he said kindly. – Let me bring to your attention that the director ordered everyone who sticks his nose out of the camp to be sent to the guardhouse and kept there until clarified.

– Where to send? Serezha was surprised.

– To the pioneer room. Under lock. Under arrest. Until he comes and sorts it out.

– Gee! Don’t be afraid, you won’t get bored,” Powder interrupted. – There are already three Gavriks sitting, having fun.

– Well, go and have fun with them, – Seryozha said gloomily.

“You talk,” Zhenya Skatov threatened. – Go better. The director gave us an order.

For some reason, everyone called the head of the camp director.

“The order is for show to fools,” said Seryozha. He didn’t care, because Kostya had left. “Let him sit under arrest himself, if he wants to. This is not a cadet corps.

– Get it! Gutya said.

Powder and Vitka pressed Seryozha against the fence. They wanted to take it by force. And he suddenly became so insulting and such anger surged through him! The fists clenched themselves.

“Okay, let go,” Gutya suddenly ordered. – The child is ready to burst into tears. Mom will start calling.

Powder became stubborn:

– Nope… Let him tell a fairy tale, then let him. It’s that storyteller. He told us all night about some riders brains. Wow, fun!

Apparently, Powder decided to avenge Vitka, whom the guys didn’t want to listen to the night before.

And Vitka himself was delighted:

– Exactly! He was talking as if he commanded a horse division! You, Gutya, have not heard, you do not know. As if, as he whistles, everyone is falling around without memory.

Shame and rage shot up in Seryozha! He revealed the secret to them, entrusted the fairy tale, and they!

– Let me go! he shouted with such anger that the “musketeers” recoiled.

– What happened? came the voice of the head of the camp. Sovkov approached imperceptibly.

– It’s okay, Tikhon Mikhailovich. The unauthorized person is nervous,” Gutya explained. – Outside the camp he walked, and now he is kicking.

Sovkov turned to Seryozha.

– Who allowed you to leave the camp?

Looking at the ground, Seryozha said:

– I saw Kostya off. He gave me permission.

– You should have asked me… Okay, go ahead.

Seryozha pushed the silent Zhenya out of the way with his shoulder and stepped into the gate. But anger and resentment suddenly rose again in him. He turned around:

– And they… better not touch me! I’m not going to dance to their violin!

Seryozha expected indignation and threats in response. But

the “musketeers” were silent, and Tikhon Mikhailovich

said almost affectionately:

– Go, go. They won’t be touched. I will talk.

They really didn’t touch Seryozha. But on the same day, he saw on his pillow a piece of paper with a caricature: a bow-legged horseman was sitting on a belly horse and holding on to the tail.

The next day after Seryozha every now and then the kids taught by the “musketeers” neighed loudly. By evening, Dimka apparently figured out something and put things in order among the October brethren: the neighing stopped. But before supper Hortense came up to Seryozha and, flapping her dyed eyelashes, spoke:0003

– Listen, Kakhovsky, we have a fire tomorrow. Could you tell the whole squad your story?

– What fairy tale?

– The one everyone is talking about. About some magicians, talking camels, horses…

“You yourself are a talking camel,” thought Seryozha. And he asked:

– Who told you about this fairy tale?

– Paderin and Soloboev. And what?

“Tell them they are idiots,” Seryozha said clearly.

– And you are a brute! They ask you nicely, but you…

It was that evening that Seryozha wrote a letter home. I wrote and threw it into a plywood mailbox near the pioneer room.

And the next day, at the evening line – like a bolt from the blue!

However, at first the line went as usual: reports, results, thanks to the kitchen attendants. Then the director took over. It was also familiar: he often performed on the lines.

This time he was talking about those who arbitrarily leave the camp for the forest, for the river, for the fields. Short, roundish, energetic, he stood at the mast with the flag and, at every word, sharply jerked his index finger pointing down – as if he was pressing buttons or clumsily typing on a large typewriter.

The director’s words were familiar and boring:

– Separate ugly cases have turned into a system… The administration will be forced… There are measures that will force violators…

Then he rested and spoke in a simpler way:

– Well, what are you missing? The territory is landscaped, all sorts of attractions. Tired of order? So after all, this order is not to spite you, but to avoid accidents. You should all jump, and we, adults, answer. Do you understand? From-ve-cha-eat! You have no conscience, that’s what. Disgraceful, and then complain to your parents. Come, they say, take away from here, otherwise it’s like in prison …

– Who is complaining? – mockingly asked from the ranks.

– Yes, there are some… “Daddy, come, otherwise everything is bad. You can’t go fishing, you can’t swim …” Can you drown, I ask?

At first Seryozha felt the same as during the skirmish with the “musketeers”, when they mocked his fairy tale. And then he became sad and very lonely. And fearing nothing, he asked:

– Are you talking about my letter?

– And what? the director replied. “Maybe I’m not telling the truth?

– So you read it?!

– Maybe you want to say that I’m lying? I can read the letter on the ruler.

And then, in the tense silence of the detachments, in the clear evening silence, when leaves and flags do not wave, every single person heard Serezha’s words:

– But this is meanness!

“You see, Alexey Borisovich, I didn’t mean to be rude at all,” said Seryozha. – Well, not at all. So it happened. There was just no other word. And he shouted, of course: “Hooligan, how dare you! If you don’t like our rules, get out of the camp! May your spirit not be here!” Well, I said “okay” and left. I left the line and wanted to go straight to the station, but it was already late, it was dusk.

“And scary,” Alexei Borisovich said good-naturedly.

– Well… yes. Not because it’s evening, I’m not afraid of the dark. They would just ask at the station: where are you going alone at night? In general, I spent the night and left in the morning. It’s good that the suitcase was not in the warehouse, but under the bed: I just took it from the warehouse to change my shirt…

– Nobody knew that you were leaving?

– I told Dimka to warn everyone. I left early, at dawn…

…At dawn, he woke up, as if on a signal. In the window, behind the black pines, ragged clouds rose pink. Seryozha quietly dressed, grabbed his suitcase and jacket, pushed back the gauze curtain on the window, and jumped onto the sand.

He carefully walked along the entire body to the outermost window. By this window, in the ward of the sixth detachment, Dimka slept.

The window sashes were thrown open. It can be seen that the morning chill pestered Dimka, and he wrapped himself in a blanket up to the very top of his head. Only the back of his head with wheaten disheveled hair stuck out.

“Dim,” Seryozha called and lay down on his stomach on the windowsill.

Dimka did not move, only the hairs on the back of his head seemed to be alert, like small antennae.

– Dima…

Dimka threw back the covers and sat up. Blinked. And attentively, as if he had not slept, he looked at Seryozha.

– I’m leaving. I’m leaving home. You tell the counselor… and everyone who needs it.

– Are you leaving for good? Dimka asked in a whisper.

– Forever. What to do now?

“That’s right,” Dimka said seriously. – It’s just a pity … Kostya left, you too.

– What to do now? Serezha said again.

– I understand…

– I’ll write you a letter, – Seryozha promised.

Dimka stretched his big lips in a smile.

– You write long so that you can read for a long time. Okay? .. – And then he frowned. – No, you don’t have to. This letter will probably also be printed. Well, them …

– I’ll seal it so that no one will open it, – Seryozha promised. – Well, you lie down. Sleep, it’s still early.

Dimka nodded, but continued to sit.

– Sleep, Dim… Go to bed.

Dimka lay down on his back, but continued to stare at Seryozha with all his eyes. Seryozha pulled the blanket over him up to his chin.

– Well, I’m off.

A short biting anger at the director, at his “musketeers”, at everyone who had to leave the camp, burned Seryozha. He abruptly pushed himself off the window sill and strode over to the fence. He still managed to notice that Dimka had sat down again and was looking after him. But he didn’t look back. Because I still had to leave. He didn’t even think about staying.

The camp slept in such a deep sleep that no one could be feared. But all the same, Seryozha did not go to the gate: the watchman could have woken up. Prove then that he does not run away, but simply leaves, because … In general, it is difficult for a watchman to prove anything.

Seryozha made his way through the thorns to the fence. The gray burdock heads stuck to the trousers, a sharp twig tore the trouser leg. Seryozha moved a board in the fence, and a gap opened up. A path ran away from her…

7

– Yes. You made porridge, – said Alexei Borisovich. “And you know what, Sergei? You will be accused of desertion. They will say that it was not necessary to leave the camp, but to prove your case, since you are sure that you are right.

– Who’s to say?

– Yes, anyone. Guys. Or the same head of the camp.

Seryozha shook his head slowly:

– I am not a deserter. I didn’t leave out of cowardice. It just became disgusting. And there is no one to prove it. Some laugh, others don’t care. After all, they know that you can’t read other people’s letters, but they are silent … And Tikhon Mikhailovich too … Well, what can I prove to him? He thinks that you can do whatever you want with the guys!

“Now he probably doesn’t think so anymore,” Alexei Borisovich remarked.

Seryozha cautiously raised his eyes to him.

– Don’t you… think I’m a deserter?

“No,” said Alexei Borisovich, and for some reason frowned.

Then he asked:

– And why did this letter make this Tikhon Mikhailovich so angry? What did you write there?

– Nothing special! Here look! He pulled a crumpled envelope from his pocket.

– Wait, Seryozha. And where did you get it from? Did the boss bring him back?

– The Fizruk gave me… Well… he caught up with me and tried to persuade me to come back.

– Understood. Is this the citizen you were talking to when I approached the station?

– The same one…

– So… So, can I read the letter?

– Please read.

Aleksei Borisovich took out a large brownish sheet with a large square from the envelope. And he looked at Seryozha in surprise.

– Where did you get such paper?

– Yes, there are as many as you want in the camp. These are such office books, we made detachment diaries from them. And what?

– Yes, that’s interesting…

And he began to read.

Seryozha moved closer and also began to reread familiar lines.

Hello, dad,

Aunt Galya and Marinka!

I’m fine. Health is good. Once I twisted my leg on football, but it has already passed. We recently went camping with tents. Only they did not spend the night, because the counselor was afraid of a thunderstorm. There will also be a war game. But you know, dad, to be honest, I don’t like it here. At first I liked it, because there was one good counselor and there were fires. But he left. Now it’s boring. I wanted to make friends with the guys, but so far it doesn’t work out. I once told a fairy tale to make it more interesting. And now they’re laughing. You know, dad, it would be better if you came for me. It would be better if you and Natasha and I went fishing, otherwise we are all just getting ready and going. And it doesn’t work to be together. And here you can’t even go fishing. They don’t let one person stick their nose into the river, and when there is a whole crowd, then there’s no time for fishing. You don’t even bathe properly, because as soon as you climb in and they are already ordered back.

Don’t think I’m complaining. If necessary, I will live the entire shift. But you asked me to write honestly, so I write honestly. It would be better if you came for me. Do you know why it’s bad? Because every day is the same! And if it’s bad, then why?

But if you can’t, don’t come.

Aunt Galya, can I change my Polish pants for a tricolor flashlight? They are big for me anyway and fall off, but for the boy who has a flashlight, they are just right.

Let Marinka not climb into my box without permission, otherwise I have caps and a sharp compass with needles there.

Goodbye.

Your Serezha.

The letter was written on an open sheet torn from an account book. One half of the sheet was left blank.

– May I take this paper? Alexey Borisovich asked. “Nothing is written here.

– Take it, of course!.. But why?

– Yes, it will come in handy. You can play sea battle, the cells are suitable here. There is still plenty of time before the train. Can you play sea battle?

Seryozha smiled indulgently.

– Well, great! – Alexei Borisovich carefully tore off the sheet, and gave the letter to Seryozha.

“And you…” Seryozha said hesitantly. – You just read it. What do you think is in it … this?

– Nothing like that.

Seryozha slipped the letter into an envelope, and the envelope into the pocket of his spacious trousers. Aleksei Borisovich glanced briefly and asked:

– Didn’t have time to change your pants for a flashlight?

“I didn’t have time,” Seryozha sighed. – Yes, Aunt Galya probably would not have allowed it.

– And Aunt Galya… who is she? Your aunt?

Seryozha simply said:

– She is my father’s wife. My mother has died.

Sorry, brother. I overdid it with my curiosity.

“Well, what’s the big deal,” Seryozha replied calmly. – Of course, it is not clear: dad and aunt Galya … – And suddenly he asked: – Have you been to Siberia?

– Was.

– Mom died in Siberia. I went on a business trip to geologists and caught a cold. A quick cold. The doctor arrived by helicopter, but it was too late… Alexei Borisovich! Seryozha looked as if he was asking for something. – That was six years ago. Maybe you met your mother?

Alexei Borisovich shook his head.

– No, baby. I do not want to deceive you, I have not met. I would remember that name.

– And my mother has a different surname – Laskina.

– No, Seryozha. I don’t know… Siberia is huge. Where was it?

– Where is the oil. near Surgut.

– I have been to those parts. Do you remember everyone? Maybe we’ve met sometime.

Almost in a whisper, Seryozha said:

– I have a card. Do you want me to show you?

– Show me, of course.

From the breast pocket of his jacket Seryozha took out a notebook and took out a photograph. It was the size of a pocket mirror.

Alexey Borisovich put the picture on his palm. He looked for half a minute and shook his head again:

– No, Seryozha. I would remember … Your mother is beautiful. And quite young.

Seryozha nodded:

– Twenty-four years old. I remember her well, although I was only five years old.

– And the card is always with you?

– Always.

He inserted the photo between the pages and put the notebook in his pocket.

Naval battle is a simple game, but it also requires skill. Aleksey Borisovich had already suffered a complete defeat once and was now a little nervous.

– I don’t understand how you manage? According to the theory of probability, our chances should be approximately equal … Listen, didn’t you peep?

– Yes, honest pioneer! It’s just that I have a special way… De-one…

– Ah, here’s a way for you! Missed! Zhe-seven.

– Past. E-three.

– Ugh, damn! Lost the gunboat. Hit again… What are you, Seryozha?

And Seryozha immediately had no time for gunboats. He saw how the camp gas stopped on the road. And Tikhon Mikhailovich Sovkov himself walked from the car to the station along the overgrown path.

– Well, – Seryozha said wistfully. The director has arrived.

Alexei Borisovich looked around quickly.

“Look at you,” he said incomprehensibly.

Seryozha sat squinting and pursing his lips.

“Now everything will start again,” he said in a whisper.

“M-yes…” Alexei Borisovich responded vaguely.

Seryozha thought that he would intercede, but he “m-yes”.

Seryozha said sharply:

– I won’t go to the camp anyway.

– Look. This is your business after all.

– I won’t go! Seryozha repeated.

Alexei Borisovich suddenly smiled.

– Well, if you don’t go, then why be nervous? Let’s play on. Let’s see what will happen.

And this is what happened.

The head of the camp came up and stopped, looking at Seryozha expectantly.

“V-one,” Seryozha said in a tense voice.

– Perhaps, Kakhovsky, will you pay attention to me? Tikhon Mikhailovich asked.

“I converted,” said Seryozha. “V-four, Alexei Borisovich.

– Would you at least say hello? the director asked.

– Hello … Mimo, Alexei Borisovich. V-six…

“I got in trouble,” Alexei Borisovich said with regret. – In a submarine. You’re good at it.

– I have a way. Groping with fire…

“Citizen, I think I’m talking to a boy,” Comrade Sovkov said with dignity. – I would ask you not to interfere.

Alexei Borisovich raised his kind greenish eyes to him.

– Am I in the way? God with you. It seemed to me that the boy himself … er … did not communicate with you very willingly.

– This boy escaped from the camp! the director said indignantly. – Do you know that?

Hearing the word “ran away”, Seryozha moved his shoulder, but said nothing.

“Seryozha told me, so to speak, the situation,” Alexei Borisovich replied. – In general terms. True, not exactly like you. He said that he did not run away, but left the camp. According to your order. It seems that you did not agree on the secrecy of correspondence? By the way, protected by law.

– What does the law have to do with it? Are you threatening me?

– Well, what are you, comrade head of the camp! Alexey Borisovich exclaimed with mild reproach. – Well, what am I threatening you, judge for yourself? Do I look like a person who can threaten?

– Then why are you interfering? Actually, who are you?

– Yes, I don’t interfere. Sorry, I’m answering your questions. Who am i? Serezhin is a fellow traveler, we are waiting together for the train to arrive … But in general, Tikhon Mikhailovich, I thought that you had not forgotten me yet. We once sorted out one difficult issue with unloading vegetables from wagons. Remember? To tell the truth, I did not think that after this story you would take the post of head of the pioneer camp. Moreover, children are somewhat different from vegetables.

Seryozha noticed out of the corner of his eye that during this speech Tikhon Mikhailovich began to blink frequently and his face turned pink. And in a sour voice the director said:

– Ah, it’s you… comrade correspondent. I should have guessed. You have an amazing ability to appear where it is not necessary.

– Well, you see, here we have very different points of view. When you think that it is not necessary, I just think that it is necessary.

Tikhon Mikhailovich began to breathe heavily and began to feel his pockets, as if he were looking for cigarettes.

“But he’s afraid of something,” Seryozha thought with pleasure.

“Don’t worry, Comrade Sovkov,” Alexei Borisovich chuckled. – I met Seryozha by chance. I am in these parts by another letter. You see, some citizen – either Sapogov or Sachkov – wrote about the chairman of the local collective farm. As if this chairman is a real crook. Not a long letter, but… expressive. By the way, it is written on the same paper as Serezhino. Good paper. Where did you get it for the camp, Tikhon Mikhailovich?

Sovkov took two steps back and raised his chin.

– I would ask you… Who gave you the right to hint and label me? I didn’t write any letters. I have a great relationship with the chairman.

– Well, that’s great! Moreover, the letter was not confirmed.

– I don’t understand why you’re telling me about all this.

– Yes, just like that. I share my worries. Thought you were interested. Considering your love for other people’s letters …

– I would ask you not to have such conversations in front of children.

– I’m sorry. But the “children”…” he glanced at Seryozha, “they know about it anyway.

“Let’s finish the conversation,” Sovkov said with restrained resentment. “I am doing my duty. The child voluntarily left the camp, and I must take him back. Why are you preventing me?

– Me? Obstruct? – Alexei Borisovich even moved away from Seryozha. – Excuse me, how do I interfere? Well, take it away, please. He caught Serezhin’s bewildered look and smiled in response with his eyes. – Only, Tikhon Mikhailovich … I don’t understand how you will do it. Persuasion, it seems to me, will not help. And you probably won’t use more decisive methods. Moreover, a person is not a calf, you can’t drag it on a rope …

“I’m not going to use any methods,” Sovkov said, looking at the dozing Nok. – I’ll just invite a policeman to help.

“Well, Tikhon Mikhailovich,” Alexei Borisovich said reproachfully. – You are confusing. This is not the camp where they bring with the police. In addition, I know for sure that there is not a single policeman within a radius of six kilometers, because the district police officer, Comrade Pavlov, is now in Dmitrovka.

The head of the camp stopped paying attention to Alexei Borisovich. He turned his whole body to Seryozha, bent slightly and began to speak insistently and at the same time good-naturedly:0003

– Well, Kakhovsky. We need to finish this story, you yourself understand. Come on, dear comrade, let’s forget all these sad events, get in the car and go to the camp. Things are waiting for us.

– Sorry, Tikhon Mikhailovich, I won’t go. I told you,” Seryozha said quietly but firmly. He did not look at Sovkov. He looked at a piece of paper with a painted squadron and thought with impatient annoyance: “When will he finally leave?”

– We saw him! – already without any good nature exclaimed Sovkov. He “said”! Figure! Do you think you are the best? Why do you hate us all?

– Whom? Serezha was surprised.

– The whole camp!

– I didn’t hate anyone. I just don’t like camp!

– If you don’t like it now, you’ll like it later.

“No,” Seryozha said quietly. – All the same, it won’t be good anymore … And even a dog. Where will she live there?

– What does the dog have to do with it? I didn’t come for the dog, but for you. I can’t take all the stray dogs to camp.

– He is not a stray, but mine. I still wouldn’t be able to leave him. Since he is mine, I am responsible for him.

– And I’m responsible for you! Do you understand? For you! And I have no right to let you leave the camp.

Seryozha shrugged his shoulders in annoyance.

– You won’t let me go. I’m leaving myself.

– Exactly – by myself! Arbitrarily! Do you think this will suit you? Don’t think baby. We will notify the parents and the school. About all your tricks. And how he set the dog on Stanislav Andreevich! For such deeds, you know what? .. To the colony!

– I didn’t incite! He grabbed me, and Nok growled!

– You will tell these tales later. Not here and not to me. Stanislav Andreevich will not lie, the dog rushed after him.

“I beg your pardon,” Alexei Borisovich intervened, “but your Stanislav Andreevich is somewhat… exaggerating, so to speak. I was just approaching the station and witnessed this scene. The dog behaved quite intelligently . .. unlike Stanislav Andreevich.

Sovkov turned sharply to him.

– I don’t understand what you want? So that I let him go home alone? I wonder what you would do in my place?

“If I were you,” Alexei Borisovich said with a hard grin, “I would remember that no one has the right to read other people’s letters. I would also remember that children also have a sense of their own dignity, which no one is allowed to insult, and even publicly. And that every person has the right to break off relations with those who offended him … Perhaps this should not be said “in front of children.” It may not be pedagogical. I beg your pardon… But I could advise you this: since the boy categorically refused to live in the camp, you need to appoint an escort for him – let them take him home. It’s strange that it didn’t occur to you.

– If every boy starts running from the camp, I won’t have enough people to see me off. I have counselors, not guides.

– Well, if all the boys start running around, then something is wrong in the camp . .. And don’t worry about the guide for Seryozha, I can take on this role, since it happened so.

– I don’t understand why you need him not to return to the camp after all. What do you want?

“Yes, I don’t want anything,” Alexei Borisovich grinned again. “I was just thinking of doing you a favor, seeing the boy off.

– I know your services. Excuse me, they are bearish… Kakhovsky, I’m asking for the last time, will you go to the camp?

Seryozha sighed and silently shook his head.

– Well, fine. So let’s write it down. And about you, comrade correspondent, I will write to the editor. About your behaviour. Keep in mind.

– I’ll keep that in mind. Just sign legibly…

Sovkov turned abruptly and walked towards the car, waving his arms wide. Nok raised his ears and looked after him.

Car door slammed. The Gazik jumped up and covered the highway with dust.

Seryozha said with relief:

– That seems to be it.

– Let’s hope. .. Although I must say that Tikhon Mikhailovich Sovkov is a stubborn person.

– You know him, don’t you?

– We met. He was not always the head of the camp.

– You said… about vegetables. Was he a crook? He stole vegetables, didn’t he?

Alexei Borisovich laughed.

– No, Seryozha, don’t make it up. He didn’t steal anything. All this is much more complicated … He was cunning in order to get an extra bonus, and because of this, the business suffered. The cars were idle, the schedule was disrupted. Yes, well, him … Are you depressed?

– I am not discouraged. Everything is fine.

– Shall we continue then? The fight isn’t over yet.

“Not finished,” Seryozha sighed.

8

The train time has finally come. Three more passengers appeared at the station: an old man with a white beard and fluff around a shiny bald head, a ruddy-faced old woman with a basket in which someone quacked and moved, and a tiny but frisky girl in a red kerchief with white peas.

“Like from a fairy tale,” Seryozha said. – Grandfather, grandmother and granddaughter Masha.

A green train jumped out from behind the forest. An old man on duty appeared on the porch in a red cap and with folded flags – red and yellow.

– We waited, – said Alexei Borisovich and got up from the bench.

The train hissed and stopped.

Doors opened only in two carriages. It can be seen that no one was going to get off at this station, and two doors were enough for five passengers to board. So, probably, the conductors decided.

Grandfather, grandmother and granddaughter trotted to the next car.

“Let’s go to the other one,” Seryozha said hastily. “They’ll clog the entrance now, and we won’t make it in time.”

He picked up the suitcase, pulled Nock’s leash and hopped along the carriages. Aleksei Borisovich overtook him and strode ahead. He was the first to jump on the bandwagon and shouted:

– Come on Noka!

Reached out to grab the collar.

A young guide with a round, impregnable face appeared behind her.

– Citizen, where are you going with the dog?

Alexei Borisovich looked around.

– How to where? In the wagon, of course.

– You can’t get into the car. What are you, small? Don’t know the rules?

– We have a ticket! Seryozha called from below.

– Nothing to do with the ticket. There is no muzzle!

“What are you doing, girl,” said Alexei Borisovich ingratiatingly. – Well, why does he need a muzzle? It’s still just a puppy.

– But it doesn’t concern us whether it’s a puppy or not. Muzzles are obligatory for everyone… Citizen, whom did I tell! Don’t you dare drag the dog in, I won’t let you in.

– Well, what should we do? Alexey Borisovich pleaded. – Don’t leave the dog! Do you have a heart?

– The heart has nothing to do with it either. If the controller goes through the cars, he will not care about my heart. I’m losing my prize because of you.

– Yes, as long as the controller goes, we’ll figure out some kind of muzzle!

– Think about it first, and then get on the train… Get off the bandwagon, citizen. Do you hear the departure? Or leave the dog.

Alexey Borisovich looked at Seryozha.

– No, – Seryozha said in a whisper and grabbed Nok by the neck.

Alexei Borisovich cursed and jumped to the ground. The conductor carefully closed the door. The car clanged and went, increasing speed.

– Fu-you, how stupid it turned out. A young bureaucrat… And you won’t find fault, after all, he follows the instructions, – Alexei Borisovich said after the carriage.

Seryozha was very ashamed. Well, how did he not realize that he needed a muzzle! And Alexey Borisovich stayed because of him …

“You should have gone,” Seryozha said. “It’s my fault, I should have been sitting here. And now you’re stuck because of me.

“Well, brother, what nonsense are you talking about,” Alexei Borisovich said displeasedly.

Seryozha paused guiltily and asked:

– What should I do now?

– Well, what to do… First, a muzzle. Then we’ll play sea battle again. In an hour and a half, as far as I remember, there should still be a train … Only now I want to eat. BUT? What a station, there is nowhere to even buy a sandwich that fills up. Just start chewing on the belt. Do you have leather?

Seryozha smiled still guiltily.

– Leather. You just can’t chew it. What then is the muzzle made of?

– Maybe we can take a muzzle strap from my device? I have a camera in my briefcase. It’s a pity, of course, but … your pants will fall off if you take off your belt.

– No, you don’t need the apparatus! – even Seryozha was frightened. – Yes, let them fall down, I have others. And I’ll carry these under my arm, since they won’t fit in a suitcase.

“Let’s try to stuff it into my briefcase,” Aleksey Borisovich decided.

They returned to the bench. Aleksei Borisovich took Seryozha’s belt, coil of wire and knife. He said he had never made muzzles in his life and wanted to try. He called Nok and began to measure his muzzle. Nok shook his head and twitched his ears. He even tried to sneak away, but Alexei Borisovich grabbed him by the collar.

– Stand still, you homeless child… There is no culture in you, no upbringing. Here we put on a muzzle, you will immediately feel what discipline is.

Seryozha changed his clothes, instead of trousers he put on blue shorts from the pioneer uniform, and at the same time changed his shirt, which he wrinkled and smeared while fiddling with Nok. In short pants and a white T-shirt, he became thinner and seemed taller. And he looked a little like that boy with the foal. Especially when he approached Nok and took him by the neck. True, Nok did not at all look like a graceful colt.

“Let him go, let him run,” said Alexei Borisovich. “Maybe he’ll find something to eat for himself.”

Seryozha let go. Nok walked away, but did not look for anything, but sat down and looked reproachfully at Seryozha: “Oh, you, the owner. You took it, but you don’t feed it.”

An old man in a red cap came up, on duty at the station. He asked with interest:

– Why didn’t you, citizen passengers, leave? Did you like it, you see, with us?

– Yes, that’s how it happened. Because of this passenger. Alexey Borisovich nodded at Knock.

He sat three steps away and scratched himself with such force that the wind flew from him.

“They didn’t let me in without a muzzle,” Seryozha explained.

“There is such a rule,” the old man said sympathetically. – And in general, how lucky. Who do you run into. When they let you in, and when they don’t… And now, I think, for you, citizens, the most correct way out is to walk to the highway and catch a ride to the city. Unless, of course, you are not located to spend the night.

– Why should we spend the night? Alexei Borisovich was alarmed. – And the train?

– And what kind of train are you, my dear? Today there will be no more trains in that direction.

– Why not? What about sixteen twenty-nine? I rode it last week.

– Uh, what are you talking about! Did you go on Saturday or Sunday? That’s for sure. There is a train on weekends. Additional, it means to carry summer residents. And today there is none.

“Well, it’s okay…” said Alexei Borisovich, looking plaintively at Seryozha. – All, brother, one to one.

“All because of me,” Seryozha said in a broken voice.

“No, Sergey, you stop talking,” Alexei Borisovich immediately perked up. – What are you, in fact, immediately lower your nose … Let’s think. So, like this: we should not go to the highway. Little hope. Trucks will not take us, the traffic police warms them up for this. And no one will let us, such a company, into a passenger car.

– Maybe on foot? Serezha suggested timidly.

– Sixty miles! Yes, on a hungry belly … No, brother, this is not that kind of romance.

“That’s right,” the duty officer put in the word. – On foot – this is not the style. So the best thing for you is to go to the village, to the dining room, and stay overnight. If there is no place, then I can arrange you at my place, since it happened so. Look, in general … – He sighed and wandered to the house.

“Thank you,” Seryozha and Alexei Borisovich said after him.

Then Alexey Borisovich stood up resolutely.

– It’s not good for us to spend the night, Sergey. I have to be at home tonight. Yes, and you should not hang out here in vain … There is one way. Grab your suitcase and let’s go. Only quickly!

He stuffed Knock’s nearly finished muzzle into his pocket, took his briefcase and jacket, and, without another word, walked somewhere through the bushes, across the ditch, straight into the field.

– Knock, follow me! – Seryozha shouted. He grabbed his suitcase and rushed to catch up with Alexei Borisovich.

9

They walked in single file along the path, which now and then was lost in the grass. Behind him, absentmindedly turning his head, Nok minced. Yellow butterflies flew under his nose, and Nok clicked his mouth.

Alexei Borisovich walked ahead. He turned around and explained as he walked:

– On the river, a kilometer and a half from here, a barge is laid up. Sometimes boats moor to it. If someone passes by, we will signal. Maybe we’ll be lucky. The boat, of course, is not an express, but at dusk we will probably get to the city … Well, if we are not lucky – well, we will consider that we have another adventure.

The word is an amazing thing. If you say “failure”, your heart becomes sour. And if you say “adventure”, then immediately more fun. Seryozha caught up with Alexei Borisovich and walked alongside – not along the path, but straight through the grass.

The grasses were blooming. High, sometimes at the very Seryozha’s shoulders, long rose-lilac candles of Ivan-tea swayed. The snapdragons turned yellow in a tangle of leaves – funny flowers, similar to puppy muzzles. The heads of small white inflorescences, which few people know the names of, were striking on Seryozha’s elbows.

The travelers imperceptibly crossed a flat hillock, and when Seryozha looked back, he no longer saw the station. Only the turret with the rooster stuck out among the grass.

Occasionally open lawns with dark red clover heads. Bumblebees hung in motionless shaggy balls above the clover. A very large brown peacock butterfly flew by slowly.

Nok could not stand it, barked and gave chase.

“He behaves disrespectfully,” Alexei Borisovich said with a smile.

And Seryozha watched Nok with concern: the dog wouldn’t have eaten such a pretty butterfly.

Didn’t gobble it up, didn’t catch up. And, blinking guiltily, he returned to the owner.

“If you start pirating, we’ll put on a muzzle,” Seryozha promised.

Nok snorted foolishly and shook his head. Blades of grass stuck to the muzzle.

– Look, Alexey Borisovich, he ate grass! They say if a dog eats grass, it means it will rain.

– No, hardly. He’s just hungry. I myself am ready to chew plantain. And there should be no rain, the sky is so good.

Yellowish-white piles of clouds have frozen in the sky, which never cover the sun and do not threaten with bad weather. There was no wind at all. The warm air was thick with the smell of meadows. The sun baked his shoulders.

– We’ll come to the river – it will be possible to swim, – Seryozha said dreamily.

The river was not yet visible. She lay flush with the low banks. Dark stripes of coastal bushes and tall grasses blocked the water. Only occasionally did a bluish-glassy gleam break through the greenery in the distance.

But then the bushes approached, parted. Blue water with reflected clouds immediately opened up before the travelers. Nok rushed to the sandy strip, stepped into the water with his front paws and began to lap with such zeal that his insides gurgled.

– Alexey Borisovich, I’ll take a dip, can I? – Seryozha hurried. – Me and Nok. For a minute.

“Wait a minute, buddy,” Alexei Borisovich said quickly. He looked along the shore. – Hold on. We seem to be more fortunate than I expected. Went. You see?

A hundred meters away, a barge was standing on the shallows, and a large boat with a white deckhouse and a thin mast was stuck on its side.

– Let’s push, – said Alexei Borisovich, and they “pressed”.

Nok ran after them – along the very edge of the water with a splash and splash.

– Exactly, – Alexey Borisovich said, puffing, when the white letters on the stern became visible – “Azimuth”. Well, how cool, honestly!

They climbed a thin gangway onto the barge. It smelled of damp wood planking, dry deck boards, and tar. Nok slowly stepped over and squealed: the heated boards burned his paws.

“Don’t go barefoot,” Alexei Borisovich said briefly.

Nok was offended and went into the shadow of the high stern hatch.

The boat was lower than the barge. Alexei Borisovich leaned over the side and called:

– Hey, on the cruiser!

A broad-faced, freckled guy got out of the cabin. And he smiled.

– Volodya! exclaimed Alexei Borisovich. – Well, I’m glad! Hello… Seryozha, this is Captain Volodya. Last spring, he took me off a desert island where I ended up due to the intrigues of local poachers. I was faithfully playing the role of Robinson there for almost a day.

“Yes, even now, it seems to me, Comrade Ivanov, like Robinson,” Volodya said, laughing. – At least I can argue that you are looking for transport to the city. Only you are not alone Robinson now, but happy Friday. Yeah?

– Guessed. About transport. And about Friday – you’re in vain. Sergey and I are equal fellow travelers.

– Yes, I’m not talking about that … I remembered Friday, because today is just Friday.

– Well, well, you are confusing again, my captain. Today is Thursday.

“That’s where I don’t confuse, Comrade Ivanov,” Volodya became stubborn. I’m standing here just because it’s Friday. Vitka, this is our new mechanic, took tickets to the circus for seven in the evening on Friday, and we won’t be in time for seven. We took spare parts to the base, in Reshetnikovo, and there we were manned. So he ran to call the city, his girlfriend, so as not to worry. There is a water station nearby, and there is a telephone on it …

– Damn it, – said Alexei Borisovich. – How can I? Is it Friday? Sergey, why were you silent?

– Well, Alexei Borisovich, you didn’t ask what day it was. Does it have to be Thursday?

– Yes, that’s the point. I ordered correspondence in the student troop so that the guys wrote about their work. Tomorrow they should bring it to the editorial office. We agreed that it would be tomorrow. And the editorial office does not work on Saturday … Ah, brothers, I have become an old pepper pot. Sclerosis.

“What are you talking about, Comrade Ivanov,” Volodya consoled condescendingly. You don’t have sclerosis. It’s you, excuse me, just such a character. Remember, when I filmed you from the island, you left your bag there. I had to turn back … And here’s what I’ll advise you. Now you go to the water tapping and call the collective farm on the phone, explain how and what.

– Will you wait?

– What to expect? It’s close, three hundred paces. Go down the shore, there is a wooden house and a brick booth. You’ll see… Ah, there’s Vitka coming! Wait, does the phone work?

“It’s working,” muttered the gloomy, lanky Vitka. – I’d rather not work. You know what things she said to me…

– Well, nothing. Maybe we’ll still make it. At least for the second part. Only now a comrade correspondent goes to the collective farm and calls, and we immediately turn it on to the fullest.

“I’m running,” Alexei Borisovich hurried.

“Don’t be in a hurry, comrade,” Vitka said in a dull voice, “I personally, at least, have nowhere to hurry. Since she said not to show herself, that means three days, no less.

“Yes…” Alexei Borisovich drawled sympathetically. “Well, I’ll hurry anyway. You, Seryozha, wait, I’ll be in a moment. It seems that our adventures are ending. .. Hey, Sergey, what’s the matter with you?

And Seryozha stood with his hands down and his whole appearance as if saying:

“Well, what should I do if I am so useless, unfortunate, unhappy and stupid?”

– What happened, Seryozha?

“I forgot my trousers,” he said in a whisper. – Remain on the bench. They hang on the back. And a jacket.

– Ugh… Come on, Sergey. Do you really need them? The jacket is old, and the pants … They are great for you. And torn as well. Unless the brand is interesting…

– Yes, not a brand… The letter was left in the pocket. Someone will find it and read it.

– Annoying. Well, in general, what is special about him, in this letter? Let them read.

– And there is a card in the pocket. Mommy, – Seryozha said quite quietly.

– Hmm…

And Alexey Borisovich said nothing more. What do you say?

Seryozha was also silent. He clearly imagined other people’s curious fingers turning out pockets, shaking out copper coins, feeling for and unfolding a letter . .. And then they take out a notebook, rustle the sheets. A picture falls on the bench. After all, no one knows that this is his, Seryozha, mother. This is a mother for him, and for others – just an unfamiliar, strange woman. And they will throw an unnecessary card into the grass…

Seryozha leaned over the side of the barge.

“Comrade captain,” he said to Volodya in a ringing voice. – I run very fast. It’s possible, huh? I’m running. It’s not far from here!

– What happened? Comrade Ivanov? Volodya got worried. – Why is the boy upset?

“Some property was forgotten at the station,” Alexei Borisovich explained guiltily. – Well, no luck as ordered.

– Yes, let the kid run away, – said Vitka, the minder. – This is a trifling matter: three kilometers there and back, no more. Will be back in half an hour. And now we can wait, what really …

“Let’s wait,” Volodya decided.

– Press, Sergey, – said Alexei Borisovich. – Will you take the dog?

– No, hold it, please. Alone, I’m faster…

To tell the truth, he was afraid that all of a sudden the village guys would appear at the station and lay claim to Nok. It’s better not to risk it.

He jumped onto the gangplank, onto the shore and rushed off so that the grass whistled at his feet.

Alexei Borisovich held the alarmed dog by the collar and said to Volodya:

– Nice boy… This morning I didn’t know that he existed in the world. And now it’s like we’ve walked a thousand miles together.

– Boys – they are such a people. You become attached to them,” agreed Volodya. – Last summer, I worked as a counselor in the camp for two shifts, from the district committee of the Komsomol. And then he refused. Because as they start to go home, it’s as if you are ripping off from the heart.

Alexei Borisovich nodded and turned away. His eyes hurt: before that, he looked after Seryozha, and he ran away towards the sun. In order to rest his eyes from the brilliance, Alexei Borisovich began to look at the northern coast. There were meadows, colorful houses, a blue forest on the horizon, and in front of it – a curly birch forest. A camp was hiding behind that forest, where the chief was Sovkov Tikhon Mikhailovich.

A greyish-blue jeep jumped out of the forest and dusted on the way to the bridge.

“However…” said Alexei Borisovich. – Volodya! Do you have binoculars?

10

Even from a distance, from a hillock, Seryozha saw that the trousers and jacket were still hanging on the back of the bench. It remains to run a little, jump over an overgrown ditch, slip through a bush – and here is a bench.

He jumped over the ditch. But when there were bushes in front of him, four people came out of the ambush.

They were, of course, enemies. Gutya, Vitka Soloboev, Zhenya Skatov and Powder.

“Gee…” Powder said. – You said you left. He didn’t even leave at all. Yeah.

“Hello,” Gutya said mockingly. He was, as always, handsome and neat, even the folds on his shorts were ironed. The other three were disheveled and sweaty, but Gutya didn’t even mess up his hair. He twirled a dandelion with a fluffy head in his fingers and smiled.

Seryozha made a mistake. He should immediately shied away behind the ditch, and there they would still see who runs faster. But he decided to slip through the line of enemies, grab things from the bench, and then rush to the river.

Didn’t have time. Immediately six sticky palms seized him by his bare elbows, by his hands. Seryozha rushed, of course, but it was of little use. Three of them held him, and each was stronger than Seryozha.

“Don’t twitch, take care of your strength,” Gutya said. “It’s still four kilometers to stomp to the camp, and you probably didn’t have dinner, poor thing.

– Well, why bother?! – desperately shouted Seryozha. – What did I do to you?

“Because of you, they don’t let us into the river and into the forest,” Vitka Soloboev explained to him over his shoulder. He breathed directly into Seryozha’s ear, and he smelled of pear compote.

– What do I have to do with it?

– And they say that if you let go, then everyone will start to scatter, like you. You are very smart. Himself – to the hut, and we have to sit in the wards because of you?

“You are all lying,” Seryozha said with conviction. The director sent you.

“Okay, it’s none of your business,” said Gutya. He was the only one who did not hold Seryozha. Walked in front of him. Waving a dandelion. And in his other hand he had a small roll of newspaper.

“I won’t go to the camp anyway,” Seryozha said with conviction.

“We’ll drag you by the ears,” promised Gutya.

“Oh, why didn’t I take Nok?” Serezha thought. And he said:

– You will overstrain.

– We’ll manage.

– You have no right. I have no things, they were left on the shore.

– And the dog? Zhenya Skatov asked.

– Also on the beach! – Seryozha answered and caught himself: “I shouldn’t have spoken. If they thought that Nok was close, maybe they would be scared…”

“That’s good,” Zhenya was delighted. – Give, Gutya, sausage, I’ll eat it instead of a dog. Otherwise, Soloboev will gobble up anyway, they didn’t give him supplements today …

“Fool,” Gutya said and threw the bundle into the bushes. – Do you know what’s in this sausage?

“I don’t know,” Zhenya replied in confusion. “I also wanted to take a bite in the kitchen. And what?

“Fool,” Gutya said again.

“Did they put a needle in? Serezha thought. “Nok doesn’t know yet that you can’t take from strangers. No, it’s good that he’s there.”

And he said:

– Flayers.

“You’ll get fucked for flayers,” promised Gutya. – In the camp. Okay, let’s go.

Seryozha rushed again.

– I won’t go! There are people waiting for me! Boat!

“Gee, admiral,” Powder said. – Look, guys, the boat is waiting for him…

The others started to chuckle.

“Don’t worry, baby,” Gutya said. “They will send a personal plane for you to the camp.

“You will answer for this,” Seryozha promised. – I have a suitcase. If you don’t have anything for me, you will still answer for things.

Doubt flashed across Guty’s face. But then Powder intervened:

– Why do we need your suitcase? They didn’t tell us anything about him. Maybe you threw it somewhere or hid it, and we are obliged to look for it? It’s not a suitcase for us, but they ordered you to be dragged to the camp.

– Aha! – Seryozha shouted. – They ordered! I told you!

“Okay, shut up,” Gutya muttered.

“You are gendarmes, that’s who,” said Seryozha with seething fury and fearlessness. – Exactly! Field gendarmerie.

“Well, you…” Gutya said slowly and poked Seryozha on the lips with a fluffy dandelion head. And with a flying stalk he lashed him on the nose. – For the gendarmes you will receive a special one, in the first category.

Serezha shook his head and spat out the sticky seeds.

“It’s all the same gendarmes,” he said. – Who are you? Good people, right?

– Okay, get him guys! – commanded Gutya.

Serezha was rushed forward. He braced himself on his heels, but the leather soles of his sandals slipped on the grass. Seryozha tried to cling to a bush, but only scratched his ankle in vain.

Well, why is a person so arranged? And he is not afraid, and he does not feel much pain, but only anger, and he does not want to cry at all, and the tears themselves boil somewhere in the depths and threaten to break through. They were not very close yet, these tears, but Seryozha already felt them.

Breaking free, he said through clenched lips:

– You’re trying in vain. Well, drag it to the camp, and then what? They’re coming for me anyway. Alexey Borisovich will come. And a dog.

“Indeed,” he thought, “after all, Alexei Borisovich will not leave. It will still search. But how will he know where I am? And when will he get to the camp?”

Gutya gloatingly explained:

– Let them look. With a dog. There, a separate room has been prepared for you in the isolation room. You will sit until mom and dad are called. And then on the ruler with a knee under … Well, in general, of course.

“They can take off their tie,” Soloboev added, puffing.

“No,” Gutya said sadly. – They won’t film it. Hortense said that it was impossible to expel pioneers in the camp. And that would be easy.

“If they lock me up, they may not tell Alexei Borisovich that I am in the camp. What then?” Serezha thought. And he rushed so furiously that they almost let him go. Vitka Soloboev said, breathing compote:

– Well, I don’t agree. Four kilometers to shove it. The car probably left, and we work hard. I am not a horse.

“He will run by himself,” Powder said suddenly. – You just hold him for a minute, I’ll wait…

He let go of Seryozha (and Vitka and Zhenya clung to him even tighter) and ran to the overgrown ditch. The boys were waiting. Seryozha saw how Powder pulled the cuff of his shirt over his palm and pulled out a long, almost meter-long stalk of nettle with dark green narrow leaves.

“Bastards, four against one,” said Seryozha and was even surprised that he was not afraid at all. And the tears no longer threatened him. There was a cold, calm anger in him, that’s all.

And Powder smiled with his big sly mouth, waved the nettle and slowly approached.

– Well, will you run? he asked.

– Animal, – said Seryozha. Just try and hit.

Powder swung hard and lashed him above his knees. Seryozha bit his lip, but did not move.

– Fools. You burn me with fire, I will not obey you anyway.

“You’ll get it,” Powder drawled and lashed again.

Unexpectedly, either from a book about scouts, or from somewhere else, Seryozha remembered the words: “If you hit the enemy under the knee with a heel, you can immediately disable him …” And he without a swing, briefly, fucked the sandal Powder on the leg .

Powder gasped and sat down. He clasped his knee with his free hand. However, the nettle was not released. His eyes narrowed, and he hissed:

“Well, you’re about to dance…” and waved.

“Come on, stop it,” Zhenya Skatov said suddenly and let Seryozha go.

It was very unexpected, and Seryozha missed the moment. He would have rushed out of Vitka’s paws – and he would have been free. But he missed, and in the next moment Gutya grabbed his hand.

– What are you doing? Gutya asked Zhenya.

“Nothing,” Zhenya said gloomily. – Torturing a person. What did he swing? Zhenya nodded at Powder. – He would like that.

– Gee, but the nettle does not take me. I can jump into it without pants. On a bet, – said Powder.

– What a blockhead, – Zhenya snapped. – All of you … They also wanted to kill the dog. What does she have to do with it?

– Are you sorry? Gutya said with annoyance. “She would eat your legs.”

– Why should I eat them? If I had known, I wouldn’t have contacted you… Wait, I’ll tell you in the camp how you tortured him…

He suddenly turned around, climbed through the bushes and walked towards the road.

“A traitor,” Powder said, still holding on to his knee.

“It will be worse for him,” said Gutya.

“It will be worse for you,” Seryozha promised. – You still remember…

– Oh, it’s scary. He will call his mother now, – Vitka Soloboev giggled.

Seryozha tensed his shoulders and clenched his fists – his fists were free. And Powder, looking at him, suddenly said:

– Nope. He won’t call his mother. He will call his horsemen chichas … Myun-havusen. Well, call your riders! – And, twisting his mouth, he mockingly bleated: – Escadro-oh-he! ..

Oh, if only there were horsemen! Everything that he has, Seryozha would give for it! I would give half my life for a momentary miracle, for angry horsemen to rush now for protection and revenge. So that Gutya, and Vitka, and the vile Powder tremble and turn white with horror before an incomprehensible and unexpected force. If!

And stronger than pain, stronger than resentment and anger, a burning wave arose in him longing for a miracle that could not be.

After all, only very young children believe in fairy tales to the end …

Only very young children believe in miracles. Moreover, old, much older people say that miracles do happen. Rarely, rarely, but they do happen. But Seryozha was not a small child. And he was not an old experienced person either. He was just a boy and knew for sure: there are no miracles in the world.

And he was astonished and shuddered almost as much as his enemies, when, in a blaze of red manes and with a muffled thunder of horseshoes, five cavalrymen flew into the clearing and stood in a semicircle.

And the most important rider – swarthy, white-toothed, in a green shirt and a canvas Budyonovka with a cloth blue star – said quietly: Only in the harness of the horse did the copper rings jingle.

* * *

The motorboat rumbled and drove long waves across the glassy water. The water and sky were clear despite the late hour. And the shores were wrapped in twilight.

Bulk carriers and tugboats rolled smoothly towards us, flashing colored lights. The radio played on them.

Ahead, where the sunset clouds did not go out, the city rose: chimneys, roofs, towers and patterned towers. There, too, the lights flickered, and there were more and more of them.

– In half an hour we will moor, – said Alexei Borisovich. If there are no more adventures. If we do not land on the reefs, pirates will not attack and a typhoon will not fly.

He and Seryozha stood at the bow at the railing. Sergei was silent. He didn’t respond to the joke. He looked ahead and remained silent.

– Sergey, – said Alexei Borisovich. “You scare me, honestly. You seemed to have taken water in your mouth for an hour. What happened to you?

Serezha turned his face towards him. The sunset flashed in his eyes with orange cheerful lights.

“I remember,” Seryozha said. – Do not laugh, Alexei Borisovich, okay? I remember. How they arrived! And they say there are no miracles.

Alexei Borisovich took him by the shoulder. On Seryozha’s shoulder, under the collarbone, a hot vein often beat.

“Miracles do happen,” Alexei Borisovich said cautiously. “Actually, what is a miracle?” A few rare cases that coincided with each other … Let’s say I open my briefcase and say: “One, two, three! Drop a meteorite here!” Will it fall?

“No,” Serezha said confidently.

– What if? After all, they still fall to Earth. And if it so coincides, that the boat will be at the site of this fall? And my portfolio too?

Seryozha laughed.

Alexey Borisovich said:

– It happened so. It was necessary that I looked at the shore and saw the “jeep”, which suddenly stopped at the bridge and dropped the guys off. It was necessary to have a phone nearby. And it was necessary that the commander of the detachment, Volodya Malakhov, entered the board of the collective farm at that moment. They just wanted to go to Dmitrovka, and the horses were saddled … So a miracle happened. These, brother, are such guys that they will not refuse to create an extra miracle.

– Why do they have uniforms?

– All student groups are now sewing their own uniforms. Each his own. Didn’t you see? And these guys are with horses all the time, so they started Budyonovka, who managed. Nice shape?

– Of course.

Seryozha closed his eyes and again, as in a movie, he saw rushing bushes, upturned horse heads, a rearing bay stallion on the edge of a clearing, sharp helmets with blue cavalry stars…

And then strong arms, a hard saddle. Grass flying under the hooves.

“Don’t thrro-ooh!”

Seryozha laughed, clutching the handrail.

– How are they… Like an attack! Even I didn’t understand. And those who caught me! They, probably, go stunned even now … No, it’s still a miracle, Alexei Borisovich.

– Maybe… But, you see, Seryozha, such miracles happen once in a lifetime. Not more often. And don’t rely on them.

“I understand,” Seryozha said quietly. – So what? One is enough for me for the rest of my life.

– To you… And to others?

– Others?

– Yes. But what about … You are now happy, even calm. And someone at this moment is calling for help. Do you think the riders are in a hurry to go there too?

– What should I do?

– Be a rider yourself. Not necessarily on a horse and in a hat with a star, that’s not the point.

“I understand,” Seryozha said again.

The city began along the banks: with colored neon signs on shops, with bright flashes of electric welding, with yellow square windows. With quiet music loudspeakers. The motor is quieter. Nok could be heard snoring like a child on a rolled-up tarpaulin after having eaten two ship suppers.

“Almost arrived,” Alexey Borisovich noted.

Seryozha said:

– The riders must also have a hard time.

– Of course. And were you scared?

– Not a little bit. I just remembered. Last year, one guy in our yard wanted to hang a cat. Said she was a wanderer. And she was not even a vagrant, but simply lost her way. The guys and I pulled out and ran away. And then all the neighbors scolded us. They said: it is not supposed to argue with adults.

– Well… Of course not. But do you always know what is due and what is not? I guess by all the rules I was supposed to send you to the camp, and not to raise the alarm of the cavalry. But you were waiting for the horsemen…

– You say that others are waiting too.

– Yes.

– How do you know? How will the rider hear his name?

“Study,” replied Alexei Borisovich. – Listen. Look.

The boat turned off the engine and by inertia approached the pier. There, under a bright light bulb, sat a little fisher boy.

– Hey kid, take care of your feet! shouted Vitya the minder, who had jumped onto the deck.

The boy jumped up and threw up a long fishing rod.

It became quite quiet, only the water gurgled along the side.

In this silence Seryozha said in a low voice:

– I will try.

Hotels on the M4 Don highway in the Voronezh region

• Hotels with a New Year’s program 2023
• With a beach
• With a heated pool
• Hotels
• Guest houses
• hostels
• Private sector
• Rent a house rent
• recreation centers
• SPA
• mini-hotel
• with
• Best hotels
• Best GOSTEVEN AC

  2 guests

  Adults−2+

  Children under 17 years old−0+

  Age−7+

  Age−7+

  Age−7+

  Age−7+

  0003

  Find hotel

  Find hotels on the map

  Recommended Price Rating Stars

  Filters

  1 / 50

  8. 0

  Excellent

  from 4 8

  View

  from 4 800 rubles

  Ostrovok

  1 / 50High rating

  9.3

  Excellent

  from 2800 rubles

  View

  from 2 800 rubles

  View

  1 / 45

  9.0

  Excellent

  from 2 900 rubles.

  View

  from 2 900 rubles.

  View

  1 / 29

  8.5

  Excellent

  from 1 600 rubles.

  View

  from 1 600 rubles

  View

  1 / 50Special offer

  8. 6

  Excellent

  from 1 200 rubles.

  View

  from 1 200 rubles.

  View

  1 / 19

  8.0

  Excellent

  from 1 600 rubles

  View

  from 1 600 rubles

  View

  1 / 44

  from 2 400 rubles.

  View

  from 2 400 rubles.

  Ostrovok

  1 / 11

  10.0

  Excellent

  from 1,900 rubles.

  View

  from 1 900 rubles

  View

  1 / 50

  9.3

  Excellent

  from 3 400 rubles.

  View

  from 3 400 rubles.

  View

  1 / 12

  8.5

  Excellent

  from 1 900 rubles.

  View

  from 1 900 rubles

  View

  1 / 25

  9.2

  Fine

  from 1 200 rubles.

  View

  from 1 200 rubles.

  View

  Special offer

  9.0

  Excellent

  from 1 800 rubles.

  View

  from 1 800 rubles

  Ostrovok

  1 / 13

  9.5

  Excellent

  from 1 800 rubles.

  View

  from 1 800 rubles

  View

  1 / 23

  8.5

  Excellent

  from 2 900 rubles.

  View

  from 2 900 rubles.

  Ostrovok

  1 / 50Special offer

  7.8

  Good

  from 1200 rub.

  View

  from 1 200 rubles.

  View

  1 / 24

  8.0

  Excellent

  from 1 900 rubles.

  View

  from 1 900 rubles

  View

  1 / 14 Good price

  7.7

  Good

  from 500 rubles.