- Hello, ma'am," he bowed politely. - Let me introduce myself. Dolokhov, Antonin.
- And I thought you were Ivan," she smiled. - So similar... Antonin," she said in a comforting way, "and made a wide gesture inviting him to the table. - Sit down and have a bite to eat, Antonin... and I will serve you - she bowed to him too.
There was nothing here on the table! Pies and pancakes, mushrooms and vegetables, and fresh and wet, and meat and poultry, and all kinds of games... The girl, meanwhile, poured him tea, smelling of strange herbs, and sat down opposite, smiling clearly at him.
He looked at the girl and sighed. Why didn't they meet thirty years ago? And even better, forty...
- Why were you so unhappy? - She asked sympathetically, catching his eyes. - What did you hang your head about? - She reached out and, easily reaching him, gently pushed her hand over his hair.
- Forgive me, ma'am," he obeyed, "very suddenly. First the battle, well, there I knew what was going on. Then... This cat on the rock is a fork-like in old fairy tales, a hut, a bath... I wasn't expecting that at all.
- Not many people are waiting for death," the girl nodded. - And where did you turn at the fork? - She asked, carefully placing a duck leg and a piece of mushroom pie on his plate.
- To the right," Dolokhov shrugged his shoulders, paying due attention to the duck leg. - I had already lost myself, I did not like it.
- Where did you lose yourself? - seriously asked the girl. - And how will you look for it?
- It's been a long time," Dolokhov said. - That's how he gave himself a mark, and lost it. And there is nothing to look for, except for a walk in the past. So it makes no sense.
- The past is gone," the girl nodded. - And look for - think how ... or you will be born in the wrong way - and all your life you will be loitering. You have to get yourself back," she said, taking his hand in her own hand and gently smoothing it. - What's the mark?
- The skull and snake," he waved, "are rare, actually. And they'll call you like a lousy dog, and they'll quench your pain if you slow down or don't like it anymore, and you'll be branded an animal. Oh, I was a fool then!
- It's going to be hard on your way," the girl said. - In death, you lost yourself - in death and we must look for ... You will go to Koshchey, - she sighed. - He should look for you... It will be hard - she thought about it. - I'll give you a helper - only you have to ask for it yourself. Think," she stroked his arm again.
- An assistant? - Dolokhov was surprised - are there any assistants in this business? That's just the way to point out...
- I can only point the way to Koshchei for now," the girl shook her head. - You can take away from him and come back - only then you will go further. And without an assistant, it will be difficult for you," she reproached him. - Think until tomorrow who you want to be your helper. And today you need to eat and sleep - she suddenly smiled at him playfully and corrected the edge of her snow-white shirt on his chest.
Dolokhov's helpers were not too well paid, preferring to do all the important things himself, so he promised to think without much enthusiasm. And he hurried to say goodbye to the kind mistress, remembering the grandmother's warning.
The girl, however, turned out to be quite stubborn: she took him to a small room and made the bed herself, and Dolokhov almost had to put her away. However, she left, and he fell asleep on the bed and immediately fell asleep.
And he woke up from the sun beating on his face.
- Wow," Dolokhov grinned unbelievingly, "is still alive. And even the sun shines. So much for life after death.
- Get up! - He heard the old woman's voice. - The sun has risen when he is asleep! You have a long way to go - get up!
He got out of bed easily, just like in his youth, and reached for his clothes. This time there was no shroud, but there was quite a familiar kind of linen, pants, and shirt, all in green and brown tones.
- Come on! - approved of his grandmother's appearance, wearing a decent brown dress to his toes this time, and the gray apron tied on top of him was fresh and almost new. - At least now it is under the crown. Well, sit down," she nodded on the breakfast table. - I'll feed you, and I'll take the food with me - it's time for you, well done. Who are you taking as your helpers?
- So I don't know anybody here, - shrugged Dolokhov. - It's not for you and your granddaughter to ask for help, it's none of your business. And though... I would take a cat of that. Serious beast, I respect.
- A cat? - My grandmother gave me her grandmother, whistling. - However, the word is said... Whether you're bad or desperate," she shook her head. - Well - he chose, on himself and the penalty - for some reason, she rubbed her hands and nodded again on the table. - Sit down, eat. And I will gather a knot for you on the road.
Breakfast was no less abundant than lunch: pancakes, cottage cheese, potatoes... And when he finished, his grandmother put on the table in front of him what, apparently, was the promised knot: a large bundle of tied large knot of rough canvas fabric, and then pulled a ball of red woolen threads.
- If you throw it in front of you, you'll follow," she said. He will show you the way to Koshchei. How will you get there - hide it better, or you will never get out of his kingdom? I don't know how to find you," she said as if he were asking her. - Well, go on," she put a ball in his hand and squeezed it tightly, "Dolokhov felt the cold, smooth bones touching his skin and shuddered.
- Thank you, Grandma," he bowed his head, "if you need to, call me. I don't like to stay in debt.
- It will be you who will call me if you need me," said the grandmother. - I'll come once, I'll think again in the second, and you'll have to pay for my help in the third one. And dearly," she opened the door and pointed out to him the path that begins almost at the doorstep. - Throw the ball - yes, go. And if you find what you have lost, come back.
Once again he bowed his head, turned his head sharply, threw the ball and followed him without looking back. Looking for himself, who had long been lost by his own foolishness.
Looking for himself.