In one kingdom, where the smell of wine was flying in the air, and paths of smooth paved stone curled underfoot, a disaster struck! The son killed his father, the king of the Majestic Breal.
The news of the tragedy spread to all ends of the great state.
The old man was sitting on the steps of the temple, smoking a pipe and shaking his gray head, stroking his long beard, sighed
- I remember a very young Adramelech, ehh .. he was different from all children in intelligence and beauty, what kind of black snake could crawl into his soul?
- Oh ... poor king, poor father oh ... oh.
The old man got up and leaned on a crooked cane, wandered along the streets.
All the lamentations of the old man were listened to by a young potter, a disciple of the venerable master of pottery, Gramaza Skillful Hands, as the merchants called him.
The young potter decided to follow the old man and satisfy his curiosity.
- Wait! Wise old man! My name is Varlam I am a pottery student!
The elder stopped and looked at the young man who was overtaking him.
- Well, what about Varlam, a disciple of Gramaz. Skillful hands, son of Lolia, your mother baked excellent cakes, I bought them, what made you catch up with me and stop my journey?
“I didn’t want to overhear your speeches, I was waiting for my master, you know, he often makes you wait on the street near the carved kolitka, whose courtyard and house belongs to young Freelai.
- Aaaa ... The old man held out and stroked his beard again.
Varlam came closer.
- It became painfully curious to me, venerable old man, tell me a story about the intelligence and beauty of our prince Adramelech.
Come with me, young man, help me step on the threshold of the house, I will treat you to Hashil, and I myself will smoke.
Varlam followed the old man, helped him with a hunt, because the old man’s legs did not like the high steps of his house, so the boy agreed about the proposal to bite off the previously proposed ones, because in the morning he didn’t eat any crumbs, and on the street the sun was already behind high, white the walls of the palace, the kingdom of Byblos.
The old man fulfilled his promise, gave Varlam a cake and hash, poured wine, sat down in a wicker chair and lit a cigarette.
While you eat, I'll start my story.
In the years when the big trees were completely saplings, and the walls of the palace were not so high and I was not so old, but not so young, I taught the children of nobles and nobility various sciences of our world.
The method of my teaching was different, I tried to teach the children all my lectures through a fairy tale.
And for this, my students were famous for their intelligence and manners. It was interesting for them to listen and remembered for this better. My teachings reached the young king of Breal, he summoned me to the palace and told me that if he had a son, then I would teach him.
I could not refuse the king and this right flattered me and I was happy to become a teacher of the children of my ruler.
Breal married a young girl named Himara, she was so beautiful that poets composed songs and poems, compared her with the goddess Moon.
Himara gave birth to three children, sons Kenor, Adramelech and daughter Zella.
Time passed and the king called me to my duties, I began to teach two princes.
My stories were alien to Caron, it was difficult to captivate him with a lesson and fairy tales did not help. His brother Adramelech was less than two seasons behind Caron in years. The second prince was curious, and when he began to mature, I saw all the beauty of the other. Everything that the young prince did not do, everything was magnificent and beautiful in the flesh before the movement, in other words, not to say Adramelech came off the bud of the iris itself.
Caron looked like his father, but only outwardly, the heir loved hunting and women, he tasted wine early and stopped listening to my lessons.
Adramelech demanded more fairy tales from me, he skillfully accumulated knowledge from other teachers.
The wine of the second heir did not interest, he did not notice women, his only occupation outside the teachings was a walk in the mirror hall. But later I noticed his other entertainments.
It was already getting dark and Varlam thanked the old man for the food and wine and the story.
- Unfortunately, I have to go to the Master, he will not be happy if I am not in my place. May I ask you to continue tomorrow?
The elder willingly agreed, he accompanied the potter's apprentice to the door and told him that he would come tomorrow at the same time.
Anxiety was sown on the streets of the kingdom of Byblos, Varlam was able to cross the once empty streets with difficulty, and now crowds of people, rich and poor, crowded and shouted the name of the new ruler, who shouted glory to the new king Adramelech! And who shouted shame! some walked with their heads down. The arches and watch towers of the palace were filled with wars with mighty swords and fiery red helmets with the image of the Peacock, the symbol of the state.
The Master did not change his habit of visiting the house and yard of young Freelai in the afternoon.
Varlam, passing through the crowd, stirred along the narrow road to the Old Man.
The narrator was waiting for the young potter in the same wicker chair, smoking a pipe in the same way, smoke billowed around his head, descended along his beard like a gray cloud, flew up to the ceiling and floated out the window.
Varlam sat down opposite the window, there was another wicker chair, the young man took with him a bundle with food and the old man's share, but he replied that he had already tasted his cakes and was ready to continue.
When I was the teacher of the children of my ruler, according to his order, I lived in the palace with the rest of the servants, nobles and teachers.
Beautiful rooms and decoration were allocated for me, I had a servant of the slave Sholon.
The windows of my room overlooked the magnificent gardens, I myself walked in them and sometimes gave lessons.
I happened to see the true essence of the young prince, at one of the lessons in this garden.
My teachings were about life and death, I took an example of a short and beautiful life, a butterfly floating easily.
I raised the beautiful creature to the hands of Adramelech, and in one motion he tore off the wing of a butterfly and threw it wingless into the stream.
At that moment I saw his face, once beautiful, began to exude anger towards the world or hatred.
Superiority in mind sowed a dark principle in his heart.
Adramelech asked to talk more about terrible wars and great troubles, good and bright fairy tales and traditions were alien to him.
Not infrequently, I stopped the lesson because of the harsh words of the young prince, his tone and behavior expressed contempt and great pride, it also touched my person.
His tall stature and muscular body helped Adramelech learn the art of fighting.
At first, the fight was a game, but not for the young heir, he often fatally thrashed his "opponent" slave.
One moonlit night I decided to take a walk and try out my new pipe brought by a merchant from Mecca.
Sitting on a stone bench, I breathed in the fragrance of night violets, listened to the rustle of leaves, that night Queen Himara died. The entire palace was in deep sorrow and there was an unusually deep and sad silence.
I saw Adramelech walking along the roses, he changed direction and his path ended next to me.
I remember our conversation so clearly that I will tell you Varlam colorfully with all the punctuation.
Adramelech began to speak first, as I was mad at him, I do not remember the reason, but I know for sure that I did not express a desire to speak.
- Greetings, teacher Efaril.
Do you enjoy today's silence and this impossible sweet smell of flowers?
I expressed my answer with a nod of my head.
- Do you know the teacher that my mother died that night?
- Yes, my disciple, your mother and our queen were wise, beautiful and her place among the goddesses and gods.
Adramelech sat down next to me on a stone bench and looked either anxious or anxious.
- My mother is still in her chambers in bed where she gave me life sixteen seasons ago, and now she is so cold and dispassionate as if she were sleeping.
I decided to express my sympathy, at first I did not understand the mood of the prince.
- You are my prince, you must believe that your mother is in a better world.
- I don’t think so, teacher, now I don’t think so, remember she showed displeasure for a girl named Amrila?
- I clearly remember my prince, you captivated a young girl with your beauty and she was in your power and vowed to do whatever you want and I know well what you want.
Adramelech put on a grin, but even she exuded the beauty of an unknown power, he looked into my eyes. I was used to his eyes and did not feel uneasy.
- And what else do you know the teacher?
- A lot of things, my prince, I answered, sipping my pipe.
- And what? He insisted.
Я почувствовал опасностность, но не мог сдержать раздражение.
- I know that your sister loves you especially. But that's none of my business, I'm curious about something else, can I ask you my prince?
He answered in the affirmative.
Why did you treat young Amrila so cruelly?
- She irritated me with her attachment and I decided to get rid of her.
- and don't you feel sorry for her?
- No.
I remember her blonde hair and pretty face.
Adramelech winced at my words.
- I did not see in her what a cute teacher, I saw in her an annoying fly.
- The young prince taught you different sciences and it seemed to me that you mastered them and absorbed these teachings, but you absorbed the poison of a snake, and not love for people and living things.
Адрамелех резко встал на колени и взял обе мои руки в свои руки.
Oh ... he was so passionate that I froze in the laughter of his speeches.
- Remember the teacher you told me about the mysterious geniuses? about creatures that live in any element, help or spoil people's lives?
- Yes, I answered in excitement, he was not when he was not so agitated.
He continued
- One night I met a genius, he found me in my chambers. I could not see him, but I heard and felt like you.
- And what did he say to my prince?
“He told me to destroy young Amrila.
I expressed no confidence in my face.
- Have pity on me, teacher, and he clung to my lips and I cried and stroked his beautiful black hair.
- You are not guilty, I whispered, and it is not who is not to blame.
- But you're angry with me, he switched to screaming.
I was in convulsive excitement.
- Ты не знаешь всего...прошипел молодой принц и в глазах заблестел оскал.
Adramelech groaned and wept.
- I can not sleep .. he whispered through tears.
It seemed to me that not droplets of water called a tear were rolling down from his eyes, it seemed to me that heaps of silver and bright stones whose brilliance looked like stars were falling down his cheeks.
The prince raised his black eyes and looked into my face.
- Teacher Efaril, I had a dream! There was a thunderstorm that night, remember the heavenly arrow pierced the olive tree?
- Yes, my student, I remember.
- Then I stood over the abyss!
Strange monsters fly in its depths, and I am drawn into its depths, turned back and saw boundless fields, green meadows, but I was not happy about this splendor, the whole earth was in pillars!
- In the pillars? I asked.
- Yes, in the pillars, not like in the palace, which fought the masters and hold the walls. They looked like ...
Adramelech stuck out a finger on his hand and laid a cross with his other finger.
“The fields are strewn with them, and only one of them hung a man.
- На верёвке? Снова перебил я.
- No, teacher, I did not see the rope, but his body was thin and tortured, tortured ... bloody.
The prince froze, as if even then he saw in front of him, what he knew to me.
- Again the genius whispered to me and I fell into the abyss. What will you tell me my teacher?
- I know one legend, calm down, my prince, everything is not so scary.
But my friend a young potter, I was wrong.
I did not hesitate and reassured Adramelech with stories that dreams are the worlds of the gods and our memory remembers magical places, but there are also terrible halls of demons.
The prince listened to me and I was pleased that my usual grin played on his face.
Adramelech hugged me because I listened to him, he kissed me again and walked along the path of the roses, entered the arch and disappeared from view.
-Thank you, venerable old man for one more part of your story, can I come tomorrow?
- No Varlam, I will wait for you in three moons, then I will finish the story.
The young potter bowed and closed the wide low door behind him.
For three days there were riots and unrest on the streets of the city, but they died down with lightning speed, the streets became empty. Varlam could walk to the old teacher's house without obstacles. From the workshop, the student took with him a clay pot, made by himself.
Varlam found the old man in a small garden, where a riot of colors of various colors grew, the owner watered them.
Позже старик занял свой плетёный стул, молодой гончар поставил на стол красивый кувшин.
- Please accept the gift, you see the handle is long, it will be convenient for you to water your garden with it and the jug is lighter than yours.
-Thank you, your gift came to my heart.
The elder lit his pipe.
- my story is already nearing completion, but before I continue, I want you to be my young friend, after I finish the story and the doors close behind you, when you leave the threshold of my house, come to your home, collect everything necessary for the journey, get on a floating ship and go to the neighboring kingdom of Shubat, there do your craft and be successful.
Varlam was amazed at the order of the old teacher, but did not object, for he himself often thought about how to independently direct his craft.
Varlam made a promise to fulfill what the old man told him.
- After the departure of Adramelech, I went to my chambers, asked the servant of Shalon to light incense in honor of the late queen. No matter how hard I tried to fall asleep, it didn’t work, but the night didn’t think to end. I decided that I needed to take a walk and then I would get tired and be able to fall asleep. When I got dressed, I heard footsteps in a long corridor outside the door, I became curious and I went out, saw two servants with lamps, they bowed to me and went down the marble staircase. I went to the other side, walking along the corridor, I reached the room where the princess slept, I heard her quiet cry and grief for her mother. Proceeding further, I skirted two columns and ended up at the door of the queen. I was shackled by sadness, already at dawn her body will be betrayed to the ritual.
Hiding behind a column along which wild grapes were crawling, I decided to be unnoticed, finding a bizarre insect that was eating grapes, I looked at it for a long time and thought of names for it.
I noticed Adramelech, he seemed to be swimming and not walking, not stomping like those two servants.
I was surprised when the prince entered the queen's chambers and closed the thin door.
My curiosity often led me into all sorts of trouble, especially when I was young like you Varlam, but with age I learned to curb this vice, but that night it seemed to grow in me and I decided to see what was happening in the queen's chambers. I thought that the prince wanted to say goodbye and do not bother him, but something fell with a crash outside the door and I came closer to see.
Opening the door quietly, I happened to see something terrible, in everything that I believed in goodness and love at that moment mixed with horror, I almost lost my mind.
Adramelech had intercourse with the deceased mother, his body emitted passionate impulses, the head of the dead queen hung from the bed to the floor, and in horror I saw that she was smiling at me, her eyes were wide open from the corners of her full blue lips tickling blood.
Firming his whole body with horror, he decided to run away, but his legs did not obey. Adramelech began to growl like an animal and whinnying like a horse, he tormented the lifeless body and left bloody bites on it, laughed and looked into my face.
Near the vaults of the windows were statues of two peacocks that were made of gold, came to life and walked around the hall spreading their tails.
Then my legs began to move and I started to run.
Two days have passed and I will not say how I survived them. On the third day I came to King Brial and asked him to let me go to live in the city because I am seriously ill, he agreed. I invented the disease, because I could not live next to the young prince and the desire to teach goodness and love left me and I turned gray beyond my years.
I chose life in this decoration, everything is modest, I do not need wealth, but I received a large salary without disposing of it, time passed.
And then one of the rainy nights in this house I heard a knock on the door.
On the threshold saw Prince Kenor he was with two servants of the wars.
- Впусти меня мой забытый учител вымок я до нитки проклятый дождь льёт с зори.
- Please, guests, I will be glad to see you. What I can serve but not rich in food.
- Is there any wine?
There is my prince.
I poured Kenor and the two wars with wine.
- Your wine is a little sour.
I said nothing.
- Go out to the stable and wait for me there, there is nothing to threaten me here.
The two escorts left without a word.
- Do you live alone teacher?
“Yes, my prince, let me know what brings you to this hour.
Kenor was alarmed and his eyes darted like a doe.
- I remember that you spent a lot of time with my brother ... and .. I don’t know, I don’t know who to turn to .. everyone thinks I’m a drunkard and a fool!
He drank the second glass in one gulp and half spilled onto his red beard.
I was silent.
- I am sure that my brother is evil! He wants my death.
- Why?
- He's like ... like ...
Кенор начал тяжело дышать, я понял что у него испуг и нечто вроде истерии.
Hand wiping snot and drooling prince continued already more calmly.
- Returning from a brothel with two whores, I went out of need into a distant dirty room.
Calmly doing his business ... you don’t believe me, the teacher, but I saw a light in a narrow window, then a mysterious
a voice called me outside the door. He went out and went to the call, he led me into the garden.
And the gods, I saw a bird there, if I can call it that monster, a huge peacock with a pig's head, of an unprecedented height, he told me that I would die in six moons.
- This story is incredible, what happened next, my lord?
- I ... I lost my rassudak, woke up on the ground and began to remember what happened.
- But why do you think that your brother is evil?
Kenor drank the wine from the jug.
I always felt that my brother hadn’t come to me, but after that night I began to look for someone who could harm me, and at night I asked Adramelech beforehand when he was going to his chambers, caught up with him and started the topic of hunting, which is why he started yawn and began to ask if he was mad at me. My brother told me a big bird with a pig's head, was right, I think I will kill you in six moons and I will penetrate your body all night.
- What have you done?
- I tried to hit him, but he was so strong that he grabbed my cock and whispered in my ear that he would bite it off, but only after six moons. He let me go and I ran to my father.
- And you my lord told him everything?
- Yes, he told ... about the bird and what my brother did. My tsar father summoned Adramelech, but he seemed to have changed, he scoffed at me and called me a drunkard and that I dreamed everything. The father believed him.
I became careful and guards were following me everywhere, but when I went to the temple to ask for help from my mother’s tomb, her voice whispered to me your name and that you would help me.
- I need to think..
По правде говоря Варлам, я был в неисполнимом замешательстве, мерил шагами свою маленькую комнату. Кенор допивал остатки вина из кувшина. Я курил, хотел я рассказать старшему принцу об увиденном мной той ночью, но не как не решался рисковать своей головой.
I have put forward two solutions.
- What do you say, my forgotten teacher? Stop walking from corner to corner, you make my head spin, your movements spin my mind faster than your sour wine!
- I think you need to leave the city.
- Leave? Where to?
- To the house of friends, do you have a welcome?
- Yes, their sea!
Kenor cheered up.
- You think that I myself would not have guessed about it! I can’t leave the city on the orders of my father, I got lost by the front and his guests.
The prince freaked himself out on a chair with his back legs. I stood in front of him, the candle almost extinguished and drowning in my own wax.
Caron decided to give meaning to his punishment.
- The devil swore in front of the foreigners ... the ambassadors ... the damn pigs ...
Well, what other solution is there? Or did my dead mother send me to find you in vain?
It was only out of respect for the late queen that I invited Kenor to stay at my house until next dawn. Punished him that he needed to release the guards, so as not to attract attention, the senior prince had to sleep in the stable, for better secrecy in case the house was given an evil search.
I will not talk about all the inconveniences Kenor gave me,
when his sixth night came, I slept in my own bed, there was no rain, I remember that I gave the prince more wine with me and told him to sleep in straw.
For a long time I could not sleep, and by midnight I began to listen forcibly to every rustle.
I didn’t keep horses, I don’t need them, because of my age I am not able to ride.
After midnight a nap came over me and I forgot, I was awakened by the neighing of the horses ... at first I thought that horse detachments were going across the square, but the sound came from the other side.
I felt the fear that gripped my body, I began to regret that I did not tell the king himself and did not become a witness and protector of Kenor before the sovereign. But later, my thoughts alerted me that Adramelech would have twisted me around his finger and would not have blown my head off.
I lay there without moving for a long time, the neighing stopped abruptly and immediately there was a knock on my door.
I shuddered at the knock and sweat beaded down my forehead.
Getting out of bed, I went to the low door, asked who was there and what was needed.
In response, I heard.
I am your disciple, your prince and soon your king.
Andramelech? I asked, and my voice trembled treacherously
The answer was silence and through the minutes I heard a clear - yes !.
The elder got up from a wicker chair and took a jug that stood on a shelf that hung not far from the window, neatly carved from cream wood. There were also smaller jugs on it, most likely they kept honey in them.
Varlam did not refuse to drink milk in the place with the old teacher, he sat down in his place and thoughtfully looked directly into Varlam's face, but as if not at him, but through. His thoughts occupied apparently woeful capes, and in order to dispel this mysterious silence, the young potter called out to the old man
What happened next teacher?
Ah where I stopped ... oh I forgot.
On the fact that Adramelech knocked on the door!
Oh no, he didn't knock on my door. When I opened, there were two guards on the doorstep