To the MUM in ALDAN

The winter will fly by and  come back spring,
       And it by a foliage will cover all again.

In two years after a leaving from Zeia, on Aldan river, the settlment was derivated which by settlers was called "Nezametnii"(Imperceptible). A settlers arrived ever more. Gold was much. Were opened shops, in which all was sold on gold. Have constructed school.  

The mother has sent in Zeia the letter, and asked to send of Tamara on Nezametnii. The letter have brought by a cabmans, which have arrived from Nezametnii for the consignment. Time winter - February. With carts string on Nezametnii the teacher was directed also.  

Long winter road. The snow sparkling, flashes on the sun and blinds so, that eyes is ill and water. And it is necessary to go day after day for creaking carts string. On a sledge the consignment, fodder for horses and foods to the people is imposed. Went from zimovio up to zimovio till forty miles per day. On zimovios the travellers spent the night and gave rest for horses. The way went on more to rivers that not  to overcome a mountain, that was dangerous and difficultly. On the rivers trapped danger too - ice crust on water. It was not passed also this carts string. The horses failed. Some pulled under ice. They broke to themselves legs and sank. The ice bursted. In one from cracks has hitted Tamara. She come to oneself  in ice water. She was snatched out by the man that was in time . The girl was wrapped up in sheepskin coat and was put on a cart, having removed with her all wet.

But though was and difficultly, the Tamara hart exulted, you see she went to the mum. It is not terrible, that is necessary to go on foot, that a frost, that has not completed the second class and that to her all was less than ten years.

Hot ate only in evening, when came to next zimovio, when stayed on a night, but day ate a frozen bread on the move. Went slowly, pitied the horses, that they have not overstrained and have not perished. And so on all road was lain by corpses of the horses and camels. These mountains were named "tianugus", because the rise was very long and not steep. It seems, will be raised and there will be a descent, but anything similar, the rise is prolonged. And so all the day. It was heavy both for the horses, and for the people. And there were also steep descents. The sledge was pressed on the horses, and they were torn to run. Cabmans them hardly constrained.

Sometimes there was a snow and walking behind a sledge, Tamara with Marina and teacher was going on to the song of bells, suspended under arcs. To be going in snow-fall was  difficultly, because a road was fast covered by snow.

Zimovies there were some pure, scraped out and washed up to yellowness. And some built somehow. Logs, folded together with crust. Along walls wooden plank beds and same table. Slept together with chineses. Chineses too made the way by any tracks in Nezametnii, bearing there on shoulders illicit spirit.

Tamara and it companions have become black, the eyes and toothes shone only. And skin on laps they any more did not feel.  

But all terminates. The road was terminated also. Behind thousand of kilometers of a path on foot. In the winter. Went almost month. And long-awaited settlment Nezametnii, which soon was renamed into city Aldan, because the gold was so rich, that it very fast grew, so came much a migrants. It was the gold fever, second Klondike.

And again towards carts string was going a mum. She it, probably, come to a road each day, when, as she was calculated, it should be arrive.

Small hut stood on a slope of a mountain. In it twelve persons, girl and stepfather with the mother lived. Males slept on plank bed one near other. Gold finders did not drag with itself of beds. For the stepfather with the mother separately were the  by plank hammered bed on a two, veiled by a curtain. For the girl in an angle was small bed.  

    A gold finders has a custom, with  creation of artel to select as a chief the  married person, which wife incured functions of the cook. And all named her as the mother irrespective of age.

In an angle of hut there was an immovable stove, and in the middle - iron. The immovable stove heated on Saturdays, arranging bania. Opened a door, while was heating stones, and the smoke was going to the street. Then, were washing, having thrown out a wear on a street.

The gold was everywhere. On a windows in packes, under cushions, in ears at the women. But with him  has come also a hard drinking. Each Sunday the meat pies were fried, was made a pel'meni , the spirit with water, floated a brajka, shouted drunk songs under garmon (accordeon). Was hearing a swearing. There were drunk fights. So was grown Tamara. Who only was not attracted with a brightness of gold. Who only did not go, did not go on deers, on horses. Were arrived and the jewellers, photographers, teacher. Began to build a log houses for shops, school, banias, hospital, club.

The tracks have turned in a road. Around Aldan on springs in raspadoks have arisen gold fields, and further away in a taiga zimovios.

Gold was much, but it needed to be got. Many breeds should be dug over, while the gold will be given in hands. To select shaft, it was necessary to heat a ground, that the ice of eternal freeze was thawn. How many work will be performed a artel to select shaft and quite often it filled up underground waters.

The jewellers was made of gold of earrings, a rings and a everyones trinkets. Money was not. All was purchased by gold on weight. The mum too had gold ear rings. Hunhuses was not. Settlement was protected by the militarians.  

Obtained gold the artel was divided among themselves equally, equal share get and for mother. A part was separated for foods for artel. It was surprising, these rough guys near of Tamara was order itself decently, did not swear. If they also had dispute, but with emerging Tamara, they terminated it.

The work by as artel considerably facilitated a labour. You see it was necessary to dig shaft deep for gold, on ground it not lie about. Above it the whole structure was under construction, where from shafts was lifted by horses a breed in a manhole, where the breed was washed out by water, bringed by troughs.

Some times the paints was gifted for Tamara. She has put a sheet of a paper on table and began to draw on it. And suddenly she sees - from a green herb, is direct on her, there is a tiger. The mother at this time has come with water.

-   The mum look, that I have drawn.

-   It you? - with mistrust has asked the mother.

- I am. Let's hang up above my bed. They have nailed this paper carpet above the bed of Tamara. Came from work arteliahs:

- Where you have taken such carpet?

- Tamara has drawn! - with pride the mother has told.

- Yes well, can not be. You look, tiger as alive. I saw a tiger, when was in Ussury, there them were caught.  

All was crowded around carpet. Having admired on carpet, they began to wash and to sit to table. And all evening was talk about tigers. And then whole week a peoples was coming from other artels to look on the drawn tiger.

- And where you saw a tiger? - asked it.  

- In the books, - the girl answered.

Yes, girl there was read a lot of books, though there were ten years old to her. Her hostess, where the girl was left by the mother, has loved to listen, and because of it and Tamara was loved the books.  

The life of a gradually was included into a normal track. The club has appeared. Was performed a plays. Showed cinema. Were organized komsomols and pioneers organizations.  

Began to order sale of gold. Gold have begun to hand over in office and took money, sale of goods on gold was stopped. And the gold began to decrease. The artel has broken up. Tamara with the mother and stepfather have moved from gold field to city. There stepfather has purchased the horses and has entered in carting collective enterprise, to carry the loading from Iacutsk in Aldan.  

The youth lived merrily. Were performed a plays, with satire on religion and bourgeois. They took participation in celebratory demonstratings, were drawn comical portraits on Chemberlen, on priests and bourgeois.

Were acted as crasnoblusniks (red-blouses) and sineblusniks (blue-blouses). Were sewed to itself blouses from a red and dark blue cloth. Were made on the scene of a pyramid with the recitation of the slogans. Were going to remote gold fields to act with their repertoire. Were organized military circles, sewed the military form. Purchased military belts.

Came to they krasnoarmeetss (soldiers) from garrison to acquaint with the weapon. Were learning to shoot, to throw grenades. Were arranging a military games, were going at the night on an alarm in a wood, were defending from a unknown enemy. Was really dreadfully and anxiously. Were going by the invitation to the garrison. Were organised there games with krasnoarmeetss , and they suited a refreshments on general table. There were a pioneer and  komsomol meetings. Someone was blamed, someone was praised. In general, was full-blooded life.  

Girls from a Komsomol did not carry of ornaments. They carried on a hair a red three-cornered kerchief and were lovely in the natural beauty.  

The people were affable and are hospitable. The houses on locks were not closed, because the thieves was not, and to steal there was nothing. The values at the people were not any. And gold and the gold items, on installation of the state order on gold fields, have handed over to the state.  

On brooks have appeared dragas (the big machine for washing of gold). The posts of the director, manager,  accountant were entered, the establishments have appeared. To all was paid by money. The free withdrawal of gold to a residential places was stopped.

  It is visible that strong frosts accustom the people to a tea. Drank Chinese plate tea, and who would not come in a log hut, was necessarily put samovar, familiar or not familiar, Chinese or Korean, Russian or Yakut - all the same. Sat down to table to hot tea and began drinking, inquiries, stories.

Chineses or Koreans was much in Aldan. They grows an onions, radish, developed kitchen garden. They opened shops with the items, goodies. The Chinese women were not. Koreans women were, their children were studied in school also, also entered in the pioneers and komsomol.

That did not remove  a gold from Aldan, was established posts in such place, that will not bypass, will not go round. The broad river with precipitous by high rocks. Through it is the bridge. On the bridge there were performed a check of things, passengers, trucks and carts.

A Yakuts was come to Aldan. They built to themselves a russian log huts. Were brought on a market a cow frozen milk, deers meat, fish, dohas, embroidered by beads, unti (boots) from deers skin from legs trimmed by embroider, a squirrel cap , a hares blanket.

Their a cows a small, some more that deer, shaggy, but very hardy and customary to strong frosts. By him  do not create a cow-shed. They all winter stood on a frost at stacks of hay.

Among Yakut women there were girls - original beauty. A Russian men married them. And Russian girl, it happened, married for Chineses , Koreans and Yakuts. The Russian girl were friends of the Korean girls and had visited in Russian club and in the Korean summer club. Russian youth never was separated from youth of other nations.

Aldan became truly Soviet city. In it did not build churches, there were no priests.

But there were peoples of old manners. Did not allow  to children to enter in the pioneers and komsomol. One komsomolians was beaten by the father for the fact that he sang antichurch song on evening and has prohibited to him to act. Certainly, komsomolians tried to protect it before the father, but he rigidly has answered - «not your business».

  YOUTH

And youth to us  
Will not return now,
Before it is slammed
Tightly door.

Despite of employment, work (Tamara per fifteen years has arrived on work in office "Lenzoloto" by the accountant), a komsomols load, performance on the scene, every possible circles and other, in soul at Tamara there was some not clear melancholy.

The nature of Aldan was not so magnificent as on Zeia. There were no here beautiful colours, only bushes on slopes of mountains, and a coniferous wood. Listvennitsa (tree) on spring pleased with the odor. The summer was short and frequently rainy. Sowed and sowed as from a sieve. And when sunny, the sun rests by the rays on slopes of mountains and becomes intolerable heat.

Tamara looked at high mountains with a crest of a dark blue wood and thought, what behind them? When she will leave for them? She dreamed and composed the whole stories, adventures at which centre there was a love. Has appeared a desire to have the child. She imagined, as it the small son embraces her by small hands.  

She was as soon blossomed flower. «Will peek it prematurely, and will wither», - spoke among themselves mans, sitting on benches near the houses. And she went by them proud in the beauty, in  a markizet (kind of cloth) dress, with two plaits behind shoulders up to a belt.

The girl stood under a ladder, in club, which conducted on the second floor in library, shivering from fear.

- I shall kill her, - was heard from above.

- What for and for what? - asked his.

- And why she does not want to be friends of me, why will avoid me?

- But you see it is impossible to force to love, yes she also loves nobody.

Tamara has found out voices of the guys, with which she together grew, which in addition to were to her the long-distance relatives, and this another's hooligan. She slowly has left on a street and fast has run home.

  These came two boys.

- Of the Thom, you do not go anywhere. In school and from school we shall see off you. This Sashka, he you wants to kill.

- I know - has told Tamara, - I heard. I was there, under a ladder.

- Who, who? - with an alarm has asked the mother.

- Yes this Sachka Vorfolomeev.

With these guys, with Kostia and Vasilii, they studied together and they honesty protected her.

As evening was the komsomol convention, the girl , sitting in presidium, looked at all hall but Kostia with Vasilii was not. After the end of convention Tamara has run out after the man, which made the report. He went just on her street, pass by her home and she tried to keep near from him. The night was clear, starry, frosty. The moon-lit snow, shone, being as brilliants. The man with bewilderment looking on Tamara also was silent. «Probably, something is afraid», - he has thought. Yes, Tamara was afraid and not vainly. Behind them  being hidden behind angles of houses was going guy with a knife.

Was come up to the fencing, she fast has run in gate and has closed it by lock.

- This time you was lucky, - she has heard already on threshold of home. In the morning Tamara all has told of the mother, and she has decided with the stepfather to find the parents that guy and all by him to tell, that they immediately and have made. After that Tamara him any more did not see.

ETERNAL CALL

Without the sun life all withers,
Without caress heart dies.

«Lovely Aliosha, why you look on me from apart, that you want to tell and are not decided, and not to me smiling by the lovely smile», - was thought Tamara, looking on comely of low growth, but dense boy. In her was kind feeling to him. In club she tried to sit down by him more close, wanted that also he has drawn near her, has taken her hand. But only unique time he slightly has touched her hand. And once she invite his in the house. Driving the machine by their house, he has stayed, because there was something wrong  with the car, on which he carried some heads. Passengers in this time at him was not. The mother knew this boy from childhood. His father worked with them in artel.

- Mum! Do looking on, Aliosha with the car, something happened. I shall  invite he.

- Go, daughter, we shall drink now tea and it we shall treat.

Aliosha, constrainingly smiling, has gone to the house. Tamara with joy looked at him, adding to him of strong tea. Having had a drink tea, he, having thanked, has left. Then has leaved somewhere for a long time.

In a club hall, the filled people, stood silence. All looked at the scene, on the young man facing behind a tribune. Who he did not know Tamara. It was another's, the visitant. He spoke by the loud voice, helping itself by gestures of hands, and looked in a hall by the black shrill eyes. Stirring up black, as a raven wing, hair he was beautiful, as a demon. He has flashed and has disappeared as a comet, having kept in soul Tamara a bright trace.

    The mountain engineer has come in the small miner's office. He was young, slender and beautiful. «And for what he going here», - thinks Tamara. And he, looking on Tamara, lean one's elbows on a little table to sitting, not so young, woman at other end of small room, and speaks something, smiling to her. Tamara is confused from it of sights, lowers eyes, does not know, where from it of sights to disappear. « And what for he here going, if I am attractive for him, why to me does not approach, never will conduct after the convention. I see, that he sees off other. They stick to him as the fly on sugar. And what for I to him, he the engineer, and I who? Small book-keeper. I sit here on komsomol assignment. No, he simply laughs on me».

Summer, the taiga stood in thoughtful silence, heated by sun. And Tamara went on a road in Aldan. The road is deserted, nobody went and did not go. But she was not afraid. She from childhood has got used to wander on a taiga. She admired smelt listvenitsa, inhaled fragrant bagulnik and did not think of anything. She did not know, that behind her the horse-man was going. He has found out in office, that Tamara has completed work and has gone home in Aldan.

- On foot, one, - he was excited, has taken the horse and follow for Tamara. Galloping of a half-road, he has seen ahead going girl with suitcase in a hand. He has sighed with facilitation, but to catch up it was not decided. And went behind her far behind, not missing it from a kind up to itself Aldan. Approaching to town, he only then has let by a lynx the horse and has overtaken Tamara, not having looked on her. «Well, has not greeted at all», - has thought Tamara. «She is a child, she must to play in dolls. What I can to tell she. It is necessary to wait », - with some bitterness and disappointment he has thought. But other did not wait.

There was the performance in club. Tamara sat between two empty places. To her row  came two men. One from their was with a black beard. In a breakes they began with her a usual talk. Whether the play is pleasant to her, as what is her name and so on. Tamara reluctantly them answered. Will answer and is silent. The play as soon as was terminated, Tamara fast has gone home, but she was caught up with that with a black beard.

- Where you so fast hurry. Still early, we shall take a walk slightly.

- No, the mum worries.

- Then allow, I conduct you. - He would like to find out, where she lives.

- Well, that if want.

For the second day.

- Do you allow? Hi! 

In doors there was a young man. Only shaved, carefully brushed sinuous black hair.

- It is possible to me to see Tamara? - Tamara has left from room.

- And who are you?

- You do not find out me? I yesterday saw off you, only was with a beard, - smiling, he has told. - Has come for you, can we shall take a walk, today Sunday. And weather good. You allow, - he has addressed the question to the mother Tamara.

- Yes let, as wants, - and you pass, sit.

Since then have begun often a walking - in a wood, on rocks.

- Look, with what here deep precipice, and below flows river. We can not be lowered there , here very smooth wall, and me it would be desirable to drink.

- And we shall be lowered on that side, on which were lifted to here, - Mark has told, so was his name. Below flowed fast, not deep, but wide "spring" - small river, is cheerful bring the waters through stones and was singing a wood songs.

- Oi, there on that side it seems a cuckoo buts (flowers), they so well smell, only how to proceed.

- That so. - Mark has picked up on hands Tamara and became is cautious to pass river on stones.

- Would you want, that in that Sunday we shall visit on Seligder. I shall take the horses and we shall ride. It is necessary there with somebody to talk about a busineses.

- We shall go, - has agreed Tamara, - I already know how to ride and I am not afraid of the horses. In our collective-farm yard the horses are. The daddy the chairman. He to me not native, but good. Sometimes he allows me go to ride or on winter in a sledge. It is impossible for horse longly to stand in a paddock, therefore he gives me them and for training. There are  the mare, she is named "Windy". It is small grey mare, she so fast runs, as a wind. To me it harness in a sledge, and I are going around town. Well, directly it would be desirable to sing.

So the short summer has passed. In one winter evening the Mark has got in a fencing the harnessed horse. Has gone in the house, has undressed and has sat to table.  He put a quarter of spirit on the table.

- Well, parents, I take away from you Tanara. Me have directed on Seligder by the main engineer on energy, and without Tanara I can not go, I love her.

- Yes how so? - the mum has become agitated, - she is absolutely young also nothing knows how to do.

- No problems, I shall teach her, I know how all to do.

- When you think to take her?

- Now, I already and apartment have received, and has arrived on the horse from a Seligder. Now I have not time, I have a businesses there. And then I will arrive to us to mark our wedding - it is near.

- And as work, daughter.  

- I already have settled up, the mum, - has answered already dressed Tamara.

                                     And WHERE the LOVE?

                                    So be restrained soul,
                                           Also be not torn anywhere.
                                           For you there is no rest 
                                           Anywhere, never.

Never she would like, did not come in a head to rush to him on a neck for  meeting, to kiss, to nestle on his breast. She did not love kisses. And he never kissed her. She liked his black curls, his large eyes, and that he from far Ukraine, from under the light-blue hot sky, and that he so bravely has told to her mother, that he loves her.

And he admired her, it was pleasant to him, that for him all around spoke, that what younger, beautiful wife he have. He played by her as by a toy, was talking to her about a adventures with other girls, thinking to excite in her jealousy, but she was not jealous. But  would be desirable child for her, same dark as the husband. She saw in dreams, as he, small boy, embraces her neck by small handles. But  child was not.

In the summer the husband was directed on Serebrovsk. There, where she earlier worked in office, where frequently there came the engineer. That woman there worked still, to which he all time talked. Having met Tamara, she began it to abuse:  

- What you have done, whom you have married, he is boaster, he will exhaust all your life. All are pity of you, because of you Giorg has leaved, as has found out, that you have married. He so abused himself, that has missed you. He thought that you still girl, wanted to wait for you slightly while you will grow. But you... !  This is for you, he has kept for memory. Was ordered by him that I will transmit to you a long time ago, but  I could not see you.

- And he was liked by me, but was seemed to me that he such educated, beautiful. Completely not such as all. And I hesitated of it, and thought, that he laughs on me, when talked with you.  

- Laughs! But he spoke all time, that you good, that beauty.

In the letter there were one only verses. Tamara them on all life remembered:  

Dreams mine, dream,
To you is intended to not come true.
As a curl you have rushed to me,
Have opened a door by mine gaol.
Also were suddenly scattered, having kept
Of  silence deserts ice
And loneliness among a taiga.
          Forgive!!! 

Tamara has begun to miss.

- Mara, let's leave. If I have bothered to you, will leave me somewhere on a road. I do not want, that you here have thrown me. I do not want that near mum, I do not want that all  knew and laughed  on me.

- Well that, we shall go to Kharkov. Only I never shall throw you, and do not invent.

Lived young in merry apartment. It was solar, with hewed logs, room, kitchen, with passage and pantry. Mark was though is young - eighteen years, but was capable, well understood the electrical engineering, he was trusted a responsible posts. In money Tamara was not interested, did not know how many husband received and what all costs. In all was trusted to him.

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