CHAPTER 9 Elena in search of her brother

She ended up in these places, on the banks of the Ob, it is not clear how. To be honest, I myself did not remember it. As if all memories were erased from my head. Here, as if a grater from a tub in a bathhouse fell, and all the memory was taken away, and there is none. And it does not work. She then sat down on the shore of the lake, looked up, and looked at the water, free from duckweed. The water bloomed, the heat became so. And the girl put her palm under her cheek, and so she looked at the water, free from small lake grass. As if this water could tell her something: No, the Queen of Heaven herself should have helped her…

She washed my face, and then she went. And time, so it went by autumn, cool. She made herself a good hut, as if she knew everything about this skill. But, I already wanted to eat, I went to fish. I looked at a good pole, suitable for such a thing, turned the point with a knife, and did not get up. So the places were beautiful, you can’t take your eyes off, Elena liked it so much. Dense currant bushes on that shore were simply covered, hidden by a steep rise, and then tall pines grew, it seemed, reaching the peaks to the sky. You could hear the birds chattering in the trees, as if conveying what important news.

So she looked, and looked, and almost missed the prey. The fish flashed in clean water with shiny scales. But, the girl is nimble, hit at once, did not miss. The prison hooked a large trout, but the miner did not miss, carefully and skillfully lifted it out of the water, and put it on the grass. But then, I noticed that it was carrying someone with a fast current. And she seemed to have a ring in her heart, began to remember something, but there was no time to think. Rushed into cold water. At first, as much as the skin burned, but then the Slavnitsa quickly buried across. She grabbed a scrap of wool, dragged it to the stones, thought it was a child in a fur coat, fell into the river. And he will roar as he roars! Elena was stunned and let go of her find. So, a heather, a bear cub rushed into the bushes. And Elena sighed, but began to dry wet clothes over a barely burning fire. Squeezed, tried, almost dry, so that everything would dry out faster, and not freeze in the evening, and especially at night. She even let her hair down, wet through and through. But, but the animal did not die, she reassured herself. And here, at the same time, she took up cooking – she covered the fish with clay, and buried it in ash under the fire. And, I noticed that there was no reproach nearby, the girl was pleased with it. I walked to the hut, and there, next to it, as it roars… Well, Elena was scared, of course, but she didn’t run. Without clothes where will you run? And then a fur lump poked at her leg, and rushed back into the bushes. True, from this, so to speak, shelter seemed a hefty and concentrated muzzle of the mother of this bear cub. Clubfoot came closer, noisily pulled in the air, and threw three hefty fish, which she kept in her mouth. Then, she poked her nose into the girl’s leg, as if she had met, nodded, straight in a human way, and left.

So Elena immediately felt better in her heart. As it says, in one proverb, angry slightly:" Do not do good, you will not receive in response… No, not evil of course, but, it was now, let’s say, a little chilly. To distract herself, she began to eviscerate the fish, but took up cooking. And then, again, in her memory, like a small door opened… And she said quietly, what she had been wearing for so long:

“Where are you, my dear brother!

***

“What are you thinking, Queen?” It’s evening, and it’s time for bed, “Bilkar asked with all the courtesy,

Elena grabbed the armrests, sharply turned non the long pole that stood at the throne. She sighed deeper, tried to calm down, then she answered, picking up every word:

“Sometimes it rolls. Don’t worry, kid. Business, this is common for everyone, and for me, frequent. Dispose of what honey would bring me. Tired of something…

“And the Magi Rist sent you a hay girl. Her name is Tadya. Already removes your chambers.

“Thank the Magi. I am touched by such care.

But, in vain worried. Nevertheless, the reasonable guy Bilkar turned out to be. Both frisky and sensible. He did everything according to his mind, and not like that, anyhow. So, he brought a bench comfortable for the legs, and a decent cup, and he got soft pillows for the throne. And Tadja? Hay girl Ristova? Well, the Queen thought and curled her lips a little in a smile.

“I’ll do it! Bilkar said loudly, interfering with the thoughts of the overlord.

And the unots with axes were all standing nearby, taking care of the peace of the Mistress. It is clear that the service was carried out for honor, not for anything else. In military affairs, the young men were not yet strong. And, Elena remembered the names of the youths, almost as soon as Duptun called her. Which, the highest – Elan, with a red shikha, a lock of hair on the back of the head – Novik, with a snub nose – Yucca – and the last – Zubok. Age and no more than sixteen years was. And she, so her brother did not find, for these three years. And, read, I traveled all over Siberia, towns, villages, and Sargat, and Varta, Gandvik, and Oum too.!

I suddenly remembered, looking at my necklace of human heads. The Dead smiled with an eternal smile, and on the benches, on the left and right, sat her Immortals, advisers and warriors. And the elders sat in front of her, looked and were silent.

– So, the Queen, we sentenced, according to your decision… – began Duptun, – At the expense of the prey taken, you need to buy supplies in Varta and Gandvik. Fish salted and dried. There is nowhere to take grain, do not lose it.

– I understand. Winter and fish people will live. So they came up with okay. In a week I’ll go camping, you are for the yen, Duptun, you will stay. And who instructs children and youths? I would like to see.

– Mentor Savir copes with assistants. Adults, nevertheless, in business, so their mentor teaches them mind and reason.

– Look at it.

Immediately everyone was overflowing from the shops, both the Immortals and the elders. And unots with axes at the throne stood in a row. They expected to see off the Queen, honor by honor.

– I’ll get one. You talk about business here. Where and how to put the trips, so that again strangers do not miss our border stones. And if people start to get sick, tell me right there. I will heal so that the epidemic does not happen. And prepare a bag for children’s hotels, for the children. Better, sweet nuts.

“I’ll bring it now! Bilkar immediately volunteered to perform.

And how to go to children without gifts? You need to please everyone, without this it is impossible. Elena remembered this, and she herself did not know why and where. But, I decided that it was right to do so. The elders only kept quiet, only one reminded of himself.

– Let’s discuss. Let’s solve this without fail, about protecting Oum. We’ll do everything right! said Duptun slowly.

***

This is the place where the mentor taught the children, the Queen almost immediately found these cells by oar laughter and noise. Girls sat on benches near the wall, with smartly made rag dolls, in an armchair opposite them, a healer rested. Elena immediately understood this, by embroidery on a woman’s shirt, and a special tied scarf on her head, with horns. The Queen herself did not wear such a headdress, and was surprised why so. Until Nemya explained:" This, beauty, to be like the Queen of Heaven. She’s also with horns!” Elena just now almost smiled, but for some reason touched her forehead, but no, fortunately, she did not feel the horns.

“Queen Helena! Queen Elena! – seeing her, the girls ran up to her.

They surrounded her, and took her to themselves, put her on a bench. And she began to endow the hotels with nuts boiled in honey. She remembered with gratitude the need for zeal. I noticed that one girl, like everyone else, with a shot head, and several curls on the back of her head and temples, her left hand was tied.

“Come to me,” Elena called her, “sit down with me,” and sit on her lap, “what’s your name?”

– Olla, – and she smiled with her toothless mouth from fallen milk teeth, – how cold you are! I’ll bring a blanket! ‘the girl whispered.

– Yes, I always do, – reassured a new friend, – let me fly your hand…

The queen put her palm on the damaged hand. Olla first tried to pull away, it is clear that from the cold, but then calmed down. And then she smiled rather, hugged and kissed Elena on the cheek.

– That’s it, it doesn’t hurt now… Thank you!

– And from the boys I saw someone with hair like mine?

The girl gladly stroked the Queen’s ash curls, wrinkled her forehead, and nodded her head.

– There is one. So this is Samir. He often offends girls.

– I’ll talk to him. Bring him here.

“I’ll try it,” Olla reluctantly promised, and jumped off her knees.

I remembered the main thing Elena, for three years as I remembered. That I must find my brother who is lost. I searched everywhere, but could not find it.

And so, Olla brought a little rake by the hand. He walked now humbly, did not rage, and with might and main made his blue eyes on the Queen.

– Sit next to me! Elena asked him.

Now she must find out whether he is or not he? Isn’t that boy her brother? She moved a little, took his hand. He, in the same second, almost gave a dragonfly, noticing how Elena’s eyes turned black at once. Even his mouth opened in surprise.

– don’t be afraid… ‘she quietly ordered.

No, not him, as she immediately realized with annoyance. I remembered how I felt when I touched my missing brother’s hand. As if cold needles pierced her skin, and then her head burned with terrible fire. Well, and then, like all pains, empty thoughts, grief, everything seemed to be washed away with key water.

– You behave kinder, Samir, – she asked the boy, – the gods of evil and cruel do not like.

– So they give glory, it means, and raise brave men.

“And never so. They notice the kind, pure in heart and condescending. Only such people are brought closer to themselves. Why do the omnipotent need wealth? Everything is in their power. But, they only expect people to get better. Let it be a little, but better. As in the fairy tale, it is said when Ivan Tsarevich was looking for Elena the Beautiful. The way to the distant kingdom was revealed to him only when he showed that he was pure in heart. Helped a wolf, a bear and an eagle. And then, and they helped him…

The boy sat next to him and listened to the instructions. I tried to remember and understand. If so, a lot could come of it. Both good and not so good.

– I see… – whispered Samir, – and I will not pull Oll’s hair anymore! I’ll go, they’re waiting for me already.

– And take your friends nuts, but more, – Elena handed the remaining nuts in honey, – well, you eat yourself.

She still decided to look at other children. Here, under the supervision of a mentor, the boys were engaged in business. The children sat on long unpretentious benches, around the mentor. He is passionate about him showed the drawing on the highlighted skin. As Elena noted, Oum was depicted and a section of the river nearby. But, the Queen did not notice anyone similar to her brother, and did not feel his presence. I didn’t want to interfere, and quickly left.

The girl stood and waited for her. Elena approached the head of Olla, and, without thinking too much, took off one of the bracelets from her hand and put the girl on the handle.

“In memory of me. Wear it for good luck, – kissed her, and went into her tower.