– I do not know. It seems, it is old, and it seems, and not especially.
– And so? – Ivan threw off the cap hiding a wide forehead; the easy breeze raised hair, rare with streaks of gray, bared hundreds of wrinkles on skin.
– Dress, you will catch a cold. Then why not the grandfather, but uncle Vanya?
– Perhaps not and it is old? – from under the eyebrows which long ago grew together in one curve the playful eyes which are not matching the silvered temples in any way laughed.
– Yes well you! Arranged here “I trust – not – I believe”. Let’s work!
– This is correct. Let’s work, we will receive a money and forward. … Pokutim wonderfully well! Soon…, the hand left itches, and national never before brought me.
– At me scratches too, – Alexander who is not trusting in signs and constantly deriding thinking differently picked up – both right scratches, and a leg, and ….
– It to you, my dear, is time to be washed! – Ivan parried, confirming not only youth of the body. – I want to ask everything too: what for a surname at you strange?
– Ordinary Russian surname, Klot. Than it is bad? – Alexander shrugged shoulders,
untwisting the tool and not wishing to talk more.
It was more pleasant to anticipate evening: today will pay them blood, in a month earned. In soul grew warm, the sun припекло in a back somehow in a special way, directly as in spring, and not to it to one. Time in thirty days happy smiles slid on rough faces of workers. They were less littered, almost did not swear. Jokes from caustic and prickly, offending turned into not importunate, expressing friendly feelings, outpourings sometimes causing moisture in the eyes. And after a pay still some time reigned the general revival which is impaired a little by a fair hangover. In such days even Alexander wanted to talk more usual, and mother’s calls not so strongly irritated. It joyfully represented, on as as will spend close money, and by all means hoped to lay off one hundred – another for rainy day or to podkopit on something standing. But for some reason hidden always it was spent within a week, and couple of hundreds and remained lonely, in any way not persons interested to accumulate in large sums. -However, today to us not to see them. The director told: “In the middle of a week of any payments”. You remember last time …, nobody worked with sense, so… half-drunk were unsteady …, – Ivan worried, wishing poor memory to the administration. – Unless, late at night, that during the lunchtime were not drunk too much.
– By the way, it, goes начальничек here. Give creeks, and that will approach, will shake hands, and later go, it do not wash week, be proud.
Behind pleasant thoughts and hard work there passed day. Alexander came back home when already absolutely darkened. The way back because of fatigue was more difficult, and therefore is longer done in the morning. Somewhere in the distance wolves howled.
“It is good that stars and the moon”, – failing during deep snow, it perfectly understood complexity of the travel without immemorial satellites of the sky. Not every night was given clear. Quite often it was necessary in the dark, highlighting a small lamp, to find the narrow tracks left by passersby even in the afternoon, by the evening already decently covered with fresh snow.
Lita left. The week allotted to them came to an end. Клот knew that, having returned, will not find the girl any more, but faint hope: “Something did not give, interfered with its departure”, – glimmered in the chilled soul to the last, till that time until windows were met by the gaping darkness.
“Left”.
House vast object, ominously blackening, it was distinguished from other dejected and stocky constructions of the yard – sheds, cellars. There was no wish to enter.
– Well as you, buddy? I was tired today. Here I will sit a little with you and I will go, – Alexander fell by pritoptanny snow near the Thunder.
The dog wearily got out of the lodge, settled nearby. For about a minute покопошившись, at last, settled more conveniently: it was extended in all growth, having put a muzzle on the owner’s knees.
The calloused hand fell by beautiful wool. Having drawn in hinder legs, the dog drew near closer, shared heat of a fluffy body.
– You were tired too.
As if agreeing, the dog repeated his heavy sigh, raised the head and licked a human face.
– How many already to you?
In memory years very similar one on another, not giving any catch to permission of a question flew by.
– Generally, much, – the guy gave up. – Yes you are old as that Ivan. What did he mean? What do I learn? You are not aware…? I remember how took you a puppy. You then still so smelled of milk. Big-bellied, ridiculous, – poor excuse for a smile flashed on the cracked lips.
Animal, listening to memoirs of the owner, did not reduce from him a sad look, probably, in own way remembering the past.
– Yelped unceasingly, – Alexander continued, – froliced. Were afraid to pass by you: you will not bite, so paws you will soil. Now and they grew old, – accurately raised one of Thunder forepaws: still very strong, but with the multiple wounds overgrown with wool, with schesanny claws, not otrastushchy again any more never, they gave decent age of a dog.
– You bear heavy service, sitting on a chain. Again you do not remind! – Alexander got into a bag behind leftovers.
The thunder smelled the offered dinner.
– Yes, yes, it is possible. To you. Well done!
Having waited for permission, the dog started the muzzle in the frozen, kuskovaty weight. Praising highly the friend, Klot continued to iron fluffy wool – to admire. A dog, absorbing food, did not forget to answer touches with friendly waves of a tail.
The person slowly gave a hand to a plate – silence. Accurately took her aside. The thunder submissively proceeded behind it to the new place and, “having repeatedly asked” permissions, continued to satisfy hunger.
– Good fellow.
Again and again approvals on complacent small which got used to people soon poured, had infallible memory and recognized people not only by smells, but also by a voice and even by gait. The privilege to be nearby in operating time of massive jaws was assigned only to Alexander that flattered the last. Any other, daring to encroach… or to pass near food, waited unmerciful canines. In all other cases the Thunder remained an appeasable dog and loved people. For example, Lita at their first meeting was awarded only once ominous growl ….
Sudden thoughts of the girl dissolved pleasant memories in reality. Клот regained consciousness.
– Well and it is fine, I will go to sleep. One more unlucky day behind.
Having risen, Alexander slipped, trying not to fall, grasped the box and came to be in a snowdrift together with the broken-off plate in hands.
– The other day I will repair.
Quietly wagging a tail, the Thunder agreed with the next promise. Hard going on snowdrifts, the guy reached a door and before coming into the house, once again looked back to a sheep-dog.
– Good night. Lay down to have a rest.
Dog, “having wished” him the same, curled up directly on snow (he did not want home too), covered with paws a nose and having plaintively screamed, sank into a sleep.
Having come to be on