The bride touched the groom on the shoulder, looked anxiously into his eyes. It looked quite natural: the girl was worried about her faltering beloved. But at least two of those present – she and I – knew for sure that the cause of her concern lay elsewhere. Someone made a joke about men’s fear of marriage. Someone decided to blame the weather for everything: they say, in such heat, it won’t take long to lose consciousness. The rest picked up, offered to step under the canopy of the temple as soon as possible. The wedding spun and spun again, some sang, others hurried inside, new guests drove up, and amid the noise, din and flickering of festive dresses, it was no longer easy to catch the groom’s pale, hunted face. Nevertheless, I focused on it: everything else was much less interesting now.
Not more than a minute passed, but I think the groom felt ten years older. Emotions changed at a rapid pace. At first he was simply disoriented, then he was surprised, then he was on the verge of panic, and everything ended with doom. I sighed in disappointment. It is hardly worth expecting more from a person, but sometimes you want to make a mistake… Alas. It must be the fault of all social beings. You can resist the opinions of others, you can even rebel, but only under certain conditions. Not when dozens, if not hundreds of individuals are constantly watching you, and everyone is waiting for the same thing, and you don’t have time to think and mentally prepare.
And here is the result: a man dutifully goes down the aisle, although more than anything in the world he would like to be now far away. From the point of view of any court, it goes voluntarily. Public pressure doesn’t count. You can reject a girl, cancel an engagement, even not show up to your own wedding. But if he came – if you please, act according to the plan. Do not upset guests and future relatives. And do not care that one short scandal is much easier to endure than endless years with an unloved wife. Disappointing everyone at once is so terrible that a person does not even realize the full extent of his horror. He just doesn’t take it seriously. This fear has very ancient roots. Since then, when the disturber of the peace could well have been stoned, and even earlier – simply gnawed.
Well, the facts are there, the guy practically gave up. You can safely go further, the road has long been cleared. And yet something in the eyes of the groom is not completely extinguished. Maybe that’s why I decided to give him one last chance. And, catching his eye, she nodded to the empty seat in the wagon. Didn’t do anything more. I just kept watching to see what he did.
Alas, as expected, the representative of the human race disappointed – his gaze quickly lost interest. Turning away, the groom continued his way to the entrance to the temple, to which there were only a couple of steps. The bride babbled something joyful, and he nervously fiddled with a bracelet woven from fresh flowers, which the newlyweds traditionally wore. I think this decoration of life symbolizes the fragility of marital happiness. Personally, I can’t find any other explanation. Apparently, the degree of excitement of the guy went off scale, because he managed to break the stalk, and withered dandelions fell sadly on the steps.
As listless as the flowers, the groom bent down to pick up this dubious value, and suddenly, with unexpected agility, rushed away. Swiftly, without looking back, skirting the crowded guests at the temple porch. He briskly jumped over the low fence, as if he had specially trained ten times a day, and jumped into my chariot.
– Faster! he grunted, looking over his shoulder, “the sea of guests was restlessly wavering, and a wave of chase could overwhelm us at any second.
I beamed and waved my whip. My “animal”, disguised as a horse, did not even feel it. The mental command, or rather a request, because such a horse cannot be subdued by force, worked much better, and we rushed along the dusty road. Rashtang practically does not need a run: this creature from the world of Darkness loves speed. Now he had to restrain himself with all his strength, because if a horse, harnessed to a chariot to boot, picks up a hundred miles per hour, or, even better, flies over the earth, forgetting the laws of gravity… In a word, people may misunderstand this.
But they correctly understood something else: the groom was literally off the hook. Quite naturally, this worried the bride and her father. And that’s why the rest were worried… Probably, the reason is that they were deprived of the opportunity to rejoice (read: gloat) at the happiness of their neighbor. The crowd is always slow to think, but if it starts to act, it is better to stay away from it. Each individually can be a great guy or a charming woman, but in total, contrary to all the laws of mathematics, they are an insane and merciless creature. Another phenomenon of mankind that does not have a more or less decent explanation.
One way or another, the whole gang rushed after us in pursuit, the most frisky saddled their horses or jumped into their own chariots. The groom, turning around and firmly squeezing the back side with his fingers, watched the crowd with gnashing of teeth.
– Faster! he barked, almost commanding this time, but I wasn’t offended. And with pleasure I conveyed to the rashtang the request to speed up.
Is it necessary to specify with what joy he obeyed?
Exposing my face to the gusts of cool wind, I burst out laughing. The chase was in full swing. People ran, shouted, whistled, jumped, but although some managed to shorten the distance, they could not catch up with us. The chariot bounced over the potholes, the street quickly ran back, the forest loomed ahead. It was what was needed. For the sake of such an adventure, it was definitely worth driving through a small quiet town.
– They will catch up, – the groom shook his head, peering into the carts of especially zealous pursuers.
– No chance, – I grinned.
If the rashtang and I allowed some of them to come closer, it was only so that it would not be too boring.
– Listen, Eitan! – A guy of about twenty-five leaned dangerously over the edge, while the driver drove the chariot, not sparing the poor horse. – Stop! Come back before it’s too late! I understand, I got excited, it can happen to anyone. But it can’t be like that! I tell you as a friend!
– I’ve only known you for three days! – What, to the forces of Darkness, friend?! the groom yelled back, not even thinking of giving up.
We broke away from the pursuers, and he, turning his back to the chase, clutched his head and groaned:
– What kind of enchanting nonsense was going on here? It’s like I woke up from a nightmare, and the creatures from the dream are still chasing me. Or am I crazy? One Prince of Light will sort it out.
– The Prince of Light has nothing to do with it, – I said authoritatively. – The Prince of Darkness, by the way, too. It is exclusively the work of human hands. As in most cases, however. What is your fiancee’s name, by the way?
– Leah, – he replied in surprise, not quite understanding how my question was related to the previous conversation.
– Beautiful name, – I said. And the girl is attractive. She’s probably a great cook too. Have you eaten anything delicious from her? Or maybe drinking?
– I drank coffee, – the guy admitted. – I visited her father on business. It was embarrassing to dine, but to drink a cup is a sacred thing. Their coffee is special, with spices, foreign.
– Yes Yes. And how long ago did you get into the habit of jumping into this “holy cause”?
– I don’t remember exactly, – he said again. – About two weeks, maybe. Well, yes, I made an offer exactly ten