Descendants of the Scythians - Страница 66

Meanwhile, Artem went on to other matters:

“Now we must get our luggage back, that’s top on our list of priorities, Varkan. It’s very important for us to get our bags back… I’m sorry, Varkan, I keep forgetting you can’t understand me. When will we ever be able to communicate without an interpreter? But there’s no other way out at the moment. Dmitro Borisovich, would you please translate that it is of vital importance for us to have our bags brought to us here?”

Varkan nodded his head after he heard the translation. “Oh, good,” Artem said when he saw Varkan nod. “We’ll give it hot to Dorbatay and his priests yet!”

Artem’s mood had evidently improved!

CHAPTER THREE

Lida and Ivan Semenovich find themselves captives of Dorbatay who once again asks them to accept his proposals which they do, not knowing exactly what the proposals are this time; they are brought to the altar to witness rites with human sacrifices; the gloom is somewhat dispelled by Artemis message, but Lida discovers she has unwittingly accepted a proposal to become Hartak’s bride; Artem is greatly disappointed at his failure to find the dynamite charges in the bags, fights off a surprise attack with the means available and comes out victorious; Ronis informs Dmitro Borisovich of his new plans.

What had come to pass in the Scythian camp after Dmitro Borisovich and Artem made their spectacular escape?

Dorbatay, seething with rage, ordered Lida and Ivan Semenovich be taken to his own kibitka. As they walked, surrounded by the armed priests, in the flickering torchlight, they expected to hear the pursuers who had been dispatched to catch the fugitives, returning from their mission. Occasional wild shouts of the priests filled the air with menace. Dorbatay kept silent, but the fierce expression on his face, with reflections from the red flames of the torches making it even more sinister, did not portend anything good for the strangers.

It was only in the kibitka that Dorbatay spoke again, and he addressed Hartak, who almost literally trod on Dorbatay’s heels, following him wherever he went. Dorbatay never turned to look at the strangers who were sitting in the corner watching Dorbatay’s every movement closely, trying lo guess what fate Dorbatay had in mind for them. And they could expect the worst…

Talking to Hartak now, Dorbatay did not bother to feign any respect for “the glorious and sagacious chieftain.” There was no one to witness his behavior now, except for the strangers with bound hands. There was no reason whatsoever for old soothsayer to go on playing his role in front of them!

Now Dorbatay issued orders and Hartak listened with his head bent low. Only once did he try to remonstrate, but so timidly and in such a low voice, that Dorbatay made a contemptuous and impatient gesture with his hand and turned away. Hartak again lowered his head submissively and stopped without finishing what he had begun to say.

Priests kept coming and going: Dorbatay listened to what they had to say, gave orders and they rushed out again. Unfortunately, neither Lida nor Ivan Semenovich could understand a word. Neither could they even venture a guess what Dorbatay and several dignified and haughty Scythian elders who entered the kibitka at one point, were speaking about. Their conversation was unexpectedly interrupted: a loud and agitated voice came from outside the kibitka, and a group of priests burst in. One of them had blood on his shoulder; he began to speak, out of breath, stopping, wavering, and gesticulating wildly. Dorbatay’s face, which had been wearing a fierce enough expression, grew even gloomier as he listened to what the wounded man was telling him.

Ivan Semenovich leaned closer to Lida and said under his breath:

“I’m sure this is the pursuit party come back. And they’ve failed to catch anybody! So, everything’s all right! Artem and Dmitro Borisovich have managed to escape!”

“Oh, isn’t that wonderful, Ivan Semenovich! It…” Lida exclaimed, but cut herself short when she saw the warning in the geologist’s eyes.

Suddenly Hartak began to speak. This time, in contrast to his earlier timidity, he sounded more self-assured, and Dorbatay listened to him quite attentively.

Hartak, while speaking, gestured toward Lida and Ivan Semenovich, then to something outside the kibitka. Dorbatay was looking at him, his head bent to one side. It was a surprise to see Dorbatay apparently agree with what Hartak was suggesting; he gave a signal, and one of the attendant priests dashed out and soon came back with the swarthy man who had come to the explorers once already with proposals from Dorbatay. The swarthy man bowed low before Dorbatay, listened to some imperious phrases uttered by the chief priest, then turned to the bound strangers and addressed them, speaking suavely and distinctly.

Lida looked at Ivan Semenovich in utter confusion:

“They think we can understand him! But without Dmitro Borisovich we can’t!”

“Hm, Dorbatay reckons we know Greek!”

“But we don’t, we don’t! Oh, what shall we do? I wish we could understand at least some of it!”

Ivan Semenovich said with a sad smile:

“It would be very helpful, of course… But even without understanding a word of what they’re telling us, we can make a good guess. I’m sure it’s some new proposals. Naturally, I can’t say exactly which, but as it happens, we absolutely cannot refuse anything they suggest. We must gain as much time as we possibly can. Do you follow me? Consequently, we must accept their proposals, no matter what.”

“All of their proposals?” Lida asked tremulously.

“Yes, we have to!”

“You really mean we have to accept absolutely anything they might demand of us?” her voice broke as she remembered that Hartak fancied her. Had Ivan Semenovich forgotten about it?

The geologist said firmly:

“Yes, Lida, anything… but only up to a certain point, of course!”

“But how shall we know where to reject them? We can’t speak either Greek or Scythian!”

“We’ll watch all the developments very closely. I repeat, at the moment there’s no other way out. The most important thing for us is to gain some time. Now look at me, and see whether it is noticeable that I don’t understand anything this man is saying.”

With those words, the geologist turned to the swarthy man who had stopped speaking, waiting politely for the strangers to finish their conversation. When the man began to speak again, Ivan Semenovich pretended he was all ears, taking in every word. When he finished speaking, Ivan Semenovich lowered his head pensively as though thinking something over, and then, after some time, gave a nod.

This made a great impression on the Scythians. Dorbatay ran his hand over his mustache in surprise: he had evidently not expected the strangers to accept the proposals so quickly. Hartak, apparently very pleased, addressed Dorbatay again, talking animatedly. Without saying anything, the soothsayer pointed to Lida, and shrugged his shoulders scornfully. Ivan Semenovich leaned closer to the girl and whispered:

“Mind you, you’ll have to agree too if they address you… nod, or something, you know…”

A moment later, the swarthy interpreter having received some additional instructions from Dorbatay, turned to Lida. With a deferential bow, he addressed the girl, pointed to Hartak, and then made a gesture as if to say: there is nothing one can do but accept. And what, indeed, was else could Lida do but submit? Her lips trembled, she nervously squeezed her hands behind her back. She listened to the swarthy man to the end, feigning understanding, and then nodded her head to indicate agreement. Hartak burst into laughter, and this glee made the girl realize that with her nod, she had given her consent to become the fourth wife of this hideous man! As if to give an additional proof, Hartak immediately turned to the soothsayer, bubbling with joy.

Lida lowered her head in helpless resignation. She felt she was about to faint, but the quiet voice of the geologist’s reasoning jolted her into control of herself:

“Lida, don’t take it so hard. It’s a long way from your non-binding consent to the actual transaction.”

“A long way, you say? But do you realize what I have given my consent to?” Lida cried out in almost total despair.

“Yes, I do. I realize and I understand. But don’t worry so much. Nothing of the sort will happen, and, in fact, it can’t happen at the moment. But your consent will give us more time and a chance for our friends to free us.”

“And what if Hartak takes me to his kibitka this very moment? What then? What will become of me? What am I going to do then?”

Lida was on the verge of tears. Ivan Semenovich tried to reassure her, making his words sound as cheerful and convincing as he could:

“But, it cannot happen so quickly, my dear Lida. Don’t forget that Hartak is a chieftain, and his wedding must be a special solemn occasion. And preparations for such a wedding will take a long time. In the meanwhile, Artem and Dmitro Borisovich will not remain idle. I’m sure…”

Though Lida realized there was no other way out, she could not suppress her revulsion. Ivan Semenovich sounded very reassuring, but there was no way of knowing what Dorbatay and Hartak would think of next! How she wished Hartak had never laid eyes on her! Were they going to talk to her again? Again demanding her consent to something else now? No, she couldn’t take any more!