Kitabı oku: «The Bee Keeper's Daughter. Kingdom of Meridian. Vol 1.», sayfa 3
One of the boys pushed his bowl toward her and waited as he watched her. Maria felt excited, it was the first sign of communicating with them. She reached for a knife and scraped the cinnamon flakes into the bowl.
«Spacibo,» he said softly as he began to eat again.
«Pozhalysta,» Maria giggled as she brushed her hand over his head.
Maria stood and remembered she had not put any honey in the oatmeal. She looked around the kitchen and spotted a small ceramic pot sitting by the stove. She returned to the children’s table and taunted them playfully, «I don’t suppose anyone here likes honey?» she said.
All three children stopped eating and pushed their bowls forward immediately.
Maria giggled as she removed the top of the jar and lifted the wooden comb spoon inside as the honey dripped slowly from the combs. «Oh look how dark it is, this is the best honey!» She said as she drizzled some on each child’s oatmeal.
The children smiled and happily began mixing the honey into their oatmeal, continuing to devour it.
Maria reached for a bowl and set with the children while she ate her breakfast. She began to realize these children were probably born in this Tavern, not knowing who their father might be. It was such a different existence than what she had known growing up on a farm. She could not imagine what her life would have been like without her father. And at that moment she felt the cold reality sweeping over, that now she would be as these children were now, facing a life without the protection and care she had lost in Rostov. She looked at their innocent faces and quickly wiped her tears away, repeating to herself to focus on moving forward.
There was a knock at the front door as Tanya went to see who it was. She returned with Sergei, who looked like he was in a hurry to leave. His eyes were wide, and he stood as near the door as possible.
The ladies offered him breakfast, but he refused quickly.
«Are we going to miss the boat?» asked Maria as she stood, preparing to leave.
«Net, we have enough time, but if any of my wife’s friends see me here, I will be a dead man in the morning,» Sergei said in a nervous tone.
Oksana and Tanya burst into laughter as Maria smiled and turned to say goodbye.
«Thank you for your hospitality and kindness, I appreciate everything you have done for me,» Maria said as she picked up her things.
Oxana noticed her linen wrapped around Maria’s things. «Wait, I have a sack here…» she said sifting through her potato bin, «It’s not fancy, but it’s clean.»
Maria smiled, delighted to have the white linen sack to carry her belongings in. Everything fit perfectly, and the cinch cord made it easier to carry.
«Poka detii,» she said sweetly to the children as they looked up at her, not understanding why she was leaving so soon.
Maria and Sergei walked towards the door as Oxana followed them.
«Oksana will you please tell my cousin Dima that I have left for Neva and will wait for my mother there?» Maria asked.
«Of course, he should be here at the same time next week,» Oksana replied.
«Meanwhile, he handed me this before he left. I believe it’s for… the unexpected» Oksana whispered without Sergei hearing as she placed a bag of coins in Maria’s hand. «No reason for anyone to know you have that, dear.»
Maria smiled and nodded, understanding Oksana’s advice as she carefully hid the bag of coins in the potato sack.
Dima opened the door and walked outside onto the porch as Maria followed. Suddenly the little boy she had given the cinnamon to ran onto the porch and wrapped his arms around Maria’s waist. He did not say a word, he only held her tightly for a moment then ran back inside. Maria only had a moment to pat his head before he was gone. She looked toward Oksana in astonishment.
«They don’t get treated very kindly in this town, thank you for making them feel special,» Oksana said with a quivering voice.
Maria hugged Oxana and felt the warmth of her heart.
«You know, there is a place like this in my town, and I thought the people there were so…» Maria began.
Oxana stopped her and smiled, «Nothing in life is as it seems dear. God speed you on your way.»
Oksana turned and quickly walked inside, clearly feeling the emotions of the moment.
Maria watched as the door closed, and she realized how much she had learned about life, people and even herself in this unassuming little tavern. She wished she could have stayed longer but accepted that her journey must continue.
Maria continued with Sergei down the street where a carriage was waiting.
«We have to board a ship on the other side of the harbor where the Tatars control the ships. It’s likely they are looking for you from what I was told, so… put this on, you’re my wife if anyone asks.» Sergei said as he handed Maria a kerchief while they climbed aboard the carriage.
The streets of Yaroslavl were quite different from Rostov. Maria admired the larger buildings and smooth streets. The energy was different in the city, there seems to be more possibility for a future life. She began to imagine how Neva must be even more impressive and have even more to offer.
Sergei handed Maria a small bag of coins, «Dima said these are for expenses.»
Maria nodded in confusion. Why would he give money to Sergei and Oxana for the same reason? Then she remembered when her cousin had paid Oxana for her stay in the Tavern. She realized Oksana had chosen to give the money to her instead. She remembered back in the tavern, and how Oxana had taken risks to help her. In a world where the rich exploited the innocent, she had experienced generosity and kindness from those with the least to share and most to lose.
Kupala
The carriage slowed to a stop as it pulled alongside a large single sail ship, tied to the dock in Yaroslavl. There were pockets in the sides where boat oars could be extended, and each board of the vessel was glued together with an acrid black tar. The ship was taking on cargo, as barrel after barrel was rolled up a plank on the side. The name Kupala was carved into the forward side and across the back in large letters. Maria recognized the name from mythical stories she had heard as a child. Each summer there were festivals where maidens engaged in rituals with flowers and water celebrating traditions in the name of Kupala, but Maria’s parents were Christian and forbid her from taking part in such things.
Maria exited the carriage and looked up to admire the overwhelming size of the Volga River. It seemed more like a sea compared to the river she knew in her small town. With each day since her escape from Rostov, the world had become a much larger place, and she was both terrified and intrigued to discover more.
Sergei boarded the ship and spoke with the quartermaster about their travel arrangements. From the dock, Maria could hear some shouting and arguments, but this was typical negotiation tactics in Russia. As she looked around taking in all of the sites, a large group of men walked by her to board the ship. They were poorly dressed and smelled of alcohol but walked like kings of their own world inside an entourage of sweat and muscle.
Sergei returned with a discouraged face that he tried to hide as he explained the situation to Maria. «There is not enough for both of us to take this trip, so you will have to go without me.» He said in a slight whisper, keeping his back to the ship. «I told this man that you knew your way around the ship and would be okay without an escort. Can you go alone?»
Maria’s hand slid towards her pocket, thinking to offer the money Oksana had given her earlier. But something in the back of her mind told her to go on without Sergei.
«As long as this ship will take me to Neva, I will be fine,» Maria said as she reached for her sack of belongings.
Sergei seemed very relieved, «The quartermaster is a good man, he will keep an eye on you. Meanwhile, I’ll explain everything to your brother when he returns next week.» He said with a smile.
As they walked towards the gangplank, Sergei’s voice lowered once again as he whispered, «There are all sorts of people on these ships, criminals, slaves even spies. Do not trust anyone, and sleep with this in your hand.» He said cautiously as he placed a palm-sized knife between her fingers.
Maria quickly hid the knife in her pocket and thanked Sergei for his help. «I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, now go and be with your dear wife, she is lucky to have such a devoted man,» Maria said as she began to board the ship.
Sergei watched as Maria found her place on the deck. He marveled at her maturity and character as he was accustomed to the cavalier and insatiable personalities of city women, but this young farm girl seemed wise beyond her years. With intense regret he turned back to the carriage, watching this charming lady fend for herself on an unknown journey.
Maria looked around, taking a long silent view of the Volga River; the view was breathtaking in the morning air. She felt the boards beneath her feet creaking and bumping as men below worked and prepared the ship to get underway. She recognized the boisterous language and tone of the workers who had passed her earlier on the dock. These were the oarsmen who would row the ship to its destination. She found it hard to imagine such an existence and wondered how anyone could live such a life.
A few more passengers boarded the ship as the ropes were being untied. The ship gently floated away from the dock as the creak and splash of the oars began their rhythm to and fro taking the vessel northward. Soon the dock was a small detail on the rear horizon as scenes along the river rolled by. A cold breeze blew from the South filling the large square sail entirely until it whistled at the edges.
The cold air quickly chilled Maria’s body as it blew through the open weave of her dress. She saw a portal inside and decided to seek warmth inside of the ship. Her curiosity was peaked, she wanted to explore rest of the ship and find where she would be spending her nights. She had never slept in a cabin on a ship, and her mind began to imagine a spacious room with a window and comfortable bed. She saw the quartermaster directing everyone in different directions; each person seemed to be going the wrong way or had a complaint about their assigned place.
«Excuse me, sir, can you tell me where I will be sleeping tonight,» Maria said gently.
The quartermaster turned to answer her as if he were annoyed by yet another question, but he saw the innocence of her big grey eyes and hesitated to answer. His demeanor changed as he smiled, «Young miss, you’ll be sharing the forward cabin with our cook. We’ve no steerage for young ladies, and I can’t put you on the deck with the crew. Just walk straight down this way to the door at the end». He said.
«And may I also have a room, kind sir?» Teased an oarsman, faking a woman’s voice
The quartermaster quickly returned to his coarse nature and barked at the man, «Get your gear stowed below and get to your post! He said as he pushed the man to the stairwell.
Maria giggled quietly, enjoying the kind attention she had not expected. She walked toward the cabin, keeping her hands along the walls to balance as the ship rocked from left to right. It was an unpleasant almost sickening sensation to have such sway in each step. The massive Volga was clearly not as gentle as the river she had just traveled the day before.
As she reached for the door she feared for the worst of characters, she imagined a fat old man keeping her awake all night with snoring. «Why would they put me in a room with a man?» She wondered in protest.
She took her hand away from the doorknob and decided to knock softly before opening the door. Hearing no response, she felt relieved and opened the door, trying to keep from stumbling in as she made an effort to walk and enter as the ship swayed sharply to one side. At the corner of the room, a naked petite woman stood bent over a wash pan with her hair dipped in the water. She was wrapping her hair in a towel and quickly looked up, sensing the open door and shouted at Maria,
«Close the door!» the woman snapped.
Maria stepped inside and immediately closed the door. «Sorry! I’m looking for the cook’s cabin.» Maria said awkwardly. «He said it was this way, and I must’ve opened the wrong door.»
The woman fixed the towel over her head and comfortably walked about the cabin as the light from the forward window cast a shadow on her nude figure. She had a slim hourglass figure with full breasts, warm brown eyes, and long chestnut hair. She moved in a hurried pace as if she had to be somewhere else at any moment.
«Relax, you’re in the right place, I’m the cook, Svetlana Nikolayevna.» She said, extending her hand generously.
Maria hesitated to extend her hand and tried to avert her eyes feeling embarrassed by Svetlana’s nude body.
Svetlana’s brown eyes looked down and realized her appearance, «Oh, sorry, not used to having guests on voyages. Most of the crew prefer me this way.» She said with a loud laugh. Sveta’s bright smile was contagious, her teeth looked almost childlike, white and perfectly straight.
Maria smiled and continued to look down at the floor, «It’s pleasant to meet you Sveta, I am Maria Alexandrova.»
The two made brief eye contact and stood in the middle of the room with awkward silence around them.
«Right,» said Sveta, as she reached for her dress. She turned her back to Maria as she pulled it over her head.
Maria’s eyes quickly looked noticing how different Sveta’s body looked compared to her own. As the dress cascaded down Sveta’s back, the curves of her body intrigued Maria. The graceful way her body curved sinuously inward to her waist, then extend outward to her hips. Her skin was smooth and toned with tan and white where her clothing had been. She had bruises and scratches that seemed to tell a story of her hard life as a cook on a ship. Maria felt an awkward interest to see the rest of Sveta’s body in more detail but looked away before Sveta turned around.
«I thought the cooks were men on these ships?» Maria asked politely.
«They usually are, but my father died with debts to the ship’s captain so it was either take his place or watch them put my mother and me on the street,» Sveta replied in a neutral tone. «Besides a kholops life isn’t so terrible compared to the nunnery!»
Maria quickly understood the situation and stopped asking questions. She pointed to an empty bunk and waited for Sveta to nod in agreement that she could sleep there. Sveta nodded and continued preparing herself.
Maria moved to sit on the bunk and fell onto it as the ship rocked more intensely with the wind and waves.
«That wind is a blessing and a curse on the river; it speeds up the ship then shakes you all about,» Sveta said as she finished dressing and walked toward the door. «I’ve got to go get started on lunch. Welcome aboard Maria!» Sveta said while closing the door behind her.
Maria looked around the cabin as she sat on the bed. It was very different than she imagined but it was warm, safe and moving toward Neva. She noticed Sveta did not have many dresses or personal things, some of the clothing scattered around the room looked like it belonged to a man rather than a woman.
«Perhaps she is the only woman on the ship, and with so many men, I can’t imagine how much attention she gets!» Maria thought as her mind blended the scenes she had seen in the tavern and the site of seeing Sveta naked just moments before.
As the ship continued to lift and drop into the water, Maria felt an overwhelming sickness come over her. It was as if she had consumed a dozen green apples and now they took their toll. She laid down and hoped the feeling would go away. She soon fell asleep in a state of bilious confusion.
Hours later the waters calmed, and she awoke in a disoriented haze, forgetting momentarily that she was no longer in her familiar bed at home, but on a ship cutting its way North on the Volga River. Maria retraced her steps back to the top deck, where the quartermaster and crew were organizing barrels along the walkway.
«These get taken off at the next port» shouted the quartermaster. «Make sure they are secured. Then let’s get the other one’s below to make more room for the crew to sleep.»
Maria saw the men were carrying the barrels toward her as she stood at the top of the stairs leading below. She quickly went back down the staircase and went in search of the kitchen. She made her way below another deck and followed the smell of food and sounds of cooking.
Sveta noticed her and immediately offered her a bowl of soup, «There’s my cabin mate!» She said in a joyous tone. «Gospodi, you’re green! Is this your first time on the river?» Sveta teased as others laughed.
«First time on the Volga,» Maria murmured as she looked at the soup rocking back and forth in her bowl.
«Take some bread, it will help until you get your sea legs,» Sveta said as she handed Maria a small loaf.
Maria sat at a table, dipping the bread in her soup. She slowly felt better with a full stomach. She noticed the other passengers, some were eating, others were merchants accompanying their cargo to various ports on the River. For them, this was just another day of work, but for Maria every detail of the ship and people were new.
She took her bowl back to Sveta and tried to wash it, but Sveta brushed her aside.
«Will you replace me?» Sveta teased. «They have cleared the main deck. You can go up and see some of the villages along the river if you like.» Sveta said as she began to clean a pile of bowls and pans.
Maria smiled and nodded in agreement. She headed to the top deck and found a comfortable space near the front to look out, watching one group of homes after another roll by on the banks of the river. Each village was unique, some larger and some quite small.
«How many lives, and how many stories each place must have.» Maria thought.
The afternoon sun painted the landscape as each new village came into view. A dock with many ships, a quiet inlet leading to a distant village, the trail of chimney smoke tracing a path to a port side tavern. Maria imagined her life if she were to step off the boat and begin a life at this place or the next. With each new scene, she realized her life had become a random direction on an unknown path, but it also felt free with unlimited possibilities. She braided her hair to keep it out of the wind and dreamed of her future life in Neva.
Hours passed, and the smell of the evening’s meal began to drift from below the deck. Several passengers and crew went below, but Maria felt content to remain and think about her father. She hoped to light a candle for him as soon and also imagined her mother making her way toward Neva at the same time.
«Perhaps she is one ship ahead of me or took a different route by land through Moscow.» She thought.
The wind grew cold as the sun began to set on the Volga. The river was endless, each turn revealed another long stretch of waves and life along the bank. Maria cradled her arms around herself, wishing she had a coat. She looked back across the empty deck as she headed toward the stairs leading below deck.
A man stood at the bottom of the stairs and waited for her to complete her steps before walking upward. He had dark hair and green eyes with a serious face. She stepped off the staircase and looked at him with a nod of appreciation for waiting.
He smiled in return, and his face seemed to completely change. It was as if he was a different person when he smiled. Maria’s eyes followed him as he walked past and climbed to the top deck. He had masculine features, his hands were thick from hard work, and his shoulders pushed against his clothing as he moved.
She found herself taking in each detail of his body, as he walked out of sight. Her sudden fascination puzzled her.
«Why am I looking so much at women and men?» she wondered.
She did not feel she needed more to eat, so she returned to her cabin. The few clothes she had were all dirty, so she decided to clean everything while she had the room to herself. She found a wash basin and made use of the water and soap left in view by Sveta.
The cold water made her hands ache as she twisted and squeezed the cloth. She took off her dress, and undergarments one by one until everything was washed and hanging on any available surface in the cabin.
She set the washtub aside, knowing she could not empty it without something to wear. Then she slipped into the bed to keep warm. The feeling of her naked skin sliding between the cold sheets gave her a boost of energy that faded as she grew warmer. She was soon asleep, as the remaining sunlight faded orange to black through the window.
