Bright as gold, ruddy rays of the morning sun made their way through the window of a small hut. Lighting up the room; filled with knick-knacks and tools scattered all over the room, large winter boots with wooden soles resting on an old cracked bucket, fishing tackle with a fishing rod in the corner of the room and a bookcase filled with numerous books and maps bulging between the binding covers, stuffing from the spines of large writings .
But most of all, a huge bed on a stone slab stood out, located in the middle of the room, in which, under a wolf skin, lay a young boy, eight or nine years old. With silver-blonde hair tied in a bun, with a neat nose and a small scar on the lower part of the lip. Wrapping his arms around a beige blanket, he enjoys a sweet dream.
Sleeping on soft sheepskin; the leaves of the tree developed behind the glass from gusts of wind, causing dozens of sunbeams to twinkle in the chambers. Flashing on the boy's face the sun's rays; forced the young man to slightly open his eyelids, waking up from a charming slumber, his eyes were directed towards the window frame. Crystal clear grey eyes with a marsh tint; they looked at the swaying branches of the mountain ash, on which sat a Magpie, graceful in its appearance, with a white breast and purple plumage, pecking at berries from a twig hanging from above.
The boy got up from the bed, put on a cotton shirt, brown boots with slightly rumpled pants, and stomped a little swaying, towards the table on which stood a bowl filled with porridge full of everything possible - the local berries and a jar of honey next to it. Approaching him, noticing a note on which was written
"I went fishing, don't forget to have breakfast"
The young man could not restrain himself, his face not even though broke into a smile, after which he sat down on a stool and began to eat - an airy, fruity breakfast.
At the end of the meal, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief in the reflection of the mirror, before putting on a leather hat, the young man opened the door of the hut, jumping off the vice of the house. A view opened before him, filled with sunny-green flowers of summer trees and Mediterranean varieties of flowers, surrounding a small path towards a birch forest, while in the distance one could see endless fields of grass and not without rocky mountains on the horizon. Slowly walking along the road, with a light gait, chewing a spike of wheat, the kid with an expressive smile walked towards the river to see his beloved old man.
***
In the distance, on an old stump, sat a large man, already aged, with a thick chestnut beard, lightly draped over it with a green hood and a bear's jacket on his shoulders. Sitting at the foot of the river with a bamboo fishing rod in his hands, the old man carefully smoked a tobacco from a chicken pipe, admiring how a flock of swans flies on the horizon - the old man was peacefully waiting for the morning bite.
Seeing a small smoke from the old man's pipe and his long fishing rod, the young man immediately ran in his direction:
- Hey grandpa! Good morning, how is today's catch?? Running towards the river. The boy, with a smirk on his face, waved to his grandfather:
- A? E? What? Who? Waking up from his slumber, the old man even forgot what he was doing, because, unfortunately, the years take their toll, and eyesight is no longer the same:
- So, this, aaaaa grandson good morning to you, how did you sleep? The old man spoke, turning towards the young man, squinting his eyes from the bright light.
- Yes, everything is beautiful! Thanks for asking.
- Listen, today I saw a magpie outside the window, it had a rather rare colour. I think this is North-Radogan, but I'm not sure, after all, I'm not as good as you, grandfather? I remember even confusing boar with beaver (Laughs)! By the way, do we have any plans for tonight? can I go to the village with you, please!!
- Or grandfather, maybe let's go picking berries, now is the time to pick them. Shall we make your signature tincture?
-Grandfather, maybe .. KYA !!!
The kid did not realize that he was already standing next to his old man; which, swinging, cracked the boy on the back of the head, prompting him to immediately sit down from the pain in his head: - Quiet Anu, you'll scare away all the fish! With a rough, heavy voice, the old man grumbled at his tray, moving the pipe from one part of his mouth to another, continuing to look at the endless expanses. Writhing from the grandfather's blow, the kid stood up and, holding back a tear, uttered: - Aaay!? Grandfather Goburin, what are you doing? You are mad, are not you!!
- And there is nothing to shout at the top of your lungs! Boy, don't you see, I'm busy with business. grumbled the old man. With a very touchy face, the boy looked at his grandfather, but after a short sigh:
- I'm sorry grandpa. Slightly indignant at such treatment. The young man sat down next to his grandfather and also began to peer into the landscapes.
- Listen to your grandfather.
- Mmmm? - mumbled the old man, turning to his grandson.
- In fact, I didn't get out of our house anywhere .. what is there?
- With a slightly embarrassed face, the young man asked, as if ashamed of this question. I told you we don't talk about it.
- In a rough voice, the old man pulled on a larger hood, trying to somehow avoid this conversation. - Well, grandfather, I'm no longer a small child to hide something from me, I saw those cards on your shelves, there is a huge world beyond the mountains. Why don't you tell me about him? What are these lands of Aisurando and the kingdom of Ago, the boy insistently uttered. "It's too early for you to get out of the family nest, so for now, the concerns of other kingdoms are not our concern, and you apparently again forgot that the only time you can get out of here is when your brother arrives .." The old man answered in a loud voice.
"It's much safer here, believe me. It'll be better" such thoughts were in the old man's head. Something was holding him back, because of which he could not name the reason why the young man still had to live in his grandfather's house for the time being. Although in fact he was just very worried about him and did not want him to leave him. All the same, over the years, old Goba became very attached to the boy, and he became the only source of happiness in his old life, even though they would part anyway in the near future. Although such zeal of the boy worried a little and in some way frightened Goba, which made him think about many things.
- Oh, grandfather, you are so boring ... if you don't want to, don't say it, I'll find out later - the young man frowned, nervously stomped his right foot, looking into the distance:
- Forgive me, old fool, I know that it worries you, but do you remember what I told you about your brother? Yes, I remember my grandfather. We don't have parents, and he can't look after me at the moment.
- That's right, that's why your brother appointed me as your guardian. Indeed, in the end, external problems should not affect the young boy, who will soon have to celebrate his birthday. With a smile, the old man looked at the young boy, who gazed intently at the horizon:
-Don't worry, everything will be fine, you know that he will come in a year, after all, he promised (Laughs)!!
- Uh-huh - Said a little tired and upset Ketsu.
***
For half an hour or even more, they sat and talked about pressing things, and finally, when the float twitched, the grandfather with a quick reflex pulled out a huge catfish. After that, removing the fish and throwing it into the bucket, the grandfather rolled the coil, placing it next to the fallen tree, and turned towards Ketsu. The young guy sat and looked with delight at the flying birds, carefully reflected in the lenses of his eyes .:
- Oh, what a beauty, if only I could create the same.
As Grandpa looked at him without looking away, a slight smirk appeared on his face.
- There is a time for everything ... (the old man muttered under his nose)
- Ah? Grandpa what are you talking about? have you overheated in the sun? -
not understanding what the grandfather had just said.
- Yes, I'm talking about my own ... Eh, let's go home already ... after all my back already hurts to sit.
- Ah? and yes, okay grandpa, I'll take things.
Jumping up from the log, Ketsu grabbed his fishing gear, and giving his grandfather his cane, helped him stand and walk home while he took the last items. Turning around, he ran after his grandfather.
Walking back along the path, surrounded by birches, Gob and Ketsu, these two people who are related to each other, singing a song, looking forward to today's dinner, catfish roast with smudged marinade. The surprisingly strange taste in food, which may seem like incomprehensible nonsense to most, actually gave the meat a juiciness and flavour that these two know first-hand.
Returning home, the Old Man set about preparing dinner, which in any case will lie until tomorrow for the size of the caught profit, while Ketsu simply sat down to read the book, occasionally looking at the old man who slightly stirred the saturated broth, giving off a sweet aroma to the corner of the room where with knees up sitting on an armchair, the boy was reading a work about the Ash Moth.
' The story of a great Soldier, not God and not the King, but about a simple man who gave many years of his life to the service of the Great Generals and Apostles, fighting side by side with them, and despite all his merits, at the end he was waiting for the fate of an ordinary coward and a traitor who was hung on the world tree, pierced by dozens of swords, all those who once trusted him, so that he would remain hanging in shame, waiting for the end of the world, for the suffering that he brought to the lives of his people.
An ordinary fiction written to scare naughty kids that one day they will end up like him 'Forgotten Heretic', although it seems that this story is fiction and filled with absolute nonsense, But in the eyes of young Ketsu there was a spark of interest in the story of this, Burnt Moth .
***
Despite the fact that the time was already approaching evening, the summer sun was still shining with might and main. While this stubborn lad could read books, taking in information from several pages in one gulp, which, at his age, would have earned many parents a handful of admiration, for his old man it was a heavy burden. Forgetting about his age and health, for many years Grandpa himself endured housework, cooking and working. While Katsu did everything he could to entertain himself and read, very rarely taking the responsibility to do anything.
Ketsu was well aware of his idleness, he had already heard about respect, only the boy, who was closed in himself, had never met other people, was a very weakly characteristic and vulnerable person. Although sometimes trying to take the initiative in simple family matters, his Grandfather always refused to help him with a smile, and he did everything for him. Such an attitude was eating away at Ketsu from the inside, although he could not do anything about it, frowning, already distracted from the book, the guy looked out the window, drifting further into his thoughts.
After a quick lunch, Ketsu and the Old Ones gathered for a daily outing to an old lighthouse that stood on top of a hill a considerable distance from home to light the flames inside the tower. The sink itself, built of stone and already old, rotten wood, miraculously stood still, not looking at the wind that constantly blew it. While Goba climbed up the stairs with a torch for the lighthouse, the Boy remained standing next to the cart harnessed by the Budenny horse, which was quietly waiting for its owner to go to the village. Ketsu, with a slightly sad face, stood next to the horse stroking its mane, with a little jealousy that he would have to stay at home again.
As the two drove home in silence, the sun slowly began to sink behind the mountains, turning the sky an orange hue, heralding the approaching night. Approaching the fork, Goba turned to Ketsu:
- Well, we have arrived, take your bag and go home, I will arrive tomorrow at dawn, see that everything is fine at home.
- Yes, well, Grandpa.
Jumping off the seat, Ketsu walked towards the outline of the house behind the leaves of the trees. While the old man pulled the rope and started off, Ketsu was walking along the road already approaching the front door, but suddenly stopped and turned back, looking at how in the distance the light from the lamp was dying out. Ketsu's hands trembled and pulled out a robe from the bag, threw it on himself saying:
- To hell with it all.
He walked after the wagon leaving into the dusk...