Page 77 of Tiger's Trek
“Cool off? But it’s cooler in the house.”
“Just go. I’ll be in soon.”
Veru shrugged and moved past him to enter the house. To say she was shocked at the transformation was an understatement. He certainly had been busy. The stone fireplace had been cleaned to the point that it looked almost new. The grate and tools gleamed as if they had just been polished. The stones were no longer black but a light gray, and the heavy mantel was stained and glistened in the light of a new fire.
The tables, chairs, and floors had been cleaned, repaired, sanded, and oiled. Where there had once been water damage and rot, she saw new boards and a white coat of chinking sealant. She didn’t understand how he could have accomplished so much while she had been outside. Such a great deal of work should have taken him weeks.
Veru went to the little door and opened it. “Danik?” she called out, searching for him in the dimming light.
“I’m here,” he replied.
“How did you do so much in one day?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. It was like the house wanted to be clean. It helped me. At least, I think it did. Anyway, nothing new for supper tonight. I scraped up the rest of the porridge and already ate my share. Left the rest in the bowl for you.”
“That’s okay. I brought in a few baskets of things the villagers gave me. The cow is tied up outside. I gave her the hay. The chickens and ducks are grazing on the lawn. There might be eggs in the morning.”
“That’s fine. Let’s put the rest in our bags. The house wouldn’t let me bring in more than one log today. I think it’s trying to tell me something.”
Veru agreed, and they stuffed their bags full, each eating a few pieces of fruit and feeding Maxsim some dried jerky. They had just laid down to sleep when the locked door blew open with a bang, and Yuga entered carrying her large stone pot and stomping on the newly cleaned floor with her muddy boots. The winter wind outside blew in wet snow that melted in puddles around her feet.
Lifting her long nose in the air, she inhaled deeply and clicked her tongue with great dissatisfaction. “The two of you are still alive? How is that possible? What’s more”—she ran a finger down the length of her table and rubbed her thumb over it, sniffing carefully—“how were you two able to clean this place?”
Yuga thrust her heavy bowl onto the table, scratching its surface and making Danik wince at seeing his newly repaired work abused. “Max!” she bellowed. “What have you done? You traitorous feline! I’ll teach you to offer aid in my absence. You know better than that. Cheating is what it is.”
“You want to talk about cheating?” Veru stood and accused. “You left us without food and water. You locked us in the house where we couldn’t even get outside to retrieve firewood. You’re lucky we aren’t dead.”
“No.You’relucky you aren’t dead. Speaking of that, where exactlydidthe two of you get the firewood to warm yourselves? Did you break all my furniture and burn it? Others have done that before you. There’s a price to pay for that, I’ll have you know.”
“We didn’t break your furniture, Babushka,” Danik said. “You’ll find it all here. And I’ll thank you to be taking better care of it. Spent all my time restoring it for you, and I’d like it to stay in nice condition, if you don’t mind.”
The old woman narrowed her eyes and stalked over to every table, chair, and cabinet, running her hands over each one and mumbling to herself as she did. There was a meow, and Maxsim leaped up onto the table next to her. She grabbed him then and felt his stomach. “He’s fat! You’ve been feeding him more than bones, haven’t you?” she accused.
“You did say he feeds himself by hunting rodents. Didn’t you?” Veru asked innocently.
“Hmph,” Yuga replied as she pushed the cat away from her. Max walked over to Veru and jumped up on her lap, kneaded her with his paws, and turned in a circle, then lay down and began purring.
“Come now, Babushka,” Danik said in a soothing tone. “You’ve had a long trip. Why don’t I play some music while you settle in and we’ll all sleep. Then, when you wake in the morning, you’ll feel much better. I promise.”
“Very well, boy,” Yuga said. “Play me a song, and tomorrow we’ll discuss the payment for your stay.”
Danik and Veru gave each other a meaningful look—one that said they both knew they’d been lucky, and they’d better keep quiet about how the house had helped them—then Danik pulled out his domra and began to finger the strings. He played random tunes for a time but didn’t add his voice until Yuga climbed into bed. When he began to sing, Veru was surprised, since it was a song she hadn’t heard before.
Fading Embers
In the shadows of my memory,
I can feel your soul so clearly.
But the warmth has now gone cold,
like a story left untold.
Every touch and word we share,
echoes of a love declared.
If I spark, ignite this flame.
