- And now what i can do?

- Mda-ah. Trouble

My wife and I stood in complete confusion in front of the charred remains of a wooden bridge. Mudwalker River by its appearance fully justified its name, and in this situation was an insurmountable obstacle. The recent heavy rains turned it into a fast muddy stream, and it was out of the question to sail or ford.

- You said that Sevka passed here in the spring!

- Passed. You see that the little heads are fresh at all. He recently burned out. Maybe lightning struck ...

- Is there another bridge?

- I do not know. We always went only on this route. Right now, I'll look at the map. Catch a backpack, rest for now.

I also got rid of a heavy burden and took out a card from my bosom. Masha joined up next and also went deep into the study.

- And here we will not pass ?, - she jabbed at the image of a ford, 3 kilometers to the west.

- He is no longer used. Everything was swamped there - no getting around. Drown ... Look, it is better to move east. See?

“Maslaevka,” the wife read the name, “do you think someone lives there?”

- Even if not, you can spend the night there. In some abandoned house.

- If all of them were not burned or they were not dismantled for firewood.

- But there is a chance that people stayed. So, the boat can be obtained.

- What the fuck boat! We passed 2 villages, did you see the boats there? Grandmas old, but bukhariki alone.

- Why are you such a pessimist? Everything will be fine! Boats will not be - in the house we spend the night. There will be no house - we will put up a tent! And in the morning, rested, we will reach Uyarovka. There is a bridge there. Then by fields and by dinner we will be on the lake! Well you yourself wanted to adventure?

- I wanted to swim in our lake tonight. Naked! - She mischievously poked me in the side.

- Heck! I went to build a raft for such a thing!

Masha laughed and pecked me on the cheek.

- Okay, let's go to your Maslayevka. Before dark, you have time to catch it.

We again loaded our luggage and moved along the river to the east.

We saw the village from afar, when we went up to the next hill. Several dark houses lined up on the high bank of the Muddy. To our joy, a light burned in one of the huts, and a thin stream of smoke curled from the chimney. Speeding step, after 10 minutes we were in the village.

Near it looked not so picturesque. The houses were old, rickety and obviously abandoned. Around reigned desolation and devastation. The only habitable dwelling was on the far edge of the village. Approaching the fence, I shouted loudly:

- Host-aeva-a! Is there anyone alive?

No one responded. After waiting a couple of minutes, Masha suggested:

- Can old people live? Do not hear? Come, knock on the window ...

After removing the backpack and leaving it at the fence, I opened the curved gate and entered the courtyard. He went to the lighted window and knocked. The house finally showed signs of life. Something fell inside, and after a few seconds the curtain opened and a wrinkled old woman appeared in the window. Grandma expressively stared at me with black deep-set eyes from under thick gray eyebrows. Her gaze was not scared, not questionable. He was evaluating, and from this look on my body goose bumps involuntarily ran.

- Hello, - loudly, but peacefully said Masha behind my back, - We are tourists. On Crystal went, but there the bridge burned down at the Cow hole. You...

Grandma did not hear out and disappeared from sight. But a minute later, the door on the porch creaked, and the stooped hostess came out into our yard.

“This is a thunderstorm,” she said with a toothless mouth, “it burned very hard. From here it was.

- We understood that, - the wife entered into negotiations, - I had to go round. Do you live alone here? In the village?

- Not one, but - grandma said funny highlighting the "a" and "o", - with a cat we mulberries. Rumbles somewhere mischief! Did not see?

- Not. And what is the name of the cat?

- I bail - Kitty.

- Kitty "Kitty", - I laughed, but the old woman gave me such a piercing look that made me fail.

- And you tama on Crystal?

“We are tourists,” repeated the wife, “the 5th year we go there with my husband. Every summer. Beautiful there, nature, lake ...

- Yeah. Basco! She was younger, they also ran there with girls ... But only the bridge burned out there just now. Lightning. Shibko blazed !, - grandma began to repeat.

“Grandma, aren't there boats in the village?” I interrupted.

- Otkel? Nikifor lived, fished, he had a boat. But died lona. The river began to sweat, crushed Evon dolbus. There is no boat.

- It's a pity. And in Uyarovka bridge is?

- It is, it is, little children. Chavo with him down. Only far from it. Miles ten tea.

- Yes, we know, - said Masha, - and spend the night where you can?

- Yes, wherever you want. Izbu any choose. Or a stoker on Ugor spravnaya There you can. Only to myself, I, dear, I will not let you go. Do not be angry. We live with Kotik alone. Alone.

- No no. We do not ask, grandmother! They saw a nice house on the other side. There you can?

- This is Nikifor izba. He died. Bad place there. Thin. Do not be there.

- Why is it bad ?, I became interested

- Demons there! Nicephorus welcomed them. Onex evo and killed, cursed.

It was already interesting. My wife and I looked at each other, and in her eyes in her eyes I realized that she, too, immediately wanted to stop there. I even imagined how she would then be excited to tell her friends about spending the night in a house full of evil spirits.

“And what are these demons doing there?”

- Unlive. And what should they do?

- In the sense of "nezhivut"?

- Live alive. And STE - undead, nezhivet znachitstsa! You do not need to puddle.

- Yes, we would not have gone, grandmother, - Masha entered, - simply there is the only house where the windows are intact. Or still have?

- Nest. Were just here too ... tourists. All the glasses are broken, Herods. Nikifor was not touched. Demons his harrow.

- And what are they? These demons?

- Demons - Onet and there are demons. Various.

- Scary ?, - Masha did not quit.

- For someone like, daughter. Those who are strong in spirit, they themselves are pushed. And who is weak ... your husband is not afraid of ONET, I see. But you daughter - is weak in spirit, weak ... Baptized?

- Yes, why?

- Do not you go there. You do not believe!

- So I am with my husband! Protect the defender. Yes, and we are not afraid.

- Well ... Tady pray, pullet. Pray all night. Maybe a blowjob.

- What a blowjob then?

- I'm tired. Old I'll go. I told mine. Do not make noise current. And do not take anything from there!

She turned around and, sighing and mumbling slurredly, she stumbled into the house. Masha and I looked at each other and laughed together.

- Well? Call devils ?, I asked cheerfully.

- Come on of course! Not a draft to sleep! Do you know prayers?

- Our Father, who is your name in heaven ... No! I do not remember further. And here's another: bread I am. Amen! Everything!

- Off! You will guard me. The main thing - do not forget about “bread I am I”!

We picked up the backpacks and in joyful excitement went to the house of Nikifor. The house was in good condition. Windows, doors - intact. All the decoration is in place: dishes, buckets, simple furniture. We accommodated in comfort. They disdained to lie on the bed: suddenly it was on her that Nikifor had reposed. Instead, they gathered all the rugs and laid them out in the middle of the room in several layers. It turned out luxurious soft bed. Masha even found relatively clean sheets in the dresser. Meticulously studied them, but still did not dare to lay the bed. Decided to do a sleeping bag. Before going to bed, they had a little snack and, despite the early hour, they decided to go to bed.

I slept badly. All night long I was disturbed by some squeaks and rustles that filled the old house. I knew with my mind that most likely these were just sounds of cracking wood and a mouse, but it was still creepy. Still, the old hag deeply alarmed me with its demons. But Mashka drifted serenely, as if proving that grandma was wrong. It is she who is strong in spirit, not me. I do not remember what time I turned off, but it seemed to be asleep for just a minute. Wife unceremoniously shook ...