“You just know that you are bashing with a stick,” Chris got out from under the blanket.

There was no man in the whole world happier than Benjamin North. Today he learned that his young beautiful wife, Louise, was relieved by a wonderful baby.

- A son! Mr. North, you have a son! - choking with happiness, screamed Molly, the North neighbor, - You now have an heir!

Captain North flew home, as on the wings, letting his horse gallop. He had already imagined how he would take the child in his arms, how he would squeeze him to the heart. How long have they been waiting for this day! Five whole years! To which only healers were not addressed, but they only shrugged helplessly and confusedly averted their eyes to the side. How many tears shed Louise, begging her husband for forgiveness. But what could she do against Mother Nature?

And this day has come! The captain, throwing the reins of the stableman, flew into the house like a bullet and stopped confused. He was alarmed by incomprehensible bustle in the house. But suddenly the bedroom door opened, and an old man appeared in a rumpled coat, over which a long white apron was put on. It was Dr. Samuel Shore, one of the most famous healers of the city and a neighbor of the North.

“Be brave, my friend,” he said sadly, taking Benjamin by the elbow, “Childbirth was difficult.” Your wife is exhausted. In addition, internal bleeding has opened. But let's hope for the best. Louise is a strong woman. Need time.

“What are you talking about, doctor?” - North did not understand, - And what about the child? Is he alive

“Oh, do not worry,” Samuel sprained his lips in a forced smile, “Everything is fine with the boy.”

But, despite all the efforts of doctors, Louise did not get better, and a few days later the young woman passed away. Kneeling in front of a lifeless body, North swore that he would never marry again, but would remain faithful to his first and only love.

Chris grew up as a sickly weak child, which caused his father a lot of disappointment. One day, while sitting in one of the port taverns with his combat friend over a bottle of rum, the captain sighed bitterly, draining another glass.

- What's up, captain? - Sergeant Seleni was on the alert, - Is trouble at home again?

“I don’t know what to do,” North sighed, “Chris is sick again.” Dr. Shore does not leave him for a minute, but there is no improvement. If he ...

“Well, well, old chap,” Eloise patted him on the shoulder, “With God's help everything will be fine.” Let's have a drink.

After they had emptied their glasses, Selen, having filled his huge pipe, began slowly:

“You're familiar with our colonel’s daughter, aren't you?”

“Saira?” - the captain started up, - No, no! I gave the floor to Louise that more ...

“I know,” Eloise reassured him, “I meant something completely different.”

- What exactly?

- Sayra was also born a weak and unsightly girl. And what beauty has turned into? And that is not all.

- What do you mean? - I did not understand North.

“Now you will understand everything,” Selen assured him. “The fact is that the colonel hired a strange little man to his house. This guy has the secrets of healing and strengthening the body better than all our doctors combined. In a very short time, he made an absurd and weak girl, who was Sayra, made of her not only a healthy and beautiful girl, but also taught her some little things that now all the bastards of the city pass by her side, and those who did not hide, take off his hat and bow out, as before the queen.

- So what? - Benjamin wrinkled his forehead.

“But why?” Selen splashed rum into his glass. “I will bring it to you tomorrow evening.” But with only one condition - do not bury and do not go into the bottle. He's a strange guy, but he knows his business.

Chris, dressed in something remotely resembling his pajamas, was walking down the corridor to the backyard, where, under Saburo's supervision, he did daily gymnastics with a very funny name, U-Shu.When the boy first saw that the teacher was getting up in the yard, he was taken apart by frank laughter. Could the boy then have imagined that the very next day, he himself would be engaged in this gymnastics, which for many years would accompany him everywhere, wherever fate would throw.

Hour classes flew like one moment. Today Saburo was particularly picky about his pupil. After washing with cold well water and rubbing with special towels, the tutor announced that after breakfast they would engage in self-defense. Chris was always waiting for these classes with impatience and was ready for them.

A young, mulatto slave girl, dressed in a long dress and a snow-white apron, put a bowl of oatmeal in front of the young man and a glass of warmed goat milk. This diet was recommended by Saburo, somehow ornately explaining the usefulness and effectiveness of these simple products to a young growing organism.

“Thank you, Zizi,” Chris smiled, gently touching the girl’s dark hand.

“To your health, young master,” the slave sat down in a beautiful curtsy. “Eat, or else it will cool, master.”

The young man caught on himself the approving look of the tutor and smiled. He suddenly remembered one incident that happened some time ago.

Once, when my father was not at home, Chris, passing by the kitchen, saw Zizi standing over a basin of water and washing dishes. Sneaking up behind her silently, he strongly pulled the slave by a lock of hair. The girl cried out loudly in surprise and pain and dropped the plate. That, hitting the edge of the pelvis, scattered into small pieces. Zizi whined and buried her face in her apron. The young man laughed, but he heard the voice of Saburo behind his back:

- Ah-ah-ah, young lord! Do not be ashamed to offend a defenseless girl?

“This is just a slave,” Chris answered indifferently.

- Well, yes, - Saburo beckoned the boy to his finger, - Come with me.

Having brought him out of the kitchen, the tutor put the kid on a chair, and he stood in front of him.

“You acted like the last coward,” said Saburo sadly, “You hurt a girl who can't answer you.” So real samurai do not do.

“We are not in your homeland,” Chris snapped.

“There is no homeland for a samurai,” said the teacher instructively, “the samurai serves his master.” But he never offends the weak. Because the samurai is a man. And you will never become a man. You grow up a coward and a traitor. Because all the traitors began with the fact that they hurt the weak.

“No, I will not be a traitor,” exclaimed the young man.

“You will,” answered Saburo confidently, “You have already set foot on this path.” Believe me.

Chris sat silently for a few minutes and looked into the corner. From the kitchen came the quiet cry of Zizi. Shaking his head, he got up from his chair and walked over to the teacher.

“Saburo-san,” the boy said almost in a whisper, “What should I do now?”

“Well, if I were you, I would go and apologize to Zizi,” Saburo said thoughtfully.

- How to apologize? - Chris's eyes widened.

- That's your business, - the teacher smiled imperceptibly, - After all, when you wanted to pull the slave by the hair, you didn’t ask how it is done? For their actions must be answered. Think. And think about what to tell your father about the broken plate. After all, the girl will be punished for her.

The boy scratched his chin just like his father, and with a decisive step went to the kitchen. Approaching the girl, he put his hand on her shoulder and said softly:

- Zizi. I, this ... Well, I ... You forgive me. I promise you that I will never again offend you. I give the word samurai, that is, men. And do not think about the plate. I will tell my father everything in the evening, and he will not punish you.

The mulatto turned to face the young master, and Chris was stunned. The slave's large black eyes glittered with tears. She hugged the boy by the neck and gently kissed his cheek. In obedience to his natural instinct, he stroked the girl's hair and could not resist and smacked her on the forehead.

“I'm not angry, young gentleman,” she whispered to Chris in her ear. “Only you don’t do that anymore.” And then I perekolochu all the dishes.

They ... Read more →