Grasshoppers were chattering everywhere. Wristwatches showed the beginning of the first. Andrei flew over the forest, almost one hour ahead of schedule. Leaving the forest atmosphere and getting out under the scorching sun wanted the least, and besides, there is not much time for snacking. Wrapping his transport on the trunk of a huge elm tree, the traveler threw off his shoulder backpack and took out a prepared can of canned meat and a piece of marching bread, which he baked himself in a small pot on coals. Thickly spreading the stew on bread, he sat down on a low stump near the edge of the forest and began to chew with gusto, inspecting the surroundings. The whole meadow in front was calm.

Not a single blade of grass moved by the wind, and only nimble grasshoppers contributed a little bit of life to this static picture, jumping from the spike to the spikelet. A hot mist floated above the cracked dusty road. With a sad feeling of parting, Andrei again turned his gaze to the forest. Directly opposite it was a small clearing, hidden from the road by a low sprawling linden tree, so that at once he did not notice it. In the depths of his impregnable darkened dark impassable forest. Rising from the ground, Andrei looked into the clearing, finishing his lunch. This place is clearly in demand from residents of nearby villages. The grass was trampled down for a long time and irreparably. As befits the places where a semi-rational person visited, the entire perimeter was covered with cigarette butts and scraps of newspapers. There were several empty vodka bottles and crumpled plastic cups. In different places of the glade there were black traces of fireplaces. The dirty sock, forgotten by someone, peacefully coexisted with the used condom hanging from the leaf of the lily of the valley. And the virgin forest shyly covered this shameful imprint of civilization with a young linden tree. Andrei's mood deteriorated, and he threw the backpack over his shoulders again, intending to continue on his way, when suddenly a slight rustling of bicycle covers was heard from behind. A yellow bicycle with a large nickel-plated basket in front rolled along the forest road directly to it. Two two-liter glass jars with fresh strawberries jingled in the basket, and the same random stranger he had seen recently in the woods was driving.

- Wait! She shouted, noticing that the guy was going to step on the pedals again.

Andrei obediently waited while the woman approached him, gently maneuvering between the tree roots protruding onto the road surface. Her yellow bicycle turned out to be repainted by the Soviet “Dnieper”. A tall frame, clearly not intended for women, pulled the hem of a white dress almost to the very seat, exposing slender tanned legs in worn white sandals.

- Hello! - she lit up with a white-toothed smile, stopping nearby, and throwing her leg over the frame with the skill of an acrobat - “You drive so fast!

- Hello, - Andrew nodded in response, and suddenly realized that he was so unaccustomed to people that he could not even think of what to add to this duty phrase. The woman looked at him with laughing blue eyes with interest.

- I wanted to treat you with strawberries. Yes, go and catch up with these banks! That look broken. And what an interesting bike you have! You are not from these parts?

- Not. I travel, - Andrey smiled too, having felt a kindred soul in this cheerful talkative stranger.

- What do you mean? I wonder how! One?

- One. Sometimes, you know, I want to be alone.

- Oh, how I understand you. Here I am also all alone. And from where and where are you going?

The stranger's narrowed eyes widened significantly when she heard the point of departure of Andrew.

- And what did you come from there by bike? Where did you sleep? How about food? - she continued to pour questions, - It's so far away.

- I have a tent! And you can buy food at any store along the way. In extreme cases, there is canned food.

- How I envy you! - sincere admiration flared up in the eyes of a woman, - I always dreamed that way! Go wherever they look! Do not depend on anyone, without reporting to anyone!

- To do this, sometimes you just need to take the first step.

The woman did not answer, but only once again looked into Andrew’s eyes and smiled sadly:

- My name is Alice! And you?

- Andrew!

- Very nice to meet you, Andrei! So, where do you go further?

“Right down that road.” To the village Dirunovo.

The woman shook her head knowingly.

- Far to go. Yes, even in this heat. And I'm a little closer. I have a cottage here five kilometers away. But we are on the way. Maybe keep me company? If you, of course, do not hurry.

In any other situation, Andrei would have complained about the lack of time and his strict schedule, especially since the companion’s bike was clear: he was not able to develop any tolerable speed on a dirt road. Yes, and these banks! But, something inexplicable inside categorically did not want to part so quickly with the charming companion, and the words broke free before reason intervened in the matter:

- Of course, Alice, it will be more fun together.

- And I think so! - the woman joyfully grabbed the wheel and repeated her acrobatic trick with throwing legs through the bicycle frame, - And on the way I will still treat you to strawberries.

They left the shady forest and slowly set off under the scorching sun into the depths of the meadow tired of the heat. After a brief acquaintance, Andrey had to tell a little about his past life, especially without going into various shameful details. In turn, he also learned something about his companion. Alice was almost six years older than him. In a week, she should be thirty-six, and Andrew had to admit to herself that she looked much younger than her years. At least, he would not give her more than thirty. Perhaps only the cheerful rays of the wrinkles around the eyes showed a little age. Alice also spoke reluctantly and superficially about her past. She lived in Saratov, and here was chosen only in the summer to the country. In the past, she too had to go through a painful divorce and did not want to hear more about marriage. “Or maybe she just didn’t meet her man,” she cast a quick glance at Andrei. They rode the whole three kilometers, and then they still had to go on foot, because it was extremely inconvenient to eat small strawberries, taking them out of a glass jar.

- What are you doing at the cottage? - asked Andrew during the next awkward pause in the conversation, looking askance at his companion, who was busily stepping next to her, holding her huge bicycle behind the wheel.

“Well, there are always enough classes there,” she laughed, “I have a small garden, a house.” Here for strawberries I go around the neighborhood, I collect mushrooms. No business is not necessary to sit.

- And one is not boring?

- Are you not bored alone? - Alice looked at him again with her bottomless blue eyes.

Andrey thoughtfully rubbed his chin.

- You know, no. When I was just going to travel, I thought it would be unbearably difficult. It wants to communicate with people. But in fact, everything turned out to be much simpler. I would even say that in the absence of communication there is a charm.

- Well, I partially agree with you. But, for example, it is very easy and pleasant to communicate with you. I don't even want to part.

The woman smiled nervously. Andrew barely noticeably shrugged, watching out of the corner of his eye, as Alice was impatiently winding a long chestnut curl over her finger. The woman with all her appearance expressed sympathy for her companion and, of course, expected some kind of intelligible reaction from him. And he, perhaps, would answer her now in return, but ... too many “but” and contradictions still lived in him, making it difficult to decide on this crucial step. Alice measured the silent traveler with a knowing look and, with a sigh, turned away.

- Wow! It seems we will not have time to walk to the house! She suddenly screamed. And almost simultaneously with her exclamation, when Andrew only turned his head, the sky split the deafening thunder. On the surface ... Read more →