Chapter 31. The bitter decoction
The Hermit had made a healing decoction and was patiently waiting for the guest to wake up. Soon it happened, she half-rose from the bench, saw the dozing man and yelped,
“Where am I?”
The Hermit opened his eyes.
“I am the Stranger’s friend. You didn’t feel well, and he asked me to look after you,” he explained.
“Why am I here? Where is he?”
“The Stranger has brought you to me and left for the City. Now I am responsible for your life,” the old man answered coldly.
“I must catch up with him! Which direction has he taken? I will not stay here without him,” the Bird said determinately.
The old man stroke the beard with his hand.
“I need to speak with God and will give you my answer soon,” he rose and put the healing decoction to her lips. “Drink! It will give you the energy.”
The Bird sipped a little and almost got sick.
“How terrible! How bitter it is!”
“If you don’t drink it all, I won’t even ask. It will take you too much time to get better, and you will stay here for long.”
She looked at the clay cup with a great doubt, then pinched her nose and drank the bitter liquid smelling of herbs at just one swallow.
“Don’t you dare vomit this!” the Hermit said sharply. “Endure it!”
The eyes of the girl filled with tears, she jerkily tried to inhale. The old man understood that she was not going to bear it, remembered the taste of a sweet ripe apple and threw the impression to her. She calmed down practically at once. The taste of the decoction, as bitter as wormwood, was exchanged for the taste of apple juice. The girl felt a surge of energy, vivacity, a desire to move and even some kind of delight.
“Thank you! You know herbs really well. Can I go now? I have so much energy.”
He approached the side of the cave, looked at the sky, silently moved his lips, listened to something and pronounced: “We will go together. If you want to be with him, you’ll have to go the way of death. Are you ready?”
“I don’t see any sense in my life without him,” and she told how she had met the Stranger.
The old man listened to her attentively, nodded and lay down on the sheepskin. The Bird looked at the lights of the clay lamp for a long time. She felt so cozy and protected inside the cave that the tears of tenderness welled in her eyes. With all that, she was a little afraid of the Hermit, the very look of which resembled the ancient prophets from the works of great painters. From time to time he threw a glance at her and shook his head with disapproval.
It seemed to the girl that his sharp eyes reflecting the little sparks of fire reached the deepest parts of her heart. She smiled guiltily looking by steal at the old man.
“May I ask you a question?” the girl started. The old man nodded propitiously. “Why hasn’t he taken me with him? And has given them the diamond?”
“He could not do other than he did. The Stranger has embarked on the course of war, and to survive he needs the armor of purity. Heaven welcomes mercy and kindness. But probably you will also help him in need,” the Hermit was silent for a little while. “He had three stones: a carbuncle, a sapphire and a diamond. I found them in a hiding place in one of the caves and made him promise he would not give the stones to the governors and would use them only to save lives. He gave away the carbuncle when he needed to buy out his companion captured by the rebels. The sapphire was for his ex-wife to take care of herself and the children. And the diamond, his last stone, was for you. But when the misfortune came they betrayed him: according to the testament of the saved friend, the Stranger was accused of the concealment of ancient manuscripts, and his wife
showed the secret places where he had hidden the scriptures. The precious stones were wasted on the wrong people. Stand up, woman, it’s time to go.”