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Updated: June 14, 2025
No, the man rowing was not Serejka. He rows strong but clumsily. If Serejka were rowing Malva would not take the trouble to hold the rudder. "Hey there!" cried Vassili impatiently. The sea gulls halted in their flight and listened. "Hallo! Hallo!" came back from the boat. It was Malva's sonorous voice. "Who's with you?" A laugh replied to him. "Jade!" swore Vassili under his breath.
"I know," said Iakov, shrugging his shoulders. "It is well if you know," said the father, with a look of distrust. "I only warn you not to forget it." Vassili sighed deeply. For a few minutes all were silent. Then Malva said: "The work bell will soon ring." "I'm going," said Vassili, rising. And all rose. "Goodbye, Serejka. If you happen to be on the Volga, maybe you'll drop in to see me."
Should he embrace his father as Malva had done or shake his hand like Serejka? And Vassili felt hurt at this hesitation, which was visible in his son's attitude. "Remember your mother," said Vassili, finally. "Yes, yes," replied Iakov, cordially. "Don't worry. I know." "That's all. Be happy. God protect you. Don't think badly of me.
No, no sign of her! What a cursed woman! Perhaps she's angry because I beat her." Thus, thinking of his son, of Serejka, but more often of Malva, Vassili paced up and down the sandy beach, turning every now and then to look anxiously out to sea. But Malva did not come. This is what had happened. Iakov rose early, and on going down to the beach as usual to wash himself, he saw Malva.
Vassili, moody as a dark autumn day, was arranging the net at the bottom of the boat. Serejka watched him and, when he looked his way, smacked his lips, signifying that he wanted to drink. "Have you any brandy," he asked. "Yes," growled Vassili. "Good. I'll take a nip when they've gone." "Is all ready?" cried the fishermen. "Let go!" commanded Serejka, jumping to the ground. "Be careful.
"Speak." "Have yon broken off with Vassili?" "I don't know," she replied, after a silence. "I am vexed with him." "Why?" "He beat me." "Really? And you let him?" Serejka could not understand it. He tried to catch a glimpse of Malva's face, and made an ironical grimace. "I need not have let him beat me," she said. "I did not want to defend myself."
Has he left his post so as to be nearer Malva and to watch her? Should he go up to them or not." "So, you've decided!" said Serejka to Vassili. "It's goodbye to us all? Well, go your way and scratch the soil." A thrill went through Iakov and he made a joyous grimace. "Yes, I'm going;" said Vassili. Then Iakov advanced boldly. "Good-day, all!"
Sometimes she would slip from her seat and roll herself up at the bottom of the boat like a ball. As Vassili watched the little black spot grow larger it seemed to him that Malva was not alone in the boat. Could Serejka have come along with her? Vassili moved heavily on the sand, sat up, shaded his eyes with his hands, and with a show of ill humor began to strain his eyes to see who was coming.
The glowing orb was already emerging from the water. Amid the noise of the waves was heard from the boat the distant cry: "Draw in!" "Come, boys!" cried Serejka, to the other fishermen on the beach. "Let's pull together." "When you see Iakov tell him to come here to-morrow," said Vassili.
Serejka appeared from behind a boat. He shook his fist at the couple, and said, threateningly: "So, that's how you go off together. Vassili shall know of this." "Go to the devil, all of you!" cried Malva. And she left them, disappearing among the boats. Iakov stood facing Serejka, and looked him square in the face.
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