Chapter 26

In the morning it was quite fresh in the bedroom. According to a long-standing habit, the window was slightly opened at night in any weather. Although in her youth Evdokia Alexandrovna had difficulty getting used to this rule of her husband, but then she herself could no longer imagine a dream without fresh air. Even if at the same time sometimes snowflakes swirled over the bed. This morning was snowless, but frosty. So that his wife would not have to get up in a cold room, Matvey Vlasovich closed the window early. So today, shivering, he slipped out from under the warm blanket and went to the window. And froze. In the courtyard, under the dim light of the moon and the lamp on the lamppost, footprints were visible in the snow. They led to the farthest corner of the estate. Matvey Vlasovich tried to see what was happening there and was even more surprised. His favorite horse slowly paced along the path along the fence, where the snow was not deep. He seemed to be guarding a pedestrian. They were Matthew. Matvey Vlasovich could not resist commenting aloud:

“It doesn't get any easier from time to time. Our shooter not only got up so early, but also led Batyr out.

Half-asleep Evdokia Matveevna asked:

- Is it that Artyom can't sleep? whether?

— What kind of Artyom? Matveyka your "on three legs" gallops.

Evdokia Alexandrovna seemed to be thrown up.

What is he doing there in such darkness? After all, it slips. Will do things again. Get dressed, follow him!

But Matvey Vlasovich did not agree. He closed the window, dived under the covers again and reassured:

- The boy is sixteen. Should know what he's doing. Yes, and Batyr with him. Me at his age...

- Ah ... I know, you "commanded a regiment" in his years.

- No, this is Gaidar, and I just went to work to make it easier for my mother. Sleep, it's still early.

For breakfast, Matvey came down from his room on the second floor, cheerful, with a fresh blush.

“Why did you get up so early,” Evdokia Alexandrovna asked him, trying to remain calm under her husband’s warning gaze.

- And I slept. Yes, and Batyr too.

- Well, you know about yourself, of course, but why do you decide for Batyr? Maybe he didn't want to be out in the cold this early.

“I wanted to,” Matvey assured, “I heard him. He wanted to go outside.

- Oh, you have become an inventor!

Matthew was offended:

- Grandpa, tell grandma that I'm not lying. Here you can hear the wind. And I "hear" Batyr.

Matvey Vlasovich did not immediately react. As if, by the way, I knew:

- How long have you had it? You've rarely visited the stable before.

- Recently. Well, yesterday for the first time. And what? You don't believe me either?

- Not. I believe. Why would you think. Although I am not against fantasies, I like that you find a common language with Batyr.

Evdokia Alexandrovna sighed and, with feigned regret, stroked her beloved dog, which crouched at her knees. Having made her usual morning round of the estate, Kimi waited for the moment when she would be alone with the one she loved most in the family.

“Eh, only Kimi and I don’t have such abilities. We are from simple...

The phrase was left unfinished. The sound of a car approaching was heard in the yard. Then there were heavy footsteps on the veranda. The sons entered the dining room with bulky boxes in their hands.

“Where have you been shopping since early morning and with what?”

Artyom put the box in front of his mother and opened it.

- Yes, look. Maybe something else is needed. Or is it enough for the first time.

Here are the dressings. Several medical gowns.

- And who told you that the hospital needs it?

- Father.

Evdokia Alexandrovna looked inquiringly at her husband.

- Marina Fedorovna, a paramedic, complained to me that we had to save on everything, so we decided to buy a little.

- That's a good idea you came up with. I approve. Enough for now. Then we ask how else we can help. And then there are the curtains. Silk with flowers. They are hardly suitable for a hospital.

- This is for the hotel, - explained Matvey Vlasovich. You should have seen the rags hanging on the windows.

- Hm...okay. Let them be. But we will not supply the entire village? So there is still room for improvement.

- For sure. But let's stop there for now. And by the way, we ourselves may need a hotel, if suddenly a blizzard overtakes.

- Good. I don't mind.

***

Saturday morning was quiet. Snowdrifts under the bright sun, which began to warm, sank. The first timid drops were still freezing, turning into icicles, but the smell of spring was already clearly drawn from the taiga. Having reached the scene of the accident, Matvey Vlasovich stopped the car. Everyone got out and looked around. On a low fragment of a thick-set tree, on which the snowmobile "stumbled", there are still traces of a collision.

“Yes, it could be worse,” Igor suggested, “look, there is a boulder here.” A meter to the left - and a header would have been provided.

- Well, now what to be afraid of. It's all over, - objected Matvey Vlasovich.

But after a few minutes, his composure left him. It happened where the snowmobile stalled and from where he had to walk randomly to the village in complete blizzard darkness with his grandson in his arms. Seek help. Now, in the bright light, he realized that it helped that luck really was on his side that day. Only this could explain how he managed not to lose his bearings here. Just a dozen meters to the left, and he would have “missed”, gone past the village, into the tundra. His heart sank uncomfortably, a chill ran down his back. Outwardly, he remained calm. Only his wife noticed how his eyes sharpened, his features tightened.

- Everything is fine. You couldn't be wrong. Look - there are a few more houses on the left. Forest ahead. And the hill goes down steeply. In ten or fifteen minutes you would have figured it out.

- Fifteen minutes, you say ... they would not have been enough ...

And again Evdokia Matveevna understood her husband. She had previously suspected that her husband had not told her all the details. Coast. But now it has become completely clear what troubles they have passed. While the older Butakovs were looking around, Matvey, paying no attention to anyone, quickly moved towards the taiga. Evdokia Alexandrovna was the first to see this. Leaving her husband alone with his thoughts, she called out to Matvey:

- Matthew, where are you? It's time to go, they are waiting for us in the village!

Matthew stopped, froze in place. Evdokia Alexandrovna looked where her grandson was looking and was stunned. Several obscure figures stood before him. Still. The glare of the sun from the snowdrifts fell on them, reflected, creating a luminous halo. Instinctively, as if trying to protect Matvey, she rushed to him. But then she ran into an invisible barrier. Even from here, from afar, she was stopped by the heavy glances of strangers. Helplessly turned to Matvey Vlasovich. He already knew that something unusual was going on. But his attempt to get closer to his grandson failed. It didn't last long. The strangers suddenly turned towards the forest, the feeling of an invisible wall disappeared. Matvey Vlasovich called out to the boy:

"Matthew, what's the matter?" What did you find there?

Matthew turned around. Reluctantly he replied:

- Wanted to see them.

- Whom?

- Well, them. Why are they watching us? They were there at this damn stump.

Did they say something to you?

— No, but I "heard" them. They just wanted to get to know me.

- Who are they? What are these people?

- They said that they are “people of the taiga!”

Matvey pointed towards the forest and added with regret:

“But my donor is not among them. He's somewhere far away from here.

The face of Evdokia Alexandrovna reflected her complete confusion. Matvey Vlasovich gathered his will into a fist:

- Everything is fine. Nothing happened. Then we'll figure out who it is. It's time.

After that, Matvey Vlasovich, without going into explanations, started the car. Driving away, I noticed that the strangers who had disappeared in the forest had not left any traces in the snow.

The hospital was quiet and even more deserted. The nurse immediately recognized Matvey Vlasovich.

- Wow, there are so many of you. Where's our famous patient?

Matvey looked around in amazement for a long time, as if he did not believe that it was here that everything that he knew only from the words of his relatives happened. After all , when the air ambulance took him away, he was in a semi-conscious state. Hearing numerous voices, Dr. Gennady Mikhailovich Ushakov left the office, then Marina Fedorovna appeared.

We decided to visit you. Show you your former patient. They brought you something.

Marina Fedorovna, having examined Matvey, did not hide her triumph:

Look how we've done! Like new.

Gennady Mikhailovich was also pleased, but added:

— Well, well, we just started, and our colleagues have finished. Thank them!

Matvey Vlasovich was surprised at the empty wards.

Have you all been cured?

- Nothing strange. Our region has its own specifics. As soon as the sun comes out, our patients leave us urgently. To the tundra, to the herds. Home. Only those who can't do without our help remain. Even in the therapy department, under our supervision, there are only two expectant mothers, and a few elderly with hypertension. And you pass. We are glad to see guests, especially those who have justified our efforts. We will drink tea in the dining room.

While the entire Butakov family, under the guidance of Marina Fedorovna, was getting used to, the baskets with brought pies and other food were unpacked, the doctor invited Matvey Vlasovich to his office. He once again reassured his wife:

- Everything is fine. While drinking tea, talk. And I'll be back soon.

The doctor was friendly, but somewhat tense.

I understand that you have questions. Let's swear. What I know, I'll tell you, but what I don't quite understand myself, then I'm sorry ...

Matvey Vlasovich sat down on a leather sofa, his eyes fell on the photographs on the walls. unfamiliar landscapes. Mountains, sea, city. And everywhere the doctor himself was present at different periods of his life. A very young and quite mature man. Catching a glance, he explained with a touch of irony over himself.

- I'm a native northerner, a Siberian. He also graduated from high school almost in the same village. I dreamed of getting out of here. I thought it was the most boring place on earth. He graduated from the Medical Institute in St. Petersburg and began traveling around the world. I have visited many places, seen many things, but returned here, home. We're a bit similar, aren't we?

“Yeah, so you were asking about me.

- Of course. Everyone here knows everything about each other.

Everything, but not everything. Here, for example, little is known about Georgy Mikhailov. Even about his place of residence. He doesn't look like a bum. We would like to find him. Thank you, let's get to know each other. After all, he saved our Matthew.

Yes, this is indeed an exception. Mikhailov is a mystery to us too. But we are used to it. He does not talk about himself, and we stopped asking. Who is he and where is he from? He clearly did not break the law. Don't hide. Nobody is looking for him. And the fact that somewhere in the taiga one lives, so he is not the first and he is not the last. At all times there have been people fleeing from civilization.

But everyone has their own reason. Probably Mikhailov also has it.

Yes, there is, but I don't know it. I can only say that he is not an ordinary person. Much knowledgeable and experienced.

Matvey Vlasovich picked up:

- Exactly. His experience just struck me that evening. Do you understand what I mean?

- Yes, understand. But I cannot explain its ability to influence the body of a sick person in such a way. From a medical point of view, of course.

“Are you saying that this is not the first time he has saved the dying in this way?”

“You know, I’m ready to tell you something, but only if everything said remains in this office. Mikhailov and I have an unspoken agreement that I do not disseminate information about his capabilities. I respect his wish. Yes, and then. It seems to me that if I violate this condition, then he will simply disappear from here. Taiga is big. And I wouldn't want that.

Matvey Vlasovich agreed:

- You're right. As did he. But it is important for us to know a person who will always remain now our blood relative. We will not climb into his soul. We will not impose anything. As he wants, so be it. And about what happened here, I, I confess, told the surgeon who operated on Matvey.

- I know him. Met several times. But he is a professional. Making a name for himself on such information is not in his rules.

— I'm even less interested in the hype around my grandson. You can believe it.

The doctor did not have time to answer, there was a knock on the door. The nurse reported:

- All is ready. We are waiting for you.

The doctor replied:

- You still talk, have a cup of tea, we'll come later.

The nurse disappeared behind the door, the doctor looked after her and asked Matvey Vlasovich:

— What specifically would you like to know about Mikhailov?

Tell me what you think is possible.

- Well, then, perhaps, I'll start with the fact that seven years ago I hardly knew him. I met sometimes in the village on the street, greeted, as usual here. He did not go into close contact, but I had enough of my worries. Recently arrived, mastered. But one evening a young girl was brought to us. Olya Nezhdanova. She just finished school. Was with friends on the lake. Resting, having fun. The lake is cold, the depth there is great. There are other places for swimming. But young people like to go there, because there are almost no adults there. So she jumped into the lake. Without any reasons. As her friends later told, the whole evening she was somehow sad, but in general she always had a quiet character. Because no one suspected anything.

- I can imagine ... they were still able to pull it out, save it.

The Doctor shook his head.

No, they couldn't save. There is a high cliff. Far from the water, the water is ice cold. And while they came to their senses, she had already disappeared under the water. It would not be so easy to find her.

So who pulled her out?

- As it turned out later - Mikhailov. What he was doing there at that time, how he got there, I still don’t know. But the fact is that it was he who jumped off this cliff, dived a couple of times, then swam with her to the gently sloping shore. And then her friends picked her up. It’s good that one of them drove there in their father’s car that evening. Not as usual, on bicycles.

- We succeeded, then.

The doctor looked strangely at Matvey Vlasovich.

- Yes, how to say. I still believe that she was dead by that time. Judge for yourself - a blow on the water, cold, for some time she stayed without air. And then the road is also at least twenty minutes.

Did you try to revive?

- Of course. Even if they knew the backstory, they would still do everything necessary. the entire protocol.

- And then what?

- We were already ready to announce the death, but Mikhailov, already known to you, appeared. We tried to keep him away from the girl, but he seemed to paralyze us.

Yes, I remember how he does it.

“Exactly the same as in the case of your grandson. He didn't even touch her, just leaned over her, extended one hand over her head, the other over her heart. He didn’t do anything special, but something emanated from him that seemed to beat us with an electric shock.

- And then sparks were visible between her body and Mikhailov's hands?

No, we didn't notice it then. Perhaps because it all happened so unexpectedly. It was not clear. I'm telling you, we are, as they say, dumbfounded. Words couldn't say. Yes, move too. Everything happened as if in a dream. And, by the way, very quickly.

And she woke up?

The doctor spread his hands.

- Imagine! Woke up. That's just...

Don't say she's disabled!

- Not. She seems to be all right. She graduated from the institute after that, and physically everything is fine with her. Doesn't complain about anything. Since then, I have never had the flu.

- What's wrong?

- She completely lost her memory not only of what happened to her that evening, but also of what happened before. I forgot my parents, teachers, friends. School knowledge was not affected, but childhood events disappeared from memory.

— How is this possible?

“That's just it, no one has a clue about it. It was as if someone specifically erased one thing from her memory, but did not touch the other. Parents tried to find the answer. They took her for consultations to Moscow, to St. Petersburg. But she, at first, avoided them, and did not want to remember anything. In the end, it was decided to leave her alone. Her father and mother separated part of the house for her. She communicates with them no more than with neighbors. Teaches drawing and drawing at school. Sings well. Organized a children's choir. The whole village loves her. And not only. Because of the choir. Many times he won some competitions.

Does she remember Mikhailov?

- Not. But he communicates with him. He visits her sometimes. Most often there are three of us with the hostess of the hotel here. What they are talking about, no one knows.

“Did they tell her about what happened to her at the lake?” What did Mikhailov do?

Yes, but not in every detail. They kept silent about the fact that she herself threw herself into the lake. They thought it would hurt her somehow. But she never even asked about it. Like it doesn't matter. And she didn't remember anything at all.

— Strange story. Even stranger than with my grandson,” Matvey Vlasovich said thoughtfully.

- There was another knock on the door. Evdokia Alexandrovna came in with tea.

“We are waiting for you, but tea will not interfere with your conversations.

They drank tea and were silent. Matvey Vlasovich pondered everything he heard, and the doctor relived old events again.

- Doctor, did you mention that Mikhailov himself was also your patient. What did you treat him for, if he himself can do much more doctors?

- Imagine, here is also a mystery. He once came to me with a message that someone was coughing badly in a hotel. Got a cold, apparently. He said that he definitely needed antibiotics and other medicines.

Did he get infected?

No, there were no symptoms at that time. I answered, like any doctor in my place, that he did not need antibiotics or any treatment at all. Such a healthy body can handle itself. And it’s not a fact that the cough of a narrow-minded person could affect him so much.

- And then what?

The Doctor sighed again.

He didn't argue with me and left. But an hour later Lena came running after me. I've already talked about her, and you've already met her. She is both the manager and the cleaning lady in the hotel.

"And what did she tell you?"

Nothing less than that he is dying! When I ran there, Mikhailov was already unconscious. I could not even measure the temperature - it was higher than the divisions on the thermometer. Fortunately, the hospital had a stock of the most modern antibiotics. Everything was brought in, dripped ... For two days he was between life and death, as they say. But then he quickly got better.

Matvey Vlasovich uncertainly suggested:

“So you mean to say that a common cold could have been fatal for him.

“Well, how can I explain it to you? The common cold is also a disease. For all of us, in some circumstances, it could turn into serious consequences. But he didn't have a cold. Patient contact was minimal. In short, it was a completely unusual case in my practice. And in the medical literature, I have not found anything similar. An hour after contact with the patient does not develop pneumonia in a perfectly healthy person.

“Hmm… since that day, you haven’t run into him again?”

“Sometimes he comes to us. Brings taiga herbs. We ourselves brew them instead of tea, treat the sick. And a few more times he brought cedar oil. Valuable product. Medicine.

Yes, we sometimes use it. We manufacture ourselves. We want to set up a small production. It is somehow strange to live in the taiga and not use this miracle.

- I agree. But his “product”, as you put it, bears little resemblance to what we do.

- And how can it be different?

— Quality. A quality that no one else has achieved so far. One or two drops is enough to cope with the most severe frostbite. And once I had to treat a child with a burn. Skin regeneration took place right before our eyes.

- Hm. And what are these cedars? More specifically, pine nuts?

- I do not know. But the laboratory in Moscow, to which I once gave it to determine the composition, gave me a conclusion about the high concentration of vitamins and minerals in it, and ...

— And what else?

"And some unknown substance they couldn't identify."

***

On the way home, Evdokia Alexandrovna talked about new acquaintances. Matvey Vlasovich listened to her, but Ushakov’s words sounded in his head in response to his question about whether he knows those who call themselves “people of the taiga”:

- Oh sure. Heard. Never encountered them myself. But each family of local residents has stories of meetings with their ancestors. They are passed down from generation to generation. Where is the truth and where is the myth? Don't know.