Page 67 - Revelation

Svetlana de Rohan-Levashova. Revelation

Vesta glanced at me with a slightly mischievous look and said:

– If my dad refuses to hear you out at once, say that his "fox-cub" misses him
very much. He called me this only when we were alone and nobody else knows it…
Suddenly her playful face became very sad. Obviously she remembered
something very dear to her and she indeed began to look like a small fox-cub.

– All right, if he refuses to believe me, I shall tell him this. – I promised.
The figures disappeared, softly twinkling. I continued to sit on my chair, trying
to think something up to get at least two or three free hours to have the opportunity to
keep my word and visit a disillusioned with life father...
At that time "two or three hours" outside home was quite a long period of time
of which I undoubtedly would have to give an account to my grandmother or mother.
As I never could lie convincingly, I had to think of a real reason for my absence for
such a long time.

By no means could I let my new guests down…
The next day was Friday and my grandmother was going to go to the city market
which she did almost every week, although, honestly speaking, there was no huge
necessity in that, because the majority of fruits and vegetables grew in our garden,
and other food could be bought in the nearest grocery stores. Therefore a weekly
"tour" to the market obviously had another reason and mostly was symbolical – Gran
simply wanted to "get some fresh air", meet with her friends and acquaintances, and
also to bring us some delicious things from the market for the week end.

I hung around her for quite some time and could not invent anything, and then
she suddenly asked:
– Why can’t you keep still? What’s the urge?
– I have to go out! – I fired, happy to have unexpected help. – For a long time.

– For others’ sake or for your own? – My gran asked, squinting.
– For others’, and I really need it. I gave my word!

As usual, she scrutinized me (few liked this gaze of hers – it seemed that she
peeped straight into your soul) and finally said:
– You should be home by dinner, not later. Is it enough?
I nodded, restraining myself from jumping for joy. I could not imagine that
everything would turn out as I wanted so easily. Grandmother often truly surprised
me – it seemed that she always knew when the matter was truly serious and when just
a whim, and usually helped me, within the limits of the possible. I was grateful to her
very much for her faith in me and my odd acts. Sometimes I was almost sure that she
knew exactly what I did and where I went. Probably, she did know, only I never asked
her about it.

We went out from the house together, as if both going to the market, but after
the first turn we separated and each went our own way…
The house where Vesta’s father still lived was in the first "new district" (thus we
called the first districts with many-storeyed buildings, which recently began to be built
in the town) and was approximately a forty minute rapid walk from us. I always liked

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