Аннотация: Going out into the foothills of the Rattlesnake River and singing songs.
Chapter 9.1 Hiking in the foothills of the Rattlesnake River.
Eugene (Mendoir, June 2361)
We, the whole class, are going camping, to the wild part of the colony. A crowd of youngsters, diluted with older guys, with my grandfather, a teacher, and our classmate until the end of high school, Rien Vais. On his shoulders is a compact but rather heavy backpack with a sleeping bag and groceries, a three-liter flask with water, salt and spices; on his belt, in a magnetic grip and a plastic pencil case, a carbine. My favorite is a Claw on my hip, and a communicator bracelet on my right arm.
I'm wearing short shorts and a tank top, a windbreaker rolled up and strapped to my backpack, a baseball cap on my head, and on my feet are my pride-powerful, metal-studded pigskin boots with thick, fluted soles. We plan to spend a week or more in the foothills. As my grandfather explained, we are going to field training to introduce us to survival in the wild: what you can eat and drink, how to hunt and fish properly, what plants and for what you can use.
"I will prepare you, and you will prepare everyone else, and so you will pass this baton to the younger ones!"
"That's right!" We barked together.
The sun is hot, even though it's still early in the morning, and dust is spreading along the trail and settling on my shoes.
The echo of footsteps, reflecting off the rocks to our right, rushes and flies away into the canyon of the river. The echo of footsteps, reflecting off the rocks to our right, rushes and flies away into the canyon of the river. The Rattlesnake River rumbles about thirty meters below, among scattered rocks and fragments of rocks. It is bitterly cold, because it originates from the glaciers of volcanic mountains.
"At least someone told a rhyme or a counting book to simplify walking", I hear someone's voice from behind, I think it's Nain.
"Do you want a poem?"
"Come on, Shepard!" a voice is heard from the front of the column.
"Then listen up!"
We're foot-slog-slog-slog-sloggin' over Africa
Foot-foot-foot-foot-sloggin' over Africa
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up and down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
The people pulled themselves up, went more cheerfully. And I keep going...
Seven-six-eleven-five-nine-an'-twenty mile to-day
Four-eleven-seventeen-thirty-two the day before
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up and down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Their faces are thoughtful and determined. The column keeps pace. I chanted further, and my words echoed over the column, echoing off the rocks.
Don't-don't-don't-don't-look at what's in front of you.
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again);
Men-men-men-men-men go mad with watchin' em,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
Try-try-try-try-to think o' something different
Oh-my-God-keep-me from goin' lunatic!
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Count-count-count-count-the bullets in the bandoliers.
If-your-eyes-drop-they will get atop o' you!
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up and down again)
There's no discharge in the war!
Everyone got into a rhythm and walked along to the verse.
We-can-stick-out-'unger, thirst, an' weariness,
But-not-not-not-not the chronic sight of 'em
Boot-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
'Taint-so-bad-by-day because o' company,
But night-brings-long-strings-o' forty thousand million
Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again.
There's no discharge in the war!
I-'ave-marched-six-weeks in 'Ell an' certify
It-is-not-fire-devils, dark, or anything,
But boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
"What a powerful verse!" A loud voice is heard from the front of the column. "Whose is it, Shepard?"
"Hartman, is that you?" I shout back.
"That's right, Alex Hartman!" I hear in response.
"It's a Rudyard Kipling poem, darkness! It's called "Dust"!"
There was laughter in the ranks, and the people cheered up.
"She's like that, Shepard! Thanks, I'll read it later!" Alex shouts.
"Eugene! Is there anything more fun?" Gina shouts loudly from the end of the column.
"Do you want to have more fun?"
"Yeah!" the whole column shouts in unison.
"Come on, burn it, Shepard!" Hartman shouts from the beginning.
He is echoed by loud laughter from the column. And I'm starting!
Если долго-долго-долго,
Если долго по тропинке,
Если долго по дорожке,
Топать, ехать и бежать,
То, пожалуй, то, конечно,
То, наверно-верно-верно,
То, возможно-можно-можно,
Можно в Африку прийти!
А-а, в Африке реки вот такой ширины!
А-а, в Африке горы вот такой вышины!
А-а, крокодилы, бегемоты,
А-а, обезьяны, кашалоты,
А-а, и зеленый попугай,
А-а, и зеленый попугай!
Smiles sparkled on their faces, and I continued....
Если только-только-только,
Если только на дорожке,
Если только на тропинке,
Встречу я кого-нибудь!
То, тому, кого я встречу,
Даже зверю, верю-верю,
Не забуду-буду-буду,
Буду "здрасьте" говорить!
The chorus was picked up by almost everyone, and clear children's voices flew through the foothills.
А-а, здравствуйте, реки вот такой ширины!
А-а, здравствуйте, горы вот такой вышины!
А-а, крокодилы, бегемоты,
А-а, обезьяны, кашалоты,
А-а, и зеленый попугай,
А-а, и зеленый попугай!
The people cheered, and laughter was heard. And I sing the last verse.
Но, конечно-но, конечно,
Если ты такой ленивый,
Если ты такой пугливый,
Сиди дома, не гуляй!
Ни к чему тебе дороги,
Косогоры-горы-горы,
Буераки, реки, раки,
Руки, ноги береги!
The whole company, including the adults and the grandfather, has already picked up.
А-а, зачем тебе море вот такой ширины?
А-а, зачем тебе небо вот такой вышины?
А-а, крокодилы, бегемоты,
А-а, обезьяны, кашалоты,
А-а, и зеленый попугай,
А-а, и зеленый попугай?
({Verse 1}
If for a long, long, long
If for a long time along the path
If for a long time along the path
Stomp, go and run
Then, perhaps, then, of course
That, probably, is true
That, perhaps, is possible
You can come to Africa
{Chorus 1}
Aa-ah in Africa of the river is such a width
Aa-ah in Africa Mountains such an embroidered
A-ah, crocodiles, hippos
A-ah, monkeys, sperm whale
A-a-A-A-A-A-A-Green Parrot
A-a-A-A-A-A-A-Green Parrot
{Verse 2}
And just like that
And as soon as on the track
And as soon as on the path
I will meet someone
Then who I will meet
I even believe the beast
I will not forget, I will, I will
I will "hello" to say
{Chorus 2}
Ahhhh, hello rivers here is such a width
Ahhhh, hello mountains here such an embodiment
A-ah, crocodiles, hippos
A-ah, monkeys, sperm whale
A-a-A-A-A-A-A-Green Parrot
A-a-A-A-A-A-A-Green Parrot
{Verse 3}
But of course, but of course
If you are so lazy
If you are so shy
Sit at home, don't walk
No need to do nothing to you
Kosogors, mountains
Books, rivers, crayfish
Hands and legs take care
{Chorus 3}
For you, what is the sea to you such a width?
For you, you are such an embroidered sky?
A-ah, crocodiles, hippos
Ah, monkeys, sperm whale
A-a-A-A-A-A-A-Green Parrot
A-a-A-A-A-A-A-Green Parrot)
"Oh-oh-oh! Shepard! That's a song! Whose is it?" Hartman's voice again from the front of the column.
"From an old movie! Very old, taken back in the twentieth century! "About Little Red Riding Hood" is called! Do you hear, Sanya?"
"Got it, I hear it! Thank you, Eugene!"
"And let's sing it again?" Gina shouts from the end.
"Yeah, come on!" The others pick up.
"People, let's sing in chorus! Did you remember the verses?" One of the adult guys is shouting.
"What is there to remember?" laughing, someone commented from behind.
Eugene, sing along!
***
We sang again, and then again.... And then there was a rest stop, where we cooked food on a portable heater, brewed tea and just rested. In the late afternoon we reached the pass. Here, a rattlesnake had gnawed through a canyon in the rocks, and above it, on the other side of the river, a rope bridge was thrown - two ropes made of synthetic fiber stretched over each other. Slowly, one by one, they crossed to the other side of the river and went in the opposite direction. There, after a couple of kilometers, the path curved and rose from the river to a plateau overgrown with forest. That's where we'll stop," Grandfather told us.