Kiev
Dnipro Publishers 1986
Translated from the Ukrainian by
It was growing dark but as night fell, it did not become cooler. It was the middle of July. Ivan Semenovich took off his embroidered Oriental skull-cap and wiped his shaven head with a handkerchief. The skull-cap was his favorite headgear.
“It’s hot, isn’t it?” he said matter-of-factly, and reaching up to the miner’s lamp, he turned the flame down. Then he pulled a large piece of paper closer to him which bore a diagram of the newly-discovered deposits and prospecting shafts, and turned to the others. His small, piercing gray eyes seemed to be assessing the mood of the three people facing him, although this time he evidently had no intention of reproaching them. His fingers smoothed his short mustache and his voice sounded almost gentle when, after a short pause, he began to speak.
“It’s not at all difficult, my friends, to analyse the results of our efforts. We have not found very much so far, the main impediment being… Do I need to tell you that what is hindering our progress is our working, as it were, along two lines? Yes, Dmitro Borisovich, working along two parallel lines, that’s how I would describe it. Your rebellious outbursts are what distracts you all the time, aren’t they? In fact, they distract not only you but also Lida and even Artem! I never imagined that archeologists could be so enthusiastic… All right, all right, I’ll stop, seeing that you’re ready to explode. What I was going to say is that the time has come to unite our efforts…”
The exordium was quite promising.
“All the data we have from the geological prospecting points to one and the same thing,” Ivan Semenovich continued. “The veins of copper ore cannot yet be traced very far below the surface, but their general direction can be determined: they descend into the depths.of the Sharp Mount.”
“Isn’t that what I’ve been telling you all along?” said the archeologist, his glasses flashing reflected light.
“Like the rest of us, you have been putting forward certain ideas. But all these theories have to be thoroughly checked,” Ivan Semenovich replied. “Lida, be so kind as to pass me your diagram.”
Artem watched the girl rise slowly and gracefully to her feet, her movements deliberate and easy, pushing a straggling wisp of hair into place, take the paper from the windowsill and pass it to the geologist. The girl’s every supple motion was pleasing to the eye. Even the navy-blue overalls she wore, which looked so scruffy on the others, fit her perfectly.
“I haven’t finished it yet,” she said handing over the diagram.
“That’s all right, we’ll be able to make out the main lines anyway. Move closer everybody, will you,” the geologist said, unfolding the paper. “Here is the line of the prospecting shafts. All of them, except the sixth, indicate the general outline of…”
“The Sharp Mount!”
“Of course. The Sharp Mount and nothing else. You were right from the start, Dmitro Borisovich. Also anyone can see even without the keen sight you’re endowed with, Dmitro Borisovich — the diagram shows it unequivocally — that the lines of the prospecting pits run straight for a while and then they break. The veins disappear at a depth of approximately ten meters, and there’s no telling whether they reappear inside the mount. It’d be stupid to insist that they do without further borings, and deep ones at that. Surely you agree with that, Dmitro Borisovich! And we don’t have any data as to how the veins run further down, do we? I don’t as far as I am concerned, anyway.”
“But I have some data!”
“All, you do, do you?”
“Yes.”
“Do you mean to say that you have the geological data concerning the veins inside the mount?”
“Yes, I do.”
The archeologist, sensing the intrigued gazes trained upon him, deliberately wiped his glasses with a piece of cloth, and said:
“You may be interested to know that I’ve observed outcrops of the veins on the walls of the cave, and though I’m not a geologist I can assure you…”
Ivan Semenovich shrugged his shoulders:
“Again you’re talking about that cave of yours, Dmitro Borisovich. I deeply respect your knowledge of archeology and I remember too, without your reminding me, that you are not a geologist. But I must tell you at this point that there is quite a difference between archeology and geology… In view of this, I grant that your observations may have been those of a scientist but nevertheless…”
“I’ve foreseen the objections you would raise, my dear Ivan Semenovich, but ignoring the somewhat boorish manner in which they’ve been couched…”
“I do apologize, really!”
“Ah well, never mind, never mind. I have long grown accustomed to the manner in which you express yourself… And to a greater extent than you have managed to accept the archeological enthusiasm you keep mentioning… But let’s get back to where we started. In view of the objections I was sure you would raise, I invited Lida to accompany me to the cave today, in the capacity of, let’s say, a reliable geological witness.”
Artem opened his eyes wide in bewildered indignation: Lida went to the cave in the company of Dmitro Borisovich without even a word to him about it! All right, just you wait!
Suppressing a smile, Ivan Semenovich said:
“Well, that, of course, is quite another matter since Lida, as a student at a geological college does know something about geology… And may I ask what you found in that cave? If my memory serves me right, the cave in question is only fifteen or so meters deep?”
“It used to be until recently.”
“Oh, I don’t quite get your meaning. Has it suddenly gotten deeper, or what?”
“We got as tar as the obstruction caused by the rockfall. It blocked the way further down, but the cave in fact is much deeper…”
The geologist made himself more comfortable in his chair and looked at the archeologist with growing interest. Then he turned his gaze to Lida who forced an embarrassed smile.
“What a shame you didn’t tell me about it right from the start,” Ivan Semenovich said reproachfully. “You call that discipline?”
“Ivan Semenovich,” Lida said, now really red with shame, “we only decided to keep it a secret to make it more exciting now. A little surprise, that’s all.”
“Did Artem take part in your secret sally into the cave?”
“No, he didn’t. There were only the two of us. Artem was busy with something else and we didn’t want to disturb him.”
Artem, eyebrows knit, kept silent. Disturb him, indeed! It wasn’t a matter of his being busy, not at all! Besides, sorting geological samples wasn’t so important… The thing was that Lida and Dmitro Borisovich just didn’t want him to know anything. It was a case of clear-cut treachery since they surely were aware that he was interested in the cave, too! All right, he wouldn’t let them know what he thought about the whole thing! He had his pride, after all!
“I see, I see,” the geologist said pensively. “Anyway, I’d appreciate being informed of the results of your secret expedition. How deep is the cave?”
“I wouldn’t pretend to know,” Dmitro Borisovich said irresolutely. “And I don’t think it’s possible to find out yet.”
“Why not?”
“The cave is much too deep. We got down about to a hundred and fifty meters and turned back. And the end wasn’t in sight.”
“Ivan Semenovich,” Lida cut into the conversation. “When we were digging through the rockfall we saw a passage that led into another cave, a very long one too! Then a lot of small passages, galleries, corridors and openings. A sort of maze. That’s why we didn’t go any further. We were not ready for a speleological venture. Here, have a look, I’ve made a quick pencil sketch of the cave section we went through.”
Three heads leaned over the rough pencil sketch. Artem stayed put in his corner. He was determined not to budge.
The whole thing could be treated only as an offensive disregard of his person. Disgraceful!
Who was it who had first taken an interest in the cave when they had arrived just a month before and began prospecting — Artem of course! Who had kept assiduously collecting all kinds of information about it? Artem! Who had managed to find an old man who told them of some finds long ago in and around the cave? Again none other than Artem. Nobody would even have noticed the insignificant little cave had it not been for him. True enough, Artem wasn’t an archeologist; he was a geology student, but then, Lida wasn’t an archeologist either! She was also a student taking the same course as he. Anyway, one way or another, Dmitro Borisovich did not have the right — at least from an ethical point of view — to take Lida with him on this prowl that had turned to be so revealing. It was an affront! All right, now Artem knew what he had to do…
“And we did find four outcroppings of copper veins in the walls of the main gallery and two in one of the side corridors,” Artem heard as he became aware of Lida’s voice again. “They were real outcroppings. Ivan Semenovich, they really were! Won’t this cave be of great use to us?”
“So, they were real…” the geologist drawled. “Yes. Now the situation must be regarded from quite a different point of view. Dmitro Borisovich, don’t look at me so triumphantly! I’m of the opinion that the person who really has the right to be pleased with himself is Artem, for he first took an interest in the cave. By the way, why do you look so morose, Artem? What’s wrong? You are not unwell, are you?”
“Yes, quite a change has come over you,” Dmitro Borisovich joined in, turning his head to look at Artem.
“Our dear Artem must be daydreaming,” Lida said with a twinkle in her eye.
Artem slowly rose to his feet, his hands pushed deep into the pockets of his overalls. He approached the table without uttering a word, looked at the Lida’s sketch and made a wry face.
“Really, Artem, what’s come over you?”
“He’s probably got some news to break. Is that it?”
But Artem turned away without replying, walked back to his chair, sat down, and only then did he speak. His voice was filled with a deliberate indifference.
“I’ve got nothing new to tell you. Neither am I daydreaming, nor am I sick. I’m fine. I’m just wondering since when Lida got so excited about archeology? She’s been quite lackadaisical about it up till very recently. And as far as her sketch is concerned, it’s poppycock,” he pointed to the paper on the table. “It’s a… you can’t call it anything but…”
“Ah, now I see what’s wrong,” Dmitro Borisovich said cheerfully. “You’re not being reasonable, Artem. I took Lida along precisely to get her interested in my archeological affairs. And it seems I’ve succeeded, isn’t that so, Lida?”
Lida nodded her head in ready affirmation, and then looked out of the corner of her eye at Ivan Semenovich: what did he think about the matter?
“Here we have another deserter from geology,” laughed the geologist. “Now I realize, Dmitro Borisovich, that I should not have come here with you, no doubt about it. Honestly, you’re a veritable enemy implanted in our midst. You will lure everyone here into your field, the way I see it. It looks as if we’ll all turn into full-fledged archeologists! All right, let’s get back to what we were discussing. Maybe Artem’s mood will improve in the meanwhile. Is that likely, Artem?”
“I’m not in such a bad mood as it is,” snapped Artem.
“Oh sure, sure, that’s obvious… Now, my friends, in light of the new discoveries we’ll have to introduce changes into our plans. You must admit now that I’m not as unyielding as some people think… incidentally, it’s you I have in mind, Dmitro Borisovich. Though, to be quite frank, I still have my doubts and don’t care to hide them.”
“For example?”
“Well… the thing is that the veins could disappear inside the mount just as they do close to the surface… But that can be checked. Moreover since your desire to probe the cave for archeological finds is clear to everyone, Dmitro Borisovich, we’ll unite our two lines into a common effort — geological and archeological. Do you have anything to add?”
The archeologist stroked his beard and spoke, seemingly lost in meditation:
“What attracts me most, Ivan Semenovich, is the fact that the cave is, so to say, an unexplored area. No one has set foot there for quite a long time. Remember what the old man said? T know that there cave inside out, I remember all its nooks and crannies. Been some time since they found anything in there. Which means that at least two or three of the locals were impeded by the rockfall, thinking it was the natural end of the cave. Now, since we’ve managed to get beyond it, I have quite different ideas about the cave.”
“So you have, have you? I’m eager to hear about them.”
“More than likely, the old man was referring to ancient artifacts. We’ve got a chance now of finding a lot more since I’m of the opinion that the cave once stretched deep into the heart of the Sharp Mount, and was spacious, too. It is quite plausible that some ancient people lived there or used it as a refuge to hide from enemies. That would explain the finds… There’s even more to it, if you’ll allow me to make some conjectures, which, of course, will be open to criticism. Considering the nature of the finds and how the villagers described them, I’m inclined to think that we may be talking about a tribe of ancient Scythians…”
“Scythians?” Lida and Artem exclaimed simultaneously. “Yes, Scythians, one of their numerous tribes. It’s quite conceivable. There’s another idea that I have, though it’s of a purely archeological kind, if you know what I mean. And as such it would be of no interest to you as representatives of the science of geology…”
“There you go again, Dmitro Borisovich,” Lida said disgruntled. “As soon as you get to something interesting, you stop short and try to make us prompt you into continuing. Please go on, we’re all ears.”
“All right, I’ll continue,” the archeologist said with a smile. “There’s a chance that we might find something in that cave that would tell us how the Scythians mined copper ore and how they extracted copper from it. It is known that they were excellent metal workers — copper, bronze, and especially iron. That’s the archeological side of it. But since I know only too well that our dear Ivan Semenovich cannot be tempted to take an interest in any archeological questions no matter how hard I try, I’ve thought of yet another reason to study the cave. And it’ll be a purely geological one.”
“Namely?” the geologist said, with evident interest.
“Well, when we have established that the Scythians…”
“Wait, you said you were not sure it was the Scythians who inhabited these parts.”
“Of course, you’re right, Ivan Semenovich,” the archeologist agreed. “Let’s put it this way — when we establish beyond doubt that the ancient tribe that lived here extracted ore from the cave, it would necessarily mean that the tribe knew of the local deposits, am I right? And, consequently, a geologist could draw his own conclusions from this fact, couldn’t he?”
I’ll give you one conclusion straight away,” Ivan Semenovich said. “If your ancient tribe did use the local ore, this ore must have been of a very high quality because the ancient people could hardly have known any methods of working low-grade ore. Yes, you’ve scored a point, Dmitro Borisovich. What a shame you’re not a geologist. You’d have made an excellent one if you hadn’t spoiled it all by enrolling at an archeology school.”
Dmitro Borisovich said with a smile:
“I’m most honored to hear such a refined compliment addressed to my humble person… I’ve laid down my reasons as to why I believe the cave should be explored quite thoroughly. Now I’ll try to put forward another convincing argument as I’ve… er… saved the most interesting part for the end…”
“Of course! You’re incorrigible. Pray continue.”
“Here it is. You’ll see.”
Dmitro Borisovich slowly unbuttoned his overalls, pulled something out of his inside pocket, and froze. He turned his head toward the door and was apparently listening to sounds coming from outside: there was slight but persistent scratching at the door.
“Diana, is that you?” called Ivan Semenovich.
The scratching was intensified. Lida got up and went to the door to open it. A big fawn-colored boxer dashed into the room yelping. She. ran round the room, muzzled everyone’s knees, then stretched out beside Ivan Semenovich, and quieted down, eyes half-shut. Only the stump of a tail wagged persistently.
“I’m glad you’ve come home,” Ivan Semenovich said, stroking the dog’s back. The tail wagged with renewed vigor. “Now, Dmitro Borisovich, please tell us what it is that you’ve saved for the end.”
“These drawings.”
The archeologist spread out a sheaf of papers torn from an ordinary school exercise book. A short sword, a horse’s head, and a sort of covered wagon were drawn in rough, broken lines on the sheets. The last bore an awkwardly drawn human head. Everyone looked attentively at the drawings for some time. Artem was the first to speak:
“Were they done by a child?”
The archeologist burst into hearty laughter.
“What a compliment, Artemi Everything you see here was drawn by me.”
“By you?”
“Absolutely. But it was not I who carved the originals of these images in the rock. In my drawings I’ve tried to be as faithful as could be to the carvings done by ancient people. So far I’ve been lucky enough to find four such carvings. These are just copies. I don’t belive I’ll be stretching the point too far if I say that these are of Scythian origin!”
The archeologist fell silent, carefully folding the papers. Then he said:
“Tomorrow I’ll photograph them. They are extremely interesting, extremely! They bear a certain resemblance to pieces in the wonderful Scythian gold collection in the Hermitage Museum. That’s my story,” he concluded solemnly, raising his hand.
A profound silence fell in the room. Only the hissing of the miner’s lamp and the geologist’s drumming on the table was audible in the silence. One had to admit that the archeologist was very good at putting forward very convincing arguments and sound ideas. At last Ivan Semenovich looked up and saw how Lida was eyeing him imploringly and how Artem, who had even forgotten his sulkiness, was waiting impatiently for his decision. Ivan Semenovich’s face broke into a wide grin: