There was a brave Nart named Khizha. He spent his days in battles with one-eyed giants. He was rarely at home, and when he returned, it was always with victory and great booty - with herds of horses and herds of sheep. With this good he acted as a true Nart should act: he distributed horses and sheep to the poor Narts.
Of Khizha’s relatives, only his wife and friend, Badynoko, were present. He had no children.
One day his wife told him that she had conceived a child. Khizha was happy and went on a campaign against the one-eyed giants. Months passed, Khizha’s wife gave birth to a son, and Khizha did not return. His firstborn grew up without a name: they were waiting for his father to return.
When the nameless boy was two years old, Khizha’s wife called her friends and said:
“I always hoped that Khizha would return, but now I feel sad: maybe my husband is no longer alive?”
Friends decided:
- We will go in search of the Hut. If we don't find him, we won't return home.
But they returned - without the hut. They returned a year later and brought the news:
— We went around all the roads, but didn’t meet Khizhi. If he were alive, they would have found him. He is no longer alive. If he had been killed by two people, rumors would have spread about it. This means that one person killed him.
When people learned that Khizha had been killed, they began to come to Khizha’s widow to share her grief, for Khizha’s deeds were great and noble. The best friends of the deceased said to the widow:
“The memory of Khizha remains not only in people’s hearts. Khizha’s son is a living memory of his father. It was time to give the boy a name. Let's call him Shuzhey. And so that the name of the father lives in the son’s name, let’s call the boy Khizhoko Shuzhey: this way we will bring the child of Khizhi closer to our hearts.
Khizhi's friends gave his son not only a name. They gave him, according to Nart custom, a horse and military armor.
So the boy, already three years old, received a name. He was tall and strong, and one could guess in him the future sled. He looked like Khizha, and therefore his mother loved him especially dearly, did not part with him, did not let him out of the yard.
One day it turned out that the mother, busy with housework, did not notice how Shuzhey ran out into the street. He saw his peers for the first time. They were playing an adult game: wrestling. Shuzhey also wanted to play with them. He immediately defeated everyone - their bones crunched in his hands. The boys got angry:
- If you are strong like a man, why do you interfere in boys’ games? Why don't you find your father's murderer if you are as strong as a man?
Shuzhey returned to the house and said to his mother:
- Mother, let me lead my horse to drink!
“My only one,” the mother worried, “what are you planning?” It’s too early for you to take your horses to water.
- Why is it early? “I’m not that small,” Shuzhey was offended. “Don’t be afraid, nothing will happen to the horse, and nothing will happen to me, I will be a worthy son of my mother.”
The mother, so as not to offend her son, allowed him to lead the horse to water. Then the son rejoiced and asked:
- Mother, where is the bridle?
The mother was embarrassed and thought: “Why does my son need a bridle?” Wanting to know how he would answer, she said:
“Whoever needs a horse will find a bridle.”
Shuzhey said nothing in response and headed towards the stable, the entrance to which was blocked with abra-stone. The mother ran up to her son before he approached the abra-stone and said:
“My boy, a horse with a bridle is not kept in a stable.” When the horse is in the stable, a halter is put on him. And the bridle is kept at home. Let's go home.
At home, the mother opened the lid of the chest, took out a bridle with silver jewelry and gave it to her son. Shuzhey said:
- Where the bridle is, there should be a saddle. A horse is not given as a gift without full equipment.
“When you need complete equipment, it will be there,” the mother answered. - In the meantime, lead the horse to the water.
“I’ll take the horse to water, mother, but first I’ll learn how to saddle a horse.” What kind of mother thwarts her son's wishes? Give me the saddle.
“You won’t be visible in the saddle,” the mother tried to joke. “You still can’t lift it, you’re still young!”
But Shuzhey was so persistent, and his mother loved him so much that she could not refuse him, she took the saddle out of the chest and gave it to her son.
Shuzhey, pushing away the abra-stone with his foot, entered the stable. He brought out the donated horse and put on the bridle. The horse started to rear up, but Shuzhey began to twist his ears, and so hard that the horse trembled with fear. Having saddled the obstinate horse, Shuzhey said:
“I’m missing a breastplate and a whip.” Mother, you are revered by all the Narts. Would it suit you if your son sat on a horse for the first time without a breastplate and a whip?
“My son,” the mother became worried again, “a horseman cannot mount a horse without a whip; without a man’s heart, a boy is not fit to be a horseman.” You're still a boy. What are you up to?
“It’s not the first time I’ve thought about taking my horse to drink,” Shuzhey answered.
“God bless the gods on your first trip!” exclaimed the mother and entered the house. Soon she came out with a breastplate and a whip. Shuzhey, putting a breastplate on his horse and holding a whip in his hand, jumped into the saddle. The horse flew up to the sky, and Shuzhey rode on it between the clouds. Then the rider sank to the ground and plowed it with the horse's hind legs. Dismounting, Shuzhey approached his mother, whose heart was trembling with fear and happiness, and asked:
- Mother, where is my father?
“I don’t know where your father is,” said the mother. “Only in my heart does longing for him live.”
“And there is longing in my heart,” Shuzhey answered. “So tell me about my father.” The boys don't let me pass, they shout at me: "Where is your father? Who killed him?"
The mother took her son into the house, sat him down next to her and began like this:
- Your father disappeared without a trace. I thought: here you are, my son is growing up, he will reach twenty years old - I will give him his father’s horse, his father’s armor, I will tell my son what deeds he has to do.
Your father had two marching horses - I still have one; there were two sets of battle armor - I still have one. I kept a gray horse for you in the dungeon, and battle armor in a chest. You, my boy, have not reached the age of a horseman; you will not be able to control a gray horse or wear your father’s armor. But what should I do? Does a mother resist the wishes of her only son? Go. But go ahead and listen to what I tell you.
I'll give you a gray horse. Sit on him, don’t pull the reins, let the gray horse run of his own free will: he will be your leader. When you reach a fork in many roads, don’t turn anywhere yourself: the horse will choose the road. If the horse needs to, he will stop on his own, just loosen the girth a little, lift the saddle three times, rub his eyes with your hand. At night the horse will stop only where your father stopped. If you meet people in need of help along the way, help them: this is what your father did. Do not commit dishonorable acts, so that they do not give you a bad nickname. The gray horse will lead you to the places where your father and his sled friends rode. I don’t believe that your father died in battle with the one-eyed man: man is smarter than giants, man will always win. Your father died no other way than at the hands of an insidious companion. The gray horse will lead you to the house of this companion.
My boy, I don’t hope that I will see you, that you will return: you are too young. You are strong in body, but still weak in spirit. I’ll just tell you this parting: if you haven’t accomplished the feat, don’t come back. Bon voyage!
Shuzhey mounted a gray horse and set off. He rides and gallops, but he doesn’t know where he’s going, where he’s galloping: the gray horse is his leader. It is not the rider who chooses a place to spend the day or night, but the horse.
So, continuing his journey, the rider reached the mountain. Two roads diverged from the foot of the mountain. One, along which a gray horse galloped, led to the right and encircled the mountain. It seemed long to the rider. Another road led to the left, towards the valley. It seemed short to Shuzha. Shuzhey pulled the reins and directed the horse along the road leading to the left. The gray horse did not obey and turned to the right, but Shuzhey insisted on his own. Having galloped a little along the road he had chosen, Shuzhey remembered his mother’s order.
- What am I doing! - he shouted and allowed the horse to gallop of its own free will. The gray horse turned sharply to the right, turned off-road, along a mountainside overgrown with thorns. Having made his way through the dense thickets of thorns, the horse came out onto the road that surrounded the mountain. Shuzhey looked at the horse’s legs and saw that they were covered in blood: they had been torn off by thorny thorns. The young rider was sad:
“I violated my mother’s order, did not let the horse gallop of its own free will, and the horse was exhausted because of me.
Having thought this, Shuzhey got off his horse, picked an armful of soft and dry grass and cleaned the horse’s legs of thorns and blood. Having made a short halt, Shuzhey went further - to where his gray horse was carrying him.
In front of the rider stretched an immense valley, on which a large army was raging. Shuzhey decided to ride into the very thick of this army, when suddenly two dogs ran up to him. They were Samirs. The horseman thought: “These dogs apparently belong to some glorious knight,” and threw food to the dogs from his travel supplies. But the dogs, without touching the food, slipped past Shuzhey and ran into the forest. Soon they appeared again. One had a handful of grass in her teeth, the other had a leafy twig. They again slipped past the rider and ran into the forest.
Khizhoko Shuzhey continued on his way, but suddenly thought: “These dogs probably need help. Mother punished: “Do not leave those who ask you to help them.” I must fulfill my mother’s order, I must not disgrace the name of my father!”
Shuzhey whipped his horse and headed after the dogs. During the entire journey, he hit the gray horse for the first time, and the horse flew like lightning, spewing flames from its mouth. The horse led the rider to a hill that rose near the Nart village. A knight lay bleeding on the hill. Two Samir dogs bent over him. A bay horse stood nearby and neighed pitifully. Shuzhey rode up to the wounded man, quickly dismounted and asked:
- How can I help you?
The wounded man groaned and said:
- Undress me and apply to my wounds the grass and leaves that dogs hold in their teeth.
Shuzhey applied healing leaves and herbs to the knight’s wounds. Suddenly he heard a noise overhead. Two mighty eagles descended to the ground and sprinkled water on the wounded man: they brought living water in their beaks. The knight regained his former strength. He jumped on his chestnut horse and exclaimed:
- Let's go together, young rider. If you become a real man, then your horse will turn out to be a true racer.
The unknown knight crashed into the countless army filling the valley and began to slash with his sword left and right. Shuzhey rode in from the other end, and both riders, mature and young, destroyed a huge army. Only one detachment survived and fled. The knight chased after this detachment, and Shuzhey followed the knight. But Shuzhey did not have to join the battle: the knight destroyed the entire detachment and returned back. On the withers of his horse lay prey: a woman. Shuzhey, approaching, saw that she was no longer young. He asked the knight:
“Did you take this woman captive or free her from captivity?”
The Knight replied:
“The army of Chints, which we have now destroyed, came here because of this woman.” But we dispelled our hopes. And I ask you: be my guest, from dying in my house, let’s get to know each other.
- May our meeting be a happy one! - said Shuzhey. “But I’m on my way, I need to move on.”
“Don’t pass by the house of someone who invites you, and your journey will be happy.”
Having said this, the unknown knight led Shuzhey to the Nart village, to his home. He took the woman to the women's half of the house, and invited Shuzhey to the kunatskaya.
The host and guest began to hunt together. The unknown knight was a skilled hunter. Nothing escaped his arrow that his eyes saw. He taught Shuzhei courage, endurance, taught him Nart customs and Nart hunting. Several days passed like this.
* * *
At night, in bed, Shuzhey remembered his mother’s words: “Your father died at the hands of an insidious companion. The gray horse will lead you to the house of this companion.”
And Shuzhey thought: “I did not interfere with the gray horse, he galloped of his own free will and finally brought me to this house. The owner of the house is my father’s murderer!”
In the morning an unknown knight came to him and said:
- Young man! You healed me of my wounds, you helped me defeat the Chint army. Thank you.
“I haven’t done anything to deserve your gratitude.” I fulfilled the Nart custom: I helped those in need of help. And you fulfilled the Nart custom: you made your companion your guest. Now let’s tell each other our names,” Shuzhey said.
The Knight replied:
“I know you well: I recognized you by your gray horse.” But you may not know me: you are still very young in years. I am Nart Badynoko. The Chints are my and my mother’s sworn enemies. When they attacked the country of the Narts, my mother destroyed their army. The Chints did not calm down and attacked again. Then I destroyed them. They came a third time, but you and I destroyed them. The woman they captured is my mother. You helped me, and I saved her from the revenge of the Chints. Don’t complain that I didn’t ask you right away who you are and where you come from. But I recognized the gray horse Khizhi, I knew that you would go in search of your father.
Then Shuzhey shouted:
- It was you who killed my father, you, Badynoko!
“No, I didn’t kill your father,” Badynoko said sternly. - I always loved him, we were friends.
“The Narts say: if Khizha had been killed by two people, then rumors would have spread about it.” This means that Khizha was killed by one companion. My mother says: my father’s gray horse will lead himself to the house of this companion, my son. And here I am in your house, Badynoko! - Shuzhey exclaimed and drew his sword.
“Your father did not have two companions: I was his only companion,” said Badynoko.
- Then reveal, Nart Badynoko, the whole truth: who killed my father? You have no choice: if you lie, I’ll kill you for lying; if you tell the truth, I’ll kill you for telling the truth, because the truth is that you killed my father!
Badynoko greeted Shuzheya’s words calmly and said:
- Here's the truth: listen to her, and you will know what to do. You lost your father, and I lost a faithful friend, and my grief is no less than your grief. I, like you, looked for Khizha, searched for a long time, galloped in his footsteps, but did not find him, although even now I am ready to give my head for the sake of Khizha. This is what I know about his death.
Khizha and I were friends, and therefore we had common enemies. For a long time we could not defeat one giant - the enemy not only of ours, but of all people. Finally we found his weakness (it couldn’t have been otherwise, for we watched him tirelessly) and defeated the giant. Having defeated, we stole his herd of horses from the Alp breed. I galloped ahead of the herd, Khizha - behind. So, while galloping, we met a young rider. He greeted me: “May your herd multiply, Nart Badynoko!” “May your life last, young man,” I said, “Choose any horse.”
But the rider passed me. Having caught up with Khizha, he said the same greeting, and Khizha answered him as I did: “Choose any horse, young man!” The horseman approached him, but instead of shaking his hand, he grabbed the Hut's hat and rode off. “Damn, what do you need my hat for!” - Khizha shouted and rushed after the rider. And I rushed after Khizha. But Khizha couldn’t catch up with the rider, and I couldn’t catch up with both of them. I fell behind them, so much so that I could hardly distinguish them. Suddenly I saw that Khizha caught up with the rider. The rider stopped, grabbed Khizha from the saddle and carried him away.
“H-hey, now it’s not a big deal: the rider is being kidnapped!” - I thought and galloped faster. The kidnapper's horse soared into the clouds. I rushed after him, rushed so that I could not see the sky above me, and the earth below me. So I went to Intermarium. The tracks of the rider's horse led me to the seashore: they were lost in the sea.
I looked for a crossing for several days, but did not find it. My supplies have run out. I began to hunt, but soon killed all the game. It snowed here. There was no food for my horse. To save him from starvation, I returned. On the road I met many horses. The herd we had stolen ran away. Having collected the horses, I drove them home.
When I had rested a little and my horse was stronger, I cleaned my armor and again went in search of the Hut. I remembered the place on the seashore where traces of the kidnapper were lost. To prevent the sand from covering my tracks, I piled a bunch of stones there. Having arrived there, I again began to look for a crossing. I searched every day, I searched for a whole year, but I couldn’t find it. During this entire year, not a single person crossed from that shore or appeared on this shore.
Listen, Khizhoko Shuzhey! Let them kill me for the death of your father - this will be joy for me, for in my heart there is sadness about Khizha. Your father was a faithful friend to me - and what is higher on earth than friendship? I see that you are a worthy son of your father, that you can find Khizha. And when that happens, may I perish. If you believe me, then we will go on a search together. If you don't believe me, do what you think needs to be done.
“Let’s go on a search together,” Shuzhey said and sheathed his sword.
Mother Badynoko prepared for them everything that the sledges take with them on the road, and the riders mounted their horses. When they left the yard, Khizhoko Shuzhey took a place to the left of Badynoko, because according to the customs of the Narts, the younger rider had to be to the left of the senior companion. But Badynoko said:
“Your father always rode to my right, because he was much older.” Now you have taken the place of your father, so you should be on the right.
Shuzhey did not agree.
“Badynoko,” he said, “you respected my father for his old age and knew your place.” I also know my place. No wonder both you and my mother taught me Nart customs. This time I won't listen to you.
The riders rode off: Badynoko on the right, Shuzhey on the left. They arrived in the intermarium. On the seashore they saw a pile of stones. Here the traces of the Khizhi kidnapper were lost.
- What are we going to do, Shuzhey? - asked Bady Noko. - There is no crossing.
“I’ll tell you this, Badynoko,” Shuzhey answered. “The horseman who kidnapped my father crossed the sea in this place, and he was a man, like you and me.” I will cross the sea too, and you wait for me on the shore until your supplies run out. When the supplies run out and I don’t return, leave.
“Remember, my companion,” said Badynoko, “if you have to cross the sea, I will enter first, and then you.”
Shuzhey, after thinking, replied:
- I agree. You are the eldest, and you deserve honor: be the first to experience danger.
The riders tightened their girths, picked up the hems of their cloaks, took travel supplies in their hands, laid down their whips and entered the sea: in front was the bay horse Badynoko, behind was the gray horse Shuzheya.
It turned out that Shuzhey was right. The horsemen crossed the sea, just as the thief of Khizhi had once crossed. They made it to land. The shore was steep. The riders decided that they needed to rest their horses and rest themselves. They squeezed the water out of their cloaks, sweatshirts and beshmets, dried them in the sun and, having rested, set off further. A narrow path led up. On it, someone's traces appeared and then disappeared. But the path was so steep that the horses could not walk along it. The companions decided to go upstairs, holding their horses by the reins.
The climb was very difficult. The horses' legs slipped, there was nothing to grab onto, and the horses pulled the riders down. But the companions stubbornly walked forward, and then it became easier. Huge stones appeared on the way, between which sparse blades of grass grew. The horses, resting their feet on these stones, clinging to rare blades of grass with their teeth, slowly climbed to the top of the ridge.
A wide plain opened to the eyes of the Narts. People lived here, for fruit trees grew, horses grazed in the tall grass, and a cultivated field could be seen in the distance. But there were no people visible.
A flame flared up in Shuzhei’s heart: he arrived where, perhaps, his father was killed! He told his companion about this. Badynoko said in response:
“You are still very young, Shuzhey, you are hot, the fire of revenge burns in your heart, great grief burns your soul, youth urges you to show your courage.” But don’t rush, Shuzhey, don’t rush! Don't kill those who don't deserve to die. Think about it: what would have happened if you had killed me while you were visiting my house? Who would tell you about how your father disappeared, who would bring you here? You will always have time to kill the enemy, and I will help you, that’s why I went with you. But before you draw your sword, ask me for advice.
“I will obey you in everything, for you are the eldest,” said Shuzhey. “But it’s hard for me to restrain myself, because I think about my father, and my heart burns.”
The companions mounted their horses and rode off. They drove through the plain, reached the snowy mountain peaks, passed them and saw an old large stone house fenced with a fence of thorny thorns. The horsemen rode up to the gate. There was a hitching post in the yard that looked like a huge gnarled tree.
* * *
A girl with a scarf on her head came out of the house. She was a rare beauty. She smiled welcomingly, opened the gate and let the riders into the yard. When Shuzhey dismounted, she came up to him so close, as if she wanted to hug him, extended her hand and took the whip from him.
- Welcome, Hijoko Shuzhey, be a guest! May the years of Nart Badynoko last, for he agreed to become your companion. Your arrival is a great joy for us: now our hearts will calm down. Come to the kunatskaya, take a rest from the road - it wasn’t easy.
Having said this, the girl entered the house. The riders, surprised by her words, entered the kunatskaya. Shuzhey said:
- You, Nart Badynoko, saved the land of the Narts from the invasion of the Chints, you have been to many lands, and you have lived a lot in the world. No wonder the girl knows you. But how could she find out my name - the name of an unknown young man?
Badynoko replied:
- I’ll tell you again, Shuzhey: don’t rush. Maybe what we learn from this girl will benefit us. And if we fail and we have to take up arms, then I will be in the battle next to you.
“Okay, let it be your way,” said Shuzhey. “You are older than me, you are better than me, for you saved the land of the Narts from the enemy.” I will obey you in everything.
While they were talking like this, a girl came out of the big house. In her hands was a round table with refreshments. She carried this table to the kunatskaya. At this time, a young horseman rode into the yard. It was her brother. The girl put the table with the treat on the ground and ran into the kunatskaya. She took the scarf off her head and held it between herself and Shuzhey. Having warned his young companion, Badynoko said:
- Girl, don’t worry, I will fulfill your wish.
The girl bowed and left. Her brother had already dismounted. His horse was lathered, sweat was dripping from him, he was so thin that it seemed he could walk through the stirrup. The rider's face was also covered with sweat, it was clear that he was tired.
The girl approached her brother and said.
— Happiness visited us, Khizhoko Shuzhey came to us!
The tired rider was delighted and exclaimed:
- Your words are a great joy for me. On the snowy mountain tops I saw two horsemen from afar, and could not understand who they were. Now I understand. Their arrival is a blessing for us.
Brother and sister entered the kunatskaya. The guests greeted the horseman as a host, and Badynoko looked at him intently. The young master said:
- Nart Badynoko, I met you more than once, but you did not look in my direction, because you did not know me. I'm happy to see you in my home!
Then he turned to Shuzhey:
- May your years last, Hijoko Shuzhey! Welcome, be our guest: we have been waiting for you for a long time.
Then he asked his sister:
- Do you remember that our welcome guests arrived from afar, that they were tired?
The sister understood her brother:
- The treat has been ready for a long time, but how could I bring the table at the moment when you arrived? Have you forgotten the custom of the Narts? I was waiting for you, the owner, to greet the guests first.
Shuzhey thought: “These people observe the customs of the Narts, therefore, they will not be our enemies...”
Brother and sister brought in a table and offered the guests to wash themselves. Badynoko washed himself, but Shuzhey did not go to the jug.
- Why don’t you wash your face? - the girl asked him.
“I don’t wash my face because I don’t deserve to sit at the same table with Badynoko’s sledge.” Such an honor does not befit me.
Answering this way, Shuzhey alternated between blushing and turning pale. The girl noticed this and turned to Badynoko:
- Badynoko, will you allow us to take this horseman to the big house?
“I give you permission, daughter,” said Badynoko. - Shuzhey, follow the owners.
“I obey,” answered Shuzhey, “for you will not teach me anything bad.”
Brother and sister left the kunatskaya and led Shuzhey to the door of a large house. Having rolled away the abra-stone with the help of Shuzhey, they entered the house with Shuzhey and again closed the entrance with the abra-stone. Having passed through three rooms, they opened the door in front of Shuzhey and let him into the fourth chamber, while they themselves remained behind the door.
The chamber into which Shuzhey entered was richly decorated. An old man with a long white beard sat on a silver bed. In front of him stood a table with all kinds of dishes and delicacies. Shuzhey bowed and said:
- May your day be happy, good old man!
“May your years last, my son,” the old man answered affectionately. - Sit down, good horseman.
“I can stand, good old man, I’m still young,” said Shuzhey.
The old man asked:
- Where did you come from, horseman, how did you get to this region? Until now, only two people have come to see me: my brother and sister. I haven't seen other people for a long time. Who are you, horseman, whose are you, where are you from?
“This is my first time in this house,” said Shuzhey. “I also don’t know whose house this is, whether old people gather in it, or whether young people come here.” I also don’t know, good old man, who you are to the horseman and the girl who received us as hosts. You ask: “Whose am I?” Although it is not proper for me to boast about the name of my father, I will tell you it: my father’s name is Khizha.
The white-bearded old man smiled slightly and said:
“If so, good horseman, then sit in the kunatskaya next to your companion: it will be better for you.”
“Then, if it is your will, I will go out,” said Shuzhey. - May your old age be happy!
Shuzhey left the elder’s chamber. Brother and sister again brought him to the kunatskaya and asked:
- What did you see in that chamber, horseman?
Shuzhey spoke with delight about the kind, white-bearded old man and the rich decoration of his chamber.
Then Badynoko asked:
“Would you be pleased if your father lived in the same peace, ate the same dishes?”
“If I could serve my father like this, cherish his old age like this, then I would be happy!” — Shuzhey answered.
“You can be happy,” said the girl. “That white-bearded old man is your father, my friend Khizha.”
- May my father's years last, my grief will disappear! - Shuzhey exclaimed joyfully. “I dreamed of finding at least my father’s remains, but I found him alive and healthy. Great is my happiness, great is the happiness of my mother and all the friends of Khizha!
The young master said:
“When we eat, I’ll tell you everything that happened.”
And this is what he told the guests.
* * *
“You, Nart Badynoko, and you, Khizhoko Shuzhey, listen to my story.” I'll tell you the whole truth. Just don't interrupt me.
"There were seven brothers and one sister. I am the youngest of the brothers. Since my brothers learned to saddle horses, there was not a one-eyed giant whom they would not defeat, there was no fortress that they would not take. There was no one in our region who would dare to measure their strength. Then the older brothers, seeing that they could not show their courage in the land where they were born, decided to go to distant lands.
In one of the foreign lands lived six brothers - one-eyed giants, six oppressors and robbers. My brothers started fighting with them. But the giants were stronger and killed six of my brothers one after another. They themselves lost only three brothers.
I was still so young at that time that I did not participate in battles. When I matured and became stronger, I decided to become an avenger for my older brothers. I gathered a detachment of sledges, and we attacked my enemies - the one-eyed giants. Almost all the sledges fell in the fight, but we failed to defeat the one-eyed ones. I was finally left alone against three giants. It turned out that they spared me, reasoning like this: “If we kill him, it will be an easy punishment for him. Let him live, but let him spend his whole life in torment. We can kidnap his sister, but this is not the greatest grief: sooner or later, his sister will get married, leave his house, and he is ready to part with her. We must kidnap his mother - it will be a great grief. We will make the mother our slave, and he, in order not to be separated from her, will also become our slave, and so, in shame and torment, he will live his whole life. And we, looking at him, will rejoice and triumph, for for us, others, there is no greater joy than human grief!”
And the one-eyed people kidnapped my mother.
Fury increased my strength and courage, I again gathered the sledges and went against the one-eyed giants. But the foreigners killed all my comrades. I, too, sought death, but the enemies did not want to kill me: they spared me so that death would not save me from grief, and my grief was great. More than once I turned to my fellow countrymen with the request: “Let’s go to another!” But no one agreed, no one wanted to go to certain death. And there are few men left with us after the battle with the foreigners. I became desperate.
There lived in our area an old man, Warsarizh, rich in years and cunning. I turned to him for advice. What else could I do? Warsar thought and said:
- It's hard to help you. There is, however, one trick. If you manage to apply it, then perhaps you will achieve what you want. If you fail, you will remain with your grief.
“Tell me your cunning,” I rejoiced. Worsaryzh began:
— On the other side of the sea lives the Nart Khizha. You must kidnap him. Khizhi's wife is pregnant with a boy who will be born in the absence of his father. The boy will be named Hijoko Shuzha. Khizha is a mighty knight, his wife also has great strength, but the boy who will be born from them will surpass both his mother and father in strength: no one can defeat him. The day will come when he and the Nart Ba Dynoko will go in search of Khizha. Since you are kidnapping Khizhu, they will inevitably reach your house. If you have the courage to tell the guests the whole truth, and if Badynoko and Shuzhey, instead of punishing you, want to help you, then the other people will be destroyed.
The words of the sly man plunged me into sadness. I exclaimed:
- Well, am I not cursed by fate? Will my heart not break with grief while the boy who is now in his mother’s womb grows up? Is it not a shame for me that I must, for the sake of my cause, kidnap a respectable man, make his son, his wife and friends suffer?
“Such is your fate,” answered the red-haired Warsa. “You won’t defeat the giants on your own.” Because of you, the most glorious knights of this region died in the fight against them. Whether you like it or not, no one except Badynoko and Shuzhey will defeat the one-eyed ones, except Badynoko and Shuzhey there is no one to punish them for the death of your brothers.
What was I supposed to do? I went to the region where Khizha lived. You know, Nart Badynoko, how I managed to kidnap Father Shuzhei - after all, it happened before your eyes. I did it so quickly that you didn’t have time to catch up with me. Since then, Khizha has been in my house. I knew that Khizha was a mighty knight, and therefore I kept him locked up, blocking the entrance to the house with an abra-stone of unheard-of weight. Otherwise Khizha would have killed me.
Hijoko Shuzhey! You yourself have seen in what contentment I keep your father, with what honor he is surrounded. You can say to me: “What does my father have to do with your grief?” If you say that, you'd be right. And if you want to kill me, then I'm ready. But I know, Shuzhey, that you are smart and noble, otherwise you would not be the son of Khizha. I know that the knight Badynoko, in whom all the courage of the Narts is concentrated, is the best of people. Knowing this, I have hope in you. I hope that you will help me take revenge on the foreigners. I obey your decision, Narts.”
The brother fell silent, the girl said:
— Khizhoko Shuzhey, our dear guest! When I entered the kunatskaya, I held out a handkerchief between us - between you and me. This meant that I turned to you with a request, and my request was that you listen to my brother without anger, so that you understand and comprehend our grief...
Then Badynoko spoke:
“I understood this request and, not yet knowing whether it would be easy or difficult for us, I agreed to fulfill it. That's why I told the girl not to worry. Now let them tell us the place where the damned giants live, and we will go.
“Whether this matter is difficult or easy, it concerns me alone,” said Shuzhey. “Because of our young master, my father suffered a lot of grief, and my mother suffered even more grief.” But since the owner placed all his hope in me, and he cherished this hope since I was in my mother’s womb, then I alone will fulfill his request. Tell me the place where the enemies live, and I will set off. I won't say anything more.
- But I’ll tell you! - exclaimed Badynoko. “From the day we set out together to find your father, I have never left your side.” I won’t leave now: I have to see, Shuzhey, how great you are in battle with us. We don’t know where the one-eyed people live; this is our first time in these parts. Therefore, the young master must come with us. The three of us will go.
“I agree, but on one condition,” Shuzhey’s voice raised. “The three of us will go, but I alone will decide the matter: you don’t have to help me.”
“Okay,” Badynoko agreed, and the young owner left the kunatskaya and soon led three frisky horses, saddled with camp saddles, into the yard. The girl tied travel supplies to the saddles. Her brother entered the kunatskaya and said:
- Let's go, friends, if you're ready.
Shuzhey looked out the window and saw that his gray horse was not in the yard. He asked the owner:
- Why isn’t my horse saddled?
“Don’t be angry at what I say,” answered the young master. “Your horse, born on that shore of the sea, will not overcome our roads.” He will not be able to defeat the horses of the one-eyed giants. My horses are of the same kind as the horses of others, which is why I saddled them.
“No,” said Shuzhey. “You and Badynoko sit on these saddled horses, and for me, saddle my gray one.” No horse will do what my gray horse will do.
The young owner opened the stable and brought out a gray horse. At this time, the bay horse Badynoko ran out of the stable and placed his muzzle in the hands of his master. Badynoko said, caressing the horse:
“I’ll only go on a bay.”
The young master brought out the saddles of Badynoko and Shuzhey and mounted his horse. Badynoko and Shuzhey jumped into their saddles, and the three riders, saying goodbye to the girl, set off.
* * *
You never know, they rode for a long time, but they arrived at the house of one-eyed giants, oppressors and robbers. The house was surrounded by a hedge of thorns. The young master said:
“My older brothers were killed here, and here my suffering mother languishes in slavery.” While the other people are robbing, my mother, their slave, prepares food for them: a whole bull. The bull must be ready just in time for her arrival. If the meat is too hot, the one-eyed ones beat my mother; if the meat cools down, they beat me again. And if the one-eyed ones don’t get enough, that’s my mother’s misfortune! And the foreigners, having eaten a bull carcass and several hundred pies in one sitting, fall asleep. While they sleep, the mother again cooks them pies and a bull carcass. If the mother does not keep up, or there is not enough meat, the one-eyed people will beat her. She lives in such torment, but I cannot help her, and tears choke me.
The owner’s words burned Shuzha’s heart. He said:
- I'll go into the house. If one-eyed people are at home, then the matter will be resolved quickly. If they are not there, I will wait. If you, Badynoko, want to see what I am like in the battle with the foreigners, then from here you will see well.
Badynoko objected:
“Don’t consider my words an insult to yourself, but I won’t let you in alone.” The three of us went, and the three of us must enter the courtyard of the one-eyed people. I will jump over the fence first, followed by our young master. We will find a place where we will not be seen, and from there we will see everything. Then you jump over the fence, Shuzhey. And I promise: until you call us for help, we will not enter into battle.
- Your words, Badynoko, are law for me! - said Shuzhey.
When his two companions jumped over the thorny fence and hid in a secluded place, he crossed himself. Having tied the gray horse to the hitching post, he went to the house. A slave woman who was at the hearth saw him and exclaimed:
- Tha, lord of the gods, why did you punish me like that! So a young horseman arrived, he arrived, not knowing that he had ended up in the lair of other people. How will I feed him if the people are shaking over every piece of meat? If I don’t feed him, shame on me, for how can you not feed a guest?
So the slave grieved, putting wood on the hearth. Shuzhey approached her. She cried:
- Woe to you, horseman, why did you come here? Did you come with a purpose or did you wander here by chance, not knowing that you were among one-eyed giants, robbers and oppressors, terrible strongmen? How can I help you? If you are hungry and I give you a pie, then the other people will beat me: they know how many pies I bake every day, and when they come, they count and count them. Woe to you, horseman, woe to me, slave!
“Don’t cry, mother,” said Shuzhey. “I came here with a purpose.” I'm looking for exactly the kind of people you're talking about. If happiness is with me, then I will destroy the oppressors and return you home to your children, mother.
“You called me mother,” said the woman, “and I will answer you as if I were my own son: come back, son!” You will die from one blow, just like my six sons died, like many Narts who wanted to free me from slavery died. You are still just a child, my son, and how will it feel when you are killed before my eyes? It’s better that I die, old woman, than you, in the prime of life. Go back, go back not along the road, but off-road, so as not to meet the one-eyed people, otherwise you will die!
“My mother,” Shuzhey answered, “I listened to you.” Now listen to me. I am one of those people who do not run away from a battle with the enemy. I will not leave this courtyard in fear and secret: I came here to measure the strength of the one-eyed.
Shuzhey stuck a huge two-horned fork into the cauldron and took out a whole leg of a bull. Having had his fill of the ox's leg and eaten some pies, he threw the bones back into the cauldron and, waiting for the one-eyed people, lay down in the next room, on a rich bed.
At noon the giants returned home. During the entire last march they galloped with their mouths open: the gluttons were hungry. So, with their mouths open, they drove into the yard. Each saw with his only eye the gray horse Shuzhei. They thought:
"The horse is not our breed, but we know this breed. Who is sitting on the horse? Is it not the son of our slave who has come to be with his mother? This is good; we will have a second cook!"
The one-eyed people entered the house and saw: some kind of sled lying on their bed, lying as if it did not see them. The younger giant, the biggest glutton, ran to the hearth, and the eldest shouted:
- Hey kid, where did you come from? You occupied our hitching post, entered our house without permission and collapsed on our bed. Are you stupid or what? Haven't you heard about us, the Inizh brothers?
While he was shouting like that, the younger brother returned. His mouth was open, his only eye was glowing. He shouted:
“Someone ate our pies, ate a whole leg of the ox, and threw the bones back into the cauldron.” Our slave would not dare to do such a thing. Here's the culprit! - and he pointed to Shuzhey.
- Listen, baby! - the elder got angry. -Are you out of your mind? How did you get the idea to pick at our food? You will remove the manure from your dirty horse from the yard with your own hands!
Khizhoko Shuzhey, without getting up from his seat, answered with firm words:
“Do you think, other people, that if you are strong, then the mountains and valleys should belong to you?” If you are hungry, should you rob and kill people? I didn't get lost when I came to you. I came with a purpose. And what this goal is, I’ll tell you when you eat: otherwise you still won’t understand anything - I know you, glutton! Go fill your belly and then come to me. Let's talk.
The one-eyed people became furious and shouted:
“We don’t have time to eat, tell me now: what are you up to?”
“I won’t talk to you until you eat,” said Shuzhey. “Our conversation will lead to a battle, so it’s better to fill your belly with meat so as not to complain: “He defeated us because we were hungry!” In the meantime, I’ll tell you only one thing: you returned home on an unhappy day for yourself!
The foreigners went to the hearth and greedily ate everything that the slave had prepared for them. Having filled their bellies, they returned to Shuzhey. The young Nart, without getting up, asked them:
— Are you full?
- Whether you're full or not, you don't care about that! - shouted the elder giant. - Tell me: for what purpose did you come to us?
“The reason I’m asking whether you’re full or not is because you didn’t have enough bull’s leg today,” Shuzhey grinned. “And I came to you for this purpose: I want to take home the woman whom you made your slave.”
The one-eyed people laughed:
- Oh, how stupid you are, baby!
And the elder said, bursting with laughter:
- Okay: let's give the slave. But try to take it away from us. We won’t argue if this boy allows you to take her away,” and he pointed his finger at the younger giant.
- These words are true. “I accept them,” said Shuzhey. He got up, went to the hearth and said to the slave of the giants:
“It’s enough for you, mother, to endure torment from these one-eyed people.” I will take revenge on them for your six sons, for the Narts killed by the Inizhi. Be strong, don’t be afraid, wait for your happiness.
“If only I could get away from them, if only I could return to the children, to my son and daughter, I don’t need greater happiness!” These one-eyed people are strong, they have no human strength in their hands. They will kill you, my son, and they will kill me too. But since you want to fight with them to save my life, since you sacrifice yourself, since your heart demands it, then there is courage in my heart, and I am not afraid and it will not be painful to die.
This is how the old woman and the young horseman talked to each other, not paying attention to the younger foreigner, who stood behind the doors and heard every word. When Shuzhey came out to him, the younger brother laughed loudly and shouted:
- Hey, chatterbox, where do you start a conversation with me?
“I’ll start with this,” said Shuzhey and hit the younger giant on the nose with all his might. Blood gushed from my nose.
“Hey, kid,” shouted the younger giant in a nasal voice, “is this how to start a fight?”
“One way or another, I don’t have time to bother with you, I won’t get my hands dirty with your blood!”
Having said this, Shuzhey took the old slave by the arm and left the house with her.
There were two inizhas in the yard: the senior and the middle. Without looking at them, Shuzhey untied the gray horse, sat in the saddle, placed the woman in front of him and set off. At this time the younger brother ran out. The brothers looked at him and saw that his nose was flattened, even with his cheeks. The senior one said to the middle one:
- Catch up with him!
“I don’t want to bother with him,” said the middle one. “Besides, the younger one hasn’t really fought him yet.” I see that the human strength of this young sledge is greater than our strength. In his heart is the flame of courage. He will kill me and you.
Meanwhile, Shuzhey’s horse slowly walked across the wide yard. It was clear that the rider was in no hurry to leave. He stopped his horse not far from the house, dismounted, helped the woman get down to the ground, tied the reins to the saddle and began to wait.
The first to come running was Inyzh with a flattened nose. He muttered:
“You are a boy, and you started a fight with me like a boy.” Is this how adults fight? But I see that you still have a little courage, because you didn’t run away! And now I will release the soul from you.
“Didn’t I know that we would fight again?” - said Shuzhey. - Tell me: how do you want to fight?
“I want to fight like this,” said the nasal one. “Growing our cloaks on the ground, let’s put seven arrows each on the cloaks, and start shooting at each other.” When the arrows run out, let's start fighting on horseback. This is how I want to fight. If you're afraid, baby, tell me.
- Agree. And since I was the first to hit you with my fist and flatten your nose, then you will be the first to shoot.
Shuzhey spread out his cloak and placed seven arrows on it. The nasal giant did the same.
“Hold on,” he shouted and shot an arrow at Shuzhei. The arrow hit Shuzhei's ear. It was his turn to shoot. He aimed straight at the other man's chest, and the man's arrow pierced the giant's chest so much that a cat could have crawled through the hole.
The opponents fired seven times. Shuzhey was slightly wounded, and the body of the younger giant was bleeding from severe wounds. When the arrows ran out, the opponents decided, as agreed, to continue the fight, sitting on horses. While the inyzh was pulling on the reins, experiencing pain from every movement, Shuzhey flew up to him and with a quick swing of his sword decapitated him. The giant’s huge body fell to one side, his head with an extinct eye in the middle of his forehead fell to the other.
The slain giant's horse galloped home with an empty saddle. Seeing a horse without a rider, the eldest one said to the middle one:
“Our youngest turned out to be weak and cowardly. He, the giant, was killed by a little man! Our youngest is not worthy for us to mourn him, who died at the hands of a child! Now you, middle one, put on your armor, saddle your horse and kill a man!
The average foreigner replied:
“After the youngest, my turn will come, and then you will be killed by this little one.” I know that I am heading to certain death.
The middle one saddled his horse and rode off. When he saw the corpse of his younger brother, he exclaimed:
“You died, unfortunate one, because of the stupidity of your older brother.” Our enemy is full of human strength, and we will all die by his hand.
Then anger flared up in him. He shouted to Shuzhey:
“You killed our youngest, what are you waiting for?” Your death?
- I am waiting for you, elders, to kill you. If it weren't for this case, I would have been home a long time ago. Don't delay me, start the battle. How do you want to fight? - Shuzhey asked.
“I have this custom,” said the middle one, “I sit on a horse and kill the enemy with a sword.”
- A good custom. “Begin!” suggested Shuzhey.
The middle inyzh swung his sword and dealt Shuzhey a heavy blow to the shoulder. From this blow, Shuzhey became enraged, swung his sword and cut the enemy in two. The horse of the slain giant galloped home with an empty saddle. Then the senior inizh put on his battle armor, mounted his horse and rode off to battle.
Seeing the corpse of his younger brother, he exclaimed:
- Hey, junior! It was I who ordered you to fight, and you died. If you had stayed alive, you would have emerged as a strong giant. I didn’t wait for this time, I hurried, and you were killed through my fault. But now I will avenge you.
The eldest brother galloped further and saw the corpse of his middle brother. He said:
- Eh, middle one, you died due to your cowardice. You were afraid of death - and you died. You did not fight with full strength, you did not fulfill your desire, but my order. Your soul did not want the battle, and now your body is cooling down. I swear that next to him the body of our enemy will soon cool down!
Jumping up to Shuzhey, the elder giant shouted:
- I came to you, little man, your death is approaching you. Let us begin the battle: its beginning will be your end!
Shuzhey said:
“You, other brothers, were born in different years, but you will die on the same day.” Don’t chat in vain, but say: how do you want to fight?
“We’ll fight like this,” said the foreigner. “To begin with, let’s shoot thirty arrows at each other.” If you defeat me, do whatever you want with me.
When the opponents drew their bows, the son of the woman saved by Shuzhey said:
- Nart Badynoko, now we must come to the aid of Khizhoko Shuzhei. The elder giant is the strongest, he will kill the young man!
Badynoko replied:
- Shut up. If there is a need for our help, I will let you know.
The duel began. All thirty of Shuzhei's arrows pierced the senior inizha, and out of the thirty arrows of inizha, only a few hit the target, but they seriously wounded Shuzhei. The arrows ran out, the opponents mounted their horses and took swords in their hands. Inyzh swung his sword, Shuzhey dodged his blow, but fell unconscious: his wounds were too severe.
“It’s time!” exclaimed the young master and galloped off to help Shuzhey. But Badynoko caught up with him and said:
“I knew that this would happen, that Shuzha would not defeat the elder giant.” That's why I haven't entered the battle until now. My job is to kill the senior foreigner. And you are still young, this matter is not up to you. Besides, Shuzhey is my pupil, and I alone must save him.
The senior leader dismounted to cut Shuzhey, who was lying on the ground, with his sword. At this time, Badynoko flew up to the giant, swung his sword - beheaded the one-eyed man, swung again - cut his huge body in two. Then he placed Badynoko on the withers of the lifeless bay horse Shuzhei, placed an old woman saved from slavery next to him, mounted the horse and rode off. The woman’s son rushed after Badynoko. When the rider reached a grassy meadow, the woman said:
- Good knight Badynoko, stop the horse, I am treating the one who saved me, who became my son.
Badynoko dismounted and took the woman and Shuzhey off the horse. The woman walked across the meadow, found healing herbs and applied it to Shuzhei’s wounds. At this time her son galloped up. He gave Shuzhey water to drink from a clear stream, and Shuzhey came to his senses.
- What happened to me? - Shuzhey asked.
“It was happiness with you,” said Badynoko. “All the foreigners were killed, and our master’s mother is with us.”
- These words are joy, they are the best medicine for my wounds. Now let's go to my father.
Having said this, Shuzhey mounted his horse. The young master also mounted the horse, placing his mother in the saddle in front of him. The horsemen set off. They galloped in such a way that Badynoko, according to the custom of the Narts, was in the middle, to his left was the young master, and to his right was Khizhoko Shuzhey.
* * *
Shuzhey and Badynoko spent a whole month visiting, and it was a month of joy: the mother met with the children, the father with the son, the Nart with a friend. Shuzhey did not leave Khizha, the horseman and his sister did not leave their mother, and they all showed love and respect for Badynoko. But then Shuzhey said to his senior companion:
- Badynoko! I rejoice that I have found my father, but I miss my mother. A lot of time has passed since the day I went in search of the Hut. The mother cries, thinking that her son has disappeared, just like her husband disappeared. So isn't it time for us to go home?
Badynoko conveyed Shuzhey’s words to the young owner and heard the following answer from him:
“There is no greater joy for me than spending time with you, but a mother’s melancholy is stronger than the joy of hospitality.” Shuzhey is right, it’s time for you to return to Khizha’s wife. How can I thank Shuzhei for saving my mother, for exterminating the murderers of my brothers? Perhaps it is not proper for me to say what I am about to say, but if I don’t say it, who will? So I say: I want to marry my sister to Shuzhey. Shuzhey has already become my mother’s son: let me be his brother from now on.
“I’ll help you,” Badynoko said. - Your sister is beautiful, smart and homely. It’s impossible that Shuzhey didn’t notice this!
So Badynoko became a matchmaker. Listening to him, Shuzhey either blushed or turned pale with embarrassment. He said, ashamed to look up at Badynoko:
“I never thought that you would say such words to me.” And in a dream I would not have dreamed of this. I won’t say that I don’t like the girl, but judge for yourself, what kind of talk will come out? People will say about me: “He went in search of his father, and returned with his father and wife.” Won't I be ashamed?
“I take all this shame upon myself,” Badynoko smiled.
Shuzhey's answer pleased the young master, pleased his mother, and most of all pleased the girl. The young owner selected the five best horses from his herd, saddled them with traveling saddles, and tied travel supplies to the saddles. Having thus prepared for the departure of the guests, he turned to Badynoko:
“Everything that Shuzhey did for me, he did not for the sake of profit, but for the sake of love for people. We are now related, and I can, without offending him, offer him a whole herd as a gift. But I know that he will not accept this gift, so I give you only three horses. Your horses are good for your region, and ours are good for crossing seas and oceans: no one can compare with them... Accept them, I ask you, as brothers!
The hour of departure has arrived. The young master said to Hizha:
- Forgive me, Nart Khizha, you missed your wife and friends at my home. Now be happy! You have such a brave and noble son that there is no father on earth whom you could envy. I am grateful to you and Shuzhey, don’t be offended by me!
The white-bearded old man replied:
“You relied on me and my son, and your hope was bright: you thought about the release of your mother. Your hope has come true, and I am glad: hasn’t your sister become my daughter? There is no resentment, there is joy.
Khizha, Badynoko and Shuzhey mounted the donated horses. Shuzhey’s young wife sat on the fourth horse, and her brother sat on the fifth. The horses Badynoko and Shuzheya, bay and gray, galloped alongside empty saddles. When they swam to the other side of the sea, Khizha suggested to the young horseman that he return. But he objected:
- Can I return without seeing how Khizha entered his home, how he met his wife? Am I not to blame for her sadness? I'll go with you!
That's what they decided on. The riders moved on. They arrived in the village where Badynoko lived. Badynoko's mother threw a feast in honor of her son's friends. Having rested well, the riders set off again. They drove sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, and finally entered the village where the Khizha’s house stood.
The residents of the village did not recognize their fellow countrymen, for Khizha had grown very old since he disappeared without a trace, and Shuzhey had matured and grown stronger during his absence: he left as a boy, returned as a horseman. Only the gray horse Shuzhey was recognized by his fellow countrymen and, seeing that the gray horse was galloping with an empty saddle, they decided: Shuzhey had been killed. One of the young men of the village rushed as fast as he could to Khizhi’s wife.
“Mother,” he told her, “I brought you news.”
“What news did you bring me, my son?” - asked Khizha’s wife. “If you please, I’ll give you a reward.”
“I brought you not good news, but sad news,” said the young man. “I just saw the gray horse on which your Shuzhey rode away.” People are driving past our village with a gray horse galloping on its reins, galloping with an empty saddle. Go out onto the road and look at Shuzhey’s horse. If the travelers don’t give you the gray horse, then at least take a look at it. Here's my message.
Years and grief had aged Khizhi’s wife, her eyes were dimmed from tears, but her mind was still clear. She said:
“You brought me good news, my son.” Can you tell me how many horsemen arrived in the village?
“Five horsemen,” answered the messenger. - One white-bearded old man, one mature knight, two young horsemen, and the fifth is a girl. Their horses are not of our kind, except for the gray horse Khizhi, who gallops with an empty saddle.
“My son, you brought me news about my husband and my son.” Choose the best horse from my herd and take it for yourself as a reward for the good news. And here the horsemen have arrived.
And having said this, Khizhi’s wife ran out to meet her husband and son.
The feast lasted for seven days and seven nights in honor of the return of Khizha and Shuzhey, in honor of Shuzhey’s young wife, and in honor of Badynoko, Shuzhey’s mentor. The guests left, and Shuzhey remained at home with his young wife, father, and mother. Shuzhey lived for a long time on the Nart land, and lived his life happily.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru