Page:Zakhar Berkut(1944).djvu/82

 The boyar, listening to this discourse, began to plan what to do, how to make the best of this situation.

“Did you say the Mongols are threatening even this realm with their attack?”

Zakhar smiled peculiarly at this question. “They are, Boyarin.”

“And what are you planning to do, surrender or defend yourselves?”

“It would do no good to surrender for those whom they capture they put to service in the forefront of their heaviest battles.”

“Then it means you intend to defend yourselves?”

“We shall try to do all in our power.”

“Well then, accept me as your commander. I will lead you to the battle against the Mongols.”

“Wait, Boyarin, we have not yet come to the choice of a commander. You have not yet explained the reasons for your past behavior towards our community. We will gladly accept your sincere wish to aid our community but our forefathers taught us that for a clean deed there is need for clean hands. But will your hands be clean enough for such an enterprise?”

This sudden change of subject a bit embarrassed Tuhar Wolf and he replied, “Elders, citizens! Let us bury past grievances and let bygones be bygones. The enemy is drawing nigh and I want to join forces with you against it. Further investigation to get to the bottom of your grievances will merely confuse the issue and you will profit nothing by it.”

“No, that is not so, Boyarin! It is not our grievances that we are trying to get to the bottom of, but to the truth. You came here under false pretenses and behaved fraudulently towards us, how then can we entrust you with command over us in a war with the Mongols?”

“See here, old man, are you purposely determined to irritate me?”