Page:Zakhar Berkut(1944).djvu/90

 use your trail, in which case you, having set guards to watch your trail, then will be able to come to our assistance.”

“Citizens, citizens!” Zakhar reproached them splenetically. “The power it seems is in our hands, we have the ability to think like men, but we talk like children! You put your faith in “if” and “maybe”. However, of this you can be sure, that when our community is no longer threatened by the danger of attack, we will come with our entire populace to aid you. But first of all, you must protect yourselves against your own enemies, the boyars. So long as the forts and trails remain in their hands, you cannot draw a single breath safely; you will never be secure against their treachery. Any time at all this cunning, parasitic race will betray you. It is high time to stop dreaming and to sound their death knoll by taking action. Each community, one by one, must shed the chains in which the insatiable boyars and their kings have bound you with their self-aggrandizement. Not until this is accomplished will we be able to aid you!”

The envoys from Tustan hung their heads sadly at Zakhar Berkut’s words.

“Father Zakhar,” said they, “knowing our people, you speak as if you did not know exactly what is the matter with them! The daring spirit of their race and their old courage have long been crushed and their will broken. We thank you for your advice and will repeat it to our citizens, but will they follow it? If only you were to come among them and tell them these things yourself!”

“My honorable neighbors! How can my words have any greater weight with them than their own needs, than the dictates of their own common sense? No! If matters have come to such a pass as you describe among them, then even my words can no longer help you, then our communities are indeed lost and our entire Rus is lost!” 81