25
The Promised Land
thrown out by the burning pine cones. The horses had their nosebags,
blankets and hobbles on and stood nearby.
I took the opportunity to have a look at the pistol under my coat
and saw it worked in the same way as the musket, so I practised on
that and when I had loaded it with a cartridge from the satchel I put
it back again out of sight. I began to reflect on the disturbing thought
that he was expecting me to help him kill someone if necessary. That
nagging doubt kept me awake for quite a while, as did thoughts of the
family wondering what had happened to me, as my stomach churned
away. Also the cold didn't help. I had no sleeping bag, but I managed
well enough in my thick coat."
"I felt as if I was the prisoner of this Cossack. I think his dog sensed
my disquiet. I believed I had convinced the dog with my arguments.
He at least didn't talk back. He just sat there looking up at me before
he too slumped, yawning, eyes shut with his nose resting upon his
paws. I liked that dog. I yawned a few times then myself before I too
passed into oblivion."