Loaves & Fishes 27

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“From Vladimir. My name is Makar, and they also call me Semyonich.” Aksionov raised his head and said, “Tell me, Semyonich, do you know anything about the Aksionovs of Vladimir? Are they still alive?” “Sure I know them. They’re rich, but their dad’s in Siberia: a sinner like ourselves, it seems! How did you get here, Grandpa?” Aksionov did not like to speak of his troubles. “I’ve been here twenty-six years,” he sighed. “What for?” asked Makar. “Never mind,” said Aksionov. “I must have deserved it.” That was all he would say, but the others told the new convicts how someone had killed a merchant and put the knife in Aksionov’s luggage, so that he had been unjustly convicted. When Makar Semyonich heard this, he looked at Aksionov, slapped his knee, and exclaimed, “That’s amazing, man! You’ve aged so much I never would have known you!” “What do you mean?” asked Aksionov. “Did you hear something about the crime, or did you see me somewhere before?” “Oh, I’m sure I heard something; the world’s full of rumors. But it was a long time ago, and I’ve forgotten what I heard.” “Maybe you heard who really killed the merchant,” said Aksionov. Makar Semyonich laughed and replied “It must have been the man with the knife in his luggage! If somebody else hid the knife there, ‘He’s not a thief till he’s caught,’ as they say. How could anyone put a knife into your bag while it was under your head without waking you up?” Aksionov was sure he was talking to the real murderer. He got up and walked away. All that night Aksionov lay awake. He was miserable. In his mind rose the image of his wife as he remembered her the day he left for the fair. He saw her face and eyes as if she were present; he heard her speak and laugh. Then he saw his children, quite little, as they were when he went to prison: one with a little coat on, another at his mother’s breast. He remembered himself, young and cheerful as he used to be. He saw in his mind the place where he was flogged—the executioner, the people standing around. He remembered the chains, the other convicts; his twenty-six years of prison life, and his premature old age. He felt like killing himself. “And it’s all his fault!” thought Aksionov. He longed for revenge 46 | Loaves & Fishes • Issue 27
on Makar Semyonich, even if he had to die for it. He kept repeating prayers all night, but they brought no peace. During the day he did not go near Makar Semyonich or even look at him. Two weeks passed like this. Aksionov could not sleep at night, and was so miserable he did not know what to do. One night as he was walking around the prison, he saw some earth come rolling out from under one of the bunks. As he stopped to see what it was, Makar Semyonich crawled out from under the bunk and looked up at Aksionov with a scared face. Makar was digging a hole under the wall and smuggling the dirt out in his boots when they did field work. “Keep quiet, old man, and you’ll get out too,” he hissed. “If you squeal, they’ll whip me to death, but I’ll kill you first.” Aksionov trembled with anger as he stared down at his enemy. “I don’t want to escape, and you don’t have to kill me; you killed me long ago! I’ll either tell on you, or not, as God directs me.” The next day, when the convicts were led out to work, the guards figured out that one of the prisoners had emptied dirt out of his boots. They searched the prison and found the tunnel. The head of the prison questioned the prisoners, but they all denied knowing anything. Finally, knowing Aksionov was an honest man, the head of the prison turned to him. “You are a truthful old man; tell me, before God, who dug the hole?” Makar Semyonich stood nearby, looking as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He never glanced at Aksionov. Aksionov’s lips and hands trembled, and for awhile he could not say a word. He ruined my life, thought Aksionov. Why should I protect him? Let him pay for what he did for me. But I could be wrong, and what good would it do me anyway? “I can’t say, sir,” Aksionov replied. “It is not God’s will that I should tell! Do what you like with me.” And no matter how they questioned him, he would say no more. Just as Aksionov fell asleep that night, Makar Semyonich slipped through the darkness and knelt by his bed. “What do you want now?” asked Aksionov. “Go away or I’ll call the guard!” “Ivan Dmitrich,” whispered Semyonich, “forgive me! I killed the merchant and hid the knife in your bag. I meant to kill you too, but I heard a noise and escaped out the window. For- Loaves & Fishes • Issue 27 | 47
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Page 5 and 6: This passage teaches that the found
Page 7 and 8: that nothing you do after you are
Page 9 and 10: Repentance means following a new Ki
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Page 19 and 20: Word Search Puzzle Psalm 24:3-5 Fin
Page 21 and 22: expresses itself in righteous deeds
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Page 27 and 28: Testimony of Patrice Daniels Pontia
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Page 41 and 42: their soul from the time of birth.
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Loaves & Fishes 27

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