...

...

the story...

---

The bell rang three times. Sven waited, but the fireman did not return. After several minutes Capt. Adams and Lt. Castner descended the gangway.
"No, I don't know", Capt. Adams said. "Maybe he's asleep".
The two men entered the furnace room.
"Rats! Not again!"
Sven heard the captain's loud exclamation.
"That no good fireman jumped ship. What do I do now?"
Angry, Capt. Adams stomped from the furnace room.
“Calm down, Captain,” Lt. Castner said. “I’ll assign my men to take turns as firemen.”
“They won’t know the bell signals.”
Sven stepped from the shadows under the gangway. “I know the signals.”
“Sven?” Lt. Castner gasped. “I thought you returned to Seattle.”
“I’m going to Circle City, Sir,” Sven said.
“How did you get back on board? I had soldiers watching the gangplank.”
Sven grinned. “I helped lead mules aboard. I’m good with animals.”
“We should send you ashore,” Lt. Castner said, but he did not sound angry. “What do you say, Captain?”
“We should,” Capt. Adams agreed, “but I need a fireman. Sven knows the signals. Fire up, Sven. You’re my fireman again.”
“Only until I leave for Circle City,” Sven muttered as he hurried to the furnace room.
Shoveling hard, he built the fire to raise steam pressure in the boiler. He smiled. The monotonous, tiring work gave him a reason for being on the Valencia. Hard work would not hurt him, and, best of all, he was helping to move the ship forward, closer to finding his father.

@настроение: nice

---

On hike...

Got home half an hour ago... People didn't even got home yet but I am already at the puter...
Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was on hike today

---

in a mood to write something

Roma and I have been feeding ravens in the park lately. It's like a ritual now. First we go to feed birds. Ravens have become used to us,now the most braviest pick up bread on arm's length. I like their eyes, such nice jet-black beads, searching look in them. Maybe they are crows...hmmm interesting...male birds are ravens, female birds are crows. I thought ravens should be fully black ones but these we watch in Botanical garden are mostly grey with black heads and black feathers in their wings. Some birds are very big, maybe old and definitely feeling themselves like kings. Those birds which are thinner and smaller in size are often with some feathers or with the whole wing dragging on the ground. We thought those ravens or crows were kind of sick but today we were witnesses how they get injured. Strong ravens for some reasons fight with others. We were almost shocked when one raven suddenly flew upon other with the dragged wing and literally became to trample it. It was violent. They couldn't fight because of food I think, we always take plenty of buckweat seeds, some bread, or anything Roma didn't eat up. And today we watched two ravens which were cawing at each other, just imagine two big birds with two big open beaks spreading their wings on the ground and shouting at each other! It was a spectacle! I don't know how Roma was taking it and I just was holding him to my knees and kept on talking to him how it was ay-yay-yay-ay to fight. Roma had his own beak opened because of what he had seen.
Roma always loved to chase after doves but now he probably loves little sparrows more. I throw some seeds for doves, a little further some more for sparrows, they fly on seeds like a little cloud and scatter as Roma runs to them in ecstasy...
After feeding birds we usually go to throw a plastic bag in which we brought seeds and bread in a dustbin. Roma calls it kaka and goes all the way to the dustbin holding a bag like a trophy. I teach him that it is very bad to throw rubbish anywhere except a dustbin. Kakas must be in those grey or black boxes with a round hole to throw it in.Roma learned it well. Once, after putting our rubbish, he tried to collect all the other litter in the dustbin. For my luck it was only a beer can and half of a plastic bag, all dry. He seemed not mind to clean all territory, I guess.
Other things my cute nephew loves when I write letters for him on snow and he rubs them off with his hands or feet and says- Netu (no). hahahaha
Well, it's late now...I am glad that I seem to be back to studying again. That's second day that I write down dialogues from Englishtown site, listen to them, repeat...I love it again...
Now--------------- to bed...Sir, yes, Sir!!!

---

Great day off!!!

I went to movies... Inkheart...
First thing I have done coming home from cinema was to check whether I really had this book "Inkheart".
I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With every word spoken, the story comes to life...

the story

3

Sven lay beneath the hay and listened. When all was quiet he crawled out. A lantern, hanging from a beam, dimly lit the hold. He crept to the foot of the gangway.
He breathed deeply. Air currents from above provided relief from the smelly, stagnant air in the hold.
For three days Sven stayed near the gangway to enjoy the fresher air. Each time Dillon and two soldiers tended the animals, forking hay or shoveling manure, he burrowed deep into his hiding place. Twice he hid in the mules’ stall to avoid discovery by the new fireman.
When the Valencia docked, Sven listened beneath the gangway. He heard nothing. Curious, he inched his way up and poked his head out to scan the lower deck. Empty.
He walked to a dirty porthole and peered out. A few small houses and two larger buildings formed a small village. A smaller ship was tied to the opposite side of the dock. Between the ships stood five men. Sven recognized captains Adams and Glenn.
He dropped to his knees and sprawled into a shadow when a noise startled him. As soldiers descended from the top deck, he crouched behind a pile of miners’ supplies and watched. He counted as Lt. Castner and twenty-seven other soldiers lined up.
“Tention,” Lt. Castner ordered as Capt. Glenn descended the gangway.
“At ease,” Capt. Glenn ordered. “Lieutenant Learnard, have your squad prepare to move aboard the Salmo. You, your men, and I will begin searching for a pass through the Chugach Mountains.
“Lieutenant Castner, you and your squad stay on the Valencia. After Captain Abercrombie and his company unload at Valdez, continue westward and look for an ice free harbor. It will serve as our base for inland exploration. Do you understand?”
Lt. Castner’s heels clicked together and he stood taller and straighter than usual as he snapped to attention. “Yes, Sir.”
“One more thing. After you establish camp, use the Valencia and search for a starting point for a trail into the interior.”
“Yes, Sir.”
From his hiding place Sven watched as half the soldiers packed their duffel bags. He sighed with relief as all the soldiers returned to the upper deck. He quickly descended into the hold and the safety of the hay. He prayed and thought about Lt. Castner. The stiff, cold lieutenant had provided money for his return to Seattle. How would the lieutenant react to finding him on the Valencia again?
He burrowed deeper into the hay and dozed.

---


Sven awakened as the ship shuddered to a rocking stop. Shouts and stamping feet sounded over his head. He crawled from the hay and saw the fireman climbing the gangway. He listened until the noise overhead died away.
He had climbed halfway up the ladder when he heard steps. He jumped down and crouched in the shadows. Soldiers stepped inches above his head as they descended into the hold.
They opened the side hatch and Sven looked out. Miners in small boats loaded with gear rowed toward shore. On the beach other miners gathered around growing stacks of supplies. Tied against the Valencia was a flat barge.
“Half of the mules and three horses.”
The voice attracted Sven. He looked at the men who had entered the stalls and recognized Lt. Castner and Dillon, the civilian mule handler.
Under Dillon’s supervision the soldiers blindfolded the mules and horses and led them onto the barge. After an officer and the soldiers stepped onto the barge, Lt. Castner and Dillon closed the hatch.
“That leaves only us and the ship’s crew, Dillon,” Lt. Castner said as the two men climbed the gangway.
And me. Sven smiled as he thought of how surprised Lt. Castner would be.

---

Last day of the winter

On my way home I dropped in "Perekrestok" to buy something to eat. I took some apples, pears and some Danone yoghurts and cottage cheeses. I don't know how but I managed to drop one of cottage cheeses right beside the checkout. It exploded. I pushed it with the top of my boot off the way and put my things on the conveyor belt. I didn't even blush...

---

Will it be ever over?

Terrible! Terrible! Terrible!!!
That’s not enough that all my sister’s family went down with virus flu.
That’s not enough that I got infected as well!
That’s not enough that I also got pink eye infection!
That’s not enough that the doctor in the policlinic refused to see me though I said I was going to pay to be seen without waiting in line!
That’s not enough that I had to go to paid clinic and their oculist prescribed me eye drops which cost a fortune!
That’s not enough that those both eye drops caused a terrible allergy to my eyes and eyelids that I was looking in the mirror and hoped I was only sleeping and watching a nightmare, that it wasn’t MY reflection there…
That’s not enough that I had to go and see oculist again, to spend lots of money for other eye drops, an ointment and antiallergic pills.
That’s not enough I had to wash my hands twenty four times a day, before and after each treatment for my eyes.
That’s not enough that I had to wash and iron towels and bed-linen hardly using them!
That’s not enough I had to stay home while there was a winter’s tale outside, 32F and snowing as never before!
That’s not enough I couldn’t read, use the computer or watch TV for a week!
It’s strange that there were not enough of unfortunate events for me.
I got my spectacle’s rim broken today! One side which is put on ear got off. My glasses served me for two years. Really I expected them to be on my nose for much longer as being a good German trade mark. Alas! If I didn’t try to get a new pair of glasses not long ago I wouldn’t get so upset. I just couldn’t find a good rim that would fit my face nice. Oh, really I laughed when I saw spectacle’s side broken!
As Russian saying goes-I am going to be a blind kitten for a while. Though English saying is as blind as a bat.
Hahahahaha an electric bulb I bought and changed today burnt a minute ago! hahahahahahaha

the story is being continued

---

Sven stoked the furnace until early afternoon when the Valencia docked. He watched from the rail as twelve miners unloaded supplies. The others stayed on ship. He watched Lt. Castner, with Capt. Glenn and six more soldiers, walk down the gangplank.
“Are you Sven?” a smiling black-haired soldier asked him.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Off you go. Lieutenant Castner asked me to give you this, and to tell you to return home. ‘Alaska’s no place for a boy by himself,’ the lieutenant said. Get yourself a place for sleep and a bath, and food, and catch the first ship to Seattle. Lieutenant said there should be enough money.” He handed Sven a small leather pouch, pulled shut and wrapped around with a long drawstring.
“Thank you, and thank Lieutenant Castner,” Sven said and walked down the gangplank. He stopped on the dock and peered at the coins in the pouch. He walked into Haines and looked for a place to sleep and, especially, for a place to take a bath.
“Eke! Get out!” a woman screamed as he stepped through her door.
Sven stepped backward. “Your sign says ‘Room, Board, and Bath.’ I need all three.”
“The bath first. In the shed out back. You are the dirtiest young man that ever stepped through my door.”
Sven ran around the boarding house to a small shed. A metal stove had water heating on it. A wooden tub stood on the floor.
The woman stuck her head in a window. “Use all the water you need. Do you have clean clothes?”
Sven nodded.
“Good. Then scrub those you are wearing. Don’t want that dirt in my house. Come in for dinner when you are clean.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.” Sven stripped and scrubbed until he felt clean enough to enter the house.

---

After a comfortable night’s sleep in a bed and a hearty breakfast, Sven walked toward the dock. He had a new plan for finding his father. Since Lt. Castner was determined to reach Circle City, somehow, he would go with the lieutenant.
Sven waited in the mist near the dock. His hope for reboarding the Valencia depended on his disguise. He wore two pair of canvas trousers, his sweater and two plaid shirts under his Mackinaw. His food filled duffel bag under his shirts provided a large lumpy stomach. His slicker covered his odd heavy shape. Soot from the boarding house fireplace, dabbed unto his cheeks and chin, was meant to look like a stubbly beard. With collar up and knit cap pulled down, he might look like an old man.
The first test of Sven’s disguise came as the sun, rising over the mountains, filtered through the mist. Lt. Castner and another officer walked past inches from where he sat on a barrel.
“It’s a waste of time,” the other officer said. “Those reindeer will not be any healthier tomorrow than they were yesterday.”
“We need them for pack animals, Lowe,” Lt. Castner said. “We only have sick mules coming from Dyea.”
“Sick mules, sick reindeer,” Lowe said. “We all will be carrying our own packs.”
Sven sighed with relief. Lt. Castner had only glanced at him.
He watched a small ship edge toward the dock. On its deck stood several mules and five horses. As a gangplank was lowered from its deck, a dock level hatch was opened into the hold of the Valencia.
A civilian and four soldiers began leading the animals toward the gangplank.
“Stupid mules, move,” one of the soldiers said and swore. “Dillon, I need some help.”
“Got my hands full,” the civilian replied. He led two mules down the gangplank.
Sven ran toward the small ship. His success with mules on the family farm when they lived in Minnesota could be useful. He hurried to the deck.
In a deep, rough voice, Sven said, “Here, Soldier, let me help. I am good with animals. He grabbed the lead ropes of the stubborn mules.
“Come on, mules,” he spoke softly into the mules’ ears and rubbed their noses. “Let’s go. Come now.” He backed down the gangplank with the mules following. On the dock he took a lead rope in each hand and, still talking, led the mules into the Valencia.
With the large hatch open, Sven saw what he had not seen before. What felt like fences were stalls for mules, horses, and reindeer, and a large pile of hay. He followed Dillon into a stall and handed him the lead ropes.
“I’ll get hay,” Sven said gruffly.
He forked hay into the feed racks before the horses and mules. As he did he dug a hole into the side of the hay pile. With no one watching, he pulled hay down over the hole and burrowed into his snug hiding place. He removed his slicker and a layer of clothes before lying down.

---

Loud talking awakened Sven.
“Close the hatch. We can’t wait any longer.”
“The Norwegians agreed to have the reindeer here.”
“We will go without them. The tide is going out and we sail with the tide. Close the hatch.”
“Drat it all.” The hatch banged shut. “Now all we have for pack animals are sick mules and horses.”
Sven smiled as he listened to the familiar throb of the engine and felt the Valencia move. He stretched his legs and felt for a biscuit in his duffel bag.

---

First day of the last winter's month...

I got up early today
I'll write later, now I fight to keep my eyes open...

---

a warm Sunday

I went to the forest on my bike. It was warm, I didn't need gloves. So it was okay I forgot to take them. I cycled ten miles. That's for you Bill, I mean, in miles, in km it was 18. I know you will convert it anyway though, more precise.
I didn't race, sooner I was circling slowly in the forest thinking about some people I met over Skype. They all were from Great Britain. With all of them I only had one chat. Well, maybe with the last I will chat some day on MSN. First man asked for the picture and cancelled sending his when I refused to send mine. It wasn't a chat like a nice, friendly chat. It was something like giving away some information about himself, pressed in short expressions but fully enough. It was like he wanted to tell about himself everything like there would not be another chance. But I liked some of his questions, probably he could be a good friend. But next time I saw him online he didn't say hello, neither did I. Talking to a man online is just like dating, a man supposed to say hello first, if he doesn't it probably means he's not interested, so no one woman who respects herself won't try to get man's attention in this case. That's my opinion. Then I met another Brit, who did send his two pictures and, AND DIDN"T ask for mine! Isn't it just a sensation? LOL I can't say it was something funny chatting with him. Are all Brits too serious? He didn't say hello to me next time we both were online on Skype. I wondered why but then I remembered his words : So I may not see you soon? Then I'll leave it up to you then. Probably he meant ME to say him hello. Okay. I only had to run away as there were just perverts and Turkish online. But Turkish are the most perverts, along Egyptians of course. But the latter at least can sing and just more polite. And today I again met a man from the UK. I bet he had something Turkish in his profile, or maybe I was wrong...Maybe I was a little hard on him saying that I don't stand all these u, i, wanna, gonna because it spoils English. And he pointed out that every sentence must end with a full stop, what I was not doing either. But what made me laugh that was his comment for my picture in profile. He called it "nice nose ona snow day" . hahaha It just made me laugh and I can't help smiling now.
So I was riding and wondering about all three Brits and thinking how much I want to get to the UK to study. And some my thoughts were sad, because of Greydragon, if he could know that I miss him. If my another friend could guess how much I miss him too and that my pride doesn't let me write him and ask how's life...
Cycling in the forest is SOMETHING! Paths were slippery with mud and bumpy because of knobby pine roots. It just made it better. As I circled time after time some parts of paths became just too slippery to ride through, my bike was skidding so that I hardly kept myself on. It was adrenalin rush in my blood :-)))
Though we had two days of snow earlier, now there were no signs of snow in the forest. It was damp, brown with wet foliage. The forest looks this way in spring. Just in spring the sky is high and blue. Today it was low and grey, neither a winter's one, nor spring's.
What I didn't like after that all riding was to clean my shoes! My yak leather shoes, my favourite ECCO shoes. Of course they are also just nice to be worn in such weather, but to clean them after all that mud glued to their soles was something terrible! And my bike needs washing also!

the story continues

2

“I tell you, Captain Adams, there’s a young one. If we didn’t need a fireman to get to Skagway, the two of them would have jumped overboard.”
Sven leaped into the coal bin when he heard the harsh voice. From behind the coal pile he watched Lt. Castner and two other men enter the furnace room.
“That’s strange. There’s no one here,” the gray haired, stocky ship’s captain said.
“Are you sure he was a Negro?” Lt. Castner asked.
“Like I told Captain Adams, first evening out I found a boy hiding on deck. He disappeared and I haven’t seen him since.”
“You must be blind, Lieutenant. He crawled past you after I kicked him. Then his daddy, the one I saw stealing, came up. When he saw us he jumped overboard.”
“With your and and your friends’ knives prodding him,” Lt. Castner said. “I know what I saw.”
Sven bit his lip when he heard, and tears welled up in his eyes. He wished Jefferson had listened to him.
“That’s done, Gentlemen. I’m captain here. If Jefferson sneaked his son aboard and was stealing, he deserved what he got. I hired one fireman, and someone stoked this fire all night, every time I rang the bell.” The ship’s captain peered into the dark coal bin. “Come out of there.”
Sven hesitated and prayed. He brushed tears from each cheek as he stood up.
“There he is, like I said.” The man who had kicked Sven pointed over the captain’s shoulder. “Come here, nigger boy.”
The three men stared as Sven, black from hair to heel, stepped from the coal bin.
“What’s your name?”
“His name is Sven Johanson, Captain,” Lt. Castner said.
“I never saw a Negro with blue eyes like his, nor one whose tears washed the black away.” He reached down and pulled up Sven’s trouser leg. “Certainly not one with white legs.”
“B’gory. I’ll be a bowlegged monkey. A white boy trying to be black. Bet he’s the one I saw stealing our first day out from Seattle,” the rib-kicker said.
“I never stole anything,” Sven said. “I was hiding from Lieutenant Castner.”
“That is true,” Lt. Castner said. “I accidentally discovered his hiding place. We talked and then he disappeared.”
“How about it, Boy? Sven is it?” Capt. Adams asked. “Is that true?”
“Yes, Sir.” Sven told the captain how Jefferson helped him and more tears welled up in his eyes.
“Are you crying for Jefferson?” Lt. Castner asked.
“Yes, Sir. He was kind to me, and now he’s dead.” Sven stifled a sob.
“I’m not so sure he drowned. I saw him swimming.”
The rib-kicker laughed cruelly. “He’d never make it. The water is too cold.”
“Forget Jefferson. I need a fireman until we dock in Haines,” Capt. Adams said. “I’ll call that your fare. After that you are on your own. How old are you?”
“Eighteen,” Sven lied. His blackened face hid the red flush of his cheeks as Lt. Castner stared at him.
“You sure are puny,” the captain said. “If you had more muscle I would hire you until we arrive back in Seattle.”
“Captain,” Lt. Castner said, “don’t forget that we have exploring to do after we leave Haines.”
“I know, Valdez and Prince William Sound. Good old Uncle Sam will pay me well for that. Get to work, Sven.”
“B’gory,” the rib-kicking miner swore. “Ain’t we going to Skagway?”
“No,” Capt. Adams said, “the army hired this boat. You may find another way to Skagway or stay on board to Valdez.”
“B’gory. There’ll be trouble when the men hear this.” The miner stamped from the boiler room.
“Don’t worry, Captain,” Lt. Castner said, “the army is on your side. Sven, you can turn around at Haines and head for home.”

---

Whew, I am back in my diary with my own login. I am sorry for taking diary's admin time, but at least it helped me to remember my password for my diary... whew a few times more...
Wonders, whether it will make her write more...

---

15C!

WOW what a wonderful day it was!
Cycled to the supermarket "Karusel", forgot their discount card. Bought sea kale, two Activia Danon cottage cheese and croissants with cheese. On the way home dropped in bakery and bought two buns with cottage cheese and a errrrr (in MacDonald it's called a muffin) a cake.
At home made a cup of instant coffee with TWO teaspoons of sugar and ATE buns, a muffin, and three croissants! It's called gluttony! Tomorrow I'll be complaining about my weight. Suppose it's going to be 67 kg.
It will be tomorrow when I step on scales but today it's sooo good! Life is a good thing indeed!
The weather was so nice that I decided to cycle in the forest, to work out eaten food lol.
It was something! I was full and I was strong, it felt soo good! It tried to rain, but for my luck it only were several drops of rain on my glasses, then it stopped.
Autumn brightened trees in yellow. Paths were soft and beautiful with fallen leaves, fresh air... I didn't want to turn home. I cycled in cicles through the forest and every time as I passed a sportground (somebody made several horizontal bars and nailed a thick enough branch between trees about knee high to make push-ups ( that's what I was doing) I exercised a bit. Of course it is easier to do push-ups using a branch instead of ground. But for my weak arms that was a good work out anyway. When I got home and was washing my hands my arms felt like in weightlessness. Muscles got a good load!
I love nature, sport and English. Who will doubt?

the story continues

“Who’s dat?” The black man, ready to strike with his shovel, whirled around. “Why’s you sneakin’ ‘round here?”
“I’m your helper.” Sven’s quick wit helped again. “It’s mealtime, Mister… I forgot your name.”
“Jefferson,” the man answered as he stared at Sven. “You’s small fer coal shovelin’ ain’t you, Boy? Da Cap’n say he’d find ‘nother man.”
Sven ignored the question. “Dinner time, Mister Jefferson. I’ll shovel while you eat.”
“You calls me Jefferson. Ever’body do. What’s yo’ name?”
“Sven.”
“All right, skinny Sven, you’s shovelin’ en I’s eatin’.” Jefferson chuckled to himself and muttered, “Skinny Sven, skinny Sven.”
“Bring me back some biscuits,” Sven called after him. “Maybe I’ll become fatter.”
---

Sven’s arms and back ached before Jefferson returned and looked into the furnace.
“You’s doin’ good, skinny Sven. Eat.” He held out his bulging red kerchief.
Sven’s eyes widened as he opened the bundle. “Thank you, Jefferson.”
In addition to three biscuits, the kerchief held a baked potato and two slabs of ham. He ate greedily.
“I’s dinkin’dat da cap’n not send you,” Jefferson said and grinned. “You’s stow’way.”
Sven nodded. He had to stop telling lies.
Jefferson grinned. “I’s dinkin’ so. You helps me en I helps you. I’s not tellin’ ‘bout stow’way. I’uz goin’ t’ask ‘bout you when da cap’n say he’s not hire ‘nother shoveler en ken I do da work alone? I says ‘yus, Sur,’ ‘cuse I knows you’s here. You’s ta shovel hard when da cap’n ring da signal bell. Dree bell mean you shovel mo’ coal; two bell mean stop; fo’ bell mean bank da fire. Ken you duz dat?”
“I can, Jefferson.” Sven grinned back. He had a place to hide until they reached Skagway. “Thanks for not telling.”
“Dat’s good,” Jefferson said. “Now I’s helpin’ you hide. Take off yo’ shirt.” He scraped up handsful of coal dust and smeared them over Sven’s body and face and into his blond hair.
“Dere, skinny Sven, you’s lookin’ like black man coal shoveler. I’s callin’ you skinny Sam.” Jefferson chuckled and Sven laughed. Even his mother would not recognize him.
As the Valencia steamed north, Sven hid in the coal pile when anyone approached the furnace room. For a few minutes each night he sneaked on deck to breathe fresh ocean air. From the rail he stared at the shadowy wooded shoreline and snowcapped mountains and imagined how beautiful it might look in bright sunlight.
He never lingered. Jefferson waited for his turn on deck.

---

“We’s getting’ ta Haines tomorrow,” Jefferson said on their fifth night out from Seattle. “Ken you keeps a secret, Sam?”
“Sure,” Sven replied.
“I’s jumpin’ ship in Haines en goin’ ta Dawson ta find gold. Duz you wants ta go?”
“I want to get to Circle City to find my father,” Sven said. “I thought we were going to Skagway.”
“We’s not goin’ to Skagway. Ship’s goin’ to Valdez. I’s getting’ off in Haines en findin’ ‘nother way ta Skagway.”
“I’ll go.”
“Dat’s good, Sam. We’s needin’ supplies. I’uz getting’ mine back ever’ night. T’night you’s getting’ some.”
“How? Where?”
“You takes. Dere’s supplies on deck. Men’s sleepin’. We’s needin’ pots en fry pan. T’night you takes.” Jefferson grinned.
“That’s stealing.” Sven’s parents had taught him never to steal.
“Dat’s so, but I has ta. Dree men beats me in Seattle en steals my supplies. Dat’s when I’s takin’ job as fireman. I’s takin’ back ‘nough ta gets ta Dawson, dat’s all.”
“I’ll try.” Sven agreed because Jefferson was helping him. “I never stole anything before.”
On deck he glanced fearfully in every direction as he crept toward a stack of supplies. As he reached under a tarpaulin, a boot kicked him in the side. “Get away, nigger boy, or you’ll get a knife in your back. We know your black daddy’s been stealing. Tonight he’ll jump overboard.” The man laughed cruelly.
Sven stumbled toward the gangway but stopped. Two men, one tall and slender, the other shorter and heavier, leaned against a stack of boxes and looked out over the water. Sven recognized the tall man as Lt. Castner. He ducked into the shadows and listened.
“Lieutenant,” the stocky man said, “we will be loading fifty reindeer when we are in Haines. They were shipped from Norway for our use as pack animals as we build a trail to the Yukon River. Our country’s leaders don’t believe Americans traveling to the gold fields should need to go through Canada. In the morning I want you to help me make arrangements to load the reindeer.”
“Yes, Sir, Captain Glenn. Orders are orders, and I am determined to reach Circle City. I will be ready.”
Circle City, that’s where I am going, Sven thought as he crawled to the gangway and backed down the ladder.
“You’s back fast. Wat you gets?” Jefferson asked as Sven entered the furnace room.
“A kick in the ribs. They’re waiting for you, Jefferson. They know you’ve been stealing and plan to throw you overboard. Don’t go.”
“You’s not ta be worryin’, skinny Sam.” Jefferson grinned and pulled a big knife from his boot top. “I’s takin’ care.”
Sven shoveled coal and prayed as he waited for Jefferson to return.

---

Why it is so unfairly? When it's a day off time flies, when it's a work day time seems to stop... Again I left some chores undone.
Stored 80 kg of potatoes, 20 kg of carrots and 1 kg of onion for winter. It's funny how little onion I use, probably it's really enough for me. Carrots won't stay long. I have already started drinking carrot juice. I'll try to have one glass of carrot juice a day. They say too much of carotine can make your face yellowish. Well. Let's see how many glasses of carrot juice will make my face get yellowish.
I completed 70 exercises of the course "Solo on the Keyboard". I can type not looking at the keyboard, not very fast though. Last year I gave up on session 68. If somebody knew how it's hard to pull myself together to keep on studying...
Anyway, hello to the second month of Autumn!!!

anybody to keep me a company to read?

Part1
Deception
1
STEADY throbbing of the engine and rocking of the Valencia as it steamed northward through Puget Sound lulled Sven Olafsen to sleep.
After a night and morning of tension he relaxed. From early evening he had watched and waited until the cabin darkened before he sneaked on board. He curled his willowy body a coil of rope and pulled a tarpaulin over himself. Through the morning hours he feared discovery as men rushing for Alaska’s gold fields swarmed aboard. He feared discovery as soldiers, arriving that afternoon of April 7, 1898, crowded on deck. He listened to shouting, swearing, arguing; to boxes and bundles thumping down; to shoes tromping close to his hiding place. He prayed until, underway and undiscovered, he slept.
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“Oof.” Air forced out of Sven awakened him. Something heavy pinned him to the deck. He pushed against the weight.
“Drat it all.” He heard someone swear and the weight shifted. “Who’s under there?”
“Get off. Let me sleep.” Sven acted as if he belonged there.
Cool evening air chilled him as the tarpaulin was pulled away. He stared up into the probing blue eyes of a tall army lieutenant with light brown hair and a blond moustache.
“Get up.” The lieutenant reached down, grabbed Sven’s hair and yanked him to his feet.
“Ow.” Sven raked his fingers through his tangled blond hair. He tottered on his stiff cramped legs and stretched.
“Are you a stowaway?” the lieutenant, holding Sven at arm’s length, asked.
“Oh, no, Sir.” Sven felt blood rush to his pale cheeks.
“Why are you hiding there?”
“I wasn’t hiding, Sir. I needed a dark, quiet place to sleep.” Sven’s quick wit helped.
The hint of a smile curled the corner of the lieutenant’s lip. “You’d better go find your father.”
“That’s what I intend to do,” Sven said. “He’s in Circle City.”
“Circle City?” The lieutenant scrutinized the tall, thin, smooth-faced youth clad in brown canvas trousers and wool plaid shirt.
“Yes, Sir. That’s where I’m going.”
“What’s your name?”
“Sven.”
“Sven what? What’s your surname?”
“Johanson,” he lied, and his face became warmer. His parents had taught him to tell the truth. “Who are you, Sir?”
“I am Lieutenant Castner, Joseph Castner, of the United States Army.” The lieutenant stood straighter, taller with pride in his military position, as he answered. “Are you a runaway?”
“Oh, no, Sir.” Sven face grew hot as Lt. Castner stared into his pale blue eyes. He looked down and bit his lower lip.
“Hmm.” With his fingers Lt. Castner lifted Sven’s chin. “Hmm.”
“’Cuse me, Sir. I have to… nature calls.” Sven grabbed his duffel bag from beneath the tarpaulin and, looking for a new hiding place, walked toward the stern.
He glanced back as he ducked behind a mound of miner’s supplies. Stroking his chin, eyes narrowed, Lt. Castner watched him. Sven crouched and weaved his way among stacks of tarpaulin covered boxes. When he felt safe he sank to the deck, leaned back, closed his eyes and prayed.
“You, Boy, get away from there.” A burly, dark-eyed man towered over Sven. “Nobody steals while I am watching.”
Sven twisted away as the man aimed a kick at him. “Sorry.”
He scrambled to his feet and hurried to the rail before stopping long enough to look around. Stacks of supplies with little space between them crowded the deck. Each stack had a man sitting or lying atop it. They differed in size, shape, and dress, but they shared one trait; each glared at him.
Sven walked toward the stern until he found a gangway and descended. He stood at the bottom of the ladder as his eyes adjusted to the dimness. To his left soldiers ate their evening meal. Lt. Castner stood with his back toward Sven.
As he ducked behind a support beam he heard the lieutenant say, “…think he is a stowaway. Watch for him.”
Sven did not wait to hear more; he hurried into the darker interior. With each step he looked into another scowling face. His hope of finding a friendly miner with whom to journey from Skagway to Circle City faded.
Sven descended another gangway into the musty, hay-smelling blackness of the hold. He sat on the bottom rung of the ladder and ate a dry cheese sandwich from his duffel bag. He listened to the loud throbbing of steam-driven pistons as his eyes focused on an orange glow.
Feeling along what seemed to be a high board fence, Sven shuffled toward the glow. He inched his way to the open door of the ship’s furnace room. A bare-backed muscular black man rhythmically shoveled coal into the fire box.
“Ouch.” The word escaped Sven as he bumped his head.

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First day jogging and hoping it's not a last one. hehe

The alarm clock was set on 6:50 to get off but I happily ignored it and got up at 8:10.
Watered all my plants.
Got myself out for jogging in the forest.
After first 100 meters started panting.
Don't know how I made myself keep running.
A man holding his big black dog said " a way to athletes..."
Sweat made my hair look like after the shower.
I knew I was running slowly and clumsy.
In a little while I felt myself a little better.
The most difficult was running up along a narrow path through the pine trees.
I don't know how I got myself up, but when I did I was completely out of breath.
My hips were hurting.
My lungs were hurting.
My arms were weighting too much.
And the worst thing was that my glasses were getting misted over. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
I physically felt sweat drops on my nose and I had no handkerchief to wipe them off.
My state was terrible. Each and every muscle started aching after I tried to do some excercises.
That's what means not to jog for many, many years...
If somebody knew how it is easy to ride a bicycle in comparison with jogging!
I rode almost 550 km on my bike since I got a cyclocomputer and I can say now that it doesn't give enough physical activity to a person at all!
When you jog it makes more your muscles to work.
I wonder for how long I will have my will-power go jogging in the forest?
But for today I deserve a MEDAL. Really I deserve!

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I live by football now

Can't wait for the Euro 2008 to start.
Watched friendly Russia against Serbia on last Wednesday tonight. Ours won by two goals to one. Surprised to see our football players to performance a good football. My friend laughed when I said about russian football following " The players move on the pitch like sleepy flies..."
Our team on Euro in the group D with Spain, Greece and Sweden. I do not think Greece can be a serious rival though they won Euro 2004. At least we were the only team who beat them four years ago.
I am disappointed England is not involved.
It's funny that most fans make prediction that Russia will be knocked out by Spain in the first time, draw with Greece and like Sweden beat us as well. ha. ha. Football does not stay on the same position, everything can be changed surprisingly and shocking, but it as well makes us love it. Miracles happen. I look forward to watching exciting games. And first of all I'll be rooting for Russia against Spain on the seventh of June.
Come on Russia!!!

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Spriiiiiiiiiing!!!

It's first of March... Spring is on calendar. Spring is in the air. I hope. Spring it time for love. Maybe this year I am going to be a bit luckier?
Yesterday I cut my finger badly. It was not going to fall off but the cut was soooo deep that I was thinking about going to ambulance to put in stitches. Today it looks healed over that I even can wash plates, cook and maybe even do some washing. I like my socks to be white, not like somebody else prefers them changing their colour, I am not going to name such a person though. My wound is healing quick. I have nine lives like a cat.
Got my passport today. Again I was very lucky. When the time was 2:57 PM I was next to enter the office to get my passport. Later I found out my phone's clock were two minutes ahead. Two women and a man were not so lucky today, though it takes about two minutes to get a ready passport they couldn't talk an office worker to give them their passports. - Our boss called us, we can't make him wait! I don't know why but I was 100 percent sure I would have got MY passport TODAY. while waiting in line... I wonder, where I am able going to? To Greece? No. My sister's husband says nothing remarkable is there now. To France? No. They hardly speak English. To England? sighs...would be nice...if it wouldn't be such expensive country...

Paid for Internet. Bought food. I couldn't help buying two cakes, one with chocolate filling and another with poppy. It was not good. Chocolate cake was good. I mean buying it was not good. I must work on such kind of temptations. Bought sea salt. It was good. Bought some veggies, oranges and pea....hmmm pears or pea? Need to look up...but why...I bought both all the same, I will try to remember what is pea and what is pear when I have time. As for now I tend to think that pea is a veggy and a pear is a fruit that looks like a bulb. Something tells me I am right.
Cooked veggetable soup, not Minestrony of course, but it smells very good.
One thing is left to be done today before I help myself with the soup. I need to learn one yoga exercise. Maybe I continue copying one book I want to share with my friend.

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What a great picture and keen eyesight!


«Дино» на Яндекс.Фотках

I can't help looking at pictures on Yandex! and I am sooooooo jealous! And now I am twice as jealous! Now, when the weather is sooo lovely, bright and no frost I have to stay home with the cold. No hunting for this kind of pictures in our forest as well as no skiing for meeeeeeeee... Is it fair??? I had lovely winter pictures in 2005 and 2006 but I have no one good picture of this year. I left my camera's battery at home when I was in the forest last time. I wanted to take pictures of those lovely, big, funny snowmen and a bird's feeder but I didn't have my camera along. Next day snowmen were broken MONSTERS!!!! How could they!!! and for taking a picture of that lovely wood feeder I forgot to put a battery inside of the camera. SIGHS
It even feels worse when I wrote about it. Rubbed salt into the wound...
I may be watching MY summer pictures now...Though they are not as good as Yandex displays but still some are very good and they bring those warm memories back to me...I almost can feel that air, that danger that I hardly caught a viper, that sympathy for a poor hedgehog that couldn't free itself from a plastic bottle ( and that stinky smell as well), those mushrooms taking my breath away... light rain, hiding wild strawberries, dewdrops... I am in love with the forest whatever it may sound strange...

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It's snowing, snowing, snowing!

I am fighting to keep my eyes open...
A lame excuse not to write
Winter has arrived in the Moscow Region. FINALLY!!!
I went to the forest to make sure I will not scratch my skis against dry grass or fallen cones my next day off. I heard the weather is not stable for this week and can change any day. ewwwwwww
Bill? I hope you read this. Here is a picture of our forest, the part I called Alaska forest. Can you tell the difference? LOL
YUCK! I failed to put a picture here , it's over 150kb, 177kb to be exact. Well, I'll have to put it on MSN. But not today, oh.
Here is a picture of the result of my today's work. Определённо я вхожу во вкус! hahaha It means I started to enjoy assembling the wall units. Even though I didn't finish the whole section, I am still very proud of myself.
I may be wanted as a professional fitter.
Though I sooooo hit my left index finger with a hammer. Definitely, my OUUUUUCH was heard five floors down. The bruise appeared almost immediately!

before edit

I am fighting to keep my eyes open...
A lame excuse not to write
Winter has arrived in Moscow region.At last!
I went to the forest to make sure I will not scratch my skies against dry grass or fallen cones next my day off. I heard the weather is not stable for this week and can change any day. uuuuuu
Bill? I hope you read this. Here is a picture of our forest, the part I called Alaska forest. Can you tell the difference? LOL
YUCK! I failed to put a picture here , it's over 150kb, 177kb to be exact. Well, I'll have to put it on MSN. But not today, oh.
Here is a picture of the result of my today's work. Определённо я вхожу во вкус! hahaha It means I began to enjoy assembling wall units. Though I didn't finish the whole mid-section today I am proud of myself.
I may be wanted as a professional fitter.
Though I sooooo hit my left index finger with a hammer. Definitely, my OUCH was heard five stairs down. The bruise appeared in no time!

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It smells of wood and pine in my room!!!
WOW We have got some snow!!!

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Dog tired :-)

I have just finished assembling two of the four sections of wall units. This is ridiculous, today is January 19th and I only have one third of my wall units ready. I should have ordered professional fitters on January 22nd. Now I am dog tired, my back hurts and I am not sure whether there are enough screws! It is on the one hand. On the other hand- don't I look sooooo cute doing it ALL by myself?
In drilling holes for the handles I made two holes in my English textbook. On accident of course. I had to put something under the piece of wood and with my luck I took "English Grammar" by Kachalova, with a very good hard cover. LOL I checked, I didn't drill too deep of a hole into the cover. The text wasn't damaged. To drill the other holes I used another book " Windows'95 for dummies". Anyway I don't use Windows'95 any more and of course I am not dummy either. LOLOL I made a drawer for mid-section. It took me less than 10 minutes. First two I have been making for an hour if not more. That is experience!
The hardest part of the job was hinging the door on. It was hung incorrectly at first and I used all my patience and strength adjusting it. Now it's OK.
I still ask myself- why I didn't wait till January 22nd ??? WHY???

before edit

I have just finished to assembly second of four sections of wall units. It is ridiculous, today is January,19 and I have one third of my wall units ready. I should have ordered professional fitters on January,22. Now I am dog tired, my back hurts and I am not sure whether there are enough screws! It is on the one hand. On the other hand- am I not cute to do it by myself?
Drilling holes for handles I made two holes in my English textbook. By accident of course. I had to put something under the piece of wood and for my luck I took "English Grammar" by Kachalova, with a very good hard cover. LOL I checked, I didn't drill a cover too deep. Text wasn't damaged. Drilling other holes I used one old book " Windows'95 for dummies". That's all the same I don't use Windows'95 any more and of course I am not dummy either. LOLOL I made a drawer for mid-section. It took me less than 10 minutes. First two I have been making for an hour if not more. That's what experience is!
The hardest part of work was hinging a door. It hang askew first and I had to adjust it using all my patience and strength. Now it's OK.
I still ask myself- why I didn't wait till January,22??? Why???

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Autumn is round the corner...

The temperature dropped at last. It was 23 degrees Celsius at noon. Now it is 15 degrees Celsius. In Fahrenheit I won't tell, it's too difficult for me to count.
I am ashamed to confess that I was sleeping almost all day... it explains my night entry now.
But...
I am not about to write something...
I took two pictures today to stick this day in my memory.
One is showing that the fall is round the corner. And how the new building is dressing up in bricks.
Another one shows full moon. It was 44 minutes past 8 when I took this picture, the moon was on in all its beauty...