Shocking News

A number of young men from St. Petersburg’s nobility and high society asked for her hand, but she refused them one after the other, much to her parent’s consternation. They tried to persuade her to be less adamant, but she stood firm.

One evening the father sat alone with his only child. “I have some good news for you,” he said to her, “I will tell you only if you give me a thousand rubles, which I will multiply 10 times and then distribute to the poor”.

“What could this news be, Father?”

“Katyusha, my dearest, the Emperor’s eldest son has asked for your hand in marriage. This is an honor I never expected.”

The disturbing news came as a shock to Katyusha.

“But Father,” she exclaimed, “I am much too young, and have no wish to marry yet.”

“What are you saying, Katyusha? Glory comes to you on hands and knees and still you refuse! How can you turn down such an honor? My God, are you mad?”

“Father, I beg you, in God’s name, do not force me into something against my wish, it will kill me”.

“Are you in love with some one else, Katyusha? Tell me! I am losing my mind.”

“For God’s sake, Father, leave me alone now. Tomorrow morning, we’ll get together and talk about it.”

Escape to Sinaya

When her father left the house, Katyusha, unnoticed, hurried to the house of her beloved Miradov

and told him the terrible news. It struck him like a thunderbolt. Miradov wasted no time and rushed off to tell his friend, Makarov, and to ask him for his help.

Makarov tried to put his distraught friend at ease, saying: “I have an isolated country house in Sinaya. Let’s not waste time, you are in imminent danger.”

In half an hour, the carriage was ready. All three got in and sped off.

Long hours passed before they finally could see Sinaya in the distance. They pulled over at a country house nestled in the trees. Makarov rang the bell. The door was opened by a dour young girl, Makarov’s sister, Alexandra. She put on a forced smile and asked them to come in.

A Devil Incarnate

All through the journey, Makarov had not taken his eyes off Katyusha. He was drawn by her ravishing beauty, longing to take her supple body in his arms and hold her in a tight embrace. He envied Miradov for his good luck. He couldn’t help wondering how such a frail, diminutive man as Miradov had come to win the heart of this houri from paradise. “His manliness is nothing compared to mine,” he kept saying to himself, “I’ll show him who is the better person for her.” Inside the house, he spoke to his sister for a moment, then joined the guests.

“We are expecting some friends for dinner tonight,” said Alexandra after a while. “Perhaps it would be better if they didn’t see you here,” said Makarov to his friend, “It might attract attention. I have a little cottage, about a hundred meters from here where you can stay, and then I will come and get you once they’ve left.”

Horrid Crime

Both set off for the isolated area where the cottage stood. No sooner had they entered the cottage when Makarov, the devil incarnate, drew out a sharp dagger and treacherously stabbed the young man. He fell to the ground in a pool of blood. His soul departed as he complained to the Creator of his heinous murderer.

Katyusha’s Anguish

It was getting very late by the time Makarov returned. He found Katyusha in a state of terrible agitation.

“Where is Miradov?” She asked anxiously.

“Keep your voice low,” replied Makarov “I saw the police scouring this area. They’re probably looking for you. That is why Miradov couldn’t come with me; he was afraid of being

arrested. It’s nine o’clock now. We can go to him in his safe hideout at midnight, or I will bring him back here.”

Katyusha was trembling like an autumn leaf blown in the wind.

The Rapist

Makarov drew near her, saying: “Don’t be afraid, my dear, there’s nothing to worry about.” Then,

he tried to take her into his arms. Katyusha’s eyes opened in unbelieving horror.

“You reject me? I, who have been burning in love the moment I set my eyes on you?” She slipped from his hands in frantic terror… He chased after her, trying to quench his desire.

“Leave me alone, for God’s sake! Don’t you fear the wrath of God? Where’s Miradov? Take me to him.”

“Very well, then. I shall turn both of you in to the police, unless you do as I say.”

“Go ahead, I don’t care. Call the police.”

The Whore

“Katyusha, you have nothing to lose if you give in to my brother,” said Makarov’s wicked sister, trying to set Katyusha’s mind at ease. “Look what a handsome strong youth he is. The most beautiful women long to be in his arms. Why do you reject him?”

Katyusha was stupefied. She stood nailed to the ground, then, she stiffened and fell down unconscious.

An Unforgettable Crime

The hideous fiend picked her up and took her to his room, where he fell upon her like a hungry wolf.

Katyusha, shocked into a coma by this dreadful crime, lay there limp and motionless, a soulless body.

The horrendous deed was not enough. Fearing exposure, he put his hands around her neck and squeezed life out of her body.

Katyusha is dead.

Beauty is dead.

Splendor is dead.

Kindness has vanished, and delicateness has disappeared.

The nymphs of the woods and the fairies of the valleys lament the death of loveliness and youth.

Katyusha is dead.

Scorpions Sting Other Scorpions

The devil Makarov was suddenly seized with fear. He hurried to the garden where, assisted by his wicked sister Alexandra, he dug a pit, and together, they buried the goddess of purity, Katyusha, who died at 18, the age of a flower.

But the vigilant eye of God was ever present; for where they dug up, they disturbed a nest of scorpions, which stung them several times to death.

Golden Dreams

The young Pushkin was 22 years old, his heart full of golden dreams of youth and his face beaming with joy. He was singing a love song as he walked towards Gracia’s house, and why not he was a man deeply in love. When he finally arrived, Gracia greeted him with open arms and they kissed passionately.

“Are you ready, darling?”

“Of course. I have put on my woolen clothes, and I am taking my fur coat to protect me from the cold of St. Petersburg and the perilous dangers of its heavy snows.”

To Petrovka

They had arranged the day before to go to the village of Petrovka on a one- horse sleigh. They travelled through the snow and all the time, Gracia was looking at her beloved Pushkin, admiring his muscular strength and steady hand as he drove the sled with skill. She was happy and radiant, for they were going to wed the next day in Pushkin’s native village of Petrovka. Tomorrow, happiness would shelter and shade them under its golden wings. Splendid are the dreams of youth!

The Sleigh Breaks Down

It was three o’clock when they left St. Petersburg, and the trip to Petrovka was to take three hours. The snow was falling heavily and it was bitterly cold. They had been travelling for two hours when suddenly the sleigh broke down and they were forced to stop. Pushkin got off to see what had happened. He found that the running boards had split. He needed nails and hammer to make the repairs, but had neither.

“Don’t worry,” he said to his fiancée, “we’re only one hour away from the village, perhaps we can get a lift from a passing sleigh.” The hours passed… one hour…two hours…three hours. It was now eight o’clock at night. Darkness fell, and still there was no sign of a sleigh. How frightful!

Feast of the Wolves

They heard the sounds of howling wolves… Pushkin’s heart was chilled with creeping fear and Gracia panicked. “My God, I have forgotten my gun at home. The wolves are getting close. What are we going to do?”

“Oh, Pushkin, the wolves will eat me alive. What a terrible fate!

“Your fate is mine, my angel. Let’s pray to God to save us.”

Two hungry Siberian wolves approached them, their eyes glimmering in the icy coldness of the night. Their howling tore through the darkness. Gracia let out a shriek as one of the wolves pounced on her neck, another tore into Pushkin’s. Other wolves in the pack attacked the horse, devouring it in no time. Within minutes, only bones were left of Pushkin’s and Gracia’s bodies.

In the silence of that horrible night, a deep voice was heard, saying: “Justice has punished the traitor Makarov and his criminal sister Alexandra, as they were reincarnated as Pushkin and Gracia. The wolves that devoured them were none other than Miradov and Katyusha in a former life. How great is divine justice!”

Truly, man shall reap what he sows. ★

USA, May 1, 1976

At 6.00 a.m.

Short Stories and Wonderful Tales, Vol. I, by Dr. Dahesh (Translated from Arabic).