The mystery of the mounds leaves no one indifferent. Of course, from the point of view of skeptics, all this is fiction. There are no ghosts … But, on the other hand, even scientists admit that not all the secrets of both nature and man have been solved, so it is likely that there are some forces that are capable of driving fear into a fully grown man …
There are dozens of stories about places where you can see ghosts, where people disappear, where treasures are buried…. There are, it turns out, and on the territory of New Moscow - Napoleon's burial mounds in Vnukovsky. The correspondent of "NO" went in search of ghosts, although, of course, he wanted to find the treasure.
In search of the mound
Despite the fact that everyone seems to know about the kurgans, as it turned out, no one knows about them. Peredelkino is a densely populated area, but whoever I asked about the mounds … in response, I was expected only by sincere bewilderment and confusion. I had to make several independent forays into the forest.
Finding the search easy, I downloaded the photos published on the Internet and decided to navigate through them. However, disappointment awaited me on the spot - nowhere was there a hint of mounds. Around construction sites and private houses. But the obsession with finding them did not let me go. As if something pulled me there … Manilo and attracted.
Soon I came to Peredelkino again, but, apart from legends, I received nothing.
“That place is considered to be disastrous,” says a resident of the settlement Tamara Sayenko in a half-whisper. - It gets a little dark, some unpleasant sensation appears … As if someone is looking. Even young people don't walk there. Yes, and I do not advise you to go there.
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I confess, at that moment, I thought for the first time: maybe it really isn't necessary …
But it’s interesting! I had to seek help from an amateur archaeologist. The next day I met with him.
“Even before the settlement was annexed to Moscow, there were rumors about the place, and the materials that you could read on numerous forums were ducks and nothing more,” Vladimir told me confidently, carefully checking his travel bag.
We had a long way to go.
Oh put hope, everyone who enters here
As we walked along the railway, moving away more and more from civilization, I recalled the stories that I had read before the campaign. So, in order. Here people disappear, equipment malfunctions, birds do not fly, and plants do not grow - in general, a complete "package" in order to think several times whether it is worth visiting the mounds. And they also say that at night a green fog rises over the mounds, and anyone who gets into it will not return. Say, the dead will not let the living go. And then I wanted to go home …
According to the guide, the mounds should be located on the border with the village of Nemchinovo, in the Odintsovo region. It was only a little before him when we met the forester Andrey Kiselev. He certainly knows everything about these places and mounds! Now it will dispel my fears, I thought.
“I was brought here as a child in the early 1950s,” the forester looked at us suspiciously. But he spoke smoothly: - Parents worked at the plant in Mosrentgen, but as the war ended, the company suspended its activities and we arrived at Vnukovskoye.
“Well, we've been to the mounds,” I impatiently interrupt the man. The man frowns disapprovingly. Shakes his head, mutters something. And finally it produces:
- As a child, I heard horror stories about the ghosts of soldiers taking people there. I am a man of Soviet hardening, I did not believe in these nonsense … But somehow, by pure chance, I looked into those lands late in the evening. You know … I have never experienced such emotions before …
And I don't want to ever again … Your heart, you know, can not stand it … All of a sudden, the frost on the skin and it became scary. To horror! Now I remember - already cringe! No more foot there! I would advise you … come back home, huh?
But we went ahead … After walking along the path into the depths of the forest, we came to the Setun River. Evening came, and in my heart I, frankly speaking, hoped that we would not find the mounds. Terrible locals caught up, and on the way for several hours.
“According to legends, the territory of the mounds is surrounded by dead trees, and the soil has a special composition that allowed the weapons and things of those years to remain in perfect condition,” my guide suddenly uttered, looking around.
“Myth,” I thought, and suddenly I stumbled. At that moment, the sun finally disappeared behind the trees, and it became somehow incredibly cold … The chills appeared immediately. A strange thought arose: to call at least someone and tell me where I am … I took out my phone and … an unpleasant surprise - the network does not catch.
You will not be able to call, send a message. The same story is with the guide.
The road seemed endless. And, the strangest thing - no birdsong, no insect cracking. Any sound was perceived as a threat. Our own steps have become strangers. Now I am no longer ashamed to admit: a real panic has begun.
And only the guide's voice brought me to my senses:
- Seems to have come.
We came, but at the site of the supposed mound, a pit was dug, where a fire was made, there was a shop nearby and several sheets of paper lay. Are the locals just relaxing here? There are no myths? Legends? Is everyone a duck? Will the whole journey end in nothing? We decided to take a closer look at the place, since the flashlight on the phone was still working. Having illuminated the clearing, I saw something red in the bushes. French uniform? Blood? Fear rolled over again.
It seemed that dozens of cold eyes were watching us … We came closer and found ancient coins.
“Apparently, the black archaeologists have forgotten, although strangely, they are usually greedy for prey,” the guide said thoughtfully.
Let us go home
The trophy is great, and to be honest, it was enough for me. I wanted to get away with my legs faster because of the feeling of anxiety that did not let go. Finally, I looked around the clearing and … a man in a red cloak was sitting on a log that lay 30 meters away from us … His silhouette seemed to blur, the outlines were indistinct, but his gaze … Two glowing coal in the dark … "It seems," flashed through my head, and I wanted to run at breakneck speed … But my legs seemed to be nailed to the ground. The look did not let go. I only had enough strength to take off my glasses and blink … A moment - and the figure was gone!
- Let's get out of here, - the guide moaned in a hoarse whisper and, without waiting for me, rushed along the path. And I suddenly remembered a story that a resident of the village told me.
- About 30 years ago there was almost nothing here, except for village houses, a young couple celebrated a wedding. It used to be how it was - everyone knew each other what a holiday, but they invite everyone, treat them. But they got married, and a week later they disappeared. We went into the forest, I don’t know why. Father and mother have exhausted their whole souls, - said Maria Kondrashina. - Found one daughter-in-law. Doesn't remember anything …
But they say that the spirit of a soldier wanders in the forest, and those who see him do not return …
I don't remember how we ran away from that glade … We woke up already at the Peredelkino railway station. I thanked the guide for the trip, and he shook my hand goodbye and said that, of course, he did not believe in all these legends and fables, but it was better not to return to some places.
“There are many anomalous zones,” he said at last. - Believe in them or not - you decide. But treasure hunters have a sign - if the place is bad and it let you go, then it is better not to return to it. Happily!
Historical reference
Mounds are burial monuments erected from an earthen embankment. Napoleonic burial mounds - the burial place of soldiers who died during the Patriotic War of 1812.
It was in this forest that fierce battles between the French and Russian armies took place more than two hundred years ago. Napoleon's people in a hurry buried their dead comrades, covering them with earth, which is why the very mounds were formed here.