This story was told to me by an old hunter who happened to meet in the remote Siberian forests. What is remarkable, during our conversation, he constantly looked around, as if looking for someone with his eyes.
The short northern summer was drawing to a close. Having finished harvesting, we, with the husky Kondrat, went to the taiga, to the autumn fur trade. An old hut, which is a low pine log house with a pitched roof, has served us as a safe haven for fifteen years. A three-month supply of provisions, protected from mice, was always kept under the deck, in a large cedar chest.
And one evening, returning from another hunt, I found a broken window. A terrible mess reigned inside the hut: the table was overturned, the wood was scattered, and the chest was half empty. And most importantly, nowhere was the dog left at home on that unfortunate day.
- Kondrat, come to me! - Out on the threshold, I began to call the dog. The dog did not respond, and I had no choice but to go in search of a faithful friend.
It has long been dark in the forest. From the sky, quietly rustling, drizzled a fine rain, and somewhere in the distance there was a resounding hooting of an owl. And even for me, who knew every nearby bush by heart, it was uncomfortable to move through the night taiga.
Suddenly, there was a familiar barking ahead. By the disturbing notes in his voice, it became clear that the dog was calling for help. But, no matter how much I moved in his direction, the distance between us did not decrease. And after half an hour, the sounds stopped altogether.
Finding myself in a round meadow illuminated by the dim light of the moon, I realized that I had lost my way. Confusion and hopeless despair gripped my soul. But the approaching cold made me come to my senses. From the spruce branches it turned out to make a small shelter, in which I, without closing my eyes, sat until the morning twilight.
The bright September sun peeped out from behind the clouds, raising the spirits. Thanks to him, I managed to orient myself: on my way to the east, I came out into a narrow clearing. I was slowly trudging towards the hut with an uncertain step, when suddenly Kondrat ran out to meet me. I think it's not worth describing my emotions here.
Promotional video:
What happened in the hut still remains a mystery. I would like to believe that some wild animal, having felt the smell of food, got inside. But who could the dog be afraid of?