Chloe. The Tale of a Dead Flower
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"I'd like to come as soon as possible," Chloe wished.
Suddenly the horse stopped. Chloe cautiously looked out of the cart and saw four men on the road.
"Who are they?" Chloe whispered to Aunt Emma.
"Become silent and hide under a plaid," her aunt ordered.
Chloe covered herself with a plaid and did not move.
"Your way is over," one of the men said in an orderly tone. His name was Butch.
Butch went to the wagon and grabbed Uncle Stefan by the hand.
"Who are you such? What you need?" asked Uncle Stefan. He tried to free his hand from the strong grip of Butch.
"We are those who do not kill, but they take on someone else's good. We are forest bandits," Butch answered.
Butch was in charge of the gang, so he behaved very confidently and persistently. He threw off the uncle's wagons, and then to his aunt.
Chloe hid herself and was afraid to move.
"We are not alone," Uncle Stefan shouted.
"Of course. With you, your things," the robber agreed and hit the horse with a whip. The horse drove the cart.
"Chloe's daughter," screamed Aunt Emma.
Chloe looked out from under a plaid and, after seeing Butch, hid again. The remaining robbers fled into the forest. Aunt Emma and Uncle Stefan looked sadly at the wagon in which Chloe was sitting.
"Our poor girl," said Aunt Emma and began to cry.
Uncle Stefan embraced her, and stroked her head.
The moon entered into its full rights and changed the sun. Faded stars flashed in the sky with silver fireflies. The birds died down, but occasionally in the distance an owl hooted. The cart stopped.
"I made a wish," Chloe thought. She looked out from under a plaid and gingerly looked around.
Butch got off the cart, tied his horse to a tree and went to the fire. At the fire stood his son Colin and stared at the cart. Butch went to his twelve-year-old son and patted him on the shoulder.
"There are many things in the wagon. Tomorrow we will decide what to do with them," Butch said to the robbers present at the fire.
"I'll wait for the robbers to fall asleep and run away," Chloe thought.
The robbers spent a long time rustling about, like a flock of birds, and after a while dispersed through their huts. It became quiet and eerie. Chloe looked out from under a plaid and looked back. The fire nearly died out, and the girl could not see anyone in the dark.
"We need to get out of the cart," whispered Chloe. She crawled out from under a plaid and listened.
"Father, I'm staying at the wagon," Colin's ringing voice rang out in the darkness.
"All right," said Butch.
"What a nuisance. The escape is postponed for the morning," Chloe mumbled and crawled under the warm, black plaid. She hid herself, like a mouse and dozed off.
The morning singing of the birds awakened Chloe. The sun had not yet risen, but it was already light. The girl began to cautiously get out of the cart. Suddenly the horse snorted and scared Chloe. The girl pricked up her ears. Colin rolled over to his other side, but did not wake up. Chloe jumped gently from the cart and took a step.
"Who are you?" Chloe heard behind her. She turned around and saw Kolin.
"I, I," said Chloe, and took three steps from the boy.
"Who are you?" Colin asked again.
"My name is Chloe," the girl answered and ran away from the boy.
"Do not run away," Colin shouted.
Chloe did not look back and ran with all her might. Colin ran to his father and woke him.
"Father, the girl was hiding in the wagon. She, she just ran away," Colin said.
"If the bear does not eat it, the wolves will catch up and tear," the robber answered his son.
"And if she has taken away something valuable from the wagon?" Colin did not stop.
"Okay, you tired me son. Go and wake Breda. We'll catch up with the little thief," Butch ordered.
Colin ran to Bred.
"Wake up wake up. My father needs you," Colin said.
Black-haired and shaggy Brad opened his eyes and looked at the boy.
"Colin, you can go. I'll be right there," Brad said and rubbed his eyes.
Colin left the hut and went to his father. Brad dressed and followed the boy. The robbers went in search of Chloe.
The sun rose and began to warm the air. Chloe stopped and sat down on the grass to rest a little. The shadow of the trees sheltered the girl from the stinging sun.
"I want to drink," Chloe mumbled.
"We'll give you water," cried the robbers and surrounded the girl.
Chloe screamed in surprise. She put her feet under her and closed her eyes in her hands.
"Oh, you rascal, you wanted to escape. Immediately show me what you took with you from the cart," said Butch in a rasping voice. He walked over to Chloe and grabbed her arm.
"I did not take anything from the cart. I beg you to let me go," the girl asked.
"No! I'll sell you in the market," the robber answered and rudely pulled Chloe by the arm. Chloe began to fight and scream.
Barking dogs could be heard in the distance.
"It's time for us to go," Butch shouted. He dragged the girl along with him.
"Help," cried Chloe, and fell to her knees.
Butch was angry with the girl. He swung his hand on it to strike, but did not have time. A man on horseback struck Butch with a whip on his back, and the robber crouched in pain.