“And what about her?” I asked, pointing to the little girl.
“What, Marusia? She’ll come with us.”
“How? Through the window?”
Valek reflected a moment.
“I’ll tell you what; I’ll help you to climb through the window and we’ll go out another way.”
With the help of my new friend I climbed up to the window-sill. Untying the belt, I slipped it around the sill, seized both ends, and swung myself into the air. Then, releasing one end, I dropped to the ground and jerked down the belt. Valek and Marusia were already waiting for me outside, at the foot of the wall.
The sun had just set behind the hill. The town was sunk in purple mist, only the tall poplars on the island, stained by the last glow of the sunset, stood out sharply defined in pure gold. I felt as if I had been in the old cemetery for a day and a night; it was as if I had come there the day before.
“It’s lovely here!” I exclaimed, struck by the freshness of the evening and filling my lungs with the cool, damp air.
“It’s lonely here,” said Valek sadly.
“Do you live here?” I asked, as the three of us began to descend the hill.