Couldn't he do something?
No!
Too late!"
But a red star shone day and night over the gate of Jenny's house.
He had lit it himself, with his own hand, and its rays glittered straight and sharp before his eyes.
An Army officer's daughter was in trouble!
An Army officer's daughter was in need of help!
He dressed hastily and ran out. A few minutes later he was standing on the porch of the old gentleman's house.
The light was still on in the doctor's room.
Timur knocked at the door.
It was opened by the surprised doctor. "What is it?" he asked drily.
"I'd like to talk to you," replied Timur.
"Me?" The old gentleman reflected a moment, then opened the door wide with a flourish and said, "In that case, please come in."
They did not talk long.
"That's all we've been doing," Timur wound up with flashing eyes. "That's all we've been doing and that's how we've been playing. That's why I need your Nick now."
The old man rose without a word.
He took Timur abruptly by the chin, tilted back his head, looked into his eyes, and then left the room.
He entered Nick's bedroom and tugged at the boy's shoulder.
"Get up," he said. "You're wanted."
"I haven't done anything," Nick babbled, his eyes rolling in fear. "Honest, Grandpa, I haven't done anything."
"Get up," the old gentleman repeated shortly. "Your comrade has come for you."
Jenny was sitting on a pile of straw in the loft, her arms clasped around her knees, waiting for Timur.
But instead of Timur, what should come poking through the window but Nick's tousled head!
"You?" Jenny exclaimed. "What do you want?"
"I don't know," replied Nick in a low, frightened voice. "I was sleeping.
He came.
I got up.
He sent me.
He told me to tell you to come down to the gate."
"What for?"
"I don't know.
I'm all dizzy myself.
I can't make head or tail of it, Jenny."
There was no one of whom to ask permission.
His uncle was in Moscow.
Timur lit a lantern, picked up an axe, called the dog, and went out into the garden.
He stopped in front of the door of the shed.
His eyes shifted from his axe to the padlock.
Yes!
He knew that it was wrong, but there was no other way out.
A well-aimed hit broke the padlock, and he wheeled the motorcycle out of the shed.
"Rita!" he exclaimed sadly, kneeling to kiss the dog on the nose. "Don't be angry!
I couldn't help it."
Jenny and Nick were waiting at the gate.
A light bore down on them swiftly from a distance.
They heard the chugging of a motor, then screwed up their eyes and backed up against the fence as they were caught in a glaring headlight. Suddenly, the light went out, the motor was shut off and they saw it was Timur.
"Nick," he began, without saying hello or asking any questions. "You stay here and guard the little girl asleep in the house.
You'll answer for her to the company.
Jenny, hop on.
We're off!