Long long ago there lived an old priest deep in the countryside. He lived modestly. He looked after the small garden in his spare time and brought up an adopted son, whom he loved to the innermost of his heart. A great misfortune fell to the boy\u2019s lot. He was about five years old when their house was burned down at the rainy autumn night and all his family died in the fire. When it happened Priest took the child in his hands and since then never could leave him. It is doubtful whether the immature consciousness could realize all depth of the grief, but Aleshka was looking intently at the fire, tongues of flame were dancing in the pitch-black eyes. Apparently at that moment something awoke in his consciousness, but neither the boy, nor his adoptive father could say what it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It did not become apparent immediately. Two years passed after that terrible night. The fellow grew up silent. He communicated little with his peers and preferred to stay at home. He became very much attached to Priest and loved him like his own father. Once, going to baptize an infant, Priest as usual hugged Aleshka and joked about ordering him to look after the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why are you going there? - The boy\u2019s eyes were adultly serious. \u2013 You\u2019ll only waste your time\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hand opening the door stood still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 Why do you think so?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 I just know, that\u2019s it, - the boy shrugged his shoulders, turned away and got absorbed into his thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A wave of anxiety rose in the old man\u2019s heart. He seemed to recognize the hot breath of that ill-fated night in the fathomless eyes of the boy. \nWith the growing alarm he almost ran through the village and knocked at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mother in tears opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Great sorrow we have, Father. Our dear son has died towards morning. He started to gasp for breath, wheeze and then turned blue at night. We sent for a doctor. But nothing came out of it! Woe is me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Priest could not at once believe in what had happened. \u201cYou\u2019ll waste your time\u2026\u201d \u2013 his ears were still ringing with those quiet words. However he managed to vanquish the temptation and refrained from questions that hardly could be answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since then every once in a while Aleshka suggested the right decision in situations in which one would think he could not know how to act better. The priest began to consider the boy\u2019s opinion carefully. He only nodded his head in silence when predicted things came true. From time to time the boy let know beforehand about dangers and thanks to that it was possible to avoid troubles. Where had that unusual ability come from? \u2013 Nobody could answer that question. There remained only one thing to take it as the reality. Though, more frequently lights twinkled in the depth of the boy\u2019s eyes as if two small smoldering pieces of charcoal were slowly burning down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus autumn was over. The spring came and so on. Aleshka was in his thirteenth year, his father and teacher doted upon the responsive and hard-working pupil. The boy was happy to do his work about the house; little by little he shouldered the main part of it. He coped with grammar quickly, read those few books they had with great enthusiasm. He absorbed knowledge about environment readily. But there were such minutes when he suddenly became silent as if peering at some other world that was inaccessible to others. At such moments the old man tried not to bother him, leaving him alone with his inner world. One day those moments of silence lasted for a long time. At first the priest did not dare to come up to his foster child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And when he made up his mind \u2013 his heart jumped and started to pound with an alarming presentiment. Frightened eyes of the boy were full of tears; sinister crimson gleams were reflected in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What has happened, sonny? \u2013 His caring hand covered the boy\u2019s disheveled hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aleshka moved forward in silence, buried himself in his teacher\u2019s breast and burst into bitter tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m scared, father! Soon there will be a raging flood. If we did not tell about it, people would die, but if we did \u2013 I would lose you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not at once Priest realized the mercilessness of the situation and the terror of a choice the boy had to take. Until now he had never thought about the ordeal of the boy\u2019s gift of prevision. And now Aleshka, who had lost his relatives in the violence of elements, struggled between the desire to help people escape the terrible lot and fear of losing his dearest. The old man bowed before the greatness of the boy\u2019s spirit, who had to take such a mature choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hold on, my little! \u2013 the teacher realized that he was unable to make the boy\u2019s way easier, but he wanted to do everything possible to make his pupil ready for that way.\nThink of our life. It was devoted to people. Haven\u2019t we forgotten of the sleep when at rainy night we were called to the neighboring village for receiving the confession of the person who was dying? Weren\u2019t you with me, when we blocked the way of brigands? That time we were armed only with the Word of God and belief in God\u2019s justice. Remember, my boy, our life has meaning only when somebody else needs it. And its meaning is to give people more warmth of our hearts, because when we give out our love, we get God\u2019s love. And if there is God\u2019s love in your heart, you have nothing to fear, because God himself lives in your heart. Tell me, please, would it be possible for us to live in harmony if we knew that we could save people\u2019s lives, but did not do it? How can God live in the heart, which refused to rescue his neighbors?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aleshka wiped his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you, father, I understand. Tell people, that in a week there will be a driving rain and our village will be drowned. It is necessary to take shelter in caves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That turned out not so easy for Priest to persuade his fellow villagers. By the fixed time people collected their belongings and provision that they could take with them. They found shelter in clefts of the rocky mountain peak, located not far from their village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Water flows had been pouring for three days nonstop. Lightning flashed, the wind howled. It seemed that no living thing remained alive for miles around. Villagers warmed themselves with the fuel they had prepared beforehand. They thanked God that the nightmare finished. And our heroes with all their might tried to give hope to people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the sun appeared after the days of rain, villagers celebrated that happy moment. But their joy faded when they saw what remained from their home village. Roofs of several survived houses stuck out from the water, the rest was wiped off the face of the earth. They had nothing else but to rebuild their village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hard workdays were passing slowly. Wild rumors started spreading among people faint with hunger and backbreaking toil. There were talks that Priest should have been bound with Satan since he revealed his malicious plan beforehand. Many pieces of gossip and a great deal of talks were amassing like a snowball. Villagers were eaten up with the vile envy. Finally they got together and decided to call the one responsible for all that had gone wrong in their village to account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For some time past the boy did not leave his father, friend and teacher in view of their impending parting forever. And when the spiteful crowd was coming up to Priest\u2019s house, Aleshka was crying his heart out on Priest\u2019s breast:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 They\u2019ll kill you! But why? If it were not for you, they all would die!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 Don\u2019t cry, sonny! Take it with fortitude as you cannot change anything. We rescued those people not for reward or gratitude. Recollect how happy they were when the sun emerged from behind the clouds. Today fear and ignorance lead them - the main enemies of the mankind. And only God\u2019s love, that is hidden in the heart, may win the victory over them. Don\u2019t be afraid of what will happen. You have just grown up and it\u2019s time for you to build your own independent life. Don\u2019t pay attention that your body hasn\u2019t become strong enough, you have the stronger spirit than many others do. Go ahead your life way bravely, for your feet have already taken the path of the one, whose love you bear in your heart. Don\u2019t think that all people on the Earth are ignorant and merciless. You always considered me your spiritual father, but the time will come and you will meet your soul brothers. Don\u2019t worry about me. My soul belongs to God and nothing will happen to me without his knowledge. If my hour has come, it only means that my ordeal on this Earth comes to its end. Go away, my boy! It\u2019s no good for you to see what will happen here. Your way has just begun. And though I cannot see the future, I believe that the time will come and we will meet if not on the Earth, then in the Kingdom of Heaven. Remember, that my spirit and my heart are always with you. Go, my son, and let your let your way be bright!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aleshka did not see what happened next. He knew, that earthly way of his adoptive father, friend and teacher is coming to its end today. We also will not watch this revolting scene of killing the man who was praying to his last minute for the salvation of the people killing him. We don\u2019t know the further fate of the villagers, but it is doubtful whether they would find their luck. The last wish of old Priest was fulfilled. Alexey\u2019s life was bright. He walked through the country and gave people grains of knowledge from the Divine World. The crystal of God\u2019s love that was growing in his heart reflected those grains. The flame in the depth of his eyes did not go out. The even, unfading Light was shining in his eyes. It gave its warm to each one who needed the sincere affection.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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