Shark hunting. Spartacus

- Spartacus to the ring! – was heard the voice of the «announcer».

On the trampled field, surrounded by the public, stretching his muscles stood a man about two meters tall. He looked about thirty or thirty-five years old. He looked very big and powerful, with a fashionably trimmed beard. Crunching his bones, the fighter stared intently into the eyes of his approaching opponent. Everything about the man was that of a ruthless predator, lacking only a tiger's growl.

Spartacus, on the other hand, seemed noticeably smaller in build, though he had a muscular and also quite sturdy body. He shook his hands, balled his fingers into fists, and stood in front of them. They ducked slightly and prepared to fight.

The night ring, far away from the city on a vacant lot, was lit by the headlights of the cars surrounding the spectacle site. And with them a crowd of people, mostly men, who were betting.

It was already beginning to dawn, and it was time for the final round. The previous defeated fighters also joined the fans.

- The cast-iron against Spartacus! Place your bets, gentlemen! – announced the announcer, also the referee in one person. After some quick comments about the competitors, he says there are no rules in this match!

- Spartacus is good! – Someone from the audience shouted out, - my money's on you, brother, don't let me down!

Then Spartacus' opponent, the one nicknamed Chugun, growled in displeasure, staring at him point-blank.

Spartacus, with his fists clenched at his head, began to move slowly in a circle preparing to defend himself. His opponent followed. And after a minute, he lunged forward, delivering a straight long blow to the head. Spartacus swayed sideways. He felt a sharp pain not only pierce his eye, but also swell up, blocking his view. No sooner had he regained consciousness than he was thrown to the ground. Chugun with a sharp kick to the inside of his knee. And Spartacus settled down. After that, the latter tried to grab his neck from behind, jamming it into his elbow. But Spartacus turned his head to the side and didn't let him squeeze his trachea. With his free hand from behind, he grabbed Chugun by the chin. And with all his might, he pushed his head back. Chugun involuntarily relaxed his grip, and at that moment Spartacus made an effort and jerked out. At the same time, he gave him a powerful punch to the liver. Chugun jerked back, finally letting his opponent out of his grasp. Without wasting a second, Spartacus turned around and kicked him in the jaw with his knee. Chugun went down. Knockout.

He was sitting on the edge of a dilapidated but large stump. Once upon a time, it been a handsome century-old pine tree. He sank a straw into his teeth and stared out into the distance. Ahead lay a ravine, and beyond it ran a small river. And behind him, across the field, stretched the village where Spartacus had been born and raised. His hair, a little sunburnt, was sticking to his forehead from the sweat. And stuck to his forehead, and his broad, tanned back, as if smeared with oil, shimmered in the faint rays of the morning dawn.

After a jog along the confusing and dusty roads and a short workout at the makeshift bar, the young man gave himself a little break. Although his stomach was already rumbling with hunger, but he was no hurry to go home. Solitude with nature was his favorite thing to do. Especially in the early morning, while life was still awakening around him. No one interfered with dreaming, making plans, solving questions, and healing his soul. He sat with his heated body exposed to the soft breeze of the departing summer. Thoughts and dreams carried him far beyond the horizon. Absorbed in his thoughts, he did not notice someone approaching him.

- How long are you going to sit there? – the squeaky voice of his stepfather's son. Hardly move his fat legs, he reached the outskirts of the village.

- What do you want? – Spartacus, without turning around, said in his bass voice in contrast to his voice.

- What's up... my father's calling, he's got something to do.

- His jalopy broke down again? – Spartacus interrogated, putting his feet down on the ground.

He grabbed his shirt from the nearby bush, where he had hung it before. And throwing it on his shoulder, with a leisurely step went in the direction of the river bank.

- What can I say? He said he was in a hurry, urgent business. – said guy followed him.

- Okay, I'll soon, Stepka, - he answered, - I'll have a swim in the river once and then go back. But you go. Or you'll drown again if you get into the water.

- Well, teach me to swim, Spar?! – The boy begged in a frustrated voice.

- Later, there is no time now.

Stepan saddened his head, turned away and went back muttering to himself, - always so, no time, no time...

Upon reaching the edge of the shore, Spartacus took off his old jeans and underwear and quickly entered the water. Reaching the depths, he jerked and after a few meters swam out with a soft moan of bliss. His flesh, warmed by training slowly began to cool in the chilly waves of the small river.

Robust torso, firm muscles, and hawkish gaze of gray eyes. Many girls in the area drove mad. Everyone was trying to get his attention. And women, some older ones, craved it with undisguised desire.

His mother kept trying to keep the huntresses away from her very handsomely son as best she could. But they still managed to make contact with him.

With it, he was also involved in underground fights there. His mother sometimes treated him for weeks after fight. And no amount of her tears or threats could dissuade him from the dangerous occupation.

- Why did Herman give you this name? - She sometimes wailed as she bandaged her son's wounds. - Do you want to die like him, too?!

- Mom, stop it, it's just a sport. We don't really fight, - he tried to reassure her.

And he don't leave it, because its business was making good money. But not only that trouble, he had a string of groupies following him around. And he didn't mind.

Sometimes, a pretty young women Vera ask him to help her sort out the wiring at home, and Spartacus not say «no». And work somehow... drags on until morning. Or, for example, Claudia needs help, too. Fixing the furniture... the table is broken! And it's the same story. This is the life they continue to live. Spartacus just can't refuse anyone, because have so kind soul.

- Don't let your kindness bring you a baby in a hem! - scolded his mother.

- What I'm a fool?! - replied the guy to her. Often he ran away from such talk.

- What happened, Uncle Pasha? - Spartacus asked, sitting down at the table.

He had not seen his stepfather since this morning, and their conversation dragged on into the evening.

- After dinner, we'll go away, and we'll discuss it there. - The man answered him. From a large frying pan in the middle of the table he poured fried potatoes into his plate, then reached for a dish of fried chicken.

- May I help Spar? - Stepan asked with his full mouth.

- No, - Spartacus answered for his stepfather, picking up his fork.

- It's not mending, son, - said the man, ignoring his stepson's words.

- So what? - With a worried look at her husband, the guy's mother asked.

- It is a man's business, woman. Don't interfere, we will sort it out ourselves.

She sighed and looked at her son. Spartacus immediately looked up at her and slowly lowered his eyelids, giving her a sign not to worry.

After dinner they went outside. The stepfather sat down on the bench by the gate and Spartacus stood across from him, preparing to listen intently.

- You dream of going far away from here, right? - The man began from afar.

- So?

- The money you're saving from the fights won't even be enough for a one-way ticket, believe me, son. And it's dangerous. Look at your mother, she's exhausted.

Spartacus furrowed his brow in annoyance. «What's he trying to lecture me about?» - he thought, and said aloud:

- What do you have to offer me?

He hesitated, choosing his words, and then said:

- There is a very rich man.

The man waited silently for the rest.

- He has a daughter. She made her father very angry and he chased her out of the house.

- Should we look for her and bring her back? – Spartacus suggested.

- No, on the contrary.

- I don't understand, sorry?!

- We have to teach her father a lesson... - Uncle Pasha spoke softly.

- What do you mean, teach him a lesson? Can you explain it to me normally, without any hints?

- She's sitting here now, in the one house. He threw the girl out, and she got into the wrong place.

- Where here?

- In Volodya's barn.

Spartacus, his eyes widened, stared at his stepfather, whom he had always considered clever and far-sighted.

- You stole a rich man's daughter?

- Why did we steal her?! She came of her own accord.

The guy smiled nervously and shook his head, - No, - he sighed, - I'm not going to be a part of this. Thank you. It's not right for me! – he turned and started to walk away, but his stepfather stopped him by grabbing his elbow:

- Wait a minute, you don't understand. You have to take her home and be a hero. – Said the man, changing tactics.

Spartacus furrowed his brow again and turned around, bowing his head slightly, looking at his stepfather, - Uncle Pasha, are you crazy?

The man sighed deeply and his soft plump chest rose and fell together with his stomach. He pursed his lips as if to himself. – Okay, it's either that or we throw her out in the woods where we found and let her do what she wants! – He finished by slapping himself on the knees and stood up. The guy's stepfather knew exactly where to put the pressure on him to give up.

Spartacus, put his hands in his pockets and stood still, unable to move. And to agree to complicity in an obviously criminal case, resisted with all his being. And to abandon to the mercy of fate, perhaps the unfortunate girl, did not allow his soul.

After half an hour they reached an old house on the edge of the village. Wolodya was Uncle Pasha's nephew and had been absent for months, since he was always working in Moscow. The house was almost empty. Unless it was visited or used by friends or relatives. This time, too, it came in handy.

Spartacus was very angry. And the first thing he wanted to do was to free the girl from her captivity.

They quietly approached the barn and peered through the crack of the wooden door. A light bulb was burning dimly in the room, and a woman's silhouette appeared in the flickering light. The girl was sitting against the wall with her arms around her bent at the knees. Spartacus stared at her, trying to guess her age. Her pitch-black hair, gathered into a knot, revealed a rounded, beautiful face with large dark eyes and long eyebrows. He thought, she was no more than twenty-five years old. Stepping away from the barn, he walked just as quietly toward the gate. The stepfather followed him.

- How long has she been here? – Spartacus asked in a low voice.

- Since this morning.

The guy lifted his head and sighed in relief, muttering words of gratitude to God.

- Give me the keys to your UAZ, - he said, holding out his hand to uncle Pasha.

- Right now?! – with surprise interrogated the man.

- No, we'll wait till the cops come. Come on, - he demanded.

The stepfather put the keys in his open hand, with an unkind look in his face. But he went back without paying any attention. Quietly unlocking the door of the barn, Spartacus entered with his head slightly bent.

At the sight of a tall and strong male figure in the doorway, the girl flinched and got to her feet and started to back away.

- Don't worry, I won't hurt you. – He spoke as gently as possible, holding out his palms. – I've come to take you home.

- Did my father send you?

- Almost.

- What do you mean, almost?

- Your father doesn't know where you are, and I want to take you to him right now.

- Why should I believe you? – she asked.

- Why should I have to get you out of here?

They stood looking at each other for a while. Then she nodded and gestured with her hand for him to move away. Spartacus went outside.

Uncle Pasha disappeared as if he never existed.

- How did you know about me and who you are?

- A just country guy, passing by, heard the sound, - he answered, without taking his eyes off the road. They were driving out of the village.

- I didn't make any sound, - she answered, piercing him with her incredulous gaze, - and you said from the start that my father didn't know.

- Look, I don't know your name, even, - he muttered impatiently in his voice, - you'll be home soon, what more do you want?!

- Or maybe I don't want that!

The guy hit the brakes and turned his whole body toward her.

- Then we'll go back to the barn and I'll just disappear like I never was.

- How about you just drive me into town and disappear? – The girl parried, not taking her eyes off he.

- No, - he answered in a calm tone. – I'll take you home. Where do you live, tell me?

- I live in Chicago, - she answered in the same sarcastic tone.

- Damn! - he cursed, and with his lips pressed together, he took the wheel and started to turn the car around.

- Uh... guy, where are you going? – The ex-captive freaked out.

- Where to need! – He answered, and then snarled, - Why am I bothering with you? For what I need your problems ?! You want to play cat and mouse, that's your business.

- My name is Nadya, I really just came from America. My father wants to marry me off to his friend's son, and I don't want to, so I ran away, - she said quickly, - Please believe me!

The girl changed her tone, and he suddenly felt sorry for her. He stopped and rubbed his forehead with his hand, then looked at her and asked, - and what do you think you will do next, run from him through the woods?

- I want to go back to America.

- Do you have your documents?

- I have only my internal passport with me, but my international passport I left at home.

He smirked faintly and added, - Well, it's for the best, you won't waste money on tickets. They will catch you at the airport as soon as you get there. So you don't have a lot of options.

She leaned back in her seat and stared at him intently. She smacked her tongue, and in a husky voice she said, - There is one win-win option.

- You look at me so strange, Nadia ...

- I em... do not have a lot of money now, but in the near future, I assure you, will repay you in excess, if you agree to help me. And tell me your name, please.

- Spartacus, - replied the lad.

- Spartacus?

- Spartacus, - he repeated.

- Not an ordinary name for a country guy... but you're a bit different, though.

He grinned again and turned away. Then he spoke softly, - my father give me that name, after the hero of the book, that one. He liked the Thracian very much.

- I should read it, - Nadia said aloud her thought.

He glanced at her again, and after a pause, asked, - So what shall we do? It's late, - he glanced at his wristwatch.

- Spartacus, marry me?!

- What?

- Not for real, - she added as she leveled herself slightly in her seat, - and on credit.

- Today is a day full of oddities. Nadezhda, this plan is a failure. I can't help you that way, I'm sorry, - he replied, and turned his head to the side again.

- Well, look, I'll go to America and we'll get a divorce. My father will forgive me and I can thank you. I'll pay you a lot of money. You can get away from here, start a new life, - she lured him, - or do you want me to take you with me to America?!

- Or I'll just go to jail for complicity in fraud, - he added, not responding to her suggestions, - I'm sorry, that's out of the question.

She snickered quietly. The resentment wiped all interest from her and she immediately turned away, asking in a half-voiced voice, - How long is the drive to Krasnodar from your Rogosovka?

- It'll take about two hours on this jalopy.

- Would you be so kind as to wake me up when we get there?

Then she covered her eyes and took a comfortable position and closed her eyes.

Spartacus shook his head slightly and started the engine.

Towards the entrance of the city, he called out to her. She immediately turned her head in his direction.

- You hadn't slept?

- I was.

- Doesn't look like it. Okay, where do we go from here? It's already midnight, I have to go back.

- Do you know Krasnodar well?

- Not bad, - he answered.

- Then to some normal hotel, I have money, - she said and turned her head out the window again.

- Stop. What hotel?! Give me the address of your home, and don't be silly, - he ordered.

- I'm afraid we can't get there in your jalopy!

- Where? Leave Chicago now, okay?!

- My father lives in Moscow, I came here by train, - she answered. – And I'll leave the same way. Tomorrow, - her voice was barely audible by the end.

Spartacus pulled over to the curb and stopped. He got out of the car, slammed the door, and began swearing loudly, while banging the wheel of the car with his foot.

- Damn that goddamn stepfather! Well, I'll give you one!

The girl got up and opened her eyes and stared at the furious guy.

After a few minutes he came back and stared at her in silence. She felt as if he was about to drive his fist into her. She cringed and slowly covered her head with hands.

- You're so fool! – he whispered.

- I don't want to marry that idiot! He disgusts me!

- What does this have to do with other people? Your father will be here tomorrow. He will find you and with you, me! And do you know who will be the last? – Spartacus almost roared at her, and he turned away, pressed his lips, punching on the steering wheel. The UAZ responded at once, beeping.

- I didn't call you. And neither did those people who invited me to stay with them. Assholes. Took all the information out of me and locked me up in the barn.

Spartacus, clenched his teeth, began to think, quickly looking for a solution to the problem. Uncle Pasha would answer to the full, just to get him home! But what to do with the girl, and how to take the trouble away from himself, and from others? God! Why did he get mixed up with her? He should have stuck his nose where it didn't belong. That's a damned kindness!

He sighed heavily and took his old cell phone out of his pocket.

- What's the number, - he said, trying to be as quiet as possible without raising his eyes.

- Whose?

But the question that followed made him move his gaze to her. He was ready to beat her now.

- Your father's!

- I don't have his number. I can't remember his number by heart. And I lost my cell phone,- she answered, blushing.

- Are you kidding me? – The guy said, barely able to contain his rage.

- Honestly. And don't look for it, please! I don't want to live there! – With these words she covered her face with her hands and began to cry.

He was immediately affected by her crying. In his eyes she suddenly turned into a defenseless little six-year-old girl. He had learned to tolerate many things in his life, but not a woman's tears.

He threw his phone away, leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, cursing quietly again.

- I agree, - he muttered after a few minutes.

She immediately stopped crying and first through her fingers, then lowered her hands and looked at him. Quietly interrogating, - Agree to what?

- To be your husband.

- We'll stay in a hotel, and tomorrow morning we'll go to the registry office. How much money do you have with you? – He asked in a tired voice, starting the engine.

She reached into the bodice and began to take out crumpled bills.

- I'm afraid to ask where you hide your passport, - he muttered, looking at the road.

- That's right. Don't be, - replied the girl, laying out the money on the front.

- There's even dollars, - he said with a leering glance.

- Yes, two hundred and fifty dollars and three thousand rubles.

- Give me a hundred, - he said, holding out his hand.

Nadia gave him a hundred-dollar bill.

- This is to get us signed tomorrow. Hide the rest back, - he commanded, putting the bill in his pocket.

By one o'clock they were all asleep in their rooms. Spartacus no longer had the strength to think about anything. Get married, then get married! In any case, he would have to somehow answer for this towerless, so at least as a husband.

Exactly at 9 o'clock they stood in the doorway of the registry office of the rural district center. Spartacus called his army friend early in the morning. And he helped him to arrange things quickly through his connections. After that he picked up his bride, who was not worried about anything. And they quickly rushed back.

One hundred dollars wasn't quite enough. They had to add the same amount, and they were signed. The bride and groom had to bring a certificate of pregnancy as the basis for the urgent registration.

When he was told about it, Spartacus almost refused, but Nadezhda drew him aside and promised that it would not come to the baby.

- I hope not, - he muttered incredulously.

About an hour later they were pronounced man and wife and issued a marriage certificate.

In her worn jeans and slightly dirty blouse, the bride still looked adorable. He stared at her for a while, then shook his head and walked to his car.

- I never would have thought that my bride would leave the registry office in jeans and with a ponytail on the back of her head instead of a veil...

- Whew! Well, you're my angel savior! – Nadia exulted, getting into an old UAZ.

And a proper outfit and motorcade! He smirked at his thoughts and started the car engine.

- Where are we going? – his new wife asked.

- To my house, - he said and glanced at her, added sarcastically, - to meet my mother-in-law and father-in-law.

- Are you serious?

- Do you want your dad to get suspicious?

- No, sure, you're right... but what would I do there?

- Live.

- For real?

- Yeah, for real. Like my wife. And get ready to work, darling. No one's going to let you lie on the stove.

- Are you kidding me?! We're not really married!

- Well, that's only for you and me. But for the rest of us it'll be a real marriage. – He paused and said, - Either that or get a divorce, and I'll go to your father myself and tell him everything, especially since I know the address and his name.

- No, no, calm down, there is no need to go anywhere and tell anything, - panicked the girl. – Let's better agree on what we tell him about us. You know, when we met and stuff.

- Good idea, - agreed Spartacus. – When did you come from America?

- Over two months ago.

- Did you ever leave the house, go to a friend's house, sleep over, etc.?

- No. Went to my mom's cemetery, that's all.

He looked at her and mouthed words of condolence.

- Thank you, she died when I was ten years old.

- From what?

- She got pneumonia.

He sighed heavily and stroked her shoulder. Nadezhda looked at his hand and he immediately took it away.

- My father died, too, when I was that age.

- And you said I'd have to meet my father-in-law.

- I have a stepfather.

- Oh, okay, I'm sorry.

- It's okay.

- I'm sorry, too. What did your dad die of? – A girl asked sadly.

- There was a fire in our house. He dragged my mother and me out, and then he was rescuing the cattle. And a burning beam fell on him. Everything burned. And my stepfather took us in afterwards...

- You don't like him?

- I'm neutral towards him. He doesn't hurt my mother and I don't resent him.

- Did he treat you like a son?

- I wouldn't say that, - Spartacus said, straining his memory, his forehead wrinkled and his eyebrows pulled together on the bridge of his nose. – My father was my boxing coach; unfortunately, he died a few years ago, too. But Uncle Pasha didn't particularly stress me out, and I was fine with everything. He even taught me a lot of things...

- About what?

- To understand cars, to fix them. He was a car mechanic all his life. Build the house, and do everything around the house. He doesn't drink, he's a regular guy, a hard worker. But he has weaknesses, we all have them, - he added, and smiled slyly.

They came to a small farmstead with a straight high fence, over which hung thick green branches of bushes and trees. They could see that the garden was well maintained and in bloom.

- Welcome home, wife! – with these words, he got out of the car and walked around it, then opened the door for her.

She blushed slightly and put her hand in his palm and followed him.

- For everyone we are a real couple, so don't frighten if I touch you, - he spoke softly and opened the gate.

- Mom, is Uncle Pasha home? – he turned to his mother, who was hanging up the laundry outside.

- Hello, – said the girl, not resolutely.

The woman froze in place, mouth ajar. And just as faintly said hello in response, glancing at the clutched hands of the young.

- Mom, meet Nadia, she's my wife. – Spartacus quickly muttered and rushed towards the house, repeating his question – so he's home or not?

- What do you mean son? – She asked me, confused.

- I said, is Uncle Pasha home?

- Who is it, I don't understand? – mother asked the question as she came closer.

Nadezhda, a little frightened, began to hide behind her husband's back.

- And this, Nadia, is my wife, - repeated Spartacus in a direct tone, as if it were a dog or a motorcycle that he had accidentally purchased.

- What, such a wife? – didn't understand the woman, circling around them. – You didn't tell me you got married and why I'm seeing her for the first time?

- It just so happened, I'm sorry, - the guy spoke, hugging his wife. – We just got married today. She is pregnant and we had to hurry...

He regretted saying that as his mother immediately smacked him with the wet towel she held in her hands. He released the girl's fingers from his and, covering his head with hands, darted away. Mother followed him.

- How many times have I warned you to stay away from girls?! But you knocked someone up?!

- I love her, - Spartacus shouted and ran out into the street.

Nadezhda stood like a stone in the middle of the yard and did not know what to do now.

- And you're not bad...! - said Stepan, coming down to her and looking at her from all sides.

She wrapped her arms around herself and cringed a little at his scrutiny.

But after a minute she felt again the strong embrace of Spartacus, who led her into the house.

- Know your place, boy, this is my woman! – With these words he pushed his half-brother aside a little and went up the stairs into the house. Her mother shook her head grudgingly as she looked after them.