The Barn

3

This house was built by Yazep's grandfather. A sturdy wooden house that suddenly ceased to be a reliable shelter. The trouble fell on the head right through the roof, and the enemy entered through the walls.

The pain in my hand regained my composure. Yazep carried his wife to the bed, wiped her face with a wet rag. Rita opened her eyes and asked:

- Where are the chickens?

- What are you talking about, dear?

- The Bumblebee looked, the oxen looked, but the chickens did not look. Where are they?

- I will check, dear!

Yazep found a chair, a lantern, put on his shoes. Crossing himself, he opened the door and stepped over the threshold.

The workers, absorbed in their occupation, paid no attention to him. While Martin was taking another drag, Clement continued to develop his long-standing idea:

- I'll explain with the example of arithmetic. If the number of God is "three" and the number of the devil is "two", then the odd and even are divided in the same way. The line is "even", but God is "odd". Zero is technically an even number, as it sits between two odd ones - one and a negative one. Therefore, when the devil is always one number ahead of God.

- Why, then, there are twelve apostles, and the number thirteen is a damn dozen? - Martin asked.

Yazep, sweating profusely, took a few more steps.

And Clement was delighted with the question:

- Of the twelve apostles, one traitor. Which means only eleven. And the damn dozen is a confirmation of the superiority of the devil - he has the advantage. His dozen is more than a dozen God. That says it all.

A few more steps and Yazep is finally in the chicken coop. The hens slept peacefully on the perches. Yazep lit a fire and lit a lamp, which he brought closer to the rooster.

- Wake up!

And the c**k perked up, deciding that he had slept through the dawn, crowed, flapping its wings.

- More!

And the rooster readily crowed more.

When Yazep went out into the yard, the unfinished barn was no longer burning, the workers disappeared. The Bumblebee ran up to the owner, but he swung his flashlight at the dog. Without even thinking to drive the oxen into the barn, Yazep returned to the house. He woke up Rita and told her to get ready to go to the city at sunrise.