Saint Nicholas was protecting them from trouble behind, and the Mother of God had them covered from the front. The car had been suitably consecrated with prayer, and its mistress strictly forbade smoking inside. Each time they stopped or started, Antonina would cross herself, meekly repeating to herself, or to the Mother of God or St Nicholas, “Onward we go. Watch over us!”
At the roadside, unable to hold out any longer, they had an impromptu picnic. Antonina, more from stress than tiredness, dozed off on a blanket on the ground. Sasha sliced something and arranged it prettily on plastic plates with great solemnity, like a little girl playing mother. She had remembered to bring toy knives and forks, and could then relax. Marfushin was able to relax only after he had surreptitiously pour
