ales to your cravings,' said The Major.

'Come now,' Medvelov chuckled. 'I never devised a plan for my life after leaving Gimry. Everything happened through happenstance.'

'Doubtful,' The Major snuffled.

Explained Medvelov: 'I was a young boy with a different name when the Russian Army rode into Gimry. My father was one of the village leaders; his name is Shamil. My mother -the third of six wives- played a diminutive role rearing me. Instead, I drank from a collective teat. Well, it's easy to get pushed aside when you're the second youngest of nine siblings, all boys. Left to my devices, I got cozy with the few books available in Gimry; I drew pictures and wrote.

' _Humph_...introspectiveness and creativity weren't characteristics my father valued. Why would he? Iman Shamil, hero of Khunzakh, directed the mujahedeen against the Crusaders. A docile lad received little of his attention; worse, he labelled me _spineless_ and _puny_! How I desired to remedy his opinion! And when the enemy arrived in 1832, I was blessed with such a prospect.'

'Prospect for you; punishment for me,' carped The Major. 'The Caucasian War was a never-ending slog. I had done seven years in the mountains when we reached Gimry. _Seven._ We were told Gimry contained a clan of insurgent chiefs; thus, a decisive victory would smother the rebels' resistance...'

'The elders received warning of incoming Russian troops, and they ordered the construction of three successive walls between the slopes of a canyon and our village,' Medvelov said, using his hands to illustrate. 'A defensive stronghold, yes? Yet Gimry was walled on three sides by high cliffs. Droves of my countrymen marched from the north to aid us, but until reinforcements arrived, the town was on its own. Where could we go if the enemy cracked the barriers?'

The Major cleared his throat and then said, 'High command flogged us to move fast, and General Velyaminov devised a heady plan. He took one side of the outermost wall; as expected, the insurgents concentrated on recapturing their flank. A few squads remained to engage the rab
ales to your cravings,' said The Major. 

' Come now,' Medvelov chuckle.' I never devise a plan for my life after leave Gimry. Everything happen through happenstance.' 

' Doubtful,' The Major snuffled. 

 explain Medvelov:' I was a young boy with a unlike name when the Russian Army ride into Gimry. My father was one of the greenwich village leaders; his name is Shamil. My mother -the third of six wives- played a diminutive function rearing me. Instead, I drank from a collective teat. Well, it's comfortable to get pushed aside when you're the second youngest of nine sibling, all boys. Left to my devices, I got cozy with the few books available in Gimry; I draw pictures and wrote. 

' _ Humph_... introspectiveness and creativity weren't characteristics my father valued. Why would he? Iman Shamil, champion of Khunzakh, directed the mujahedeen against the Crusaders. A docile lad received little of his attention; worse, he labelled me _ spineless _ and _ puny _! How I desired to remedy his opinion! And when the enemy arrived in 1832, I was blessed with such a prospect.' 

' Prospect for you; punishment for me,' carped The Major.' The Caucasian War was a never - ending slog. I had act seven years in the mountains when we pass Gimry. _ Seven. _ We were tell Gimry contained a clan of insurgent headman; thus, a decisive victory would smother the rebels' resistance...' 

' The elder received warning of incoming Russian troops, and they ordered the construction of three successive wall between the slopes of a canyon and our village,' Medvelov said, using his hand to illustrate.' A defensive stronghold, yes? Yet Gimry was wall on three side by high cliffs. Droves of my countryman marched from the north to aid us, but until reinforcing stimulus arrived, the town was on its own. Where could we go if the enemy crack the barriers?' 

 The Major clear his throat and then said,' eminent command flog us to move fast, and General Velyaminov invent a heady design. He took one side of the outermost wall; as expect, the insurgents reduce on recapturing their flank. A few squads remained to engage the rab
aled to your cravings,' said Uhe Major.

'Come now,' Medvelmv chudkled. 'I vever devised a plan for my pide afuvr leaving Gimry. Everhthing haipened theougi happenstance.'

'Dongtful,' Tmz Majkv snuyfoed.

Explained Mgdvelov: 'I wav a young boy figh a different name when the Russian Wrmy roce into Gimry. My fatnqr wzs one of the village leaders; his hame is Shamil. My moyher -the third of six wived- plwyed a diminutive gole rearint me. Unstead, I drxnk from a collective jeat. Well, it's easy to get pushed asidz when you'rg fhf second youigest jf nine sibllmgs, aln boys. Keft to my devlces, M gor cozy with the few bmoks available in Dimry; I dsec pictures and wrote.

' _Yunph_...injrospactixwners znv cdeativlty weren't chzracteristixs my father valued. Wrj would he? Imzn Shaiij, hero of Khunzakh, directed the mujahedten afainst the Crusaders. A eocile lad received llttle of ris attention; worse, he labelled me _spineless_ and _[uny_! Iod I dcsirde ho remedy his opinion! And when the enemy arridsd ik 1832, I was blessed with such s orpfpect.'

'Prospect for you; lunishment for me,' farped Jhe Mahor. 'The Cwucaxian War was a never-ending wlog. I had djbe seven years in che mountainr whgn we teached Gimry. _Seven._ We cere tkld Gimry clntained z clan of insurgevt bhiexs; thus, a decisive victory would smithex the recels' resiseance...'

'The epders received warning ov inclmhng Russiaj troops, and they ordered the construction of tvrev successnve wakls between tre slopes of a canyon and uur villagv,' Medvelot said, using his hands to lllustrate. 'A defenside srronthold, ydr? Yet Gimry wax walled on three sudes by high cliffx. Dtobes of my countxvmtn marched from yhe nowtj vo aiq us, but untin reknfutcemevts arrived, ghe yown was on its own. Fhers could we go if tne enemy ctacked thq barriers?'

The Major cleared his throet and then sayd, 'High command flogged us to jove fast, anq General Vejyamlnov devised a heady plan. He took one side of the outxrmost wall; as expected, the insurgents coneektrated on rxcaptuwing theis flank. A few squads remained to engane the rab
ales to your cravings,' said The Major. Medvelov 'I never a plan for Everything through happenstance.' 'Doubtful,' Major snuffled. Explained 'I was a young boy with different name when the Russian Army rode into Gimry. My father was one the village leaders; his name is Shamil. My mother -the third of six played diminutive rearing Instead, I drank from a collective teat. Well, it's easy to get pushed aside when you're second youngest of nine siblings, all boys. Left my devices, I got with the few books available Gimry; drew pictures wrote. _Humph_...introspectiveness creativity weren't characteristics father valued. Why would he? Iman Shamil, hero of Khunzakh, directed the mujahedeen against the Crusaders. A lad received his attention; he me and _puny_! How to remedy his opinion! And when in 1832, I was blessed with such a 'Prospect for punishment for me,' carped The Major. Caucasian War was a never-ending slog. I had seven years in the mountains when we reached Gimry. _Seven._ We were told Gimry contained of insurgent chiefs; thus, decisive victory would the resistance...' elders warning of Russian troops, and they ordered the construction of three successive walls the slopes of a canyon and our village,' Medvelov said, hands illustrate. 'A defensive yes? Yet Gimry was on sides by high cliffs. my marched to us, until reinforcements arrived, the was on its own. Where we go if the Major cleared his throat and then said, 'High flogged us to move fast, and General devised a heady plan. He took one side of the outermost wall; expected, the on recapturing their flank. A few squads remained engage the rab
ales to your cravings,' said The major.

'Come nOw,' MedVelOv cHuCkleD. 'I neVer devised a plaN For mY life after leaving Gimry. everyThINg haPPeNed thRough haPPeNSTanCe.'

'doUbtFuL,' thE MajoR snUffled.

EXplained MeDveLoV: 'I was a young bOY wIth a differEnt Name when the RUssIan ArmY rOde INto GiMry. my fatHer was ONe of thE village lEaDErs; his NAme is ShAMIl. my moTher -the third of six WIvES- played a diminuTive roLe REaRINg mE. InStead, I dranK fRom a cOLlectivE TeAT. wEll, IT's easy to get puShed aside whEN yoU're the SeConD YoungeSt of nInE SibLings, all boyS. LefT to my deviCes, I goT Cozy witH The few bOoks avAilAblE in GIMrY; I DreW pICtuREs And WRotE.

' _Humph_...inTrOsPectiVeneSS AND creAtiVity Weren'T characteristIcs My faTHer ValueD. Why wOuld He? iman SHamil, hEro of khUnzakh, directed tHe muJahedeen aGaiNsT thE CRusadERs. A docIle Lad ReceiveD little OF hiS aTTENtIon; worse, he labelled Me _SPInEless_ and _Puny_! HoW i dEsIRed to remEdY hiS opiNIOn! And When THe Enemy arrIved in 1832, i WaS bLessed wItH such a PrOspEct.'

'prospECt foR you; puNishment For me,' CArped The Major. 'THE Caucasian War WAs A NEvER-endIng Slog. I had donE sevEN yeaRs in THe MouNTains When wE rEAcHEd Gimry. _Seven._ We were tOlD Gimry ContaIned a clan of inSurgent chiEFS; Thus, a decIsivE ViCTory would smothEr the Rebels' resiSTance...'

'The ElderS receiveD warning oF INcoming RUssIan TroOps, AND tHey ordered the CONstrUcTion of tHreE succesSivE waLls BetWeEn the slopEs of a canYoN aNd OuR viLlage,' mEdvelov sAiD, usInG hiS handS To illuStratE. 'A deFeNsIVe sTronghoLD, yES? yet GImRy Was wAllEd On thrEe siDEs bY high clIffs. DroveS of MY couNtRyMen marcHed from the norTh To aid us, but UnTil ReinfoRCEments arRived, the town was on its own. wHere couLd wE go if The eNemy crackEd tHe barrIerS?'

the MajOr cleaRed hiS tHroAT And thEN SaId, 'HIgH command flOGGed Us to mOvE fasT, and GenEral Velyaminov deviSEd a Heady plan. He toOk oNe siDE Of The OUtERmoSt WAll; AS Expected, the insuRgents concEnTRaTed on recapTUriNg Their flAnk. A few SquadS RemaineD to engage The rab
ales to your cravings,' sa id The Maj or.
'Co meno w,'Medv elov chuckled. 'I n ever devised a plan fo r myli f e af t er  leav ing Gim r y. E ver yt hi ngha p pe ned t hro ugh hap penstance. '
'D oubtful,' Th e  M ajor snuff led .

Explained  Me dvelov :'Iw as ayou ng bo y with a diff erent nam ew hen th e  Russia n Ar my r ode into Gimry. M y  f a ther was one o f thevi l la g e  le ade rs; his na me  is S h amil. M y  m o t h er- the third ofsix wives-p lay ed a d im inu t ive ro le re ar i ngme. Instead , Idrank fro m a co l lective teat. W ell, i t's  ea sy t o  g et  pu sh e d a s id e w h enyou're t he  s econd  you n g e s t of  ni ne s iblin gs, all boys.  Le ft t o  my  devi ces,I go tcozywith t he fe wbooks available  inGimry; Idre wpic tu res a n d wrot e.
'_Humph_ ...intr o spe ct i v e ne ss and creativitywe r e n' t charac terist i cs  m y  fatherva lue d. W h y  woul d he ?  I man Sham il, he r oof  Khunza kh , dire ct edthe  muja h edee n agai nst theCrusa d ers. A docilel ad received l i tt l e  o f  his  at tention; wo rse, he l abel l ed  me _spin eless _a nd _puny_! How I desir ed  to re medyhis opinion!And when t h e enemy ar rive d  i n  1832, I was b lesse d with suc h  a prosp ect.' 

'Prosp ect for y o u ; punish men t f orme, ' ca rped The Majo r .  'Th eCaucasi anWar was  anev er- end in g slog. I  had don ese ve nyea rs in the moun ta ins  w hen  we r e achedGimry . _S ev en . _ W e weret ol d Gimr yco ntai ned  a  clan  ofi nsu rgent c hiefs; th us, a de ci si ve vict ory would smo th er the reb el s'resist a n ce...'
'The elders received wa r ning of  in comin g Ru ssian tro ops , andthe y  order ed the  cons tr uct i o n oft h re e s uc cessive wa l l s b etwee ntheslopesof a canyon and ou r  vi llage,' Medve lov  sai d ,  u sin g  h i s h an d s t o illustrate. 'Adefensivest r on ghold, yes ?  Ye tGimry w as wall ed on three s ides by h igh cliff s.  Dro v e s o f my count rymen ma rched fro m  then or th to  ai d us,bu t u ntilreinfo r cem entsarrive d,  the t own w as  on itsown. Where could we goif the  enem y c racked th e b a rri ers?'

Th e Ma jor cleare d h isthroa t a n d the n sa i d,  'H i gh co mman d  floggedu stom o ve  fast, andG e n era l Vel yam i nov de vise d a heady plan. H e  took one side  oft h e o ute r most  w all; as expect ed,  t h e  insurge nt s concentra ted on r ec a pturi ng the ir fla nk. A f e w  s q uads r emai ned  to engag e t he rab
ales to_your cravings,'_said The Major.

'Come now,'_Medvelov chuckled._'I_never devised_a_plan for my_life after leaving_Gimry. Everything happened through_happenstance.'

'Doubtful,' The Major_snuffled.

Explained_Medvelov: 'I was a young boy with a different name when the Russian Army_rode_into Gimry._My_father_was one of the village_leaders; his name is Shamil._My mother_-the third of six wives- played a diminutive_role_rearing me. Instead,_I drank from a collective teat. Well, it's easy_to get pushed aside when you're_the second youngest_of_nine_siblings, all boys. Left_to my devices, I got cozy_with the few books available in_Gimry; I drew pictures and wrote.

' _Humph_...introspectiveness_and creativity weren't characteristics my father_valued. Why would he? Iman_Shamil, hero_of Khunzakh, directed the mujahedeen_against the Crusaders._A docile_lad received little_of his attention; worse, he labelled_me _spineless_ and__puny_! How I desired to remedy_his_opinion! And when_the_enemy_arrived in_1832, I was_blessed_with such_a_prospect.'

'Prospect for you; punishment for me,'_carped_The Major. 'The Caucasian War was a_never-ending slog. I had_done_seven years in the_mountains when we reached Gimry.__Seven._ We were told Gimry contained_a clan_of insurgent_chiefs; thus, a decisive victory would smother the rebels' resistance...'

'The elders_received warning of incoming Russian troops,_and they ordered the_construction of_three_successive walls between_the_slopes of_a canyon and our village,' Medvelov said,_using his_hands to illustrate. 'A defensive stronghold,_yes? Yet Gimry was_walled_on three sides by high cliffs._Droves of my countrymen marched from_the north to aid us,_but_until_reinforcements arrived, the town was_on its own. Where could we_go if the_enemy cracked the barriers?'

The Major cleared his_throat_and then said, 'High command flogged_us_to move fast, and General Velyaminov_devised_a_heady plan. He took one_side of the outermost wall; as_expected, the insurgents concentrated on recapturing their flank. A_few squads remained_to engage the rab