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where were you when the great convulsion came？〃
〃a long way from here；〃 will said。 〃i didnt know what was happening。 when the fog cleared； i had lost my family and i dont know where i am now。 youve told me the name of this place； but where is it？ where are we？〃
〃bring me that large book on the bottom shelf；〃 said semyon borisovitch。 〃i will show you。〃
the priest drew his chair up to the table and licked his fingers before turning the pages of the great atlas。
〃here；〃 he said； pointing with a dirty fingernail at a spot in central siberia； a long way east of the urals。 the river nearby flowed； as the priest had said； from the northern part of the mountains in tibet all the way to the arctic。 he looked closely at the himalaya； but he could see nothing like the map baruch had sketched。
semyon borisovitch talked and talked； pressing will for details of his life； his family； his home； and will； a practiced dissembler； answered him fully enough。 presently the housekeeper brought in some beetroot soup and dark bread； and after the priest had said a long grace； they ate。
〃well； how shall we pass our day； will ivanovitch？〃 said semyon borisovitch。 〃shall we play at cards； or would you prefer to talk？〃
he drew another glass of tea from the samovar； and will took it doubtfully。
〃i cant play cards；〃 he said； 〃and im anxious to get on and keep traveling。 if i went to the river； for example； do you think i could find a passage on a steamer going south？〃
the priests huge face darkened； and he crossed himself with a delicate flick of the wrist。
〃there is trouble in the town；〃 he said。 〃lydia alexandrovna has a sister who came here and told her there is a boat carrying bears up the river。 armored bears。 they e from the arctic。 you did not see armored bears when you were in the north？〃
the priest was suspicious； and balthamos whispered so quietly that only will could hear： 〃be careful。〃 and will knew at once why hed said it： his heart had begun to pound when semyon borisovitch mentioned the bears； because of what lyra had told him about them。 he must try to contain his feelings。
he said； 〃we were a long way from svalbard； and the bears were occupied with their own affairs。〃
〃yes； that is what i heard；〃 said the priest； to wills relief； 〃but now they are leaving their homeland and ing south。 they have a boat； and the people of the town will not let them refuel。 they are afraid of the bears。 and so they should be； they are children of the devil。 all things from the north are devilish。 like the witches； daughters of evil！ the church should have put them all to death many years ago。 witches； have nothing to do with them； will ivanovitch； you hear me？ you know what they will do when you e to the right age？ they will try to seduce you。 they will use all the soft； cunning； deceitful ways they have； their flesh； their soft skin； their sweet voices； and they will take your seed； you know what i mean by that； they will drain you and leave you hollow！ they will take your future； your children that are to e； and leave you nothing。 they should be put to death； every one。〃
the priest reached across to the shelf beside his chair and took down a bottle and two small glasses。
〃now i am going to offer you a little drink； will ivanovitch；〃 he said。 〃you are young； so not very many glasses。 but you are growing； and so you need to know some things； like the taste of vodka。 lydia alexandrovna collected the berries last year； and i distilled the liquor； and here in the bottle is the result； the only place where otyets semyon borisovitch and lydia alexandrovna lie together！〃
he laughed and uncorked the bottle； filling each glass to the rim。 this kind of talk made will hideously uneasy。 what should he do？ how could he refuse to drink without discourtesy？
〃otyets semyon；〃 he said； standing； 〃you have been very kind； and i wish i could stay longer to taste your drink and to hear you talk； because what you tell me has been very interesting。 but you understand i am unhappy about my family； and very anxious to find them again； so i think i must move on； much as i would like to stay。〃
the priest pushed out his lips； in the thicket of his beard； and frowned； but then he shrugged and said； 〃well； you shall go if you must。 but before you leave； you must drink your vodka。 stand with me now！ take it； and down all in one； like this！〃
he threw back the glass； swallowing it all at once； and then hauled his massive body up and stood very close to will。 in his fat； dirty fingers the glass he held out seemed tiny； but it was brimming with the clear spirit； and will could smell the heady tang of the drink and the stale sweat and the food stains on the mans cassock； and he felt sick before he began。
〃drink； will ivanovitch！〃 the priest cried； with a threatening heartiness。
will lifted the glass and unhesitatingly swallowed the fiery； oily liquid in one gulp。 now he would have to fight hard to avoid being sick。
there was one more ordeal to e。 semyon borisovitch leaned forward from his great height； and took will by both shoulders。
〃my boy；〃 he said； and then closed his eyes and began to intone a prayer or a psalm。 vapors of tobacco and alcohol and sweat came powerfully from him； and he was close enough for his thick beard； wagging up and down； to brush wills face。 will held his breath。
the priests hands moved behind wills shoulders； and then semyon borisovitch was hugging him tightly and kissing his cheeks； right； left； right again。 will felt balthamos dig tiny claws into his shoulder； and kept still。 his head was swimming； his stomach lurching； but he didnt move。
finally it was over； and the priest stepped back and pushed him away。
〃go； then；〃 he said； 〃go south； will ivanovitch。 go。〃
will gathered his cloak and the rucksack； and tried to walk straight as he left the priests house and took the road out of the village。
he walked for two hours； feeling the nausea gradually subside and a slow； pounding headache take its place。 balthamos made him stop at one point； and laid his cool hands on wills neck and forehead； and the ache eased a little； but will made himself a promise that he would never drink vodka ag