"Исаак Башевис Зингер. Taibele and her demon " - читать интересную книгу автора

book bought from a peddler. It was about a young Jewish woman, and a demon
who had ravished her and lived with her as man and wife. Taibele recounted
the story in all its details. The women huddled closer together, joined
hands, spat to ward of evil, and laughed the kind of laughter that comes
from fear.
One of them asked: "Why didn't she exorcise him with an amulet?"
"Not every demon is frightened of amulets," answered Taibele.
"Why didn't she make a journey to a holy rabbi?"
"The demon warned her that he would choke her if she revealed the
secret."
"Woe is me, may Lord protect us, may no one know of such things!" a
woman cried out.
"I'll be afraid to go home now", said another.
"I'll walk with you," a third one promised.
While they were talking, Alchonon, the teacher's helper who hoped one
day to become a wedding jester, happened to be passing by. Alchonon, five
years a widower, had the reputation of being a wag and a prankster, a man
with a screw loose. His steps were silent because the soles of his shoes
were worn through and he walked on his bare feet. When he heard Taibele
telling the story, he halted to listen. The darkness was so thick, and the
woman so engrossed in the weird tale, that they did not see him. This
Alchonon was a dissipated fellow, full of cunning goatish tricks. On the
instant, he formed a mischievous plan.

After the women had gone, Alchonon stole into Taibele's yard. He hid
behind a tree and watched through the window. When he saw Taibele go to bed
and put out the candle, he slipped into the house. Taibele had not bolted
the door; thieves were unheard of in that town. In the hallway, he took off
his shabby caftan, his fringed garment, his trousers, and stood as naked as
his mother bore him. Then he tiptoed to Taibele's bed. She was almost
asleep, when suddenly she saw a figure looming in the dark. She was too
terrified to utter a sound.
"Who is it?" she whispered, trembling.
Alchonon replied in a hollow voice: "Don't scream, Taibele. If you cry
out, I will destroy you. I am the demon Hurmizah, ruler over darkness, rain,
hail, thunder and wild beasts. I am the evil spirit who espoused the young
woman you spoke about tonight. And because you told the story with such
relish, I heard your words from the abyss and was filled with lust for your
body. Do not try to resist, for I drag away those who refuse to do my will
beyond the Mountains of Darkness - to Mount Sair, into wilderness where
man's foot is unknown, where no beast dares to thread, where the earth is of
iron and the sky of copper. And I roll them in thorns and in fire, among
adders and scorpions, until every bone of their body is ground to dust, and
they are lost for eternity in the nether depths. But if you comply with my
wish, not a hair of your head will be harmed, and I will send you success in
every undertaking..."
Hearing these words, Taibele lay motionless as in a swoon. Her heart
fluttered and seemed to stop. She thought her end had come. After a while,
she gathered courage and murmured: "What do you want of me? I am a married
woman!"