Chapter One
The Field of Mars
Light came through the window, trickling morning all over the room. Tatiana
Metanova slept the sleep of the innocent, the sleep of restless joy, of warm,
white Leningrad nights, of jasmine June. But most of all, intoxicated with life,
she slept the exuberant sleep of undaunted youth.
She did not sleep for much longer.
When the sun's rays moved across the room to rest at the foot of Tatiana's bed,
she pulled the sheet over her head, trying to keep the daylight out. The bedroom
door opened, and she heard the floor creak once. It was her sister, Dasha.
Daria, Dasha, Dashenka, Dashka.
She represented everything that was dear to Tatiana.
Right now, however, Tatiana wanted to smother her. Dasha was trying to wake her
up and, unfortunately, succeeding. Dasha's strong hands were vigorously shaking
Tatiana, while her usually harmonious voice was dissonantly hissing, "Psst!
Tania! Wake up. Wake up!"
Tatiana. groaned. Dasha pulled back the sheet.
Never was their seven-year age difference more apparent than now, when Tatiana
wanted to sleep and Dasha was ...
"Stop ... read full excerpt from The Bronze Horseman ebook
