Khodinka (Tolstoy)
Short summary
Moscow, May 1896. During Nicholas II's coronation celebrations, Princess Alexandra Golitsin insisted on attending the popular festival at Khodinka field with common people rather than with the court.
Meanwhile, cigarette-maker Emelian Tagodin prepared to attend the festival with friends, hoping to receive gifts and lottery tickets.
When rumors spread that gifts were being distributed early, the crowd rushed forward. A terrible stampede began.
For the first time he felt afraid... fought his way through, treading on human beings on all sides. Friends, help—take my watch—my gold watch, shrieked a man.
Despite his fear, Emelian saved a child. Rina was crushed, lost consciousness, and fell. When she awoke, Emelian was reviving her with water. He helped her get a cab but refused her offer to meet her father for thanks, leaving her with a smile she never forgot.
Detailed summary
Section titles are editorial.
Princess Rinas decision and Emelians preparations
On May 17th, 1893, the eve of the popular festival celebrating Nicholas II's coronation, Prince Paul Golitsin argued with his daughter about her plans for the next day. He could not understand why she wanted to go with the common people instead of attending comfortably with the Court at the pavilion.
But, father, I do not want to *look at* the people; I want to *be with* them. I want to see how they feel towards the young Tsar.
Despite his concerns, he gave his consent and allowed her to take the victoria carriage to Khodinka field. Meanwhile, in the lodgings of the notorious Marie Yakovlevna, cigarette-makers gathered to discuss their plans for the festival. Emelian Tagodin met with his friends to decide when to start their journey.
The festival begins and the crowd turns dangerous
Emelian prepared carefully for the festival, sewing a button on his coat and cleaning his boots. He dreamed of winning a lottery ticket that might change his life.
Perhaps I shall get a lottery ticket and win... What couldn't I do with it? I could send something to the old folk; I'd make my wife leave her situation.
Early in the morning, people from all directions converged on Khodinka field. The edges were black with crowds, and fires were lit for warmth in the cold dawn. Rina walked with her cousin among the people, happy to be celebrating with them. A factory hand offered her a drink, and she felt the joy of the common people's celebration. However, when they tried to approach the pavilion, police blocked their way, so they returned to the crowd.
Rumors spread that the distribution of gifts had begun contrary to regulations. The crowd became agitated and began pushing forward. Emelian found himself caught in an increasingly dense mass of people, all trying to reach the tents where mugs and packets were being distributed.
Everything will be taken before we get there. But I'll be even with them, the beasts, the devils, cried Emelian, squaring his stalwart shoulders.
The situation turned deadly when gifts were thrown into the crowd from above. People began falling into a trench, with others tumbling on top of them. Emelian found himself climbing over human beings, fighting for his life. In the chaos, he heard a child screaming and saw a bareheaded boy in a torn shirt being trampled.
He heard a child's scream... saw a bareheaded boy... All fear for himself immediately disappeared and with it his anger against the rest. He was sorry for the boy.
Emelian lifted the child onto his shoulders, and a coachman helped carry the boy over the crowd to safety. When Emelian finally reached the pavilion, he received his mug and packet, but took no pleasure in them. He saw the first victim of the crush - a woman with brown hair lying dead, thrown over the fence right in front of the Tsar's pavilion.
Her face was white—that bluish white peculiar to the dead. She was the first who had been crushed to death and had been thrown over the fence right in front of the Tsar's pavilion.
Rina caught in the deadly crush
Rina and Alec had been moving peacefully among the seated groups when the sudden rush began. Before she could react, Rina was separated from her cousin and swept along by the crowd. Terror overcame her as she was pressed from all sides. Her dress was torn, her hat fell off, and someone snatched at her watch and chain. Though strong, she was in mortal fear from being unable to breathe. When the Cossacks charged to disperse the crowd, Rina lost hope, her strength failed, and she fainted, falling unconscious to the ground.
Emelian saves Rina and their parting
When Rina regained consciousness, she found herself lying on the grass with a bearded working man in a torn coat squatting beside her, squirting water into her face. It was Emelian. He explained that people had thought she was dead and had placed coppers on her breast for her burial, but he had recognized that she was still alive.
That's because people thought you were dead, they gave coppers for your burial. But I had a good look at you and thought to myself: 'No, she's alive.'
Ashamed of her torn dress and bare breast, Rina was grateful when Emelian covered her. A crowd gathered, including a policeman, and Rina gave her father's name and address. When Emelian returned with a cab, she learned that Alec had escaped safely. She invited Emelian to come with her to meet her father, but he refused with a merry smile, saying there was nothing to thank him for. His heart was filled with a strength he wouldn't have exchanged for a 200,000 rouble lottery ticket, and he departed, leaving Rina with a memory that would console her through life's most terrible moments.