Ukrainian Music

Ryabov, Olexiy Panteleymonovych (1899-1955)

Wedding in Malinovka - continued

Plot

The Ukrainian village of Malinovka spread freely in the steppe. In the greenery of the gardens are drowned white mud huts. But everything seemed to die out around, do not rustle over Malinovka in the evenings fervent girlish songs. There is a severe 1919 year. A lot of troubles had to be experienced by the villagers. And then there's the new attack - in the district there was a gang of Gritsko - the son of the local rich Balyasnoy, who appropriated a magnificent title - pan-ataman Gritsian Tavrichesky. However, no matter how much Gritsko did, his affairs were bad - a bandit gang was falling apart before his eyes. Feeling that he did not stay long ataman, Gritsko decides to the last villainy - he plans to forcibly take in his wives the beauty that attracted him Yarinka.
And Yarinka does not know anything about the impending disaster. She is happy in her soul, because she has long loved the young shepherd Andreika.
One morning, lifting up the pungent dust clouds, Gritsian's mounted gang appeared on a rural street. Next to the ataman is his rightful adjutant, Popandopulo. Looking at him, it's hard to keep from laughing. He wears a riding breeches of green billiard cloth, a cap with a pancake, and all of his small frail figure is hung with weapons. "Hey, Yarinka," Gritsian stops the girl, "prepare for the wedding!" Today at eight o'clock we'll be married. " In despair, Yarinka rushed out of the village. The only hope is the detachment of the Red Army, who, according to rumors, stopped somewhere in the woods beyond the yar.
Yarinka tracked down the Red Army men. With participation listened to the excited story of the girl commander of the detachment Nazar Dumas, a native of these places, who lost his family in the burnt village. The difficult task is facing Nazar, because he has only thirty fighters, and Gritsian in the gang has one hundred and fifty! And then he decides to go for the trick. The Duma advises Yarinka for visibility to agree to a wedding. The commander's plan is simple: when bandits get drunk, the detachment suddenly attacks them and smashes the whole gang. To prepare this operation, Nazar the Duma under the guise of a soldier returning from captivity, makes his way to Malinovka, where preparations are being made for the ataman wedding.
However, the planned plan is in jeopardy. At first, Nazar unexpectedly meets his long-lost wife, who almost reveals his incognito. Then the commander learns that, according to Gritsian's order, the wedding was decided to be played two hours before the deadline. Report about this the Red Army soldiers are taking Andreyka. Warned them fighters are at the wedding in Malinovka on time!
Gladly welcome the residents of their liberators. But the Red Cavalrymen are in a hurry - time does not wait. After a short rest, the detachment marches on a campaign. Next to the commander is the newly-arrived daughter Yarinka and happy Andreyka. A red banner rattles in the wind, the famous song of the First Cavalier flies loudly over Malinovka.