Late at night in the deserted cell a novice prayed. He was very tired, having worked hard for the day, and now he hastily recited words, hurrying to finish a long rule. He got off several times, stopped, and then continued on just as quickly. And he did not see how a figure had grown under the window. The uninvited guest was huge and stood, leaning over, listening to every word, and on his face a smirk wandered. When he heard that the novice mixed up the words of the prayer, he pushed the door with his shoulder and found himself inside.
The owner was taken aback. In front of him, stupid and ugly, stood ... the devil.
- Well? Do you want to talk? - the guest visibly grinned.
The man waved his hands, backed into a corner, and fell, squeezing into the wall.
- Go away, go away! Go away, go away! He whispered. His hand lifted, his prayer rope hanging helplessly.
The devil grinned, mockingly looked at the praye rope and moved closer:
- No, now I won't leave without you. You're mine!
The novice shook his head.
- Not! Not! Not yours! - his lips repeated in horror.
- How is it not mine? Chatterbox you! Hurry up! Let's go!
The face of the novice was sweating. He tried to control himself, but he was choking on the foul smell that the devil was spreading around him and wanted to turn away.
- Why do you turn your face? - the devil barked suddenly. - I heard how you pray! - and he began to hastily pronounce words, mimicking the novice.
He blushed painfully.
- Do you recognize yourself? - mocked the demon.
Yes, the novice recognized himself and his haste, and how he confused words. But still, he was the one who loved and worshiped God, and therefore raised his eyes and, feeling a sudden courage, firmly said:
- I am not yours! I'm a Christian!
- Ha ha ha !!! - cried the devil. - Christian! Many of you, wander the earth!
He made a movement, and in a flash the wall of the cell opened, and the whole world opened up to the eye of the novice. Many people, overtaking each other, hurried somewhere, hurried and confused. Tense, with tired faces, they seemed like clockwork toys.
“Here they are,” the devil grinned mockingly, “human dolls.” All hastily.... How do you think they have time to think? Do something deep and serious?
The novice shook his head longingly: where is it then to be in time! And the devil continued:
- The whole world lives like this: running, running. Hastily eat, hastily communicate with friends. Do you know what it is called? Devilish hurry. And devilish means mine!
And with these words he imperiously and demandingly stretched his paw:
- Get up!
The man shivered. He realized that if now, at this moment, he did nothing, he would fall forever into the painful power of these clawed, ruthless paws. But how can one he help himself, even if prayer is the only means and there is no saving power on his lips? And suddenly ...
Quietly, firmly and clearly, he said:
- Our Father!
The words sounded distinct, and the demon frowned.
- Hallowed be thy name! Thy kingdom come! - he uttered every word: hard, slowly, deeply, and the prayer that had already been spoken a thousand times thoughtlessly, suddenly found a new power. - Thy will be done ...
The guest felt bad, he twisted his nose, not finding a place for himself. And when the novice finished the prayer and all the same clearly and firmly said “Amen!” - the devil twitched - and disappeared.
The cell became quiet. Shedding tears, the novice crawled to the altar and grabbed the icon of the Mother of God. “Sorry, sorry!” he whispered. He wept for a long time, asking for forgiveness, and then discovered his rule and slowly, calmly and distinctly began to read it.
... The devil wandered through the forest for a long time, looking around at the novice's hut. Before dark, now it was glowing with fire. It was the heat of prayer, and even from here, from afar, he burned the demon with an intolerable flame. He was angry, his teeth glittered, but he could not get any closer ...
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