| He was not permitted to buy newspapers, and was not allowed to walk beyond the limited time. Приводим полный английский текст по книге К. Аккермана.
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Dominin's manuscript, in Russian, which is here given in verbatim translation, contains a supplement with the Tzar's abdication manifesto, written in October, 1905, during the Russo-Japanese War, which was printed but never promulgated [любопытное приложение – Pед].
Parfen Dominin, who is sixty years of age, now lives in seclusion. He was born in a village in the Costroma Government and began serving the Tzar in 1896. His manuscript reads:
"Beginning with the first days of July, airplanes began to appear nearly every day, over Ekaterinburg, flying very low and dropping bombs, but little damage was done. Rumors spread about the city that the Czecho-Slovaks were making reconnoissances and would shortly occupy the city.
"One day the former Tzar returned to the house from his walk in the garden. He was unusually excited, and after fervent prayers before an ikon of Holy Nicholas the Thaumaturgist, he lay down on a little bed without undressing. This he never did before.
" Please allow me to undress you and make the bed,' — I said to the Tzar.
" 'Don't trouble, old man,' — the Tzar said, 'I feel in my heart I shall live only a short time. Perhaps to-day already' but the Tzar did not end the sentence.
" 'God bless you, what are you saying?' I asked, and the Tzar began to explain that during his evening walk he had received news that a special council of the Ural District Soviet of Workingmen, Cossacks, and Red army deputies was being held which was to decide the Tzar's fate.
"It was said that the Tzar was Suspected of planning to escape to the Czech army, which was advancing toward Ekaterinburg and had promised to tear him away from the Soviet power. He ended his story by saying resignedly:
" 'I don't know anything.'
"The Tzar's daily life was very strict. He was not permitted to buy newspapers, and was not allowed to walk beyond the limited time.
"All the servants were thoroughly searched before leaving and upon returning. Once I was forced to take off all my clothing because the commissary of the Guard thought I was transmitting letters from the Tzar.
"Food was very scarce. Generally only herring, potatoes, and bread were given, at the rate of half a pound daily to each person.
"The former heir to the imperial throne, Alexis Nikolaievitch, was ill all the time. Once he was coughing and spitting blood.
"One evening Alexis came running into the room of the Tzar, breathless and crying loudly, and, falling into the arms of his father, said, with tears in his eyes: 'Dear papa, they want to shoot you.'
"The Tzar whispered: 'It's the will of God in everything. Be quiet, my sufferer, my son, be quiet. Where is mamma?'
" 'Mamma weeps,' said the boy.
" 'Ask mamma to calm herself; one cannot help by weeping. It is God's will in everything,' the Tzar replied.
"With ardor Alexis pleaded: 'Papa, dear papa, you have suffered enough already. Why do they want to kill you? That is not just.'
"The Tzar replied: 'Alexis, I ask you for only one thing. Go and comfort mamma.'
"Alexis left. The Tzar knelt before the ikon of Holy Nicholas, praying for a long time. During these days Nikolas became very devout. Often he would awaken during the night because of some nightmare. He would not sleep any more, but spent the rest of the night in prayers.
"From time to time the Tzar was permitted to meet his wife, Alexandra, or, as he called her, Alice, but his son he could meet whenever he desired. Once Alexandra Feodorovna came weeping into the Tzar's room, saying: 'It is necessary in any case that you should put all your papers and documents in order.' After this Nikolas wrote all night.
"The Tzar wrote many letters, among them those to all his daughters, to his brother Michael, to his uncle, Nicholas Nicholaievitch, General Dogert, Duke Gendrikoff, Count Olssufieff, the Prince of Oldenburg, Count Shuma'rokoff Elston, and many others. He did not seal his letters, as all his correspondence was controlled by the Soviet censors. Often it happened that his letters were returned by the commissary of the Guard, with the pencilled remark: 'Are not to be forwarded'.
"For many days Nikolas Alexandrovitch would not eat. He would fall down and only pray. Even for a man who had not the gift of observation it was evident that the former Tzar was greatly troubled and feeling heartsick.
"On July 15, late in the evening, there appeared suddenly in the Tzar's room the commissary of the Guard, who announced: " 'Citizen Nikolas Alexandrovitch Romanoff, you will follow me to the Ural District Soviet of Working men, Cossacks, and Red army deputies.'
"The Tzar asked in a pleading tone: " 'Tell me frankly, are you leading me to be shot?'
" 'You must not be afraid, nothing will happen until your death. You are wanted at a meeting,' the commissary said, smiling.
"Nikolas Alexandrovitch got up from his bed, put on his gray 'soldier blouse and his boots, fastened his belt, and went away with the commissary. Outside the door were standing two soldiers, Letts, with rifles. All three surrounded him, and for some reason began to search him all over. Then one of the Letts went ahead. The Tzar was forced to go behind him,next to the commissary, and the second soldier followed.
"Nikolas did not return for a very long while, about two hours and a half at least. He was quite pale, his chin trembling.
" 'Old man, give me some water/ he said:
"I brought him water at once. He emptied a large cup.
" 'What happened?' I asked.
" 'They have informed me that I shall be shot within three hours.'
"During the meeting of the Ural District Soviet a minute of the trial was read in the presence of the Tzar.
It was prepared by a secret organization named the Association for the Defense of Our Native Country and Freedom. It stated that a counter-revolutionary plot had been discovered, with the object of suppressing the workmen's and peasants' revolution by inciting the masses against the Soviet by accusing it of all the hard consequences resulting from imperialism all over the world war and slaughter, famine, lack of work, the collapse of transportation, the advance of the Germans, etc.
"The indictment further stated that to attain this the counter-revolutionists were attempting to join all the non-Soviet political parties, Socialists as well as imperial parties. The evidence presented at the trial showed that the staff of this organization could not carry out its intentions fully because of a divergency of views regarding the tactics between the Left and Right parties. The evidence presented showed that at the head of the plot stood the Tzar's personal friend, General Dogert.
"The evidence presented against the Tzar shows that hi this organization were working also such representatives as the Duke of Krapotkine, Colonel of the General Staff Ekhart, Engineer Llinsky, and others. There are reasons for believing that Shavenpoff was also in direct connection with this organization and that he was supposed to be the head of the new government as a military dictator.
"All these leaders had established a very strong conspiracy. In the Moscow fighting group were 700 officers who afterward were transferred to Samara, where they were to await reinforcements from the Allies with the purpose of establishing a Ural front to separate Great Russia from Siberia. Later, according to the supposed plot, when results of the famine should show, all those sympathizing with the overthrow of the Soviet would be mobilized to advance against Germany.
"The evidence presented shows proofs that certain Socialist parties were taking part in the plot, including the Right Social Revolutionists and Mensheviki, working in full harmony with the Constitutional Democrats. The chief of staff of this organization was in direct communication with Dutoff and Denekin.
"The testimony stated that during the last few days a new plot had been discovered, having for its object the rescue of the former Tzar from the Soviet with the help of Dutoff.
" Besides this, it was proved at the trial that the Tzar conducted secret correspondence with his personal friend, General Dogert, who urged the Tzar to be ready to be freed.
"In view of this evidence, together with the trouble some situation caused by the decision of the Ural District Soviet to evacuate Ekaterinburg, the former Tzar was ordered to submit to execution without delay because the Soviet believed it harmful and unjustifiable to continue to keep him under guard.
" 'Citizen Nikolas Romanoff', — said the Soviet chairman to the former Tzar,'I inform you, you are given three hours to write your last orders. Guard, I ask you not to leave Nikolas Romanoff out of your sight.'
"Soon after Nikolas returned from the meeting his wife and son called upon him weeping. Often Alexandra faulted and a doctor had to be called. When she recovered she knelt before the soldiers and begged for mercy. The soldiers answered that it was not within their power to render mercy.
" 'Be quiet, for Christ's sake, Alice,' repeated the Tzar several times in a very low tone, making the sign of the cross over his wife and son.
"After this Nikolas called me and kissed me, saying: 'Old man, do not leave Alexandra and Alexis. You see, there is nobody with me now. There is nobody to appease them, and I shall soon be led away.'
"Later it proved that nobody except his wife and son, of all his beloved ones, was permitted to bid farewell to the former Tzar. Nikolas and his wife and son remained together until five other soldiers of the Red army appeared with the chairman of the Soviet, accompanied by two members, both working men.
" 'Put on your overcoat,' — resolutely commanded the chairman.
"Nikolas, who did not lose his self-possession, began to dress, kissed his wife and son and me again, made the sign of the cross over them, and then, addressing the men, said in a loud voice:
" 'Now I am at your disposal'
" Alexandra and Alexis fell in a fit of hysterics. Both fell to the floor. I made an attempt to bring mother and son to, but the chairman said: " 'Wait. There should be no delay. You may do that after we have gone.'
" 'Permit me to accompany Nikolas Alexandrovitch,' — I asked.
" 'No accompanying,' was the stern answer.
"So Nikolas was taken away, nobody knows where, and was shot during the night of July 16, by about twenty Red army soldiers.
"Before dawn the next day the chairman of the Soviet again came to the room, accompanied by Red army soldiers, a doctor, and the commissary of the Guard. The doctor attended Alexandra and Alexis.
Then the chairman said to the doctor: " 'Is it possible to take them immediately?'
"When he answered 'yes,' the chairman said: " 'Citizen Alexandra Feodorovna Romanoff and Alexis Romanoff, get ready. You will be sent away from here. You are allowed to take only the most
necessary things, not over thirty or forty pounds.'
"Mastering themselves, but stumbling from side to side, mother and son soon got ready.
" 'To-morrow get him out of here/ the Soviet chairman commanded the guard, pointing at me.
"Alexandra and Alexis were immediately taken away by an automobile truck, it is not known where.
"The morning of the following day the commissary again appeared, and ordered me to get out of the room, taking with me some property of the Tzar, but all the letters and documents belonging to the Tzar were taken by the commissary. I left, but had great difficulty in procuring a railway ticket, because all the stations and trains were overfilled with soldiers of the Red army, tossing about evacuating the city and taking along all precious objects."
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Как видим, перед нами — именно, что «дословный обратный перевод», довольно нескладная калька с якобы дословного перевода оригинального русского текста на английский. Обратим еще внимание, что «Дословный перевод» предложенного Аккерманом текста (у нас нет сведений, сам ли он занимался этой работой или привлек кого-то еще; впрочем, мы, думается, знаем, кто был переводчиком, но об этом позже) вовсе необязательно предполагал отказ он достаточной доли конспирации. «Доминин» мог быть псевдонимом. Но как быть с князем Гендриковым? — резонно, что американцы-переводчики вполне могли ошибиться. Однако остается еще генерал Догерт и прочие персонажи. Было ли и это частью какой-то маскировки реальных имен? Мы видим также, что «Тобольские Ведомости» приводят все эти имена, все словесные формулы в абсолютном соответствии с английским переводом. А ведь они просто должны были в редакционных примечаниях, будь в из распоряжении копия русского оригинала рукописи, хотя бы упомянуть о некоторых ее несообразностях. Или в рукописи, полученной Аккерманом, стояли другие имена?
Мы бы и сами непременно поинтересовались: а существовала бы в природе эта рукопись, или нечто такое, что послужило пускай только «базой» для статьи Аккермана? Он, однако, принял решение внести текст в свою книгу, не высказав даже самого осторожного сомнения в его подлинности, что было бы всеми воспринято как нечто вполне уместное.
На чем зиждется эта непоколебимая уверенность?
Ответ мы находим в документах сугубо официального характера.
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