Soundtrack

We see you… We are the trees, the dark between. We have already seen. Three shapes in the fog — we knew them by their fear. No god, no border, no name — we are the ones that hear. We do not chase. We wait. We are the dark you walk upon. One of them is bleeding, one still prays — the blud will bend their way. But something walks beside them, low and grey and warm, four feet on our old bones, a heartbeat in the storm. It will not leave. It bares its teeth at us… we see you. It bends our crooked path back into a line — we hate it, we honour it, it is not ours to bind. The forest holds its breath… (still…) We count the nights — one, two, three, four, we count them low at the mountain’s door. Run, little breathing things — the mountain has no mercy, but the dog knows the way, the dog knows the way… The mountain will decide — we decide who sleeps here, and who never sleeps again. By the water she sings, her back turned wide — just a hollow tree, a black crack where her spine should hide. The chuhaister danced the mavkas down into the deep, then turned his eyes, and let them pass. Even we bow to the older law. Not yet. We count the nights — five, six, seven, near, we count them low — the eighth is here. Run, little breathing things — the mountain has no mercy, but the dog knows the way, the dog knows the way… The mountain will decide — we decide who sleeps here, and who never sleeps again. Faster — faster — the poterchata rise, we opened up the ground — then the grey one turned and howled, and pulled them from the sound. Blud… blud… lose your way… But the dog — the dog will not. Someone older loves them more than we are hungry. The horn goes quiet. The verdict is passed. Three walked in. We let the morning take them. But the dog walks on. We remember them all. We see you… the dog is watching too.

Hearts of lions, hearts of ghosts – We all just want the ones we love. One holds the line, one runs for home – We all just want to live! Whoa-oh-oh – we all just want to live! Whoa-oh-oh – we all just want to live! One man stands with steel in hand – Never wanted war, but he defends the land. One man runs through the mountain snow – Never wanted war, he just wants to go home. They call one hero, they call one shame – But both of them are playing the same game. One fights for flag, one fights for breath – Both of them are terrified of death. Hearts of lions, hearts of ghosts – We all just want the ones we love. One holds the line, one runs for home – We all just want to live! Whoa-oh-oh – we all just want to live! Whoa-oh-oh – we all just want to live! One falls down, they carve his name – One runs now, they scream his shame. But what if the hero wanted to run? What if the runner already won? Both are human, both have blood – Both are drowning in the same mud. One for the country, one for the soul – Both of them just want to be whole. No heroes here – we’re all the same, No enemies – we’re all in pain. No retreat, and no surrender – Just bring me home, I won’t remember. Hey! Hey! We’re still alive! Whoa-oh-oh – we will survive! Hearts of lions, hearts of ghosts – We all just want the ones we love. One holds the line, one runs for home – We all just want to live! Whoa-oh-oh – we all just want to live! Whoa-oh-oh – we all just want to live! Hearts of lions! Hearts of ghosts! We all want the ones we love the most! No more war! No more pain! We all just want to live again! We all just want to live… We all just want to come back home…

First… Second… Third… Not yet. First for the name. Second for the day. Third one empty. Not today. First for the name. Second for the day. Third one empty. Not today. Turn, little needle. Turn away. Third one empty. Not today. Dust on glass. Old brass ring. Human hand takes home the thing. One small coin. One open book. One empty place you did not look. You walked away. We did not. We remember. First for the name. Second for the day. Third one empty. Not today. First for the name. Second for the day. Third one empty. Not today. Turn, little needle. Turn away. Third one empty. Not today. You call it broken. You call it old. You trust the needle when nights grow cold. Spin once. Spin twice. Always there. You never ask who points from where. Keep looking. Take him? Not yet. Write it? Not yet. Take him? Not yet. When? Silence. Later. First for the name. Second for the day. Third one empty. Not today. First for the name. Second for the day. Third one empty. Not today. Turn, little needle. Turn and sway. Third one empty. Not today. First for the name. Second for the day. Close the book. Walk away. Third one empty… Not today. Third one empty… Not yet. Not yet.

Sleep… Don’t sleep. Close your eyes… Don’t sleep. Sleep… don’t sleep. Sleep… don’t sleep. The water is warm. The water is deep. Close your eyes… Don’t sleep. Sleep… don’t sleep. Let the cold turn sweet. Lay down your bones… Don’t sleep. The shaking stops. That feels so good. No more feet. No more wood. No more rain. No more pain. We can make you warm again. Come down. Come down. Come down. Stay awake. Sleep… don’t sleep. Sleep… don’t sleep. The water is warm. The water is deep. Close your eyes… Don’t sleep. Sleep… don’t sleep. Let the cold turn sweet. Lay down your bones… Don’t sleep. Hear the water? Hear it sing? An old soft voice beneath everything. You remember before you knew— arms around you, someone humming too. We can borrow any sound. We can make it come from the ground. Home… Water. Warm. Cold. Mother. Stream. Home. Dream. Close them. No. One breath. No. Sleep… Don’t sleep. Sleep… Don’t sleep. The water is warm. The water is deep. Close your eyes… Don’t sleep. Sleep… don’t sleep. Morning is one breath away. Hold to the hurt. Hold to the cold. Hold to the pain. Don’t sleep. Sleep… Don’t sleep. Sleep… Don’t sleep. Sleep… Not yet.

Віддай свою душу… Come drown with me… Slow fire, slow fire, deep in me Feel the water, sweet like death Віддай свою душу — give me your soul Your soul is mine Come closer, let the darkness fall Feel the moss — hear the black river call My hair is a curtain, hide your face You’re deep in my sacred place Touch me… Trace my body like a slow stream Nothing here is what it seems I am the heat you can’t deny Let me see the hunger in your eyes Віддайся мені… Slow fire, slow fire, deep in me Green flame burning wild and free Whisper my name, taste my lips Slow fire, slow fire — come drown in this Slow fire, slow fire, hold your breath Feel the water, sweet like death One touch, one moan, lose control Віддай свою душу — give me your soul Mine, mine (ooh-ooh) Your soul is mine (ooh-ooh) Віддай свою душу Mine, mine (ooh-ooh) Let the night wrap around our limbs Taste the salt of my skin like hymns Your body is my altar — don’t speak I’ll make you strong, I’ll make you weak Deeper… My touch is a flame you can’t control Lose your name, lose your soul The forest watches, the stars are blind I’m the only thing on your mind You’re mine… Slow fire, slow fire, deep in me Green flame burning wild and free Whisper my name, taste my lips Slow fire, slow fire — come drown with me Feel the water rising sweet One touch, one moan, lose control Віддай свою душу — give me your soul Mine, mine (ooh-ooh) Your soul is mine (ooh-ooh) Віддай свою душу Mine, mine (ooh-ooh) Love me… feel the earth move under us… There’s no world now — only us, only lust… Let go… let go… Only us… only lust… Don’t look behind me… …why is your skin so cold… …why is your back so hollow… Too late, my love… Віддай свою душу… Don’t fight the water… let go… let go… Віддай свою душу… Your soul is mine Slow fire, slow fire — come drown with me Green flame burning wild and free Whisper my name… taste my lips… Віддай свою душу… Slow… slow fire… Mine, mine (ooh-ooh) Your soul is mine (ooh-ooh) Віддай свою душу Mine… Warm… green… all mine… Віддайся мені…

Click. Nothing. Click. Nothing. Click. Flame. So small. Little human light, hide from the night. Little human light, hold on tight. Little human light, small and bright. Three cold bodies guard one light. Little human light. Hold on tight. We have seen whole mountains burn. Lightning falls. Great forests turn. And you bring— this. One tiny flame inside a cup. Hardly warm. Hardly enough. Is that all? Look. Little human light, hide from the night. Little human light, hold on tight. Little human light, small and bright. Three cold bodies guard one light. Little human light. Hold on tight. One gives warmth. One gives skin. Two cold bodies pull one in. No great fire. No smoke above. Just one flame and borrowed love. We leaned closer. We don’t need heat. Still— we leaned closer. It cannot save them. It cannot burn the cold. It cannot stop the night. Yet look. They believe in it. We stopped laughing. Little human light, hide from the night. Little human light, hold on tight. Little human light, small and bright. Three cold bodies guard one light. Little human light, refuse the night. Little human light, stay alive. Three cold bodies. One small light. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on tight. Still burning.

Ten steps. Five. Three. Closer. No name, no chain, no hand can hold her. No name, no chain, still she comes closer. No name, no chain, through hunger and rain. Of all the hearts beneath our trees, she chose the one in pain. No name… no chain… She chose the one in pain. We saw her first. Bone and fur. Quiet eyes. No road to her. Three little humans walking slow. She looked at one. And would not go. Not the strongest. Not the first. She chose the one who hurt the worst. Why him? She knows. No name, no chain, no hand can hold her. No name, no chain, still she comes closer. No name, no chain, through hunger and rain. Of all the hearts beneath our trees, she chose the one in pain. No name… no chain… She chose the one in pain. One little piece of food remained. He broke it. Half was gone. Such foolish kindness when you’re starving. Such a human thing. She ate. Then waited. Five steps. Three. Night came down. And when they woke— she was beside him. Don’t name her. Don’t call her yours. Don’t close a hand around what walks. What has no name cannot be lost. Or so you think. No name, no chain, no hand can hold her. No name, no chain, still she comes closer. No name, no chain, through hunger and rain. Of all the hearts beneath our trees, she chose the one in pain. No name, no chain, no master, no claim. Three shadows came beneath our trees. Now four walk through the rain. No name… No chain… Four shadows in the rain. Ten steps. Five. Three. Zero.

Beast of stone, claws of fate! One man stands — it’s not too late! Blood and thunder, roar and pain — He will not fall again! (Whoa-oh-oh!) He will not fall! (Whoa-oh-oh!) He stands for us all! Bear comes down — mountains shake! Teeth like steel — the ground will break! Brother bleeds — the world goes black, But he ain’t ever turning back! Stick in hand, a heart of flame — The spirits laugh and call his name! Beast of stone, claws of fate! One man stands — it’s not too late! Blood and thunder, roar and pain — He will not fall again! (Whoa-oh-oh!) He will not fall! (Whoa-oh-oh!) He stands for us all! Claws rip through — he holds the line! Flesh and bone, the ancient sign! For his brother — one more breath, Spits in the face of certain death! The bear retreats into the mist — The spirits hiss and clench their fists… No gods, no gold, no crown… Just a brother who won’t go down. Listen close — the spirits laugh… …but they cannot take his half. Beast of stone, claws of fate! One man stands — it’s not too late! Blood and thunder, roar and pain — He will not fall again! (Whoa-oh-oh!) He will not fall! (Whoa-oh-oh!) He stands for us all! Beast of stone… claws of fate… But he stood… and he was great…

Round and round… Wrong again. Round and round, round and round, the compass lies, the forest knows. Round and round, round and round, back to the stone, back where you were. Round and round, round and round, follow the line, lose the road. The compass lies. The forest knows. Round… and round… Again. Little feet beneath our trees, little hands with maps and dreams. Iron needle, paper line — such a clever little sign. Walk an hour. Walk three more. We are waiting where you were before. Welcome back. Round and round, round and round, the compass lies, the forest knows. Round and round, round and round, back to the stone, back where you were. Round and round, round and round, follow the line, lose the road. The compass lies. The forest knows. One believes the needle still. One begins to doubt his will. North and south are human words. We have never needed yours. Turn the glass. Check again. Same old tree. Same old rain. How many times? As many as we want. Put it away. Put it away. No iron knows our hidden way. One grey shadow lifts her head. She does not ask. She walks instead. No map. No line. No compass. Follow. Round and round, round and round, the compass lies, the forest knows. Round and round, round and round, back to the stone, back where you were. Round and round, round and round— But not this time. The circle breaks. The shadow goes. The compass lies. The forest knows. Round and round… round and round… The compass lies. The forest knows. Wrong… wrong… Right.

One. Two. Three. Still carrying? Step — breathe. Step — breathe. Don’t let him go. Step — breathe. Step — breathe. Thirty more. One — two. One — two. Don’t let him touch the ground. Step — breathe. Step — breathe. Carry him home. Step. Breathe. Step. Breathe. Wood cuts skin. Hands turn red. One more hill with living weight. Ten steps. Stop. Stand again. Ten more steps through mud and rain. Leave him. Leave him. Why don’t you leave him? Watch. Step — breathe. Step — breathe. Don’t let him go. Step — breathe. Step — breathe. Thirty more. One — two. One — two. Don’t let him touch the ground. Step — breathe. Step — breathe. Carry him home. Strong one bends. Thin one shakes. Funny things that bodies break. Arms say no. Legs say no. Still the wooden poles rise slow. Again. Again. Again. Why? Why? Why? One — two. Three — four. Still they lift him from the floor. Five — six. Seven — eight. Still they carry living weight. Leave him. No. Leave him. No. Oh. We understand. Step — breathe. Step — breathe. Don’t let him go. Step — breathe. Step — breathe. Thirty more. One — two. One — two. Don’t let him touch the ground. Step — breathe. Step — breathe. Carry him home. Step — breathe. Step — breathe. Now we count too. Step — breathe. Step — breathe. We walk with you. One — two. One — two. The forest takes the sound. Step — breathe. Step — breathe. Don’t put him down. One… two… still walking.

Later. Later. Such a small word. Later, later, say it again. Later means this isn’t the end. Later, later, hold it tight. Later means another night. Later, later. One small word. Tomorrow lives inside that word. Later. We have no clocks. We have no years. Snow comes back. Then disappears. We do not hurry. We do not wait. We have no door that closes late. But you— you love one word. Later. Why? Later, later, say it again. Later means this isn’t the end. Later, later, hold it tight. Later means another night. Later, later. One small word. Tomorrow lives inside that word. Later. You dream of nothing. A cup. A chair. Someone sleeping over there. A book. A kitchen. Morning light. Things you never loved until tonight. We give you mountains. You want a room. We give you darkness. You want— later. Later means: Not done. Later means: One more sun. Later means: Wait for me. Later means: We will see. Later means: I will come. Later, later, say it again. Later means this isn’t the end. Later, later, hold it tight. Later means another night. Later, later. Now we know. Why little breathing creatures go through rain, through blood, through dark together— for one small word. Later. Later… Later… Later? Maybe.

They are running… three shadows… The hounds are hungry… We see everything… We watch from the pines, we see it all! Blood on the snow — the hunters call! Men hunt men through the frozen light — We are the watchers of the night! (Whoa-oh-oh!) We know their names! (Whoa-oh-oh!) It’s all the same! Boots on the ground, cruel and keen, Three men running, the space between. One is bleeding, the snow turns red, His brothers drag him, the path of dread. Hounds are baying, closing the net, The hunters patient, no one forgets. We only watch — we do not weep, The forest takes what it must keep. We watch from the pines, we see it all! Blood on the snow — the hunters call! Men hunt men through the frozen light — We are the watchers of the night! (Whoa-oh-oh!) We know their names! (Whoa-oh-oh!) It’s all the same! Hunter’s horn is splitting the sky, The men below just wait to die. They ran from war, they ran from chains, Now hunter’s dogs smell their veins. One more step, one more breath — The wounded boy is close to death. We’ve seen it all a thousand times: The running, the falling, the pantomime. “Will they make it?” “No… the hounds are here.” “The wounded one… so full of fear…” “Shhh… watch… they vanish into white.” We watch from the pines, we see it all! Blood on the snow — the hunters call! Men hunt men through the frozen light — We are the watchers of the night! (Whoa-oh-oh!) We know their names! (Whoa-oh-oh!) It’s all the same! They won’t make it… The forest takes… The forest keeps…

They found you. Blood. Sweat. Fear. Four feet. What will she do? Only a dog. Only a dog. That’s what you’ll say. Only a dog. Only a dog. Then why does the forest wait? Only a dog. Only a dog. One small shadow in the fog. Only a dog. Only a dog. Chains in the trees. Boots on the ground. One trained nose has found your sound. Too close. Too late. Three cannot run. We lean nearer. This will be fun. What now? What now? What now? She turns. Only a dog. Only a dog. That’s what you’ll say. Only a dog. Only a dog. Then why does the forest wait? Only a dog. Only a dog. One small shadow in the fog. Only a dog. Only a dog. She runs away from those she chose. Toward the boots. Toward the nose. One bark. Two. Branches break. Every hunter turns her way. Farther. Farther. Good. Keep going. Run! Run! Run! Enough. Take them away. Take them away. Give them your sound. Give them their way. Little shadow— Only a dog. Only a dog. Only a dog. Then why did the forest stop? Only a dog. Only a dog. No more feet. No more bark. Only a dog. Only a dog. No blood beneath the trees. Only a dog. Only a dog. Believe what you please. Only a dog. Only a dog. Where did the shadow go? Only a dog. Only— we know. No blood. No bone. No fur. No grave. Only a path through rain. You want an answer? We don’t give everything back.

You did not escape. We let you pass. You did not outrun the teeth in the grass. You did not win. You did not last. Little breathing things— we let you pass. You did not escape. We let you pass. We saw your first step. Saw your fear. Smelled your blood before it was here. We bent one road. We closed another. Watched one stranger carry another. You call it luck. Luck. You did not escape. We let you pass. You did not outrun the teeth in the grass. You did not win. You did not last. Little breathing things— we let you pass. You did not escape. We let you pass. We gave you cold. You made a light. We gave you circles. You walked all night. We gave you hunger. You broke your bread. We whispered sleep. You walked instead. We said: Leave him. You said: No. Interesting. Take them? Not yet. Take them? Not yet. One is falling. Not yet. One is bleeding. Not yet. One can’t walk. Not yet. Why? Let’s see. Take them? … No. Let them go. You did not escape. We let you pass. You did not outrun the teeth in the grass. You did not win. You did not last. Little breathing things— We let you pass. You did not escape. We let you pass. Carry your wounds beyond our grass. Go to your windows. Go to your beds. Go where your children count your steps. Tell them you won. Tell them you ran. Tell them the mountain couldn’t take you then. You did not escape. We let you pass. We let you pass. We let you pass. We let you pass. And if you come back? We will see.

Не треба було сюди заходити. Це наша земля. Ми спали під каменем тисячі літ, Ми пили туман і слухали ліс. Ми знали ці го́ри ще до ваших слів, Ще до ваших імен, ще до ваших слідів. Ти перейшов межу. Ти ступив не туди. Ліс почув твій подих. Вода стерла сліди. ЦЕ НАША ЗЕМЛЯ. НЕ ТРЕБА БУЛО ЙТИ. ЦЕ НАША ЗЕМЛЯ. ТЕПЕР НЕ ВТЕЧЕШ ТИ. Го́ри тебе бачать. Ліс чує твій страх. ЦЕ НАША ЗЕМЛЯ. Ти вже серед нас. Не клич своїх — ми відповімо. Не шукай стежок — ми їх заберемо. Мавка сміється десь біля води. Блуд уже стер за тобою сліди. Чугайстер мовчить поміж чорних смерек. Ти сам увійшов. Тепер будемо грати. ЦЕ НАША ЗЕМЛЯ. НЕ ТРЕБА БУЛО ЙТИ. ЦЕ НАША ЗЕМЛЯ. ТЕПЕР НЕ ВТЕЧЕШ ТИ. Го́ри тебе бачать. Ліс чує твій страх. ЦЕ НАША ЗЕМЛЯ. Ти вже серед нас. До тебе сюди приходили. Після тебе ще прийдуть. Усі думають, що го́ри мовчать. Го́ри пам’ятають. НАША ЗЕМЛЯ. НАШ ЛІС. НАШ ЛІС. Не треба було сюди заходити Це НАША ЗЕМЛЯ. Це НАША ЗЕМЛЯ.