Aksionov was a businessman. He lived with his wife and children. He was full of life. He sang and played the Guitar and occasionally drank too. Once he got ready to go to the fair. His wife tried to stop him saying that she had a bad dream. On his return from the fair, his hair had turned grey. It was ominous. But Ivan ignored his wife’s warning and went to the fair. As he liked cool weather, he left the inn early. He was intercepted by the police who searched his belongings. Finding a blood-stained knife in his bag, he was arrested on charges of murder. His wife’s petition for clemency to the Tsar was turned down. His wife’s unwillingness to trust him was more devastating than Tsar’s rejection of mercy petition. He was flogged. After the wounds healed he was sent to work in the mines of Siberia.
Staying 26 years in Siberia he grew a long beard. He became grandfather to the prisoners. He read “The lives of saints” and was found praying and singing in the choir. He was respected both by the fellow prisoners and the jail authorities for his gentle behaviour. Everyone in the jail believed in his innocence and unjust condemnation. One day a new convict namely Makar Semyonich came there. When Makar blurted out how the knife went to his bag kept under his head, Ivan recognized Makar as the real murderer of the merchant. Ivan had a chance to expose Makar to the jail authorities. But he kept quiet. Makar became remorseful and asked Ivan’s forgiveness. He forgave him. Makar confessed to the authorities. The order of pardon came but then Ivan was dead.
