In the nineties, the country began to fall into a black streak, in an era of economic and moral crisis, in an era of great unrest and change, the entire burden of which fell on the shoulders of the people. The entire backbone of Stas's former classmates, in anticipation of a worse future, dispersed in all directions. The same attempts were made by his school friends. There was a lack of communication more and more, there was no one to go to and no one to talk to. Unemployment rose, the birth rate dropped sharply. Patriotism did not allow Stas to say goodbye to work in one of the research institutes, although he was moved to the other end of the city. And the salary is reduced to a minimum, despite significant cuts in the department.
It took about an hour to get to work from the nearest metro station. The transport didn't work. If something kept Stas at work, it was a tender relationship with Katherine, which he had been trying in vain for several years to translate into the direction he desired. Katherine neither succumbed to his intentions nor rejected him.
– What else do you need? - Stas asked, walking with Kat past a small corn plot. Kat was silent for a long time, unsuccessfully trying to cope with internal laughter.
- What, what? she answered. - There's corn. Better go and pick some cobs.
While Stas was choosing soft cobs, Katherine noticed how the owner of the crops was coming out of the thick of the plantations.
"Be careful, he's coming at you," she murmured in fright.
Stas continued his work without excitement and haste.
“Well, I caught you,” the owner of the crop said in a pleased tone.
- I caught it, I caught it, - Stas agreed, - you, brother, have no idea, my girl asked for a couple of ears, and for this you are going to quarrel with me?
The owner was taken aback by the unexpected question, but immediately gathered himself answered.
“Do you know how many people like you come here. There will be nothing left for me.
- Can you pay?
- All right, go in peace.
Approaching the bridge over the river, Kate suddenly suggested:
- You know, Stas, so be it, I'll go fishing with you.
These words, heard from her at any other time, would have given him joy and pleasure, but now for some reason he took them without enthusiasm.
“I’ve been fishing almost all my life, since I was eight years old,” he thought, “and lately I’ve abandoned everything, go and find and put gear in order.”
But that wasn't the point right now. The long-term siege of the fortress finally brought its results. He took these words for surrender, for a white flag on the tower. In commemoration of the victory, Stas smiled smugly.
“Look, Kate,” he pointed with his hand, “on the other side, there are two storks.
Kat smiled when she saw the long-legged birds.
At this point in the city, the river bed was noticeably widened, and many tiny picturesque islands appeared on it.
"Let's go downstairs," Kat suggested.
Running down the slope to the island, Kate slipped and rolled down. Stas was not at a loss, took her in his arms, but could not hold her, and both of them rushed head over heels to the shore with a laugh.
“What beautiful legs you have,” Stas said, finding himself, together with Kat, at the lowest point of the fall.
Kat quickly covered her bare knees with her skirt.
"Don't look," she ordered sternly.
What is that scar on your right leg? Stas asked, putting his hand over her skirt on her leg above the knee.
“I burned myself with an iron as a child,” Kat replied, removing his hand from her trouble. From the islet they got out, overwhelmed with a sense of joy from the beauty of the surroundings.
For some time, Kat waited for the fishing promised by Stas in the backwaters they had chosen. But Stas for some reason hesitated. He wanted to communicate with her in other places more. She still resisted and agreed, and even then under pressure, you go for walks along the main street of the city, which in most cases took place in the presence of her friend Rita. Walks tended to turn into shopping trips, where he often felt like a third wheel.
Stas never ceased torturing himself.
“Good God, will anyone on this earth finally hear me?” Will he understand, will he listen? After all, I have been screaming silently for so many years ... I am exhausted, exhausted. God, what has become of the world, once created by you! What else to talk about when elementary humanity resides in such a terrible devitite. People don't want to live by the laws you set. They arranged life on Earth in their own way.
- I'm tired of everything. He's already old, isn't he? Stas complained.
“It’s strange that it’s you who is talking about this,” Dick was surprised.
- Understand, Dick, there are no bad and good people, there are only such circumstances. But the original natural humanity disappears. The social genotype of a person is changing.
“My advice to you is don’t be wise and don’t complicate your life. All this, believe me, is useless. Especially in our time. Live like everyone else, easier. You need a good woman, Stas, that's all! It will help you forget about all your problems, although it will add new ones. Take Katherine, what are you saying? Girl what you need.
- It's easy to say "take it," thought Stas, "you can't take anything you want in this life." Only she herself can give, as well as take away. One loves the other, the other loves the third, the third loves the fourth. And reciprocity is the destiny of the lucky ones. He loves one of the two, - the second, at best, only allows you to love.
- What are you really, Stas, obsessed with her? What are you doing with her? Lured, caressed, fucked - and that's it! She's not going anywhere with you.
"Don't you dare talk about her like that!" Do you hear? - Fiercely attacked Dick Stas, lifting him over the sides of his jacket.
- Good good! You are full of excitement. You can't joke, can't you? Dick resisted. "Okay, then we'll help you kidnap her." Now it is fashionable. Well, you gotta do something, damn it!
“Dick, please leave me alone, for God's sake. If you want to be my friend, don't ever talk to me about it!
Dick silently turned away from Stas. He paused for a moment, then turned to leave.
- Maybe Stas is right when he says that no one in life, by and large, can help anyone either physically or morally, he thought. “Then what is it?” It turns out that everyone is not only the best servant for himself, but also a helper? And no one is able to fully understand anyone. For for this, everyone must go through exactly what the one they want to understand went through.
Before turning into an alleyway, Dick was passed at high speed by an ambulance with a deafening siren and a hysterically spinning blue flasher.
Stas walked towards the descent to the embankment and was about to cross the bridge. On the bridge and under the bridge there were restless fishermen, deftly wielding their gear. One of the fishermen, fishing from the bridge, pulled out a three-liter glass jar from a backpack with a white plastic lid and black-brown cockroaches moving chaotically under it.
It seemed that they perfectly understood the reason for their confinement, and that is why they were rushing around the bottom of the jar and over each other in such a panicky haste. And besides, for sure, each of them shouted at the top of his lungs and that was urine, calling for help and hoping. That their cry will be heard at least by other relatives, thereby warning them of danger and warning against their own fate. They screamed, but no one in the world heard their cry and not only did not think about their salvation, but did not even express regret.
“A hopeless plea for salvation,” Stas thought, “probably no one hears us, people, just like the soundless cries of unfortunate creatures imprisoned in glass.
The owner of the jar unscrewed the white plastic lid, removed a large barbel from the bottom of the jar, cut it in half with a small knife, threw one half back into the jar, fastened the other half on the powerful hook of his spinning rod and threw it from the bridge into the river.
“They are great for big fish. - explained, smiling, Stas.
Stas was still impressed by what he saw. He recalled in slow motion how the hand sank to the bottom of the jar, fumbled in search of prey, catching the unfortunate and doomed creatures in mortal panic and causing a commotion. Each of them sensed by instinct that before the end of the day this cup would not pass even him, but with all his might he tried to dodge at least at the moment, at least a little to delay his end.
- What difference does it make to leave a minute earlier or later, if this fate cannot be avoided at all.
Stas crossed the bridge and headed for the nearest metro station. He looked up at the sky and caught in it confirmation of his idea about the similarity of the fate of man and the doomed creatures he saw.
Whom and when death will take to itself, we are not given to know. She doesn't give a damn about old and young, strong and weak, smart and stupid. All the same, the same prey! And we are doomed, although, in the manner of those creatures, we swarm, flounder, we hope that the fateful hour will strike not for us, not now, sometime later, in the distant future, but maybe ...
In the evening, having somehow washed himself, Stas sipped the hot coffee prepared for him by his sister and smoked his favorite Marlboro.
“What else does she want, I wonder,” the thought of Kat haunted him. One thing is clear, only love is not enough for her. Today's girls want to get everything ready, but they don't want to create anything with their own labor. The main thing for them is appearance. However. And we. Guys, not far gone in this from the women. We know, we understand, we realize that appearances are deceptive, but we are indefatigably striving for this.
The phone rang in the front.
- Well, how did you get there?
- And it's you? Never mind.
Are you still thinking about the same thing?
- Don't, Dick.
- Fine, fine! I'll make an agreement with Irakli and if I don't call you back, tomorrow morning we'll meet him at his work, all right?
- Good.
The next morning, workers and employees of the construction department gathered in the yard in the hope of getting at least some part of the salary for the work done a month and a half ago. Orders were searched all over the city, often cheap, insignificant, but payments for them had to wait for months.
The half-witted Archil, surrounded by laughing merry fellows, skillfully and gracefully danced a kind of overseas dance.
“Now howl like a wolf!” - one of the crowd ordered him, - here's a penny for you.
Archil howled.
“Look what they’re doing,” Dick wondered, pointing in the direction of the merry fellows, “well, at least the wolves don’t hear. But not that would in response speak like a human being.
Stas was completely discouraged by the depressing picture of a human fall that appeared before his eyes - they amused themselves selflessly and to the point of falling.
- Guys, come here! The line for the salary came up, - Irakli called from the threshold of the office.
“Look what they are doing,” Dick rushed to him, “somehow stop them.”
- Yah! See, everyone loves it. First time, right? Archil not only here, but also in other places earns the same!
- I wonder how he finds out where, from whom and when the salary is paid? Viktor intervened.
- And who knows, - Irakli joked, - it must be. Your agent network!
“I bet he makes a lot more than any of us,” Dick exclaimed with conviction, “collects a thread from the world.
- Knows how to live! Viktor concluded.
Why did he have to yell at the whole city yesterday? Stas asked.
The guys, laughing, amicably went to the cashier.
On that day, Archil had to fulfill many more orders, to the delight of those who made fun of him and did not really understand that they were torturing themselves first of all. Archil was teased, and Archil, in turn, was amused by their laughter and jokes.
At the end of the subway station was crowded. Fussy people with worried faces hurriedly left the train cars and rushed to the escalator. The crowd on the opposite side waited patiently for the train to emerge from the depot. Electronic clock over the tunnel, it seemed. The time was counted twice as fast as usual. Stas looked first at them, then at the stream of trains leaving the cars, looking for a familiar face.
Late, he thought, glancing at his wristwatch.
Where he stood, there were many stalls, booths and just stalls with a large assortment of goods. At the press kiosk, he had already skimmed through the front pages of newspapers and magazines, and now he was standing in front of the display case of the jewelry booth. At the sight of the rings, his heart fluttered.
“Well, how long can you pull the strap,” he thought, and suddenly made the right decision in his mind, “we must finally decide this way or that!”
Joyful from the perfect purchase, he went down the escalator to the lower hall with redoubled pleasure. And then, finally, when another crowd fell out of the cars, a familiar shape arose. It was Katherine. Their eyes met.
“If only I could get her a job.” How great it would be! - Stas thought, - there would be additional means of subsistence. Everyone strives for what he lacks the most ...
They walked along the spacious avenue with a slow, unhurried step. Stas hesitated for a long time, but in the end he decided.
“You know, Kate, I have an unusual gift for you.
- Yes? Oh, how good, - Kate was delighted.
But in order to get it, you need to fulfill certain requirements.
- What are they?
“Close your eyes, stretch out your right hand, and don’t open your eyes until I tell you to.”
Kat, without listening to the end, gladly began to follow his instructions. While Stas was fumbling in his pockets in search of a gift he had just bought, Kat, slowly moving forward with her eyes closed, came across a tree and hit her head on it.
“I didn’t ask you to butt heads with trees!” Hurt badly? Stas exclaimed.
“No, nothing,” Kate reassured him.
“Then close your eyes again,” Stas repeated his command.
Kat felt the touch of Stas's strong hands and something slipped along one of the fingers of her right hand. She suddenly trembled with surprise and began to pull her hand out of Stas's. Stas had to use some force.
- Everything, you are now mine forever! he said with relief, pulling a recent acquisition onto Kat's finger.
Kate continued to resist.
- Okay, okay, calm down! Tell me if it fits you or not.
- Yes, it does, let me go! Kate pushed him away. She instantly pulled the ring off her finger, slipped it into her pocket, and was clearly confused.
“Forgive me, but you left me no other choice!” On the one hand, you play cat and mouse with me, and on the other hand, you completely refuse all my invitations.
Kate continued walking in silence.
- What if I refuse?
"Then throw out the ring."
“To be honest, I don’t think anything will come of this venture,” Kat said thoughtfully.
“May I hope at least for the future of your indulgence?”
- Not! Kate retorted with conviction.
Stas sadly turned away from her, looked at the sky and prayed: "Lord, help me, you know how much I love her."
After a while, he was already standing at the bus stop and watching the bus, which took away from him his love and an impromptu gift, which, as it turned out later, turned out to be too simple for her, too expensive for him.
After the first meeting at work, Kat returned the gift to him. He stayed longer than usual that day and returned home late at night.
Stopping on the bridge, he peered into the familiar landscape, the islands where he had once been with Kate, where the herons walked in search of food, where the fishermen sat motionless at the riffles, and where the river forked into small branches, channels and streams.
The sky was cloudless, but individual silhouettes of stars twinkled dimly.
Stas's gift, like a fluff, flew down from the bridge, along a circular path, flew slowly, smoothly and beautifully, carrying away the best feelings for the second time in his life into the fast course of the river and leaving him with nothing.
He looked up at the sky once more and drooped sadly.
“And they say you don’t have to believe in the stars!” Why, they kept saying so much that we are not a couple, not a couple, not a couple.
From afar, from the side of the stretching ridge of mountains, came the lingering roar of an unknown animal, and now it seemed that this cry was his cry.
- Shout, my friend, shout, maybe someone will hear, - I suddenly remembered the words from my youth. “At best, they can listen to you absent-mindedly and express their regret. But in general, no one is able to help anyone, and before a real disaster, everyone is left alone with himself.
A few years later, Stas, hurrying on an important matter, noticed Rita hurrying somewhere on the opposite side of the street. Stas recognized her before she knew him. Between “hello, how are you” and “goodbye to you all,” Stas found out from her that Katherine was successfully married, lives with her husband in Moscow, and asked, on occasion, to convey his congratulations to her. I was surprised at how coldly he took the news.
“She came out, so it’s necessary,” he stated listlessly. In life there are many vain meetings. Millions of stars in the sky meet and diverge.
“Dick was right,” Stas thought, “when he said that for many of them the assessment of values was turned upside down. Less valuable, secondary, they put much higher than the main thing that lies behind it. In the same gift, some see an adequate attitude towards them, while others simply have a relationship. They are too demanding and hasty and forget or do not know at all that they do not jump from the first step to the tenth. If you fall from a horse, then from a good one is their motto, and time, to the great regret of many who share it, throws off donkeys, and even camels. Well, yes, in the end, perhaps, who deserves what he gets.
In the evening, returning home, Stas looked for Rita's phone number for a long time to ask Kat's chosen one, or rather, his merits, how satisfied she was with her choice. Not finding it, he waved his hand indifferently:
- What does it matter now?
A strange, hitherto unknown feeling rose from within, protested, gave rise to inner discomfort. He could not overcome him in any way, but he did not want to give up without a fight.
Ten most difficult years have passed since the beginning of a new life, to which they gradually began to get used to, trying to somehow get settled, find a place in it.
Stas walked through a beautiful park, moving at a leisurely pace, inspecting the area, enjoying the purity of the cool autumn air. The cell phone rang.
“Yes, I’m listening to you,” he found a mobile phone in one of the inside pockets of his jacket.
- Stas, hello, - a voice was heard, - this is Dick. Well how are you?
“Hey, Dick, it’s all right!” I found a job, a copy of the contract and other necessary documents will be sent by fax one of these days. Tell Heraclius to prepare and send our details.
The conversation on the cell phone lasted ten minutes. Leaving the park, he dialed a few more numbers on his mobile, but could not get through to anyone. Already in the afternoon, Stas drove up to the hotel adjacent to the airport. From the hotel I managed to get through to one of the numbers:
Oksana, hello! Well, what do you have there?
- Oh, Stas, hello! answered a joyful voice.
- Where are you?! I've been calling all day and can't get through! I'm leaving on an evening flight. Everything you asked me to do, I did. What are you crying for, fool?
Silence followed.
- What, hard of hearing?
- You know, the brothers dissuade me again, they again took up the old song.
- Yes, understand. Of course, I'm old for you.
“And besides, they keep saying that you won’t be here by the wedding day tomorrow.” That you won't be in time if you come at all.
- Everything will be fine. I'm flying in tonight.
I'll be waiting for your call all night. I love you very much and I am very worried.
- Okay, kiss you, wait! Stas rounded with relief, smiling contentedly.
Heading towards the airport building, Stas heard a familiar voice.
- Not! - he burst out. - Can't be!
“Hello, Archil,” he said dryly, approaching a group of people.
- Are we familiar? - Archil was surprised and looked at the stranger with suspicion.
Stas introduced himself and started explaining how and since when they had known each other. Archil listened patiently, shaking his head from time to time.
- Perhaps, perhaps, but you understand, I talked with so many people that I really don’t remember all of them.
– What are you doing here?
“I managed to relocate here. I was very lucky, I married a foreigner, a child was born. So now I'm a family man. I go around my work points on a foreign car. – Archil showed his hand in the direction of the car, standing in the parking lot.
- And how much do you earn per day?
“There is enough for food, and there is still some left. I am raising money for a childhood dream. We want to go to Rio de Janey with my wife first on a tour, and then we'll see.
- Well done, Archil! We can say that "Aurora" in the seventeenth year fired for you.
- Well, yes.
- I wonder if the repertoire for ours and those here is different in any way?
- Yah! Everything is the same, with the only difference that in these places it is not allowed to shout very loudly. Somehow I even had to write an explanatory note at the police station. In general, I pay them and I have almost no problems with them. On the contrary, there were cases of attacks, harassment and even attempts to bully me, they protect me so well. Now they recognize me almost everywhere and do not touch me.
Archil, in turn, asked Stas about his life, work, the purpose of his visit and many other little things.
- Oh, old man, in vain you butt heads with life, - Archil was alarmed, - Do you want me to offer a case?
- Well? Stas asked.
- Stay here with me. We will work together, earnings will be more than there. We'll marry you, and there, you see, if you're a good boy, we'll take you with us to Rio.
Stas looked at Archil with bewilderment. He seemed to him alternately either a half-witted or a completely serious business man.
- Well? – persuaded Archil.
Stas decided not to disappoint him and not to say a word about what he thinks of him, but simply to play the role of a partner thinking about a seductive offer.
– No, Archil, thank you very much. I can't live without my homeland.
- Oh, leave it for God's sake! Home is where you live well.
- No, Archil, no, she is where you grew up, where you were born and where you became a man. For me, a hard life and death in the homeland is better than a sweet life in a foreign land.
- All right, unfortunate patriot! You know, look, you know better. Excuse me please. I'm in a hurry, I have to get to work. But you still think about what I talked to you, and if you decide, here's my business card, call or come in. Well, be healthy!
He shook hands with Stas and hurriedly went to his Volvo.
- I wonder who gives such rights? Stas was surprised.
Before getting into the car, Archil talked to someone on the phone, once again raised his hand in farewell to Stas, slammed the door of the foreign car and took off like a bullet.
Stas stood still for a long time. Stunned by what he saw, he was speechless for a while. He looked at the sky, covered with dense white clouds, and mentally said to himself: “Lord, what is happening to us?”
Having arranged things in the storage room and made some additional information about the departing flight, Stas decided to spend the remaining time before departure in the terminal building.
A few hours later it snowed again. Through the display windows, Stas followed with his eyes how gently and smoothly white flakes fell from the sky and, falling to the ground, turned into black mud.
“They are like people,” thought Stas, “they descend from heaven clean, clear, beautiful, white, and when they get to the ground, they get dirty and clump together. On earth it is impossible to stay clean for a long time, even if you do nothing, and day and night take care of your purity, both physical and spiritual. The people themselves, noticing your efforts, will forcibly soil and denigrate you. Well, of course, you still need to try and hold on to the last, so as not to be swept away by a powerful stream of destruction. There are excellent resources for this. Then he remembered his lecturer, who loved the saying: "Patience and work will grind everything." And, of course, without fail, faith in God, faith in yourself and in your own strength.
He admitted, of course, that in life, in the brain and even in the heart, everything turned out not at all as he would like, but he could not do anything about it.
Stas met the beginning of the registration with great joy and in a slowly crawling long queue. The number of flights on the line was sharply reduced due to the confusion between the airlines of the two countries, which explained the influx of passengers.
Stas was talking animatedly on some abstract topic with one of the passengers. Suddenly he fixed his eyes on the neighbor of the interlocutor. It was as if he had been electrocuted. He also caught the reciprocal gaze of a woman hurriedly going into the depths of the hall.
– Kate? - Stas babbled in surprise and froze in place, exhausted. - Can't be.
Apologizing, he pushed his interlocutor away with his hand and moved after her.
– Katherine! he called from close range.
The woman continued walking without turning around. He overtook her, blocking the road. She looked at him in surprise.
"Kate, don't you recognize me?" I'm Stas, - he tore off his hat.
“Forgive me, but I don't know you.
- Kate, stop! I know that you are offended. But give me a chance to at least explain myself to you.
“Let me through, please,” the woman interrupted rudely, pushing him out of the way.
Stas continued to follow her, babbled some explanations, but she did not want to listen to him.
Man, get away from me! she insisted calmly. “It was quite intelligibly told to you that I am not the one whose name you mentioned. Get away from me. Otherwise, I will be forced to seek help and call the police.
Stas stopped and looked after her for a long time. He managed to notice that their conversation attracted the attention of those waiting for different flights.
- Here is the first - Stas was indignant. - Even a simple human conversation does not agree.
He seemed to have broken loose from the chain, at first he followed her, then, noticing that she was starting to run away from him, he also ran with one single thought: “I will prove to you now who you are.”
Loud cheers erupted from the waiting room. Among them, of course, women predominated.
Stas quickly caught up with the fleeing woman, grabbed her hand, dragged her to the side and pressed her hard against the wall. With one hand, he began to unbutton her coat, with the other he continued to press against the wall.
- For help! Help, police, rob, rape, kill! A heart-rending voice rang out from the waiting room. The woman almost did not resist, only repeated the same words: “Who are you, what do you need, what do you allow yourself ?!”
Suddenly, Stas felt a sharp blow to the back of the head and immediately lost consciousness. Without remembering what had happened and how long he had lain in complete prostration, he slowly came to his senses. The first thing I felt was a sharp, incessant pain in my head. His clothes were torn, and there were marks of beatings on his face.
Some time later, together with the injured woman, they testified at the police station about what had happened in the airport building.
- Full name? the young police officer asked.
- Rina Ryder.
What was the purpose of arriving at the airport?
- I came to meet my husband and daughter, flying in from England.
- Wow, - for the first time, doubts crept into Stas's mind, - maybe it really isn't her? “But then came the confidence that he was right.
- Do you know this man? - the officer asked, pointing to Stas, who had already fully come to his senses.
“I see him for the first time.
"May the devil see you like that!" Stas muttered.
“And you keep quiet until you are asked,” the officer ordered sternly.
What did he want from you?
The woman hesitated, as if not knowing what to answer, but then suddenly spoke:
How should I know, ask him.
Did he try to rape you?
- What are you talking about?! Is this possible with humans?
- And then what?
“I have no more time, sir!” Urgent business, unfortunately.
“Yes, yes, of course,” the officer said knowingly. “Here are your statements. Please sign.
The woman instantly signed the piece of paper with the printed text pushed towards her and immediately got up from her chair.
- If I still have questions, I am ready to answer them together with my lawyer. Goodbye,” she handed her business card.
Stas's turn followed. He was silent on most of the questions, but he had to sign some text under pressure.
Every minute his situation worsened. He appeared in the eyes of those interrogating anyone - a rapist, a possible terrorist, and a maniac ...
“Where did you fly to and where did you land,” thought Stas when he was transported in a special vehicle to the city police station.
The hallway door slowly opened and just as slowly closed. There was the sound of falling lightning. Thin female legs threw off fashionable boots and were captured by fluffy slippers. There was the sound of clothes being thrown off. A fashionable long ladies' coat obediently hung on a hanger next to the men's and children's coats.
- Dad, dad, mom came, - there was a joyful childish exclamation. The child ran up to the mother, who had already fallen on her knees, and threw herself into her arms.
“Lisa, my girl,” the woman said, hugging her.
Immediately a man of average height appeared, wearing glasses and a sports uniform.
“Hello, my dear,” he turned to the woman, and kissed her.
“Hello, Michael,” the woman said kindly, “how did you arrive?”
– We hoped you would meet us at the airport, but we didn’t wait, we got by taxi.
- Mom, mom, dad bought me a doll in London! the little girl boasted as she carried the toy out of the room.
- Not in London, but in London, how much can you teach! - corrected the child's mother. - Forgive me, Michael. I really wanted to meet you, but I couldn’t, things are at work, you know?
- Nothing, come in, Alice and I invite you to tea. It's so cold outside.
- Thanks. Here I will wash, change clothes and instantly together with you.
After some time, Michael repeated the invitation.
Rina, are you coming soon?
“Forgive me, I have a couple more calls to make!”
Rina remained locked up in her room for more than ten minutes, talking on the phone before going out for home tea.
As time went. Everything was clearly not in favor of Stas. The most experienced specialists were involved in the investigation. In the morning of the next day, Rina got up early. It was necessary to feed the family, prepare Michael for work, take the girl to kindergarten and not be late for work herself.
- Rina, did you iron my shirt and trousers? Michael asked as he washed his face.
– No, but I’m already heating the iron.
- Please hurry. How can I not be late.
Can I iron my dad's shirt and trousers? the girl asked, grasping the handle of the hot electrical appliance.
“Get away from the iron right now,” Rina shouted nervously, “you will burn yourself, and there will be a big vava for life!”
- Like the one on your leg?
“Look how long her tongue is!” Well, get out of here.
After escorting Michael, Rina began to collect the child. Once got a call on the mobile. She retired to herself:
How are you, Arthur?
- It's bad, Rina. Nothing will work without you.
- Why? I said I'll pay as much as I need.
“They want to change the initial readings.
- So what's the deal?! No problem.
“Yes, but they want it exactly the way I told you.
- No, I can't do that. Arthur, use your brains and do something. Only at the pace, please, I don’t cry so much for you either.
Evening explanation with Michael was not easy.
- Yes, but you said that your first husband's name was Sasha. And now another Stas? Michael asked.
- He sought me out for a long time in his youth and, annoyed by my refusal at that time, as you see, he messed up.
“So you were at the airport that evening?” But why did you hide it from us?
Questions rained down on Rina like stones, and she was unable to withstand their onslaught.
She rushed into the bedroom, fell face down on the bed and sobbed.
Michael's anger gradually subsided. He quietly approached her, lay down next to her, leaned his head on her fragile back and stroked her head, reassuringly. She, confused and tearful, plaintively looked into his eyes.
"Are you sure you didn't have anything with him?"
- No, nothing, I swear to you, I swear! Rina assured him with tears in her eyes. “Please, trust me.
- I believe, I believe, my love, just calm down.
- Here you go!
“And you never loved him?”
No, no, never, never! Rina swore, and suddenly, unexpectedly even for herself, she broke off and became thoughtful. Fearing that Michael would not catch this momentary confusion, she got up from the bed, straightened her clothes and quietly slipped into the bathroom to wash.
Oh, those women! Michael sighed. - You won't get into trouble with them. The late mother must have been right when she advised me to stay longer as a bachelor. So, I assured you, you will achieve much more in life ...
Rina spent a couple more days in painful thoughts and nervous searches for a way out of this situation. To her husband's renewed questions, what was the matter and what worries her, she referred to difficulties at work.
- Idiot, cretin, - she was angry, lamenting, - and he ruined his life, and I, what a fool he was, remained so.
She often locked herself at work and at home in her room and wept bitterly. For the first time in my life, I caught myself feeling for Stas, something that I didn’t understand for all eight years of his courtship. Having cooled down after one of the next experiences, she repeated the call to Arthur.
- I agree.
“Ugh…,” Arthur drawled, “it’s better that way!” Don't worry, everything will be fine, the main thing is that you calmly talk to Michael. In the end, he is the most intelligent and madly loving person, he will understand you.
- Of course, he will understand, - Rina confirmed doubtfully. - When will the next court session be?
- I think that soon. I'll tell. Maybe you should come here at least once.
The next session of the court turned out to be longer than the previous ones. The accusation was made on several points at once. Lawyer Arthur, kept on top, it was clear that his confidence and determination were unshakable.
Michael nervously delved into all the vicissitudes and details of the proceedings.
- Blimey! he wondered. - Hey Rina! It must be something that got me into it. Know did not know what it is, and here are those on!
However, he behaved with honor and a little feigned composure right down to one word uttered by Rina.
Stas sat in the dock and suffered terribly. He would have preferred to spend the rest of his life behind bars than to contemplate Rina with her husband in the courtroom, and besides, create such serious problems for her. But now little depended on him, his fate was decided by other people. Stas was especially shocked when his old acquaintance Archil came to the courtroom as a witness.
“My God, where did he come from?” - And how did you know about everything? Kind of crazy, for God's sake.
After a long hearing, it was the turn to answer questions from the judges and the prosecution. Rina fought back steadfastly until one of the questions brought the turning point closer.
– Victim, did you ever love him? the judge asked.
There was a long pause.
Rina glanced at Michael, who was losing his former presence of mind in front of his eyes.
Yes, I loved him and love him now. Unfortunately, I realized this too late.
Hall gasped. Michael's pupils dilated, he choked, could not stand the crushing blow, and quickly rushed out.
The lawyer asked to stop interrogating Rina, referring to her state of mind. The judge granted his request. Rina was taken out.
All charges were dropped from Stas. He was released right in the hall, however, a hefty fine was imposed as compensation for moral damage in favor of those in relation to whom his act caused so much trouble and problems.
Stas left the courtroom dejected and dejected. Everyone came up to him, congratulated him, but he remained dry and sad. The thought that he had ruined Katherine's life was killing him, and he, more than ever in his life, now wanted to die. He had never been so bad.
At the exit, Arthur overtook him and clapped him on the shoulder in a friendly manner.
- Don't be sad and, old man, the main thing is done, you are free, and the rest will be settled.
Stas started up, a tiny grain of hope seemed to break into his mind:
- Maybe not everything is lost and something can be corrected?
He drove away from the courthouse in Archil's foreign car, who did not stop retelling all the details and details of today's trial.
“Don’t worry about the ransom either, I’ll settle everything,” he offered sincerely.
- How is it, my friend? - Stas was interested. What about Rio?
- Oh, - Archil waved it off, - perish this childhood dream! Who needs it now? This is first. And secondly, well, if you go there a few years earlier or later, what does it matter?! he laughed. - Only, my friend, now you're mine! I bought you from them. Now you have to work off my debt.
Stas looked at Archil with varying feelings - amazement, suspicion, admiration, but, of course, the main thing that he now felt was a huge gratitude for what was done for him.
“Do you really want to make me scream like myself?” Keep in mind, I can’t do this as skillfully as you.
- Come on, no one will make fun of you! So be it! If you want, you can be my image maker or manager.
“And how did you find out about my case, Archil?”
“I told you that I have many friends and acquaintances here, especially in the police. My police protect me.
Stas was shocked by the personality of Archil. He saw in him such a harmonious combination of the conscious and the unconscious that his surprise knew no bounds.
On this day he became a guest in Archil's house. Didn't sleep all night long. The night was always the best time for him to think. And a lot of thoughts have accumulated. The most important, however, remained thoughts about the future fate of Catherine. He continued to tirelessly torment himself, the only thing that was holding him back now was the words of consolation, so sincerely and sincerely expressed by Archil.
Several times Stas got up, wrapped himself in a blanket and went out onto the balcony to smoke. Having smoked, he gazed into the distance and, without opening his mouth, shouted, Shouted and prayed that at least someone would hear him.
For more than a week, Archil watched the state of mind of Stas, who was left with nothing, lost a lot and continued to live with him. Stas avoided communicating with people, talking on any topic. Suh was even with Archil, he was burdened that he was sitting on his neck. Returning home after his labors, Archil found Stas in an ever-deepening dejected state.
At the cost of incredible efforts, he managed to extort from him the cause of depression. And at the same time, he could not forgive himself for one mistake, although he understood that it was not at all about her and everything would have happened without it. On the very first day, leaving home, he left his mobile phone to Stas.
Stas got through to his family, friends, acquaintances and told them that he was delayed for an indefinite time on urgent matters. Except for Dick, no one dared to tell him about the fate of Oksana. Without waiting for his arrival, she succumbed to the insistent demands of the brothers, who gave her in marriage to a suitor they pleased.
- You fools! Archil pretended to be carefree. “I swear to you, you haven’t seen real girls yet. I'll beat you back here so that the whole country will rock.
Stas was completely smitten. He lost two beloved women at once, both of them pretty much ruining their lives.
Archil was confused. Stas put him in a hopeless position. He had never experienced such a thing in his life and always boasted that he got out of the most difficult situations. And now ... now he felt that he was slipping himself. No conversations, persuasion, promises and other tricks of Archil had an effect on Stas, and Archil began to feel that he was losing him and that Stas was moving away from him and from everyone further and further, into some unknown depth of human existence.
One day Archil returned home earlier than usual.
“Well, it’s okay for you to drool,” he began to scold Stas, who was lying in clothes on the bed and smoking a cigarette. - Quite limp, already sickening to watch. Come on, get up, receive guests.
- What kind of guests are these? Stas was surprised. And suddenly he heard from behind the door the voice of a woman who was able to raise him even from the grave. His heart almost burst with happiness, he sprang to his feet like a bullet and rushed to the door.
– Kate? Stas exclaimed. Tears welled up from his eyes. They threw themselves into each other's arms. He clasped the fingers of both hands behind her back.
“No one will ever take you away from me!”
Archil, meanwhile, jumped out onto the balcony, leaving the door open behind him, and uttered a cry in commemoration of his next victory.
Stas caressed, kissed Kate's face and head, and for the first time in her life she answered him. Gradually calming down, they felt a cold rush into the room.
Close the door and come to us soon!
Kate smiled blissfully, tightly squeezed by Stas's hand.
“Well, well,” Archil stated. “Maybe it’s about time…
Kat closed her eyes in agreement and parted the corners of her lips in a smile.
And now for a little surprise! – lent Archil and commanded towards the next room. - Now you can, get out!
A man came in with a little girl. Stas continued to squeeze Kat in his arms. When he saw the man's face, he froze. "Michael?" - flashed through his mind and he began to slowly remove his hand from Kat.
- Mom, who is this uncle? Little Lisa asked her.
Kat picked up her daughter.
“Meet Uncle Stas,” she explained. - Say hello to him. Well!
Rina, introduce us too! Michael held out his hand to Stas.
Stas shook it indecisively. Michael smiled. Stas stood puzzled and perplexed about what was happening. In his homeland, the men in this situation, at least, would have fought. But now he was staring in surprise at Michael's smiling face, and he surprisingly subtly caught the cause of his shock and tried to explain something.
Rina told me all about you. And I was amazed by the dynamics of your relationship from the first minutes of your acquaintance until today. The way you, at the cost of mutual unforgivable mistakes and omissions, went to the peak, to the pinnacle of your love. Rina and I have been having endless negotiations all this time about our future destinies. We are no longer children, although I am a little older than you. I believe Rina that nothing like this has ever happened between you.
Stas shook his head in both directions in agreement.
“Although I don't think that would make much of a difference,” Michael continued. - The main thing for me is that Rina loves me too, albeit less than you, and does not want to destroy the family and take away her true father from her daughter. And the real first love, who did not have it! I also had a beloved girl in my homeland, whom I continue to love and, perhaps, will love until the end of my life, even though she is married, and I never had anything like that with her and, of course, now I won’t, and I I would be very happy if her husband treated all this in the same way that I treat your love. I know enough about your beautiful country from Rina. I also know how many of your men would now respond about me. We need to grow morally and put common human values above our pride and above our self.
Stas was shocked. Michael spoke the words he should have spoken.
- Well, who is to blame for the fact that everything happened between you? And now that everything is over, what to do? Shoot and kill? Well, why can't people explain themselves calmly when there are complications? What is the need to fight, if everyone still remains in his opinion. There are many opinions, but there is only one way out, the only one, and it must be sought together.
- Well, you will philosophize! Everything else will be discussed at the table!
At a well-laid table, the debate continued for a long time. Archil's wife managed to both serve the table and sit at it with the guests.
Stas gradually freed himself from tension and almost resigned himself to the way things were going. I realized that the decision made now is the only acceptable one for everyone. And for the sake of Catherine, for the sake of her family happiness and well-being, he must sacrifice himself. Yes, and can no longer be tormented by a terrible sense of guilt before her. He clearly understood to himself that now he would not have a life either with her or without her.
The conversation dragged on, and they sat at the table until morning. Before dispersing, Michael presented his main surprise, said something that even Katherine did not know - he, as a producer and director, was offered a script for a very interesting film with a plot reminiscent of the story that happened to them themselves.
“And most importantly…” Michael paused.
Everyone froze, waiting for this main thing.
– And what, what is the most important thing?!
“And the most important thing is that…
“Come on, Michael, don’t torment us,” Katherine pleaded.
- Well, okay, so be it, I won’t torture you for a long time, - Michael took pity. - The most important thing is that we are going to shoot most of the film ... where do you think?
- Michael! Well, stop it! - Katherine pleaded.
- In Ree, in Ree, in Ree ...
“Lie yourself if you really want to,” Katherine was offended.
“In Rio-oh-oh ...” Michael cried out loudly, and everyone picked up this inhuman cry, which seemed to be heard by the whole planet. And, of course, among all the voices, Archil's voice stood out sharply, velvety shimmering from key to key.