"Can you tell me what time it is?"

"I don't have a watch," the woman's voice sounded coquettish. Everything is clear, one "man" reasoned, lonely.

- And what a beautiful dog you have. What is her name? Kireev continued to ask, paying no attention to the "man".

"Bertha," the owner of the dog wanted to say something else, but Bertha rushed as hard as she could, seeing a skinny black cat ahead. Together with the dog, a woman rushed after the cat, shouting: "Stop, little, stop." She did not pay any attention to the purse. "So, not her. Open it." - "And why is it so heavy? Cosmetics do not weigh that much. Now we will take off without Bertha." "It's not a shame to be a fool, it's a shame to be a coward. Open it." Kireyev opened it. The money. A lot of money. The hundred-dollar bills were neatly tied with a red elastic band. One, two, three, thirty... Multiply by one hundred. Wow! And someone's passports. Again, almost instinctively, Kireyev closed his purse and quickly walked in the direction of the subway. On the go, I began to look at passports.

Petrova Alla Ivanovna, address, year of birth. Almost the same age. Manukyan Natalia Vladimirovna, apparently, daughter. "Everything is clear, an explosive mixture: new Russians and new Armenians, money - chickens do not peck. Old man, this is a chance. You've never held that kind of money in your hands." - "It's somehow inconvenient, strangers." "But you've stopped believing in coincidences. The money came to you for a reason. Now there is enough for the operation, and for the best medicines. Here it is - a sign." "But if it's a sign, why other than the money in the bag and the passports of these women? So that I am tormented by my conscience later?" - "Stop breeding antimonies. Feel like Robin Hood. The money, I suppose, is stolen." - "And if not? And if she is raising one daughter, she has a different surname. What if she was preparing her daughter for an operation?"

- "Look at their photos - they bloom and smell. Ok. Another option: they mailed them passports and five hundred bucks. The rest of yours are commissions." - "And Liza?" - "What about Liza?" - "She needs money more than I do. I have lived after all, and she is eight years old." - "She has a father and a mother. Well good. Only the passports were given to Manukyansha, the money was divided with the Bobrovs. Feel like both Robin Hood and Santa Claus. In one bottle. Judge for yourself, who is this Lisa for you? No one. Look around, there are thousands of such children - sick, abandoned, dying. Think about yourself, Santa Claus. If you don't want to have an operation, buy a trip somewhere to Cyprus. The last time you were at the sea was ten years ago, and even then - on the Azov Sea. Live before death as a man." - "But they are strangers." - "Got it right... Do you remember that in Hašek's "The Good Soldier Švejk" it is said about one idiot who found the money and then returned it?" - "I remember". - "Draw conclusions." - "One thought came to my mind." - "I hope it's the right one? Speak." - "When, reading Arseny's notebook, I was thinking about temptation, do you remember?" - "Of course. You still thought that these were obstacles on the way. He was clever, in a word." "Exactly. How easy it is to lie in bed and talk about the difficulties of the journey." - "What are you getting at?" - "To the fact that, it seems, my path has begun. From Popovka, or rather, even from Palny. From that little church. I thought the path was clouds in the sky, a birch tree on the side of the road, a wagtail accompanying you on the way. I got tired - rested - and went on." - "Isn't that so? True, there may be clouds instead of clouds, but otherwise everything is correct." - "Not exactly. Yes, clouds. Yes, birch. And this wallet." - "Do you think it's temptation?" - "I don't know yet." - "And for what?" - "Do you remember, Elchaninov: "What multiplies spiritual strength in us? - Temptation Overcome." - "Of course, I remember. Do you remember the famous fable about one believer? Their village was destroyed by the flood. The villagers are saved, but this one refuses help: God will save me. One boat came to him, a second, a third, and he kept saying: God will save me. And drowned. And in the other world, he began to make claims to God: they say, why didn't you save me? The Lord answered him: "Who sent the three boats for you, didn't you think?" - "And what is the use of this example?" - "And all the same: did you not think that this purse was a boat sent for you? Don't laugh! You've understood more in these weeks than in your entire life. It means that the sore was sent to you in time. But you, Kira, feel that He will help you. And how to do it without drugs, without treatment, without money? You cry in front of the icon - and everything will be taken off like a hand, right?" - "Don't disperse. I'm just thinking, I'm not solving anything. I liked your comparison about a wallet and a boat. But why were there photos of these women?" - "You've already got it, old man. Since when did you become a Communist?" - "What does this have to do with it? Although, you know, there was more justice in the previous life." - "I agree. But this is a utopia when every person is happy, rich, and healthy. Understand? Utopia! Think about yourself, about yourself. Do you remember how it is written in that notebook?" - "Namely?" - "At Seraphim of Sarov. He was a holy man, so he knew that he was writing: "Save yourself and thousands around you will be saved." - "So he meant 'be saved' in another sense."

- "And even so, only without living, without existing, you can be someone for others at all? That's it."

- "It's really hard." - "What are you talking about?" - "About temptation. Do you remember how happy it was for me to earn a hundred dollars? Why, a hundred, for ten he ploughed like an ox, wrote all sorts of nonsense." - "Of course, I remember. Now you have three thousand in your hands. Passports were gone. Believe me, they will be happy and grateful to you infinitely." - "And then what?" - "Like what? Forward with a song through life. Have you forgotten how you vomited on the train this morning? Look, tomorrow it can be worse. You're still swallowing one no-shpu - it's like a poultice for a dead man. Do we take the money? Answer at last. There is such a folk wisdom: you make a choice, it will become easier." "Forgive me, but I think I've already done it." - "Choice?" - "Yes." - "Congratulations, why - sorry?" - "I'll give this money. Just keep quiet. I know I'm a fool, but it sucks as soon as I imagine that I kept them. There is no joy. Do you understand?" - "Did you want joy? She will come later. When they cure you." "Do you think the rich don't die? And what makes you think that three thousand dollars is a lot of money?" - "For you - a lot." - "And for cancer? That's it. That's it, let's finish." "Good. Only I have one request." - "What?" - "Do what you want. But how is it in advertising?" - "Take a break?" - "Do it. At least until the evening. You have almost no things, you don't want to eat. Go to Kolomenskoye. Or to football. It seems to me that today Torpedo is playing. They seem to have a new coach. Go and see. And at worst - sleep at home. Huh?" - "Until tonight, you say? Ok. I'll wait until evening."

Chapter Thirteen

As soon as Sophia crossed the threshold of Alla's apartment, she heard Alex's voice from the room:

- Of course, you can watch it, but the question is: is it worth it? Sturgeon of the second freshness is no longer sturgeon...

"Is this your promised surprise?" Sophia asked the hostess who met her.

- Oh, Sonechka! He called in the morning and congratulated. And then he began to cry, and I invited him. Are you angry?

"Yesterday I thought I would see him for the last time.