– There can be you and are right, but nevertheless I consider that the first heart of Moscow it?. – Luda thought. – It is Moscow. – Luda, and then kind of in justification of the words answered, added. – Moscow – heart of Russia.
Emmanuel significantly looked at Luda. She understood that on this question there is no answer. On extremely measure the people living here have no answer in Russia. They just dumped fetters of the Iron Curtain, and for these two years of freedom given them, they still fully did not feel that taste of freedom which is in the West, in the USA – the country of freedom of democracy. Countries of Washington, Granda, Lincoln. Emmanuel told:
– Perhaps you are also right.
There passed some time. The car stopped around one from the house on (X) Street. It was the big twelve-floor house in the center of Moscow.
Luda told:
– Arrived.
They drove to the yard, and having parked a car at an entrance, Luda killed the car engine, and having addressed Emmanuel, told:
– Here you will also live.
Emmanuel having left a car looked around. It was the usual site on which at the playground played little children with the parents. Emmanuel paid attention to one woman. She stood together with other women and with them spoke about something. This woman was about to give birth, probably six months gone. Emmanuel bitterly sighed. This minute it presented itself on the place of this woman. She was pregnant, and Emmanuel having looked at the tummy, touched it with a hand, and thought: what this fine feeling to be a pregnant woman! She wanted to become pregnant. She wanted to give rise, but who could become for it that person who would present it this joy? She did not know it.
In it it is a high time, Emmanuel heard behind herself Luda's voice. She told:
– Go what here to stand?
Emmanuel having looked at Luda, saw that that pulled out from back luggage office all bags and suitcases, looked at Luda, and heard who asked:
– What will you take?
Emmanuel understood that both of them should bear suitcases and bags. She approached the things, and having taken two weighty bags, having left to Luda a suitcase, asked:
– Where to go?
Having taken a suitcase, Luda showed on the closest door of an entrance, and told:
– There.
Women went to an entrance bearing on themselves things. In it it is a high time the young guy ran up to them and offered them the help.
Luda thanked the man for the help, and that helped to inform of bags and a suitcase the apartment.
The living space settled down on the fifth floor, this was the one-room apartment with the mixed bathroom. From the room there was an exit to a spacious loggia which lasted from the room to windows of kitchen. To apartments there was old furniture. Book shelves on which there were books of different years and subjects. On a floor the oriental carpet was put, and on a wall the carpet was hung up. One of walls had a double bed, the RUBIN-208 TV eight-channel was by the window on a bedside table. On which there were hours. On one of a wall the shelf on which there was stationary phone of red color was beaten. As for kitchen, here everything was ordinary. Table, chair. The gas stove, a table for cooking. On a wall regiments were beaten. The refrigerator ZIL was by the window. Radio Beacon hung on a wall. On which broadcast only one wave – the beacon. All as usually was in the Soviet ordinary apartments.
Luda told:
– Here so there lived once Soviet citizen.
Emmanuel took an interest:
– This whose apartment?
– Ours.
– I understand that yours, but who lived here earlier?
– My mother. – Luda answered. Then she with despondency and chagrin added. – She sits now. – then she explained. – For speculation during the Soviet period. – it having made a long pause, gloomy added. – Year remained.
Emmanuel having listened to Luda, heaved a deep sigh. She approached Luda, and having embraced her, in a consolation told:
– Anything. You awake together. – then having made a pause Emmanuel added. – Never it is necessary to despair. Despair sign of hopelessness.
Luda having looked at Emmanuel, firmly told:
– I do not despair.
Emmanuel having looked at Luda told:
– It is good. – then she departed from it, and having approached the refrigerator ZIL, opened it, and having glanced inside, saw that it is empty. Having looked at Luda, asked Emmanuel:
– And where here nearby grocery store?
– Nearby. – Luda answered and asked. – And what?
Emmanuel looked in the refrigerator again, and with chagrin told:
– It is similar that in the refrigerator is empty.
– Cannot be? – Luda was surprised. She quickly approached the refrigerator, and having glanced found in nothing. – We will probably have dinner and supper here.
Emmanuel took an interest again:
– Where grocery store? – then she kind of for fun added. – to go to bed on a hungry stomach …
And without having managed to finish this phrase, she heard Luda's voice.
– It is similar that today we have a visit of shop. – then Luda asked Emmanuel knowing already that that will tell in reply. – How about that to go to grocery?
– I, for.
– I too.
Women left the apartment. Luda having closed a door gave keys Emmanuel. She told:
– They now yours. – then she added. – Live.
In the nineties, shops – supermarkets just that gained the steam. In few places it was possible to buy something from products, without overpaying and without being afraid that you will get poisoned. Tents occupied all center of Moscow. In any case Moscow! All Moscow region, all Russia. In each of tents there was the range of goods. But it was monotonous. Ninety nine and nine percent of the range of goods made alcoholic drinks and tobacco products. It seemed that those years Russia became an inveterate drunkard and smoked. And what? After Gorbachev crisis with alcoholic drinks – two bottles in hands how not to get drunk. Suddenly again alcohol will be gone – offensively. As for tobacco products, as for tobacco products, then too that for a sin to be smoked. I remember Gorbachev when I made crisis with alcoholic drinks then cigarettes disappeared somewhere. I remember malicious smokers and smokers nearly went for storm of the White House if only to achieve that cigarettes or at least cigarettes of "BELOMOR-KANAL" went on sale. Whatever you may say, life then was more interesting. We looked for something, stood in a queue, overpaid extremely expensively. Life was more interesting. As for Luda and Emmanuel, they had to go to do shopping to the center of Moscow. On the street being Gorky, the present Tverskaya. In Eliseysky shop. Having made purchases there Emmanuel approached cash desk, and having seen how many all their purchase costs nearly was terrified. The price was more than in Europe on extremely measure by hundred twenty times, and even is much bigger. Emmanuel having stupidly looked at Luda thought of what the cashier was mistaken, appeared is not present. The mistake was not. This was the actual price at the prices of the ninety third of the ninety seventh of years. Luda having paid off the cashier for purchases, left shop, and having addressed Emmanuel, told:
– This Russia – the mother, here everything is expensive, and salary is lower, than in the Third World country, for example in one of the countries of Africa.
– Yes? – agreed with Luda Emmanuel. – Whatever you may say, Russia is Russia. – then she asked. – As soon as here people live?
Luda it is multiple-valued shrugged shoulders.
– We can be … – she said with grief. – Sometime in the future?
Emmanuel with grief sighed.
– Can be. – she said. – Sometime. – then she added. – But not now.
Having arrived back home, they met at an entrance of that guy which helped to carry them things to the apartment last time. He then hurried, and could not get acquainted with women. Now, when it returned after the urgent matters, he sat on a bench at an entrance and watching absolutely already dark sky thought of something. Having seen the women leaving a car, he immediately recognized them. He got up from a bench, and having approached them offered once again the help. Luda with it is inherent in the woman interest took an interest:
– Do you pursue us?
– No. – immediately the guy answered having taken bags in hand. – I do not pursue you, just passed by as last time.
Luda smiled:
– And at the same time sat on a bench at an entrance? – then she added. – We saw you.
The guy convicted that it nevertheless did not pass by, and сидев on a bench at an entrance told:
– My crime seems it is solved.
Luda with interest took an interest:
– And in what it consisted?
The guy looked at Emmanuel, and then at Luda, and said:
– I like your girlfriend. – not to offend the woman with whom he spoke he added. – I like also you.
Luda knowingly nodded, and then asked:
– And which of us is pleasant to you more?
The guy for a second thought. He did not want to be impolite to women. But something it was necessary to answer, and he told:
– You are pleasant to me both, everyone in own way. – then he added. – Both of you are beautiful and mysterious.
– Yes. – Luda smiled having agreed with the guy. – In the woman – a riddle. – then she told. – Well, help us.
The guy informed of bags their apartment on the fifth floor, and Luda having invited him on a visit, asked his name.
– Zhora. – having presented it having looked at the interlocutor, asked. – And you?
Luda did not understand:
– What I?
Zhora asked:
– What is your name?
– And. – became the woman awkwardly. Then it was presented. – Lyudmila. – she looked at Emmanuel, and presented it. – Emmanuel. – then she explained. – she arrived from abroad, and does not speak Russian. – then she added. – but she well knows English.
– I speak English too. – he addressed to Emmanuel in English. – I am very glad to get acquainted with you.
Though without knowing Russian, she understood that someone from them it was pleasant to this person. She answered in English.
– And me too.
Author: – Further dialogue happens in English.
Zhora went to kitchen, and having put bags on a floor began to get from them products. When women entered on kitchen, all products from bags already stood on a table.
Having seen that Zhora without asking permission began to manage in the apartment, Luda was indignant with his behavior, and with obvious hostility questioned:
– You nobody learned to ask permission before managing in others apartment?
Zhora immediately understood the mistake, and hurried to justify itself:
– I thought that you were tired, and will be me you to help better.
Emmanuel frowned. She did not love that someone the stranger without permission will do in others apartment what is not necessary. And to whom it will be pleasant? She told:
– Of course we are grateful to you for your help, but …
Zhora heaved a deep sigh.
– Understood. – he told. – I leave.
Women exchanged glances. Both of them wanted that Zhora remained with them. To remain that to modify, and for a conversation, for communication. Luda strictly asked:
– Where do you go?
– On an exit. – sadly he told. Then added. – I showed tactlessness that without the knowledge of the hostess of the apartment began to manage …
He did not manage to finish the offer as Luda told:
– We forgive you.
Zhora turned back.
Emmanuel added.
– We of course are angry that you laid out everything from bags, but you made it from good intentions.
Zhora immediately answered:
– I wanted to help you.
Emmanuel having approached Zhora, said in low tones:
– I know. – then she asked. – Help us to prepare it is fished.
Zhora immediately agreed.
– Of course.
It was soon fished it is ready. The baked chicken, soup kharcho, salads. Of course there was a tea. Generally whatever you may say we always ate monotonously. At the CPSU, and in Russia. There are no special delicacies in shops, and to go to restaurant expensively. Remember that Luda leaving from the father, suggested to have a bite Emmanuel. They of course, went to restaurant, but having looked at the prices, Emmanuel just was horrified. For the life, she of course saw the restaurant prices, but such!? It too.
Having sat down at a table, all three were accepted to first course. Concentrate, soup kharcho. In general, who knows, the concentrate was and remains to one of favourite food. And let after it getting thirsty, let after it to rise pressure, and the stomach will begin to play unknown games. A concentrate – the most favourite product of the Soviet and Russian citizen. Do you ask why? It simply in comparison with cooking of Russian cabbage soup or borsch does not take a lot of time, and it that the most important – cheap. And the Russian person – if only to fill to him a belly and if heartburn, that is the checked method – alcohol. It is possible to eat nothing, just drink hot and do not think of anything. For you everything will solve alcohol.
Having taken a sip of couple of spoons of soup kharcho, Emmanuel asked:
– What is it?
Luda having looked at Emmanuel puzzled with a look, answered:
– How that? Soup kharcho.
Emmanuel having frowned, questioned:
– And you eat it? – she did not understand how it is possible to eat it? It is simply a poison, and more than nothing.
– Yes. – Luda agreed. – It to you not America.
– What does it have to do with America? – did not understand Emmanuel. – In America there are concentrates too, and we eat them …
– Then that?
Emmanuel with neglect answered:
– It is a lot of salt, and pepper. So to stomach ulcer nearby.
Luda frowned:
– Stomach ulcer? – it having made a pause, added. – I did not think of it.
Zhora got into conversation. He told:
– The ulcer an ulcer, and is it is necessary.
The woman having looked in Zhora's plate, saw that she is empty, and Zhora having looked at Emmanuel, told:
– Maybe in Russia trade in shit why all this shit is eaten?
Women shrugged shoulders.
– Because – Zhora continued. – ourselves buy this shit. – it having made a pause, added. – Here if nobody buys it …
– Can you and are right. – Luda agreed with Zhora. – If nobody buys … – she looked in a plate of soup kharcho. – this shit, would cease to produce it at all.
Emmanuel agreed, and having made one more spoon of soup, asked:
– And sour cream is? Luda, we seems her bought?
Women looked at Zhora.
Emmanuel asked:
– You spread everything from a bag. Sour cream was?
– Of course. – hasty Zhora answered. – It in the refrigerator.
Emmanuel having risen because of a table approached the refrigerator, and having taken sour cream, returned back at a table. She opened it, and having put itself two spoons of sour cream, put it on a table.
Luda having taken sour cream, also put to herself it in a plate, and having put the sour cream rest on a table, told:
– You are right Emmanuel. The concentrate is a muck. – then she added. – but all the rest that we prepared should be tried.
– Yes. – Zhora supported Luda. – Chicken turned out – it showed a thumb up. – In!!!
Emmanuel having looked at Zhora and then on Luda, unexpectedly told:
– Excuse me for the fact that I was impolite. – it having made a pause, deeply and a deep sigh heaved. Then she told. – But nevertheless this dirty trick without sour cream is it is impossible, and with sour cream still tolerantly.
Luda grinned, and kind of keeping up the conversation, and she agreed with Emmanuel playfully having told.
– You are not upset. All know that a concentrate – shit. – then she claimed. – But all ate it, едя and will eat. – then she unambiguously added. – because it is cheap.
Having looked at Elisabeth on Luda, being angry with itself, answered:
– I always come in rage when hungry. – then she added. – I did not want to spoil this evening.