Vladimir Orlov - Danilov the Violist

He was simple now and melancholy. And his melancholy was completely different from that of four days ago, after he had been the blue bull. Then Karmadon had suffered on account of his own weakness; now he was powerful but almost in tears.

Danilov felt sorry for his old schoolmate. He said:

"Forget it! It'll pass..." It was a stupid thing to say, though not completely stupid. But how smart a comment could he make now? He was drunk...

Suddenly silence plugged Danilov's ears. Motion stopped...

Danilov was on cross-country skis in a park or forest. Far ahead under the trees he saw skiers. Karmadon appeared next to him, and he was wearing skis, too.

"That's it," Karmadon said. "The meal is over. I'm full. And will be for quite a while. Aren't you full?"

"I am," muttered Danilov.

His head was heavy, but his legs could move thanks to the skis.

"Now it's time for the meeting," Karmadon said. "We'll see her here..."

"I'll go," Danilov said. "I'll just be in the way..."

"Wait," Karmadon said.

"Is he shy or something?" Danilov thought. Now Danilov realized that they were in Sokolniki Park. This was Danilov's first time on skis this winter, and he wasn't doing very well. And the trail wasn't good, it was iced over; there had been only a slight dusting of snow overnight, and the skis slid around in the ice ruts.

"We should see her now," whispered Karmadon.

Danilov saw that Karmadon was nervous. He was clearly putting off the moment of meeting.

"Did you at least make a date?" Danilov asked.

"No," Karmadon said. "That's not important... By the way, you know her... Don't be mad at me..."

"What's to be mad about?" muttered Danilov.

"The last few days I've seen her around the theater and by your house. She was probably hoping to run into you," Karmadon said.

"What?" Danilov looked up.

"There she is." Karmadon pushed off. "On the hill..."

On the hill stood Natasha.

"Introduce me to her," Karmadon said. It was an order.

Danilov rarely lost his head, but now he was taken aback. The last thing he wanted was to anger Karmadon, so he skied over to Natasha clumsily and began making silly, dumb jokes. Amazingly she responded with a smile, as if there had been no misunderstanding between them. Andrei Ivanovich Somov from Irkutsk skied over, and was introduced to Natasha. Natasha smiled at him too.

Andrei Ivanovich expressed his doubts that such a charming young lady would be able to ski down such a dangerous hill. In response, Natasha immediately pushed off. She skied deftly and gracefully, making sharp zigzags, as if she were on downhill skis. The stretch ski suit fitted her nicely, and it was apparent that Natasha's body was not only musical, it also was athletic and strong. "Did she really and truly hope to run into me at the theater or at Ostankino?" thought Danilov. "What was I waiting for, idiot?"

However, today Natasha astonished Danilov. He was used to seeing her serious, or sad, but now she was happy, even flirtatious. Was this Natasha? Much to his shame, Danilov took a quick look at his indicator. It looked like it was Natasha. Was it Karmadon who was having this effect on her? Danilov frowned. "She's flirting with him and doesn't even notice me! She likes him!" thought Danilov. He thought with indignation, with fury. He thought like a Moor instead of an Ostankino resident.

And then he thought: Let Karmadon go ahead with Natasha, he would fall behind. That would be better for everyone. For Karmadon. For Danilov. And for Natasha. He should have broken off with Natasha long ago. He posed a threat to Natasha's future. It was only his own weakness that kept him from breaking off. Now he had the opportunity... For an instant Danilov supposed that he was afraid of displeasing Karmadon and that's why his thoughts had taken this turn. But he took another look at the skiers and grew angry again. "No, look at her flirting with him, she doesn't give me the time of day! Let her! Fine! I'll stay behind... I'll say I want to feed the squirrels, that's it..."

"Danilov," Karmadon called, "you're falling behind!"

"Your stride is too strong," Danilov said.

"But you're not in the mud!" said Karmadon with a laugh and, as it seemed to Danilov, meaningfully.

"What are you doing in the mud, Volodya?" Natasha said with a sly smile. "You said you liked to ski, that you often came to Sokolniki. That's why I came here..."

"That was before, when I had the time..."

"She's so cold to me!" thought Danilov. He did pick up the hint that Natasha might be here because of him.

"Natasha, please excuse us," Karmadon said. "Our business conversation will bore you, and I'm leaving today. I have a few things to discuss with Volodya."

They went off to one side.

"I think," Karmadon said, and there was delicacy and tact in his voice, "that now you are in the way..."

"No," Danilov said firmly, "you're mistaken."

"Don't tell me you're going to try to stop me?" Karmadon asked. "You must understand how much I need her now... Her alone."

"It's out of the question," Danilov said.

"What's the matter with you? I'm being serious. It's only three days since I first saw her. But it feels as if I've needed her for a long time... I don't need other women now...

I'm not weak anymore, I have confidence in myself..."

"And I'm serious," Danilov said.

"What are we supposed to do, resort to a test of strength?" Karmadon said with a laugh.

"As you wish," Danilov said. "I'm not backing off."

Karmadon's eyes turned evil and green. He had been talking to Danilov as to a friend whose stubbornness was irritating but not cause for an argument. Now Karmadon was a ruthless giant, one who cared nothing about the feelings of tiny creatures! Still, he did not rant; he controlled himself. Yet, after all the meals at the railroad stations, the juices were fermenting in him.

"What's the matter, Danilov?" Karmadon said. "Have you forgotten who you are, and who I am? Have you forgotten your circumstances?"

"I haven't forgotten about anything," Danilov said grimly.

"Well then, proceed at your own risk..."

Danilov could imagine that Karmadon's intentions toward Natasha were sincere, but perhaps, all other things aside, Karmadon was interested in testing Danilov, in demeaning and humiliating him. Curiosity kept peeping out of Karmadon's angry eyes. That was vile. Danilov almost struck him. But a slap would have led to a duel...

"All right," Karmadon said. "The explanations are over. You won't give. But I won't either."

"If that's the case," Danilov said quietly, "then you ... you, sir, are a heartless seducer. And nothing but a cad ..."

Danilov removed his right glove, placed it on the aluminum tip of the ski pole, and handed the glove to Karmadon. Actually, it wasn't a glove but a woollen mitten, but Karmadon, after a moment's thought, accepted the mitten. He was pale. Danilov heard him gritting his teeth, even though his jaws were clenched. A violet flickering lit up Karmadon's eyes. Danilov was afraid that Karmadon might throw away the mitten -- this would mean Danilov had not only put his life on the line, but also his career! However, Karmadon still had some sense of honor. He placed Danilov's mitten in his pocket.

"Tomorrow morning," Karmadon said and pointed upward, "there. We'll discuss terms through our seconds. Now permit me to bow and leave Earth."

Danilov bowed to Karmadon.

Natasha came down the hill, skied over to Danilov and Karmadon, and asked if they had finished with their secrets.

"We have," Karmadon said. "I must head for home and then to the station. Otherwise I'll be late. Farewell."

"I'll see my guest off," Danilov said coolly to Natasha.

They traveled about two hundred yards from Natasha in silence, and then Andrei Ivanovich, traveler from Irkutsk, did not wait for the roosters to crow. He vanished into thin air.