Цитаты из книги «The Suitcase / Чемодан. Книга для чтения на английском языке»

“Go ahead and write, dearie… I’ll try. I’ll tell the people everything about my dog’s life.”

Her living quarters were a horrible sight. A rickety table, a couple of torn mattresses, a stifling stink. Ragged, messy kids everywhere.

Just then Bezuglov called. “You’re in luck,” he shouted. “We found an Uzbek. Mishchuk found him. Where? At Kuznechny Market. A small businessman – that’s even a good thing, it’s got unofficial support now. Private allotments, all that. So everything’s fine with the Uzbek.”

“You’ll like him,” my friend said. “He’s a cultured guy, well-read, good sense of humour. Got out recently.” “What do you mean, got out?” “He served his term and got out.” “You mean he’s a thief?” I asked. “Why a thief?” My friend was insulted. “He was doing time for rape…”

Then he picked up the other phone. “Hello. I urgently need an Uzbek. Any quality, even a parasite. Try, be a pal, I won’t forget it.”

Our editor was a kind man. With his big salary, he could afford to be.

Who would have expected a low blow like this from a socialist economy? Who can I give Finnish socks to now? They won’t take them for a rouble now! I know our damned industry. First they screw around[23] for twenty years and then – bam! And all the stores are filled with some crap or other.