VASSILY P. AKSYONOV
43
line of sight due to the obstructions in my plane of vision caused by
my position.
Meanwhile, a painter had calmly climbed down the scaffolding
to the cafe window, taken the glass from her hand, and bowed spryly
to thank her. He had just about positioned his little pinkie on the
glass stem so that he could partake nobly of this noble beverage
when he suddenly interrupted his enchanting ritual and hollered at
someone in a powerful voice: "Nikolai! Lie the brick down! I order
you, lie the brick down! Lie the brick back or I'll shoot!"
There was absolutely nothing around from which he could have
fired a shot. In discussions later, this fact was echoed far and wide
along Shoreline Road . Why would he shout "I'll shoot" when there
wasn't a weapon to fire?! He bellowed "I'll shoot," you understand,
but what did he have to shoot with?! These people are really some–
thing: they shout "I'll shoot," with no firearm at hand , but what
can you do about it , they're such braggarts?!
Passers-by looked to see whom this painter was shouting at so
loudly and they all spotted another painter in splotchy overalls who
was standing on the scaffolding and painting a third-floor balcony.
He was painting away to his heart's content, sluggishly and sloppily;
he blew his nose on his sleeve , not suspecting a thing. Above him,
the second painter, there likewise stood on the balcony a third
painter, who had a brick in his hand aimed at the crown of his co–
worker's head.
A long, drawn-out second:
1)
The first painter was still holding the glass of fine wine. The
second painter was holding a brick aimed at the third one's head.
The third painter was holding his brush with a shaky, drunken hand .
2)
The second painter smashed the brick against the third
painter's head. The third fell from the scaffolding onto the asphalt,
where he lay sprawled out. The first painter drank down the glass of
wme.
3) The painter with the empty glass in his hand dashed off
somewhere-either to save the victim or to nab the criminal. The
second painter, his face bathed in a dazzling smile, finished off the
third painter with a second brick. And the third one, with a violent
twitch, flopped onto his back and once more sprawled out, spread–
eagle and motionl ess.
