SERGEI DOVLATOV
185
low lightbulbs above the fences. In the "open-fire" corridor, German
shepherds ran back and forth, rattling their chains.
Suddenly, Gurin said, "So how many people did they really
do in?"
"Who?" I didn't understand.
"Those dogs, of course - Lenin with Dzerzhinsky . 'Knights
without fear or radish .' ''
I kept quiet. How could I know whether to trust him? And
anyway, why was he being so open with me?
The zek wouldn't let it go. "Now me, for example-I'm in for
theft. Stilts, we assume, stuck it where he shouldn't have. Gesha's in
for something on the order of black-marketeering. As you can see,
not one rubout between us . While those two flooded Russia with
blood , but that's all right ."
"Look," I said, "you're going too far."
"What's going too far about it? Those people were the bloodiest
'No-Termers' ever."
"Listen, let's end this conversation."
"Good enough," he said.
After that, there were three or four rehearsals. Khuriev would
get worked up , mop his forehead with toilet paper, and shout , "I
don't believe it! Lenin is overacting, Timofey is hysterical. Polina is
wagging her behind . And Dzerzhinsky looks like a thug. "
"Well, what am I supposed to look like?" Tsurikov asked sul-
lenly . "What's there is there."
"Did you ever hear of transformation?" Khuriev asked him.
"I heard," the zek said uncertainly.
"What did you hear? Just out of curiosity, what?"
"Transformation," Gurin explained for Dzerzhinsky, "is when
thieves in the Law sell out to work as stoolies. Or else, let's say
there's a hundred-percent-known square, but he carries on like he's a
criminal. . . ."
"Some conversation," Khuriev said angrily. "Lebedyeva, don't
push out your form. Think more about the content."
"My bosoms are shaking," Lebedyeva complained, "and my
legs are swollen. I always gain weight when I'm nervous. And I eat
so little , cottage cheese and maybe eggs.. . ."
"Not another word about bacilla-calories," Gurin said to silence
her.
