The Russians are Coming!, 14 Months in the Life of the Town

«Where are you from?» After listening to this explanation, hope arose into Marina’s soul again.

«Kiev,» the girl answered, smiling.

«Buddy,» Marina sighed, disappointed. «Kiev is not in Russia.»

«I know.» Loo laughed. «I am Russian, but I never said I’m from Russia. My papers were lost, I don’t even know where I was born.»

Forcing herself to stifle any thoughts about her sister, Marina changed the subject.

«If we put this log like that,» she showed, explaining, «it would keep the fire for a longer time.»

The young people obeyed, and started working together.

* * * * *

Evening fell, and the gaiety reached its maximum. Sparkling in the night sky, fireworks flooded the environs with many colored lights turning the usual landscape into a mysterious zone.

For a long time Marina had not felt as lighthearted as now. She laughed, losing herself in bliss. She ran to the lake, threw off all her clothes and jumped into the water. The reflections of the fireworks, moonlight and bright summer stars transformed the dark brown water into a bizarre soup, and the girl felt as though she were swimming in space, in the middle of the galaxy.

She heard someone swim after her. Marina looked back and smiled, seeing Pit. She swam away. Strong and athletic, she easily lengthened the distance between them. Then Marina floated on the water and relaxed, staring at the sky blazing with fireworks. Small waves slowly washed up against her slender body, carrying and swinging her like tender hands.

Panting, the youth reached Marina, and for a while he just silently leered at her.

«Oh God,» he said delightedly. «You’re so beautiful.»

«Thanks.» Marina laughed, and swam again. This time she was moving much slower, and Pit stayed by her.

They reached another shore. When Marina’s legs touched the bottom, she turned towards Pit and fondly embraced him. She was not surprised, sensing he was also totally naked. He caressed and kissed her very passionately, yet she felt there was something that she wanted to get straight, and she stopped him, gazing at his face.

«I’m your first, am I?» she asked. He braved it for a moment, but became confused, and nodded.

«Do you despise me?» he squeezed out with effort.

«Why, you silly boy?» she tenderly stroked his young body trembling with desire.

«I’m twenty-three.»

«Gosh!» Marina noted to herself. «He’s three years younger than me!»

«I’m not sick,» he continued. «I’m not gay. I just wanted to meet the right woman… And I’ve never met a girl like you…»

«Let’s go to your place,» she gently interrupted him.

* * * * *

No one could call this just sex. It was not a simple satisfaction of instincts. It was an initiation into the Sacrament of Passion.

His sincere delight and naïve inexperienced caressing washed out her memories, healing her soul exhausted with suffering, curing her heart that seemed to have been broken forever, and the grateful Marina released all her fondness, not called on for such a long time. She did not just show her knowledge. She shared her capability for selfless Love.

* * * * *

Marina was sitting next to the bed. Lying there, Pit held her hand. Carefully, she drew it back, but he would not release it.

«Don’t go away,» he whispered, falling asleep.

For a long time Marina sat there, observing him sleeping with a glad smile across his boyish face. For the first time in her life she met a man from whom she wanted to have a child.

«The girls usually look like their fathers,» Marina dreamed. «If I have a daughter with him, she will be pretty…»

Finally Marina freed her hand, put on jeans and a long-sleeved blouse as it was midnight already, and went outside.

The fireworks were over, and she saw young people sitting around the bonfire. They sang together, and Marina walked close looking for Loo. She was not here, and Marina asked her friends where she could be.

«She has never joined us here,» one of them explained to her. «When we set a fire she always leaves. She’s at home now. The third building from the left.»

Marina went to this house, and knocked. Loo opened without asking, and Marina entered and was surprised, seeing the window covered with a blanket over the blinds.

«Why do you stay here?» Marina asked, lifting the edge of the blanket. The reddish orange light from the fire oozed through the blinds, and Loo screamed and jerked the blanket down again.

«I hate flame!» the girl said with pain in her voice. «My family died in a house fire.»

Marina stood still. «Impossible, impossible, impossible…» was beating in her head.

«My parents, my brothers, all were gone!» Loo was talking, barely holding back her tears. «My oldest sister rescued me in the last second. She jumped with me out of the window. I was just two. I forgot her name; I forgot her face. All I remember is a flame on the left sleeve of her pajama top. Her sleeve was burning, her arm was like a torch, but she did not cry. A fireman beat off this flame, and took her inside an ambulance, and I never, never saw her again!»

«What have you done with your hair, Masha?» Marina suddenly asked in a very calm voice.

«Bleach and permanent,» mechanically answered the girl, then stared at Marina with amazement. «What did you call me?»

Without a word Marina came close to Loo, rolled up her left sleeve and showed to her the big old scar on her arm, the vestige of the deep burn.

Chapter 25: Alla

At the International Airport the Lapins were waiting for Alla.

Nina’s mother was coming to the U.S.A. to visit them, so Vlad drove his family to pick her up.

«Are you sure it’s the correct gate?» Nina asked with worry, glancing at the wall clock, then at her watch, and all around. Panting, she almost hopped with impatience, but suddenly Larisa said very calmly, «I need to go to the bathroom.»

«Oh.» Nina threw her arms up. «It’s about time. I did ask you. Now you’ll wait, young lady.»

«No, I can’t,» the girl objected, speaking with the same tone that her father usually used, and Nina involuntarily noticed this.

«Go, I’ll stay,» Vlad told her.

«No way!» Nina felt tears fill up her eyes. «I don’t wanna miss Mom.»

«Go, I said,» Vlad repeated very quietly, but steel sounded in his voice and Nina took her daughter’s hand and went away without further argument.

* * * * *

Alla strode through the gate, and immediately saw Vlad. Her daughter and Larisa were not there and concern pricked her heart.

«They live so far away,» she said to herself trying not to be worried. «He probably left them at home.»

Pushing the cart with her baggage, she went close to her son-in-law and hugged him. «Hello, son.»

They looked at each other smiling.

«Still a young boy! I wonder if you’ll ever look like an adult?»

Vlad only shrugged his shoulders.

«Mother!» they heard and saw Nina running towards them and Larisa skipping behind her. The women embraced each other and burst into tears and the girl grabbed the hand of her father.

«Dad,» she asked uneasily. «Why do they cry?»

«Because they missed each other,» replied Vlad feeling guilty.

«I missed Granny too!» Larisa wept, flung herself to them, and the women took her in their circle and sobbed all together.

«Niagara Falls,» Vlad thought, watching them with doleful tender compassion.

* * * * *

Before getting into the car, Alla looked it over with criticism, «Is it your auto?»

«Yes.» Her daughter smiled.

«I thought it’s an old rusty can from some garbage.» Alla snorted, and Nina felt confused.

«It moves at least,» Vlad retorted with a peaceful voice, but thinking, «People in Russia think if you are living in the USA, you are a millionaire.»

He did not tell his mother-in-law that just yesterday the muffler had fallen off, but Ruslan Grafinsky helped them again, simply tying it back on with a wire.

Vlad gazed at the black violet clouds accumulating in the darkening sky. The weather forecast warned about an oncoming thunderstorm, and he was worried.

The trip home was going to take about six hours of driving, and Vlad realized that there was no chance of avoiding the heavy rain.

«Should we stay in a motel?» he thought. «Gosh, it’s too expensive! If I drive carefully everything is going to be fine. I hope.» Still hesitating, he finally sat in the car.

Chatting non-stop, Alla, Nina and Larisa did not even notice his concern, and, again, Vlad was touched by how these women trusted him.

* * * * *

They were half way home when the thunderstorm broke. The raindrops and hailstones pattered on the car, and the women became quiet. Soon Larisa fell asleep, a tired Alla dozed off next to her, and Nina observed them with a happy smile.

They had just passed a town when a sudden siren sounding outside made their skin creep. Nina turned toward Vlad to ask him about it, and she saw his pallid face. He stared at the mirror, and the woman looked back.

Her hair stood on end as she saw a twister, moving directly along the same road as their car. It was getting closer, and Nina gasped with horror.

«What?» Alla woke and gazed at her daughter. «What’s going on?»

Nina could not answer. Alla followed her look and saw the tornado.

«Wow.» She smiled. «My first day in the U.S.A., and what an adventure! Can we stop? I want to take a picture.»

«It’s not funny, mom,» murmured Nina. Her voice squeaked. «Vlad, can we move faster?»

Vlad only shook his head. He glanced at the speedometer and felt despair, for this was the maximum speed that he could press out of this old and oft-fixed vehicle.

«Stupid piece of junk!» Vlad thought with vexation. «I should have rented a car. So, Scrooge, you saved some money, and your damned economy is going to kill your family. Congratulations!»

Watching for shelter, the Lapins looked through the windows with all their attention, but all that they could see were endless cornfields, stretching to the skyline.

«A bridge!» Nina suddenly exclaimed, pointing forward. «Thank God! We’re saved!»

They reached the bridge, it was not big, nor wide, but nevertheless it was some cover, and Vlad parked the car under it, rushed out and carefully took Larisa into his arms.

He climbed up the slope, and sat down in the chink between the ground and the span. He held his sleeping daughter, but suddenly he recalled a story that he had read somewhere about how a twister tore a child from the arms of his mother. Hastily taking out his belt, Vlad fastened Larisa to himself, then looked down.

A roaring van swept past, and Vlad involuntarily noticed the big blue letters on its board. Nina and Alla were still inside the car, and Vlad was worried sick about them and could not imagine what was going on.

The young woman was vainly trying to urge her mother out.

«I’m not going anywhere.» Alla demonstratively sat straight.

«You should not stay in the car.» With desperation Nina glanced at her, then at the oncoming twister. She realized they had no time for discussion. «Mom, please, I beg you!»

Not looking at her daughter, Alla did not response. Then Nina got out, and ran to her family. She saw Vlad’s belt around the body of Larisa, and she took out her own blouse, and tied herself to her husband and daughter.

«If we are gonna die, we die together,» Nina thought, resigning herself to her Fate.

They hugged each other and still cringed, trembling with fear in the face of the Power of Nature, helpless, like people of the Stone Age.

The wind became stronger and stronger, and the Lapins stared at the car down the slope.

«Mommy, mommy,» whispered Nina. She could not tear her eyes from the car, shaking and slowly moving forward.

«We can do nothing, honey,» Lapin mumbled, but Nina did not hear him.

Vlad greatly respected Alla, and, recalling the Wizard of Oz and the witch that had been killed by a tornado, he thought, «Awful! If my mother-in-law is gone, everybody would think I wanted it.»

The wind slackened, and the car stopped. It was over now, and the Lapins sighed with relief.

«I told you it was safe,» Alla said to her daughter when she got inside. Exhausted with stress, Nina did not answer. Holding Larisa, she silently sat on the back seat, made her daughter comfortable and buckled her up, then hugged her mother.

Vlad drove the car away, continuing the interrupted trip.

A few miles further on they saw a van lying in the ditch with its wheels up. Large blue letters blared from its board, and Vlad recognized the truck that had passed their car under the bridge. A police car was on its way, so Vlad did not stop.

* * * * *

Bill Thompson was walking along a path in the city park, and his golden retriever slowly followed him. Goldy was an old dog, very old. The animal had difficulty moving her legs, and Bill looked at his pet with compassion as he had the same problem and had to use a walking stick.

He sat on the bench, and Goldy lay next to him.

Bill looked around the playground. He liked to watch the playing children and their parents. Some of them he remembered from when they were kids.

This is why he noticed the lady. She was an unknown woman, and, he realized at once, she was not from here. First, he saw her legs. Not long, but very thin legs. In contrast with other women, who wearing sport shoes, this woman wore heel-strap sandals with such high heels that Bill was surprised that she was able to move so easily and lightly.

Her black T-shirt, with a deep décolleté, tightly fitted her slender lithe body. Many women tied their hair, but the ponytail of this woman was decorated with a black bow. Although she was not young, this bow looked very natural, as part of her image. Cheerful and active, she resembled a starling, and her long nose only emphasized this likeness.

Thompson suddenly thought how aptly people call the foreigners ’aliens’. This woman really was a being from another world.

She played with Larisa, and Bill was surprised, for he did not know that Nina’s mother was here. The girl ran to other kids, the woman looked about, saw Goldy, and came close.

«What a nice doggie,» she said, as she bent over and petted the dog. The retriever wagged its tail and licked her face. The woman laughed. «I do love dogs. I have two dogs in Moscow.»

She was talking with a strong accent. Bill barely understood her, but he smiled. This lively woman emitted optimism. She beamed, making the world around her bright and dreamlike and wonderful.

«My name is Alla,» she introduced herself. «What is the name of your doggie?»

«Goldy.» He slightly bowed. «And my name is Bill Thompson.»

«Thompson!» She threw up her arms. Bill was surprised by her reaction. Alla opened her bag and took out a book. «My daughter, Nina, told me about you, and I bought this book just for you. I bet you have never read this.» She gave it to Bill, and, astonished, he took the book, and looked at the cover: Seton Thompson… a naturalist, writer… the first Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of America…

«He’s my favorite author,» she explained emotionally.

«It’s very interesting.» Bill wanted to return the book, but Alla stopped him. «No! It’s my gift to you. Take it, read it. I’m sure you will like it. Chink, the puppy. Snap. The Winnipeg Wolf. When I was reading these stories I cried.»

Bill saw Vlad Lapin walk toward them.

«Hello.» He nodded to Bill, and addressed Alla in Russian. «Where is Larisa?»

The woman waved toward the playground, and he called out, «Larisa!»

«I’m very glad to meet you, Mr. Thompson.» Alla shook his hand.

«Me too.» He smiled back. Larisa ran to her father, climbed up on him, and all the Russians went to the parking lot.

Bill followed them with his eyes, then took out his glasses and opened the book.

* * * * *

It was like a deep sleep. Bill Thompson finished reading the first story, and noticed with amazement that it was already evening. Soft wind was bringing freshness, and the sun hid behind the trees.

«Goldy, girl,» he addressed his dog. «How could I forget about you? Wanna drink?»

The animal sighed and put its head down again.

«Where does the time go?» Bill thought with sadness about the rapidity of life.

* * * * *

At home Bill Thompson had supper, then washed the dishes, but all his thoughts led him back to today’s meeting with Alla.

«What a woman,» he whispered, shaking his head. «Interesting, how old is she? Gosh, what a book she gave me. It’s some kind of magic. What a shame I’ve never heard of this author. Heh-heh! The same name. Yeah. Thank God, she didn’t blame me for her daughter’s trauma. It was an accident. How her hubby looks at me all the time. I bet he couldn’t forget that his wife stepped on the nail while working for me. She’s still limping, poor woman.» He smiled, recalling Alla. «Her mother is so energetic. I’m wondering, is she so active all the time or was it just the thrill from her arrival? When she hugged Goldy… Yeah, by the way, how’s my poor girl?»

He looked at his pet and noticed the retriever had not even touched its evening portion of food.

«You should control the amount she eats making sure she eats the basic volume.» Bill recalled the words of the veterinarian, and he sat on the floor next to the dog’s bed.

Taking the bowl, Thompson pinched out a small piece and offered it to the retriever. The animal sighed and turned its muzzle aside.

«Goldy, girl, you have to eat,» the old man said fondly as he carefully moved the food closer to dog’s nose. «Smell it, how delicious. Please, don’t make Daddy upset.»

Wagging its tail, the retriever licked his fingers with the food.

«What a good girl.» Smiling, Bill took another piece and, talking, he continued feeding his pet. «We’ll be fine. We’ll show the youngsters that we’re not as helpless and worthless as they think. Remember the lady that hugged you? She’s full of zip like a little girl. You did like her, didn’t you? Me too. Heh-heh! You licked her, lucky you. How did her skin taste? I wish I was a dog.» He laughed surprising himself as erotic dreams were gathering in his mind.

In bed Bill took the book again. Usually he did not read before sleeping, but today’s excitement overwhelmed the old man, and he decided just to take a quick look to calm down.

The wizardry of the words captured him again. He read, and read, and did not become aware of how his eyes closed, and like a soft cloud enveloping him, instantly removing all the burdens of his age.

…The King, he was hunting in the sunlit autumn forest. He galloped on a bay stallion, hot as a Devil’s creature, and his golden retriever ran beside him. The numerous tints of colors of the leaves dazzled him, and he did not remember the exact moment when he saw a beautiful lady fly next to him on the back of a black horse.

«Who are you?» he breathed out, panting with ecstasy.

«I am a queen from another country,» she declared vociferously, and her ringing voice with strange hard accent filled the forest, just as though the trees and bushes shouted it themselves.

«Welcome,» he answered, adoring her. «You can use all the treasures of my kingdom as if they are yours!»

She sharply halted her horse, and stared at him.

«The only thing I want to get is your heart,» she whispered, and he embraced her.

«You already have it,» he murmured, kissing her deep into her mouth, smelling and tasting like fresh red grapes.

* * * * *

Bill Thompson was asleep, and the forgotten book, lying on his chest, slowly moved up and down with his calm and peaceful breathing.

Chapter 26: The Festival

«Larisa, wait!» Nina Lapina tried to keep up with her daughter, skipping along a path in the city park. Her foot still hurt when the woman tried to walk quickly.

She looked around with a smile, enjoying the sunny autumn morning.

«Why did the leaves begin changing color?» she wondered. «It’s still so warm and nice! Yesterday it was even as hot as summer! Probably, because the nights are getting longer…»

Lapina heard music, saw flags and tents, and heard the happy crowd. The festival had already started. Larisa ran, and Nina raced after her.

«Honey, not so fast,» she begged, and the girl stood, hopping with impatience.

«Why is Dad not with us?» she asked her mother with an upset voice.

«He’ll join us later.» The woman assured her, and they both sighed. Holding hands, they walked together.

* * * * *

«It’s the wrong reactive.» The deep calm voice of Vlad Lapin drove Lana from her thoughts back to her work. Ashamed, she took another test tube.

«Lana, please concentrate,» Lapin said to her. «It’s a very easy process, all that is required is to follow the correct procedures.»

Lana sighed and looked around the empty laboratory. Vlad was helping her with her project, and now they were alone.

«I wanted to ask you a long time ago,» Lana started irresolutely. Vlad gazed at her, and the captivating grin on his attractive lips mixed the girl up.

«Darn,» she thought admiring his pretty tender face. «He’s not my type, but he’s so cute! Like Cupid. Why is he a chemist? He should be a poet…»

«Ask,» Vlad said seeing she had stopped.

«Can you tell me more about Ruslan Grafinsky?»

Vlad’s blue eyes grew narrow, glinting through his long gold colored eyelashes.

«I can’t be objective,» he answered calmly. «He’s been my best friend for a long time. I can only compliment him.»

«Really?» she giggled, ashamed. «He’s ignoring me.» Lana glanced at the smiling Vlad, and became even more confused. «I mean, not ignoring, but…» She did not know how to explain, and cried, vexed.

«Oh girl, you want him to court you, too,» thought Vlad. «No way, his pride never allows him to be a supplement. He has to be the only one. And I understand it. I get crazy when Nina even looks at another man. Larisa… Wondering, what they’re doing right now? Damn my contract! I could be with them now… Come on, buddy, she’s paying for your time, this money will help your family.»

«Lana,» he addressed the weeping girl. «Pull yourself together. It’s great weather outside, the festival is running in the city park, and we’re stuck here. Let’s finish this damn work, and go enjoy it. Life is so short, don’t waste time.»

«You’re right.» Lana determinedly wiped her face and took up the next vial.

* * * * *

In the middle of the park, near the central playground, Nina Lapina saw police cars, fire trucks, and school buses organized in a line with all the doors open. The children were climbing into the vehicles, exploring and playing.

Larisa rushed forward and got into the first police car. Walking close behind her, Nina heard her daughter say to Jeff Menard, «I wanna be a policewoman!»

«Hi,» Nina said to Vera Grach. «Why are you here? I thought you were going to draw at the dog show.»

«Later.» Confused, Vera did not know how to explain. Her colorless cheeks blushed, like someone had spilled ketchup in milk. «Check it out, how do you like this?» Vera pointed to her work, and Nina looked.

The sketch showed a police car and a tall athletic black man in uniform with his arm on the open door and slightly leaning on it. Then Nina now understood the reason for Vera’s presence here and did not ask her any more.

Larisa got out of the car, and Nina nodded to Vera, «See you!» Slightly limping, Nina followed her daughter who was, in turn, chasing a squirrel.

The frightened animal climbed up the first shaft, and discovered with horror the shelter was the wrong place. The pole was about ten feet in height and the squirrel did not feel safe.

Trying to find a way to escape, the animal reared up on the top of the rod and Vera liked her expressive pose. She took away the picture of Jeff, and started a new sketch, drawing the squirrel, when a small black girl went close, and shyly took one of her brushes.

«Kimberly,» her mother addressed the child. «Don’t touch a thing!»

«It’s okay.» Vera gave the girl a paper. «Draw something.»

«Thank you,» the mother and the daughter said at once, and the girl started drawing.

Vera glanced at her, and thought, «The Afro genome is stronger than the Caucasian. If I have a child from Jeff, he or she will never look like me. Am I ready for that? Damn me, I am a whore. I had no man for a while, and I’m ready to sleep with a stranger! Not with a stranger,» she corrected herself. «With the man whom I love… What about Oleg? He hasn’t asked me about sex lately. Well, it’s okay with me; I’d refuse anyway. But why? He looks concerned. Maybe he doesn’t feel well or some troubles are disturbing him, and I don’t support or help him! Instead I’m thinking about sleeping with another man! I am a whore; yes, I am.»