I am walking a winding path And I look, in someone's painted ass. I came here, on a tourist trip, And I dream to go back ... Early morning. Half an hour had already passed, as a group of tourists left their last stop and, stretching for a good hundred meters, in single file, moving in the direction of the “Round” lake, making their way through a mountain gorge sandwiched between cliffs. The barely perceptible path, dangling between huge boulders, then disappeared in the scree of small stones and kurums, then reappeared, clearly visible on emerald green low-growing alpine grass. It was very difficult for a person to stray from the path even for the first time on this route. And therefore, Yuri Alekseevich, the leader of the group, walking behind the detachment, was completely calm. He walked with a confident gait, admiring the long familiar mountain landscape. Two hours later, if everything is normal, the path will lead them to the waterfall. Further the gorge ends, turning into a wide mountain valley, and the path, getting lost in the thicket of bergenia and blueberries, will lead to the Goltsovaya site, and then, through the pass, to the Round Lake. Here he will go ahead of the group and he will have the opportunity to slow down the pace, otherwise the excited guys will skip the “Round” ahead of their intended time and he will never see Helen again.

Three days ago, a group of foreign tourists arrived at the base camp, in a system of large and quite cozy cottages, which, like everyone, simply “dreamed” of visiting the “Stone Palaces”, which were the main attraction of the mountain range.

Yuri, having completed the last briefing of the group, in which there were many newcomers, went out onto the terrace of his cottage and sat down on a bench in the shade of spreading cedar. The hot afternoon sun, the sultry air decently tired him for the day. There was a tempting desire to flop down into an icy, crystal clear water stream and go with the flow until the evening, until the sun hides behind the peaks of the surrounding mountains. Leaning on the railing of the protective barrier, in a half-asleep state, he did not immediately notice how a young, beautiful woman, in a bright orange, light overalls, tight-fitting graceful figure, in goggles and with a “sunny” umbrella in her hand, sat on the opposite edge benches.

- It's hot !!! - without addressing anyone, she said with an accent. - What a hot day!

Yuri, opening his eyes, glanced at the magnificent figure of the stranger with an appraising glance. “I also wore a fur coat,” he smiled to himself, noticing the stranger, almost like his wife Svetlana. The same beautiful, slim, but only much younger. She calmly, not at all embarrassed, looked at the athletic figure of an unfamiliar man. Yuri's thoughts returned to his wife, to the events preceding his departure.

With Svetlana, they have been married for several years, but they have not brought children. At first, Yury needed to graduate from the university, then military camps, frequent business trips. All summer long he spent in the alpine camps, led groups of children on mountain routes. He himself has repeatedly participated in the ascents of some of the "seven thousand". Then their children simply did not succeed. Who was to blame for this, no one knew. Medical examinations showed that both are completely healthy. Two years ago, in one of the ascents, Yuri suffered a serious spinal injury and lay in the hospital for several months. Mountaineering had to quit, but in love with the mountains, a year later, in a sponsored school, he organized a section of mountain tourism and became its leader.

He liked to communicate with the younger generation, their maximalism, self-reliance. Sparing nothing, Yury passed on his experience and knowledge to the youth. Svetlana strongly supported her husband, and even last summer, with great pleasure she joined him as an assistant manager in one of the trips.But in love with the city, and referring to employment, she worked as a translator in one of the major firms in the city, this year she delicately refused to go. Yuri was not offended by her. He understood everything perfectly well, work is work. Moreover, in three weeks, they will be together again. There was less than a week before the departure of the group, and there were plenty of cases. On Saturday, the last training sessions were scheduled on the simulator, far beyond the city, in the pioneer camp "Romance". Waking up early in the morning, Yuri did not wake up his sweetly sleeping wife, smacked her on the cheek, put himself in order and, taking a large travel bag from the evening, headed for the door. Then he remembered that there was absolutely no money in his pockets.

Yesterday, Svetlana got paid and told him to take them in her purse, which stood on the shelf in the hallway. Yuri did not like to fumble at his wife’s things, but he needed money and he carefully, so as not to make any noise, opened it and pulled the purse, accidentally hooking the powder box, which slipped out of the bag and fell to the floor with a ring. A small, shiny bag with a condom flew out from under the powder container opened from the impact. Stunned, Yuri looked at an unexpected find. They have never used this "toy" with Sveta. Both of them really wanted to have a baby, and the condom was his enemy. A wave of jealousy and suspicion quietly crept into his soul, although earlier, the loving Svetlana never gave a reason for jealousy. And he never cheated on his beloved wife. Sveta was his first and only woman. As himself, he fully trusted her too. Taking himself in hand, Yuri put the bag back in the powder box, carefully wiped the parquet from the scattered powder and entered the bedroom. Opening her eyes and squinting from the daylight, Svetlana stretched sweetly, smiling sweetly, said sleepily.

- Leaving so soon? Took the money? - Yura shook his head positively.

- When will you come back? - in her voice sounded bliss and joy.

- Hours at eight in the evening. Previously, no trains. Shine! I inadvertently scattered powder there, do not swear, then I will remove it.

Yuri noticed how a blissful smile instantly slipped from Svetlanin’s face, but, not giving a look, he kissed his awakened wife once more and left the apartment.

Different bad thoughts did not leave their heads for a minute. How could this happen? Svetlana is a very beautiful, seductive woman. She has a beautiful figure, high beautiful breasts, slender long legs, but she is just clever. In principle, anyone could indulge in this. But she is his wife: How could she? Yura could not believe what he saw. Maybe this is all nonsense? A condom does not mean anything. You never know: But why hide him so? Has she been lying to him all this time, hypocrisy, dodging? After all, she never gave him a reason for jealousy. Then he clearly began to recall that for the last one and a half or two years, immediately after the injury, she often began to linger at work, referring to annoying foreigners who could not do without good translators, or maybe even pretty ones: And who are increasingly presented her with quite expensive gifts. And on weekends, she increasingly began to hold various presentations and meetings at the "highest" level, but at the same time, she remained an affectionate and loving wife. "Not! Something is wrong here, ”he reassured himself. So quietly, he walked to the station. All have long been assembled.

- Sergei! You see, I have an urgent matter. I can not let the group down. Take my boys? - He asked a friend, also an instructor of children's tourism. - What is the conversation: Be calm.

Yuriy recalled yesterday's night call, when Natalya, his wife’s best friend, after making several compliments, asked Svetlana. Her voice trembled a little. The wife who had picked up the phone talked for a long time about something, then laughing merrily, then turning to a whisper. - Okay, see you tomorrow. Exactly at ten, as always: You did what I asked you? - she made a reservation and, waiting for an answer, hung up

Yuri did not betray any value everyday call. There were many such calls.

- A friend offers to go shopping tomorrow, ...