and poured himself coffee. Then he offered him, but he pretended not to notice it. I shrugged and sat down at the table.

“Only this one should have a pair,” he said, allowing me to take the first sip of coffee.

“He has a couple,” I nodded, “I just don't like rings.” I carry a pair to her ring in my pocket.

“Oh, that's it,” he drawled. “So this ring has nothing to do with it?” - with these words, he took out his father's ring from his breast pocket.

I automatically reached for my trouser pocket.

“I see you recognized him,” Ivan smiled wryly.

- Where did ... do you have it? - I asked, failing to contain the trembling voice and mentally cursing myself for carelessness.

“Remember,” his smile was now triumphant.

And I began frantically sorting through the memory when I last saw this ring. On the day when we arrived here, I gave my shawl to Svetkina's mother - then he fell out of his pocket, but I picked it up, and then ... I suddenly felt myself turned pale. Not! Only not this ... The next time I took out a handkerchief in the hospital, over Ivan's bed ... The devil ...

“I found him in my bed in the morning after I came to myself,” he said, carefully watching my reaction. - I began to remember who I could see this ring, even asked the nurse who visited me while I was unconscious. She admitted that no one came to me, and they wouldn’t have let anyone in intensive care unit except relatives. And then I remembered a strange dream - a guy with long black hair stood leaning over me. I remembered his face very well. And so, I come home and - what do I see? That same guy! And my sister is holding him by the elbow!

I sighed. Hmm, the situation. What am I supposed to do? Kill him so that he never told anyone about it? Erase his memory and quietly take away the ring? Or by making threats to return and vow to promise that he will never tell anything to anyone? Devil...

- What do you want? - I asked, soaking sweat from my forehead with a handkerchief.

“The truth,” he replied. “I want to know what you did in the hospital.” And even more I want to know why, after your visit, I came to myself ...

“The truth is a loose concept,” I said thoughtfully, “and ephemeral.” Are you sure you want to exchange a very real and quite expensive ring for something that you cannot touch? In addition, the truth is this thing - today it is expensive, and tomorrow for it and a penny will not give. The truth can change itself, and your perception of the truth can change. In the end, you can forget this very truth, and then you will be left with nothing ...

- What do you mean? - he looked at me in disbelief.

- I offer you in exchange for a ring something tangible that will stay with you until your very death ...

“More specifically ...” he squinted.

- Legs ... the ability to walk ... and not only walk - run, jump, dance, swim, make love and not see these condescendingly sympathetic views ...

- You can... ? - he licked suddenly dry lips.

“I wouldn’t offer it if I couldn’t,” I took another sip of coffee to hide a triumphant smile. Give him the truth. Yeah, now, just pogluzhu laces ...

He lowered his head, as if seeking a clue on light linoleum with an indistinct pattern.

“If you cure me,” he said slowly after long and obviously painful thoughts, “I will never know the truth ...”

“But you will be a completely normal and healthy person,” I shrugged. - Think that you dearer and more necessary - the ability to move on your own two feet or the knowledge of something that you can never use?

Harrowing ... how I like it! At such moments I even understand my grandfather - it is so pleasant to observe the process of choosing between “yes” and “no”, between mind and emotions, between “I want” and “I must” ...

- Well ... - he said, finally.

I extended my hand. He sighed and put the ring on my palm. I hid it in my pocket, finished my coffee and stood up.

- And when are you going to treat me? - he turned on his wheelchair, blocking my way out of the kitchen.

I smiled and snapped my fingers.

- Executed ...

He looked at me in disbelief:

- I don't feel anything ... You lied to me!

I silently took a raincoat pin out of my shirt pocket and thrust it into his right knee with a sweep. He howled in pain and looked at me with anger ... And then he laughed. I wiped a pin on my trouser leg and hid it back in my pocket.

- Tomorrow I will show you exercises to restore the tone. If you do everything right, in a month you will be able to get on your feet, and after two you will start to move on your own, ”I said calmly. - And if you convince your mother to massage you, you will go even earlier ...

“Thank you ...” he whispered with tears in his eyes, and suddenly he fell to my hand with his lips.

I frowned, but did not take my hand away. Sometimes it's nice to feel like a god ...