Bolshakov had no problems in creating sketches of the backdrop for the upcoming ballet.

The soldier went to the garrison library, where, as a reader, he asked the librarian Kalinina to file a file for Ogonek magazine.

Elena Pavlovna brought what he asked for and helped find an article about the premiere of Swan Lake at the Bolshoi Theater. A photograph of a scene with ballerina figures against a forest lake was attached to the article.

The picture was of fairly good quality (after all, “Spark”) of a black and white performance. For Bolshakov, it was not difficult to present him in the right color, and Petrovich could push his hand under the edge of the skirt and stroke the captain’s smooth leg near the crotch.

- Stop it! - the librarian has frightened in fear and hastily moved aside.

She already felt the filling of the tummy and was not angry at the mischief of the biological father of the future child. Because gave a vow: "More - no, no!"

Petrovich's easy prank awakened the bored "I".

“Advise the captain in her novel (which she will never finish), insert more hints on the explicit scenes,” the third person advised, “but not specify the details of the fall.” The text should melt the curiosity, no more. Details the writer of the female novel will have to ask you, Boris Nikolayevich (quite a while ago, Bolshakov was not called that way), and that will approach the border of the vice ...

“It would be nice to have some force majeure in this case,” said Boris. Women in difficult circumstances are lost. And here you are, with a strong shoulder and hints that are not indifferent to it.

“And that they would like to get rid of her,” added Petrovich.

“Petrovich, your barracks are not appropriate now!” - Shuganul second incarnation "Boris".

“Boris is right,” said “I.” - Ninochka is quite an ambitious socialite, self-confident and will not allow sharp inclinations towards her personal person ...

“But, like most beautiful women, she will be flattered that her appearance does not leave men indifferent,” continued the thought of the third hypostasis “Boris.”

- Do you advise you to speak in the open? - asked Bolshakov

- Somewhere so ... - confirmed the first and third incarnation.

- An omission is a lack of courage! - made his contribution "Petrovich". - And women love brave men. Straight and bold. Such that they can be read like an open book! ..

Everyone was taken aback by this speech.

- Why are you staring at me like that? I also remember something ...

- Well done! - praised the second incarnation "Boris", and already to Bolshakov: - In general, bold Boris! But do not bend the stick, pushing gradually ...

Here “Petrovich” well, I couldn’t keep silent: - As if you break the hymen! ..

“He will fix the humpbacked grave,” Bolshakov muttered in the direction of Petrovich, but in principle did not object.

The object of his desire was worth it ...

...

Bolshakov took up the transfer of the planned composition from the sketch to the canvas with great enthusiasm. A few days later the contours of the future backdrop were ready.

To the left and to the right of the lake’s mirror, he placed the silhouette of large trees and thick undergrowth. The lake itself is placed in the center. Behind the far edge of the water, a forest was visible, dissolving in the scenic space. Through the branches of the mighty oaks peeped round moon, from which on the surface of the lake was supposed to lie the small ripples of the lunar path.

After creating the picture, the work on the whole canvas stalled.

Bestuzhev, who, in the intervals between classes with the young ballerinas, looked at the gym for a few minutes every day, did not immediately notice this change in the mood of the artist.

Today's control showed that he was sitting on a stool for more than one hour, and, in the literal sense of the expression “to consider a raven” in a piece of blue sky, which was visible in the high window of the gym. And he was busy with this "business" so seriously that he did not interrupt him, even when Bestuzhev appeared behind him.

- What is the problem? She asked sternly, dousing the soldier with a pleasant mixture of aromas of French perfume and the smell of warm young sweat (apparently she had just been hard at work in the dance class).

Bolshakov got up, turned and found himself face to face with the commander.

The first thing that caught his eye was a tiny drop of moisture on the upper, slightly trembling lip. Nina Georgievna.

- What are we waiting for? What are we sitting at? - frowned lieutenant colonel.

This frivolous ire of a self-confident woman pushed Bolshakov to think clearly and logically. He decided that the time had come to open up.

To begin with, the young man assumed the appearance of a thinker with a sad face.

Such faces are found on church icons in village churches throughout Russia — deep sadness for a noble face.

Nina Georgievna even caught her breath at the sight of such a distressed image familiar to every Russian Christian. Sufferer, and more! What is missing is a halo overhead and the accompaniment of a pitiful chapel from respectable parishioners ...

Bestuzheva closed her eyes, and when she opened again, she was convinced that she was standing in front of none other than the slobs of the slobs — Private Bolshakov.

- So what's up? - repeated Nina Georgievna the crux of the question. - Creative depression? Homesickness?..

The woman was terribly angry, stood in front of a heartfelt bitterness, her hands on her wasp waist.

“Lonely to me,” said Boris, in a weak voice of the patron. - You see, Nina Georgievna, I am in this room, as in a bunker. Four walls and - total solitude. Not even to talk to anyone ...

The words sounded in a doomed tone for a man who was waiting for sympathy.

Bestuzhev, right there, imbued with the complexity of the moment.

The dream created by it could collapse. And urgent countermeasures were required!

- What are you offering? She asked in a softer tone. - Spread to the gym, any of your colleagues?

Boru unbearably wanted to touch the language of a transparent drop, which still glittered on the upper lip angry krasatulichki.

Apparently, this desire somehow reflected on the soldier’s face, because — Polyakova’s wife took a preemptive step back: “Excessive caution does not hurt,” she decided, and immediately thought: “Is there too much caution?”

- I am listening really carefully.

“Nobody needs to be moved,” said Bolshakov in a hushed voice. - I would have an hour, another talk with those who are close to the topic for which I am immured.

- Do you mean artists? Alas, there are none at my disposal.

- Among ballerinas ...

- What? - one should have seen how the almost sympathetic face of Bestuzhevoy had changed. Lips clenched, black wings of eyebrows raised anxiously, in the depths of dark eyes the flame of immediate retribution blazed. - Wanted to look at the girls?

Bolshakov straightened his shoulders, (close, they suddenly seemed very broad to Nina Georgievna), moved to a firm voice:

- A rather irresponsible statement, Nina Georgievna, if not to say - insulting, in relation to me, as an artist and colleague, working with you on a common project!

He turned sharply and walked towards the gymnastic mats laid on each other. He fell on his back, put his hands under the “lock” under his head and stared at the ceiling of the gym painted with white enamel.

There was a dangerous minute split.

Each party could go va banque (all-in), aggravate the atmosphere of the emerging "conflict" and refuse to persuade to cooperate.

Neither Bestuzheva (to start everything all over again), nor Bolshakov (for reasons known to the reader), such a sudden break was not needed.

Scales of mutual dependence, slowly swaying, "pondered" whose side to press ...

Bestuzhev's interest in not inflicting strife seemed obvious.She desperately needed this soldier, who was puffed up like a big child. More precisely, not himself, but his ability to work with paints.

Of course, through my husband and, some kind of commanders there, one could apply ...