strapped on And charcoal-black, with a handle rubbed from frequent use and already a little broken by straps, a whip in a relaxed hand. The scarlet nail polish looked like scarlet droplets of blood flowing down the black skin of the flogger.

And in the picture I was on my knees, huddling my face into the wet-gray concrete floor, with my hands widened behind my back, strapped with a rough rope. Spattered with something fat in the purple strips of blows. Sweat stuck together with dirty hair, gray paths from involuntary tears on a stained face. Strained in vain attempt to free the muscles. And look. The very same look: “You trust me? - Yes, Tanya, I trust you.

Apparently, I whispered my answer, because I heard a familiar “hm” next to me.

- Like? - Victor stood quietly beside him. All the same free shirt, pants, firm handshake dryish from frequent washing with solvents hands, and an open smile. I realized with surprise that I was glad to see him. Glad to share my feelings from the picture. And really happy that these feelings really understand me.

Without answering, I began to examine the canvas again, catching small details, weaving them into the general impression, looking for and analyzing shades of emotions, feelings, desires. I found something, thought out something and remembered. And I also absorbed the passion coming from the canvas, and felt the sadness more and more flood the soul. Same as six months ago. Light, clean, as if washed by autumn rains, transparent blue sky.

I could only break away from work when my companion approached us.

- Oh, dear, near what are you so stuck? - she always called me "cute" in the presence of strangers. Declared, so to speak, property rights. Damn, and this, it turns out, is not weak at me. Or is it just that she came up at all? Here it is clearly not the place. Excess she.

- OU! Listen to how this guy in the picture looks like you! Or ... - here she drew attention to the artist standing next to me, recognition flashed through my eyes, then I wondered what my supposedly did next to it, and finally the puzzle with a clearly audible click of the convolutions developed.

- So this is you? - I first heard a sincere feeling in her voice. It was a surprise. - And who is this ...?

Victor did not let her finish the question. Now, to my respect, I also added deep sincere gratitude - he saved me from unnecessary questions and the inevitable scene of jealousy.

“Can you introduce me to your companion?” - Victor was courteous, gallant and aristocratic. Hmm, it's worth learning from him.

Next went the usual secular chatter, in which I have recently pretty much grown skilled. Although neither me nor Victor had this conversation, it was completely unnecessary. But my passion - very much. I directly saw the carnivorous thoughts and far-reaching plans that were spinning in her head and heard the clicks of the adding machine calculating the profit from the new acquaintance. I am sure that at least my “beloved” portfolio has already been aimed at. And in terms of maximum there was a desire to take the place of the muse. Yeah, now. I saw something like the photo of Inga, the artist's wife, and I understand why Tanya "lingered in her life." There is such a girl - anyone would be late. My current - nothing shines.

Finally, under a specious pretext and having handed a business card with a date and time, Victor sent an annoying girl to see the other works. I received from her a complex look, in which several opposite emotions mixed up in an unnatural union. Gratitude for the acquaintance with the promise of scandal, as he introduced only now, and in the picture it is not clear with whom. And on top of that is a pity, since they decided to quit me for sure. Ha! Yes, there was no sadness!

- How is she to you? - Victor nodded to the retreated girl.Moreover, she retreated to a trained, posed model gait, clearly trying to make an impression, and clearly not on me. Oh well. Successes, baby.

In response, I just grimaced as if a sour lemon had eaten, for which I received a sincere laugh of a man who perfectly understands me.

- What are you planning to do?

- I have a ticket purchased next Saturday, to the Dominican Republic. Everything and everyone, and her too - to hell. I am waiting for the warm sea, kite and cocktails with umbrellas.

Another understanding smile, a handshake, and he went to the other guests.

And then the carnival began. Realizing that I myself am sending her on a pedestrian journey with an erotic slant, and I’m not going to shed tears or even suffer because of her departure, my “we need to seriously talk, dear” arranged for me some magnificent tantrums and scandals. During which I only smiled dreamily, imagining how I would wallow on the coral sand or catch the wind in the serpent cloth. This infuriated her even more.

But - everything goes away, and after those very few days I was already sitting in the comfortable seat of the airbus to Miami, thinking about reading me in flight, or how to sleep well. Well, look at the situation. Twelve hours on the road - it will be time to decide.

There, on the spot, Tich and Masha, a couple I met last year in Greece, were already waiting for me. They bought a small bungalow somewhere on the coast and called me for a long time. And go as it should, and to delve with them in one bed. Even when meeting, neither he nor she did not hide the fact that they would be very happy about this development of events. Then I was a little embarrassed by such frankness and openness, but now I was not completely embarrassed. I probably changed a lot during this time.

Immediately after takeoff, I did not have time to choose what exactly I would read or watch, the flight attendant came up to me, and, having specified the name, invited me to go with her.

- Problems?

- Oh no, that you! Just a passenger from the business class asked you to come.

I didn’t have to worry for a long time to suffer the question.

In the third row by the window, relaxed in a wide leather chair, the owner of the most luxurious thighs, the most golden curls, the sweetest smile, the most beautiful, the most bottomless, and, then I clearly, fully and absolutely clear, loved me eye.

Tanya!

In the style of "business lady", a skirt, blouse, shoes, she looked at me merrily, who was speechless out of shock.

- Uh ...? - now it seems to be the start of her favorite game of “guess the question before I grin”

- You know, I thought here that tan really wouldn't bother me. Only not this vulgarity in the solarium, and such a natural, tropical ...

- Uh ...?

“And of course, I’ll need someone to rub butter on me.” In all places, rub, without missing anything. And with whom it will be possible to study the starry sky, as it should, carefully and regularly!

- Uh ...?

- Well, of course, Victor. You could have guessed it yourself! So where are we going?

- Well ... I have friends there, in the Dominican Republic ...

- We will be happy?

- You can not not rejoice!

- Well ... not only me.

- Who else... ?

In response, Tanya opened her purse, and I realized that this woman will never cease to amaze me.

- And how are you... ?

- Control passed? Ltd! There was such a girl on the x-ray, all so strict, in the form of a pilot, pogonchiki, yum. She looked at me like that! For a long time I have not seen such sincere envy. The only, asked not to use it on the crew. On the crew during the flight, yes.

It is not difficult to guess that in the bag lay a huge, shiny-black plastic monster. Georgie. Well, where without Georgie ?!

- This is, by the way, not the one about whom you thought. This is Freddy, he is a bit thicker and with vibration!

Tanya laughed merrily, and then, clinging to me and pouring me a delicate aroma of perfume, she whispered in her ear:

- Yes, cat, you have absolutely no place in my world. But this does not mean that I have no place in yours.