Vika stared at her, silently shifting on her numb legs and back, feeling the burning looks of inmates. The woman was not young, her face wore deep wrinkles, dark circles under the eyes indicated sore kidneys, dark blond hair with gray hair gathered in a ponytail, a heavy massive chin protruding. Her palms were large and strong, and she herself was rather broad-boned, heavy.

- So it is. Ludka! Go here! “Immediately, a small woman in prison clothes appeared in front of them, white curls were knocked out from under her headscarf, and sly yellow eyes, like foxes, were running back and forth. “Organize something new for this new one, the bunk is normal.” You can go now! - already louder, addressing everyone - THIS, do not touch anyone! She is under my personal protection! Have you truncated?

Behind Vika, she heard a low murmur, and everyone began to diverge.

For a moment, the eyes of the women touched.

“Thank you,” said Vick.

“Go already. I didn’t save one fool, so I can manage another one, ”the mother also answered with a glance and turned away in the barred window.

Not to say that Vika’s life was different from the life of other inmates. The patronage extended to life inside the barracks, but outside everyone worked equally. Vika was identified in the sewing workshop. Finding out that she was a cook, the “mother” tried to push her into the dining room, but nothing came of it, too approximate people worked there. Vika, on the other hand, mastered sewing and cutting, which also she did very well (golden hands, what can you say). In the third year, she had already been approached with a dress to be sewn or some other piece of clothing — those with a deadline coming to an end.

In the fourth year appeared Kostik. By correspondence. Also served time. Went out half a year earlier. He wrote beautifully, said such fraochka to her, sang such praises. The heart of a young woman trembled again. She found it on the ad. Written simply, nothing better to do. Everyone did it, well, and she decided for the company. "Husband. 37 178-76 from MLS looking for a girl for the Society. and c / o. Cheerful, sociable, without i / p "- pointed Vika with a finger at the first announcement. The letter turned out to be dry, not the whale was a girl writing letters. “I’m supposed to do this, I’m leaving the lines for this and that, etc.” “Kostik sent the answer on 6 notebook pages, the edges were decorated with neat monograms, and the letter itself was written in beautiful calligraphic handwriting and resembled an adventure novel. Hereditary sailor, Odessa, somewhere in the overseas port, stood up for the honor of the girl, and in a fight, unintentionally killed the assailant. He repented of his deed, went to church every week and would like to start his life from scratch. These lines touched Vika and she already wrote the next letter more diligently, printed the letters carefully and rewrote several times.

In the second letter, he sent a photo. Smiling, in a vest. A little long face and deep bald patches had a distant resemblance to the singer Celentano. Vika fell in love with this face, with these letters, these warm lines and now she has a Goal. Their goal! Kostik called her to himself, told her about a small shack on the seashore where he would be waiting for her. Small garden with a vineyard. He said that he would get a job as a mechanic while saving up for a small boat and they would go sea fishing, and Vika would give birth to him kids, and they would be happy until the end of days.

Vika was touched to the depths of her soul and told him that she had some small savings that she would willingly invest in the foundation of their future happiness, even if in the form of a boat, which Kostik wrote about.

Kostya was released in September. I wrote a letter that I had already looked after a small house for them and even paid the initial fee. I sent a photo of this house. And the truth is small, with a vineyard and fruit trees, a tiled roof and a white porch.

Vika immediately sent him almost all the savings. Kostik unsubscribed, said that the money to buy a house was more than enough, there was still a bit left! The boat is not enough, but it was enough to drive a motorcycle to work! A month later, he wrote that he was again offered to go to the sea, called for a flight, while Vika spends time, he goes six months to earn some money and in May next year, when Vika has to free herself, she will wait for her in her house. Address: Chistovodsk, pos. Coastal Street General Molotov, 17.

The remaining months of her term, Vika went happiest of all, she was even nicknamed: Sun! She was painfully shining from the inside, again and again experiencing the future happy life with her beloved person inside herself.

Once, in a fit of happiness, Vika did not even notice that the last letters from Kostya were sent from Voroshilovka (which is not at all Chistovodsk), and they were also signed on demand. How could a woman's love heart pay attention to such trifles?

***

Vika did not notice the tears streaming down her cheeks. Her story was coming to an end. The conductor sat opposite on a hard couch, still not letting the mop out of his hands, and holding it with both hands, like an ancient elder his staff and attentively listened to the story of the girl.

- On Thursday, I was released - my term ended. At night, already got on the train, went to meet his dream. Why, just yesterday, fellow travelers traveled with me, student girls, I asked them to help me with the address. And they have a portable computer, they let's look. And they say: in Chistovodsk there are neither the village Coastal nor the streets of General Molotov. They thought maybe Kostya was wrong, but they didn’t find any generalneither admiral neither Molotov, nor Zolotov, nor Bolotov. And he said the house by the sea. And to the sea, another two days, the other edge, is no longer Chistovodsk. So I don’t know if I’m so stupid as a fool, I messed up everything, roofing only took me around my finger. And where now to go, I will not put my mind ...

Both thought for a long time.

- Thank you for listening to my story! - Vika suddenly startled, aspired. - Sorry for taking your time. I'll go. - She got up and already went to the passage of the car, as the conductor called her:

- Where. Where the same. You go. Where? After all, nowhere. You.

- Never mind! Where our not disappeared! Some money is on the passbook. I will spend the night in the hotel, and in the morning I will decide what to do next, because morning is wiser than evening, right?

“So,” the guy answered absently.

- Thanks you! God bless you! - Vika smiled and quickly went to the exit.

- But wait! - the conductor rushed after her, and behind him a fallen mop banged on the floor with a crash. - Wait, Victoria!

Already at the door of the vestibule, she turned around again and smiled.

- Where are you in such a hurry? Wait a minute But. It should not be! Listen!

Vika lowered her deep eyes for a moment, and then raised her to the conductor again:

- I'm listening.

- I want to. I want to help you. That's what. Listen! - The guy spoke confusedly, it was evident that the silence and coherent speech are given to him with difficulty. “You can spend the night with me today.” You do not think bad. I want to help...

- Isn't it scary to lead a criminal to the house?

- Well, what. What are you a criminal? I see in my eyes. Kind you!

- Kind, yes. But for some reason, my kindness always becomes across me!

- Listen. I am now the wagon home. Me a little bit And we will go. Not far there. Apartment. My friend and I are shooting. When he is in flight, I live. When I, he. Conveniently. Together we live. And we pay for one. And tomorrow is my day off. And together we will figure out what to do next! Well, how. Is going?

Vick smiled, throwing a look out the window. She had already burned so many times, trusting in people, but she could not completely abandon her belief in good. Well, they can not all around be evil and just scoff, use, betray.

- Go! - She decided, and the conductor again drowned in her deep blue eyes, with her head sank to the bottom.

Vika offered to help, but the conductor refused, referring to the rules and authorities, and while he was cooking the rest of the carriage the girl drank ... Read more →