− Is not present.

− Then whom you consider yourself?

Nina finished smoking a cigarette.

− We consider ourselves by those who we are is, – she told, – and a grief to those people who consider themselves by those whom actually are not. They take this jewelry and wish what cannot be executed. Their ambitions are not boundless, their desires are not executable. Then this jewelry just kills us. So we consider, but actually we are killed by our ambitions, our desires.

I listened to it and understood, as she wished something that could not be executed. She was always my mother, though not native. The mother left me to the mercy of fate and never remembered me. Ekaterina Dmitriyevna grew up me and educated. She is my real mother, it − and other parents it is not necessary to me. Yes they are also absent. They refused me. I am not necessary to them. That says it all.

With bated breath, I asked it.

− What you made, the mammy? What wished? Speak! Are not silent!

That heaved a deep sigh. She did not know that to answer me. It seemed that the answer was on her lips, just about will escape outside and will answer the question raised by me. But it did not occur. It seemed that Nina cannot just answer this question. Her lips want to tell something, and the reason orders it to be silent. Hard situation, isn't that so?

− What you are silent? Not to a muchta me! Tell? What did you wish?

Ekaterina Dmitriyevna heaved a deep sigh. She could not answer the question raised by me, but also she had too no right to be silent.

− I am sick, – Ekaterina Dmitriyevna admitted at last. – Doctors diagnosed for me the beginning of tuberculosis. I as you know, like to smoke. I smoked the first cigarette at school, somewhere in a class the seventh. Since then could not throw. – She made a long pause and, having pulled out one cigarette from a pack, told: – Unfortunately, health cannot be bought, even for desire. – She lit again. – You know, – she told, – I then deceived you. – Then she told: – I did all that I did for you for the sake of you.

I clung to her breast and said in low tones.

− I know.

Ekaterina Dmitriyevna smiled. She knew that her daughter knows about it. It is its blood and flesh. And who did not understand that someone cares for someone, gives himself without the rest.

Emma continued.

− I always knew about it. You always cared for me.

Ekaterina Dmitriyevna embraced the daughter and began to cry bitter tears. She cried because knew that she at her remained to time a little. She died and could do nothing with it. Even jewelry would not save it from long smoking which gave the print. Ekaterina Dmitriyevna's lungs were all in the centers, tuberculosis developed. Everything, end. To die soon.

Death, resettlement of soul or withdrawal to the best world? There, where there is nothing, except rest and silence. Who knows where Nina after death will go? I hoped that it will get to the best world, than this where it stays now.

Then Ekaterina Dmitriyevna told:

− you remember the grandmother?

− Of course I remember.

− We did not communicate with it long ago. She lately did not want to see anybody. She became a hermit lately. For all these years I did not hear about it, anything.

− I lately did not communicate with it, – I told. – I did not know that she died. – She made a pause. – I condole.

− Thanks, – Ekaterina Dmitriyevna told, and then continued: – She died, having left to you and to me are only long. But your grandfather, – Ekaterina Dmitriyevna continued, − he left you a huge fortune.

I did not understand what my mother spoke about? About what state? We were poor, and knew all this.

− you are surprised? – Ekaterina Dmitriyevna continued. – I understand, and I was surprised, having learned it! – she made the next inhaling. – Your grandma was really poor, – she told. – At it behind soul was not a stiver.

− Then, from where? – I did not understand. – How in general did the inheritance appear? And yes here grandfather?

Nina told me that my grandfather, a kingdom to him heavenly, after the death in the beginning this year left me all the state and business. However, business was rather illusive. The matter is that he was familiar to all area of local police. But its state was real. For all these years he amassed a fortune equal in size of one million pounds sterling. How did it manage it? Riddle. Of course, all this money was in a turn and was abroad, somewhere in England. That to receive them, it was necessary to leave the country.

I told:

− But I have no money even on the air ticket to London.

− For it do not worry, – mother calmed me. – I took care of the daughter. At my place the plastic card VISA lies. On it there are enough money to make to themselves the international passport and on the ticket to London.

I looked at it and asked:

− And how you? You what, you will remain here?

Ekaterina Dmitriyevna tenderly looked at me and, having smiled, answered.

− Ah you, simple soul! Who will let out me with my diagnosis? No, my destiny to die here. You can leave and live there in clover. – She made a pause, looked at me as if saying that I have to it promise something. – Promise, – she told and, having shown me a cigarette, repeated: – Swear that never light and do not take some alcoholic drinks. – She demanded the answer. – Swear.

− I Swear, – I answered. – I swear that I will never take a cigarette in a mouth and I will not drink some alcohol.

− it is good, – mother calmed down. – Remember, you swore.

− Yes, – I answered. – I swore.

Ekaterina Dmitriyevna finished smoking a cigarette.

On hours was five minutes to seven, but on the street still was light, the sun drooped, covering with gold leaves of trees.

Ekaterina Dmitriyevna looked at golden trees, and to her it became good. The alarm and grief left. At heart rest. As perfectly here, far from city noise. Silence − what else it is necessary to people? Only rest and silence. Ekaterina Dmitriyevna made potyagushechka.

− that is good as!

I noticed that it is time and to have supper.

− I wish, – mother answered. – I really got hungry, since morning of a crumb in a mouth did not hold, only and ate roll.

We passed on kitchen.

Chapter-7

Ring

Today day of a new moon. I sat in cafe. My little table was at a window. Looking out of the window, I thought of fine! What can occur bad in such fine weather. Yes, outside the window weather was really fine! The bright sun shone, near cafe played the national instruments the people from the far North. Here, in this cafe there was a twilight. Dusty chandeliers hung on a ceiling. Plafonds on them were covered with a small dust layer. The cafe was sheathed by mahogany and though on chandeliers dirt was visible, but tell in what of the Russian cafes, there is no dirt though? Agree, dirt prospers everywhere. She always tries to get of us the best, and we struggle with her daily.

I looked at the watch, on them was at about noon. The appointment was made for the midday, but not a sin to tell that women are always late. Are late, thinking out themselves in justification so much various and sometimes the ridiculous reasons that there is a wish to smile. Here, midday − anybody. Where it? Where Vera? Really it did not come? – I thought and immediately answered myself this question, having remembered.: "ah I am a fool! We agreed to meet in other cafe! And here I had dinner with Larisa, the devil of her pobera".

Having been late rather for half an hour, I came to that cafe where I was waited by Vera. I saw how she is angry, abusing obviously me for my delay, and was right. The belief told me that she waited for me only to tell … here on me all that accumulated evil and offense in her soul, before which I still even did not hear poured down. Yes, correctly say: the woman in rage is worse than any devil. Well, about it somehow another time. And now, having stated about me everything that she thought, and having finished, at last, the female abuse, she sat down at a table and, having looked back on the parties, saw that all visitors, including service personnel, look at it. In female eyes it was read that Vera stated it a little that he deserved, and men kind of said to Roman that he is a fool and if forgot to come, then would not come at all.