Innocent Ladies' Pranks

Isn’t it an evil mockery of fate—to meet the man of your dreams, and only a couple of hours later to become a witness to his terrible death? Unknown killers in masks shoot the handsome blond right in front of Tatiana. She miraculously escapes their pursuit, but from that moment her life turns into a nightmare. Attempts follow one after another; in some mysterious way her beloved friend disappears…

But there is still one chance to stay alive, and Tatiana is not going to miss it…

The farewells dragged on. They’ve already told me “Bon voyage” about six times, and I’ve been “happily stay” back, but I couldn’t finally get into the car and set off. Either Sergei Sergeyevich remembered something untimely, or Valentin Ivanovich made jokes, or Nadezhda Vasilyevna with a bow reminded me: “We’re counting on you very much.” In response I smiled, nodded, and an endless number of times repeated that “their production made a pleasant impression on me.”

In truth, I never really understood what they were doing there—that is, what they were producing. Although I wandered around the factory for three hours, carefully looking at everything, and even stood near the conveyor belt for fifteen minutes. Any production for me is a mystery behind seven seals, and the purpose of the bolts, boards, and nuts here I never managed to figure out. But the premises pleased the eye with cleanliness and order—so uncharacteristic of my native country—and I couldn’t help but note it with great delight. And I was able to praise it quite meaningfully. The workers (mostly men) looked at me with amused curiosity, and from that I concluded that people here don’t live in poverty—and I was glad once again.