“— You don’t please me, Kornienko, clearly? And I’ll beat you up until you get lost.”
“How do I calm you down, comrade captain?” I step up to his jacket hanging on a hook. I rummage through the pockets. I take out his wallet.
“Hm…” I open it—family photo. Him, wife, two daughters… One very little, the second about thirteen. Two blond braids, dimples on her cheeks, a button nose. Some kind of medal around her neck. A pioneer! I turn the photo over. Five years ago… How old is the older one now? You’ll beat me up, yes, captain? No… I’ll be the one who “beats” you.