Butterfly Skin (31 page)
Authors: Sergey Kuznetsov
How much do the doctors play down the possible pain when they prescribe the tablets that induce a miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy?
Answer: substantially.
Can it be regarded as coincidence that it was while recounting the criminal background of the new buyer that Olga experienced the first powerful spasm? Did Grisha notice that she clutched at the edge of the table? Did Kostya pay attention to how pale she turned? Had she said enough before excusing herself and leaving the room?
Yes, quite enough.
The two kings say nothing. Now the picture is clear: not only is it being suggested that they should give the company away for a song – it is being suggested that they themselves should introduce the wolf into their own fold. It is being suggested that they make a deal that will fundamentally change the balance of power on the internet market, bring in a player who will not stop until he takes away from them everything that they have.
Has even one contract killing been committed in the Russian internet in the 1990s and 2000s? How important is a negative answer to that question for the self-image of the players on the internet market? How often do internet businessmen resort to the services of gangsters and/or the law enforcement agencies in their competitive struggle? How do they feel, knowing that the answer to this question is “extremely rarely”?
The two kings sit there motionless at the round table. They raise their eyes to look at each other. Two phantoms hover in the room like pillars of mist: the specter of la Belle Hélène, which has almost melted away, and the specter of the Outsider, the King from a different board. He becomes more palpable with every moment that passes.
“In principle, we do have another way out,” says Kostya.
“Yes,” says Grisha, “we can not sell the company and go back to the old arrangement.”
“I think that’s the best solution,” says Kostya, and holds his hand out across the table.
Grisha shakes it.
At that moment the IT manager, successful businesswoman and executive director of the company that has just been saved, Olga Krushevnitskaya, is writhing in agony from an intense spasm as she waits for a pain killer to take effect.
Does she realize that she has won? Not yet.
Has she met This Man even once? No, not even once.
Has This Man ever even heard of the little internet shop? No, never.
Does he take any interest at all in the Russian internet? No, none at all.
* * *
Is it true what they say, that woman can save the world? Who will Jesus be, when and if he comes to Earth again? Are the radical feminists right when they claim that no man could endure monthly menstruation?
Did Olga Krushevnitskaya cry after her investors left the office of the company that had just been saved? And if so, what was the reason for her tears: physical pain? The bitterness of loss? The joy of victory? Is it really so very important for us to receive an unambiguous answer to that question?
11.23 alien | Are you there? |
11.23 Ksenia | Yes, I’m writing a column. Are you busy? |
11.23 alien | No. |
11.24 Ksenia | Then ask me to do something. |
11.25 alien | Ask? |
11.25 Ksenia | I meant to say “order.” I like it when you order me. |
11.26 alien | Can you break off from work for five minutes? |
11.26 Ksenia | Don’t ask me. For you – always. |
11.26 alien | The pencil you used last week, is it still on your desk? |
11.27 Ksenia | I think so. |
11.27 alien | You think so or definitely? |
11.27 Ksenia | Definitely, definitely |
11.28 alien | You’ll find out in good time |
11.28 Ksenia | Yes, I don’t use it. |
11.29 alien | Very good. Then open your legs and stick the pointed end into your vagina. |
11.29 Ksenia | E-e-er… Dearest brother, there are a lot of people here and I’m wearing trousers, so that’s a bit difficult. |
11.30 alien | Sorry, my dearest sister, you apparently need more detailed instructions |
11.31 Ksenia | That’s too complicated, sorry. It will take more than five minutes. |
11.31 alien | This is a very important game, my sister. We’re playing gynecologist. Do as I told you – once; put it in and pull it out. That’s two seconds. And don’t even think of coming, you’re too little for that. Don’t forget, we’re not tossing off, just playing. |
11.32 Ksenia |
|
11.32 alien | I’ll time you. |
On the way back she meets Alexei and suddenly realizes her face is burning. Some important game that is! I just stuck it in once and pulled it back out. Shit, now how am I going to work?
“Are you busy this evening?” Alexei says.
“Yes, sorry” – and she edges her way through sideways to her desk, hurrying so she can answer before the five minutes are up.
“And in general – what plans do you have for this week?”
“Oh, I’m not really very clear on that right now,” Ksenia says, and that, at least, is an honest answer. “Let’s talk tomorrow, okay? But I think I’m all booked up, sorry.”
“It’s just that I’m missing you,” he says, lowering his voice to a whisper.
Smile charitably, answer “me too”, sit at the desk, type quickly “I’m here”, oh, thank goodness she had the wits to close the dialogue box as she was leaving. Alexei is still there, looking straight at the monitor.
“Listen, you’re stopping me working. If you’ve got nothing to do, go and check what Dasha’s translated from Reuters, she messes up sometimes.”
Phew, sigh in relief. Where are you, alien?
11.36 alien | Well done. You made it in four minutes. Next time I’ll let you move the pencil about a bit more. |
11.37 Ksenia | Bastard. Now I can’t work. |
11.37 alien | You’re a slacker, little sister. You use any excuse to do nothing. Finish your column and then do whatever you like. Only that column had better be really good, understand? |
11.38 Ksenia | We don’t write any other kind |
