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"I saw Fyodor half an hour ago. " Fyodor was a corrupt policeman of Lev's acquaintance.
"This is bad news. "
"There's worse. Pinsky has vowed to get me-as revenge on you. "
Grigori nodded. "That's what I was afraid of. "
"What am I going to do?"
"You'll have to go to Moscow. St. Petersburg won't be safe for you for a long time, maybe forever. "
"I don't know that Moscow is far enough, now that the police have telegraph machines. "
He was right, Grigori realized.
The ship's hooter sounded again. Soon the gangplanks would be withdrawn. "We only have a minute left," said Grigori. "What are you going to do?"
Lev said: "I could go to America. "
Grigori stared at him.
Lev said: "You could give me your ticket. "
Grigori did not want even to think about it.
But Lev went on with remorseless logic. "I could use your passport and papers for entering the United States-no one would know the difference. "
Grigori saw his dream fading, like the ending of a motion picture at the Soleil Cinema in Nevsky Prospekt, when the house lights came up to show the drab colors and dirty floors of the real world. "Give you my ticket," he repeated, desperately postponing the moment of decision.
"You'd be saving my life," Lev said.
Grigori knew he had to do it, and the realization was like a pain in his heart.
He took the papers from the pocket of his best suit and gave them to Lev. He handed over all the money he had saved for the journey. Then he gave his brother the cardboard suitcase with the bullet hole.
"I'll send you the money for another ticket," Lev said fervently. Grigori made no reply, but his skepticism must have shown on his face, for Lev protested: "I really will, I swear it. I'll save up. "
"All right," Grigori said.
They embraced. Lev said: "You always took care of me. "
"Yes, I did. "
Lev turned and ran for the ship.
The sailors were untying the ropes. They were about to pull up the gangplank, but Lev shouted and they waited a few seconds more for him.
He ran up onto the deck.
He turned, leaned on the rail, and waved to Grigori.
Grigori could not bring himself to wave back. He turned and walked away.
The ship hooted, but he did not look back.
His right arm felt strangely light without the burden of the suitcase. He walked through the docks, looking down at the deep black water, and the odd thought occurred to him that he could throw himself in. He shook himself: he was not prey to such foolish ideas. All the same he was depressed and bitter. Life never dealt him a winning hand.
He was unable to cheer himself up as he retraced his steps through the industrial district. He walked along with his eyes cast down, not even bothering to keep an eye open for the police: it hardly mattered if they arrested him now.
