CHAPTER 2. WHAT I LOVED — I LOST

"Ask Petrovich to invite Matilda Lvovna to my office with the documents on financing educational programs."

"Will you show me the FSB agents?"

"Just for your own safety. I don't advise getting rid of them. Now you try to light up, and I'll publicly throw you out the door, and tomorrow you'll go to Sohnut so they can help you with the flight, and maybe with something else. Understand? Not here, to Sohnut. First thing in the morning to Sohnut."

"Clear. I haven't smoked since childhood. I tried to inhale once and still don't understand why people do it."

"So they don't get lip cancer. Here are some cigarettes. Take one. Put it in your mouth, and I'll light it."

"'Novichok'?" — I asked. The poison’s name meant ‘New Guy.’

“Old stuff,” he grinned. “A drop kills a horse. Ha!”

The alarm went off. The shaliach shouted:

"Stop smoking immediately, open the door right now!"

"Yes, I'm sorry, please."

Behind the door, the secretary and the non-foreign agent working as an accountant sat with their eyes wide open. And behind them, the shaliach continued to shout:

"This is outrageous! Leave immediately! Your request will be reviewed within the established timeframe, and you can find out the result by phone!"