bulgakov - notes off the cuff

7/25/2019 Bulgakov - Notes Off the Cuff

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Notes Off the Cuff

by

Mikhail Bulgakov

Translated by K.M. Cook-HorujyEnglish translation o!yright "aduga #ublishers $%%&

Moso'

To the long-suffering writers of Russia who rove o'er land and sea

#("T ONE

$

(n editor of the deeasedRusskoye Slovo, in gaiters and 'ith a igar) snathedthe telegra* off the desk and read it through s'iftly fro* beginning to end 'ith a

!ratised !rofessional eye. +One hand auto*atially jotted do'n ,t'o olu*ns,) 'hile the li!s

une!etedly rounded and 'histled ,#he'-e',He !aused for a *o*ent. Then abru!tly tore off a sheet of note!a!er and

sribbled/

Tiflis is forty miles away,Who can sell me a car today?

,0hort feuilleton, at the to!) ,1ong !ri*er, at the side and ,"ook, at thebotto*.

0uddenly he *uttered like 2ikens3s 4ingle/,5h-huh 5h-huh 6 guessed as *uh. Might have to beat it. Never *ind 63ve

got si thousand lire in "o*e. Credito taliano! 7hat8 0i... (nd atually 63* an6talian offier 9es) sir"inita la comedia#$

(nd 'ith another 'histle he !ushed bak his a! and hurried out of the door: telegra* and feuilleton in hand.

,0to!, 6 yelled) o*ing to *y senses. ,0to! 7hat Credito? "inita? 7hat8Catastro!he8,

But he had vanished.6 'as about to run after hi*... but then shrugged *y shoulders) fro'ned li*!ly

and sank onto the divan. 7hat 'as bothering *e8 The Credito, 'hatever it 'as8The o**otion8 No) it 'asn3t that... (h) yes. My head 6t 'as ahing like billyho.The seond day running. ;irst a strange hill ran do'n *y s!ine. Then just the

o!!osite/ *y body felt all hot and dry) and *y forehead un!leasantly la**y. Myte*!les 'ere throbbing. 63d aught old. That 'rethed ;ebruary fog But 6


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*ustn3t get ill 6 just *ustn3t get ill

ood for *aking shi!s. #eter in a greenaftan %(ho!!ing do'n trees. 7hat a fine-sounding stately 'ord : inas*uh 6n-as-*uh ;orests) ravines) ar!ets of !ine-needles) a sno'-overed her*itage. (nda hoir of nuns singing in s'eet har*ony/

)ictorious leader of trium*hant hosts#

Hang on 7hat nuns 9ou 'on3t find any nuns there. 7here are they no')nuns8 Blak) 'hite) slender ?asnetsovian %+nuns8


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,1arissa 1eontievna) 'here are the nuns8,,He3s delirious) !oor thing,,6 ertainly a* not. Not in the slightest. Nuns 7hat3s the *atter) don3t you

understand8 >ive *e that book. Over there) on the third shelf. Melnikov-#ehersky...,

,9ou *ustn3t read) Misha) dear,,7hat3s that8 7hy not8 63ll be u! to*orro' (nd go to see #etrov. 9ou don3tunderstand. They3ll leave *e behind 1eave *e behind,

,Oh) alright then. >et u! if you *ust Here3s the book.,,1ovely book. 7ith that old) fa*iliar s*ell. But the lines are ho!!ing about all

over the !lae. 6 re*e*ber. They 'ere forging banknotes at the her*itage)"o*anov banknotes. 7hat an a'ful *e*ory 63ve got. 6t 'as notes) not nuns.

Sasha basher, tra-la-la#

,1arissa 1eontievna... 1arohka 2o you like forests and *ountains8 63ll get *e

to a *onastery. 9es) 6 'ill 0o*e re*ote her*itage. 7ith forest all round and birdst'ittering) and not a living soul... 63* sik of this idioti 'ar 63ll go to #aris and'rite a novel first) then get *e to a *onastery. Only tell (nna to 'ake *e u! ateight o3lok to*orro' *orning. 6 'as su!!osed to see hi* yesterday. Can3t youunderstand8,

,9es) yes) 6 understand. Only you *ust kee! @uiet.,

et it8 (nd this is a sub-setion. 0ub. >et it8,,0e. of Ed. #in-head. Barbousse. 0re' loose.,The lady of the house let fly.


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,2on3t talk to hi*) for goodness sake He3ll get delirious again...,,Nonsense, said 9uri sternly. ,Nonsense (nd all those Mingrelians and

6*ere... 7hat are they alled8 Cirassians. They3re !lain stu!id,,7hy8,,They just rush about. 0hooting. (t the *oon. They 'on3t rob anyone.,

,But 'hat3ll ha!!en8 To us8,,Nothing. 7e3ll o!en u!...,,The (rts8,,That3s right. The 'hole lot. ;ine (rts. #hoto. 1it. and 2ra*.,,6 don3t get it.,,#lease don3t talk) Misha dear The dotor...,,Tell you later 6t3ll be alright. 63ve been in harge before. 7hat do 'e are8

7e3re a-!olitial. 7e3re (rt,,(nd ho' shall 'e live8,,7e3ll hide our *oney behind the ar!et.,,7hat ar!et8,

,6n the to'n 'here 6 'as in harge) 'e had a ar!et on the 'all. (nd 'hen 'egot !aid) *y 'ife and 6 used to hide it behind the ar!et. They 'ere anious ti*es.But 'e ate. (te 'ell. 0!eial rations.,

,7hat about *e8,,9ou3ll be (00 1it. head. 9es.,,7hat head8,,#lease) Misha. 6 beg you,

D.

THE 6CON-1(M#

The night s'i*s. #ith blak. Can3t slee!. The ion-la*! flikers aniously.0hots in the distane. My brain3s on fire.

Everything3s *isty.

amma# amma# What we gonna do?

0lyo=kin3s building so*ething. #iling so*ething u!. ;ine (rts. #hoto. 1it.2ra*. 0ra*. 0a*. 6t3s !hotogra!hi boes. 7hy8 (00 1it. for the 'riters. #oor

blighters. 2ra*. Ha*. 6ngushes gallo! about on horsebak) eyes flashing. #inhingthe boes. 2readful raket. 0hooting at the *oon. Nurse injets *y thigh 'itha*!hor. ( third bout

,Hel! 7hat3ll ha!!en8 1et *e go 6 *ust get out...,,Be @uiet) Misha dear. Be @uiet,(fter the *or!hine the 6ngushes disa!!ear. The velvety night s'ays. The ion-

la*! asts its divine light and sings in a rystal voie/a-amma# a-amma#


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.

(N2 HE"E 6T 60:THE 05B-0ECT6ON

0un. Clouds of dust behind arriage 'heels. #eo!le 'alking in and out of anehoing building. ( roo* on the fourth floor. T'o u!boards 'ith broken doors)so*e rikety tables. Three young ladies 'ith violet li!s bang a'ay loudly atty!e'riters) sto!!ing no' and then to have a s*oke.

6n the very entre a 'riter snathed fro* death3s ja's fashions a sub-setionout of the haos. ;ine. 2ra*. (tors3 bluish faes kee! !estering hi*. (sking for*oney.

(fter the ty!hus a roking s'ell. 2i==iness and nausea. But 63* in harge. (001it. head. >etting to kno' the ro!es.

,(00 head. 0e. of Ed. 1it. Coll.,( *an 'alks bet'een the tables. 6n a grey ar*y jaket and *onstrous riding-

breehes. He !lunges into grou!s that fall a!art. 1ike a tor!edo boat !loughing the'aves. Everyone @uails under his glane. Ee!t the young ladies. They3re notafraid of anything.

He o*es u!. Eyes boring into *e) he !luks out *y heart) !laes it in his !al*and srutinises it arefully. But it is as lear as rystal.

He !uts it bak and s*iles graiously.,(00 1it. head8,,That3s it.,He goes on his 'ay. 0ee*s a good ha!. Only 'hat3s he doing here8 2oesn3t

look like 2ra*. (nd ertainly not like 1it.( !oetess arrives. Blak beret. 0kirt buttoned do'n the side and stokings

falling do'n. 0he3s brought a !oe*.

.ee, dee, dee* down,n my heart/eats a dynamo-machine!.ee, dee, dee* down!

Not a bad !oe*. 7e3ll have it ... you kno' ... 'hat do they all it ... reited at aonert.

The !oetess looks !leased. Not a bad young lassy. But 'hy doesn3t she hith u!her stokings8

F.

>ENT1EM(N-O;-THE-BE2CH(MBE" #50HK6N

Everything 'as fine. Everything 'as dandy.(nd then 6 got the !ush all beause of #ushkin) (leander 0ergeyevih) >od

rest his soul6t 'as like this.

( 'orksho! of loal !oets nested in the offie) under the s!iral stairase. (young *an in blue student trousers 'ith a dyna*o-*ahine in his heart) a doddery


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old *an 'ho started 'riting !oe*s at the age of fifty-nine) and a fe' others.6n sidled a dare-devil 'ith an a@uiline nose and a big revolver in his belt. He

'as the first to thrust his ink-intoiated !en into the hearts of those 'ho hadesa!ed the knife and turned u! for old ti*e3s sake at the trak:the for*er0u**er Theatre. To the inessant boo*ing of the *uddy Terek) he ursed lila

and thundered/

0ou've had enough songs about moonlight andsweet things!

1ow 'll sing you one about emergency meetings!

6t 'as *ost i*!ressiveThen another one read a !a!er on >ogol and 2ostoyevsky 'i!ing the* both

off the fae of the earth. He s!oke disa!!rovingly of #ushkin) but in !assing.#ro*ising to devote a s!eial re!ort to hi*. One night in 4une he tore #ushkin offa stri!. ;or his 'hite trousers) his ,face the future without fear!!!$ %2, his

>entle*an-of-the-Bedha*beris*) %3

his ele*entary rebel) and in general for his,!seudo-revolutionis* and hy!orisy,) obsene !oetry and gadding around after'o*en...

Bathed in s'eat 6 sat in the front ro' of the stuffy hall and heard the s!eakerri! #ushkin3s 'hite trousers to shreds. 7hen) after refreshing his dry gullet 'ith aglass of 'ater) he finally suggested thro'ing #ushkin into the stove) 6 s*iled. 6*ust onfess. 6t 'as an enig*ati s*ile) blast it ( s*ile3s not a bird in a bush) is it8

,Then you defend hi*.,,6 don3t 'ant to,,9ou haven3t any ivi ourage.,,6s that so8 (lright) 63ll defend hi*.,

(nd so 6 did) da*n it 6 s!ent three days and three nights !re!aring. 0itting atan o!en 'indo' by a la*! 'ith a red shade. On *y la! lay a book 'ritten by the*an 'ith eyes of fire.

"alse wisdom *ales at the first tiny glimmer4f true wisdom's ne'er-fading light!!! %5

6t 'as He 'ho said/

ndifferent alike to *raise or blame!!! %6

No) not indifferent No. 63ll sho' the* 63ll sho' the* alright. 6 shook *y fist atthe inky night.(nd sho' the* 6 did There 'as o**otion in the 'orksho!. The s!eaker 'as

out for the ount. 6n the eyes of the audiene 6 read a silent) jubilant/,;inish hi* off,.....................................................................

oldenHorn...


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...Have you seen the flies on Tangle-foot87hen the rying sto!s) 'e go into the age.To*atoes. ( little blak bread. (nd araki! 7hat filthy vodka 2isgusting 0till

it does the trik.(nd 'hen all around is fast aslee!) the 'riter reads *e his ne' novel. There3s

no one else to hear it. The night s'i*s. He finishes) 'ra!s u! the *anusri!tarefully and !uts it under the !illo'. There is no 'riting-desk.7e 'his!er until the !ale da'n.7hat na*es are on our dry tongues 7hat na*es Ho' #ushkin3s verse an

soften s!iteful souls. Be'are of s!ite) 'riters of "ussia ..................................................................

Truth o*es only through suffering. That3s right) rest assured But no one !aysyou or gives you food !arels for kno'ing the truth. 0ad) but so.

L.

( TH"O5>H 76N2

9evreinov %7arrived. 6n an ordinary 'hite ollar. ;ro* the Blak 0ea on his'ay to #etersburg.

There used to be suh a ity in the north.2oes it still eist8 The 'riter laughs and assures us that it does. But it takes a

long ti*e to get there. Three years in a goods van. My tired eyes feasted for a'hole evening on his 'hite ollar. (nd for a 'hole evening 6 listened to tales ofadventure.

/rother writers, your vocation!!! %&8

He hadn3t got a !enny. His luggage had been stolen......On another evening at 0lyo=kin3s) the last) Nikolai Nikolayevih sat at the

!iano in the s*oke-filled dra'ing-roo* !rovided by the landlady. He endured thetor*ent of ins!etion 'ith iron sta*ina. ;our !oets) a !oetess and a !ainter'orksho! devoured hi* deorously 'ith their eyes.

9evreinov is an ingenious fello'.,(nd no' 3 Musial >ri*aes3...,Turning his fae to the keys) he began to !lay. (t first... (t first he gave us a

visiting ele!hant !laying the !iano) then a lovesik !iano-tuner) a dialogue bet'eensteel and gold and) finally) a !olka.

7ithin ten *inutes the 'orksho! 'as totally ina!aitated. 6t no longer satdeorously) but rolled about hysterially 'ith *uh 'aving of hands andgroaning...

...The *an 'ith the lively eyes 'ent a'ay. No *ore gri*aes

hastly. 2o they buy *anusri!ts here8,,9es) but they don3t !ay..., Before 6 ould finish he had gone. 6 kno' not

'here...The novelist #ilnyak %&+'ent to "ostov in a flour train) 'earing a 'o*an3sardigan.

,6s it better in "ostov8,,No) 6 just 'ant a rest,Eentri : 'ears gold-ri**ed s!etales.

oing into the s*oking-roo*) 6

heard a "ed (r*y *an o*!lain *iserably/ ,To bla=es 'ith the* and theirhu*our 7e o*e to the Cauasus and they 'on3t leave us alone here either,He 'as @uite right) that soldier fro* Tula. 6 hid a'ay in *y favourite !lae) a

dark orner behind the !ro!s roo*. ( roar a*e fro* the hall. Hurrah They 'erelaughing. >ood for the ators ,0urgery, saved the day and the story about theivil servant 'ho snee=ed.

0uess 0uess 0loyo=kin rushed into *y rat orner and hissed) rubbing hishands/

,7rite the seond !rogra**e,6t 'as deided to hold a #ushkin Evening after the Evening of Chekhovian

Hu*our.

9uri and 6 !lanned the !rogra**e lovingly.,That blokhead an3t dra'), 0lyo=kin fu*ed. ,7e3ll ask Maria 6vanovna,6 i**ediately feared the 'orst. 6n *y o!inion Maria 6vanovna dra's about as

'ell as 6 !lay the fiddle... 6 onluded this 'hen she first a!!eared in the 0ub-0etion saying she had studied under the great N. hi*self. 0he 'as i**ediately*ade Head of ;ine (rts. But sine 6 kno' nothing about !ainting) 6 ke!t @uiet.

od The audiene had deided that after Chekhov3s hu*ourthey 'ere going to get #ushkin3s hu*our 6 began to talk in a old s'eat of ,the(urora Borealis in the sno'-bound 'astes of "ussian belles-lettres,. There 'eresniggers in the audiene at the side-'hiskers. No=dryov skulked behind *e)grunting/

,6f 6 'ere your boss) 63d string you u! on the nearest tree,0o 6 ouldn3t sto! *yself and let out a snigger too. The suess 'asover'hel*ing) !heno*enal. Neither before nor after have 6 ever been the rei!ientof suh thunderous a!!lause. (nd then it began to resendo. 7hen 0alieri

!oisoned Mo=art in the dra*atised eer!t the audiene e!ressed its delight 'itha!!roving guffa's and thunderous ries of ,Enore,

0a*!ering rat-like out of the theatre 6 sa' fro* the orner of *y eye the!oetry bra'ler surry into the editorial offie 'ith his notebook...

ot *y breath bak here. ( door 'itht'o noties. One says ,;lat F&,. The other an enig*ati ,;. (rts,. Must get *y

breath bak again. My fate is about to be deided.

6 !ushed o!en the unloked door. 6n the se*i-dark hall 'as a huge bo full of!a!ers and a grand-!iano to!. ( roo* flashed !ast) full of 'o*en and 'reathed ins*oke. There 'as a short burst of ty!ing. 0ilene. Then a dee! voie said/


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,Meyerhold.,,7here3s (00 1it.8, 6 asked) leaning on the 'ooden barrier.The 'o*an by the barrier shrugged her shoulders irritably. 0he didn3t kno'.

The other one didn3t kno' either. ( long dark orridor. 6 gro!ed *y 'ay along byguess'ork. O!ened one door : a bathroo*. The net door had a sra! of !a!er

nailed to it. (ske') one orner turned u!. (0. Thank the 1ord. 9es) (00 1it. My!ulse started raing again. ?oies inside/ *u*ble-*u*ble-*u*ble...6 losed *y eyes and i*agined the inside. This is 'hat 6 sa'. 6n the first roo*

: a ar!et) an enor*ous 'riting desk and a bookase. ('eso*e silene. (t thedesk a seretary : !robably one of the na*es 6 kno' fro* *aga=ines. Then otherdoors. The setion head3s offie. Even *ore a'eso*e silene. Bookases. 7ho3sthat sitting in an ar*hair8 (00 1it.8 6n Moso'8 9es) Mai* >orky. The 9ower

.e*ths! other! 7ho else8 Mu*ble-*u*ble-*u*ble. They3re having a talk. Or!erha!s it3s Bryusov and Bely8 %&5

6 knok lightly on the door. The *u*ble-*u*ble sto!s to be follo'ed by ahollo' ,Co*e in, Then *ore *u*ble-*u*ble. 6 turn the knob and it o*es off in

*y hand. 63* !etrified. ( fine start to *y areer Breaking the door knob 6 knokagain. ,Co*e in,,6 an3t, 6 shout.( voie o*es through the keyhole/,Turn the knob right) then left. 9ou3ve loked us in...,"ight) left) the door gives slightly) and...

63M TO# M(N (;TE" >O"K9

6 'as in the 'rong !lae This ouldn3t be (00 1it ( su**er-ottage 'ikerhair) an e*!ty 'ooden desk) an o!en u!board) a s*all table u!side do'n in theorner. (nd t'o *en. One 'as tall and very young in a !ine-ne=. His !utteesstood out. They 'ere 'hite) and he 'as holding a battered briefase and a sak.The other *an) greying and elderly 'ith bright) al*ost s*iling eyes) 'ore aCauasian fur a! and an ar*y greatoat. The oat 'as overed 'ith holes and the

!okets 'ere hanging in tatters. He 'ore grey !uttees and !atent leather daningshoes 'ith little bo's.

My lak-lustre ga=e !assed over the faes) then the 'alls) looking for anotherdoor. But there 'as none. The roo* 'ith the broken 'ires had no 'indo's. Tout!6n a rather thik voie/

,6s this (00 1it.8,,9es.,,Could 6 see the head) !lease8,,That3s *e), the old *an re!lied affetionately.He !iked u! a large !age of a Moso' ne's!a!er fro* the desk) tore a !iee

off) s!rinkled so*e tobao on it) rolled hi*self a igarette and asked *e/,>ot a *ath8,6 struk a *ath auto*atially) and then under the old *an3s affetionately

en@uiring ga=e took the !reious !a!er out of *y !oket.The old *an bent over it) and 6 raked *y brains 'ondering 'ho he ould be.

Most of all he looked like E*ile Iola 'ithout a beard.

The young *an also read the !a!er over the old *an3s shoulder. They finishedand looked at *e 'ith a kind of !u==led res!et.


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Old *an/,0o you8..,,63d like a job in (00 1it.), 6 re!lied.,0!lendid 7ell) 6 never, the young *an elai*ed in delight.He took the old *an aside and started 'his!ering. Mu*ble-*u*ble-*u*ble.

The old *an s!un round on his heels and grabbed a !en off the desk. Theyoung *an said @uikly/,7rite an a!!liation.,6 had an a!!liation in *y breast !oket. 6 handed it over.The old *an flourished the !en. 6t *ade a srathing sound and jerked) tearing

the !a!er. He di!!ed it in a s*all bottle. But the bottle 'as dry.,>ot a !enil8,6 handed hi* a !enil) and the head sra'led/,#lease a!!oint as 0eretary of (00 1it. 0igned...,6 stared o!en-*outhed at the dashing [email protected] young *an !luked *y sleeve.

,Hurry u!stairs) before he goes. uik.,6 shot u!stairs. Barged through the door) tore aross the roo* 'ith the 'o*enand 'ent into the offie. The *an sitting in the offie took *y !a!er and sribbled/,(!!t. seer., 1etter. 0@uiggle. He ya'ned and said/ ,2o'nstairs.,

6 raed do'nstairs again in a ti==y. #ast the ty!e'riter. Then instead of a bass) asilvery so!rano said/ ,Meyerhold. Otober in the Theatre...,

The young *an 'as stor*ing round the old *an and hortling.,2id they a!!oint you8 ;ine 7e3ll see to it. 7e3ll see to everything,Then he la!!ed *e on the shoulder/,2on3t 'orry 9ou3ll get everything.,6 have al'ays detested fa*iliarity and al'ays been a viti* of it. But no' 6 'as

so over'hel*ed by 'hat had ha!!ened) that all 6 ould do 'as say 'eakly/,But 'e need desks ... hairs ... and at least so*e ink,The young *an shouted eitedly/,9ou3ll get the* >ood lad 9ou3ll get everything,He turned to the old *an) 'inked at *e and said/,He *eans business) that lad ;any asking for desks straighta'ay. He3ll !ut

things right for us.,

6N (00 16T

Historians of literature) take note/(t the end of $%A$ three !eo!le 'ere engaged in literature in the "e!ubli/ the


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old *an dra*as he turned out not to be E*ile Iola) of ourse) but so*eone 6didn3t kno') the young *an the old *an3s assistant) 'ho* 6 didn3t kno' either :

!oetry and *yself 'ho hadn3t 'ritten a thing.Historians) also note/ (00 1it. had no hairs) desks) ink) light bulbs) books)

'riters or readers. 6n short) nothing.

(nd *e. 9es) 6 rustled u! fro* no'here an anti@ue *ahogany 'riting-desk.6nside 6 found an old) yello'ing) gold-edged ard 'ith the 'ords/ ,...ladies inse*i-deollete evening dress. Offiers in frok-oats 'ith e!aulettes. Civilians inunifor* tail-oats) 'ith deorations. 0tudents in unifor*. Moso'. $L%%.,

6t s*elt soft and s'eet. ( bottle of e!ensive ;renh !erfu*e had one stood inthe dra'er. (fter the desk a hair arrived. Then ink) !a!er) and finally a young lady)sad and !ensive.

On *y instrutions she laid out everything that had been in the u!board on thedesk/ so*e brohures about ,saboteurs,) $A issues of a 0t. #etersburg ne's!a!erand a !ile of green and red invitations to a ongress of !rovinial setions. 6ti**ediately began to look like an offie. The old *an and the young *an 'ere

delighted. They la!!ed *e on the shoulder affetionately and vanished.The sad young lady and 6 sat there for hours. Me at the desk and she at thetable. 6 read The Three usketeersby the ini*itable 2u*as) 'hih 6 had found onthe floor in the bathroo*. The young lady sat in silene) oasionally heaving adee! sigh.

,7hy are you rying8, 6 asked.6n re!ly she started sobbing and 'ringing her hands. Then she said/,63ve found out that 6 *arried a bandit by *istake.,6 don3t kno' if anything ould sur!rise *e after these t'o years. But at this 6

just stared blankly at her...,2on3t ry. Things like that do ha!!en.,

(nd 6 asked her to tell *e about it.7i!ing her eyes 'ith a handkerhief) she told *e she had *arried a student)enlarged a !hotogra!h of hi* and hung it in the dra'ing-roo*. Then a detetivea*e) took one look at the !hotogra!h and said it 'as not Karasev at all) but2olsky) alias >lu=*an) alias 0enka Mo*ent.

,Mo-*ent..., the !oor girl said) shuddering and 'i!ing her eyes.,0o he3s gone) has he8 7ell) good riddane to hi*.,

But this 'as the third day. (nd still nothing. Not a soul had o*e. Nothing at

all. 4ust *e and the young lady...6 suddenly realised today/ (00 1it. isn3t !lugged in. There3s life overhead.#eo!le 'alking about. Net door too. Ty!e'riters lattering a'ay and !eo!lelaughing. They get lean-shaven visitors too. Meyerhold3s fantastially !o!ular inthis building) but he3s not here in !erson.

7e have nothing. No !a!ers) nothing. 6 deided to !lug (00 1it. in.( 'o*an a*e u!stairs 'ith a !ile of ne's!a!ers. The to! one 'as *arked in

red !enil ,;or (00 ;ine (rts,.,7hat about one for (00 1it.8,0he looked at *e in fright and did not ans'er. 6 'ent u!stairs. To the young

lady sitting under a notie that said ,seretary,. 0he listened to *e) then looked

nervously at her neighbour.,That3s right) (00 1it..., said the first young lady. ,There is a !a!er for the*)1idohka), said the seond. ,Then 'hy didn3t you deliver it8, 6 asked in an iy


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tone. They both looked 'orried. ,7e thought you 'eren3t there.,

orky) ?eresayev) 0h*elyov) Iaitsev) 0erafi*ovih) et.But none of the afore-*entioned sho'ed u!.0o 'ith a bold hand 6 sribbled on 0torn3s a!!liation/ ,#ise) a!!t., instr. !!.

head., 1etter. 0@uiggle.,>o u!stairs 'hile he3s still here.,Then the urly-headed) rosy-heeked !oet 0kartsev arrived) full of joie de

vivre.,>o u!stairs 'hile he3s still here.,

( gloo*y fello' in glasses) about t'enty-five) so thik-set he see*ed to be*ade of bron=e) arrived fro* 0iberia.

,>o u!stairs...,But he re!lied/,63* not going any'here.,He sat do'n in a orner on a rikety) broken hair) !ulled out a sra! of !a!er

and started 'riting so*e short lines. Obviously a very e!eriened fello'.The door o!ened and in a*e a *an 'earing a nie 'ar* oat and a sealskin

hat. 6t 'as a !oet. 0asha.The old *an 'rote the *agi 'ords. 0asha looked round the roo* arefully)

fingered the dangling !iee of broken 'ire thoughtfully) and for so*e reason

looked into the u!board. He sighed.0itting do'n beside *e) he asked onfidentially/


22/31

,7ill they !ay ash8,

7E 7O"K 5# 0TE(M

There 'as no roo* at the desks. 7e 'ere all 'riting slogans) 'ith a ne'fello') very ative and noisy) in gold glasses) 'ho alled hi*self the king ofre!orters. The king a!!eared the *orning after 'e got an advane) at L.F a. *.'ith the 'ords/

,6s it true they !aid out ash here8,(nd joined the staff on the s!ot.The e!isode of the slogans 'as like this.( *e*o arrived fro* u!stairs.,(00 1it. urgently re@uested to !rodue a set of slogans by $A noon.,Theoretially this is 'hat 'as su!!osed to ha!!en/ the old *an 'ith *y

assistane 'ould issue an order or su**ons to all !laes 'here there 'eresu!!osed to be 'riters. 7e 'ould then reeive thousands of slogans fro* all overthe ountry) by telegra!h) letter and 'ord of *outh. Then a o**ission 'ouldselet the best and !resent the* by $A noon on a ertain date. (fter that *yseretarial staff i. e.) the bandit3s sad 'ife and 6 'ould dra' u! a lai* for

!ay*ent) reeive the *onies onerned and !ay the *ost deserving for the bestslogans.

But that 'as in theory.6n !ratie) ho'ever/$ 6t 'as i*!ossible to issue a su**ons) beause there 'as no one to su**on.

(ll the 'riters 'ithin the field of vision 'ere/ the above-*entioned) !lus the king.

A Eluded by one/ 'e ould not !ossibly be flooded 'ith slogans.D The slogans ould not be sub*itted by $A noon on suh-and-suh a date)

beause the *e*o arrived at $.A !. *. on the date in @uestion. 7e needn3t have 'ritten a lai* for !ay*ent) beause there 'as no ,slogan,

alloation. But : the old *an did have a s*all) !reious a*ount for travelallo'anes.

Therefore/ a The slogans shall be 'ritten as a *atter of urgeny by all those!resent

b a o**ission to onsider the slogans shall be set u! onsisting of all those!resent to ensure o*!lete i*!artiality and

the best slogans shall be seleted and the su* of fifteen thousand roubles

!aid for eah of the*.7e sat do'n at $.F& !. *. and the slogans 'ere ready by D o3lok. Eah of us

*anaged to s@uee=e out five or si) 'ith the ee!tion of the king 'ho 'rotenineteen in verse and !rose.

The o**ission 'as fair and strit.6) the 'riter of slogans) had nothing in o**on 'ith the other *e 'ho

ae!ted and ritiised the*.(s a result the follo'ing 'ere ae!ted/three slogans fro* the old *an)three slogans fro* the young *an)three slogans fro* *e)

and so on and so forth.6n short) forty-five thousand eah.


23/31

Brrr. 7hat a 'ind (nd it3s starting to dri==le. The *eat !ie in the Truba %&6is'et fro* the rain) but deliious enough to drive you ra=y. ( tube of saharineand t'o !ounds of 'hite bread.

Caught u! 0torn. He 'as he'ing so*ething too.

(N 5NE#ECTE2 N6>HTM("E

,6t3s all a drea*) 6 s'ear. Can it be blak *agi8,6 'as t'o hours late for 'ork today.6 turned the knob) o!ened the door) 'alked in and sa' the roo* 'as e*!ty.

7ell and truly e*!ty Not only had the desks) the sad 'o*an and the ty!e'ritergone) but even the eletri 'ires. Everything.

,0o it 'as all a drea*... 6 see ... 6 see...,;or so*e ti*e everything round *e has see*ed like a *irage. ( va!orous

*irage. There) 'here yesterday... But 'hy yesterday) for goodnees sake8 (hundred years ago ... an eternity ... !erha!s it never eisted at all... !erha!s itdoesn3t no'. Kanathikov daha %&7

0o the kind old *an ... the young *an ... the sad 0torn ... the ty!e'riter ... andthe slogans ... didn3t eist at all8

But they did. 63* not *ad. They did) da**itThen 'here on earth had they got to87alking unsteadily) trying to hide *y e!ression under *y eyelids so they

didn3t grab *e and take *e a'ay 6 set off do'n the dark orridor. (nd realisedthat so*ething funny really 'as ha!!ening to *e. 6n the darkness over the doorleading into a roo* 'hih 'as lit) glo'ed letters of fire) as if on a ine*a sreen/

$LD

ON THE AFTH O; M("CH (N 5N505(119 0T"(N>EE?ENT TOOK #1(CE 6N 0T. #ETE"0B5"> THE B("BE"6?(N 9(KO?1E?6CH...

6 read no further) reoiling in horror. 0to!!ing by the barrier) 6 hooded *y eyeseven *ore and asked in a hollo' voie/

,Euse *e) did you ha!!en to see 'here (00 1it. has gone8,(n irritable) gloo*y 'o*an 'ith a ri*son ribbon in her blak hair sna!!ed/

,7hat (00 1it... 6 don3t kno'.,6 losed *y eyes. (nother fe*ale voie said sy*!athetially/,(tually it3s not here at all. 9ou3ve o*e to the 'rong !lae. 6t3s in

?olkhonka.,6 'ent old all over) 'alked onto the landing and 'i!ed the s'eat off *y

forehead. Then 6 deided to go bak on foot aross the 'hole of Moso' to"a=u*ikhin3s and forget all about it. 6f 6 'as @uiet and said nothing) no one 'ouldever kno'. 6 ould live on the floor at "a=u*ikhin3s !lae. He 'ouldn3t drive *e) a

!oor *ad*an) a'ay.

6N THE 7O"12.

0OMET6ME0 THE9 ("E TOT(119 6M#"OB(B1E/ 0522EN19 TH(T0E1;0(ME NO0E 7H6CH H(2 BEEN #("(26N> ("O5N2 6N THE "(NKO; 0T(TE CO5NC611O" (N2 C(50E2 05CH ( COMMOT6ON 6N THETO7N) ;O5N2 6T0E1; B(CK 6N 6T0 #1(CE (0 6; NOTH6N> H(2H(##ENE2... %(8

ot ill. Through being areless. Had beetroot sou! 'ith *eat today. Tinygolden diss fat floating on to!. Three !latefuls. Three !ounds of 'hite bread inone day. (nd so*e !ikled uu*bers. 7hen 6 'as full u!) *ade so*e tea. 2rankfour glassfuls 'ith sugar. ;elt slee!y. 1ay do'n on the divan and dro!!ed off.

2rea*ed 6 'as 1ev Tolstoy at 9asnaya #olyana. Married to 0ofia (ndreyevna.0itting u!stairs in the study. Had to 'rite. But didn3t kno' 'hat. #eo!le ke!to*ing u! and saying/

,2inner is served.,But 6 'as afraid to go do'n. 6 felt stu!id) realised there 'as a big

*isunderstanding. 6t 'asn3t *e 'ho 'rote War and :eace! 9et 6 'as sitting there.0ofia (ndreyevna herself a*e u! the 'ooden stairase and said/

,Co*e along. 6t3s a vegetarian dinner.,0uddenly 6 lost *y te*!er.,7hat8 ?egetarianis*8 >et so*e *eat at one 6 'ant a steak. (nd a glass of

vodka.,

0he burst into tears. Then a dukhobor 'ith a bushy ginger beard rushed u! andsaid to *e re!roahfully/

,?odka8 Tut-tut-tut 7hat are you thinking of) 1ev 6vanovih8,,Not 6vanovih Nikolayevih >et out of *y house 0ra* ('ay 'ith all

those dukhobors#,There 'as a great o**otion.6 'oke u! a sik and broken *an. 6t 'as dusk. (n aordion 'as !laying in the

net roo*.6 'ent to the *irror. 7hat a fae. >inger beard) 'hite heekbones) red eyelids.

But that 'as nothing o*!ared to the eyes. >littering again. That 'as bad.


28/31

(dvie/ be'are of that glitter. as soon as it a!!ears) borro' so*e *oney notreturnable) fro* a bourgeois) buy so*e food and have a *eal. Only don3t eat too*uh to begin 'ith. 4ust lear sou! and a little 'hite bread on the first day. Take iteasy.

6 didn3t like *y drea* either. 6t 'as a horrid drea*.

2rank tea again. "e*e*bered last 'eek. On Monday 6 ate so*e !otatoes 'ithvegetable oil and @uarter of a !ound of bread. 2rank t'o glasses of tea 'ithsaharine. On Tuesday 6 had nothing to eat and drank five glasses of tea. On7ednesday 6 borro'ed t'o !ounds of bread fro* a !lu*ber. 2rank tea) but ranout of saharine. Had a s!lendid lunh on Thursday. 7ent round to see so*efriends at

A !. *. The door 'as o!ened by a *aid in a 'hite a!ron. 0trange sensation. (sif it 'ere ten years ago. (t

D !. *. heard the *aid begin to set the table. 7e sat and talked 6 had shavedthat *orning. They ursed the Bolsheviks and told *e they 'ere ehausted. 6ould see they 'ere 'aiting for *e to go. But 6 sat tight.

Eventually the lady of the house said/,7ould you are to stay for lunh !erha!s8,,Thank you. 6 should love to.,7e had/ sou! 'ith *aaroni and 'hite bread) *eatballs and uu*bers for the

*ain ourse) then rie !udding 'ith ja* and tea also 'ith ja*.Must onfess so*ething horrid. (s 6 'as leaving) 6 i*agined the !lae being

searhed. They 'ould o*e and ransak everything. ;ind gold oins under thelongjohns in the hest of dra'ers. ;lour and ha* in the larder. Take the hosta'ay...

6t 'as foul to think like that) but 6 did.He 'ho sits hungry in an atti over a feuilleton) let hi* not follo' the ea*!le

of the fastidious Knut Ha*sun. 1et hi* visit those 'ho live in seven roo*s andlunh 'ith the*. On ;riday had lunh at the anteen) sou! and a !otato ake) andtoday) 0aturday) got !aid and ate *yself sik.

0TO"M. 0NO7

There3s a hint of *enae in the air. 63ve already develo!ed a sith sense.0o*ething is giving 'ay beneath our (00 1it.

The old *an a!!eared today) !ointed a finger at the eiling beyond 'hih the

young ladies lurk) and said/,There3s a !lot against *e...,Hearing this 6 hurriedly ounted ho' *any saharine tablets 6 had left.

Enough for five or si days.

The old *an a*e in noisily) bea*ing all over.,63ve foiled their !lot), he said. No sooner 'ere the 'ords out of his *outh)

than a 'o*an3s head in a sarf !o!!ed round the door and sna!!ed/,9ou there. 0ign this.,

6 signed it.The !a!er said/


29/31

,(s fro* suh-and-suh a date (00 1it. is disbanded.,1ike the a!tain on the sinking shi!) 6 'as the last to leave. Our business :

Nekrasov) the "esurreted (loholi) Hunger *isellanies) %(&!oetry) instrutionsto !rovinial (00 1its) 6 ordered to be filed and handed in. Then 6 turned out thelight 'ith *y o'n hands and left. (nd just as 6 did it began to sno'. Then rain.

Then so*ething in bet'een the t'o lashed *y fae fro* all sides.Moso'3s terrible in !eriods of staff redutions and 'eather like that. 9es sir)that 'as a redution alright. #eo!le 'ere being saked in other !arts of that a'ful

building too.But not Mada*e Kritskaya) 1idohka or the sealskin hat.


30/31

Co**entaries to NOTE0 O;; THE C5;;/

$. Melnikov #. 6. the !seudony* of (ndrei #ehersky) $L$L-$LLD) a "ussian'riter and the author of n the "orests and n the >ills, novels about Old

Believers.A. ,#eter in a green aftan..., ( referene to the "ussian tsar #eter the >reat

'ho founded the "ussian navy and used to build shi!s 'ith his o'n hands.D. ,Blak) 'hite) slender) ?asnetsovian..., ?itor ?asnetsov $LL-$%A) a

"ussian artist 'ho !ainted legendary subjets and also deorated the Cathedral of0t. ?ladi*ir in Kiev.

. ,The novelist 9uri 0lyo=kin..., The 'riter 9u. 1. 0lyo=kin $LLF-$%J)author of the novels Table ountain

%The


31/31

A$. ,...Nekrasov) the "esurreted (loholi) the Hunger *isellanies..., (referene to a book of verse by Nikolai Nekrasov $LA$-$LJL) 'hih 'as aboutto be !ublished) a !lay alled The Resurrected lcoholicby an a*ateur !lay'right)and also various olletions by "ussian and 0oviet 'riters) the !roeeds fro*'hih had been donated to fa*ine relief.

Or/ htt!/PPho*e.freeuk.o*PrussiaA

bulgakov - notes off the cuff

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