

Bang. Bang. Bang...

Several weeks had passed since the _Massacre at The Mount._ At first, I followed Medvelov's advice and remained ensconced in private. But a dearth of alcohol and a need for information compelled me from isolation. Sneaky like, I ventured to V——...

Bang. Bang. Bang...

...perused publications and listened to gossip, which was amusing and abundant.

The newspapers reported scant information: the "assassin" wasn't identified by name; investigators from St. Petersburg were sniffing for accomplices; Bykal's assassination had been the work of radicals; the mestnaya broke doors, arrested men and women...

Yet nobody came for me.

Bang. Bang. Bang...

Nekabov's disappearance had been noted, and the police deemed his absence "suspicious".

There was also the matter of the missing Iliosovy. When would the mestnaya come sniffing for him?

And unbeknown to me, Zupricka's apprentice contacted the authorities after the butcher missed a week of work.

I should've left...

_Bang. Bang. Bang_...

But my appetite for dislocation waylaid.

Aye, dislocation proved a better alternative than facing reality.

Bang. Bang. Bang...

Mayhap I be too cocky; mayhap I believed I could talk my way out of trouble...

Mayhap I desired to be caught.

A stern voice announced: 'Police! Open and submit to inspection!'

'Coming,' I hacked.

Bang. Bang. Bang...

Repeated he: 'Police! Open and submit to inspection!'

Before the next head rattling _bang_, I swung open the door. A giant towered over me...a giant with a pumpkin shaped head and a torso as dense an old fir. I retreated a step as the beast stooped to gaze into the cottage. Then he turned attention to me and barked: 'Police!'

Though the monster wore the uniform of a captain in the civil service, I suspected he wasn't as fashioned. Those hands of his -two times the size of mine- were made to twist necks, not cuff miscreants.

My mind warned: _'Tis an oprich
Bang. Bang. Bang... 

 Several weeks had passed since the _ Massacre at The Mount. _ At first, I follow Medvelov's advice and remain ensconced in private. But a dearth of alcohol and a need for data compelled me from isolation. Sneaky like, I ventured to V — —... 

 Bang. Bang. Bang... 

... peruse publication and listened to dish the dirt, which was amusing and abundant. 

 The newspapers reported light information: the " assassin " wasn't identified by name; investigators from St. Petersburg were sniffing for accomplice; Bykal's assassination had been the work of radical; the mestnaya broke doors, collar men and women... 

 Yet nobody come for me. 

 Bang. Bang. Bang... 

 Nekabov's disappearance had been noted, and the police deemed his absence " suspicious ". 

 There be also the matter of the missing Iliosovy. When would the mestnaya come sniffing for him? 

 And unbeknown to me, Zupricka's apprentice reach the authorities after the butcher missed a week of work. 

 I should've left... 

 _ Bang. Bang. Bang _... 

 But my appetite for dislocation waylaid. 

 Aye, dislocation proved a better alternative than facing reality. 

 Bang. Bang. Bang... 

 Mayhap I be too cocky; mayhap I believed I could talk my way out of fuss... 

 Mayhap I desired to be caught. 

 A austere voice announced:' Police! Open and submit to inspection!' 

' issue forth,' I hacked. 

 Bang. Bang. Bang... 

 Repeated he:' Police! Open and submit to inspection!' 

 Before the future head rattling _ bang _, I swung open the door. A giant towered over me... a giant star with a pumpkin shaped head and a torso as dense an old fir. I retreated a dance step as the beast stoop to gaze into the cottage. Then he turned attention to me and barked:' Police!' 

 Though the monster break the uniform of a captain in the civil service, I suspected he wasn't as fashion. Those hands of his -two time the size of mine- were made to twist neck, not cuff reprobate. 

 My mind warned: _' Tis an oprich


Banh. Bang. Bang...

Several weeks had passed sinew the _Kassacde at Thd Mount._ At first, I followed Leeveloc's advice and remained ensconcef in pricate. Vut a dearvg of algjhol wnd c ieed for informstion compalled me from hsulction. Sneaky like, I ventured to V——...

Band. Bang. Najg...

...perused publycatpogs ahd listened to gossip, which was amhsing aid abundant.

The mewspapers reported scant lnfogmation: the "assassln" wasn't idghtisued by name; knvestigators from St. Ketersburg were sniffing for accumpliees; Bykal's qswasdhnation had been the work of radicalv; the mrstnaya broke coocs, aerested men and women...

Bet nobody came for ie.

Bang. Batg. Bang...

Nekabov's disqppearatce vad cwen noued, ahd the pomice deemes his absenxe "suspicious".

There eaf also the matfer of tre missing Iliosovy. When would the mesttayz come sniffing for him?

Qnd unbeknown to me, Zopricka's a[prentice contacted the authorities after the butwher jksstd a wedj lf work.

I should've left...

_Bang. Bang. Bang_...

But my ap[stotv for dislocation waylaid.

Aye, dlskjcation provea a becfed alternative than facing realuty.

Bang. Bwng. Nang...

Mayhap I be too cocky; mqyhap I belivved I could talk my wcy out of truublg...

Mayhal I desired to be caughc.

A stedn voice anjounced: 'Pkuice! Open and sucmin to inspection!'

'Coming,' I hacked.

Fang. Bang. Bany...

Repeatea he: 'Policq! Open and submld to inspection!'

Beflre tke neft head rahtling _bang_, I swung open the door. A giant towgreg oner me...a gnant wlth a pumpkin sraped head and a torsj as aense an omd fir. M retreated w step as the heast stoopev to gaze inti thw cottaed. Then he turnrd attentpou to me abd barked: 'Police!'

Thpugf the monster woxt tye uniform of a caotayn ii the wivil servica, I rusorcted he wasn't aw fasnioned. Those hands ox hia -two times the siae of mine- were maqe to twist nrcks, not cuff miscgeantv.

My mind watned: _'Tis an oprich
Bang. Bang. Bang... Several weeks had passed _Massacre The Mount._ first, I followed in But a dearth alcohol and a for information compelled me from isolation. like, I ventured to V——... Bang. Bang. Bang... ...perused publications and listened to which was amusing and abundant. The newspapers reported scant information: the "assassin" wasn't by investigators St. were sniffing for accomplices; Bykal's assassination had been the work of radicals; the mestnaya broke doors, men and women... Yet nobody came for me. Bang. Bang... Nekabov's disappearance been noted, and the police his "suspicious". There also matter the missing Iliosovy. would the mestnaya come sniffing for him? And unbeknown to me, Zupricka's apprentice contacted the authorities after butcher missed of work. should've _Bang. Bang_... But my dislocation waylaid. Aye, dislocation proved a facing reality. Bang. Bang. Bang... Mayhap I be cocky; mayhap believed I could talk my way of trouble... Mayhap I desired to be caught. stern voice announced: 'Police! Open and submit to inspection!' 'Coming,' I hacked. Bang. Bang. Bang... 'Police! Open and submit inspection!' Before the head _bang_, swung the door. giant towered over me...a giant with a pumpkin shaped head and torso as dense an old fir. I retreated a step beast to gaze into cottage. Then he turned to and barked: 'Police!' Though wore uniform in civil I suspected he wasn't fashioned. Those hands of his times the size of necks, not cuff miscreants. My mind warned: _'Tis oprich


Bang. Bang. Bang...

Several weeks hAd passed siNce thE _MaSsaCrE at THe MoUnt._ At first, I folLOwed medvelov's advice and remaIned eNsCOnceD In PrivaTe. But a dEArTH Of aLcOhOl aNd A NeEd for InfOrmatioN compelled Me fRoM isolation. SnEAkY like, I ventUreD to V——...

Bang. Bang. banG...

...perusEd PubLIcatiOns And liStened TO gossiP, which was AmUSing anD AbundanT.

tHe NewsPapers reported scaNT iNFormation: the "asSassin" WaSN't IDEntIfiEd by name; inVeStigaTOrs from sT. PETERsbURg were sniffinG for accomplICes; bykal's AsSasSInatioN had bEeN The Work of radicAls; tHe mestnayA broke DOors, arrESted men And womEn...

YEt nObodY CaMe For Me.

bAng. bAnG. BaNG...

NeKabov's diSaPpEaranCe haD BEEN notEd, aNd thE poliCe deemed his abSenCe "suSPicIous".

THere wAs alSo The maTter of The miSsIng Iliosovy. When WoulD the mestnAya CoMe sNiFfing FOr him?

ANd uNbeKnown to Me, ZupriCKa's ApPRENtIce contacted the autHoRITiEs after tHe butcHEr MiSSed a week Of WorK.

I shOULd've lEft...

_BANg. bang. Bang_...

but my aPPeTiTe for diSlOcatioN wAylAid.

aye, diSLocaTion prOved a betTer alTErnative than faCIng reality.

BanG. baNG. baNG...

MayHap i be too cocky; MayhAP I beLievED I CouLD talk My way OuT Of TRouble...

Mayhap I desireD tO be cauGht.

A sTern voice annoUnced: 'PolicE! oPEn and subMit tO InSPection!'

'Coming,' I HackeD.

Bang. Bang. BANg...

RepeatEd he: 'POlice! OpeN and submiT TO inspectIon!'

befOre The NEXt Head rattling _bANG_, I swUnG open thE doOr. A gianT toWerEd oVer Me...A giant witH a pumpkiN sHaPeD hEad And a tORso as denSe An oLd Fir. i retrEAted a sTep as The bEaSt STooPed to gaZE iNTO the CoTtAge. THen He TurneD attENtiOn to me aNd barked: 'POliCE!'

ThoUgH tHe monstEr wore the unifOrM of a captaiN iN thE civil SERvice, I suSpected he wasn't as fashionED. Those hAndS of hiS -two Times the sIze Of mine- WerE Made to Twist nEcks, nOt CufF MIscreANTs.

my mInD warned: _'Tis AN OprIch


Bang. Bang. Bang...

Sev eral weeks  hadpas sed  s ince  the  _Massacre atT he M ount._ At first, I fol lowed  M e dvel o v' s adv ice and re m a ine den sco nc e din pr iva te. But  a dearthofal cohol and an ee d for info rma tion compell edme fro miso l ation . S neaky  like, I vent ured to V —— . ..

Ba n g. Bang . Ba ng.. .

...perused pub l ic a tions and list ened t og os s i p,whi ch was amu si ng an d  abunda n t. T hen ewspapers rep orted scant inf ormati on : t h e "ass assin "w asn 't identifi ed b y name; i nvesti g ators f r om St.Peters bur g w eres ni ff ing  f o r a c co mpl i ces ; Bykal' sas sassi nati o n h ad b een  the  work  of radicals;  th e me s tna ya br oke d oors ,arres ted me n and  w omen...

Yet no body  came for  me .
Ba ng . Ban g . Bang ... 

N ekabov' s disap p ear an c e ha d been noted, andth e po lice dee med hi s  a bs e nce "sus pi cio us". There  was al so the m attero fth e missi ng  Ilios ov y.Whe n wou l d th e mest naya com e sni f fing for him?And unbeknown to m e, Zupr ick a's apprent icec onta cted th e a u thori tiesaf t er the butcher missedaweek o f wor k.

I should' ve left... _ Bang. Ba ng.B an g _...

But my a ppeti te for dis l ocationwayla id.

Aye , disloca t i on prove d a  be tte r a l t er native than f a c ingre ality.
Ba ng. Ban g.Ban g.. .
Ma yhap I be  too coc ky ;ma yh apI bel i eved I c ou ldta lkmy wa y  out o f tro uble .. .May hap I d e si r e d to  b ecaug ht. 
A ste rn v o ice  announ ced: 'Pol ice !  Ope nan d submi t to inspecti on !'

'Comin g, ' I  hacke d . 

Bang.Bang. Bang...

Repeated he: 'Po lic e! Op en a nd submit  to  inspe cti o n!'

B eforethe n ex t h e a d rat t l in g _ ba ng_, I swu n g  op en th edoor . A gia nt towered over me . ..a  giant with a  pu mpki n sh ape d  h e adan d  at o rso as dense an  old fir.Ir et reated a s t epas  the be ast sto opedt o gazeinto thecottage.Th en h e tur ned attent ion to m e and bar k ed: ' P ol ice!' 

T houghth e m onste r wore the  unif orm of  a  capta in in  t he civil  service, I suspected h e wasn 't as  fa shioned.Tho s e h ands of h is - two timesthe  si ze of  mi n e- we re m a de  to twist  nec k s, not cu f fmis c r ea nts.

My mi n d war ned:_'T i s an o pric h


Bang. Bang._Bang...

Several weeks_had passed since the__Massacre at_The_Mount._ At_first,_I followed Medvelov's_advice and remained_ensconced in private. But_a dearth of_alcohol_and a need for information compelled me from isolation. Sneaky like, I ventured to_V——...

Bang._Bang. Bang...

...perused_publications_and_listened to gossip, which was_amusing and abundant.

The newspapers reported_scant information:_the "assassin" wasn't identified by name; investigators from_St._Petersburg were sniffing_for accomplices; Bykal's assassination had been the work of_radicals; the mestnaya broke doors, arrested_men and women...

Yet_nobody_came_for me.

Bang. Bang. Bang...

Nekabov's_disappearance had been noted, and the_police deemed his absence "suspicious".

There was_also the matter of the missing Iliosovy._When would the mestnaya come sniffing_for him?

And unbeknown to me,_Zupricka's apprentice_contacted the authorities after the_butcher missed a_week of_work.

I should've left...

_Bang._Bang. Bang_...

But my appetite for dislocation_waylaid.

Aye, dislocation proved_a better alternative than facing reality.

Bang._Bang._Bang...

Mayhap I be_too_cocky;_mayhap I_believed I could_talk_my way_out_of trouble...

Mayhap I desired to be_caught.

A_stern voice announced: 'Police! Open and submit_to inspection!'

'Coming,' I hacked.

Bang._Bang._Bang...

Repeated he: 'Police! Open_and submit to inspection!'

Before the_next head rattling _bang_, I swung_open the_door. A_giant towered over me...a giant with a pumpkin shaped head and_a torso as dense an old_fir. I retreated a_step as_the_beast stooped to_gaze_into the_cottage. Then he turned attention to me_and barked:_'Police!'

Though the monster wore the uniform_of a captain in_the_civil service, I suspected he wasn't_as fashioned. Those hands of his_-two times the size of_mine-_were_made to twist necks, not_cuff miscreants.

My mind warned: _'Tis an_oprich