kal.

'You shook his hand!' Vyskilovich exclaimed.

The walking stick tapped twice and then Bykal demanded: 'Petyor, step aside.'

# CHAPTER 23

### Bykal's Questions

Bykal's eyes widened behind the glasses. 'You...' he whispered. 'Who are you?'

Before I could answer, Vyskilovich crowed: 'It's him!'

Using the walking stick, the governor swatted the wig from my head. 'This isn't Vladimir Tschoschy,' he snapped.

Vyskilovich blinked and scratched his scalp.

'What's your name?' Bykal asked me.

'Iliosovy,' I told him without pause.

'I don't know an Iliosovy,' Bykal said.

'He entered using Tschoschy's invite,' Vyskilovich explained.

'Well, it's _not_ him!' cried Bykal. 'Good god, man, he doesn't even look like Tschoschy!'

'Then he darned a clever forgery!' Vyskilovich thundered. 'I should throw this rouge in the goal!'

'He didn't...' Bykal sighed. 'Look, he must be Tschoschy's comrade. Ergo, Tschoschy gave Comrade Iliosovy his invitation.'

I chimed: 'Yes, The Major...er...Vladimir...is at home.'

Demanded Vyskilovich: 'Why?'

'He believes you'll arrest him,' I said.

'So you came instead?' Vyskilovich scoffed.

'I _thought_ he was being paranoid,' I retorted. 'And I've always wanted to grace a ceremony like this. Imagine humble I amongst pomp and celebrity! _Humph._ Had I known I'd suffer abuse, I'd have stayed away!'

The governor chuckled and then said, 'The ceremony will begin soon, Petyor Vyskilovich. Take a few minutes to compose yourself.'

Vyskilovich glared at me and said, 'Something isn't right, your excellency.'

In response, the governor grunted and tapped his walking stick; thereafter, the room emptied of everyone but His Excellency and me.

'So, what has
kal. 

' You shook his hand!' Vyskilovich exclaimed. 

 The walking pin tap twice and then Bykal demanded:' Petyor, step away.' 

 # CHAPTER 23 

 # # # Bykal's Questions 

 Bykal's eyes widened behind the glass.' You...' he whisper.' Who are you?' 

 Before I could answer, Vyskilovich crowed:' It's him!' 

 Using the walking stick, the governor swat the wig from my head.' This isn't Vladimir Tschoschy,' he snapped. 

 Vyskilovich blinked and scratched his scalp. 

' What's your name?' Bykal ask me. 

' Iliosovy,' I told him without pause. 

' I don't know an Iliosovy,' Bykal said. 

' He entered using Tschoschy's invite,' Vyskilovich explain. 

' Well, it's _ not _ him!' cried Bykal.' Good god, man, he doesn't even look like Tschoschy!' 

' Then he darn a clever forgery!' Vyskilovich thunder.' I should throw this rouge in the finish!' 

' He didn't...' Bykal sigh.' Look, he must be Tschoschy's comrade. Ergo, Tschoschy gave Comrade Iliosovy his invitation.' 

 I chime:' Yes, The Major... er... Vladimir... is at home.' 

 Demanded Vyskilovich:' Why?' 

' He believes you'll arrest him,' I said. 

' So you hail instead?' Vyskilovich scoffed. 

' I _ thought _ he was being paranoid,' I retorted.' And I've always wanted to grace a ceremony like this. Imagine base I amongst gaudery and celebrity! _ Humph. _ Had I known I'd suffer maltreatment, I'd have stayed away!' 

 The governor chuckled and then say,' The ceremony will begin soon, Petyor Vyskilovich. Take a few minutes to compose yourself.' 

 Vyskilovich glare at me and said,' Something isn't right, your excellency.' 

 In response, the governor grunted and tapped his walk stick; thereafter, the room emptied of everyone but His Excellency and me. 

' So, what has
kal.

'Jou shook his hand!' Vyskiuovich exclaimeb.

Rhe wanking atick taoped twice and then Bykal delabded: 'Kvtyor, step aside.'

# CHAPGER 23

### Bykap's Questuons

Uykal's eyes wideisd behikb the nlasszs. 'You...' he whispeted. 'Who are fou?'

Before I cogla cnswer, Vyskilovich crowed: 'It's him!'

Usigg the eapking stick, thg govtrnjr ssatted the wig from my head. 'This ian't Vlavimir Tschoschy,' he snapped.

Vyskilovich blijked and scratched his scalp.

'What's youw name?' Bykal xsked me.

'Ilpmsovy,' I tomd him without pause.

'I don't know an Ikiosovy,' Byjao swhd.

'He enterev usind Tschoschy's invite,' Eyskilofich explained.

'Eeln, ir's _not_ him!' cried Bykan. 'Good god, man, he qoesn't evan look like Tschosxht!'

'Then he garnde a cltvec fkrgery!' Vyakilovich fhundered. 'I should throw this totte in the goam!'

'He diqn'e...' Bykal sighed. 'Look, he must be Tschoschj's ckmrade. Ergo, Tschoschy gqve Comrade Iliosovy jis invitwtion.'

I chimed: 'Yes, The Major...er...Vladimir...is at home.'

Dekandev Xysjijucifh: 'Why?'

'He believes you'll arrest him,' I said.

'So yjh vake instead?' Vyshilovich scpfvec.

'Y _thought_ he das benhg paranoid,' I retortfd. 'And Y've aoways wanued tp grace a ceremony like thiw. Imagine huivle I amongst pomp and celebrnty! _Hukph._ Hsd I known I'd suffer abbse, I'd have stayef away!'

The eovernor chucklea akd dhen said, 'The ceremony wilj begin sion, 'etyor Vhskikovich. Take a fea minmdes to compose yougself.'

Ryskinovich glaged at me and said, 'Something isi'v right, your gxcallvncy.'

In refponsc, the governor drunted and takped his calkine stick; thvreafter, vhe room empeied of everymje but His Eecellency and me.

'Si, what fxs
kal. 'You shook his hand!' Vyskilovich exclaimed. stick twice and Bykal demanded: 'Petyor, ### Questions Bykal's eyes behind the glasses. he whispered. 'Who are you?' Before could answer, Vyskilovich crowed: 'It's him!' Using the walking stick, the governor swatted wig from my head. 'This isn't Vladimir Tschoschy,' he snapped. Vyskilovich blinked and his 'What's name?' asked me. 'Iliosovy,' I told him without pause. 'I don't know an Iliosovy,' Bykal said. 'He using Tschoschy's invite,' Vyskilovich explained. 'Well, it's _not_ cried Bykal. 'Good god, he doesn't even look like 'Then darned a forgery!' thundered. should throw this in the goal!' 'He didn't...' Bykal sighed. 'Look, he must be Tschoschy's comrade. Ergo, Tschoschy gave Comrade his invitation.' 'Yes, The at Demanded 'Why?' 'He believes him,' I said. 'So you came 'I _thought_ he was being paranoid,' I retorted. I've always to grace a ceremony like this. humble I amongst pomp and celebrity! _Humph._ Had known I'd suffer abuse, I'd have stayed away!' The governor chuckled and then said, 'The begin soon, Petyor Vyskilovich. a few minutes compose Vyskilovich at and said, isn't right, your excellency.' In response, the governor grunted and tapped walking stick; thereafter, the room emptied of everyone but His me. what has
kal.

'You shook his hand!' VyskiloVich exclaiMed.

ThE waLkiNg SticK tapPed twice and theN bykaL demanded: 'Petyor, step asiDe.'

# CHApTer 23

### BykAL's questIons

BykAL's EYEs wIdEnEd bEhINd The glAssEs. 'You...' he Whispered. 'WHo aRe You?'

Before I coULd Answer, VyskIloVich crowed: 'It'S hiM!'

Using ThE waLKing sTicK, the gOvernoR SwatteD the wig frOm MY head. 'THIs isn't VLADiMir TSchoschy,' he snapped.

vYsKIlovich blinked And scrAtCHeD HIs sCalP.

'What's your NaMe?' BykAL asked mE.

'ilIOSOvy,' i Told him withouT pause.

'I don't KNow An IlioSoVy,' BYKal saiD.

'He enTeREd uSing TschoscHy's iNvite,' VyskIlovicH ExplainED.

'Well, it'S _not_ hiM!' crIed bykaL. 'goOd God, MaN, He dOEsN't eVEn lOok like TScHoSchy!'

'THen hE DARNed a CleVer fOrgerY!' Vyskilovich tHunDereD. 'i shOuld tHrow tHis rOuGe in tHe goal!'

'he didN't...' bykal sighed. 'Look, He muSt be TschoSchY's ComRaDe. ErgO, tschosChy GavE ComradE IliosoVY hiS iNVITaTion.'

I chimed: 'Yes, The MAjOR...Er...vladimir...Is at hoME.'

DEmANded VyskIlOviCh: 'WhY?'

'hE beliEves YOu'Ll arrest Him,' I saID.

'SO yOu came iNsTead?' VySkIloVicH scofFEd.

'I _tHought_ He was beiNg parANoid,' I retorted. 'AND I've always wanTEd TO GrACe a cEreMony like thiS. ImaGIne hUmblE i aMonGSt pomP and cElEBrITy! _Humph._ Had I known I'd sUfFer abuSe, I'd hAve stayed away!'

the governoR CHUckled anD theN SaID, 'The ceremony wiLl begIn soon, PetyOR VyskiloVich. TAke a few mInutes to cOMPose yourSelF.'

VySkiLovICH gLared at me and sAID, 'SomEtHing isn'T riGht, your ExcEllEncY.'

In ReSponse, the Governor GrUnTeD aNd tApped HIs walkinG sTicK; tHerEafteR, The rooM emptIed oF eVeRYonE but His eXcELLencY aNd Me.

'So, WhaT hAs
kal.

'You shook his hand! ' Vyskilov ich e xcl aim ed .

T he w alking stick t a pped  twice and then Bykaldeman de d : 'P e ty or, s tep asi d e. ' 
#CH AP TER  2 3 
### B yka l's Que stions

By kal 's  eyes widene d  b ehind thegla sses. 'You.. .'he whi sp ere d . 'Wh o a re yo u?'

B e fore I  could an sw e r, Vys k ilovich c ro wed:  'It's him!'

Usi n gt he walking sti ck, th eg ov e r nor  sw atted thewi g fro m  my hea d .' T h isi sn't Vladimir  Tschoschy, '  he  snapp ed .
V yskilo vichbl i nke d and scrat ched  his scal p.

'W h at's yo u r name? ' Byka l a ske d me . 
'I lio so v y,' Itol d  hi m withou tpa use.
'Id o n ' t kn owan I lioso vy,' Bykal sa id. 

'H e  en tered  usin g Ts ch oschy 's inv ite,'  V yskilovich expl aine d.

'Well , i t' s _ no t_ hi m !' cri edByk al. 'Go od god, man ,h e do esn't even look li ke T sc hoschy!' 

'The n  h ed arned acl eve r fo r g ery!'  Vys k il ovich th undere d .'I  should  t hrow t hi s r oug e int he g oal!'
'He did n't.. . ' Bykal sighed .  'Look, he mu s tb e  T s chos chy 's comrade.  Erg o , Ts chos c hy  ga v e Com radeIl i os o vy his invitation.' 
I chim ed: ' Yes, The Majo r...er...V l a d imir...i s at ho m e.'

DemandedVyski lovich: 'W h y?'

'He  beli eves you 'll arres t him,' Isai d.
'S o y o u  c ame instead?' V yski lo vich sc off ed.

'I  _t hou ght _ h ewas being  paranoi d, 'Ire tor ted.' And I've  a lwa ys  wa ntedt o grac e a c erem on yl ike  this.I ma g i ne h um bl e Iamo ng st po mp a n d c elebrit y! _Humph ._H ad I  k no wn I'dsuffer abuse,  I 'd have st ay edaway!' The gove rnor chuckled and thens aid, 'T hecerem onywill begi n s oon, P ety o r Vysk ilovic h. Ta ke  af e w min u t es  to  c ompose you r s elf .'

V ys kilo vich gl ared at me and sai d , ' Something isn 'trigh t ,  y our ex c ell en c y.' In response, th e governor  g r un ted and ta p ped  h is walk ing sti ck; t h ereafte r, the ro om emptie dof e v e ryo ne but His  Excelle ncy and m e .

'S o ,whathas 
kal.

'You shook_his hand!'_Vyskilovich exclaimed.

The walking stick_tapped twice_and_then Bykal_demanded:_'Petyor, step aside.'

#_CHAPTER 23

### Bykal's_Questions

Bykal's eyes widened behind_the glasses. 'You...'_he_whispered. 'Who are you?'

Before I could answer, Vyskilovich crowed: 'It's him!'

Using the walking stick,_the_governor swatted_the_wig_from my head. 'This isn't_Vladimir Tschoschy,' he snapped.

Vyskilovich blinked_and scratched_his scalp.

'What's your name?' Bykal asked me.

'Iliosovy,' I_told_him without pause.

'I_don't know an Iliosovy,' Bykal said.

'He entered using Tschoschy's_invite,' Vyskilovich explained.

'Well, it's _not_ him!'_cried Bykal. 'Good_god,_man,_he doesn't even look_like Tschoschy!'

'Then he darned a clever_forgery!' Vyskilovich thundered. 'I should throw_this rouge in the goal!'

'He didn't...' Bykal_sighed. 'Look, he must be Tschoschy's_comrade. Ergo, Tschoschy gave Comrade_Iliosovy his_invitation.'

I chimed: 'Yes, The Major...er...Vladimir...is_at home.'

Demanded Vyskilovich:_'Why?'

'He believes_you'll arrest him,'_I said.

'So you came instead?' Vyskilovich_scoffed.

'I _thought_ he_was being paranoid,' I retorted. 'And_I've_always wanted to_grace_a_ceremony like_this. Imagine humble_I_amongst pomp_and_celebrity! _Humph._ Had I known I'd_suffer_abuse, I'd have stayed away!'

The governor chuckled_and then said, 'The_ceremony_will begin soon, Petyor_Vyskilovich. Take a few minutes_to compose yourself.'

Vyskilovich glared at me_and said,_'Something isn't_right, your excellency.'

In response, the governor grunted and tapped his walking_stick; thereafter, the room emptied of_everyone but His Excellency_and me.

'So,_what_has