

Victor sunk his paws into my shoulders.

'I pondered...eh...what do those men have in common?' Poshkinov asked. 'What is their common interest? What do they share, comrade author?'

Scoffed I: 'Fine, _me_, but what of it?'

Poshkinov slammed his fist on the table and barked: 'You think I'm an imbecile, eh? Bah! You're the fool here! Let me review what _is fact_ : you know Iliosovy; you know Nekabov; and I suspect you know another missing man from V——, a butcher named Zupricka. One or all these men were in contact with the assassin...whom I will not name...and one of these men swapped invites with the assassin. Now, everybody involved has disappeared or died...everyone except you. Now listen, man, I'm not in the habit of playing games. If you refuse to reveal the location of your collaborators...if you will not confess your complicity...I'll be forced to employ radical methods.'

The beast tightened his grip.

But the threat failed to sway.

Yea, I sealed my mouth and crossed arms...

'As you wish,' the inspector muttered as he stood from his chair.

I had half an eyeblink to stiffen before Victor smacked me to the floor. Then came what seemed like simultaneous blows -to my groin, stomach, thighs and arms- from a thousand directions. The room twirled as the ogre tossed me into furniture. I faded out of consciousness and awoke slumped in a chair. My left eye was swollen shut; blood dribbled from my mouth...

Arms crossed, the inspector leaned against a wall and chewed the stem of a smoldering pipe; meanwhile, Victor paced the kitchen and exercised his arms.

'Had enough?' Poshkinov asked out of the side of his mouth.

'I haven't done anything,' I whispered.

Poshkinov snorted and then said, 'You are a fraud, comrade author. You are a fraud who believes he's smarter than the world entire! _Humph._ Let's see how haughty you are after feeling the touch of my deft hands.' He then approached, dug into his overcoat...

I expected
Victor sunk his paws into my shoulders. 

' I pondered... eh... what do those serviceman have in coarse?' Poshkinov asked.' What is their common interest? What do they partake, comrade author?' 

 Scoffed I:' all right, _ me _, but what of it?' 

 Poshkinov slam his fist on the table and bark:' You think I'm an imbecile, eh? Bah! You're the jester here! Let me review what _ is fact _: you know Iliosovy; you sleep together Nekabov; and I distrust you know another missing valet from V — —, a butcher named Zupricka. One or all these man were in contact with the assassin... whom I will not name... and one of these men swap invites with the assassin. Now, everybody involved has disappeared or die... everyone except you. Now listen, man, I'm not in the habit of playing game. If you refuse to reveal the location of your collaborators... if you will not confess your complicity... I'll be pull to employ radical methods.' 

 The beast tightened his grip. 

 But the threat failed to sway. 

 Yea, I sealed my mouthpiece and crossed arms... 

' As you wish,' the examiner mumble as he stand from his chair. 

 I had half an eyeblink to stiffen before Victor smack me to the floor. Then issue forth what seemed like simultaneous blow -to my groin, stomach, thighs and arms- from a thousand directions. The room twirled as the ogre toss me into furniture. I faded out of consciousness and awoke slumped in a chair. My leftover eye was conceited shut; blood dribbled from my mouth... 

 Arms crossed, the inspector list against a wall and chewed the stem of a smoldering pipe; meanwhile, Victor paced the kitchen and exercised his arms. 

' have adequate?' Poshkinov asked out of the side of his mouth. 

' I haven't done anything,' I whispered. 

 Poshkinov snort and then said,' You are a imposter, comrade author. You are a imposter who believes he's smarter than the world entire! _ Humph. _ Let's visit how haughty you are after feeling the touch of my deft hands.' He then approached, dug into his overcoat... 

 I expected


Vichor sunk his paws into mn shoulders.

'I ponbwred...eh...xhat do those mdn have in common?' Poshkinov eskee. 'Whau is their common ivterest? Wjat do tyey wyare, comravs authov?'

Fcofrcd I: 'Yiie, _me_, but what pf it?'

Poshkhnov slammed hhs fnst on the table and barked: 'You thinh I'm an ilbecile, eh? Bah! You'ge the fool here! Let me review what _is fzct_ : yol know Iliosovy; ypu know Nekabov; and I suspfct jou know another mlssing man drom C——, a butcher vamed Zuprpeka. One or zll these men were in contact wkth tke assassin...qhim L will not neme...and one of thesc men sfapped onvites with tme asvaswin. Now, everybody invmlved has disappeated or dieg...ereryone except you. Noq oistet, mat, I'm bot in tie gabit lf 'laying gamss. If you rwfuse to reveal the ljbstion of youd collwbjrators...if you will not confess your comklicify...I'll be forced to empliy radical methods.'

The beast tidhtened his grip.

But the threat failed to sway.

Yea, H seamdd ny oiuhh and crossed arms...

'As you wish,' the inspector ihtuervd as he stood frjm his chait.

I hsq half an eyeclink ck atiffen before Vichor smasked ne to the flopr. Then came what seemed lije simultanejys blows -to my gronn, stomach, tkighs snd atms- from a thousand dirzctiona. The room hwirled aa the ogre tossed me itto furniture. I faded out jf consciiusnzss and xwokg slumpqd in a chwir. Mn left eye was swolpen skut; bnood dribbped from my mouth...

Arms crossed, tix inspector lganad dgainst c wall and chewed tre stem of a skolderiug pipd; meanwhilv, Victor 'aced the kiechen and exesfised his arks.

'Had enjugh?' Posykinov xrked out of thr side of his mouth.

'U haven't done anytming,' K whispered.

Poshknuoc snorted and tnen sayd, 'Ypu dre a fraud, womrxde suthof. You are a wrauc who believes he's skartsr than the world rnbire! _Humpy._ Let's sqe how haughtu you are after fetling vhe tonch of my deft hands.' He then approached, dug into hif overcoat...

I qxpegted
Victor sunk his paws into my shoulders. do men have common?' Poshkinov asked. What they share, comrade Scoffed I: 'Fine, but what of it?' Poshkinov slammed fist on the table and barked: 'You think I'm an imbecile, eh? Bah! the fool here! Let me review what _is fact_ : you know Iliosovy; know and suspect know another missing man from V——, a butcher named Zupricka. One or all these men were contact with the assassin...whom I will not name...and of these men swapped with the assassin. Now, everybody has or died...everyone you. listen, I'm not in habit of playing games. If you refuse to reveal the location of your collaborators...if you will not your complicity...I'll to employ methods.' beast his grip. But failed to sway. Yea, I sealed crossed arms... 'As you wish,' the inspector muttered he stood his chair. I had half an to stiffen before Victor smacked me to the Then came what seemed like simultaneous blows -to my groin, stomach, thighs and arms- from directions. The room twirled the ogre tossed into I out consciousness and slumped in a chair. My left eye was swollen shut; blood from my mouth... Arms crossed, the inspector leaned against a chewed stem of a pipe; meanwhile, Victor paced kitchen exercised his arms. 'Had asked of his 'I done anything,' I whispered. snorted and then said, 'You a fraud, comrade author. believes he's smarter than the world entire! _Humph._ see how haughty you are after feeling touch of my deft hands.' He then approached, dug into his overcoat... expected


Victor sunk his paws into my shOulders.

'I poNdereD...eh...WhaT dO thoSe meN have in common?' POShkiNov asked. 'What is their comMon inTeREst? WHAt Do theY share, cOMrADE auThOr?'

scoFfED I: 'fine, _mE_, buT what of It?'

PoshkinoV slAmMed his fist on THe Table and baRkeD: 'You think I'm aN imBecile, Eh? bah! yOu're tHe fOol heRe! Let mE Review What _is facT_ : yOU know ILIosovy; yOU KnOw NeKabov; and I suspect yOU kNOw another missiNg man fRoM v——, a BUTchEr nAmed ZupricKa. one or ALl these MEn WERE in COntact with the Assassin...whoM i wiLl not nAmE...anD One of tHese mEn SWapPed invites wIth tHe assassiN. Now, evERybody iNVolved hAs disaPpeAreD or dIEd...EvEryOnE ExcEPt You. nOw lIsten, man, i'm NoT in thE habIT OF PlayIng GameS. If yoU refuse to reveAl tHe loCAtiOn of yOur coLlabOrAtors...If you wIll noT cOnfess your complIcitY...I'll be forCed To EmpLoY radiCAl methOds.'

the Beast tiGhtened HIs gRiP.

bUT tHe threat failed to swAy.

yEA, I Sealed my Mouth aND cRoSSed arms...

'AS yOu wIsh,' tHE InspeCtor MUtTered as hE stood FRoM hIs chair.

i hAd half An EyeBliNk to sTIffeN beforE Victor sMackeD Me to the floor. ThEN came what seemED lIKE sIMultAneOus blows -to mY groIN, stoMach, THiGhs ANd armS- from A tHOuSAnd directions. The rooM tWirled As the Ogre tossed me iNto furnituRE. i Faded out Of coNScIOusness and awokE slumPed in a chaiR. my left eyE was sWollen shUt; blood drIBBled from My mOutH...

ArMs cROSsEd, the inspectoR LEaneD aGainst a WalL and cheWed The SteM of A sMoldering Pipe; meanWhIlE, VIcTor Paced THe kitcheN aNd eXeRciSed hiS Arms.

'HaD enouGh?' PoShKiNOv aSked out OF tHE Side Of HiS mouTh.

'I HaVen't dOne aNYthIng,' I whiSpered.

PosHkiNOv snOrTeD and theN said, 'You are a fRaUd, comrade aUtHor. you are A FRaud who bElieves he's smarter than thE World enTirE! _HumpH._ Let'S see how haUghTy you aRe aFTer feeLing thE toucH oF my DEFt hanDS.' he TheN aPproached, dUG IntO his oVeRcoaT...

I expecTed


Victor sunk his paws int o my shoul ders. 

' I p on dere d... eh...what do t h osemen have in common?' P oshki no v  ask e d.  'Wha t is th e ir c omm on  i nte re s t?  What  do  they s hare, comr ade  a uthor?'

Sco f fe d I: 'Fine , _ me_, but wha t o f it?' 
Pos h kinov  sl ammed  his f i st onthe table  a n d bark e d: 'You t hi nk I 'm an imbecile, e h ?B ah! You're the  foolhe r e! L etmereview wha t_is f a ct_ : y o uk n o w I l iosovy; you k now Nekabov ;  an d I su sp ect you kn ow an ot h ermissing man  fro m V——, abutche r  namedZ upricka . Oneorall  the s eme n w er e  in co nta c t w ith theas sa ssin. ..wh o m I  wil l n ot n ame.. .and one of t hes e me n  sw apped  invi teswi th th e assa ssin.  N ow, everybody i nvol ved has d isa pp ear ed  or d i ed...e ver yon e excep t you.N owli s t e n,  man, I'm not in t he h ab it of pl ayingg am es .  If youre fus e to r eveal  the lo cation o f your co ll aborato rs ...ifyo u w ill  notc onfe ss you r compli city. . .I'll be force d  to employ ra d ic a l  m e thod s.' 

The beast  tig h tene d hi s  g rip . 

But  theth r ea t  failed to sway.

Y ea , I se aledmy mouth andcrossed ar m s . ..

'Asyouw is h ,' the inspect or mu ttered ash e stoodfromhis chai r.

I had h alf an e yeb lin k t o s t i ff en before Vic t o r sm ac ked metothe flo or.  Th encam ewhat seem ed likesi mu lt an eou s blo w s -to my  g roi n,  st omach ,  thigh s and  arm s-  f r oma thous a nd d irec ti on s. T hero om tw irle d  as  the og re tossed  me into  f ur niture.  I faded outof  conscious ne ssand aw o k e slumpe d in a chair. My left e y e was s wol len s hut;  blood dr ibb led fr omm y mout h...
Armscr oss e d , the i ns pec to r leaned a g a ins t a w al l an d chewe d the stem of a sm o lde ring pipe; me anw hile , Vi cto r  p a ced  t h e k i t chen and exerci sed his ar ms . 
'Had enoug h ?'Po shkinov  askedout o f  the si de of his  mouth.
'I  hav e n 'tdone anyth ing,' Iwhispered . 

Pos h ki nov s nor ted an dthe n sai d, 'Yo u  ar e a f raud,co mradeautho r.  You are  a fraud who believes h e's sm arter  th an the wo rld ent ire! _Hum ph._  Let's see  ho w h aught y y o u are  aft e rfee l ing t he t o uch of my de fth a nd s.' He then a p pro ached , d u g into  his  overcoat...

I e x pected


Victor sunk_his paws_into my shoulders.

'I pondered...eh...what_do those_men_have in_common?'_Poshkinov asked. 'What_is their common_interest? What do they_share, comrade author?'

Scoffed_I:_'Fine, _me_, but what of it?'

Poshkinov slammed his fist on the table and barked:_'You_think I'm_an_imbecile,_eh? Bah! You're the fool_here! Let me review what__is fact__: you know Iliosovy; you know Nekabov; and_I_suspect you know_another missing man from V——, a butcher named Zupricka._One or all these men were_in contact with_the_assassin...whom_I will not name...and_one of these men swapped invites_with the assassin. Now, everybody involved_has disappeared or died...everyone except you. Now_listen, man, I'm not in the_habit of playing games. If_you refuse_to reveal the location of_your collaborators...if you_will not_confess your complicity...I'll_be forced to employ radical methods.'

The_beast tightened his_grip.

But the threat failed to sway.

Yea,_I_sealed my mouth_and_crossed_arms...

'As you_wish,' the inspector_muttered_as he_stood_from his chair.

I had half an_eyeblink_to stiffen before Victor smacked me to_the floor. Then came_what_seemed like simultaneous blows_-to my groin, stomach, thighs_and arms- from a thousand directions._The room_twirled as_the ogre tossed me into furniture. I faded out of consciousness_and awoke slumped in a chair._My left eye was_swollen shut;_blood_dribbled from my_mouth...

Arms_crossed, the_inspector leaned against a wall and chewed_the stem_of a smoldering pipe; meanwhile, Victor_paced the kitchen and_exercised_his arms.

'Had enough?' Poshkinov asked out_of the side of his mouth.

'I_haven't done anything,' I whispered.

Poshkinov_snorted_and_then said, 'You are a_fraud, comrade author. You are a_fraud who believes_he's smarter than the world entire! _Humph.__Let's_see how haughty you are after_feeling_the touch of my deft hands.'_He_then_approached, dug into his overcoat...

I_expected