The wolfish hat

 





New Year's history

Ilya Nikolaevich, the middle-aged man, has fulfilled voluntary fifteen-year term on Far North and came back " to continent ", on the south of the European part to get warm and begin a new life.
     The plane was late because of a blizzard for three day, and he has got in airport Domodedovo only in the morning on thirty first of December. It was impossible to be in time home by New year.
      Ilya as has flied with one portfolio, at first has reached station of underground "Smolenskaya ". After a small Siberian settlement it would be desirable to plunge into holiday revival of the capital center, having started, as usual, from Old Arbat. There was sun and frosty day. The snow unusually softly, without a ringing scratch crackled under sound  soles. The northerner has been dressed in a grey coat and a hat with ear-flaps from the wolf. The expression was serious, almost gloomy, but there was concealed smile in grey eyes  as if he soon will recollect any amusing case.
He has gone to cafe, has bought hot dogs and pepsi. Through thin cardboard tumbler even as the coarsened fingers felt, how  large beads were quickly riced to the surfase. After a breakfast the mood nothing limited vagrant's freedom has finally taken hold of him. On a teeth from pepsi there was a pleasant strike.
     Not far from him near the theatre rows of artists have settled down. It was pulled him, as if a magnet, in this detached world of the street creativity which is not applying on anything, except for small compensation. One already finished portraits, others only started, having set on a collapsible stool  the next interested person. Some painters without an affair marked time to not freeze, and invited passers-by. Agreed to embody itself basically of the girl with naive hope on fases as though expected any wonderful transformations. Ilya slowly passed from an easel to an easel, estimating as far as similar draw, and was convinced, that is similar, though in a different manner. The roadway was covered with still-lifes, landscapes and portraits. He absent-mindedly slided on them a sight, yet has not seemed, that the familiar fase is observes for him a with asmile  from a canvas in a small framework . My God, how long ago he did not see her: should be one thousand years! Probably, it has been represented another girl, but similarity amazing, she was here such what, most likely, has dreamed it when to she was nineteen. The same huge black, attentive and ironic eyes, a snub nose, magnificent haughty and sensual lips of queen. The portrait has been written by oil in warm brownish - golden tones. Ilya also could not dream of such find. But the elderly artist in black beret and a short leather jacket  has been absorbed by work, and to distract him now it was awkward.
     Ilya has remembered, how has quite unexpectedly got acquainted with her on a student's holiday on which she was allocated with original, rare, teasing beauty. It was flattered to him, that she had set of admirers befor him. She has begun to whirl him in the easy naughty whirlwind, having surprised with how it is possible to live independently in that huge space which, is accessible to any person, and, as if revolution of the season, to is not subject another's arbitrariness. He loved her and open space wich opened with her…
     But all this proceeded not for long. She has soon disappeared from his space…The strange idea did not allow rest, that if he has shown persistence, Julia did not get away from him, and all went in another way, with that especial and clear sense which she radiated.
    He has somehow waited the diploma and has gone  to the North, hoping in change of places and "resistance of a wind ", as she once was disapprovingly expressed, to find ground under foots.
    He recollected her is more often then it was heavier work in which he was engaged. And, at times it was started to seem, that  there is no nothing unattainable in the world.
    Right at the beginning of career he has sworn with the chief, was transferred in driller and first five years stucked on rigs? wich were scattered in a taiga . Watches last on a half-month. In the summer there were heat and mosquitoes, and in the winter -- frosts for fifty. He has as a hobby finished in absentia mathematical faculty in Novosibirsk. The thick book in black binding " Higher mathematics. Elite chapters " Ilya read with pleasure as favourite verses or a detective, and between work, hunting, fishing and preference has learnt it almost by heart. Then he began to advance quickly on a service ladder, he could protect the dissertation, but did not consider necessary.
During business trips and long northern holidays which were taken with time in three years, he has travelled all over the half-countries, but has never met similar to her. Came across almost same clever, either tender, or cheerful, either beautiful, or independent but that all this has been concentrated in one - alas! Once he honesty tried to forget her, but has felt such emptiness inside, that has given up as hopeless. Instead of unique the destiny, not stinting, gave others, - he has not taken a great interest for a long time in anybody …
    - The young man wishes to order the portrait? --he heared a voice of the artist which was already exempted.
     - No, I am afraid to not be placed in a framework, - Ilya seriously has answered. The master  was measured him be yeas.-I'd like to buy ready portrait. That. You do not know, who is represented on it?
    - It is a collective image … the Ideal, perhaps. Such woman exists only in imagination … Though sometimes the reality surpasses the most courageous fiction.
    - I knew rather similar. How much you want for it? Ilya has groped a large denomination in a pocket. He has presented, as will hang up this " a collective image " in a prominent place in the house at the dunes behind which at once - the boundless sea, and, listening attentively in noise of a surf, will to recollect her, even if she only has dreamed him …
     The price appeared small, Ilya   did not begin to bargain, has taken a portrait, has blown off from it a snow dust, has put in a portfolio and went on merging sounds of a guitar and a violin. About one of buildings sang self-made songs four young people. After each number they invited spectators to fork up in  a case from a violin. Occasionally there was flied from crowd any trifle. It it appeared enough for continuation of a concert …
     Then Ilya has bought the book on a New Аrbat and, stacking it near to a portrait, has noticed, on return side of a canvas hardly distinct pencil inscription - the seven-element number, divided to two dashes. Telephone number? The heart  was hammered more often pending and hope. Ilya has returned to learn something from the artist, but didn't found him. It was necessary to call only. After three long hooters he has heard her accomplished not changed voice, which he would would find out from one million.
    - How do you do, Julia! A happy New year - he has told so, as if they have left one of these days …
    - Ilya?!- She has learned him. - I  congratulate you too. Whence you call?..
And farther  he has remembered well only address.
Through one hour Ilya has pressed the button of a bell with a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, sweets and champagne . Julia has opened. The same black mysterious eyes, golden hair and a proud bearing. He has even more sharply felt, how  did not have not enough this sight and this smile.
    - Oh, what’s a fine wolf!.. Undress, please … Pass to the room … - She has put a bouquet in a vase with water, has invited , the visitor to sit on armchair, and itself sat opposite.
   - Are you one? --he asked.
   - Yes. The daughter should return soon from college.
    - And the husband on work?
   - Whether you see, we have divorced from him.
   - Here is how. And I counted, that  all successfully develops at you…
   - Not always. Well, and  what's you, Ilya,?..
     He began to tell in brief. He for a long time dreamed to ask about each day which she has lived without him. Everything, that has been connected to her, till now it seemed unusual and mysterious. He was confident, that she  saw the world in another way and even made daily purchases in the supermarket not how all.
At this time was heard, as the entrance door opens, and one minute later their conversation was interrupted with occurrence of the girl who have reddened from a frost.
    - Get acquainted, my daughter Ira, - has told Julia.
    Then she haspresented Ilya, has recollected, that it is time to take out a biscuit from an oven, and, having apologized, left on kitchen. Ira and Ilya, with curiosity having looked against each other, have simultaneously smiled. Ira it was similar to mother, more likely, separate features, the same look.
   - Ilya, are you familiar with my mum for a long time ?
    - Already the order, since student's years. To tell the truth, we were at different faculties.
    - You have ended geological?
    - Truly.
   - Then she recently recollected you.
    - I did not assume … And what, Ira, your mum recollected?
    -That you met... She has told, that you were incorrigible romantic.
   - Why was?-- Ilya grin.
    Julia has returned .
    - Ilya, I simply die with curiosity how you have found my phone? It has passed so much years,  and my surname has changed ….
    - You will not believe. Phone appeared is written down on the return side of a picture, which I have bought today on Arbat, - Ilya has told,--Look that.
    - My God! Ira, there's  your course work --has exclaimed Julia.-- As far as I remember, it was recommended for an exhibition .
    - Mummy, do not worry, it is a copy ...-answer Ira.-I wanted to earn a few money. The familiar artist has agreed to sell a portrait. And I have written down phone just in case.
   - And has not told anything to me .
    - I was going to prepare you for a surprise for Christmas … .
    - According to the theory of probability there was almost no chance, that the portrait will get to me, - Ilya has told.
     Hopeless wandering in ice space of separation was now represented to him inevitable and in own way by the interesting period. But the unfamiliar, seditious and incontestable idea interfered, that all his failures and achievement cost nothing without this unintentional happiness  to meet again with her …
   - And nevertheless, Ira, it is necessary to recognize, the surprise has gone right to you, - has ironically noticed Julia. - Let's go to drink coffee … By the way, Ilya, what your plans  for today?
    - Till the evening I am free, and then I gather for station.
    - And how you concern to meeting New year at us? - she somehow on especial has looked at him.
   - The road - not the most suitable place for this purpose, - has added Ira.
   - I am agree, - he has noded and has seen warm sparkles in their eyes.
Late at night when Ira already slept, under Ilya's offer,  he and Julia had got on a ladder on a roof and have drunk some champagne. On it dark - gold surface melted the snowflakes, which have flown in glasses . In full silence slowly drop white flakes. The panorama of high-rise buildings with even luminous windows below opened. In the black sky distinctly appeared stars.
    - My head is turned from height and from champagne, - she has told, cheerfully, blindly.
He has embraced and has kissed her, having felt the forgotten taste of her lips.
   - In my opinion, we already kissed once on a roof in a new year's night, - she has told with the inimitable smile drived him mad.
    - It was awful for a long time, - Ilya has sighed.
    - But it's seems, that only yesterday!