On the morning of 21 May, I was awakened by a phone call. In the morning, I want to sleep even more, so even when I got up and took the phone, I didn’t really understand whether it happens in a dream or in real life. Mostly I was wondering, what is it that Shelest calls me at such an early hour? But Shelest did not explain why he called, only gloomily said:

— Here’s what, Boris, come to the institute immediately. I’m waiting for you, — then I hung up.
Now I, of course, woke up for good, quickly got ready, even cancelled the warm up, hastily cooked and swallowed scrambled eggs, and being already in the bus, I was thinking: what was that, that happened in the institute. If someone flew in from Moscow, so why is he so impatient, why on earth people are dragged out of bed, when in the institute there’s nothing to be done, well, except for cleaners.

I stepped into the lobby, and the first thing, I saw, was our director standing there with Shelest and some other citizen, and their faces were all like … Here I didn’t understand, but mostly felt, that there is some big trouble. I watched as director validol sucks, and I myself felt this sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach. The director looked up, not really at me, but mostly through me, smiled as he could and in a hushed voice said:

— Well, here is Struzhkov. Please meet, comrades. It’s our junior research worker Boris Nikolayevich Struzhkov, and this is the detective of the prosecutor’s office Alexander Grigorievich Linkov. So Struzhkov will put you in the picture. And I... I’m sorry, I have to leave…

I still did not know anything and did not understand, and therefore stupidly asked:

– Excuse me, Vyacheslav Felixovich, in what picture?

The director still, in a half-whisper, explained, that he had simply misspoken and that I should introduce comrade Linkov not to the situation, but to the specifics of our institution. Then he apologized again, and he and Shelest left, and Linkov and I were standing and staring at each other. I should have asked right away, what happened, but I somehow didn’t have my wits about anything, only looking at the detective and wondering what an unusual appearance he had: he had a large forehead, was wearing glasses, was as thin as a matchstick and had an unbelievably thoughtful and wistful face, as if he reckons on solving all the world’s problems at once at the moment. Finally, Linkov said, that, well, what are we standing here with no purpose, let us better go to the scene of the accident.

And again, I did not ask what an accident and where is this scene, but quietly followed Linkov and almost automatically followed him through the door of our laboratory.

There were a lot of some people, but I didn’t really look at them, because I immediately from the doorstep saw Arkady.

Arkady was lying on the couch, — we for some reason have in our laboratory a giant sofa, upholstered with imitation-leather of some kind of frog color; his head he threw on a roller, one hand was lying on his chest, the other – along the body with a palm up, his face was calm and even satisfied: well, it simply gives the impression that a person sleeps and sees a good dream. And then there’s such a morning – sunny, with a little breeze, in front of the lab’s windows old trees are growing, and their branches swing in the wind, and the sun flecks run all over the Arkady’s face … But, of course, I did not think even for a second, that Arkady was just sleeping, – just lies down in the morning in the lab and sleeps, while all around him hurry all those people, measuring something, writing something down, taking pictures … I immediately understood, that there was a disaster, something completely terrible, but I just didn’t dare to realize, that Arkady is dead: it was too unnatural, too incredible, that Arkady, whom I saw fifteen hours ago being happy and healthy …

I was standing at the doorstep, unable to step any further, and watched with horror, as the skinny girl with black hair took an unwieldy hand of Arkady and, slightly opening her mouth from tension, carefully is pressing one finger after another to small glasses. “Takes fingerprints … why is that?”

Then Linkov squeezed my hand and said:

— Let me get you out of here. You’re all green.

— Wait … — hardly spoke I. — What’s wrong with him?

— Poisoning, it looks like, — Linkov replied shortly.

— So … I don’t understand …

— Well, poisoning. Sleeping pills. The signs match, and the wrappers are empty — here, see?

He moved his hand to the table. There were orange and blue cardboard wrappers of pills. I stared senselessly at these bright spots and didn’t hear, right away, what Linkov asked me:

— Levitsky was on sleeping pills or not?

At one point, Arkady and I were both on sleeping pills, because we had completely lost sleep after a long series of completely vain experiments. But I dropped out pretty quickly, because the next day my head was like a bucket. And with Arkady nothing like that happened, and he always kept a box of sleeping pills in case of need. Arkady seems to have been using it again recently. But he couldn’t make such an error! Between a normal dose and a fatal one — there is a huge difference!

— And why do you think he made a mistake? — asked Linkov, when I told him all this.

— But … how in the world then? — I asked desperately, feeling, that the floor below me was going somewhere down.

— Come on, come on, let’s go. — Linkov decisively dragged me into the corridor. — You will faint at any moment.

Linkov, perhaps, was right: one little thing and I could totally break down. What a shame and disgrace, of course, for a guy to faint at the sight of a dead man. But it wasn’t some kind of man, it was Arkady Levitsky, the oldest and closest friend of mine, we almost lived together for the last two years, worked together, had fun together and understood each other in everything. It’s true, the last month we didn’t get along well with him, but it didn’t change the root of the matter.

Linkov seated me in the hall by the window in a deep bulky chair, and sat himself on the windowsill and bent so, that our heads were almost at the same level.

— Well, — he said, — we’ll have to talk with you. I understand, it’s difficult for you now. But … and my position is so … ruthless, perhaps … and it will be useful for you too, to find out some of the circumstances of this … — he hesitated, — this tragic incident. Because you are, as I was said, the closest employee and friend of Levitsky. Or is this a bit exaggerated?

He looked down at me — a little from above, almost point-blank, — and I noticed for the first time, what strange eyes he had. There were of course more important things to think about, but his eyes were so blue, incredibly blue, downright azure. For any kind of girl, such eyes would be considered a gift of fate, but on the earthy face of this owlish young man, they were somehow out of place.

— Are you still feeling sick? — asked Linkov, and I realized that I am sitting and in the most ridiculous way staring at him.

— No … I mean not really … — I muttered.

— I wanted to know first, what are your relationship with Levitsky, — Linkov patiently recalled.

— Yes, yes, of course — I said quickly, shaking a little, — we were very close, and on the job and … well, friends, you know! But firstly can you explain to me, what actually happened? You said, that the lethal dose is … well, not by mistake … But why then?

— According to all the available data, it’s a suicide — as if apologizing, Linkov replied.

— How is that — suicide?! Why?! — I didn’t get it right away, that I was welling at the entire lobby.

— This is what I would like to ask you about, — replied Linkov with the same gentleness and patience. — I mean it: why Arkady could commit suicide? If there were reasons for this, you must know them, right?

— I know one thing. — I spoke with the greatest firmness I was capable of at the moment. — I know, that Arkady Levitsky was not one of those people, who will look for a way out in suicide. He considered suicide an act of cowardice, do you understand?

— Yes, but you see … — with a little sigh said Linkov — the accident, as you can see, is ruled out. Indeed, it’s impossible to mistakenly take a lethal dose of sleeping pills. Well, and in general, people do not take sleeping pills at work…

— So you’re saying that he … that he was given … forced … — I stammered out, feeling, that the floor under my feet again is slightly springy.

— Who could make him, said Linkov, looking at me with compassion, — if you saw it yourself, that there were no signs of the fighting. He was lying perfectly still …

I felt cold enveloped me, — like as if I once more saw Arkady lying on the couch, so calm, as if he lied down to rest and fell asleep. Yes, no signs of fighting … Arkady just took and swallowed … How many boxes there were? Half a dozen, no less. So he prepared it in advance … He never kept so many sleeping pills at once, it’s not so easy to get them, and there was no reason…

— … and there was no one else in the lab that evening, — Linkov was saying, looking at me cautiously. — You, as far as I know, left the institute together with everyone … and didn’t show up again that night?
— His last words were in a questioning tone, and I, only with some effort, understood, that I was asked the classical question: “Where were you, when it happened?”

— No, I didn’t come back, — I replied. — I went to the library and sat in the reading hall until closing time. I came out of there five minutes before eleven, went walking home, then drank tea, read a little, went to bead around one o'clock, and in the morning I got a call…

— I see, — said Linkov, — as a matter of form, I need to know that. So, what thoughts do you have about, what happened?

I shrugged helplessly.

— I don’t know what to think. It’s … well, it’s just so ridiculous, illogical…

Indeed, what struck me first and foremost, was this wild absurdity, complete alogism of the situation. This simply cannot be, it doesn’t happen like this, that so suddenly …

— I’m only sure of one thing, as I have already said, — I added, — that Arkady couldn’t commit suicide! After all, I was with him, that day from nine in the morning to five at night, we were in the same room, working on the same task, talking … well, and had lunch together, and, in general … It can’t be, that I wouldn’t notice, if Arkady … well, if he was acting somehow unusual …

Suddenly I stumbled. Unusual? And how could a man behave himself in such circumstances? A strong-willed man, not hysterical? If for some reason he decided to commit suicide — well, for example! — and additionally planned to do it at work, when all leave. These assumptions, of course, are ridiculous, wild nonsense, but what if? Then he would be holding on, as hard as he could, within the limits. So maybe Arkady was holding on as hard as he could? Because if you recall, he was yesterday …

— I actually was going to ask for you to tell me, what happened yesterday, and how did Arkady behaved himself? — said Linkov, as if responding to my thoughts.

— He was nervous … not very much, but still, — I replied with good faith, — and was somewhat distracted, everything was falling out of his hands … But we worked normally until the end of the day.

— However, — wondered Linkov politely, — I find, that you have a rather strange concept of the norm. Is it normal for a scientist that everything falls out of hands, he is nervous and thinks not about work, but about something else?

— I don’t know what he was thinking about…

— I — even more so. But if a person seems distracted and works unclearly, then it’s naturally to assume, that he is thinking at this moment not about what he is doing.

— You see, — I said, thinking a little bit, — that happened to Arkady before, even more noticeably. And he still thought about work, — just not about that experiment we were doing, but about the problem in general. Well, you know, when the series of experiments goes to waste, no meaningful results …

— Are you now in such situation?

— No, not exactly … but there is something to think about.

— You said, that you worked well until the end of the day. And then what happened?

I felt uncomfortable. Why am I talking about the normal behavior of Arkady, when in fact, if you think …

— I wanted to stay in the lab tonight, to work, but Arkady got into the argument with me. He deliberately made a scene … I think, he just wanted to kick me out of the lab, — I said in one breath, so I could quickly get over with it.

Linkov did not ask me if I consider this as the norm, only wondered whether I often stay in the laboratory at night. I answered, that often, but recently a little less. Linkov asked: how about Arkady? I said, that Arkady recently spent most of the evenings in the laboratory also.

– Was it necessary? – asked Linkov

– Well, how can I say … No one forced us, of course… But we were working together on one problem – also as a personal initiative… well, and…

— You and him? — asked Linkov. — So it was your joint work? How can you explain then, that you recently stayed less frequently in the lab?

— Personal circumstances … – I stammered out

— And how Levitsky felt about it? Didn’t you fight with him because of your frequent absences?

— No … but we actually have been a little distant over the last month, — I reluctantly admitted.

Everything was turning out so ridiculous, and I understood it even in my depressed state. What’s the use of all these adamant statements about the impossibility of suicide, when it turns out right away, that Arkady and I did not see each other that often last month, even at the expense of our collaborative work. And that right before his death, he behaved strangely. And I have no idea why, but try to explain, that it is even pretty normal. I was still sure that Arkady could not commit suicide, but if you can’t prove anything and everything looks like quite the opposite, it’s better to stay quiet. Of course, Linkov immediately noted, although in a very gentle tone, that perhaps this month some changes occurred in the Arkady’s life, that were unknown to me, and I couldn’t really object to that. I only explained, that I know Arkady not the first year, and this month we were still working together every day and sometimes evening, and I couldn’t fail to notice something serious…

— Anything can happen, you know, — replied to that Linkov. And after a small pause, asked: — Did you often have arguments? Not only recently, but in general?

— Arkady could argue with someone at any minute, including me. He is quick-tempered, pretty harsh person; if he doesn't like something, he will not be silent, he’ll definitely tell about it without further ado, — explained I, following the complete truth.

— I see. It wasn’t easy for you with him, — respectfully and somehow casually mentioned Linkov.

— Well, I got used to him. But those, who knew him not so good, could be sometimes quite hurt.

— That means, he had a lot of “enemies” – stated Linkov thoughtfully.

— What for enemies! Well, they could be offended by him, but then it all was going away. Here we have quite specific circumstances, it … you know, well, brings everyone closer together, people forget all these little things, when everyone is interested in the work.

– So, you were under the impression, — said Linkov after a pause, — that Levitsky on purpose got into the argument, to send you out of the room?

— Well, yes, — said I reluctantly. — He didn’t accuse me of anything, and the main thing — he started it all of a sudden, as if he realized suddenly last minute, that he needed to get rid of me.

— And did he know, that you want to stay in the laboratory, or did you tell him that at the last moment?

That’s right, Arkady didn’t know about that, and when I told him, he immediately started screaming at me, that I mixed up all of his notes, and if he didn’t have a backup notebook, I would destroy the whole month of his work, and that I do it intentionally, out of spite. That he thought, I wasn’t a person to act like this, but here we are … or else I have my priorities wrong, what he didn’t expect from me. It was quite an ugly pointing at my relationship with Nina. I should say, I got angry and also in a raised voice told him, that about acting out of spite it’s he’s a fine one to talk … and so on. Now I was totally sure, that Arkady on purpose was striving to put me in a fume, so that I would burst out of the room, and, of course, he was successful. But I didn’t really want to tell Linkov about Nina and all this, so I answered somehow in a vague manner, that I don’t really remember, but, I think, I didn’t tell him about my evening plans in advance.

— And in my eyes, he wasn’t angry at all at me, he just wanted to stay alone in the laboratory for some reason.

Linkov rearrange glasses broodingly.

— You think, he was expecting someone? Did I understand you correctly?

— Well, yes… But I have absolutely no idea, who could come to him to the lab in the evening. What for secrets could he have with other employees, to keep me in the dark?

– You never know, — Linkov talked back. — What if he wanted to meet with a girlfriend, for example?
I chuckled skeptically. This he would never keep in a secret from me! Well, he wouldn’t tell me the name or something like that, but from a boyish ambition (and Arkady had enough of it) he surely would let me know, that he was doing excellent and isn’t at all concerned about this situation with Nina.

But I didn’t tell Linkov that, only explained, that there was no one to have an affair with in our institute, and even if it would be so, then, well, he is single and could freely invite this lady to his home.

— Well, generally speaking, all this has no substantial significance, — finally said Linkov. — Even if Levitsky was awaiting someone, this meetup didn’t happen, it looks like. There are no pieces of evidence, that Levitsky wasn’t alone in the lab. And there are no reasons to think, that it was murder. Who could get Levitsky to take the poison and lie calmly on the couch, without him trying to call for help? Exactly this I find very hard to believe.

Of course, LInkov was right: murder was as incredible, as was an accident. And still …

— As you want, but I can’t believe it! – I was almost screaming. – I know … knew him too well! I’m sure he wouldn’t commit suicide!

Linkov looked at me with compassion, but remained silent.

At this point, Linkov and I parted our ways. He went further to “find some facts”, and I went back to my laboratory, even thought my legs refused to move in that direction.

Arkady was already taken away, the lab was closed, I opened it with the key, which I took in the morning by the gatekeeper’s desk, hardly stepped over a doorway and stood right there by the door.

The room was empty, clean and full of fast flickering of sunlights and shadows of the leafs – it seems, like the wind got stronger. I stood there and stared at the couch, where not so long ago Arkady was lying, and couldn’t move a muscle.

People were walking down the hall, someone was stopping, trying to talk to me, and I without turning around, almost automatically was replaying: “No, I don’t know … Nothing is known yet … I myself don’t know or understand anything”. At times, I completely stopped understanding, where I am and what is happening to me.

I don’t know how long I stood there, giving brief interviews over my shoulder. Probably, not very long — Nina wouldn’t linger. I didn’t notice, when she appeared from the turn of the hall, but felt, that the guys behind me are stepping away. I turned and saw Nina. She almost pushed me in the lab and slammed the door.

Nina was a little pale, her eyes got bigger and brighter. But she looked pretty — I was already used to it. I had rather a pathetic look, I suppose; Nina even blinked with sympathy and said, that she understood me pretty well, that we need to hold on, that there is nothing to be done already and something like that. I didn’t listen to it very carefully, because with her here I immediately felt much easier, and I was just looking at her and felt like I was warming and melting.

Nina didn’t wait for my response, and with a touch of impatience said:

– Well, Bor’ka, you’re so… hang in there, really! And tell me, what you talked about with the detective.

— About everything, — I stammered out, falling back into the prostration. — He asked me what I thought about reasons of suicide, and I said, that I didn’t believe in suicide at all. He asked me, as he must have, about what I was doing that evening. Well, I, of course, explained that I was in the library until closing… — Then I noticed, that Nina was looking at me in a strange way, and suddenly realized: — Oh, yes, Nina, you don’t know that … I had to leave the institute right after five o’clock. Arkady kicked me out of the lab, I don’t know why … started some kind of argument … well, and I was in the library until eleven, I should have seen the works of Americans on sharply heterogeneous fields a long time ago, and you said that you would go to the movies…

As I was speaking, Nina seemed to think intensively f something. Then she said quietly:

— Arkady told me, that you yourself left the institute.

— When did you see Arkady? — I asked, feeling weak and shaky again.

— I decided at first to stay in the institute, before the start of the movie I had two hours, — said Nina without taking her eyes from me. — I went to tell you that, but the laboratory was closed, and on the way back I met Arkady…

— But then, when it was? — I wondered.

— Somewhere around at quarter past five. I was coming down the side staircase, and he was coming up…

I was automatically surprised again, but had no time to think about anything, because Nina immediately added:

— You know, it was a very strange conversation. Even then he made a hefty impression, and now, after all, what happened …

— What were you talking about? — I asked, hardly: I was worried, that Nina changed so unexpectedly, she felt so remote and is looking at me, as if waiting for something.

— About what? — somehow distantly asked Nina, and suddenly realized, spoke hurried: — The issue was not even in words, but in the tone, I think. Arkady, firstly, got really confused, when he saw me. He looked as if he wanted to sink though the floor. And in general … — Nina thought, — he seemed very … Even his suit was … was also strange …

— What do you mean?

— Well, on the side staircase is quite dark, so you can’t see much. But the skirting board of his suit jacket were broad and shining … I don’t actually understand, where he got this suit.

— Are you sure, that he was in a new suit? — I got interested.

I didn’t remember at all, what suit Arkady was wearing, — however, Arkady could be in a lab coat around me. But if he was in a new suit, then maybe Linkov was right about a date with someone.

— It could be a new suit, — said Nina, —- I mean, that he bought it recently. But this suit is absolutely out of fashion! That’s what surprised me fist of all.

Me too. I couldn’t call Arkady a dandy, but he still knew his clothes and would not have worn a clearly unfashionable suit, much less bought one. No, the version of a date was apparently not supported.

— But what he actually said? — I asked once more, because Nina stopped speaking and clearly was thinking about something very unpleasant.

— He said not much … I can repeat his words exactly. I … at first I thought, that he got so worried, because I was in a blue dress, which … Well, it was on me, when we first met. I just suddenly remembered, what I said to him … Well, then, in the chronocamera's room, when we talked about you … And I said to him: “Arkady, please, don’t mind what was in the chronocameras room”. And he, somehow strangely, as if he was scared, looked at me and answered really fast, carelessly: “It’s nothing, I’ve already settled this matter”. I asked: “What are you talking about?” And his eyes became so … pathetic, or … and suddenly he said, very sincerely and even with a frown, it’s not usual for him: “Look, Nina, I got so confused, you have no idea! You’ll find out everything later … Of course, it’s me to blame, but nothing can be done now …” He wanted to say something else, but only waived his hand and went away. And then … — Nina suddenly stopped and looked at me again in a strange way, as if examining or even begging me.

— What? What was then? — asked I sadly.

I understood it clearly: there was a new disaster — Nina estranges from me, now, when I need her help … Well, not help, but at least an understanding that she is here — she is reliable, she will not betray, will not change herself for whatever reason … And here began this same “whatever reason”, which I ran into already today, for the first time in my life …

— Then … — Nina still was looking at me, and I felt it, that she is waiting for something from me, but I couldn’t understand, what should I do. — Then it became even crazier, it’s scary. You know, I ran after him, — Nina talked monotonically and inexpressively, — and asked: “Arkady, what is it with you, maybe I can help, just tell!” – well, something like this. And he stopped, winced, as if he swallowed something bitter, and started laughing! With this, you know, false laugh …

Arkady could start loud and unnatural laughing, when he was either angry or embarrassed. Maybe Nina’s concern put him out of temper? He could be quite self-centered …

— and said … “You don’t worry, it was just my joke, I, of course, am sorry!” — Nina kept talking. — And added this your, by Kozma Prutkov, about jokes with women …

— “Don’t joke with women: these jokes are stupid and indecent!” — I muttered automatically — And then?

— And then he left, and that’s all! — almost rudely said Nina and after a small pause asked me: — So, how could you explain these words and generally all this? …

— I have no idea, what it could mean! — answered I and, felling, that it didn’t satisfy Nina and even annoyed her, began to mutter: — Well, I mean, you understand, Nin, I don’t know about anything like this … We recently were, you know it yourself … If I saw him after the talk, but I … — I was desperately looking for some convincing word.

— … but you left at five o'clock, and that’d be it! — almost in a mocking tone finished Nina.

— Yes! — helplessly confirmed I. — What could I do, when he, I told you, he pretty much kicked me out of the lab? But actually I don’t see anything unusual about this conversation. He and I had sometimes such talks, he, if he thinks about something else, could talk about such nonsense, just out of the blue …

— The only difference is, – Nina said coldly, — that after these talks he was alive and well!

When she said that, she suddenly turned and left, and I was standing in the middle of the laboratory, trying to figure out what happened – with her, with us, with me …