The citizen a pigeon.
The citizen a pigeon.
Russian Academy dictionary gives word etymology
"Fop": "from French" pigeon "- a pigeon". We will risk
To assume, that the freakish way of this word and has served one
From starting points for a writing of this story: after all Romen Ashes
Was born in Moscow and one of two native languages for it was
Russian.
But the main thing, of course, in other. Motive of the world, in a flash
Turning to bedlam, a leitmotif of all art of the twentieth
Centuries. To this subject gives the Ashes tribute in the story "the Citizen
Pigeon "which action occurs in Moscow in the winter of 1932.
However difference of Ashes from Kafka or Munch - in its humour.
The amusing bedlam ceases to be tragical and easily passes in
karnavalnuju, circus elements...
In 1932 I have arrived to Moscow with my partner Rakussenom.
We were just catastrophically blew on nju - jorkskoj to a stock exchange -
All life full of a tough job has ruined in any
Twenty four hours, - and doctors have insistently recommended to us
Full change of conditions, some silent and quiet months
Far away from Uoll-strit with its fever. We have decided to go to the USSR.
Here it is necessary to specify: we have made this decision with such sincere
Enthusiasm, such hot liking to achievements of the USSR, what
Agents of ours completely could appreciate only
The cancelled bill in currency market Uoll-strit. As in direct,
And figuratively, we felt necessity for the new
Values...
We have arrived in January. Moscow was in snow furniture. Only
That leaving a revolution Museum, we have decided to sit down in sledge and
To come back in hotel "п п я я п?п©п?п я " where have lodged. Ours
Travel to the USSR passed under the aegis of Intourist, and here already
Fifteen days the guide ruthlessly dragged us from a museum in a museum and from
Theatre in theatre.
- And at us in the United States all it is for a long time already, -
Has told Rakussen, coming downstairs.
Each time when the guide somewhere drove us, Rakussen considered
The debt to tell: "And at us in the United States it is. -
And by all means added: - Even it is better ". He has told it about
The Kremlin, he has told it about a revolution Museum, he it has told even about
Lenin's mausoleum so the guide eventually has started to look through
Us: really, it seemed to me, that clumsy attacks Rakussena
At all have not surprised him. The snowfall began, and we danced from
Colds, doing signs to all passing sledge. At last izvoshshik
Has stopped, and we were conveniently arranged. Rakussen has shouted: "Hotel
"Metropol". Sledge have slipped forward, and only here I have noticed, that
Drivers on a habitual place are not present.
- Rakussen, - I have shouted, - the driver remained behind!
But Rakussen has not responded. On his face the boundless has fallen asleep
Amazement. I have tracked its sight and have seen, that a place of the driver
The pigeon has occupied. As a matter of fact, in it there was nothing
Unusual, after all many street pigeons poklevyvajut the horse
Manure; however as really terrified, so it is the sizes of a pigeon.
Most likely, it replaced the driver. However, reins it not
Held, but near to it there was a hand bell attached to a seat with
Dangling string. From time to time the pigeon pulled for
String a beak also pulled upwards; once - and the horse turned
On the left, two times - to the right.
- Well with a horsy copes, - I have noticed suddenly got hoarse
Voice.
Rakussen has darted at my a destructive glance, but nothing
Has told. Actually, there was nothing to tell; on the century I
Has seen many wonders, it is literally just on my eyes
Actions "Mars Ojl", everywhere keeping adequately, as the father of family,
Have suddenly fallen to zero of all for twenty four hours, but
To authorise to conduct public transport on streets the big
The European capital of a pigeon is in a head of the business American
Did not keep within in any way.
- So, - I have tried to turn all for fun, - here at last that,
That is not present at us in the United States!
However Rakussen has not been located to reflect at all about
Achievements of great Republic of councils in the field of transport. As
Any primitive mind, he was irritated with everything that he could not understand.
- I wish to leave! - he has howled.
I have looked at a pigeon. It continually jumped up on a seat,
Clapped wings to be warmed, as all Russian do
izvoshshiki. And the kind at it was absolutely unattractive, it at all was not
It is similar to the pioneer of socialism. On the contrary, to tell on conscience, me
It was not necessary to see a pigeon yet, so badly watching for the
Exterior, dirtier and less worthy to carry on the capital
To streets of two American tourists.
- I wish to leave, - have repeated Rakussen.
The pigeon has for a moment looked over his head, has approached to
To hand bell also has three times pulled a thread. The horse has stopped. At me
Strongly the left knee shivered, that always meant extreme degree
Internal pressure. I have raised a body cloth and was going to already
To leave, as suddenly mood Rakussena has sharply changed.
- I will expose this business, - he has declared, remaining
To sit and having crossed on a hand breast. - I do not wish to be a victim
Mystifications. If they believe, that is possible with impunity
To offend the American citizen should be responsible for it!
I have asked, that it so have offended, - I indeed it not
Understood. We were already ready to exchange not too kind
Phrases as suddenly I have noticed, that on sidewalk the crowd was going to, with
Surprise examining us.
- They do not look at a pigeon, - obrechenno has told Rakussen. - They
Look at us.
- Olden time Rakussen, - I have told, putting a hand to it on a shoulder, - not
Let's behave as crude provincials! Eventually, we
Foreigners. To these people is more visible, that at them here in the nature of things, and
That is not present. It is impossible to forget, that the country has gone through great revolution.
To us always so told about the USSR a little. And they here and in most
Business build the new world. And it is very probable, that, using the new
Techniques, they have reached in a sphere of education of pigeons such
Stunning successes what did not dream our countries-old women,
Wallowed in centuries-old routine. We will imagine, that this pigeon
- The pioneer, and is more about him we will not speak. Well calm down,
Rakussen, also reconcile to circumstances; it is more than tolerance,
Rakussen, and magnanimity. Why you do not suppose, that from a point
Sight of rational use of a labour to us, in ours
The United States, is to that to learn?
- Rational use of a labour, faugh well, -
Has definitively grown furious Rakussen.
But I and here was not confused.
- Izvoshshik! - I have cried with the most correct Russian accent.
- Izvoshshik, forward! Let will tinkle kolokolshik! Ah yes a three!
Volga, Volga!
- Shut up, - has hissed Rakussen, - or I to you will curtail a neck!
It suddenly zahnykal.
- Me have humiliated! - it sobbed on my breast. - about! As me
Have humiliated! Where mummy? I want to mummy!
- Here I, olden time Rakussen, - have shouted I. - entirely rely
On me!
For this time the attention of gapers has still increased. The pigeon was first,
To whom this representation has bothered. It has suddenly rung out in a hand bell,
The horsy has got under way, and crew quickly zaskolzil on snow. Sometimes
The pigeon turned and looked at us grease eyes.
Rakussen still sobbed, and in my skull something
Has threateningly rustled, that never foretold for me anything
The good.
Sledge have stopped at a building on which the Soviet flag hung.
The pigeon has risen, has jumped off, has entered inside and soon left in
Support of the policeman.
- Companion, - has exclaimed I, - we very much-very require yours
To protection: With us, two careless American tourists,
Have managed in the unworthy image. This izvoshshik...
- Why this dirty pigeon has brought us on a post? - Has interrupted
Me Rakussen.
The policeman has shrugged shoulders.
- You have stayed in sledge of more hour, and he has understood, that you and not
Have solved, where wish to go, - he has explained on the brilliant
English. - moreover, it your manners, it even shocked
Asserts, that you looked at it threateningly. You have frightened it,
Companions. This izvoshshik has not got used to tourists and their strange
To behaviour. You should apologise.
- He it has explained all to you? - Has gloomy asked Rakussen.
- Yes.
- What, Russian?
The policeman has been sincerely surprised.
- Companions tourists, - he has told, - I can assure you, that 95
Percent of our population perfectly speak and write
On the native language.
- And pigeons including?
- Companions tourists, - the policeman with some has told
Pomposity, - I never was in the United States, but I can
You to assure, that at us the education blessings are accessible to all, without
Distinctions of races.
- In the United States, - has howled Rakussen, - such pigeons
Study in Harward, and I am personally familiar with a dozen such, that to a steel
Senators!
It has rushed away. I have followed it. A pigeon still
Stood at sledge, undoubtedly, expecting when with it will pay off. I
Has looked at it, and then I was come to mind by the fatal
Thought. Here, near to a post, there was branch "Department store". I
Has rushed there and has returned with a kind of the winner, bearing in hands two
Vodka bottles.
- Olden time Rakussen, - I have exclaimed, ukazuja on a pigeon
Accusing finger, - I have found a solution. This bird simply is not present!
Only hallucination, damned fruits of excessive despondency, about
Which us were warned by doctors; our spoilt organisms
Are incompatible with this mode! We will drink! And this pigeon
It will be dissolved in air, as a bad dream.
- Let's drink! - with enthusiasm has howled Rakussen.
The pigeon with contempt has turned to us a back.
- Aha! - I have screamed. - it has trembled. He knows, that else
Some instants and...
We have drunk. The bottle on a quarter has become empty, but a pigeon still
Was.
- We will not surrender, - I have shouted. - it is more courageous. Rakussen! We will have
It to last feather!
When we have devastated already third of bottle, the pigeon has turned back and
Has steadfastly looked at us. I have understood its sight.
- No, no! - I have uttered indistinctly. - only it is not necessary to regret us!
On half of bottle the pigeon has sighed, and when has been drunk three
Quarters, he has told in an American way, with appreciable accent of the native
Bronx:
- Companions tourists, here you, two representatives big and
The perfect country, have arrived to us, and, instead of in
To the correct form and with self-respect
To present us high idea of your native land, you have got drunk, as
Pigs, directly in the street. Citizens, you to me to depth of soul
Are disgusting!
... I write It in the club. From that awful adventure,
Marked for us the beginning of a new life, minulo twenty years.
Rakussen has got up on a chandelier, sits next and on the
To usage prevents to work to me. The nurse, the nurse, well tell
You to this damned bird that it did not burn me more for
Wings! I so cannot write.
Dmitry's SAVOSINA translation from French.
Romen ASHES.
<$>
//* an information Source: the Literary newspaper, 10.01.01
//* Reg. Nom. - 1110100001.44-------------------------------------------
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