The Idol

Mancev. Amusing thingy!

Sumyatov. One craftsman carved it. You wouldn’t believe it: when you hold it, it warms you up like a stove. It is absolutely indispensable in the mountains. Especially at nights.

Mancev. You are right, it’s cold here at nights. Although, the stars are bigger and brighter. You just can’t take your eyes of them.

Sumyatov. Charming?

Mancev. I can’t get used to such beauty for many years already.

Sumyatov. One can get used to everything.

Mancev. Eternal mountains, eternal stars, eternal peace – and a human small and fussy. Such a big contrast. I feel it since my childhood.

Sumyatov. Where were you born?

Mancev. At one small town. If you look at the map you can see mountains around it. But in fact it’s located in a valley. There is no even a small hill around up to the horizon.

Sumyatov. It’s amazing!

Mancev. Life is even more amazing.

Sumyatov. So, you didn’t see mountains in your childhood?

Mancev. Sometimes, on a sunny calm day I saw their vague outlines.

Sumyatov. Maybe it was a miracle?

Mancev. The mountains seemed to be painted on a big canvas. But should a slight wind blow they disappeared immediately.

Sumyatov. Did anyone except you see them?

Mancev. Don’t take me for a dreamer or madman.

Sumyatov. Oh, no, I didn’t mean that!

Mancev. Everybody saw them. But most of people just didn’t notice. They were so common for them.

Sumyatov. I quite understand them. Our life is so short. A human doesn’t care about eternal mountains.

Mancev. You might be right. But at that time I thought that I am eternal too. Did you have such feeling in your childhood?

Sumyatov. I did. But it faded away quickly.

Mancev. When I learnt that in fact it is not like that I started crying at nights. I used to bury my head in the pillow and howl. I have never felt such despair since that time.

Sumyatov. Have you tried to run away to the mountains?

Mancev. Not once. My poor father! He used to give me good smacking in order to knock this bullshit out of my head – as he used to say.

Sumyatov. I think he wished you only good.

Mancev. My parents wished I were a banker. It was their great dream.

Sumyatov. They can be proud of you even more after conquering the Devil’s Fang.

Mancev. They haven’t lived to see it.

Sumyatov. I am sorry.

Mancev. They passed away with a sad feeling that their sun is loafer and loser.

Sumyatov. There is one more paradoxes of life.

Mancev. But you know what? Sometimes I am worried by a feeling that they were right.

Sumyatov. I’d rather have a smoke…

Mancev. Getting cold?

Sumyatov. I feel chilly.

Mancev. Then, smoke your stove quickly!

Sumyatov. Sorry, I have no tobacco.

Mancev. Then go back to the camp. It’s warm there.

Sumyatov. And you?

Mancev. Me too. I am not quite myself today.

At the camp canteen.

Alla. Oh, how tiresome! Oleg?

Tomov. What’s that?

Alla. Please do something! You are a man after all!

Tomov. As a man I would suggest to invite you at my place.

Alla. Where is it?

Tomov. It’s not far from here. Just climb upstairs to the second floor.

Alla. What is there?

Tomov. Wine, music, intimate talking…