"It's winter again." "This all happened long ago." "I remember some of it." "And there were my father's stories." "I'm beginning to forget it all, though." "But sometimes, when I'm reading or writing," "I'll suddenly hear a child's footsteps - my own - in the flat's long corridor, or recall the smell of Lapshin's cigarettes." "I know you'll think we were very poor." "The streets of our little town were crooked and swept by icy winds." "But we were confident." "We could tackle anything." "We were all in there together." "Understand?" "A new arch was put up in the park." "and the men passed under it instead of taking a short cut to work." "If a new steamer was launched, everyone was there to see it." "If the piers needed painting, everyone pitched in." "There were flowers and banners," "We lived in the hinterland, but that didn't matter." "That's my grandson." "He's a good boy." "This will be a sad tale." "One's memory can conjure up forgotten faces, scraps of conversation " "It's my declaration of love for the people I lived with as a child, just a five minutes' walk from here and half a century ago." "Tra-la-la." "MY FRIEND IVAN LAPSHIN" "Based on stories by Yuri German" "This is me." "I'm 9 years old." "Extension 7?" "May I speak to " "Klava." "My name?" "Leave him out of it, Okoshkin" "This is my father." "A Messerschmitt's zeroing in!" "Chief Accountant Jatiev and Inspector Tochilin are putting on a show." "The theme is:" ""An Italian fascist pilot over Abyssinina"." "These sketches were popular back in 1935." "The big, echoing, run-down flat we shared, where my father and I had a room adjoining the kitchen." "Directed by Alexei German" "I'll bomb 'em!" "I'll kill 'em!" "What a beast." "I'm bailing out!" "Il Duce?" "That butcher." "What a beast." "They're real pros." "I saw a skit like it in Guryev." "Send the car over to Lapshin's place." "I love airplanes." ""My pal took a train -"" "You know how their generals' minds work?" "The Polish Army reached Moscow in 1606." "And had to retreat." "Then Napoleon " ""My money's down the drain. "" "There was this daft old girl, a patient of mine." "She was running a temperature and then died." "It's 37.7 degrees." "Just like your old girl." "Hello, Vasya." "Ever been to Borzhomi?" "It's a lovely place, mountain air and all." "You must go there one day." "It's the All-Union spa, eh?" " I'm not a Party member." " Were you expelled?" "No." "I'm married to a priest's daughter." "She happens to be a good woman." "I'm 40." "You're married to a priest's daughter." "And you're from Mugginsk, right?" "Chief Inspector Lapshin of the CID turned 40 that day." "Patrikeyevna baked him a pie, and my father and I gave him a cigarette-case." "It was snowing." "Everyone spoke of war being imminent." "They never think of strategy, but they'd better, what with the Baltic Zone." "What's "zone"?" "Ask your dad." "I'd like to speak to Klava, the weigher." "You want something weighed?" "What?" "I'm the store-keeper." "Where've you been, Klava?" "Go on, shoot her and then shoot yourself." "We've got flowers and bright lights." "Where've you been Klava?" "Thirty two " "I've got a fine husband for you: an old fireman." "For shame!" "Thirty-five..." "I'm dead." "I like marches." "They reflect the country's youth." ""We're flying into battle -"" "Ivan " ""Our squadron's last" ""And deadly battle. "" "Egorov, the heavy-weight champ." "It's been snowing" "Yes." "And Ivan and I are 40." " I make a good salad." " Too much bother." "There's a bulb on the right." "Au revoir-reservoir-samovar." "Will you come to visit me, Ivan?" "We'll go for a wagon-ride." "Sorry, no time for rides." "Well, anyway " "Nice party." "Khokhryakov's a snake." "Yeah, we're the only decent chaps." "There's no sugar left." "Time for bed, Alexander." "The stewed fruit took all the sugar." "Two pounds of sugar?" "I'm not that rich." "Don't shout at me." "I'll report you to Comrade Kalinin." "Go right ahead." "That won't do, Alexander." "I'll report you." "I'll say you've eaten your husband." "I've got a file on you!" "I'll send you to prison." "Patrikeyevna's an alias." "What's your real name?" "Well, Ivan Mikhailovich." "What's the matter?" "Nothing." "Had a bad dream?" "I dreamt of an airplane." "Were you flying?" "Take your medicine." "Hurry down to the transfer platform." "What's on the platform, Vasily?" "Hand me the garland!" "Black market firewood and the actors " "It's a good troupe." "I saw the play." "It sent shivers down my spine." "The carter fled at the sight of Okoshkin." "He'd been selling stolen firewood." "That's how it all began." " You dropped your handbag." " He dashed off when he saw you." "The big bad wolf slinked off." "Which leaves Little Red Riding Hood." "Nice sweets." "Come here for a moment, Ivan." "This is Lapshin, our local Pinkerton." "The star of many a a hair-rising drama." "He used to work in Leningrad." "Last summer, on the Volga " ""I'm thirty, and the crown awaits me. "" "Excuse me for speaking your lines." "Are there any whores here?" " What?" " Whores." "We're rehearsing a new play." "It's pretty violent." "Yulia's the star." "I've a bit part." "I play a whore." "We only pull them in as accomplices." "Good enough." "I lost 600 roubles to a sharper last summer." "What's a murderer's psychology like?" "Psychology?" "They're killers." "There's our caravan!" "Forward!" "Raise the Jolly Roger!" "Careful, it's slippery." "I know the scent." "My sister used it once." "I'll get you sacked!" "It's the horse's fault." "Small but fierce, what?" "A woman was here to see you." "She has no papers." "Showed me a pawn ticket for a watch." "What ignorance!" "How about some of our good soup?" " When did she leave?" " Ten minutes ago." "This used to be Carriers' Stop" "That's what it was called." "Hello." "I've got the character you want." "She's known as Kate Napoleon." "Want to meet her?" "Do you think I can do it?" "Of course." "Just tell me exactly what you want." "I know that sort" "I'd like to meet her." "Can you give me a lift, Chief?" "There's a stocking hanging out of your bag." "A plain-clothes man wearing a policeman's boots!" "Tell your chief that you've been reprimanded." "They lost a wheel!" " Don't torment me." " I'm tormenting myself." "Stop chewing, Kate." "It's impolite." "Besides, he who doesn't work doesn't eat." "I want you to meet an actress." "Give her the facts." "No smut, though." "Just the facts." "And how you're going to reform." "I'll live with my parrot." "and play the ukulele." "Yeah..." "Do I call the actress?" "Why'd you add on 2 years, you bastards?" " For burglary." " Just for 2 pairs of shoes?" "What about the fabric?" " Add it up again!" " Don't be rude." "Do I call the actress in?" "Here you are." "How'd you do." "I'm Natasha." "You're the character I'm to play." "She's serving time, working on the canal." "Help yourself, Kate." "She's learning the hard way." "This is how I see it." "Here are my lines." ""I traded my sealskin coat for cocaine." ""Fix my jumper, Annie." ""I've 2 more summers to go." "Then I'll take an overdose. "" " How's this, Chief?" " Stop it" " Are you crazy?" " You idiot!" " I was only joking." " You want another sentence?" "What did I do?" "You imbecile." "What does Capablanca do?" "Capablanca moves like so." "Capablanca-banker-thank her " "I can make a different move." "You use sugar like it was water." "Tons of it, all gone!" "How come we've been fetching the firewood but you never manage to." "What?" "You'd make a dead man go after them." "Help yourselves, I'm generous." "Never cares where she puts the galoshes." " You'll cut your feet." " Careful, Capablanca." "It's a bad omen." "For all of us." "None of your superstitious claptrap!" "Where's my petrol can?" "Move aside, witnesses." "Don't push." "Where's my can?" " Come on!" " Be quiet." "Are you deaf?" "Look sharp!" "I told you to plug it up!" "He's spilt all my petrol" "Enough!" "Get lost." "You son of a bitch!" "Last call." "The train's departing." "That winter Lapshin was after the Solovyov gang, those senseless and ruthless killers." "Lapshin had nabbed Solovyov once." "He'd been sentenced to death in Turkestan, but he'd managed to escape." "Now Lapshin had to get him for the second time." "We'll get him." "He'll be put to death by May Day." "No point in dragging out the investigation." "Right?" "We'll clear the land of scum and plant an orchard, and still be around to enjoy it." " Your last name?" " Spitsyn." "Don't let the drivers charge you." "Thanks a lot." "Glory be to Hymen!" "He's Prometheus, not Hymen." "Distribution should be through the Party cell." ""We've no wine, not a drop -"" "I hope you'll be warm now." "Send in the request form tomorrow." "Why didn't you call me?" "You're a fine person." "The nation salutes you, Chief!" "You scared everybody, you fool." "Why are you looking at my hands?" "They are ugly." "Could you send Usyakin a note?" "We're freezing here." "Join us for beer and burnt sugar." "It's delicious." "I might have a sip." "There's firewood in town, but no organization." "He's blind." "There'll be an accident." ""At the brink of an abyss," ""Amidst the crashing waves -"" "Don't move." "I'll be right back." ""In a desert sandstorm." ""Or in the grip of plague " " What brings you here?" " Still writing?" " How about some dumplings?" " Fine." "I've been to a gold field." "Chuck the cops." "Let's go rowing." "I'll show you people and places " "No time for that." "Are you working on anything now?" "Yes." "The life story of an aviator." ""We cannot wait for favours from nature"" "Think of the message." "No smoking near the animals." ""Help!" "Fox has carried me off!"" "My wife died." "She departed this world." "How can that be?" "She'd been buried for 3 days when I returned." "Diphtheria." "Her heart stopped beating." "How have you been?" "Fine." "Hello, Khanin, you weevil." "How's your colitis?" "When did you get back?" "Today?" " Where's Lika?" " She died." "Six days ago." "It's crazy." "She died of diphtheria." "Ivan and I are leaving for the gold fields." " We want to get rich." " Stop it!" "My dad used to play in a military band." "There's a new board game called "Night Flight"." "If everything consists of atoms which form various combinations, why are you.." "so beautiful and why do I love you so?" " Is that something you wrote?" " Yes, 300 years ago." "I played Mary too." "but I tripped and fell into the fountain." "Now I'm a potato at children's matinees." "I say, "Come on, earth me up!"" "Why are you looking at my hands?" " I'll be a hit as the whore." " You will." " Take him away." " Drunk as a swine." " Is he an actor too?" " He's our tailor." "He used to be with a circus." "Have you ever had to shoot a man?" "I've been dealing with criminals for 17 years." "Cock your gun." "And check your sight." ""Be prepared to join the fight" ""For the workers' cause. "" ""A silence fell." "Then faintly - hark!" ""The strangest form Moved on the ground" ""And slowly, slowly In the dark" ""Gave forth an eerie sound. "" "There's Okoshkin." "Gorging on ice-cream." "Pull up, Ivan." "Vasily Okoshkin." "Go on, Natasha." "Will do." " Okroshkin, is it?" " No, it's Okoshkin." "I like red and blue." "Why won't you look at me, Vasya?" "Why should I, Miss?" "I'm your wife." "The mother of your children." "Ah, a practical joke." "You're an actress, right?" "I'm your wife, Marusya Okoshkina." "We have two boys, David and Vanya." "Come back, Vasya!" "The boys need you." "They keep calling you: "Papa!" "Papa!"" "You're mad!" "I'll call the police." "Don't." "Where's your pride?" "Poor thing!" "A Soviet woman must be proud." "Well?" "You were great." "See?" "I can do it." "There's nothing you can't do." "Or Ivan." "Or me." "Let's go." "Here we are." "Wake up." "Let's go." "It's all over." " What's over?" " Everything's over." "Greetings, Commander!" "At ease!" "You'll be all right if you pull up your knees." "Pull up your own." "Don't step on Khanin's head, it's soft." "I won't." "I'm not stupid." "Give me something to eat, woman." " Will you be staying here?" " Here and there." "I don't respect you any more, Alexander." "I don't care." "Here." "No, here." "I scared you." "Didn't I?" "Give him some hot soup." " Did someone fire a gun?" " No!" "A sideboard fell over." "We'll go to sleep now." "You're coming with me tomorrow." " We'll hunt criminals." " Go to hell." "She's dead." "There's nothing you can do about it." "He's had one too many." "Please never chain the door." "Ah, Khanin's here." "There's others that live here." "How dare you come in like this!" " Don't shout at me!" " Be quiet, silly." "Report to HQ tomorrow, and say..." "I've placed you under arrest for 10 days." "Go on, hit a man when he's down." "Come on, let's get you back into shape." "I'm as good as dead now." "That crazy actress has ruined my life." "It's insane." "He took over the HQ." "What for?" "I'll see that she's jailed!" "Okoshkin?" "He's away on business in Mugginsk." "He'll be back in 10 days." "You'll drown me, you bastard!" "You'll strangle me." "So Lapshin took Khanin in." "Now there were 6 of us in the flat." "My eyes are blue." "So are yours." "A Tartar's are brown." " What colour are his eyes?" " They're Tartar." "Oriental." "Let me go, or I'll hang myself in prison." "We won't let you do that." "We forbid it." "You're mad." "You should be shot like a mad dog." "No doubt about it." "Why?" "I'm not guilty." "I can't even punch a man." "Solovyov hit him twice." "The Tartar hit him once." "So, you were hired on October 30 as a temporary watchman." "I got a cut as a slaughter-house worker, too." "I didn't eat the innards, I sold them on the market." " Excuse me." " This is a real circus." "I came across Solovyev at the market." "If I'd known they were going to bump the man off," "I'd never have " "He said, "Go on, sell him some meat. "" " I forget his name." " Kostelyanets." "He said, "Sell him some meat. "" " This one?" " He was wearing this coat." "Why would he come to my place if he only had 9 roubles?" "I pulled out the crate of beef." "He bent over to have a look." "I didn't know what to do." "Then Solovyov came up." "He was smiling strangely." " He cracked his skull." " That was really friendly." "I said, "Hey!" "I live here!"" "Then the Tartar said, "Get us a basin. "" "I did." "Then I brought in another." "Did Solovyov kill his victims instantly?" "No." "He hit him twice, and the Tartar hit him once." " Misha?" " That's not Misha." "I took their clothes." "Why throw good clothes away?" "Why isn't there any blood on your clothes?" "I had an apron." "These are the only clothes I have." "I'm not guilty." "But you said you didn't know he'd be murdered." "I named everybody!" "I'm not guilty!" "A fine time for merry-making." "He's a common murderer." "But we'll clear the land of scum and plant an orchard." "I'll be too old to enjoy it." "Let's not have any of that." "It was a great blow to me, too, but I reject the rumours that surround Mayakovsky's suicide." "By 1938 our country will be producing" "4 million bottles of champagne." "Got a pencil?" "Take this down." "Abrau Durso champagne." "And 12 thousand by 1942." "Millions surely?" "Millions, thousands - - what is the difference?" "You bastard." "Sorry, Pavel Nikolayevich." "Excuse me, Nadezhda." "Go to hell!" "Arrest them, so they don't annoy me." "Indeed... here's some reading matter in the soup." ""joice"." "What can it be, Ivan?" "Ah, it's "rejoice"." "Wait." "Let me read it." "The meat was wrapped in a piece of newspaper." "I'll read it though." "Then we'll memorize it." "I'm an actress, not a crook!" "An extraordinary concoction." "Khanin's Punch." "Newspaper borscht and matchstick punch." " "Don't wait for him -"" " It's the wrong song, Natasha." ""Arise, plants and factories" ""And close your ranks." ""March on to meet the foe." ""Cock your gun And check your sight," ""Be prepared to join the fight For the workers' cause." ""Our comrades in prisons," ""In dungeons so dark," ""You're with us, You're with us," ""Though not in our ranks. "" "You won't be back for the premiere, you bastard." "Let's have tea at my place." "Thank God." "He'll be all right." "Thanks." "Go to bed." "Damn!" "There were just 2 shells:" "one got me." "The other hit the store-house." "They laid me down in the grass." "Green grass" "They said, "There was only one shell." "It bounced off of your head and hit the store-house. "" "I don't remember feeling bad." "I just remember the grass." "We all faced death, but we were happy then." "You need treatment at a spa." "The days were longer, too." "Would you bake us a fish pie, Patrikeyevna?" "Go to bed." "It's late." "A commander in the Civil War, he'd been shell-shocked, but had never gone for treatment." "Now he had severe attacks every year which left him painfully embarrassed." "Most of the staff went to see the new play." "It was a flop." "Besides, a wheel came off the cart." "when Natasha was in it." "Next time, tell us where you want to be buried." "I'll kill you." "What's the use?" "I'm no leader." "See what happened?" "Comrades!" "I'm organizing ex-thieves into a work commune." "Drunks will be expelled!" "I'll take a wheel barrow, too." "No kisses here." "I'm Konstantin Dorokhov." "Sounds fishy to me." "Take that back." "What if I don't?" "You'll be boycotted." "You'll be sorry, boss." "It's amazing." "The predator's instinct suddenly flared up." " Gobbled it up." " We'll continue the experiment." "Here's our drama expert." " Worried?" " Yes." "We need more plays like this one." "We saw you in the box." "This is an important cultural event." "Egorov has created a powerful character." "But the prostitute wasn't convincing." "You wasted your time showing her around." "Have some seltzer." "The fox ate the rooster." "They've forgotten to feed it." "Good-bye, friendship." "An actress has a right to fail just like anyone else." "I'm moving out, Chief." "I'm marrying Comrade Kucherova." " I'm Klava" " I imagined you were." "Congratulations." "Natasha!" "Adashova!" "Stop yelling!" "Sorry." "She's gone home." "Stepanova!" "Stand by the phone if you're expecting a call." "She said she had a headache." "My head's popping with all these calls." "Comrade Adashova!" " Have you gone to bed?" " Yes." "I fixed your iron." "How about a cup of tea?" "Now?" "You'll wake up Pavel Nikolayevich." "The house rules are strict." "I won't wake him up." "You rat, Fedya." "I'll tell your mother." "Don't, Ivan Mikhailovich." "This house is ancient." "It'll collapse." "Hold the ladder, Fedya!" "You're mad." "That's all I needed!" "I took some seltzer to your dressing room." "Don't look." "I'll change." "Is this a barrel?" "Yes." "The cart wheel was as crooked as this." "The director yelled so much he turned purple." "He's right, you know." "I'm no good." "I'll put him in his place." "Don't." "He's so high-strung." "When he talks to his supervisors, too?" "There's a bruise." "I didn't notice." "I washed my hair." "Is he as high-strung when he's with his chief?" "What chief?" "The fur's coming out." "You're breathing so strangely." "Forgive me." "I'm in love with Khanin." "It would've been so nice " "So nice." "I don't have a man." "Everyone knew it, even Lika." "It's like a disease." "I'll put the kettle on." "Are you ashamed of me?" "Go back to bed." "Put your head under the pillow." "Are you ashamed of me?" "No..." "Excuse me." "That's all right." "It's a three-ring circus." "He can't even get his own things." "And my blue civilian jacket, and canvas boots." "There was a metal box here." "What's got into you?" "You can search for your own things." "You'll need a lorry to cart them away." "How was the premiere?" " You haven't paid me." " Are you drunk?" "Not on the kind of money I get here." "It's not vital, but it is useful." "Why so unhappy?" "Are we invited to the wedding?" "After pay-day." "That crazy old fool." "What's your mother-in-law like?" "Kindly." "She keeps holding me by the hand." "The kind ones are the worst." " Okay?" " Okay." "Okay." "Well, goodbye, all." "Good luck, Vasily." "Au revoir-reservoir- -samovar" "Good riddance." "He ate us out of house and home." "Lapshin was on the go all winter, tracking down the Solovyov gang." "In March, my father and I unsealed the windows." "The paper came off with a dry crack." "I remember Lapshin returning and the phone beginning to ring." "You're responsible for the journalist's safety." " Why can't I go with you?" " Because." "There'll be trouble if you're killed." " What do you do for brains?" " None of your business." "Write a piece about how brave I am." ""That blue-eyed girl -"" "Encircle the house." "And a bullet's waiting in every bush." "What a beast." "Why do I always have to go at the crucial moment?" "Must be my nerves." "The drovers sleep over here." "In the old days, they had a bit of gold." "There was a German who used to bump them off." "Would you like a half?" "He put up a fine house." " What's that you're sucking?" " None of your business." " Make way for the brave!" " Put it away." "Hey, comrade!" "What's the matter?" "Come on, be quick." "I'll murder you, you bastard!" "Red light." "Stop." " You can't pass here." " What's the matter?" " I have to take the child " " I said no." "Why not?" "What did I do?" "What's the matter?" "I'll bust your brain, Tolya." "Chief!" "What a surprise." " Did you get a job yet?" " No." "I'm scared of cows." "Mule used to live here." "Here, chickie-chickie." "What are you sucking, eh?" "It's me." " After them!" " Hey, Chief!" "You pig!" "Don't shoot!" "Don't shoot!" " You killed him!" " Find the boot." "You bastards!" "Hey, comrade!" "Wait a minute." "I mean you, comrade." "Come over here" "Stop, comrade." "How'd you do." "Stop!" "Don't make a move, or I'll arrest you." "I didn't do anything wrong." "Quiet now " "Quiet." " What?" " Nothing now." "Chief!" "You were sucking a sweet." " What is it?" " The enemy tricked me." "Where's Khanin?" " It's all my fault." "The enemy tricked me!" "On your way!" "Get me some linen!" "Easy does it." "Press his stomach, or his guts will come out!" "Take the kid away!" "Head first!" "At the double!" "Now!" "Careful." "Halt!" "Leave Solovyov for me!" "Seal the place off!" "Send a man for reinforcements!" "What'd you say?" "We're nearly there." "It's not over." "It hasn't even begun." "Hello, Chief." ""We'll go into battle Bravely, friends. "" "Clear the area!" "This is a danger zone." "It's charred." "Tell Solovyov not to be a fool." "Tell Solovyov not to be a fool." "Don't be a fool, Solovyov!" "Surrender!" "Give me the cap." "I'm cold." "Repeat it." "Are you deaf?" "Don't be a fool, Solovyov!" "Surrender!" "Don't shoot!" "I'm wound" " Vitya!" " Halt!" "Where is he?" "Whose rifle is this?" "Don't let her go!" "She used to be a wonderful dancer." "They'll take care of it." "Did you get my flowers?" " Your damn thugs." " That's the underworld." "What'd you think it was like?" "Say thank you." "Don't forget to feed my cat." "You can have the chairs." "Thanks." "The felt is top grade." "Three tablets." "It's arsenic." "My daughter's ill." "I'm sorry." "It was all most unfortunate." "Your newspaper friends in Moscow phoned." "The yeast was stale." "Nothing doing." "Come with me, Ivan." "We'll go places." "I'll show you people and towns " "Tell him to come with me, Natasha." " Shall I go in the back?" " No." "Don't forget to bind your stomach." "Thanks for the fountain pen." "If you break it, I'll kill you." "There's an orchestra for every person in this town." "I've had migraine headaches these two days." "The wind's rising." "Yeah, someone's bag has been lifted." "I've had an offer from a theatre in Kharkov." "I'll play Sancho Panza in "Don Quixote"." "And I'll see what I can do for Natasha." "That's splendid." "Why didn't you tell me " " What's the time?" " It's 4.30." "Why didn't you tell me?" "Being ill has made you talkative." "Sometimes I think you're made of stone." "Forgive me." "This headache is driving me mad." "Do something." "I've had it for two days." "I don't want any medicine." "To hell with Kharkov and your medicine." "Don't think my head aches on your account." "We're all sick and tired of you." "I have a ticket, too." "You've got Cabin 17." "Mine is 22." "My bag's there." "Moscow, here I come." "I'm not one of Chekhov's young ladies." "Khanin, dear, take me with you." "I'll perish here." "Never mind." "I'm joking." "My umbrella's stuck." "Greetings, Port Kineshma!" "Congratulations on the start of the navigation season." "Don't be rude to Gran," " "Tears glittered -"" " I think it was "gleamed"" "Does it matter?" " How's Kate Napoleon?" " Off to a labour camp." "Good." "We're expecting a company from Leningrad." "The house is sold out." "You're lucky." "I've got Khanin." "He's got Lika." "But you're just fine." "That's right." "Will you come and see me?" "Some day." "Thanks." "Can all this be happening to me?" "Here's a nice one." "I've lost an overshoe." "Heel, Tiny!" "You big fool, Tiny." "Sit." "Oh no, you don't!" "The master's come with a bottle of wine." "Hello." "How's it going?" "Can't you stand still?" "Let me come back there." " What's the matter?" " Everything." "The two harpies are bleeding me white." "So what if I like my tea sweet?" "I earn enough, don't I?" " You do eat a lot of sugar." " Okay, kill me!" "They gave me 3 roubles to buy a herring." "Screw them and their herring." "They'll bring you up right." " Work is what counts." " Well, Capablanca?" "White." "My luck has turned." "It was just a bad year." "I'll be leaving soon for a refresher course." "Refresher-pressure " "I'm castling." "Our town has expanded to beyond the river." "The housing estates extend into the steppe." "Ravines are being filled and encased in concrete." "The neighbour says the traffic is so heavy one can hardly cross the street." "And there are many more tram lines." "A new one every year." "In the old days, there were just Nos. 1 and 2." "Yes " "THE END quequetz@KG"