"One more!" he muttered.
Liudmila rose and walked over to the window. The mother raised her
head and glanced around with a sigh. A minute afterwards they all
three stood at the open window, pressing close against one another,
and looked at the dusky face of the autumn night. On the black tops
of the trees glittered the stars, endlessly deepening the distance
of the sky.
Liudmila took the mother by the hand, and silently pressed her head
to her shoulders. The physician nervously bit his lips and wiped
his eyeglasses with his handkerchief. In the stillness beyond the
window the nocturnal noise of the city heaved wearily, and cold air
blew on their faces and shoulders. Liudmila trembled; the mother
saw tears running down her cheeks. From the corridor of the
hospital floated confused, dismal sounds. The three stood
motionless at the window, looking silently into the darkness.
The mother felt herself not needed, and carefully freeing her hand,
went to the door, bowing to Yegor.
"Are you going?" the physician asked softly without looking around.
"Yes."
In the street she thought with pity of Liudmila, remembering her
scant tears. She couldn't even have a good cry.
Pages:
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413