went silently out of the gate. Akzhar used to be considered a large collective farm, but when the consolidation of farms began, the three collective farms were merged into one state farm and Akzhar became just a branch of it. As for Yesirkep, he was transferred from the new central farmstead here to the department as an engine mechanic. The department had innumerable farms, a shop, bathhouses, a clubhouse, a communications centre…. All this had to be supplied with electricity, but the department was far away from the high-voltage line, and on the orders of the district authorities two electric diesel engines were installed in Akzhar. This made such an impression on the villagers that it was as if a branch of the Moscow metro had passed through their village. Since then every mechanic in the department had dreamed of owning one of the diesels. In pursuit of this cherished goal, the men of Akzhar quietly invited the head of the department, Toiboldy, to a dastarkhan, where they initiated him into their dream. The diesel engines that had been installed raised Toiboldy’s profile considerably, elevating him in the eyes of the people of the village. Rumours kept circulating among the villagers that someone would be appointed as a mechanic and others would be rejected by the bosses. One day the director of the state farm called Toiboldy and said that all his candidates were unsuitable, and that Yesirkep could do the diesel work better than anyone else. Two days later Yesirkep’s fam- ily loaded their belongings onto two tractor carts and moved to Akzhar. The appointment of an outsider quickly affected the appearance of the ward. Pillars were erected in the winding streets, and real power lines stretched from house to house. Soon a light bulb was flashing outside the office as well. From the first day four subordi- nates – two assistants and two fitters – were assigned to Yesirkep. Thus, unexpectedly, he became head of the power station and therefore one of the most influential people in Akzhar. Not only that, the director of the state farm made it a habit to take Yesirkep everywhere he went, which was a great blow to Toiboldy, and in time became the main reason for his increased pressure. That year, the villagers in the ward were buying television sets by the dozen from the shop, and after a month of this