people had such a good memory! Lately there had been talk in the village that the department would be connected to a high-voltage line and there would be no need for a power station. Some preparatory work had even been carried out… It was the first year that Yesirkep got a holiday. He spent it on the Black Sea coast. His friends saw him off noisily. While Yesirkep was resting, the department was connected to the AEP… Yesirkep was welcomed by all his peers who lived in Akzhar. In the railway station restaurant they cele- brated the return of their comrade. Tarakbai, having softened up, complained to Yesirkep, who was unspeakably pleased with the welcome he had received. ‘After you left, that backstabber got cocky.’ ‘Yes, there’s something to be said about him,’ Tashkenbai seconded, nodding his elongated head. ‘What happened?’ Yesirkep looked around at them all and asked. ‘What’s he all worked up about?’ ‘Alright, tell him everything!’ said Tarakbai with bitter determination. ‘Remember when his eldest son married the youngest daughter of the MTM superin- tendent, there was a misunderstanding between them?’ ‘Well…’ Yesirkep tensed up. ‘So, now the youngest daughter of the station manager is getting married to the eldest son of the MTM manager. Tonight is their wedding night. Za- vtokom says he will never forget Yesirkep’s shenanigans, neither in this world nor in the next. It is better for him if he stays as far away from our party as possible. We told him that you were not to blame for this, but the old man said that if you spoil the feast a second time, he will tie your hands and send you to the place where they ride dogs. He didn’t invite your wife to the wedding either. We all fought over it at the back of the house and said that if your family was not invited to the wedding, we would not go either.’ ‘Thank you,’ said Yesirkep excitedly. ‘So you wer- en’t invited…’ ‘It’s a good thing you’re here tonight, to spite him by turning off the engine and going to bed. Don’t go outside. If he really comes at you, we won’t stay away.’ Yesirkep was anxious to get to the village as quickly as possible. His friends had been stoking his resentment and anger all the way… The car stopped in front of the station. As soon as