rubles to the collective farm were projects that were gathering dust in a forgotten box of the institute: not accepted by the authorities, they were rejected at all levels. A rumour spread throughout the region that the Socialism branch needed workers, and the unemployed rushed there from all sides. There were more and more people who went out onto the highway and raised their hand to stop a ride: “My friend, where are you going?” “Where are you heading to yourself?” “To the ‘Communism’ collective farm. I’ve been stuck here for an hour, any longer and I’ll cry, take me with you.” “Can’t do, my car is faulty. Will it be alright if I take you to the ‘Socialism’ department instead?” “Oh, that’s it, that’s where I need to go.” Not more than two weeks passed, and that small office was overflowing with visitors. Poor Pashat and Sepentai were dizzy – they did not know where to go from the onslaught of the people. Having entrusted the main work in the department to the linkers and foremen, they took care of the visitors completely. Having hired the right number of people, they sent the rest home. At first, they did not know how many workers would be needed to build two seven-story buildings. Like a flock in a paddock, the people were noisy, chattering, crowding in the room. Whom were they to leave alone, whom to send back – were the organizers lost, unable to resolve these issues? “How many people do we need? Who do we leave from these restless devils?” Asked Pashat, ready to vent his anger on Sepentai. “How many workers, do you suppose, would be needed to build such houses in the city?” “That’s the city, and this here – it’s the steppe. There is more equipment here than people, but even then, we only have one crane, three dump trucks, and that’s it.” “I’m not asking you what we have and what we don’t. Tell me, how many people do you need for one house?” “I mean, except for the tech… hmmm…” Sepentai moved his lips, keeping the score. “Hmmm… back and forth, here and there… Twenty on the first floor, twenty-five on the second floor… third floor… fourth… fifth… One building needs one hundred and twenty people.” “Hey, we’re not going to build five floors at the same time. First, we will build the