get newspapers and magazines. He himself was alone with Sargel. “I want you and Malika to support Bagila. You know what kind of city this is…” “Of course,” Sargel said, making an instant serious face. “Bagila is the most capable among my children. But she, I think, is too headstrong. She won’t mind your advice. Raise her like your own daughter.” “What are you talking about, Kara! You don’t have to mention it! We are not strangers; how can I not consider her as a daughter!” “Thank you, Sarga, I have nothing more to say. How about you, how are you doing?” “Not bad, we live on the sly,” he cleared his throat and looked down at the same time. “What are you suddenly embarrassed about? Speak, do not be shy,” Karatai remarked in a velvety voice. “This winter… I had to defend my doctoral thesis…” “Are you writing it?” “It’s written. All is ready.” “Oh, congratulations!” “It’s too early for congratulations. The thing is…” Sargel began and wanting to capture all of Karatai’s attention, sharply raised his voice, “some of my colleagues are trying to harm me as much as they can.” “Why?” “Because they don’t want me to become a doctor. And you understand, they have learned many subtle dirty tricks, and so you won’t guess where they’ll kick you from. They call higher-ups and slander me with God knows what, they spread rumours that I am, they say, an ignoramus… They have no limits and say all sorts of nas- ty things. And some have filed a complaint against me. Can you imagine?! On me! Complaints! One scoundrel wrote that I drove my wife to death! Another accused me of marrying a young one. They’re all loafers. Why do they care about my personal life? And what if I married a seventy-year-old? Then they’ll will write a complaint that he has taken an old woman as his wife. And then, what does all this have to do with science, with my doctoral dissertation?” Sargel spoke angrily, weightily, like a public prosecutor, believing that he left no doubt in Karatai that he was right. “I heard that such a fuss happens among scientists,” Karatai remarked cautiously with a smile. When they reached the end of the square in front of the airport, they turned back. “It happens!” Sargel repeated sarcastically. “Yes, we have a fierce struggle going on,
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