to stop a car in which one passenger was sitting. She did not see his face. The girl gave her address. “Get in, we’re on our way,” said the driver cheerfully. Bagila folded her umbrella and settled into the back seat. “Are you going home or to a hostel?” asked the man sitting next to the driver without turning his head. “Are you asking me?” Bagila was surprised. “Who else! There is no one in the car except you.” “Why do you need to know that?” “Do you like being rude?” “See it however you like,” said the girl in an unhap- py voice. “Should have figured! I expected a different answer from you, but you’re no different from the others, are you?” “Why should I be different?” Demanded Bagila, the man chuckled. “It’s whatever, I don’t care. I just wanted you to be different. Where is your father, here or in the village?” The stubbornness of a stranger, clinging like a tick, touched Bagila. “You don’t know my father, so what do you care about him?” “Oh, I know him very well, and I know you.” “Driver! Sir! Stop the car,” asked Bagila. “I’m getting out!” “Keep driving,” commanded the passenger in a confident cold voice. “By the way, did you get into university?” Bagila was taken aback by this question and confused. “How did you know…?” “Well, I would tell you, but you said that you’re getting out of the car. I’m well acquainted with you. I knew in advance that you would definitely enter the university?” “Why?!” “And you knew that very well. For you to get into a university is a technical matter…” Bagila glared furiously at his stooped back, at the thick bristly hair lying on the collar of his coat, at the long-swollen earlobes. “You seem to be very offended by life,” she said, trying to offend him. “That may very well be… By the way, before I forget, did you tear up the papers that I left in your compart- ment?” Lightning flashed before her eyes. It felt as she had taken a blow to her body, even the blood in her veins for a moment froze. My God, how did she not immediately recognise his voice, his special intonation! The car, running squelching through the wet snow, suddenly seemed to dive into an inky dark tunnel. The light disappeared, and only after
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