if anything would harm his arrival. Karatai never learned to refuse those who were unpleasant to him, especially relatives, and although he had enough work, which could serve as a worthy reason not to go, he went to Sargel’s banquet anyway. Since Karatai appeared in Almaty, his friend from the Ministry of Higher Education ended up behind Sargel’s table for the second time, which made him delighted to the point of madness. But, given his position and the delicacy of the situation, (Sargel, Karatai and he knew the “history” of the doctoral’s attainment very well) he asked through Karatai to gather a narrow circle with his participation. Sargel, seeing that his fellow workers continued to discuss his brilliant attainment in astonishment, breathed a sigh of relief when his benefactor asked for privacy. Last year, after a warm conversation with the rector, who did not forget his promise to talk with Sargel in more detail after returning from abroad, Sargel, taking advantage of the arrival of Karatai, invited him to a meeting with the rector and a person from the ministry – all with their wives – who came to visit, and everything was decided in his house. Sargel was very pleased with the weight of Karatai behind this venerable table, his mind, and his wise words. This meant that Karatai’s participation would lead to sure luck. True, after that evening, Sargel still had one caustic feeling, which then sharpened him for a long time. Twice he noticed how the rector, who was a dozen years younger, exchanged glances with Malika several times, joked with her, and that damned wife answered him with a smile. Now by inviting the rector to the banquet, Sargel suffered a lot, but decided that his favour was much more valuable than Malika’s smiles… Having compiled the list of guests, Sargel deliberately did not enter the rector’s name on it and let Malika to look through the list. Malika realised in no time that Sargel could not just forget the rector, it was tantamount to the end of the world, and that this “forgetfulness” hides petty deceit. She carefully studied the list for a long time and demonstratively returned it to Sargel, saying: “That’s right, you haven’t forgotten anyone.” Sargel became suspicious again: “She said that on purpose. So, she has something to hide from me. That cursed womaniser, he’s no leader!” “How could you forget!”
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