Her blouse caught fire, but the girl did not notice. She looked outside. They were on the third floor, and Marina clearly understood that a jump down would be suicide.
«Help!» she cried with all the power in her lungs. «Fire! Please, in the name of God, somebody help us!»
With hope Marina stared at the flashing lights of oncoming fire-trucks and police cars, but the heat became intolerable, and she realized her time was up. There was nothing for it, and crazy with pain and terror, still embracing her sister, Marina leapt out as far as she could.
Despair increased her strength. She reached the bushes near the building and, in the last second, she spun in the air like a cat, trying to avoid the branches that would hurt Masha in her arms. The sticks and thorns thrust into her own back, and, choking with exquisite agony, Marina slid down onto the ground, and could barely breathe.
A policeman grabbed Masha, and a stunned Marina did not protest, seeing her sister was okay. A fireman took Marina to an ambulance, and only now the girl felt all her pain, and sobbed with suffering.
* * * * *
It was Jeff’s day off and he saw Vera in the grocery store. Hoping to talk to her, he tried to catch her alone. Jeff had a good subject in mind for a conversation. It was January 1, and he wanted to wish her a happy New Year.
But people were around her all the time, and a vexed Jeff had no chance to speak privately. He dared not call out.
Waiting for his chance, he pretended that he was only doing his shopping. He stayed behind her, keeping his eyes on her gracious figure. Wearing a fox fur coat, the elegant woman with brownish red hair looked like a real vixen, moving quickly and smoothly, and the delighted Jeff could not tear his stare from his adored one.
He saw the Lapins meet her and start talking. Jeff quickly went into the next aisle, hoping to intercept Vera when she had finished and moved on herself.
He waited and waited, but only other people passed him.
* * * * *
«How was your New Year?» asked the smiling Nina. Larisa and Vlad, wearing identical bored expressions, stood next to the women. Vera was looking around and did not reply. She had seen Jeff appear a few times and she dearly wanted to talk with him.
«Where is he?» she thought, upset, as she did not notice where he had gone.