Spiridona asked, 'How do I put this? Dancing is an intimate affair. The women don't like the way Sergei handled them.'
'Too soft? Too hard?'
'Like chickens in a butcher shop.'
23
Maya imagined herself on a golden escalator that reached up to the clouds. Her baby was just a few steps ahead. For some reason Maya could not close the distance or see what awaited them but she was sure it would be better than what they left behind.
'How old are you, my dear? In Pakistan, you would already be married and have a baby on your hip. Your breasts are full. That is exciting to a man, but leave the nursing and mess to someone else. No, let me undress you. It is my pleasure. I will fold everything neatly. My God, you are more beautiful every moment. Our mutual friend Yegor was not overstating the case. Do you like this place? It's an office of another friend, very important man. Pakistani, but the sofa is very comfortable, don't you think? Nice paintings if you could see them. Everything totally modern. Champagne on ice. Minibar. Would you like a drink? Up to you. Since it's Sunday we have all night and the entire building. The shaved head is curiously erotic, as if you had revealed everything to me. As you can see, I cannot hide the fact that I am not in the best of shape. When I came here as a student thirty years ago, I was thin as a reed. This is what Russian cooking does. My wife, bless her, is a wretched cook. I call her my wife although we're not really married. I don't know what Russians have against spices. Also I don't exercise nearly enough. A man my size should exercise. It's incumbent on him or he'll go to fat as I have. But I have to spend all day and night in the kiosk or my workers will rob me blind. Look at this. I haven't been this hard in ten years. Do you mind being kissed? I'll turn the lights down and you can pretend that you are having sex with the handsomest man in the world. If you touch me I'll explode. Really, really. Oh no, oh no, oh no. See? That comes from being deprived. But I've more to spare. I will run to the men's room and be immediately back. Give me one minute. It will be even better. Less urgent.'
He whistled 'Whistle While You Work' while he padded down the hall in bare feet. Everyone in the city was whistling the same tune; it was in the air. In the men's room he wiped himself, pinched the fat around his waist, shined a smile at the mirror to check his teeth. He didn't mind the interruption. In fact, the longer the better. His penis hung loose but not defeated, he thought.
The office lights were still low when he returned and he moved cautiously between tables and chairs to preserve his shins and whispered her name, almost cooing. When the lights suddenly went up, he found himself in the company of two men in coveralls, work boots and surgical gloves. Except for the gloves, the visitors looked like a pair of auto mechanics. A grocery bag stood on the coffee table and for a second he thought he might have strayed into the wrong office, but there was the comfortable sofa with the girl's imprint still on it. His clothes lay on the desk by a scarf of Maya's, but she was gone.
'Excuse me.'
'Don't get dressed.'
'Sit down.'
The other man inserted a chair in back of Ali's knees. It was sit or fall.
Ali remained calm. This was an extortion racket and these two were the heavies. They seemed cast from the same rough mold, the difference being a dent here or there. With their flat voices and deep-set eyes, they played their roles convincingly.
'You've caught me fair and square. There is no need for further dramatics. How much are you asking?'
One man showed Ali a poster with Maya's face.
'Is this the girl?'
'Yes. See, whatever you want to know I will freely tell you.' Ali believed it was important to establish a positive atmosphere while not exhibiting too much curiosity. He had been robbed in the kiosk half a dozen times and he had learned that panic was everyone's enemy. These two seemed professional, which was reassuring. Description-wise, both had nondescript hair, thin lips, no smile and the kind of beard that looked like a blue mask. Rather than ask them their names, he labeled the slightly larger man 'Mr. Big' and the slightly thinner man 'Mr. Little.'
So it was Mr. Little who asked, 'Where is she?'
'I have no idea. Does it matter? She's done her bit.'
Mr. Big picked up the scarf and lifted it to his nose.
Ali nodded. 'Yes, a delicious smell. She's a little siren. She was here only a minute ago, but now she's gone. That's God's truth.'
He expected them to ask where to. Instead, they poked around the office and checked out the contents of the minibar. Felt the warm sofa.
Ali said, 'I expected to see her when I returned from the men's, not you gentlemen.'
'How about the baby?' Mr. Little moved behind Ali.
Ali had to twist in his chair. 'She never mentioned a baby.'
'How were her tits?'
'I observed that they were full like a nursing mother's. But she never mentioned a baby.'
'Arms back.'
'I am feeling somewhat exposed. Do you mind if I get dressed first?'
'Not yet.'
'This is really not necessary.'
Ali allowed himself to be handcuffed around the back of the chair. He was still ready to deal.
'She was here a minute ago, but you have no idea where she's headed?'
'With Yegor, obviously. May I get dressed now? This is no way to negotiate.'
'Who's negotiating?'
The silence that followed was unnerving.
'This is not extortion?'
'Do we look like extortionists?'
No, Ali thought. He wished they did.
Mr. Big said, 'If Yegor was out of the picture, where would she go?'
'I truly wish I could help you.' Ali was calm. He'd been beaten by Russians before and suffered broken ribs just for walking down the street. They would find out that he could take punishment.
'From the kiosk you see everything, don't you?'
'No one can keep track of everything. People come and go all the time. It's Three Stations.'
Mr. Little and Mr. Big communicated with a look that made Ali suck up his testicles.
'As I said before, I am not totally without funds. If you give me a figure to start with…' Ali's voice died off as Mr. Little took a box of see-through food wrap from the shopping bag and pulled off the opening strip. He fed plastic wrap through a slot in the lid, which he tucked next to a strip of saw-toothed metal. Where was the food? Ali wondered.
'Have you been wrapped before?' Mr. Big asked.
'Wrapped?'
'I'll take that as a no. It's simple. I am going to ask you where to find this girl and her baby. If you give us no answer or a wrong answer, we will wrap your head.'
These were all scare tactics, Ali thought. Nobody did such things.
'We'll demonstrate. Are you claustrophobic?'
'No, sir.'
'We'll see.'
It took two people, one to hold the first turn of food wrap and another to circle with the box and unreel more. The tape was clear plastic. Ali could see through it and witness the whole operation in the reflection of the office window. Air was totally cut off. He nodded to indicate he got the idea but they continued to wrap until he was
