mind at all.

Mancev. But why?!

Anna. Oh, there is an urgent message here.

Tomov. What’s that?

Anna. Don’t tear up the newspaper!

Mancev. Anna, read aloud.

Anna. (reading). «Avalanche in Mountains».

Tomov. Hey, everybody get silent!

Anna. (reading). «Last night the dwellers of the local villages heard a threatening rumble…» We heard nothing didn’t we, Vasil?

Tomov. You were sleeping like gophers in their holes.

Anna. Hey, you!

Mancev. Anna, go on!

Anna. «A mighty avalanche fell down at midnight sharp. At that moment a radio connection with a group of mountaineers climbing up the Devil’s Fang broke».

Tomov. The guys are totally screwed up!

Vasil. Don’t croak!

Anna. Spit three times and knock at a piece of wood right away!

Tomov. Well, if it helps them… Vasil, where is your head to knock at?

Anna. «By morning several rescue brigades headed for the mountains. However, the group of climbers have not been found yet. Their traces are lost».

Levan. No wonder they are lost! The devil is going to break his neck there. Believe me or not?

Mancev. That’ s why it is called the Devil’s Fang.

Tomov. This peak won’t have mercy on anyone. And it won’t let anyone back.

Anna. But we have gone through. Haven’t you forgotten?

Tomov. It’s by a fluke. Blind luck. I wouldn’t take such a risk for the second time. (Singing). «Hey, apple, where are you rolling? Should you get to the Devil’s Fang you won’t roll back»!

Anna. Vasil, Vitya, just tell him! Is there a hope?

Vasil. Just a slight one.

Mancev. In what area were they when the radio connection broke?

Anna. It doesn’t say.

Levan. Is there anything else?

Anna. Yes, there is. (Reading). «Before this accident the Devil’s Fang was conquered only by a group of climbers headed by the famous mountaineer Victor Mancev…»

Sumyatov. Alla, you see? Here is a bright confirmation of my words!

Alla. What are you talking about?

Sumyatov. Victor Mancev! The others are not even mentioned.

Alla. Come on! Does it really matter now?

Sumyatov. What about fairness? Where is fairness, I ask you?

Anna. Vasil, from now on you won’t go to the mountains without me, got it?!

Vasil. Without you – no way. Who am I going to look for there?

Tomov. God, damn those mountains!

Levan. Why are you saying that, eh? Listen, while we are coursing here they are perishing!

Tomov. That’s true, Levan! We should go to rescue them.

Anna. Vasil! Why are you silent?

Vasil. What should I say? If we go, let’s go then.

Levan. Aren’t we men, eh?!

Anna. Sure we are! Vitya, tomorrow morning we are starting, right?

Mancev. You know what guys… I can’t join you now.

Anna. Why?!

Tomov. What’s the matter Vityok? Are you crazy?

Mancev. Crazy? No. I just need to stay at this camp for one or two days.

Vasil. How are we going to go without you?

Mancev. At least one day. Try to understand me, it is very important!

Levan. We do understand you, dear! Believe it or not.

Mancev. Oh, whatever! (Leaving).

Sumyatov. You see, here is your idol in its true guise!

Alla. You think he got scared? I don’t believe it! No way!

Sumyatov. Don’t be such an idealist.

Alla. Okay! I bet you came here with a specific purpose and you are not going to give it up.

Sumyatov. With what purpose? Tell me! Don’t be shy!

Alla. To overthrow the idols – here is you purpose! You don’t even hide it.

Sumyatov. All or nobody. It would be just fair.

Alla. And the climber Victor Mancev is going to be the first victim of your noble intention?

Sumyatov. I guess, the victims are those whose fame he has appropriated.

Alla. Oh, you, journalists!

Sumyatov. Why are you so sarcastic?

Alla. Doesn’t life seem boring to you with such a way of thinking?

Sumyatov. I can’t understand you, Alla!

Alla. Bad for you.

Sumyatov. Sorry.

Alla. Did you get offended? Don’t be a kid.

Sumyatov. Well, Let me leave you and have a glass of tomato juice (Coming up the bar counter). One glass of bloody Mary, please!

Tomov. You have a beautiful wife, buddy. I get envy you!

Sumyatov. Please, don’t. We’ve just met.

Tomov. Lucky you! One can fall in love with such a lady at the first sight.

Sumyatov. And fall out of love after the first date.

Tomov. Whatever. You won’t get offended If I run after her?

Sumyatov. It’s up to you. (Leaves).

Tomov. Levan, two alcohol cocktails to the first meeting please!

Levan. Aren’t you crazy, dear?

Tomov. Don’t kill the rising fair feeling. Just as an exception! I will be your debtor till the end of my life, believe me!

Levan. Okay, but I am taking big risk. You know about the prohibition at our camp.

Tomov. I got you. I am not a fool. How much?

Levan. A double price.

Tomov. If only risk would always be paid like that where could we find cowards, Levan?

Levan. I am not insisting, dear.

Tomov. Take your coins, you the risky guy! (Coming up to Alla). Excuse me for intrusion…

Аllа. Don’t intrude and I won’t have to excuse you.

Tomov. What a strict lady!

Alla. I am a very expensive lady.

Tomov. That’s good. I don’t like cheap stuff.

Alla. Are you sure you can afford me?

Tomov. I have a fat wallet, don’t worry. Wouldn’t you mind to have a drink with me?

Alla. You’d better start with it. To what are we going to have a drink?

Tomov. To you, my lady!

Alla. It’s trite.

Tomov. Then…

Alla. Don’t strain yourself. I have an idea. Let’s drink to the real men, that they would still exist in our world!

Tomov. Terrific toast!

Anna. Vasil, listen! (reading a newspaper). «A house for sale. The house located in the suburban area faces the mountains, has five rooms and a garden of fifteen hundreds square meters…» It’s great, isn’t it?

Vasil. Terrific!

Anna. I wish I had such a house. We would take your mom there! The doctors tell her to walk more in the open air.

Vasil. How much is it?

Anna. It doesn’t say. Levanchik, how much could be a house in this area?

Levan. It might be fifty or one hundred thousand dollars.

Anna. Oh, It’s impossible!

Levan. Why should I tell lies?!

Anna. Come on, this is a daylight robbery!

Levan. Hey, money means nothing! Now you have money, tomorrow you are down on your luck. But a house means family, children, grandchildren. You are not going to spare any money for it, believe me.

Anna. Sure you won’t spare! But where are you going to get money?

Levan. Money is just lying on the ground. Just take it, don’t get lazy!

Анна. Oh, Levanchik where have you been while we together with Vasil were looking for our money on tops of the mountains?

Vasil. We were looking for them but didn’t find.

Tomov. Are you sure you didn’t?

Vasil. Well, there is some.

Anna. It’s not your business!

Tomov. Anna, would you remind me: was there any information about a pigsty in that newspaper classified?

Anna. I think no.

Tomov. Then don’t waste your time – it’s not your variant.

Anna. Why do think so?

Tomov. Where are you going to breed your pigs? Right in the house?

Anna. Vasil, just listen!

Vasil. What’s that, my sweat heart?

Anna. Oleg is laughing at us again.

Vasil. God damn him!

Tomov. Vasil, listen, here is a funny story! Allochka, you too. Once a photo reporter visited a young farmer at his place. Everything goes well: welcome dinner, photo session and stuff like that. On the next day, the farmer looks through the newspaper and sees a photo: he is embracing a pig. And there is a slug on the bottom: “Petka, the boar on the left, Vasil Korobko on the right”.

Vasil. Hey, you, go to hell!

Alla. Are you serious?

Tomov. I told you this is an anecdote.

Alla. No, I mean are you serious that those guys are really going to change mountains for pigs?

Tomov. I am not kidding. Vasil, I saw you yesterday reading a book. What was the title?

Vasil. Yesterday? Oh, yes! It was «Breeding of Sows at the Arctic Circle”.

Tomov. He is an expert, I told you! Are you also keen on these grunting creatures?

Alla. Are you crazy? I don’t care about this pig’s life!

Anna. What did you say!

Alla. What’s the matter?

Anna. Aren’t you a Muslim?

Alla. Oh, my God!

Anna. The Muslims can’t stand pigs. The Koran forbids them. It says that pig is a dirty animal.

Alla. Such a prejudice!

Anna. And what do you know about them?

Alla. About pigs? Actually, I haven’t thought of them…

Anna. In your opinion pigs are just dirt, stench and scream?

Alla. No, it’s also lard and meat.

Anna. By the way, a pig is a very smart animal!

Alla. Smart?

Anna. And noble. There are even poems devoted to pigs.

Alla. I would never think!

Anna. And not bad poems, I tell you. Nobody would write such poems about you, Oleg.

Tomov. You shot me dead, Anna!

Anna. Here you go!

Tomov. I promise you: when I get my own apartment I will buy a little piglet with a pinky snout.

Anna. Are you going to keep it at your balcony?

Tomov. No way! On the rug at the corridor.

Anna. Vasil, did you hear that? What fun!

Vasil. Don’t feel hurt, my girl! He is a good guy.

Anna. I am okay.

Vasil. Well, you said, fifteen hundreds square meters?

Anna. Yes, fifteen. Facing the mountains…

Victor Mancev is sitting on a bench in front of the camp building. Cyril Sumyatov comes out.

Sumyatov. Wouldn’t you mind?

Mancev. No, take a seat. Have you come out to smoke?

Sumyatov. To breath with fresh air.

Mancev. Anyway, help yourself. (Offers him a pack of cigarettes).

Sumyatov. I prefer pipe. (Shows his pipe).

Mancev. Amusing thingy!

Sumyatov. One craftsman carved it. You wouldn’t believe it: when you hold it, it warms you up like a stove. It is absolutely indispensable in the mountains. Especially at nights.

Mancev. You are right, it’s cold here at nights. Although, the stars are bigger and brighter. You just can’t take your eyes of them.

Sumyatov. Charming?

Mancev. I can’t get used to such beauty for many years already.

Sumyatov. One can get used to everything.

Mancev. Eternal mountains, eternal stars, eternal peace – and a human small and fussy. Such a big contrast. I feel it since my childhood.

Sumyatov. Where were you born?

Mancev. At one small town. If you look at the map you can see mountains around it. But in fact it’s located in a valley. There is no even a small hill around up to the horizon.

Sumyatov. It’s amazing!

Mancev. Life is even more amazing.

Sumyatov. So, you didn’t see mountains in your childhood?

Mancev. Sometimes, on a sunny calm day I saw their vague outlines.

Sumyatov. Maybe it was a miracle?

Mancev. The mountains seemed to be painted on a big canvas. But should a slight wind blow they disappeared immediately.

Sumyatov. Did anyone except you see them?

Mancev. Don’t take me for a dreamer or madman.

Sumyatov. Oh, no, I didn’t mean that!

Mancev. Everybody saw them. But most of people just didn’t notice. They were so common for them.

Sumyatov. I quite understand them. Our life is so short. A human doesn’t care about eternal mountains.

Mancev. You might be right. But at that time I thought that I am eternal too. Did you have such feeling in your childhood?

Sumyatov. I did. But it faded away quickly.

Mancev. When I learnt that in fact it is not like that I started crying at nights. I used to bury my head in the pillow and howl. I have never felt such despair since that time.

Sumyatov. Have you tried to run away to the