Faithless (15 page)

"Not much of a job," said Joe.

"At least everyone in the Soviet Union has a living," said Dave. "Can you say that for Canada?"

Joe  sighed. Everyone was used to Dave's unceasing praises for the Soviet System now and took little notice. John tried to hold the door open for Yelena but the
doorman knocked his arm away and snapped something disparaging.

"Takes a professional to do that," laughed  Joe. "Don't step on his toes."

John laughed. "I was only being polite."

Yelena smiled at him. He thought it was a special smile, just for him. She
said, "I appreciate it. Now, I have the tickets here."

She gave them to the grim ticket collector and they made their way to their seats. There were ushers everywhere insisting on showing people to their places but doing so with Soviet bad grace. John was
sitting next to Yelena. He suspected she had manoeuvred the seats that way. He was wary. He didn't want to encourage her in case she developed feelings that would be disappointed.

The red velvet raked seats were arranged in concentric circles around the ci
rcular stage area.  The place was slowly filling up. The band took their seats and began tuning.

Yelena said, "Do you know, John, that this Circus won the Order of Lenin in 1939?"

He shook his head. She took this as encouragement to go on. "Yes," she said seriously. "Here in the Soviet Union circus performers are a branch of the Army and they train as state employees."

"Very interesting." She looked so earnest and pretty. Her blonde hair was brushed back over her left ear and she leaned closer to him than
was necessary as she spoke.

Eventually the show began. There were clowns and trapeze artists and dancing bears and women in spangled leotards who rode white horses round and round, getting up on the saddles, doing jumps and flips and smiling broadly all t
he time to the sound of applause. John heard Yelena laughing unselfconsciously beside him and clapping with delight at the flights of the trapeze artists. Some of the acts told folk stories with parables favourable to the Soviet system. One of them was The Old Man and The Bear where the old man and the bear shared out turnips but the Old Man attempted to cheat the heroic worker bear. Inevitably, the story ended badly for the Old Man.

Later as the circus finished Yelena said, "John, it is my birthday today."
She beamed broadly.

"I didn't know. I would have got you something."

"It doesn't matter. I am having a small party with my friends at a restaurant not far from here. There will be dancing."

"That sounds lovely. I hope you have a nice time."

She shook her head. "No," she said touching his arm to emphasise what she was saying. "I would like you to come. Please?"

Joe who had been eavesdropping said, "Party! I'll come!" 

Yelena looked nonplussed then she sighed and said, "Yes, Joe it is possible. But only you and John."

John looked around as if seeking an exit. Yelena stood there with a frozen smile of anticipation. He exhaled heavily then smiled. She kept looking at him. He nodded  "Yes. Sure. Thank you. That would be delightful." Then he lamely grinned and
said, "but I don't know what my girlfriend will think of me going to a party with a beautiful woman."

Yelena gave a snort which made her look like a naughty teenager. She said, "Yes. I am sure your girlfriend is beautiful too." She cocked her head mischiev
ously and said, "But of course she is many miles away."

"I don't have a girlfriend," interrupted Joe.  Yelena shook her head impatiently. "This is not important Joe. Let us say goodbye to all the others."

"Can we stop on the way and get some lemon vodka?" said Joe.

"No. Is not necessary. I have all."

When they got outside it was snowing heavily. They walked as fast as they could to the Metro and went one stop to Chekovskaya Station. The restaurant was by the station. Joe and John entered hesitantly behind Yelena. Yelena's mother was an older version of her and must have been stunning when she was younger. Her father looked like Leonid Brezhnev and shook their hands vigorously and insisted they have a vodka. The family had booked some tables on the far side of the restaurant from the street so at least it was on the warmer side of the room. There was a raised dance floor at one end of the restaurant. Old fashioned amplifiers played Russian pop music. John met Yelena's cousins both males and female, uncles and aunts and her grandmothers. Her grandfathers had died. Soviet men did not live very long.

Joe sat next to John on his left. Yelena insisted that John sit right by her as her honoured foreign guest. They ate black bread and drank vodka while they waited fo
r their soup. Joe shouted to John over the now turned up music, "Yelena's girl cousins are very tasty."

"Yes and the boy cousins look like they wouldn't need much excuse to defend their honour. You don't want to be trespassing with their women."

"So tribal," sighed Joe.

"It's  the same back home.  I can only imagine the uproar of a gang of Russians started sniffing around our Bonnyrigg women."

"Yeah it's the same in Hamilton."

The meal progressed. Yelena turned to John and said in English. "You are quiet to me tonight. Don't you like me?"

He shook his head. He was feeling warm and friendly from the vodka.

"No, no. You're lovely."

She smiled. "You are very handsome."

He shook hi
s head and said in what he hoped was a wistful tone, "But I have a girlfriend."

Yelena dismissed this argument. "But I am here and she is not. I have said this."

"Yes, but."

"I see you are an English gentleman."

"I'm Scottish."

She laughed. "I know. It is
like us and the Byelorussians. They get offended at being called Russian."

The music was loud. He struggled to hear. She said, "I am a very great fan of Lennon."

"Lenin?" he said. "Oh yes. A great man."

"He says many profound things. Very meaningful."

"Absolutely. His words have to be some of the most important of the 20th Century.

She nodded gravely. "I love 
'Imagine.
'"

John was puzzled. "Didn't know he wrote that. I thought he was more a concrete, materialist thinker."

"Oh yes.
Imagine
is his. How do you not know this?"

"I'm sorry. I guess I don't know everything about Russia." He laughed.

She looked puzzled. "But he is from England."

John shook his head. "No, that's one thing I do know. He's Russian."

She was looking at him as if he were stupid, but trying not to offend. She said, "No, he was not Russian. But maybe he had Russian grandmother?"

"I think more than that."

"Really, he had Russian blood? I did not know this John. You have taught me something."

They went back to eating. After they finished the
blinis John felt something tickling his back. His shirt had ridden up exposing an inch or two of skin. It was Yelena's finger. He froze like a frightened rabbit. She moved her finger as if tracing letters. To tell her to stop would mean acknowledging it was going on. He didn't want to offend her, but he didn't want her to think he was enjoying it and encourage her to do some more. He decided to excuse himself and go to the toilet. Joe decided to come with him. When they were out of earshot Joe said, "I thought you said not to trespass."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw her hand up your shirt."

"It wasn't her hand. Just her finger."

Joe gave a sceptical look. "Whatever. The principle's the same."

John covered his face in his hands. "Oh my God. I don't want this."

"Why not? She's pretty. It's her birthday. It would be rude not to."

"I've got Karen."

"Yeah in England."

"Honestly Joe, trust is a big thing with me and Karen. I wouldn't betray her."

"Any other man would for a fox like Yelena."

"I'm not any other man."

Joe laughed. "Didn't realise you were up on the moral high ground. You want to watch that glass house around you. It might come crashing in one day."

They went back to their table. Yelena was tipsy. A bottle of champagne had appeared in front of her. "Sovie
tskoye Champanskoye - from the Crimea," she said.

"Very nice."

"You must try. It is from that boy over there."  Extending an unsteady arm she pointed over the dancefloor to where a tall Russian with a shock of blonde hair was staring back at them. John noticed that he was well built. Yelena said, slurring her words, "In Russia, if a boy likes a girl, he sends her champagne and then he will ask her to dance if she accepts it. Drink some."

John shook his head. "No, he meant it for you. You can't share it wit
h me."

She wagged her finger at him. "John, I can do what I want. I am a free Soviet woman."

"A bit of an oxymoron there," said Joe in a whisper. Yelena didn't hear. She got a glass and poured John some champagne. Under sufferance, he took a sip. "There," he said.

"Good," she said, "And now we must dance."

He groaned. "Really? I'm not a good dancer."

She shook her head. "You offend me. Come. Dance." She grabbed his arm and pulled him onto the dance floor. Various members of her family, including her mother
clapped loudly.

"Oh fuck," said John to Joe as he passed. Joe was now talking to a vivacious brunette but he looked round distractedly and said, "Later man. Enjoy."

John half heartedly danced with the obviously drunk Yelena who took both his arms and pulled them this way and that. Another song came on. She wouldn't let him sit down.

"It is my birthday John. Dance."

After the third song the tall, muscular Russian with his wild blonde hair and manly moustache, gestured to cut in. With a sigh of relief, John detached Yelena from his arms and nodded to the Russian. "She's all yours."

He went back to his seat. Joe was still preoccupied with his attractive new friend so John sat down and took a gulp of the champagne. He nudged Joe. "You ready to leave?"

Joe shook his head. "Are you joking? I haven't had this much fun since we arrived."

Shortly after that a red-faced Yelena came and sat down, grinning as she ran her finger down his arm. "I missed you John."

"You have an admirer I think." said John.

She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "He is a nice boy yes. But, I like you." She gazed up into his eyes. "You have a beautiful soul. Russian boys just like to drink and they do not take care of women. I think I need a Scottish gentleman."

John sat there wishing he wasn't. He looked at the Russian who was staring at him. Then another bottle of champagne arrived. "Ooo," she said, "This boy really likes me! Here drink. Then you and I dance again."

"Why don't you go and dance with him?"

"No!" she said drunkenly but sternly. "No! I decide who I dance with."

Joe looked over his shoulder. "How's it going?"

"It's getting worse. She wants to dance again."

Abruptly Yelena rose to her feet.  "Come John," she grabbed his hand and dragged him  to the dance floor. She
leaned against him as they shuffled around to a slow number. He felt her breasts against his chest. The dance demanded that his hand rested on her hip. He tried to move it away but she grabbed it and put it back. He could feel the firm flesh slide under the silky dress. He sighed to himself. If only he was free to take the gift that was offered.

Then the big Russian was back. This time without even a pretence of manners. He punched John's bicep in a unmistakable sign that he wanted him let go of Yelena.

"Jesus. Ok big man. She's yours."

Yelena suddenly noticed the change in partners. She looked like a little doll in her blue dress against the huge Russian. She shook her head and leaned out to touch John. "No, I want you."

The Russian pulled himself up to his considerable height and said, "You want to fight?"

John shook his head. "No thanks." He waved goodbye and made his way back to the table where Joe was. The brunette was now sitting on Joe's knee.

John said, "See that fucking enormous Russian dancing with Yelena?"

"Ah yeah. Seems you've lost her."

"He wants to fight me for her."

Joe laughed. "I've got your back man."

"And he's got ten friends about as big as him. And I think from the way the cousins are looking at you they'd be on his side too."

"They're
  jealous of me pulling this little beauty." He tickled his brunette under the chin. She looked quizzically at them, not understanding a word.

Then Yelena came back from the dance floor.

"You left me," she said.