The Gardener from Ochakov by Andrey Kurkov

Author:Andrey Kurkov [Andrey Kurkov]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2013-08-01T04:00:00+00:00

18

SLEEP DESERTED IGOR at about midday, chased away by his mother’s cheerful humming and the appetising smell of fried fish.

Igor wandered into the kitchen barefoot, wearing just a pair of boxer shorts.

‘Thanks, son!’ Elena Andreevna looked up from the spitting frying pan.

‘A promise is a promise,’ said Igor with a nod. ‘You haven’t invited Olga to lunch this time, have you?’

His mother shook her head.

‘Stepan’s coming, though,’ she said. ‘He’s bought himself a suit!’

‘A suit?’ Igor’s brain had trouble processing this piece of information. ‘For lunch? That’s a bit over the top, isn’t it?’ he added with a smirk.

Elena Andreevna was offended, apparently on Stepan’s behalf.

‘You should think yourself lucky. I bought you your first suit when you graduated from school. Some people never get the chance to wear a suit!’

Igor shrugged. ‘I’ve got nothing against suits,’ he said calmly. ‘Would it make you happy if I wore mine for lunch too?’

‘Get out of here, you and your smart remarks!’ His mother waved him away mildly and began turning the fish in the frying pan.

Half an hour later the flounder were melting in their mouths. They ate them with marinated cucumbers and boiled potatoes with dill, which complemented the fish perfectly. Stepan wasn’t wearing a suit after all – he’d come wearing his normal clothes, although Igor couldn’t help noticing that the gardener had shaved before joining them. So, he thought, his mother’s invitation to lunch must have meant something!

‘Is there any news from your daughter?’ asked Igor, helping himself to boiled potatoes.

Stepan raised his eyebrows and turned to look at Igor.

‘There will be, when the time is right,’ he answered brusquely.

Elena Andreevna put another piece of fish on Stepan’s plate.

‘No, no, I’ve had plenty!’ he protested.

‘Isn’t she married?’ she asked cautiously.

‘No. It’s not easy to find a good husband these days.’

‘Or a good wife, for that matter,’ agreed Elena Andreevna, looking at her son.

Stepan also stared thoughtfully at Igor. Acutely aware of both sets of eyes upon him, Igor choked and began coughing. Stepan leapt up and thumped him hard on the back. Igor raised a hand to try and stop all the fuss.

‘I swallowed a bone,’ he said quickly, trying to suppress his cough.

When Elena Andreevna stood up and began collecting the plates from the table, Stepan looked at Igor again.

‘Do you know anyone who might make a good husband for Alyona?’ he asked. ‘She’s got a dowry now.’

‘I don’t know that many people,’ confessed Igor. ‘And I’ve only really got one friend – Kolyan.’

‘The one who works in a bank?’

‘That’s the one.’

‘Will you introduce them?’

Igor was taken aback by the request. ‘Well, he was planning on coming out here soon for a barbecue . . . But I should warn you, he likes a drink or two!’

Stepan thanked Elena Andreevna for lunch and went out into the yard. A little while later Igor’s mobile phone rang. It was the photographer’s wife, letting him know that the prints were ready for him to collect. Igor was delighted by the news and quickly got ready to leave, taking the next lot of films with him.

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