Gorky park [antikvár]

1ALL NIGHTS should be so dark, all winters so warm, all headlights so dazzling.The van jacked, stalled and quit on a drift, and the homicide team got out, militia oflcers cut from a pattern of short arms and low brows, wrapped in sheepskin greatcoats. The one not in uniform was a lean, pale man, the chief investigator. He listened sympathetically to the tale of the oflcer who had found the bodies ÍQ the snow: the man had only strayed so far froiHi the park footpath in the middle of the night to relieve himself, then he saw them, himself half undone, as it were, and just about froze, too. The team followed the beam of the van's spotlight.The investigator suspected the poor dead bastards were just a vodka troika that had cheerily frozen to death. Vodka was liquid taxation, and. the price was always rising. It was accepted that three was the lucky number on a bottle in terms of economic prudence and desired effect. It was a perfect example of primitive communism.Lights appeared from the opposite side of the clearing, shadow trees sweeping the snow until two black Volgas appeared. A squad of KGB agents in plainclothes were led from the cars by a squat, vigorous major called Pribluda. Together, militia and KGB stamped their feet for warmth, exhaling drafts of steam. Ice ctystals sparkled on caps and collars.The militiathe police arm of the MVDdirected traffic, chased drunks and picked up everyday corpses. The Committee for State Securitythe KGBwas charged with grander, subtler responsibilities, combating foreign and domestic intriguers, smugglers, mal-