Vasilii Petrovich sighed and got the cracker.
“What did you do? Steal?”
“You can steal from the rich,” said Serii confidently.
“What about the poor?”
Serii thought about that but didn’t answer. It seemed he had excellent manners; he just didn’t answer unpleasant questions.
“For how many years have you been stealing?” Vasilii Petrovich wouldn’t back down.
“As long as I can remember; I’ve always stolen. You can write it down: from age three.”
“We’re not writing this down,” Vasilii Petrovich said quietly.
“Why then? Why the curiosity?”
Mitya Schelkachov also listened in on the conversation, having moved closer on his bunk to see the overgrown head of Serii from the side.
All this time, Artiom dug around in his emotions: “Do I feel sorry for him? What about now? I think I almost don’
