“Where are you from, Akim?” he asked.
“Business, Andrey, business,” he answered evasively. Katya must have been nearby, because she had already arrived. She examined the wound and immediately laid Akim down on the ground, then began treating it. Akim winced, occasionally tensed and clenched his teeth, but made no sound. “Tell me,” Andrey suggested when Katya finished. "What?" Akim made a face as if he genuinely didn't understand what they were talking about. "Okay, old Jew, stop prevaricating," Andrey smiled again. "What are you doing here? Why are you wounded? And where's the Nivka?" Akim felt his newly bandaged leg, chuckled with satisfaction, and thanked Katya with a warm look. For some reason, the girl looked at the old man with a coolness. "They fired on my Niva early yesterday morni
