7. What a Russian story!The rest of the story takes place in America. Except, of course, for that short period before his departure when he lived in a constant state of terror, fearing that they would come for him and call him to account for the murder he had committed. As far as possible, he kept away from the house, and he did not even see in the New Year, his last New Year in Kyiv, at home with his parents, but with a bottle of beer in the metro, at Khreshchatik station, where besides him there were crowds of other restless folk around. The only thing which gave him comfort at that time was the prophecy made by the fortune-teller Demyanivna of Kobivka: “You’ll be uneasy abroad!” If only he could go abroad! Better to be abroad than in prison!
But the nerve-racking phase passed. He exper
