Alla. Oh, really?! I wonder, why I got so expansive with you?
Sumyatov. I have no idea.
Alla. You seem to be trustworthy. Such men are dangerous.
Sumyatov. Don’t worry, I won’t get you any harm.
Alla. I don’t care. Hey there, what’s your name?
Levan. Levan.
Alla. Listen, Levan, I’d like to get to the city. What is a shuttle schedule?
Levan. It leaves in five minutes.
Alla. What about the next one?
Levan. Only in the evening.
Alla. What should I do? I am going to get bored to death here.
Levan. You still can get there in time. It’s quite close. Want me to see you off?
Alla. No, thanks, I know where it is. Okay, I really might get in time. Oh, whatever… Bye!
Sumyatov. Have fun there!
Alla Bokova leaves. She runs into Victor Mancev at the doorway.
Mancev. Excuse me… What’s the matter with her, Levan?
Levan. Why are you asking me?!
Mancev. You might be the reason. Good morning!
Sumyatov. Morning.
Mancev. Have you got the mail today?
Levan. No, dear.
Mancev. Didn’t you forget? I am expecting.
Levan. Sure I remember.
Mancev. So, there wasn’t. And it is not going to be… Oh, no, it can’t be so..
Levan. What are you talking about my friend?
Mancev. Oh, just nothing. The weather is fine since early morning, isn’t it?
Sumyatov. You are a nice observer as usual.
Mancev. Please, don’t exaggerate. Aren’t you get offended on me yesterday?
Sumyatov. Not at all. Why should I?
Mancev. I really was too bally sleepy.
Sumyatov. I hope you had good sleep.
Mancev. Not bad, thanks. Do you want to get back own?
Sumyatov. How?
Mancev. To play chess. I suggest a shotgun game. Just ten minutes.
Sumyatov. To take a victory over Victor Mancev himself! It’s temping.
Mancev. First catch your hare, as our Vasil would say. Levan, could you please give us chess and a watch. Where do you hide them?
Levan. Just a second, dear. I don’t hide them at all. (Carrying out a chess box and a watch)
Sumyatov. Do you prefer defense or offense?
Mancev. And what about you?
Sumyatov. I don’t care. What matters is the final result. Left hand, please!
Mancev. Well, I have evil luck as always. Go rush!
Sumyatov. As they used to say in good old times I have an honor to attack you.
Mancev. You are a risky guy.
Sumyatov. Isn’t a right to risk a priority of mountaineers only?
Mancev. Many people take risk. But few of them win.
Sumyatov. Is it an aphorism of your own?
Mancev. It is a mountain law.
Sumyatov. I wouldn’t like to experience it on my own.
Mancev. Aren’t you going to climb the mountains?
Sumyatov. No.
Mancev. Right. Run away from them.
Sumyatov. Is that you who tells me that!?
Mancev. Run away from them I tell you, until they drink you down as you drink your morning cup of coffee.
Sumyatov. Why don’t you flee from the mountains?
Mancev. It’s impossible to flee from yourself. The same thing will happen anywhere.
Sumyatov. What thing?
Mancev. A man comes into the world and passes away.
Sumyatov. Are you talking about the meaning of life?
Mancev. He is strong, healthy and ambitious at the beginning. But as time passes he turns into a decrepit gummer. And he realizes that all is vanity of vanities. But it is too late.
Sumyatov. But not all feel like this!
Mancev. This is an everybody’s destiny. There are ambitious dreams at the beginning and then there is a bitter frustration.
Sumyatov. But what if not to dream of becoming heroes and idols? Just live quiet and modest life. Many people live like that.
Mancev. They are already just ashes remained from the big fires.
Sumyatov. You think so?
Mancev. I am not mentioning the presents.
Sumyatov. Tell me, what drives you?
Mancev. Hazard.
Sumyatov. And that’s it?!
Mancev. What do you know about hazard?
Sumyatov. This feeling is familiar to everyone.
Mancev. But not everyone knows the truth about it.
Sumyatov. So, what is bad about hazard?
Mancev. It creeps up on you insensibly and just of a sudden grabs your throat.
Sumyatov. Just like robber!
Mancev. Even worse… A robber would grab your purse only while hazard deprives you of your brain and conscience.
Sumyatov. So, it’s impossible to avoid?
Mancev. Why impossible? If you overcome yourself.
Sumyatov. To overcome your passion of adventure-seeking?
Mancev. You are reading my mind.
Sumyatov. But how to do it?
Mancev. You could for example climb down the mountain and stick to the bar stand.
Sumyatov. Just like that guy isn’t it?
Mancev. Yes, he used to be a brave mountaineer. Hey, Levan, how many times have you tried to climb up the Devil’s Fang? Three?
Levan. Why three?! Two.
Mancev. And you failed both times.
Levan. Hey, for the third time I would have won it, believe me!
Mancev. I remember I was sure that you would do it before me.
Levan. My wife used to say: “you will never have a son, I am not going to bring up the orphans”. Am I an enemy to my children?
Sumyatov. Why did she say that?
Levan. Twice I broke my legs and arms, once I hardly survived. She is a human being after all, isn’t she?
Mancev. Strong passions are harmful, Levan. Your wife is right.
Sumyatov. So, you deprive hazard of any merits of humanity?
Mancev. Of all merits except one.
Levan. Don’t tell me about it. God damn it!
Sumyatov. Which one?
Mancev. Hazard is like Pygmalion.
Sumyatov. You mean that fabulous artist of Ancient Greece? In what way?
Mancev. It can turn an ordinary person into a hero able to climb any mountains.
Sumyatov. Here you go, you admit that!
Mancev. But the person has to pay for it too much.
Sumyatov. If you mean life then it’s not excessive price. A person pays it for any trifle.
Mancev. You are right. Life is not worth regretting.
Sumyatov. Then what are you talking about?
Mancev. Here you go: mate four moves.
Sumyatov. You are kidding!
Mancev. Look!
Sumyatov. Damn it! (Sweep off the chess from the desk).
Mancev. Do you always take losses so impulsively?
Sumyatov. Sorry. I am going to get everything back, don’t worry.
Mancev. I don’t mean that. You see, you are impassioned with hazard too!
Sumyatov. I agree, I do have such a weakness.
Mancev. You think just weakness and that’s it?
Sumyatov. What else?
Mancev. You find such behavior absolutely normal?
Sumyatov. I don’t see what is unnatural about it.
Mancev. Don’t you see with how wild passion you were longing to win?
Sumyatov. Oh, it’s too emphatic. Don’t you write poems by any chance?
Mancev. I hope nobody has ever called you a hypo maniac?
Sumyatov. Fortunately, no. Who is that?
Mancev. It’s a manic at liberty, not yet locked in a felt-lined cell.
Sumyatov. You think that a little impatience during a game is the first sign of gravy madness?
Mancev. It’s a delusion of victory.
Sumyatov. You are driving me mad really. What’s the hell is that?
Mancev. It’s a price for hazard.
Sumyatov. I see, but could you please be more concrete?
Mancev. Are you afraid of psychological disorders?
Sumyatov. As any normal person.
Mancev. And you know, there is certain charm about them. There is a feeling like some drafts are blowing through your empty skull or like rats dwell there.
Sumyatov. How disgusting! Hey, what do you mean by that?
Mancev. Nothing except I’ve just said. Levan, is there any news about the lost expedition?
Levan. There are no newspapers… How could I know?
Mancev. I wonder, what is going on there?
Levan. They will find them, don’t worry, dear!
Mancev. You think so?
Levan. There are so many rescuers involved. Everybody is searching. I bet they will find them.