Читать книгу Fly Hunter: The Story of an Inquisitor онлайн

– Look it over, you might like it, though, honestly, it’s quite bold, I think, not the time…

Kasym, dressing and applying makeup, started reading the story, and the more he read, the more agitated he became.

– I didn't expect such genius from you, honestly… Why didn’t you bring it to me earlier, I would have learned it for today's concert, I'm tired of the same old reprises.

– Bulov, the scoundrel, let us down! I was busy, asked him to give it to you, and he… Listen, you have a phenomenal memory, learn it for the second act! – Ayesha innocently suggested.

– That’s an idea! – Kasym lit up. – I’ll move the reprises from the second act to the first, and read the story in the second. Decided!

The writer embraced Kasym and left the theater, informing Aman-Jalil on the way that everything was in order.

Kasym’s wife, Nigar, entered the dressing room.

– What did that scoundrel bring this time?… Another cheap piece?

– Why do you dislike him so much? He admires you, praises you everywhere…

– Better if he left us alone, talentless hack!

– Don’t spoil your mood before the concert, my joy… By the way, that "scoundrel" brought me a wonderful story. Here, read it!

And Kasym handed his wife the manuscript. She took it with such distrust that Kasym laughed. Nigar read the story carefully and, running her hand over her face, said:

– It can’t be!

– Don’t believe your eyes?

– I don’t believe it! Such a scoundrel couldn’t write such a wonderful story… No, I don’t believe it!

– I’ll read it in the second act.

– You’ve gone mad? Do you think they won’t figure it out?

– The audience today is good, the working class, if they figure it out, they won’t run to inform.

– Kasym, I beg you! Ahmed won’t cover for you forever.

– He will! He won’t have a choice… Yes, I’m showing a "fig in the pocket"! So what? The world won’t change because of it.

– This is not a fig, it’s a slap in the face. They won’t forgive you.

– They ignore these mosquito bites… Instead of calling for revolution, we settle for jokes and consider ourselves honest, but we’re no better than others…