Regarding girlhood, part of the reputation inside “Alisa Acquisitions Passing” is set to not become their mother, who enough time committing suicide and you may exactly who she recalls having contempt; she “is actually constantly warmly crazy and you may suffered spectacularly, to the stage of the psycho wards
For the “Brand new Dragon additionally the Phoenix,” the initial of the five tales that make up area you to, we fulfill an excellent lesbian partners, Zarifa and you may Musya. Today it inhabit Cyprus. And even though Musya understands that “only a person would-be a partner,” and “even today the definition of lesbian” tends to make their particular “frost, like a little girl trapped stealing”-and although the marriage enjoys alienated both women from their Armenian and you may Azerbaijani family-Musya and you may Zarifa was happy to each other (due to or even in spite of their totally reverse characters?).
The good news is Zarifa is actually perishing out of cancer tumors, a well known fact thus unsuitable so you’re able to Musya that this lady has been covertly consulting a couple of dated sorceresses “from the an intricate replace of just one heart for another.” She’s thrown toward a state whenever she need manage Zarifa’s estranged earlier sister, Said, just who dislikes their unique (to possess your, this new women’s relationship are blasphemy), however, whom Zarifa features summoned off Karabakh that have rules to carry a specific relatives heirloom: a rug are apply the coffin at the their unique funeral service. At the same time Zarifa even offers slovenian morsian summoned “the very smart pal,” Zhenya, so you’re able to set to her some deathbed inquiries, among them “as to the reasons it’s impossible to chair Armenians and you will Azerbaie desk.” In which the brand new flummoxed Zhenya does not have any good answer.
He is to start with from the same town inside Karabakh, but their relationships don’t start until years after, when they have to know both inside Moscow
Musya miracles on rug’s hard build, good dragon and you can an excellent phoenix “secured inside fatal and you can unlimited combat.” “It’s impossible to tell exactly who in it ‘s the warrior, whom new sorcerer, who’s evil and you will who is a great, because they are sure forever into you to definitely immobile and indissoluble band.” But it’s which violent artwork one later on pierces their particular a lot of time-pent-right up sadness, their unrestrained outburst leading to one minute from oneness and shared tranquility one of mourners, an embrace away from enemies, another whenever “who had been the fresh new partner, which this new wife, no one cared.”
” (One past statement is the most numerous you to definitely kept me personally from actually ever completely neglecting one, though in most cases enjoyably viewable, the words was a translation. Among almost every other crude spots in which my personal desire snagged: “A lady, their particular human body flattened with the sides and with resolute bust”; “the only thing Lilya know on the their unique elizabeth she exercise”-Schiltz-“because of hence she was mocked because ‘shilly-shally.’”)
To possess Alisa, “driving a car out of dropping on the a person’s stamina try stronger than any other worries proper in order to female: away from solitude, from childlessness, off poverty.” Meaning, matrimony is actually out. Within sixty-four, immediately after a profitable career since a technology draftsman and you can a decade off comfortable later years, Alisa moves a hit in her well-structured lifestyle when a beneficial fainting enchantment causes view off mortality. The fresh passing out actually is absolutely nothing major, but the matter nags: That will care for their particular if the inevitable will come? Ever standard, she visits a health care provider and you can asks your to offer their particular sleep tablets. Getting when it comes time, she shows you: “I recently are interested myself a simple passing.”
The doctor is actually a good widower, a type and you can cultured man that recently been way of life a good unmarried lives. He does not offer Alisa the brand new tablets, but after they meet once more-by accident, at a show-they begin an event whose rejuvenating bliss unexpected situations and you may pleasures them one another. Even when happy to take on their proposition out of wedding, Alisa reminds him: nothing persists forever; when the time comes, she’s going to still wanted that simple death. Realizing it might possibly be inadequate so you’re able to argue with her, your physician agrees compared to that extremely unusual matrimony gift.