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Ivan’s thoughts raced about in his head, colliding and interfering with each other. Yet no one looking at him would have said he was a man tormented with doubts. He sat there leaning back in his chair, staring into the distance with a blissful smile on his face. Above the skyscrapers, the stars filled the sky, on this hot Bangkok night.

Chapter 7

The next morning, Nok drove Ivan to the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. After making the obligatory tourist visit to the Temple of the Dawn, they joined the narrow highway, turned south and spent half a day in the suburb of Tonburi, where life didn’t appear to have changed over the past hundred years. Brevich hungrily took in everything around him – the old houses almost swallowed up by lush thickets of vegetation, a small floating market for those “in the know,” an orchid farm on the side of a khlong canal, locals traversing the labyrinth of confined, palm frond–canopied streets on their bicycles… Yet another side of Thailand was revealed to him. Occasionally, Brevich even began to experience a special feeling toward the country and its people – but wasn’t able to grasp it. His mind was completely occupied with thoughts of Nok.

On this third day, she had changed yet again – as if casting off a veil, now allowing Ivan to see deeper inside. Still, not much was revealed to him; he just noted that, despite her modern city clothes, her smile, gestures and the features of her face were in harmony with those of her surroundings, including their neglect and poverty. On the way back, looking out of the car window at the interlacing bushes and lianas, the floating carpets of flowers on the small ponds and backwaters, Brevich reflected on Thailand’s hothouse climate: everything here grows so rapidly, abundantly and wantonly. As do Thai women, who also flourish in the humid moist heat, like the bright fantastical flowers of their forests. A great many things may be born and survive in the hothouse air – perhaps this explained their tolerance to life in all its various forms and manifestations? Their ability to love life, whatever it may be, their inherent compassion for all living things – no matter how unusual and unfamiliar. And, just like flowers, they would open up to others gradually, not immediately…

Later, they had lunch at a restaurant by the river. They sat there for a long time; Nok recounted the story of her first love and the canceled wedding, and he surprised himself by telling her about his wife and how they had long ago lost interest in each other. Then Nok drove Ivan back to the hotel and, as usual, he invited her up for coffee. They set off toward the elevator, their hands brushing next to each other. On the way, she took out a flyer from her bag. Ivan leaned over to see better, inhaled the scent of her hair and suddenly felt so close to her that the next step happened by itself.

Half jokingly, he told her that the rooftop bar wasn’t the only nice place in the hotel. There was his room, for example – and, by the way, he had some real vodka from Russia, which he was sure she had never tried. Nok laughed – no, she didn’t drink strong spirits. Ivan laughed too – well, then, he could reveal his other little secret: he had stashed away a couple of coconuts. “Wow,” Nok replied – also half jokingly, with a sly smile – “if that’s the case, then how could I refuse…”

The entire exchange was relaxed and cheerful, without a hint of awkwardness or shyness. Ivan wasn’t sure if she had taken him seriously and would agree to go to his room or not. Yet once in the elevator, he pressed the button for his floor, and Nok made no objection. Leaving the cabin, they went down the corridor, still brushing hands. Once inside the room, he immediately embraced her. She did not resist.

Afterward, they both felt acutely hungry, went to the Chinese restaurant next door and ate and laughed heartily. Ivan constantly caught himself thinking that he hadn’t felt this good for years. In the sexual afterglow, Nok was more beautiful than ever, and he was proud of this stunning girl sitting next to him. He was pleased with himself as well – he felt young again and a powerful burst of energy coursed through his veins. It was as if his life was just beginning, and he felt capable of so much…

They spent the rest of the week in Bangkok, never leaving the city. In the mornings, they would meet at about eleven; Nok would suggest a tour and drive Ivan to a new place, where yet another side of the city would be revealed. Two or three hours later it would already be unbearably hot, and they would look for a good foot-massage salon and then lunch in a café – here again, it was Nok who would take the initiative. She was very attentive to Ivan’s needs and especially what he ate – she constantly asked him if everything was to his liking, whether it was too spicy, whether he wanted another beer. She was fervently interested in his opinion about Thai cuisine and regularly alternated between Eastern and Western places, although she herself didn’t like farang food, leaving most of it untouched.

After lunch, they would go to his room and spend the afternoon there until supper. Nok always brought a change of evening clothes in her car – dinner was Ivan’s domain, which meant expensive restaurants and bars with live music. Then they would go back to his room again, and early in the morning Nok would return to her apartment, never staying for breakfast. For some reason, she felt this would preserve her “good girl” image.

The moment the door closed behind Nok, Ivan would begin to miss her, and by the time they were due to meet again, he would be in a serious state of anguish. With her arrival, however, life would get back to normal – she was a great healer of distress. A new series of kaleidoscopic events would commence – the city, Nok, food, then Nok again, her voice, her words, her body… The scenery, images, sounds, smells collided and interspersed, mirroring the turmoil going on in his head. Things would only calm down and come to a stop at night. Nok would fall asleep instantly and not wake up until morning, while Brevich lay awake for hours. He gazed at her face – tirelessly marveling at the flawless harmony of her features – and tried to understand for himself the nature and meaning of their “affair.”

Of course, the affair was extraordinary and wonderful. And – still as incomprehensible as it had been on the first day they’d met. Nok had occupied a big place in his heart, but he could not define its boundaries, let alone give it a name. Similarly, he could only guess what she thought about him and their relationship. Every day he learned many new things about her but nevertheless felt she remained a closed book to him.

Ivan knew that Russia was full of women who were generous with their love. He recalled them – Muscovites and Petersburgers, thickset beauties from Novgorod and Samara, dark-eyed Cossacks from the Don, fair-haired girls from the deserted Moscow suburbs desperate for tenderness… Many had been good and pleased him in their own way – leaving nothing in reserve, sharing themselves and receiving in turn. Brevich had long been convinced that nothing could surprise him, but Nok had succeeded in becoming something unexpected, new. She didn’t do anything special in bed; she was just totally sincere. Her scent with its aroma of cloves kept him in permanent anticipation of intimacy. Somehow she knew how to excite him with the slightest casual touch. With her, it was as if he had returned to his youth, a time of fevered desires. He had become indefatigable again, constantly ready, capable of everything – but of course, it wasn’t only about this.