[1st Particle]
A large, yellow domra was held in the right hand of a tall young man. He sat on a chair, his right leg crossed to support the domra, which was larger than his own stomach. The domra's handle was moved to his left hand, and his fingers adjusted the four strung strings, determining the key of the song he was about to play. While his right hand wrapped around the domra, he began plucking one or two strings. Note after note emerged from the vibrations of the strings, gradually increasing in speed, until the three strings produced different notes in the same strum. As he strummed, the young man hummed "Polyushko Pole" to match the song to the key of his domra. His face was filled with satisfaction as he successfully played the piece.
Unfortunately, his pinky finger accidentally slipped, making the notes on the thin strings sound out of tune. Frowning, the tall young man hit the domra's body before trying to practice changing the key on his pinky finger.
At the same time, a young short man emerged from the bathroom. He rubbed his wet feet on the carpet and slipped to the tapochki, while adjusting the red towel he'd wrapped around his waist after his shower. "Ah, you're already fluent through the fifth verse. Faster than the previous song we learned three days ago."
"No, I'm not fluent yet. There's still something I haven't mastered."
"Ah, is that right, Vadik? I listened to you while I was in the shower. Your playing is enough for the concert."
"It has to be perfect, you know? I'm a role model on the domra, and I don't want to disappoint the others!" Vadim snapped a bit before returning to the Polyushko Pole song. Vasily sighed and went his wardrobe to put on his pajamas. Then he finished wearing pajamas, where Vadim was still practicing the domra chords he'd been struggling to learn.
"You haven't even changed since we got home three hours ago. Two minutes of being half-naked wouldn't hurt you, you know," Vasily quipped. Vadim gasped, lowered his head, and realised he was still wearing his blue shirt, tie, and black trousers.
"Oh..." Vadim said one last time before finally deciding to put his Domra to rest until the next day.
===
[2nd Particles]
"Hey! There you are, Dima... Where have you been?" Vadim asked irritably, as he emerged from the public bathroom wearing only his underwear. This time, the ensemble was performing at the barracks for several days, and the ensemble members are allowed to use the public bathroom to wash themselves.
"I just got this soap from Olya. The queue was like hell! Don't worry, I've brought two for us. We can take turns or divide them again," sighed Dmitry with his hand brought two bars of soap.
"Ah, then I'll have some too," Vasily said suddenly, as he emerged from the changing room. Vadim was shocked to see Vasily casually exiting completely naked. At the same time, Alexei also emerged from the changing room in the same condition as Vasily, grimacing in amusement because he also wanted more soap. Vadim facepalmed , unable to stand the poker faces of his two friends. "Okay, Dima... I'll have some too." He helped dividing the soap into two with his shaving razor, so each of them gets their own soap in small amount. After that, Dmitry entered the changing room, stripped off all his clothes until they were all naked, and returned to the bathroom with his three friends. Without hesitation, he showered next to Vadim.
"Dima, are you naked too?!" Vadim exclaimed. Dmitry chuckled as he scrubbed his body, then retorted, "What's wrong, Vadik?"
"Let me tell you a secret, Dima, Lyosha. This tall guy hates being naked in public. In the apartment, he is as scared as a woman sees a naked man," Vasily quipped. Dmitry and Alexei simultaneously laughed out loud at Vasily's remark.
"Because I'm disgusted to see you sleeping, practicing your singing, having breakfast, and even doing morning exercises in the apartment naked, Vasya! And I'm afraid you have an obsession with men too!"
"Ahahahahahahaha!!" Vasily's laughter grew louder, causing the soap he was holding fall from his hands. But then he defended with half laugh, "Hey, that part of me sleeping naked only during summer, dammit!"
Alexei shook his head, "Vadik, Vadik... Don't worry, we're all still desiring over woman... But I'm suspicious why you wore underwear. Is there something who can't fly freely?"
"I'm still normal and fine!" But Vadim's holler only further provoked laughter from his three close friends. Vadim was eager to get out of the cursed bathroom, embarrassed by the topic his friends had brought up. There was no way he could leave the bathroom upset and half-naked alone, taking nothing with him.
But after that, things returned to normal. Each young man returned to their shower, cleaning up after days of not cleaning up.
===
[3rd Particle aka October Cult Aftermath]
In the morning, Vasily woke up confused as the blanket covering his entire body. He was no longer wearing his muddy, shabby shirt like in the nightmare. He was only clad in long trousers, and sweat was pouring from the heat. This meant it was just another dream after he recalled his past.
Then he looked around, and realised he was sleeping on the couch instead on the bed. Was Vadim still being outside after last night's argument? Vasily got up, but he quickly found Vadim was drinking tea alone outside of balcony. He was watching the street, which was already bustling with office workers. Vasily glanced at the clock, which showed that it was already eight in the morning.
"You didn't sleep?" Vasily asked. Vadim looked back and smiled at Vasily, who looked refreshed.
"Of course I did."
Vasily paused his steps, then went back inside to fold the blanket. Once finished, Vasily came back to the balcony.
"Here's the breakfast, Vasya. Sorry for being harsh to you yesterday," Vadim offered. After drinking tea, Vadim went inside to wash his dishes and take a shower, leaving Vasily who still finished the breakfast and sipping his tea.
Vasily fell silent, and only shook his head when he saw a bowl of cold oatmeal porridge and the glass of tea...
===
[4th Particle]
Vadim repeatedly combed his neck-length black hair, thinking about the perfect style. He was already wearing his favorite deep blue shirt, and his face was completely spotless. Vasily who just entered the communal after buying groceries, suddenly burst out laughing when seeing Vadim's behavior.
"Hey, where are you going? You're dressed all up..." Vasily ribed. Vadim ignored him, continuing to mutter, "Is it a middle or left part?"
Vasily's giggle getting more uncontrollable. "Vadik... Don't tell me you're going on a date?"
"Yep," Vadim said shortly. Vasily was immediately stunned, as if he'd seen Vadim grow up as a real man. "And where are you taking this lucky woman?"
"Sukharev Park."
"Why not the Bolshoi Theater? There's more entertainment there!"
"In fact, she avoiding there so she doesn't meet her leader. She worked there."
Vasily nodded, "So that girl was one of the ballerinas we visited at the Bolshoi Theater? The one that soon will join with the ensemble this year? Hmm, location-based romance is unavoidable..."
"Oh, Vasya, do you think I'd prefer a center part or a left part?" Vadim asked again, pointing his finger at his half-dried hair. Then Vasily playfully ruffled the tall young man's hair. Annoyed, Vadim finally re-combed it and unconsciously parted it in the center.
"Well, that's better. Now go and satisfy the woman you love!"
===
[5th Particle aka The Dinner in Stalinabad Aftermath]
Damn it! Why was he so interested in what Semyon had to say? Vasily thought. It seemed like the man with the crew cut understood his desire to investigate Alexei's often annoying behavior. Usually, he hated it when Semyon managed to guess what was on Vasily's mind. Like his desire for a woman taller than him. Or giving advice to cut down on vodka, as if he knew Vasily's hidden secret of still mixing vodka with a little headache medicine, because his dependence on drugs still remained even though he was no longer dependent on morphine or cocaine. Vadim, who shared the same apartment, didn't know about it. And this time, Semyon seemed to know what he had to do to start his investigation into Alexei.
But he hadn't visited the Militsia office in Kharovsk for more than five years, Vasily thought. He didn't know if his comrades would still accept him after he chose to switch to the ensemble and leave his job as a spy. He had deliberately left his disguise skills behind, to erase the shadow of his dark past. Besides, he would never have the chance to visit his old office. The concert schedules to Far East and Mongolia still going on. They are still performing at military base in Stalinabad, and probably won't go home soon until September... or until all area in Far East are visited.
But Semyon was right. He was now interested in investigating his own friend, Alexei. Especially the murder of Alexei's younger sister, which was so mysterious because the killer left no traces. Till Militsia was so confused that they decided not to pursue the case and classified as another victim of Great Purge. Alexei's diary that he accidentally read few days ago could be his first clue, although he wasn't sure because Alexei's writings didn't always describe his day-to-day life...
"Vasya, you still memorised the song, right?"
"Eh?" Vasily snapped out of his trance when Vadim approached him in the barracks. They were alone inside, with Oleg still engrossed in Vadim's sheet music. Dmitry and Alexei were out and about.
"You seem quieter today. Are you still feeling unwell?"
"A little. But I've got it under control. Don't worry about me."
Vadim nodded, also trying to reassure his friend that he would be able to participate in the next day's rehearsal.
===
[6th Particle aka Doomed Birthday Aftermath]
Meanwhile, Vadim and Vasily were on their way home, taking tram number 36 from Kommite Street to Tverskaya Street. They both had upset faces together, until Vadim opened his mouth.
"I don't know why I'm so worried... I feel like there is something so weird about Lyosha. For a month, he became more often visiting Dima's place," whispered Vadim in concern. "I know Lyosha and Dima are best friends. But... it's just too weird Lyosha did it almost weekly. That guy usually hanging out more with Max and Stiva."
Vasily turned his head "Vadik, I'll tell you a secret, about my suspicions about Lyosha since long ago... Or maybe let's nickname his annoying self as Vitaly."
"So you're going to call that annoying Lyosha as Vitaly?"
"Only to differ, and I don't know which name that suits Alexei except Vitaly. Not a big deal."
"Oh, okay, continue your story," Vadim muttered. Vasily cleared his throat briefly and whispered, "Actually, when we were in Stalinabad few years ago, I accidentally found Alexei's diary in his bag. For some reason, the writings was too... different. One was being very cheerful and emotional, and the others was too cold. Even there were one or two stories about his dislike of our colleagues, and even some of them outright disrespect of us. So there's a huge gap in the book that make me... terrified. Like it was written by Vitaly instead Lyosha."
"Maybe he deliberately write like that? So we would be confused?" Vadim guessed, but Vasily waved his hand.
"I'm not sure. One thing I am very sure; real Lyosha WILL openly speaking whenever he was upset with us. And yet... the one I found at his diary are the conflict where he seemed not bothered with our antics."
Vadim didn't continue speaking again, and now just leaning his head against the tram window. But the sigh Vadim let out indicate that he agreed with Vasily's statement about the principles of Alexei's diary. The tram stopped on Tverskaya Street, and they got up from their seats.
===
[7th Particle]
February 15, 1940
"Ouch, Vadik! You're absolutely disgusting!" Vasily exclaimed upon seeing his lanky friend stroking a grey attic rat.
Vadim ignored Vasily’s outburst, continuing to stroke the creature and occasionally pressing his cheek against its body. "I’ll name you Mishka. I took a liking to you right away—especially after little Vaka passed away a few days ago. Maybe it’s because you look so cute! But it’s a shame you smell... How about I give you a bath first?"
With that, Vadim immediately took the rat to the sink and washed it using the same soap he and Vasily used for their own baths. Vasily was taken aback and said in an annoyed tone, "Remind me to buy more soap after the party." Vadim paid no heed to Vasily, continuing to bathe the little grey rat.
A knock at the door forced Vasily to leave Vadim for a moment. He opened the door to find Dmitry standing there with a faint smile.
"Happy birthday, Vasya!" Dmitry said.
Vasily was startled by Dmitry and Alexei, then shaking his head with a chuckle, "You guys are very early! We still cooking, you know!"
But somehow, Vasily still stepped back, inviting the two young men into the living room and leading them straight to the kitchen. Alexei looked awkward; he brought the large box of cake and his hands already feel stiff from holding it for too long. As they entered kitchen, they see Vadim now busy cooking some pancakes. Vasily left the kitchen again, saying, "I’m going to get some napkins from the cupboard," and Dmitry followed him a moment later.
Alexei slowly put the large box and opened it. Then he carefully transferred the cake to the dining table. Five minutes passed, and neither of Dmitry and Vasily returned. Alexei sat in silence, watching a small iron cage containing a grey rat that looked damp.
"...Why there is a rat there? Is that a rat trap?" confused Alexei.
"My new pet that I get from the attic. It's the cutest and politest rat I’ve met. Even more polite than little Vaka, who passed away yesterday. Oh, and that one’s name is Mishka," said Vadim, noticing Alexei’s gaze fixed on the rat.
"How come you like rats? Why not dogs, cats, or birds?" Alexei asked awkwardly.
Vadim chuckled. He holding the pan’s handle, he flipped the pancakes inside by tossing it into the air. "Just an attic rat... I certainly wouldn't like a sewer rat... People often mistake attic rats for being gluttonous. But they’re actually starving, which forces them to gnaw on the furniture. Ever since I started feeding him daily, though, my and Vasya’s furniture hasn't been damaged at all. The point is, they’re just like any other pet; they need attention."
Alexei gave a lopsided smile, slightly puzzled by Vadim’s taste. Moments later, Vadim placed the cooked pancake onto a plate already holding a stack of others, then filled the hot pan with white batter again. Alexei shook his head, took off his jacket, and rolled up his shirt sleeves before stepping in to help Vadim. Blue and red plates were set out on the table, and Alexei checked the vodka bottles. Some of them were kept in the freezer (to see if they had fully frozen). Afterward, Alexei helped fry some meat rolls and unpacked a bundle Dmitry had brought; it turned out to contain the savory round rolls that Dmitry baked himself. The rolls were arranged in a basket and placed next to the cream soup, that Vadim had prepared earlier.
It didn't take long before the arranged roulades and stacks of blini graced the dining table. Vasily and Dmitry come back again, to set the table and laid out the vodka for dinner. Alexei and Vadim tidied up the kitchen, then immediately took their seats just as Vasily placed a pot of yogurt for the blini on the table.
With holding his laughter, Dmitry quickly sat down and said, "Vasya, give me three roulades, please!" while playfully puffing out his chest. Catching onto Dmitry's joke, Aleksei and Vadim immediately spread their napkins across their laps.
"Vasya, just give me two roulades too!" Alexei ordered.
"Me first. Hand me that yogurt pot!" Vadim commanded, bursting into loud laughter along with Dmitry and Alexei. Feigning annoyance, Vasily rapped each of his friends on the head with his spoon: "You aren't even Militsia officers! Stop bossing me around like that!"