This apartment which had promised so much had become his tomb. He had spent his entire Rest Day alone and now it was late in the evening. The solitude was killing him. Here, Anna used to walk through the door loaded with provisions, or greet him with a kiss when he returned after a long day working with the Vozhd. His three children had played board games on the floor of their spacious living room. Now there was no one. He thought again of asking his mother if she would like to move in with him. But he knew how much she liked to live on her own. He even began to realise, with some surprise, that he would welcome a visit from Aunt Mila. The grandfather clock ticked ominously in the corner. Outside, snow slid off the roof, muffling the sound of feet crunching through the square below. But when the snow settled Yegor became aware of the measured step of a squad of soldiers. They were coming closer. Then he heard footsteps on the stairs. He was sure they were coming for him and when he heard an insistent knocking at the door he knew he was right.
