# The Royal Infant (Part 2)

Eduard Dolgunov

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The Royal Infant (Part 2)

Semen Petrovich dozed on a lounger on the famous Langeron beach, named in honor of the military commander and governor-general of Odessa, Alexander Fedorovich Langeron. The weather was wonderful, as, however, always in these parts in mid-July, the girls were charming, the fruits amazingly tasty. Semen Petrovich blissed out.

Immediately upon arrival in Odessa, the director of the museum took up the fate of the collection. The boss's cousin, a middle-aged man, took over, as promised, all the administration. Semen Petrovich was settled in a cozy two-room apartment of some relative of the director who was resting at a resort. A driver with a car was assigned to him, who took him to the beach in the morning and picked him up towards evening. One could only dream of such a business trip.

— What are you talking about? — two women stopped near the lounger, — did they get good rags? — one asked.

— Solid imports, — the other answered her, — do you think they keep junk in a Moscow bank? And what a good scheme they came up with, to realize humanitarian aid from the West through our museum. Well, and here our raiders fussed and "bombed" the warehouse.

— Are you talking about our museum? — a man with a huge belly stopped by, and not waiting for an answer, continued, — ladies, well why are you spreading gossip? What rags, for God's sake! There was gold in the basements, I know that for sure.

— What, what? — a vacationer half-rose from the neighboring lounger, — you say gold? And a lot?

— 30 kilograms, — the pot-bellied man answered without hesitation, — in ingots. And diamonds, some in jewelry, some just loose, — he added, — they say, from the gold fund of Russia. It's from Kolchak's treasures, they recently found them.

— They say the raiders threw bombs all over the museum, — a lady in a lilac swimsuit who approached covered her mouth in horror, — I heard they didn't leave a stone upon a stone. Horror!

— And how many victims? — added the pot-bellied man, — hundreds! No, these are not simple raiders, — he said confidently, — these are clearly terrorists! And you say rags! — turning to the women he waved his hand excitedly and saying, — I don't know about you, but I went to stock up on sugar and matches and get ready for evacuation, — he quickly walked away.

Semen Petrovich jumped up from his lounger. The neighbor was quickly gathering his things.

— Listen, dear sir, — he asked in a trembling voice, — what happened? I accidentally heard here that something happened in the museum?

— Oh, don't ask, — excitedly mumbling, stuffing things into a cellophane bag, the man muttered, — heard about the Moscow treasures? So, — not waiting for an answer, he continued, — there are no more treasures. A terrorist raid! They took everything. A curfew and a "snatch" plan are declared in the city.

Vacationers ran up to their loungers. Questions poured from all sides:

— What happened? What plan?... Where are the terrorists?...

— Plan "snatch"! — the neighbor on the lounger loudly concluded, — they are grabbing everyone in a row. Save yourself, whoever still can! — he shouted and quickly walked towards the exit.

Panic began on the beach. Parents frantically called their scattered children, men urgently finished their beer, women collected things and food leftovers. The beach emptied before his eyes.

Semen Petrovich was confused. He remembered with horror that he had no money with him, since the driver in a car always picked him up from the beach, and he didn't even know his residential address. Dressing quickly, he ran towards the tram.

At the stop there was a crowd of half-dressed people, noise and panic. Having found out from some boy how to get to the museum, he got on the tram of the right number.

— Tickets, tickets, buy tickets, — the portly ticket collector rattled on, — a robbery is a robbery, a raid is a raid, but you still have to take tickets. You young man?

— You understand, — stuttering Semen Petrovich mumbled, — you understand, I'm not a local, I'm from Moscow, I brought the collection to your museum, a car should come for me, you understand? I don't have money with me, I left it at home. And I need to get to the museum, — he looked ingratiatingly at the woman, — to the director, you understand? I don't even know my residential address, you understand?

— Yes, yes, — the ticket collector immediately agreed, — of course we understand. Are we monsters or something? The man is a guest, came from the capital itself, right? And even brought a collection to us, well? So what, will we throw him out of the tram? — she rattled on, — never in my life. Vasya! — she shouted to the tram driver, — don't open the doors and press non-stop to the museum, we have a ticketless tourist here who is very worried about his collection, so that there, without him, they don't halve it. Do you understand me, Vasya?

— Citizen passengers! — the driver's voice on the speaker, — only without panic! The tram goes without stops to the museum, since a terrorist showed up in our cabin. But I ask you not to worry, since he is in the hands of our ticket collector, Baba Nyura, and no one has ever gotten away from her. Thank you for your attention.

Absolute silence fell. No one had ever ridden so quietly in Odessa public transport. All the passengers of the crowded tram huddled in a bunch at the head part near the driver, leaving the unfortunate "terrorist", who was under the watchful eye of Baba Nyura, in the empty tail of the cabin. Pulling up to the police station, the tram stopped, Vasily called the policemen through the window, told them something, after which two guardians of order entered the cabin and led out the astounded Semen Petrovich by the arms.

— The tram is going to the depot. Nerves are shot! I ask everyone to leave the cabin, — the last thing the unfortunate "terrorist" heard before the doors of the police station closed behind him.

— Lieutenant, take one more, — said one of the accompanying policemen to the duty officer, — he is also asking for the museum.

— Who is he, your documents? — the lieutenant looked sternly at Semen Petrovich.

— So, you have neither documents nor money? — the duty officer looked meaningfully at the detainee, — you don't know your address, but you demand a call to your "friend" the director of the museum, right?

— Right, — said Semen Petrovich ingratiatingly, — but, I don't demand, I ask.

— Okay, — smiled the lieutenant, — we will oblige the tourist. Semenov, — he turned to the sergeant, — escort the citizen to the free telephone. And where is our free telephone?

— Why in the "monkey house", Comrade Lieutenant, — nodded the policeman, taking the "terrorist" by the scruff of the neck, — let's go tourist, we're going to make a call!

— Oh, another one, — said Sara, letting the frightened Semen Petrovich into the cell, — did you also go to look at the "square"?

— Freedom to the prisoners of Zion! — suddenly shouted the old man sitting on the bench, then added, — and to veterans!

— Just sit already, dad, — said Tsilya, — a veteran of the Zionist front has been found here.

To the Head of the City Department of Internal Affairs, General Nichiporenko D. S.

Memorandum.

I bring to your attention that on 20.07.91, at 11:05 local time, in the city museum of fine arts, at the ongoing exhibition of the collection of the Combank of Moscow, an incident occurred in the form of a fight between visitors to the exhibition. The reason for the fight was the demand of citizens to "put all the goods on the counters"! What goods were discussed no one knew and the investigation also failed to establish.

After receiving a signal from vigilant citizens, a police squad was sent by me to the scene of the incident, which managed to restore order in the shortest possible time. 15 citizens who most actively participated in the incident were detained and taken to the police station (names are attached).

A preliminary investigation was conducted in hot pursuit, which yielded the following results:

1. 12 shelves, 3 stands broken.

2. 84 items of exhibition exhibits thrown to the floor.

3. One glass cube broken, inside of which was the painting of the artist K. Malevich entitled "Black Square".

According to witnesses, the painting was not damaged, as it was evacuated from the scene by museum employee, guide comrade Ivanopulo T.P. and employee of the private security company "Atas" comrade Kutko N.S. and handed over to the museum director comrade Oprya V.P. personally into his hands in his office.

At the police station, after drawing up a protocol, a personal search of the detained citizens was carried out.

From citizen Tsinman S.M. in her headgear (red beret), 3 (three) exhibition items were seized (list attached).

From citizen Shapoval M.E., in the fur skin (fox) thrown over her shoulders - 5 (five) exhibition items (list attached).

From citizen Mamont B.L., in the false chest metal cavities in the form of a mesh, 7 (seven) exhibition items were found (list attached). (The inspection of citizen Mamont B.L. was carried out by the secretary-typist of the station comrade Yarovaya V.I.)

In total, 21 (list attached) exhibition items were seized from all detained citizens, including 12 (list attached) from a mobile refrigerator with ice cream belonging to the saleswoman Korovina S.M., according to whom, "she drove into the museum along with the refrigerator in order to fulfill the plan for selling ice cream to citizens". She cannot explain the presence of exhibition items in her refrigerator, since according to her, she: "got carried away examining the collection and temporarily loosened control over the refrigerator". All exhibition items belong to Combank of Moscow and the museum of fine arts of Odessa.

I would especially like to note that the glass under which the highly valuable painting of the artist K. Malevich "Black Square" was located was bulletproof, nevertheless, according to the conclusion of experts, it was broken by the cane of citizen Funks I.B., a veteran of labor, however, according to the conclusion of the same experts, citizen Funks I.B. himself could not deliver the blow due to physical frailty. It is not possible to get explanations from the latter on this matter, due to his mental incapacity.

Also, an unknown citizen without documents was delivered to the police station from the Langeron beach, claiming that he is an employee of Combank and, allegedly, it was he who brought the collection from Moscow to Odessa. He states that all confirming documents are at his home, but he does not remember his address, since he lives in a private apartment where the museum director comrade Oprya V.P. settled him. Some citizen took him to the beach in his personal transport, which was also provided by the museum director, but he does not know his name, and he did not take his documents for fear of theft of the latter during his swimming in the sea. It is not possible to verify this information, since the museum director comrade Oprya V.P. disappeared in an unknown direction, and the painting from the bank's collection was not found in his office. This citizen, being in a state of extreme excitement, declares that the painting of the artist Malevich entitled "Black Square" costs more than 20 million US dollars on the international market. I consider this statement highly questionable, since according to the description made by the applicant, an ordinary black square is drawn on the painting and one can come to the conclusion that it cannot cost such money.

The investigation continues. Waiting for your instructions.

Head of the ROVD of the Leninsky district Major Zahorudko S. P.

Having found no corpus delicti, and also taking into account the absence of prior convictions and full repentance, a decision was made to limit themselves to fines for disturbing public order and administrative penalties, after which the detained "prisoners of Zion" were released a few days later. The director of the Combank arrived in Odessa from Moscow, confirming the identity of his deputy. They found the apartment of residence and all the documents confirming the identity and credentials of Semen Petrovich. An inventory of the exhibition exhibits belonging to Combank and the museum was carried out. Everything was in place, with the exception of the painting by the artist Kazimir Malevich "Black Square" and... the museum director comrade Oprya V.P. They vanished without a trace!

On the fact of the disappearance of the director and the painting, the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case. A thorough investigation was conducted involving the most experienced investigators. All participants in the events were interrogated - employees of the private security company Yakov Zilberfayn, Nikolai Kutko, museum employee guide Ivanopulo T.P. and other numerous witnesses. No corpus delicti was found in their actions. No traces of the disappeared museum director citizen Oprya V.P. and K. Malevich's painting "Black Square" were found. The investigation hit a dead end.

In connection with the disappearance of the painting and the experiences endured, Semen Petrovich subsequently developed "Associative personality disorders". He was treated for a long time, but unsuccessfully, and finally, having received a disability, was sent to a well-deserved rest.

The residents of Peter the Great Street gradually dispersed to permanent places of residence all over the world, mainly in the USA. Yashka quit his job at the security agency "Atas" and, having received permission three months later, also left with his relatives for permanent residence in America. Political cataclysms led to the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine became an independent state and the traces of this case were lost.

Part Two. The Jewish War.

1991. Moscow.

— Vova, did you understand everything? — the director smoothed his hair, — let's go through the whole chain again. Under the slogan "Art to the Masses", according to an official contract, in your museum we organize an exhibition of art exhibits belonging to Combank. All organizational issues, you, as the museum director, take upon yourself. The collection will be accompanied by a special representative of my bank.

— Is he not dangerous for us? — Vladimir frowned.

— A completely harmless type of pre-retirement age, who worked his whole life for one salary, — the brother smiled, — a dumb servant. You rent an apartment for him and completely remove him from the case. Is everything clear so far?

— Vitya, do I look like an idiot? — the interlocutor smiled, — don't forget that I am your brother.

— Don't sneer, brother, — the bank director frowned, — the matter is serious. Do not forget that this is Kazimir Malevich himself and if everything goes according to plan, we have 20 million "greenbacks" in our pockets, at a minimum. So, we don't get distracted. You hire the guide Ivanopulo to work for you. He has already arrived. Keep in mind, this is a very experienced expert who has been working for the western mafia for many years. On the outside he looks like a simpleton passionate about art, but he is a serious professional. These guys work "to order" for private collectors who do not like publicity. For such deeds they get life sentences in their "wild west". Now, what about the security of your museum? — he asked, — did you resolve the issue?

— Everything is fine with that, — answered the museum worker, — I opened a Private Security Enterprise (ChOP) through a figurehead, and put my man as its director. So, the museum will be "guarded" by our own people.

— Good, — Victor nodded, — now further. The "sarcophagus" in which the painting will stand is custom-made by us from special bulletproof glass. It is impossible to break it, but it has one vulnerable spot. Look here, — he pulled a miniature model of a cube out of his desk and pointed to one of the edges, — when hit at this point, the glass shatters. Only the "guide" must know this, his task will be to get the painting out. Therefore, you need to hit here, — and he pointed his brother to a barely noticeable notch on one of the edges of the cube. Is everything clear?

— And why the "guide", and not my people? — Vladimir asked, — this is dangerous for him.

— This is the condition of our partners, — the banker spread his hands, — they trust no one and must be sure that it is an original. Any questions?

— Tell me, Vitya, — the brother frowned, — why such haste with our operation? We could have prepared more thoroughly for such a matter.

— We have little time, — the director switched to a whisper, — do you follow the political situation? According to my data, — he raised his finger up, — any day now the Union will fall apart and your Ukraine will gain "independence". This is the most convenient time for our action. The Committee members will start an investigation, and then bam, complete collapse. They won't have time for it. Look, they'll close the case.

— Understood, — Vladimir nodded, — you are right as always. Tell me, how and when will we get our money? The sum is huge.

— I have a clear agreement with the customers, — Victor approached his brother closely, — as soon as our painting is in the hands of the guide, the entire amount is deposited into a bank account in a Latin American country. The account is secret, to the bearer. This is our account with you. We will discuss the details with you later.

— And how will they take the painting abroad? — Vladimir did not calm down, — this is the country's heritage.

— Of course, it will be difficult, — the brother spread his hands, — but these are their problems. This should not concern us. You, better closely tackle the development of the plan to "kidnap" the painting from your museum and ensure the security doesn't let us down. That's it, act.

Odessa 1991.

— Tell me, only honestly, — Yashka looked carefully at his friend, — why are you telling me all this? What for?

— Yashka! — Kolya said quietly, — I don't even know what to say. This is the first time this has happened to me. We have known each other since first grade and you know that I have never been an excellent student, a convinced Komsomol member, a sentimental builder of a bright future, etc. I have never worked, I "toil" at Privoz as a thimblerigger and earn a living with a "ball and cups". And here my brother says: — The museum director is giving dough to open a Private Security Enterprise for the security of the museum, offers me to head it and select a team of reliable guys. Like, salary, uniform, and the work isn't dusty. I thought, — Kolya scratched his head, — reasoned, well, why not? How much can you fool people at Privoz? In short, I agreed, and I incited you too. Three days ago our cleaning lady, Aunt Valya, asked me to help clean the ventilation pipe, because it's so stuffy in her closet, it's hard to breathe. Well, I decided to help the old woman, took the keys and in the evening, when there was no one left in the museum, went in and climbed right into the pipe. I look, and there a fan blade is bent and jamming it. And the pipe there is shared with the director's office. And here, I hear a conversation of the boss with someone on the phone, from which I understood that they want to "swipe" some painting from the Combank collection that will be exhibited at our exhibition. And that painting costs some crazy money. He didn't say who will participate in the deal, but he said about one - it's our new tour guide. I heard the director call him an "expert". In short, I "made legs" from there, came home and pondered the situation. You know, it's hard to fool me, I've fooled others all my life. So what turns out, they will steal the painting, and we, as security guards, will answer for everything? We are not in the deal, but we'll be the ones locked up, and for nothing! And this touched me so much! What are my thimbles at "Privoz"? Here is how people steal, by the millions, and substitute others in their place. And I decided - they must be punished! And I told you because you are my friend and I dragged you into this matter. And your brains always worked better than anyone's in the class, I'm sure you will come up with something.

— The painting, you say? — Yashka squinted, — need to think about this, ponder. Gather me all the information Kolya, especially about this "expert". And find out what task your brother received from the director. We'll think.

— So, everyone understands? — Yashka looked at his accomplices, — the exhibition will start in four days. I, through Kolya, my classmate, got a job in a security firm, so, at work I will be in the hall, near the painting. On the instruction of the boss, I must purchase a pedestal on which the glass cube with the painting will stand. I gave you the dimensions of the painting, — he turned to Sema, — so make sure that it can fit inside the pedestal. The door of the nightstand must open easily, we are short on time.

— Who are you teaching? — the uncle took offense, — I've been a carpenter for thirty years. I will make such an "antique" pedestal in my buddy Izka's garage, you'll be rocked. And the door will be secret, don't worry!

— Good, — Yashka nodded and turned to Fima, — did you find the canvas? Keep in mind, it must be old.

— Ha, — his friend smirked, — everything is OK here! You can find the "bald devil" in our attic, so I dug out such a thing! You'll lick your fingers. You know, — he laughed, — my grandfather is an old communist. During the "Soviets" he went to all demonstrations, and always dragged banners. So he, just in case, keeps several old portraits of Soviet party leaders in our attic. So I took one.

— And who is there, in the portrait? — Sema inquired, — who is lucky enough to get into the "square"?

— God knows, — Fima shrugged, — some grandpa, all in medals.

— So, okay, with the grandpa, — Yashka interrupted him, — what about the painting? How is it turning out?

— Yeah, I found some old whitewash there, left after the renovation, bought some paints, diluted something, mixed something, — he sighed, — I paint little by little. Not a big deal, drawing a square, it seems to be working out. I'll show tomorrow.

— Remember men, — Yashka wagged his finger, — everything must be natural. As Kolya understood from the phone conversation of our director with someone...

The plan was set.