20621. ‘Russian’s Amazing Story’
Every year I travel for treatment at a sanatorium on a free pass
given to me by the military as a war invalid. In the middle of this
break I am joined by my wife Tatyana; she cannot abandon our
home and our grandchild for long.
In the autumn of 1977 I received a pass to travel to Khosta.
I found a flat next to the sanatorium for Tatyana; I only had to
cross the road. The weather on that occasion was not so good –
it rained almost every day. Only before our very departure did it
become sunny and warm.
‘It’s Murphy’s law,’ said Tatyana. ‘Such lovely days and we have
to leave. Let’s take a trip up to Sochi?’
Tanya was born in Sochi. Everything there was dear to her
heart, memorable and interesting. Both of us always enjoy these
trips. This time we were wandering round the area where she
spent her childhood, where she went to school. We were tired
of course and dropped in to the Pearl Hotel café to rest our legs
and have a bite to eat at the same time. The café was deserted;
everybody was probably at the beach after so many days of foul
weather.
Almost straight after us two other couples sat down. At one
table sat a cheery young man and woman, while the other was