Alexander Sokolov slowly and languidly loses his gist. Memories are pouring white sand through his not-so-young fingers. Something has been overlooked, something has been left behind because it seemed unnecessary — some important detail, some key. Something had been lost — something of the highest importance, something that would help Alexander find what he needed.
He sits in his office, in the «Sigmund Corp.» building, and loses the point. His head is resting on the desk, on which his computer and a couple office things, along the lines of stacked folders, a stack of papers, and an empty dirty mug, were spread out. The desk itself held even more miscellaneous things. His hands lay side by side, equidistant from his head. Eyes staring deadly somewhere off to the side. There was no desire to do anything. The watch on his left hand showed three days - soon he'd be home and could think it over again.
He won't remember how he ended up here at «Sigmund Corp.» He won't even remember how he came to America. Why would he remember? It's all behind him — that ticket purchase, that flight, that moment of becoming an American resident. That exam, those days of waiting, those results. All that matters is that he's here now.
His first day in this corporation began very cheerfully. The gray corridors seemed to have more colors and shades underneath. Somewhere in the distance some incomprehensible music was playing. He remembers - he is following Dr. Robert Lin down the corridor. Alexander notices a couple - a man with glasses and a woman. They are drinking coffee together and talking about something, either about their own or about their work.
The man with glasses is the first to notice Alexander, causing Robert Lin and Sokolov to stop next to them. Robert introduces Alexander. The woman is slightly pleased at the addition, introducing herself as Eve Rosalene. The man in glasses, standing to her left, shakes the newly minted employee's hand and, smiling, introduces himself as Neil Watts.
From this memory Alexander awakens, abruptly and nervously. He starts trotting around, uttering the same phrases: this isn't it, something's going wrong, I'm missing something. During his search, he opens the desk drawer and pulls out an old, slightly shabby book — an English edition of a modernist grail, "A School for Fools" by Sasha Sokolov (with both the name and the surname, Alexander had little luck), edition of 1977, on the first page of which is written: "Коля, позвони когда получишь" (Kolya, call me when you'll recieve it).
Comprehension and substance were finally lost. In irritation, Alexander throws the book on the table. At the same moment there is a knock on the office door. Alexander gives permission to enter and the door is ajar. Dr. Eve Rosalene peeks into the office. Holding on to the door, she hesitates to go inside at first.
Eve wanted to ask Alexander about the documentation, but Alexander immediately says that all the documents are now with Dr. Robert Lin for review, and that all questions should now go to him. Eve replies that this is not the case, and walks into the office, holding a couple of documents in her other hand, for signature. Alexander pushed the book aside and put the documents in front of him. Reading carefully, he picked up a pen. While he was reading, Eve noticed the book on his desk. Goes around to read the title.
Alexander notices Eve's interest in the book out of the corner of his eye, and lets her take it to read, on the condition that she be sure to return it. Eve slowly takes the book and reads the cover again. She notes the similarity of the names and surnames of the writer and her colleague. Alexander replies that she is not the first to note this similarity.
Eve notices this slight irritation haunting his voice and asks him of it, thinking something has happened to him. Alexander calmly replies: maybe, maybe not. With his light hand he signs both documents and gives them to Eve. Before she leaves, he asks if she will take the book, to which Eve replies that she will take it another time. She puts the book back on the table and leaves, closing the door behind her.
And so Alexander is once again plunged into loneliness. Irritation and misunderstanding return to him, previously hidden. He is once again fidgeting around, trying to figure out what he has missed. His nervous system is slowly burning out - soon there will be only smoldering remnants of it. Very quickly Alexander gives up any attempt to understand anything, returns to his seat, puts on his headphones and turns on music to drown out everything in his head.