1. Second Artists' Association
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2. Alisa Freindlikh
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3. Aleksandr Kaidanovsky
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4. Anatoly Solonitsyn
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5. Nikolai Grinko
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6. in the film
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7. Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky
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8. Adapted from the novel
Roadside Picnic
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9. Andrei Tarkovsky
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10. Alexander Knyazhinsky
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11. Andrei Tarkovsky
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12. Eduard Artemyev
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13. L. Tarkovskaya
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14. Poems by F.I. Tiutchev
and Arseny Tarkovsky
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15. V. Sharun
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16. E. Khachturyan
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17. V. Lvov
Film Editing: L. Feyginova
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18. N. Fomina
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19. "Was it a meteorite
or a visitation from outer space?
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20. Whatever it was, in our small country,
there appeared a miracle — the Zone.
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21. We sent in troops. Not one returned.
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22. Then we surrounded the Zone
with a security cordon.
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23. We did right...
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24. Although I'm not sure. I'm not sure."
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25. From an interview with Nobel Prize winner
Professor Wallace to an RAI correspondent.
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26. Why did you take my watch?
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27. Where are you going?
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28. You gave me your word. I believed you.
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29. You won't think of yourself.
But what about us?
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30. Think about your daughter.
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31. She's not even used to you yet,
and you're going back to your old ways.
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32. You've turned me into an old hag,
ruined my life.
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33. Quiet. You'll wake up Monkey.
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34. I can't spend my life waiting for you.
I'll die.
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35. You were going to get proper work.
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36. They promised you a decent, normal job.
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37. I'll be back soon.
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38. You'll be back in prison.
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39. Next time, they'll give you ten years
instead of five.
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40. And you'll have nothing to show
for those ten years.
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41. Not the Zone, not anything.
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42. And in ten years, I'll be dead.
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43. "Prison"? I'm imprisoned everywhere.
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44. - Let me go.
- I won't let you go.
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45. - Let me go.
- I won't!
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46. Go on, then!
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47. And may you rot there!
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48. I curse the day I met you, you scum!
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49. God cursed you by sending you that child.
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50. And he cursed me because of you.
You bastard!
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51. My dear, the world
is so unutterably boring.
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52. There's no telepathy, no ghosts,
no flying saucers.
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53. They can't exist.
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54. The world is ruled by cast-iron laws.
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55. These laws are not broken.
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56. They just can't be broken.
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57. Don't hope for flying saucers.
That would be too interesting.
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58. But what about the Bermuda Triangle?
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59. - You're not going to contradict...
- Yes, I am.
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60. There is no Bermuda Triangle.
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61. There's Triangle ABC,
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62. which equals
Triangle A prime, B prime, C prime.
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63. It's all so tedious, so very tedious.
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64. In the Middle Ages, life was interesting.
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65. Every house had its goblin,
each church had God.
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66. People were young.
Now every fourth person is old.
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67. It's boring, my angel. It's so boring.
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68. But you said that the Zone is the product
of a super civilization —
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69. Which is probably also boring,
also with laws and triangles,
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70. but without goblins
and, of course, without any God.
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71. Because if there is a God,
he'll be that very triangle.
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72. Then I simply don't know.
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73. It's for me. Good-bye, dear friend.
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74. This fine lady agreed
to go with us into the Zone.
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75. She's so brave. Her name is —
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76. Excuse me, what is your name?
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77. Are you really a stalker?
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78. I'll explain everything later.
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79. Get lost.
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80. An idiot.
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81. So you've been drinking?
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82. I simply had a drink,
as does half of all humanity.
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83. And the other half also gets drunk,
including women and children.
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84. I simply had a drink.
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85. Damn it! Someone spilled something.
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86. Drink. It's still early.
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87. How about one for the road?
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88. What do you think?
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89. - Take it away.
- Of course, the prohibition law.
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90. "Alcohol is the scourge of mankind."
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91. Let's drink beer then.
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92. Is he coming with us?
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93. Don't worry. He'll sober up.
He needs to go there, too.
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94. - Are you really a professor?
- If you wish.
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95. In that case, let me introduce myself.
My name is —
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96. They call him the Writer.
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97. And what's my name?
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98. You're the professor.
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99. Of course.
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100. I'm a writer, so naturally
everyone calls me the Writer.
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101. - What do you write about?
- About my readers.
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102. No sense in writing about anything else.
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103. There's no sense
in writing about anything.
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104. What are you? A chemist?
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105. I'd say a physicist.
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106. That's probably tedious, too.
Searching for the truth.
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107. You dig here and there.
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108. Right. The nucleus consists of protons.
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109. That's a good dig.
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110. Triangle ABC
equals Triangle A prime, B prime, C prime.
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111. But with me, it's a different matter.
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112. I dig for the truth, but, while I do,
something happens to it.
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113. The truth changes into a pile of —
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114. I won't say what.
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115. It's just fine for you.
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116. Say there's some antique pot in a museum.
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117. In its own time, it was a trash bin.
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118. But now it draws admiration for
its simplicity of line and unique form.
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119. And everyone oohs and aahs over it.
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120. Suddenly, it turns out
not to be an antique at all.
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121. It was planted by some joker for a laugh.
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122. The sounds of admiration die away.
Some connoisseurs!
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123. This is what you think about all the time?
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124. God forbid.
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125. I seldom think. It's bad for me.
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126. It's impossible to write and keep
thinking about success or failure.
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127. Naturlich.
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128. But on the other hand, if my books
aren't being read in 100 years,
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129. why bother to write?
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130. Tell me, Professor, why did you
get involved in this business?
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131. What's the Zone to you?
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132. Well, in a sense, I'm a scientist.
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133. What's in it for you?
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134. A fashionable author...
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135. women draped all over you.
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136. I've lost my inspiration.
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137. I'm going to beg for some.
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138. So you've exhausted your talent?
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139. What? Yes, in a way.
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140. Do you hear that? That's our train.
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141. - Did you take the top off the car?
- It's off.
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142. Rueger.
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143. If I don't come back, tell my wife.
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144. Damn! I forgot to buy cigarettes.
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145. Don't go back.
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146. - What is it?
- Well...
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147. - You're all like that.
- Like what?
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148. You believe any superstitious rubbish.
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149. I'll have to save these for a rainy day.
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150. Are you really a scientist?
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151. Get down!
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152. Keep still!
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153. See if anyone's there.
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154. Hurry, for God's sake!
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155. There's nobody here.
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156. Go to the other door.
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157. Get going, Writer.
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158. Keep your eyes open.
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159. Did you bring the gasoline can?
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160. Yes. A full one.
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161. What I said about going there...
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162. It's all a lie.
I don't give a damn about inspiration.
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163. But how can I put a name to...
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164. what it is that I want?
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165. How am I to know I don't want what I want
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166. or that I really don't want
what I don't want?
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167. These are intangibles where
the moment you name them,
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168. their meaning evaporates
like jellyfish in the sun.
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169. You've seen them around.
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170. My consciousness
wants the triumph of vegetarianism.
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171. My subconscious longs for a juicy steak.
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172. So what do I want?
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173. I want world supremacy, at the very least.
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174. Why do they need a train in the Zone?
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175. It won't go beyond the military post.
The guards won't venture in there.
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176. Everyone in their places?
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177. Hurry!
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178. Listen. Go and see
if there's a railcar there.
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179. - What railcar?
- Hurry up!
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180. Get back. I'll go.
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181. The gasoline can.
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182. Give it to me.
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183. Leave your rucksack. It's in the way.
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184. I see you're traveling light.
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185. If anyone's hit, don't cry out.
If they spot you, they'll kill you.
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186. Then when everything's quiet,
crawl back to the post.
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187. You'll be picked up later.
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188. Won't they come after us?
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189. No, they're scared to death of it.
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190. Of what?
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191. Here we are, home at last.
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192. It's so still.
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193. It's the quietest place on earth.
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194. You'll see for yourself.
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195. It's so beautiful. There's no one here.
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196. We're here.
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197. Three men can't foul it up in one day.
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198. Why can't we? Sure we can.
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199. Strange, the flowers have no scent.
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200. Don't you feel it?
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201. It stinks like a swamp.
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202. No, that's the river.
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203. There used to be flower beds here,
but Porcupine trampled on them.
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204. But their scent lingered on
for many years.
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205. Why did he wipe them out?
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206. I don't know.
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207. I asked him why.
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208. He said, "One day, you'll understand."
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209. I think he simply began to hate the Zone.
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210. Is Porcupine his real name?
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211. No, a nickname. Like yours.
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212. For years he brought people into the Zone,
and nobody could stop him.
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213. He was my teacher.
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214. He opened my eyes.
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215. They didn't call him Porcupine then,
but Teacher.
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216. Then something happened to him.
Something broke inside him.
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217. I think he was being punished.
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218. Help me. Tie the bandage strips
to these metal nuts.
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219. I'll just take a walk.
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220. I need...
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221. Be careful when you walk here.
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222. Where did he go?
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223. Perhaps he just wants to be alone.
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224. Why? Even with three of us here,
I feel uneasy.
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225. He's back in the Zone.
Remember, he's a stalker.
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226. What of it?
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227. You see, stalking is a kind of vocation.
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228. - I imagined stalkers to be different.
- How so?
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229. Like Leatherstocking
or Chingachgook or Big Snake.
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230. Our stalker's biography
is more terrifying.
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231. He was in prison several times,
and he was crippled here.
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232. His daughter is a mutant,
a so-called Zone victim.
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233. They say she has no legs.
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234. What did he mean about the Porcupine?
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235. What did he mean he was punished?
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236. What is that, a figure of speech?
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237. One fine day,
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238. Porcupine returned from this place
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239. and suddenly became rich.
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240. Incredibly rich.
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241. You call that a punishment?
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242. Within a week, he had hanged himself.
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243. - Why?
- Quiet!
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244. What is it?
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245. About 20 years ago,
they say a meteorite fell here.
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246. It razed the settlement.
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247. They searched for it,
but they found nothing, of course.
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248. Why "of course"?
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249. Then people began to vanish.
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250. Finally, it was decided —
- Well?
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251. Finally, it was decided
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252. that this meteorite
was not quite a meteorite.
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253. So, for a start...
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254. they put up barbed wire to stop
the inquisitive taking risks.
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255. Then rumors began that somewhere
in the Zone there's a place...
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256. where desires come true.
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257. Well, naturally, they started
to guard the Zone like a treasure.
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258. For who knows what desires
a person might have?
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259. What was it if it wasn't a meteorite?
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260. Nobody knows.
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261. But what do you think it was?
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262. I don't have any idea.
It could have been anything.
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263. A message to mankind,
as a colleague of mine says.
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264. Or a gift.
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265. Some gift.
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266. Why would they want to do that?
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267. To make us happy.
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268. The flowers are blooming again,
but they've no scent.
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269. Forgive me for leaving you here,
but it was too early to go on.
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270. Did you hear that?
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271. - Maybe there are people living here.
- Who?
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272. You told me the story yourself.
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273. Those travelers who were here
when the Zone appeared.
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274. There's no one in the Zone.
There can't be.
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275. Are we ready to start?
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276. How do we get back?
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277. - Nobody finds their way back from here.
- What do you mean?
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278. We'll proceed as agreed.
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279. Each time, I'll point out the path.
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280. It's dangerous to veer from it.
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281. Keep the last pole in sight.
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282. You go first, Professor.
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283. Now you.
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284. Try to follow in his tracks.
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285. Lord! Where's —
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286. Did they remain here, the people?
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287. Nobody knows.
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288. I only recall them leaving
from our station to come here to the Zone.
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289. I was still a kid then.
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290. Everyone thought
someone wanted to conquer us.
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291. Go on, Professor.
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292. Now you, Writer.
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293. The Room is over there.
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294. We go this way.
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295. Are you trying to make it seem hard?
You can almost wrap your arms around it.
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296. Yes, but you need very long arms.
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297. We don't have it.
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298. Leave it!
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299. Don't — Don't touch it!
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300. I said don't touch it!
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301. What, are you crazy?
What was that for?
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302. I said this wasn't the place for a stroll.
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303. The Zone demands respect,
otherwise it'll punish you.
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304. Don't try anything like that again.
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305. Has the cat got your tongue?
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306. - I asked you not to.
- Do we go this way?
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307. Yes. To the left.
But we don't go in a direct line.
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308. We'll go roundabout.
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309. Why?
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310. Here, the straight path isn't shortest.
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311. The more indirect, the less risk there is.
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312. Is it fatal to go straight ahead?
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313. - I told you. It's dangerous.
- Is the detour less dangerous?
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314. It's not, but nobody goes straight...
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315. You and your detours!
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316. - How about if I just go straight?
- Listen. You —
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317. Why can't we go straight ahead?
It's right under our noses.
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318. It's risky here, risky there.
What the hell.
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319. You know your attitude about this
is very irresponsible.
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320. I'm fed up with your nuts and bandages.
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321. Forget it. I'm going this way.
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322. - The man's crazy.
- And I return the compliment.
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323. May I?
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324. The wind is rising.
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325. Do you feel it? The grass...
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326. Okay, all the more reason.
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327. What do you mean?
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328. - Hold it.
- Take your hands off me.
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329. All right.
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330. Then let the professor be my witness.
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331. I'm didn't send you in there.
You're going of your own free will.
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332. Of my own free will. What else?
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333. Nothing. Go on.
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334. And hope to God you're lucky.
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335. Listen!
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336. If you suddenly notice something
or feel something strange,
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337. turn right back.
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338. Just don't throw a lump of iron
at my head.
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339. Stop! Don't move!
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340. - Why did you do that?
- Do what?
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341. Why did you stop him?
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342. I thought you did.
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343. What happened? Why did you stop me?
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344. - I didn't stop you.
- Who did then?
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345. You?
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346. What the hell.
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347. You're a fine one, Mr. Shakespeare.
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348. Afraid to advance, ashamed to retreat.
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349. So you order yourself to stop
in a false voice.
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350. Fear's sobered you up.
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351. - What?
- Shut up.
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352. - Why'd you empty my bottle?
- I demand discipline!
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353. The Zone is...
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354. a very complex maze of traps.
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355. All of them are death traps.
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356. I don't know what happens here
when humans aren't around.
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357. But as soon as humans appear,
everything begins to change.
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358. Former traps disappear, new ones appear.
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359. Safe ways become impassable.
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360. The way becomes now easy,
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361. now confused beyond words.
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362. This is the Zone.
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363. It might seem capricious.
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364. But at each moment, it's as if we construct it
according to our state of mind.
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365. I won't hide the fact that some people
turned back half-way.
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366. Some perished
on the threshold of the Room.
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367. But everything that happens here
depends on us.
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368. So the Zone lets the good through
and kills the evil?
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369. I don't know. I don't believe that.
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370. I think it lets through
those who've lost all hope.
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371. Not the good or the bad, but the unhappy.
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372. But even the most unhappy will perish
if they don't know how to behave here.
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373. You're lucky. The Zone warned you.
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374. If you don't mind,
I'll wait here till you come back.
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375. You'll return happy men.
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376. - That's impossible.
- Believe me.
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377. I've got sandwiches and a thermos.
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378. - First, you won't survive an hour.
- And second?
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379. What's more,
nobody returns the same way.
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380. All the same, I'd prefer it.
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381. Then we'll go back immediately.
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382. I'll refund your money
minus a small sum for my trouble.
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383. Sobered up, Professor?
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384. All right. Toss the metal nut.
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385. Part Two
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386. Where are you? Come here!
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387. Are you tired?
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388. Oh, Lord.
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389. Judging by his tone of voice,
he'll lecture us again.
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390. May everything come true.
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391. May they believe.
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392. And may they laugh at their own passions.
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393. For what they call passion
is not really the energy of the soul,
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394. but merely friction between the soul
and the outside world.
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395. But, above all, may they believe
in themselves
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396. and become as helpless as children.
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397. For softness is great
and strength is worthless.
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398. When a man is born,
he is soft and pliable.
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399. When he dies, he is strong and hard.
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400. When a tree grows, it is soft and pliable.
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401. But when it is dry and hard, it dies.
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402. Hardness and strength
are death's companions.
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403. Flexibility and softness
are the embodiment of life.
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404. That which has become hard
shall not triumph.
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405. Come here.
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406. It will fit very well.
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407. Soon we'll reach the dry tunnel.
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408. Careful. Don't jinx us.
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409. - Are we already on our way?
- Of course. Why?
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410. I thought you only wanted
to show us something.
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411. - What about my rucksack?
- What happened to it?
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412. I left it back there.
I didn't know we were going.
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413. - It can't be helped.
- Why not?
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414. - I've got to go back.
- It's not possible.
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415. - I can't go without my rucksack.
- There's no going back.
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416. Nobody goes back
the same way they came.
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417. Forget your rucksack.
What's in it? Diamonds?
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418. You'll lose your way.
The Room will give you all you desire.
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419. It will snow you under with rucksacks.
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420. Is it far to this Room?
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421. Straight ahead, 200 meters,
but there are no direct paths.
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422. Let's go.
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423. Don't let doubt creep in, Professor.
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424. Miracles are outside your experience.
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425. Remember how St. Peter nearly drowned.
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426. Go, Writer.
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427. - Go where?
- Down the ladder.
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428. Professor, where are you?
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429. - This is the dry tunnel.
- You call this dry?
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430. It's a local joke.
Usually we have to swim it.
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431. Wait. Where's the professor?
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432. - What?
- The professor's lost.
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433. Professor! Professor!
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434. He was following you the entire time.
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435. He must have strayed and lost his way.
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436. He didn't lose his way.
He went back for his rucksack.
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437. Now he'll never get out.
Copy !req
438. - Shall we wait for him?
- We can't. Things change every minute.
Copy !req
439. The two of us must go on.
Copy !req
440. Look! What's all this?
Copy !req
441. - I told you about it.
- About what?
Copy !req
442. This is the Zone. Do you understand?
Copy !req
443. We have to hurry. Let's go.
Copy !req
444. Here he is.
Copy !req
445. I really appreciate that you...
Copy !req
446. How did you get here?
Copy !req
447. Most of the way, I crawled on all fours.
Copy !req
448. Incredible.
How did you manage to overtake us?
Copy !req
449. Overtake you?
Copy !req
450. I came back here for my rucksack.
Copy !req
451. Where did the metal nut come from?
Copy !req
452. My God.
Copy !req
453. It's a trap.
Copy !req
454. Porcupine hung it here on purpose.
Copy !req
455. How did the Zone let us through?
Copy !req
456. Lord.
Copy !req
457. I won't take another step until —
Copy !req
458. A good deal.
Copy !req
459. Enough.
Copy !req
460. So.
Copy !req
461. We'll all rest here.
Copy !req
462. But keep away
from that metal nut in any case.
Copy !req
463. I didn't think Professor would get out.
Copy !req
464. I never know what sort of people
I'm bringing in.
Copy !req
465. It's only in here that things
become clear, when it's too late.
Copy !req
466. The main thing is that the professor's
rucksack and spare pants are safe.
Copy !req
467. Don't poke your nose
into another guy's drawers,
Copy !req
468. if you know what I mean.
Copy !req
469. What's there to understand?
Copy !req
470. Don't pull my leg with your binomial theorem
and your psychological explanations.
Copy !req
471. We're out of favor at the institute.
Copy !req
472. We're refused funds for an expedition.
Copy !req
473. So let's fill the rucksack
with manometers, shit-ometers...
Copy !req
474. slip into the Zone illegally...
Copy !req
475. and check all the local miracles
with algebra.
Copy !req
476. No one in the world
has any conception about the Zone,
Copy !req
477. so it'll be a sensation.
Copy !req
478. Television,
your lady fans getting hot flashes,
Copy !req
479. people carrying brooms
as if they were laurel wreaths.
Copy !req
480. Then our professor appears all in white
and declaims,
Copy !req
481. "Mene, mene. Tekel upharsin."
Copy !req
482. Naturally, everyone gapes and shouts,
"Give him the Nobel Prize!"
Copy !req
483. You bedraggled hack writer.
You homegrown psychologist.
Copy !req
484. Fit only to scribble graffiti
in lavatories, you talentless clod.
Copy !req
485. That's feeble stuff. Call that an insult?
Copy !req
486. You don't know how it's done.
Copy !req
487. All right.
Suppose I'm after a Nobel Prize.
Copy !req
488. What are you after?
Copy !req
489. Want to bestow on mankind
the pearls of your bought inspiration?
Copy !req
490. I spit on mankind.
Copy !req
491. In all of your mankind,
only one man interests me.
Copy !req
492. And that's me.
Copy !req
493. Am I worth anything,
or am I shit like certain other people?
Copy !req
494. What if you find out
that's indeed what you are?
Copy !req
495. Know something, Einstein?
I don't want to argue with you.
Copy !req
496. Truth is born in arguments, damn it.
Copy !req
497. Listen, Chingachgook.
Copy !req
498. You've brought so many people here.
Copy !req
499. Not as many as I would like.
Copy !req
500. It doesn't matter.
Copy !req
501. Why did they come? What were they after?
Copy !req
502. Happiness, more than anything.
Copy !req
503. Yes, but what kind of happiness?
Copy !req
504. People don't like to reveal
their innermost thoughts.
Copy !req
505. Anyway, that concerns neither you nor me.
Copy !req
506. You've been lucky.
Copy !req
507. All my life, I have never seen
one happy person.
Copy !req
508. Nor have I.
Copy !req
509. They return from the Room,
and I guide them back.
Copy !req
510. And we never meet again.
Copy !req
511. Wishes don't come true immediately,
you know.
Copy !req
512. And you've never wanted
to make use of this Room?
Copy !req
513. I'm fine as I am.
Copy !req
514. Professor, listen.
Copy !req
515. I'm thinking about inspiration you can buy.
Copy !req
516. Suppose I return to our godforsaken city
a genius. Understand?
Copy !req
517. But a man writes because he's tormented,
unsure of himself.
Copy !req
518. He has to keep proving his worth
to himself and to others.
Copy !req
519. But if I'm convinced I'm a genius...
Copy !req
520. then why do I need to write?
Copy !req
521. What's the deal?
Copy !req
522. Anyway, I must say we exist in order to —
Copy !req
523. Just leave me in peace.
Copy !req
524. Let me nap a little.
I didn't sleep all last night.
Copy !req
525. Keep your complexes to yourself.
Copy !req
526. At any rate, all your technology —
Copy !req
527. all those blast furnaces, wheels...
Copy !req
528. and suchlike hustle and bustle
Copy !req
529. so that people can work less
and consume more...
Copy !req
530. they're all crutches, artificial limbs.
Copy !req
531. Mankind exists in order to —
Copy !req
532. to create works of art.
Copy !req
533. At least that's unselfish
compared with all other human activities.
Copy !req
534. Great illusions. Images of absolute truth.
Copy !req
535. Are you listening to me, Professor?
Copy !req
536. What unselfishness are you talking about?
Copy !req
537. People keep dying of hunger.
Have you been living on the moon?
Copy !req
538. And this is our intellectual aristocracy.
Copy !req
539. You're unable to think in abstract terms.
Copy !req
540. Why don't you teach me
the meaning of life...
Copy !req
541. and, at the same time, how to think.
Copy !req
542. It's useless.
Copy !req
543. You may be a professor,
but you're ignorant.
Copy !req
544. "And, lo, there was a great earthquake;
Copy !req
545. And the sun became black
as sackcloth of hair...
Copy !req
546. and the moon became as blood;
Copy !req
547. And the stars of heaven
fell unto the earth,
Copy !req
548. even as a fig tree casts its unripe figs
Copy !req
549. when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
Copy !req
550. And the heavens departed as a scroll;
Copy !req
551. and every mountain and island
was moved out of its place.
Copy !req
552. And the kings of the earth
and the great men
Copy !req
553. and the rich men and the generals
and the mighty men...
Copy !req
554. and all free men
hid themselves in the dens
Copy !req
555. and in the rocks of the mountains;
Copy !req
556. And they said to the mountains and rocks,
Copy !req
557. 'Fall on us and hide us from
the face of him that sits on the throne,
Copy !req
558. and from the wrath of the Lamb.
Copy !req
559. For the great day of his wrath has come,
Copy !req
560. and who shall be able to stand?'"
Copy !req
561. "That same day...
Copy !req
562. two of them...
Copy !req
563. were going to a village called Emmaus.
Copy !req
564. And it came to pass
Copy !req
565. that Jesus himself drew near
and walked with them,
Copy !req
566. but they did not recognize him.
Copy !req
567. 'What manner of discussions are these...
Copy !req
568. that you have one to another
as you walk and are sad?'
Copy !req
569. And one of them, named" —
Copy !req
570. You awake?
Copy !req
571. You were talking about
the meaning of our life...
Copy !req
572. the unselfishness of art.
Copy !req
573. Now, take music.
Copy !req
574. It's connected least of all with reality.
Copy !req
575. Or, if connected, then it's without ideas.
Copy !req
576. It's merely empty sound
without associations.
Copy !req
577. Nevertheless, music miraculously
penetrates your very soul.
Copy !req
578. What chord in us
responds to its harmonies...
Copy !req
579. transforming it
into a source of delight,
Copy !req
580. uniting us and shattering us?
Copy !req
581. Why is all this necessary?
And, above all, for whom?
Copy !req
582. You'll reply, "For no one and no reason."
Copy !req
583. No. I doubt that.
Copy !req
584. For everything in the final reckoning
has a meaning.
Copy !req
585. A meaning and a reason.
Copy !req
586. You mean we go there?
Copy !req
587. Unfortunately, there's no other way.
Copy !req
588. It's rather gloomy, eh, Professor?
Copy !req
589. I don't think I should go first here.
Copy !req
590. Big Snake never volunteers.
Copy !req
591. Obviously, we'll have to draw lots.
Copy !req
592. Here, I'd prefer some volunteer.
Copy !req
593. Got any matches?
Copy !req
594. Thanks.
Copy !req
595. The long match goes first.
Copy !req
596. The long one.
Copy !req
597. This time, you were out of luck.
Copy !req
598. How about throwing a metal nut?
Copy !req
599. Of course. You're welcome to.
Copy !req
600. Another one?
Copy !req
601. All right.
Copy !req
602. I'm going.
Copy !req
603. Hurry, Professor.
Copy !req
604. Over here.
Copy !req
605. There's some sort of door over here.
Copy !req
606. Now it's over there.
Copy !req
607. Open the door and go in.
Copy !req
608. Me again? I should go in there?
Copy !req
609. You drew your lot.
Copy !req
610. You mustn't hang about.
Copy !req
611. What have you got there?
Copy !req
612. You can't go in there with a gun!
Copy !req
613. You'll be killed, and you'll doom us!
Copy !req
614. Remember the tanks!
Copy !req
615. Put it away, I beg you.
Copy !req
616. Don't you understand?
Copy !req
617. If anything happens, I can get you out.
Copy !req
618. But like this —
Copy !req
619. Please, I beg you. And who —
Copy !req
620. Who will you shoot at in there?
Copy !req
621. Go! We've very little time.
Copy !req
622. There's water here.
Copy !req
623. Never mind. Hold onto the rail.
Copy !req
624. Don't go any farther.
Wait for us up there by the exit.
Copy !req
625. I hope you've nothing like that.
Copy !req
626. - Like what?
- Like a pistol.
Copy !req
627. I've an ampoule, for an emergency.
Copy !req
628. - What kind of ampoule?
- For protection. Poison.
Copy !req
629. Good God, you mean you came here to die?
Copy !req
630. That's how it is, just in case.
Copy !req
631. Back!
Copy !req
632. Return, it's suicide!
Copy !req
633. I told you to wait at the exit.
Copy !req
634. Don't move!
Copy !req
635. It's all because of your pipe.
Copy !req
636. - What?
- Never mind.
Copy !req
637. You should have gone first.
Copy !req
638. He took the wrong turn out of fright.
Copy !req
639. Another experiment.
Copy !req
640. Experiments, facts or truth
as a last resort.
Copy !req
641. But there's no such things as facts,
especially here.
Copy !req
642. All this is someone's idiotic invention.
Copy !req
643. Can't you tell?
Copy !req
644. You, of course,
want to know whose invention.
Copy !req
645. What good will it do you to know?
Copy !req
646. Whose conscience will be bothered by it?
Mine?
Copy !req
647. I have no conscience, only nerves.
Copy !req
648. Some bastard abuses you, you're hurt.
Copy !req
649. A different bastard praises you, you're hurt.
Copy !req
650. You put your heart and soul
into your work, and they devour you.
Copy !req
651. They even devour the filth in your soul.
Copy !req
652. They're all literate.
Copy !req
653. They all have voracious appetites.
Copy !req
654. They all keep crowding round —
journalists, editors, critics,
Copy !req
655. a constant stream of women.
Copy !req
656. All of them clamoring for more.
Copy !req
657. What kind of writer am I...
Copy !req
658. if I detest writing?
Copy !req
659. If it's torture for me,
a painful, shameful occupation,
Copy !req
660. something akin to extruding hemorrhoids.
Copy !req
661. I used to think my books
helped some people to become better,
Copy !req
662. but nobody needs me.
Copy !req
663. If I die, in a couple days,
they'll find someone else to devour.
Copy !req
664. I wanted to change them,
Copy !req
665. but they've changed me
to fit their own image.
Copy !req
666. Once, the future was only
a continuation of the present.
Copy !req
667. All its changes loomed somewhere
beyond the horizon.
Copy !req
668. But now the future's
a part of the present.
Copy !req
669. Are they prepared for this?
Copy !req
670. They don't want to know anything.
All they do is gobble.
Copy !req
671. You certainly are lucky.
Copy !req
672. Now you'll live to be a hundred.
Copy !req
673. Why not forever?
Copy !req
674. Like the Wandering Jew.
Copy !req
675. You must surely be a fine person.
Copy !req
676. Not that I doubted it.
Copy !req
677. You must have been through such agony.
Copy !req
678. This pipe is the most terrible part
of the Zone.
Copy !req
679. They call it the meat grinder.
How many people has it ground up?
Copy !req
680. Porcupine sent his brother through
instead of himself.
Copy !req
681. He was so sensitive, so gifted.
Copy !req
682. Listen to this.
Copy !req
683. Now the summer is passed,
it might never have been;
Copy !req
684. It is warm in the sun,
but it isn't enough;
Copy !req
685. All that I could attain,
like a five-fingered leaf,
Copy !req
686. fell straight into my hand,
but it isn't enough;
Copy !req
687. Neither evil nor good
has yet vanished in vain;
Copy !req
688. It all burned and was light,
but it isn't enough;
Copy !req
689. Life has been like a shield
and has offered protection;
Copy !req
690. I have been very lucky,
but it isn't enough;
Copy !req
691. The leaves were not burned,
the boughs were not broken;
Copy !req
692. The day shines like glass,
but it isn't enough.
Copy !req
693. Fine, isn't it? That's his poem.
Copy !req
694. Why are you evading things? "Fine" indeed!
Copy !req
695. It makes me sick to look at you.
Copy !req
696. You can't imagine how glad I am
that we made it.
Copy !req
697. Your conduct was exemplary.
Copy !req
698. You're fine, honest men.
I'm proud I was right.
Copy !req
699. So he's happy we got back.
So happy he could choke.
Copy !req
700. Fate! Zone! So I'm a fine fellow.
Copy !req
701. Do you think I didn't see you
offer me two long matches?
Copy !req
702. - You don't understand.
- No, of course not.
Copy !req
703. I'm sorry, Professor, but this louse
chose you as his favorite.
Copy !req
704. What are you going on about?
Copy !req
705. He shoved me into the pipe
because I'm a second-rate person.
Copy !req
706. Meat grinder! What a word!
Copy !req
707. What right have you to choose who lives,
who goes into the meat grinder?
Copy !req
708. You made the choice.
Copy !req
709. What choice did I have —
one of two long matchsticks?
Copy !req
710. Forget the matches.
Copy !req
711. Back by the metal nut,
the Zone let you through
Copy !req
712. to pass through the meat grinder.
Copy !req
713. - Is that for you?
- Who knows?
Copy !req
714. I never choose. You can't imagine how
terrible it is to make the wrong choice.
Copy !req
715. But someone has to go first.
Copy !req
716. Yes? No, this isn't the clinic.
Copy !req
717. Someone has to go first!
How would you like it?
Copy !req
718. Don't touch it!
Copy !req
719. - Yes?
- Laboratory Nine, please.
Copy !req
720. One minute.
Copy !req
721. I'm listening.
Copy !req
722. - I hope I haven't disturbed you.
- What do you want?
Copy !req
723. Just a few words.
Copy !req
724. You hid it. I found it
in the old building, Bunker 4.
Copy !req
725. - Are you listening?
- I'll inform the security service.
Copy !req
726. Go on! Inform on me, write a denunciation.
Copy !req
727. Set my colleagues against me.
But you're late.
Copy !req
728. I'm just two steps away
from the place itself.
Copy !req
729. Are you listening to me?
Copy !req
730. You realize
this finishes you as a scientist?
Copy !req
731. So be happy.
Copy !req
732. Do you realize what happens if you dare?
Copy !req
733. Trying to scare me again?
Copy !req
734. Yes, all my life I've been scared.
Even of you.
Copy !req
735. You don't scare me anymore.
Copy !req
736. My God, you're not even Herostratus.
Copy !req
737. You just wanted to trip me up because,
20 years ago, I slept with your wife.
Copy !req
738. You've finally managed
to settle the score.
Copy !req
739. Go on, do your dirty work.
Copy !req
740. Don't dare hang up on me.
Copy !req
741. Prison isn't the worst thing
that awaits you.
Copy !req
742. You'll never forgive yourself for this.
Copy !req
743. I can see you hanging from your belt
over a prison latrine.
Copy !req
744. What are you up to, Professor?
Copy !req
745. Imagine what will happen
when everyone believes in this Room...
Copy !req
746. and when they all come hurrying here.
Copy !req
747. It's only a question of time.
Not today, but tomorrow.
Copy !req
748. And in the thousands.
Copy !req
749. All these would-be emperors,
grand inquisitors,
Copy !req
750. fuhrers of all shades.
Copy !req
751. The so-called saviors of mankind!
Copy !req
752. And not for money or inspiration,
but to remake the world.
Copy !req
753. - I'll never bring that sort here.
- What do you understand?
Copy !req
754. You're not the only stalker in the world.
Copy !req
755. No stalker knows what ideas the people
you bring here take away with them.
Copy !req
756. The number of motiveless crimes
is growing.
Copy !req
757. Isn't that your work?
Copy !req
758. What about the military coups?
Copy !req
759. The mafia in the governments,
couldn't they be your clients?
Copy !req
760. What about the lasers,
Copy !req
761. the deadly bacteria hidden away
in vaults for the time being?
Copy !req
762. Stop this sociological drivel!
Copy !req
763. Do you really believe
in these fairy tales?
Copy !req
764. Not in the good ones,
but in the terrifying ones, yes.
Copy !req
765. Just stop it.
Copy !req
766. No single individual can have
enough hatred or love
Copy !req
767. to spread over all mankind.
Copy !req
768. You desire money, a woman.
Or you want your boss to get run over.
Copy !req
769. That's neither here nor there.
Copy !req
770. But world domination, a just society,
Copy !req
771. the kingdom of heaven on earth.
Copy !req
772. Those aren't desires,
but an ideology, actions, concepts.
Copy !req
773. Subconscious compassion
cannot yet be realized
Copy !req
774. as a common instinctive desire.
Copy !req
775. You can't be happy at the expense
of others' unhappiness.
Copy !req
776. I see you've decided to smash humanity
with some inconceivable boon.
Copy !req
777. Yet I'm completely calm.
Copy !req
778. I'm not worried about you or myself
or mankind.
Copy !req
779. Nothing will come of it.
Copy !req
780. At best,
you'll receive your Nobel Prize...
Copy !req
781. or more probably something
quite inconceivable
Copy !req
782. which you haven't even thought about.
Copy !req
783. A telephone.
Copy !req
784. You dream of one thing
and get something quite different.
Copy !req
785. Why did you do that?
Copy !req
786. A telephone, electricity.
Copy !req
787. Look, sleeping pills.
Copy !req
788. This sort isn't prescribed anymore.
Where did they come from?
Copy !req
789. Shall we go there?
Copy !req
790. It'll soon be evening,
too dark to get back.
Copy !req
791. By the way,
Copy !req
792. I can see that all this poetry reciting
and walking around
Copy !req
793. is a new, original way of apologizing.
Copy !req
794. I understand you.
Copy !req
795. A difficult childhood environment.
Copy !req
796. But don't fool yourself.
Copy !req
797. I don't forgive you.
Copy !req
798. Don't. Please.
Copy !req
799. Professor, come here.
Copy !req
800. Just a moment. No need to rush.
Copy !req
801. I'm not rushing anywhere.
Copy !req
802. Don't get angry.
Copy !req
803. But I have to tell you.
Copy !req
804. We're now standing at the threshold.
Copy !req
805. This is the most important moment...
in your life.
Copy !req
806. You must know that...
Copy !req
807. your most cherished desire
will come true here.
Copy !req
808. Your sincerest wish, the desire
that has made you suffer most.
Copy !req
809. There's no need to speak.
Copy !req
810. You must only... concentrate
Copy !req
811. and recall all your past life.
Copy !req
812. When a man thinks of the past,
he becomes kinder.
Copy !req
813. But the main thing —
Copy !req
814. The main thing is...
Copy !req
815. you must believe.
Copy !req
816. Now go.
Copy !req
817. Who wants to go first?
Copy !req
818. Perhaps you?
Copy !req
819. Me? No, I don't want to.
Copy !req
820. I know it's not easy.
Copy !req
821. But don't worry. That will soon pass.
Copy !req
822. I'm not sure... that it will.
Copy !req
823. Firstly, if I begin to recall my life...
Copy !req
824. I shall hardly become kinder.
Copy !req
825. And then, can't you see
how shameful all this is?
Copy !req
826. To humiliate yourself.
Copy !req
827. To snivel and to pray.
Copy !req
828. What's bad about praying?
Copy !req
829. That's your pride speaking.
Copy !req
830. Relax. You're just not ready.
That happens.
Copy !req
831. Perhaps you'll go first?
Copy !req
832. Me?
Copy !req
833. Voilà! Here we have
the professor's new invention.
Copy !req
834. A device for testing the human soul.
A soul meter.
Copy !req
835. It's just a bomb.
Copy !req
836. What?
Copy !req
837. - You're joking.
- No.
Copy !req
838. It's just a 20-kiloton bomb.
Copy !req
839. What for?
Copy !req
840. I assembled it with some friends.
Copy !req
841. With some former colleagues.
Copy !req
842. This place, evidently,
won't bring anyone happiness.
Copy !req
843. And if it falls into evil hands...
Copy !req
844. However, I really don't know now.
Copy !req
845. Once we had the idea...
Copy !req
846. that the Zone should not be destroyed.
Copy !req
847. Even if it was a miracle,
it was a part of nature.
Copy !req
848. And in a certain sense, it means hope.
Copy !req
849. They hid this bomb, but I've found it.
Copy !req
850. It's an old building, Bunker 4.
Copy !req
851. Obviously there must be a principle —
Copy !req
852. never to perform irreversible actions.
Copy !req
853. I understand that. I'm no maniac.
Copy !req
854. But as long as this canker
is open to any scoundrel...
Copy !req
855. there can be no rest.
Copy !req
856. Maybe something inside us won't permit it?
Copy !req
857. Poor guy, he's made himself a problem.
Copy !req
858. Give it to me.
Copy !req
859. Give it to me!
Copy !req
860. You're an intelligent man.
Copy !req
861. - What's that for?
- You hypocritical louse!
Copy !req
862. Why — Why are you doing this to me?
Copy !req
863. He wants to destroy your hope.
Copy !req
864. There's nothing else left
to people on Earth.
Copy !req
865. This is the only place to come to
when all hope is gone.
Copy !req
866. You have to come here.
Then why destroy hope?
Copy !req
867. Shut up!
Copy !req
868. I see through you.
Copy !req
869. You don't give a damn about others.
Copy !req
870. You earn your money from our... misery.
Copy !req
871. It's not even the money. You enjoy this.
Copy !req
872. Here you're czar and God.
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873. You louse, you decide
who's to die and who's to live.
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874. He chooses, he decides.
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875. I know why the stalker himself
never enters the Room.
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876. What for?
You're drunk with power out here.
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877. With mystery! With authority!
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878. That's not true. You're wrong.
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879. A stalker is forbidden to enter the Room.
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880. Especially for his own selfish reasons.
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881. Remember Porcupine.
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882. Yes, I'm a louse.
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883. I've never achieved anything,
and I can't do anything here.
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884. I have nothing to give my wife.
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885. I can't have any friends,
but don't deprive me of what's mine.
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886. They took everything from me
behind the barbed wire.
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887. Everything I have is here.
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888. Here, in the Zone.
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889. My happiness, my freedom, dignity.
They're all here.
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890. The people I bring are unhappy like me.
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891. They've nothing left to hope for.
Nobody can help them.
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892. But I can — a louse.
A louse can help them!
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893. I weep for joy because I can help them.
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894. I ask for nothing more.
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895. I don't know. Maybe.
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896. Anyway, forgive me, but —
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897. You're simply one of God's fools.
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898. You've no conception
of what's happening here.
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899. Why do you think Porcupine
hanged himself?
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900. He came to the Zone for profit,
and his brother died for money.
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901. I understand that,
but why did he hang himself?
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902. Why didn't he come back?
Not for money, but for his brother.
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903. Is that how he repented?
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904. He wanted to.
But within a few days, he hanged himself.
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905. He realized that it is one's
most secret desire that is granted here.
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906. What are you yelling about?
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907. What comes true here is that which
reflects the essence of your nature.
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908. It is within you. It governs you.
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909. Yet you are ignorant of it.
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910. You've understood nothing.
Greed didn't do Porcupine in.
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911. He crawled on his knees
to plead for his brother,
Copy !req
912. but he got a pile of money.
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913. He couldn't get anything else.
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914. Porcupine was given the essence
of his true nature.
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915. Conscience and soul-searching
were all invented by the mind.
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916. When he realized all that,
he hanged himself.
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917. I won't go into your Room.
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918. I don't want to pour the filth in my soul
onto anyone's head —
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919. even yours —
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920. and then hang myself as Porcupine did.
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921. Better to stay grunting
in my stinking private villa.
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922. You're a bad judge of human nature
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923. if you bring people like me into the Zone.
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924. How did you learn
that this miracle actually exists?
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925. Who told you that desires
really come true here?
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926. Do you know one man
who was made happy here?
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927. Perhaps Porcupine?
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928. And who told you about the Zone,
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929. about Porcupine, about this Room?
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930. He did.
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931. I don't understand anything at all.
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932. What's the sense in coming here?
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933. It's so still.
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934. Can you hear it?
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935. Suppose I chuck it all in...
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936. get my wife and Monkey
and come here to live...
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937. forever.
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938. There's nobody here.
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939. No one will hurt them.
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940. You came back.
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941. Where did the dog come from?
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942. It tagged along. Don't chase it away.
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943. Well, shall we go?
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944. Monkey's waiting.
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945. Are we going?
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946. Does anybody want a dog?
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947. I've got five already.
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948. So you like dogs?
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949. What?
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950. That's good.
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951. All right, let's go.
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952. If you only knew how tired I am.
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953. Only God knows.
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954. They still call themselves
the intelligentsia.
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955. - Writers! Scientists!
- Calm down.
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956. They don't believe in anything.
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957. Their capacity for faith has atrophied
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958. - Calm yourself.
- ... through lack of use.
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959. Stop it. Come, lie down. Don't worry.
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960. It's damp. You can't stay here.
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961. Take it off.
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962. My God, what kind people are they?
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963. Calm down. It isn't their fault.
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964. They should be pitied, not abused.
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965. Their eyes are blank.
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966. They're thinking
how not to sell themselves cheap,
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967. how to get paid
for every breath they take.
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968. They know they were born
to "be someone," to be an elite!
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969. They say, "You live but once."
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970. How can such people believe
in anything at all?
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971. Relax now.
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972. Try to get some sleep.
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973. Go to sleep.
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974. Nobody believes. Not only those two.
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975. Nobody.
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976. Who shall I take there?
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977. Oh, Lord.
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978. The most terrible thing...
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979. is that nobody needs that Room
and all my efforts are in vain.
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980. Why do you say that? Don't.
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981. I'll never go there again with anyone.
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982. If you want, I'll go there with you.
Do you want that?
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983. Do you think I've nothing to ask for?
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984. No.
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985. - You mustn't.
- Why?
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986. No.
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987. What if you fail, too?
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988. You know, Mama was very opposed to it.
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989. You've probably already guessed
that he's one of God's fools.
Copy !req
990. Everyone around here used to laugh at him.
Copy !req
991. He was such a wretched muddler.
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992. Mama used to say,
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993. "He's a stalker, a marked man,
an eternal jailbird.
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994. Remember the kind of children
stalkers have."
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995. I didn't even argue.
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996. I knew all about it —
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997. that he was a marked man, a jailbird,
about the kids.
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998. Only what could I do?
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999. I was sure I'd be happy with him.
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1000. I knew there'd be a lot of sorrow.
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1001. But I'd rather know
bittersweet happiness...
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1002. than a gray, uneventful life.
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1003. Perhaps I invented all this later.
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1004. But when he came up to me and said,
"Come with me," I went.
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1005. And I've never regretted it.
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1006. Never.
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1007. There was a lot of grief
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1008. and fear and pain.
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1009. But I've never regretted it
nor envied anyone.
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1010. It's just fate.
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1011. It's life. It's us.
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1012. And if there were no sorrow in our lives,
it wouldn't be better.
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1013. It would be worse.
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1014. Because then
there would be no happiness either.
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1015. And there'd be no hope.
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1016. So...
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1017. I love those eyes of yours, my friend,
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1018. Their sparkling, flashing, fiery wonder;
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1019. When suddenly those lids ascend,
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1020. Then lightning rips the sky asunder;
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1021. You swiftly glance, and there's an end;
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1022. There's greater charm, though, to admire
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1023. When lowered are those eyes divine
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1024. In moments kissed by passion's fire;
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1025. When through the downcast lashes shine
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1026. The smoldering embers of desire...
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