How It All Goes Down
Moscow, 25 July
- Leo and Raisa are sitting in "the director's office at Orphanage 12" (5.59.1). Leo is quite nervous: the director should have been back by now.
- Suddenly, the director emerges with Zoya and Elena, the daughters of the late Mikhail Zinoviev. Their body language is tense.
- Leo apologizes for his part in their parents' deaths. He and Raisa want to adopt them, though if that would be too emotionally difficult, then they'd be more than happy find them a more suitable home.
- When the girls don't respond, Leo tells them to take their time. The girls leave the room. As soon as they're out of sight, however, "Zoya gave her little sister a hug" (5.59.52).