He took a couple of steps away from the briefcase with things and notes, snapped his fingers, and in a moment everything that Tao had brought was scattered on the table in a pile of dust.

***

After Tikhon sent his greetings to Bartholomew, Vahe visited several car dealerships, looked after a new car, and while managers were preparing documents for the deal, he decided to remember his youth.

– How long will it take to process the documents? he asked the girl with the badge.

"About twenty minutes." We'll do it, and you can have a Cup of coffee in the second-floor canteen. As soon as everything is ready, I will come to you.

"Thank you, I'll be gone for about thirty minutes, don't waste it." Can I pay now?

– No, no, after all the formalities are signed.

– Nicely.

Vahe left the car dealership and went straight to the bus stop. In an expensive suit, a watch for several thousand dollars, the scent of a chic perfume from a limited series of the brand known in narrow circles, he immediately attracted the attention of fellow travelers waiting for transport. Envious and uncomprehending glances surrounded Vahe, but this did not bother him in the least.

A small commercial bus appeared at the turn.

"Seventy-six," he said to himself, marking the route number as a landmark, since it was in 1976 that he came under the influence of Bartholomew, received the knowledge, the necessary experience, and then the opportunities.

There wasn't a lot of free space on the bus, but Vahe squeezed in and even crawled into the middle of it.

– For travel, we pass who entered! – tired smoky voice made itself felt conductor.

The bus started. The newly entered passengers struggled to reach their pockets to count their fare.

"They came in again!" the conductor said in a nasty, insistent voice, fixing a mocking, gloating look in Vaga's eyes.

– Can I get two stops for free? I didn't take the money, " Vahe answered the conductor's gaze, clumsily holding on to the rail, completely forgetting how to ride public transport.

"No, you can't! Forgot money-go on foot, – savoring the benefit of the situation, the lady minted, and, turning to the driver, asked, – Dim, stop, you need to drop off one.

The driver pulled over to the curb and opened the door.

– Well, quickly, do not delay! the conductor was rude.

Vahe didn't move or even look at her.

– Man, I'm talking to you! Skip the "hare" in costume! the lady persisted.

The passengers began to smile. Vahe's lips also stretched into a smile, but it was not a kind one.

"What's going on right now?" You can't even take a stop? "what is it?" he asked slyly.

"No, we won't. The rules are written for everyone. Faster, do not delay, ' replied the lady, raising herself up, standing from his broken seat.

The crowd parted, and Vahe went to the exit, but stopped in front of the conductor and looked her in the eyes with a peculiar intensity.

The woman's face changed, lost its fighting spirit. The conductor sat back in her seat, collected all the change money from the tray, threw off the belt bag with the cash, and silently gave it all to Vaga. He took the generous gift for granted, and got off the bus. The driver, who was watching the situation out of the corner of his eye, did not appreciate this charitable gesture.

– E…– and, leaving the driver's seat, rushed to catch up with Vahe, who went in the opposite direction of the route in the direction of the stop, where he got into the transport. To the surprise of the passengers, he wasn't in too much of a hurry, as anyone would have done. The driver caught up with Vahe a few seconds later, grabbed him by the shoulder, but when he turned and met his eyes, the driver behaved no less strange than the conductor. Instead of taking the money, he took out more of his personal ones from his pocket and also gave them to the stranger, after which he apologized for the incident, wished him a happy journey, returned to his seat, and continued the route.