...Ivan focused his attention on the cat and saw this strange cat go up to the footboard of an 'A' tram waiting at a stop, brazenly elbow aside a woman, who screamed, grab hold of the handrail, and even make an attempt to shove a ten-kopeck piece into the conductress's hand through the window, open on account of the stuffiness.-Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master and the Margarita (1966)
Ivan was so struck by the cat`s behaviour that he froze motionless by the grocery store on the corner, and here he was struck for a second time, but much more strongly, by the conductress's behaviour. As soon as she saw the cat getting into the tram-car, she shouted with a malice that even made her shake: 'No cats allowed! Nobody with cats allowed! Scat! Get off, or I`ll call the police!'
Neither the conductress nor the passengers were struck by the essence of the matter: not just that a cat was boarding a tram-car, which would have been good enough, but that he was going to pay!
The cat turned out to be not only a solvent but also a disciplined animal. At the very first shout from the conductress, he halted his advance, got off the footboard, and sat down at the stop, rubbing his whiskers with the ten-kopeck piece. But as soon as the conductress yanked the cord and the tram-car started moving off, the cat acted like anyone who has been expelled from a tram-car but still needs a ride. Letting all three cars go by, the cat jumped on to the rear coupling-pin of the last one, wrapped its paws around some hose sticking out of the side, and rode off, thus saving himself ten kopecks.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
A cat both brazen and disciplined
Labels:
Cats,
Russian Literature
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Sorry for the especially long quote...but I really enjoyed this passage when I came across it last night. I have no idea what's going on in this book--least of all as it pertains to this cat--but I enjoyed the passage!
ReplyDeleteAh, Behemoth! I love that cat. I petitioned to name Homer after him but we decided he wasn't fat enough to warrant the name. Though he is pretty devilish.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased you've started this book!
Spoiler alert! Now I know the cat has a name. Thanks a lot!
ReplyDelete