Prison people. Thief

About those for whom what is prison, what will is all the same

Continuation. Beginnings in The New Times # 27 , 29 , 35 , 38 , 42 2011 and # 1–2 , 9 , 17 , 23–24 , 29 , 43-44 2012 and # 11 2013

He responds to the name Rustam, although his card says otherwise. However, this is a lie, he is in prison on forged documents, which he does not hide.

He says that when he told the investigator that his name was different and that he had already served time in Russia, he waved his hands: “Shut up. Don't you dare tell the judge. They will return your case to me and will not let me go on vacation ... "

- What about me? Rustam shrugs. He doesn't need it, and I don't need it. They condemned it as a "first-mover", that's why I got here. Had I known, I would never have agreed.

- What, on the "strict" is better?

“And then,” he frowns at the pleasant memories. - I was sitting in Krasnodar, everything was there, I didn’t want to go out. The chief said so: “Why do you need parole, what do you lack? Sit! I was sitting...

„

*«Профессию» свою любит и, чувствуется, ни на что не променяет. Попался во второй раз и считает это приемлемым «профессиональным риском»*

”

Rustam is a Tajik by nationality, a thief by profession. He loves his "profession" and, it is felt, would not exchange it for anything. He is already under 40, but only the second time he was caught. They gave me four years. He considers what happened an acceptable "professional risk".

“In fact, they “grab” quite often,” he admits. - We usually rob markets, warehouses, take a lot. PPSnik know where to wait for us. But we usually agree. And here - the fool himself, he did not take money with him. Here's the redemption and it didn't work. Newcomers. If there were anyone I knew, I would have brought them later ... No luck ...

Rustam generally likes to tell stories. We work side by side in the shop. Boring. I listen with interest.

- That was once. They gave us a "tip" to the warehouse, they said there was money in the safe. We hired a Gazelle, the driver was promised to pay after the case. We opened the warehouse, we see - eight safes. All uploaded. At the same time they left boxes with butter, honey, jam - what was in the warehouse. Well, after all, do not drive a half-empty car.

Rustam is looking for understanding in my eyes. I involuntarily smile. The narrator is satisfied.

- We arrived at the place, unloaded the safes, the driver was waiting on the street. We open the safes - there is no money. Absolutely not. Papers, prints - nonsense. We think how to tell the driver, because he won’t believe. Nothing to do, I go to him. I say, so, they say, and so, the safes are empty, don’t be angry, take away the food. The driver nods, looks at me with pity, says: “You have been tormented all night, take it,” and holds out a few bills from his wallet. I take. I go to mine. This couple of thousand turned out to be very handy.

Let's laugh together.

- What will you do after?

Rustam does not hide:

- I'll go home, change my passport, and then either again to Moscow, or through Turkey - to France. There are many friends there. They will help.

- According to the former "specialty"?

- What else can I do?

A month later, we say goodbye. Rustam is released on parole, he promises to write. And soon I receive a short letter with a photograph: satisfied with life, slightly rounded Rustam against the backdrop of clean houses. In the background is the sea.

There is no return address, but he writes to the guys regularly, sends greetings.