128
TALES FROMTHE FUTURE
Waiting until silence had fallen, Ekaterina loudly announced:
“Don’t even dare to argue with my brother. Because he’s very smart and
sensitive.”
“Yes, that’s a weighty argument,” rang out some snickers.
“That’s correct, very weighty,” continued little Ekaterinka. “And you,
Radomirchik, stop staring at Liudmila. Don’t stare, and that’s it.”
“Katya, be quiet,” shouted Vladislav.
“I won’t be quiet. Liudmilka loves you, and you love her. I know for sure.”
“Katya!” Vladislav shouted once more and then headed toward his sister.
“Liudmila, why are you just sitting there?” exclaimed Katya. “Stop him.
He won’t let me have my say. He’s going to drag me away now. By force.”
A brown-haired girl stood up from the farthest row, went toward Vladis-
lav and barred his path. Liudmila’s cheeks were burning red. Lowering her
head, she whispered:
“Your sister is right, Vladislav.”
The hushed audience heard her whisper. The heads of those in attend-
ance turned to little Ekaterinka, and people smiled at her and applauded.
Inspired by the audience’s support, the little girl ran to Radomir who stood
before the hall, took her spot beside him and held her little hands aloft,
quieting the hall with her gesture.
When everyone had fallen silent, she began speaking once again, address-
ing Radomir:
“And you, Radomirchik, you were just about to become a traitor. Don’t
criticize my brother. He showed everything correctly. He’s your friend.
You’re his friend. And don’t criticize him.”
Radomir condescendingly looked down at the little girl from above and,
addressing both her and those sitting in the amphitheater just as condes-
cendingly, he said:
“I’m not criticizing. I’m simply stating a fact. There’s not enough proof
for the hologram he showed. There’s not a single bit of proof.”
“There is one. Or even two,” Katerinka announced firmly.
“And where might it be, or they, if there are two?”
“One of them – that’s me. The second – that’s you, Radomir,” the little
