“Without Smiles”: a summary of Grekova’s story // Briefs * Soviet literature

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: A famous scientist, a woman, is accused of a "vicious direction in science." Thanks to the strong character and support of friends, she withstands the hypocrisy and cowardice of her colleagues and wins.

The narration is conducted on behalf of an employee of the institute, named in the story of M. M.

The commission will discuss its scientific activities. “Vicious direction in science” - this is how its fault is indicated. When the hearing date is announced, the world of smiles disappears: all her colleagues stop smiling when they meet, someone even greets them. Only three friends - Thin, Black and Bald - are ready to support her.

A woman applies to her current situation the words from the Kühelbeker diary:

I don’t know any fault for myself, but I’m afraid for those who were compassionate to me: it’s terrible to think that they can get in trouble for their humanity.

Over the years, the researcher lost interest in "everything composed." Now she is drawn to the genuine - memoirs, diaries, letters. Kuchelbecker's diary is read by a woman every evening. Despite the lengthy conclusion, Küchelbecker lived: he wrote about art, science, religion, observed events on the prison ground, wrote poetry. And not a word about his suffering. As a poet, even Pushkin did not recognize him: "William, read your poems, / so that we can fall asleep soon."But for a woman, individual lines seem beautiful:

But the host of suns rolling over us
Forever on the scales of holy love
Do not weigh a living soul:
The Eternal does not weigh with our scales ...

The appointed day is coming. The researcher does not listen to the opening speech: she knows it beforehand. These are the conditions of the game. The first word takes Streamlined. The woman notes: he does not speak, but calculates. He speaks with artistry, almost sincerely, in a soft tone, speaking the language of music - “doice, con pieta” (gently mourning).

The bloated one was hot, and now it’s white. He screams intensely, flowery, in his own way eloquently, in his own way talented. He is suffering. He is sweating. Annually, she recommends that an employee give up her work! "It will be a noble deed."

Each study (of any scale and significance) is based on someone's personal interest. Someone wants to make room and put his protege on him; another desperately needs to get into academics; the third is eager to maintain his shaky authority and so on.

Only two or three people advocate for a woman. The mentor is supported by her second student. Suddenly, the First Student, the ace of trump researcher, does not live up to expectations. She understands that this ace is a bit.

The heroine hears the howling voice of Kromeshny. She cannot stand this and goes out. She hates the vile woman’s weakness, all the fluids in the world, all the tears, all the snot, all the drooling of the world, and this hatred gives her strength. On the street, a woman sees her three friends: Black, Slim and Bald. They came to support her.

To the woman’s surprise, they publish her article, which has been in the periodicals for a year: she had a lot of discussions in her time. But a dull anxiety settles in the soul of the researcher.

The Second Discussion is taking place. Boring, petty and unanimous. The woman asks the second student to be silent: he has a wife, a child, this can hurt him. She defends herself reasonably, does not admit mistakes, but no one hears her. The researcher understands that she is starting to lose heart, her rightness is as if settled, has cracked: “Yes, the terrible thing is public opinion. Even if it’s forced, inspired, but when it turns everyone against one, it’s hard for one to feel right. ”

Before the third wave of discussion, she cannot even be saved by Kuchelbecker's diary - the Thin clung to him eagerly: now he has a diary. Her truth is already on her deathbed. Only three friends support the woman: "To meet with them is to drink living water."

A world without smiles is becoming familiar. But joyful events are happening now: the researcher gets up early and admires the morning city, getting to work. She understands: what happens to her is not grief. People help to understand this.

In the corridor, a research assistant meets Streamlined. There is a smile on his face. He greets the woman and congratulates him on his victory: the truth will always prevail, he says. A woman calls him a coward. Streamlined ridiculously excuses.