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Simon had arrived in Siberia when the temperature dropped unexpectedly by several degrees. The countryside was under several feet of snow, and the pipes froze, so the villagers had to at a well to get their water. What Simon most was that the boat he was due to sail on couldn’t leave, and he really didn’t spending any more time in the village than was strictly necessary. The villagers started placing on how long it would be before the boat could sail – some said a fortnight, others thought a month. Simon was told that in the next town, 500 miles away, a helicopter could be hired, but that was out of the question – he simply couldn’t it. The Mayor of the village, in an attempt to him , often invited him to drink vodka, and after a few glasses, he would start Stalin at him and saying that the only for the country’s economic troubles was a return to communism. ‘When the old system ended, we were told that life would get better – pah! A bunch of lies! Before, a village like ours used to get from central government for roads, communications and so on. Now we’re expected to do it all ourselves. I the blame squarely on Gorbachev – it’s all his fault. Why that man was never put on , I’ll never know. He put an end to seventy years of efficiency, and the only people to were a few businessmen in Moscow. And they expect us to regardless! It’s ridiculous! Still, another Revolution, nothing’s likely to change in the near future. There’s not much point in worrying about it. Here, have another glass. This is good , isn’t it? Have you had any news of your boat, by the way?’