About the book: year / The slow movement of a passenger train was accompanied by the booming accompaniment of wheels. It was late, and the carriage was plunged into darkness. Max was sitting on the bottom shelf near the window, stirring tea in a tall cut glass with a spoon. Most of the passengers had already fallen asleep, and there was silence in the carriage, broken only by quiet snoring, occasional coughing and muffled conversations of the company located somewhere in the outer seats. There was tobacco smoke coming from the vestibule, and the smell irritated Max. He hated reserved seat carriages because of the large crowds of mixed people, the eternal queues for the restroom and the incessant slamming of doors leading to the vestibule. However, now Max could not afford a more comfortable journey. His income consisted only of fees for articles for music magazines and rare performances as a guitarist for a little-known rock band, as well as other odd jobs..