Azazello left the terrace and Woland remained alone.

But his solitude was not of long duration. Footsteps and animated voices were heard on the terrace, and Korovyov and Behemoth appeared before Woland. But now the fat man was without his primus stove, but was loaded down with other things. Under his arm was a small landscape in a gold frame, over his arm a badly singed cook's smock, and in his other hand a whole salmon, skin on and tail attached. Korovyov and Behemoth both reeked of smoke, Behemoth's mug was covered with soot and his cap was half-singed.

" Salutations, Messire! " cried the indefatigable pair, and Behemoth waved his salmon.

" You're a fine sight, " said Woland.

" Imagine, Messire, " began Behemoth, shouting joyfully and excitedly, " They thought I was a looter! "

" Judging by what you've got with you, " replied Woland, looking at the landscape, " you are a looter."

" Can you believe, Messire..." began Behemoth in a heartfelt voice.

" No, I can't believe, " was Woland's curt reply.

" Messire, I swear I made heroic efforts to save everything I could, but this was all I could salvage."

" You would do better to tell me, how did Griboyedov catch fire? " asked Woland.

Korovyov and Behemoth both spread their arms and raised their eyes skyward, and Behemoth cried, " I have no idea! We were sitting peacefully, perfectly quietly, having a bite to eat.."

" And suddenly—bang! bang! " chimed in Korovyov. " They were shooting at us! Frightened out of our minds, Behemoth and I ran out into the street, the pursuers ran after us, and we made a dash for Timiryazev! "

" But a sense of duty, " inserted Behemoth, " overcame our shameful fear, and we went back! "

" Ah, you went back, did you? " said Woland. " So, of course then, the building burned to the ground."

" To the ground! " affirmed Korovyov sorrowfully. " That is, literally to the ground, Messire, as you so accurately phrased it. Nothing left but smouldering chips! "

" I headed straight, " Behemoth recounted, " for the assembly hall— that's the one with the columns, Messire—expecting to save something valuable. Oh, Messire, my wife, if only I had one, risked being widowed twenty times over! Fortunately, Messire, I am not married, and I'll tell

The Fate of the Matter and Margarita is Decided 307

you frankly—I'm happy not to be. Oh, Messire, who would exchange the freedom of bachelorhood for a yoke around the neck! "

" The nonsense has begun again, " observed Woland.

" I'm listening and continuing with my story, " replied the cat, " yessir, here's a small landscape. It was impossible to remove anything else from the hall, the flames were in my face. I ran to the storeroom and salvaged the salmon. Ran to the kitchen and salvaged the smock. I consider, Messire, that I did everything I could, and I fail to understand the skeptical look on your face."

" And what was Korovyov doing while you were looting? " inquired Woland.

" I was helping the firemen, Messire, " replied Korovyov, pointing to his torn trousers.

" Ah, if that's true, then naturally, they'll have to build a new building."

" It will be built, Messire, " answered Korovyov, " I can assure you of that."

" Well, then, all that is left is to hope that the new one will be better than the old, " remarked Woland.

" And so it shall, Messire, " said Korovyov.

" Believe me, it will, " added the cat, " I'm a regular prophet."

" In any case, we're back, Messire, " reported Korovyov, " and we await your instructions."

Woland got up from his taboret, went over to the balustrade, and, turning his back on his retinue, gazed silently into the distance for a long time. Then he went back, sat down on his taboret again, and said, " There will be no instructions—you have done everything you could, and for the time being, I have no further need of your services. You may rest. A thunderstorm is coming, the last thunderstorm, and it will accomplish everything that needs to be accomplished, and then we will be on our way."

" Very well, Messire, " replied the two buffoons and disappeared somewhere behind the central round tower in the middle of the terrace.

The thunderstorm that Woland had mentioned was already gathering on the horizon. A black cloud had risen in the west and cut off half the sun. Then it covered it completely. It got cooler on the terrace. Soon thereafter, it got dark.

This darkness, which came from the west, enveloped the huge city. Bridges and palaces disappeared. Everything vanished as if it had never existed. A single streak of fire ran across the whole sky. Then a clap of thunder shook the city. It was repeated, and the storm began. Woland ceased to be visible in its darkness.

XXX

Time to go! Time to go!

“Y OU know, " Margarita was saying, " just as you fell asleep last