“The scream flew over the lake, like a fat crow might fly, having recently gorged itself on a city dump. Heavy, lazily flapping its wings, moving its thick yellow beak from side to side. Sergei did not hear a cry. He lay in the boat, staring at the sky. The boat floated slowly - nearby a channel flowed into the lake, creating a current, albeit weak. Sergei's hand, hanging into the water over the side of the boat, was examined by curious fry. Here, not far from the shore, there was a whole flock of them. They poked at the skin and tried to pinch the palm. Sergei did not pay attention to the fry. He looked at the sky, and a long-forgotten song sounded in his ears, something like “Carry me to the blue sea”..."