First Grain of Sand — Page 143
TRANSFER TO MOSCOW 127 In the meantime, our food was also served in front of us, and it was to be eaten with a knife and fork. This was the first time in my life that I had the opportunity to eat with a knife and fork. Very simply, I joined the two officers in starting the meal. Calmly, I took the fork, pierced the piece of meat, lifted it onto my empty plate, and cut it with the knife. Just as I had observed earlier, I began eating the bread with the soup. I was still eating when the Russian officer said to his colleague ‘он кушать понимаю' [pro- nounced on kushat ponimayu], meaning ‘He understands how to eat. ' I had learned enough Russian during my time in Tashkent to understand what he was saying. After finishing the meal, both of them drank what seemed to be wine made from grapes, and they placed a glass and bottle in front of me as well, inviting me to drink. At first, thinking it was soda, I reached for the glass to drink. As I brought the glass close to my mouth, the thought suddenly struck me that it might be alcohol. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I put the glass back on the table without drinking. Then I thought, 'No, it's just a soda bottle; I should drink it. ' But when I tried to drink again, the same thought came to mind, 'What if it's alcohol?' I put the glass back just as it was without drinking from it. Then I thought that no matter how pure any alcohol may be, it always has a dis- tinct smell. So, the third time I picked up the glass and smelled it, and I was certain it was alcohol. Both soldiers were watching my actions. When they saw that I wasn't drinking, they each insisted to drink it as it's a good thing. I said in Russian that I would abso- lutely not drink it and that they shouldn't either because it is very harmful for the heart and mind. They then ordered a bottle of soda, which I drank.