Summary

Olya dreamed she was “in the hospital where her mother had her breast removed” (171, Sorokin’s italics). Her mother studied herself in a mirror, exclaiming at the surgeons’ work. Noticing her mother’s breasts were both intact, Olya insisted the doctors had tricked her. When her mother told her to look more carefully, Olya noticed a large chunk missing from her mother’s body (171). Suddenly, Olya saw things differently (172). She ran to a building advertising “Mixed Feed” (172, Sorokin's italics). Olya banged on the door, crying that she was hungry. Inside, she found Boris sitting at a table “with a can of food in his hand” (172, Sorokin’s italics). He opened it with a knife. Although it was empty, the emptiness smelled intoxicating (172). Olya tried stealing, but could get nothing.

Alyosha woke Olya. She demanded they return to Moscow. As soon as they returned...