Summary

Moscow, Same Day – A court-like hearing is held between Malysh and Likhoi, the fat man, with Fraera presiding, and the other gang members observing. Likhoi says all he wanted was sex, and asks for Malysh’s death. Malysh says that he was told to keep Zoya safe, which he did. Malysh wonders if Fraera has the power to overrule the majority who want him dead. He knows it will be a risky thing to do, since he is a common street criminal, not a hardened criminal who has spent time in the gulags with the other members of the gang, brought on because he was the only pickpocket to have ever given Fraera the slip.

Fraera explains to all assembled that punishment for harming another gang member is death. Death here means exile, and a tattoo of an open vagina or anus forced...