CHAPTER 27. THE THORNY PATH

April 27, 1978.

“... Seraphim Rerikh!” those two words loudly cut through the hall of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences, after which, a few moments later, the solemn hall erupted in a truly unique burst of human applause.

Fifty-four-year-old writer Seraphim Rerikh, now dressed in a truly inexpensive outfit, slowly rose—his face, which had seen all kinds of sights and was entirely covered with deep wrinkles, did not express a single emotion, a single feeling, or a single thought that now dominated the corresponding vessels of that man: Seraphim Rerikh was the new Nobel laureate in literature—in that moment, he was so cold-blooded, as if not human blood but the cold waters of Greenland flowed in his veins. Taking the first step towards that very podium and stage where the highest degree of recognition for literary mastery, so well-deserved by his being, awaited him, Seraphim Rerikh remembered his very first work, which he finished at the age of nineteen. The plot of that novella was as follows: two friends, riding in a commuter bus, move closer and closer to a predetermined goal for their beings: in those minutes, they admire the very natural and urban landscapes that appear on their path one way or another. After a short time, the bus makes a scheduled stop, where some passengers leave its interior, while others—enter it. At the hour described, two young men are located next to them, the two aforementioned friends, who, without the slightest restraint or shame, discussed the forms, charms, and appearance of a girl, who, in turn, appeared before them in the window during a strictly defined pause of the route—in the course of the plot, it turns out that these two men were demons from the underworld who were fulfilling the devil's order: to tempt simple and kind people with such trifles, to attract attention to that which brings vice, not virtue. Or maybe they were not demons at all, but real people? In this world, a person is tempted not by demons and not by devils, but by the most ordinary people—in this world, men are tempted not by female forms and charms, but by that which is inside us and compels our being to that temptation!

Seraphim Rerikh takes another step and another plot, another novella, appears before his eyes—these steps were his path, the main result of which was the pinnacle of recognition: it was a plot about an artist who was serving in the army. According to the plot, this artist is given a ten-day leave—he returns to his homeland, to his father's house. When he arrives home, he spends the strictly defined time not on women and alcohol, but on creating truly brilliant paintings: can't a similar analogy be drawn with our lives? He has a limited amount of time—he has only ten days at his disposal. Due to the limited time, his mind and soul function at the limit of their capabilities—he is overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings! In those hours, he is like a drowning man who has only enough air for ten days of life—with each day, he has less and less, but he must live and create! At that very hour, many people existing on earth had complete freedom to dispose of their own time and they created nothing—but he had his limited and nevertheless, he created truly brilliant works...

Another step and a love story appears before him: a plot about how a young man fell in love with a girl, while having a good relationship with her mother's friend—this novella told how, by influencing his beloved's mother's friend, he tried to influence her. His heart was pecked at by such thoughts, like a trout on a bait, after which it was pulled to the surface of consciousness by a truly masterful fisherman—reason!

Another step... is success, is triumph, not made up of such steps?!.. and the gray-haired Seraphim Rerikh discerns another plot before his eyes—it tells about a man who was supposed to be called up for military service due to mobilization in connection with the introduction of a state of war in the country: not wanting to serve at all, this man wanted to get a job in a law enforcement agency that provided a deferment from mobilization for the period of wartime—this agency did not need him in its ranks, because it already possessed a completely stained reputation. He was refused, but not accepting this refusal, he offered the law enforcement agencies a deal—he would arrange everything so that a certain innocent person, a civil servant he knew, would be brought to criminal responsibility, and they would gain not only one case, with the help of this provocation, but, most importantly, one solved case: he was ready to betray and set up anyone, just to achieve his own goal. The law enforcement agency refused him again, and he appealed to an even higher law enforcement agency with a similar deal for his further employment—after listening carefully to all his proposals, the leadership of that agency immediately realized what kind of person it was now dealing with: a representative of that agency offered to meet with this man in three days to discuss the details of the deal—showing up in three days at the specified place and time, he saw a group of servicemen in military uniform and with military uniforms. On the same day, he was sent to a military unit, and two days later—to the front lines! This is what happens when you crave to ruin an innocent life! In this world, justice does exist, and it can often be found in the decisions of law enforcement agencies!

Another step! Seraphim was getting closer and closer to his cherished goal—the next plot spoke of a man who needed to write a book, but at this time in his life, he was overcome by a creative crisis: once his wife came up to him and said that she could help him with ideas and thoughts, and also write a few lines for him—he, however, drove her away and convinced her that this was his lot, his purpose, and his calling...