The Black Envelope

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COMRADE OREST, You are right: Ortansa Teodosiu can be approached. Lively, prying, good at wangling things, she gets into every little corner, as you say. I would suggest the code name Masterkey. The fact that she lives here in the block is a big advantage. We are on friendly terms with each other, not like between manager and tenant. It would have been harder with her husband, an arrogant little upstart really full of himself. They both make illegal profits, of course, but Masterkey hasn’t lost a certain modesty and decency from her original condition in society. She’s clever, charitable, and crafty, I know. She’s got brains and a heart, everything in fact, and she likes having them. You can see it from the way she talks about the doctor. She knows his qualities, but also his little dodges. She’s attached to him in a way, but she’s well aware of his darker side, I know. Ortansa represents our national characteristics: that is, the close, inseparable collaboration of good and evil, of what people call good and evil. It’s an extraordinary, highly respected quality of our place in the world, our precious treasure.

Masterkey recognizes that everyone must pay their fair share, in one way or another, so as to be sure of a bed, a bite to eat, and a bit of nookie. Whoever breathes the air here has paid, or will pay, their share, as you said. Masterkey also understands that, as you said, medical files are as important as the File itself. She laughed when she accepted that. Right from the first time we met, she promised to get some imported medicine for my Uncle Mihai. It’s a good sign, I know. Next Wednesday we’re seeing each other again for a coffee.