The Luzhin Defense by Vladimir Nabokov Read Free Book Online Page A

commenced to count the different hues in the carpet. He had been in this room only once before, last Christmas—when, on his father’s advice, he had taken his aunt a large box of chocolates, half of which he had himself eaten and the remainder of which he had rearranged so that it would not be noticed. Up until just recently his aunt had been at their place every day, but now she had stopped coming and there was something in the air, some elusive interdiction, that prevented him from asking about it at home. Having counted up to nine different shades he shifted his gaze to a silk screen embroidered with rushes and storks. He had just begun to wonder whether similar storks were on the other side as well when at last his aunt came—her hair not yet done and wearing a kind of flowery kimono with sleeves like wings. “Where did you spring from?” she exclaimed. “And what about school? Oh what a funny boy you are.…”
    Two hours later he again emerged onto the street. His satchel, now empty, was so light that it bounced on his shoulder blades. He had to pass time somehow until theusual hour of return. He wandered into Tavricheski Park, and the emptiness in his satchel gradually began to annoy him. In the first place the thing he had left as a precaution with his aunt might somehow get lost before next time, and in the second place it would have come in handy at home during the evenings. He resolved to act differently in future.
    “Family circumstances,” he replied the next day when the teacher casually inquired why he had not been in school. On Thursday he left school early and missed three days in a row, explaining afterwards that he had had a sore throat. On Wednesday he had a relapse. On Saturday he was late for the first lesson even though he had left home earlier than usual. On Sunday he amazed his mother by announcing that he had been invited to a friend’s house—and he was away five hours. On Wednesday school broke up early (it was one of those wonderful blue dusty days at the very end of April when the end of the school term is already imminent and such indolence overcomes one), but he did not get home until much later than usual. And then there was a whole week of absence—a rapturous intoxicating week. The teacher telephoned his home to find out what was the matter with him. His father answered the phone.
    When Luzhin returned home around four o’clock in the afternoon his father’s face was gray, his eyes bulging, while his mother gasped as if deprived of her tongue and then began to laugh unnaturally and hysterically, with wails and cries. After a moment’s confusion Father led him without a word into his study and there, with arms folded across his chest, requested an explanation. Luzhin, holdingthe heavy and precious satchel under his arm, stared at the floor, wondering whether his aunt was capable of betrayal. “Kindly give me an explanation,” repeated his father. She was incapable of betrayal and in any case how could she know he had been caught? “You refuse?” asked his father. Besides, she somehow seemed even to like his truancy. “Now listen,” said his father conciliatorily, “let’s talk as friends.” Luzhin sighed and sat on the arm of a chair, continuing to look at the floor. “As friends,” repeated his father still more soothingly. “So now it turns out you have missed school several times. So
now
I would like to know where you have been and what you have been doing. I can even understand that, for instance, the weather is fine and one gets the urge to go for walks.” “Yes, I get the urge,” said Luzhin indifferently, growing bored. His father wanted to know where exactly he had gone for a walk and whether his need of walks was long-standing. Then he reminded him that every man has his duty as citizen, as family man, as soldier, and also as schoolboy. Luzhin yawned. “Go to your room!” said his father hopelessly and when his son had left he stood for a long time in