"Vertical Racing" by the Vainer brothers, summary Automatic translate

This book is a detective novel by Arkady and Georgy Vainer, first published in 1974. The most important feature of the text is its dialogic narrative structure. The authors alternately give the floor to two antagonists: Moscow criminal investigation inspector Stanislav Tikhonov and recidivist thief Alexei Dedushkin. The reader sees the events unfolding from two opposing perspectives, deeply immersed in the thoughts, fears, and personal memories of each character.

In 1982, director Alexander Muratov adapted the book into a successful three-part television film. The main characters were brilliantly portrayed on screen by Andrei Myagkov and Valentin Gaft, giving the work a long cinematic life and national acclaim.

Detention at the station

The story begins with police captain Stanislav Tikhonov and his partner, Alexander Savelyev, detaining a notorious "Maidan" thief, Alexei Dedushkin, nicknamed "Baton," at Kievsky Station. An imported suitcase, an expensive Japanese Nikon camera, and an antique Order of St. Alexander Nevsky are confiscated from the repeat offender. Baton behaves defiantly, claiming that the items are his own and that the order was a gift from a Bulgarian friend rescued during a storm. Eight years ago, Tikhonov had already arrested Baton, and the criminal told the young detective, "You’re still a mere puppy." Since then, the detective has dreamed of catching the repeat offender red-handed and proving to the cunning thief that living at someone else’s expense is unacceptable.

Baton is placed in a police cell. Alone, he indulges in heavy thoughts. The thief recalls his difficult childhood, his informant grandfather, and his cruel father. His relatives orchestrated his first punishment, falsely accusing him of stealing family jewels. Baton mentally justifies his lifestyle, despising honest workers for their boring lives and meager wages. However, the empty silence of the prison triggers attacks of primal fear in him — he’s afraid to be alone.

Search for the victim

The detectives are faced with a problem: the suitcase’s owner fails to report the theft. Without a victim, proving Dedushkin’s guilt is impossible, and the legal detention period is limited to three days. Tikhonov and Savelyev analyze the train schedule. They discover that the theft occurred at Konotop station, where two express trains intersected. Developed film from the stolen camera shows three people against the backdrop of Bulgarian landmarks in the cities of Sofia and Plevna. Ungheni border crossing officers confidently identify the young Italian, Fausto Castelli, from the photographs, who has safely arrived in Moscow.

Tikhonov turns to archival documents and discovers the origin of the ancient order. It turns out the diamond-studded cross belonged to the White émigré General von Dietz, who was hanged by a military tribunal in 1946. Castelli, an Italian who lost his suitcase on a train, for some reason concealed the loss from the Soviet police and hastily fled the country, going to Switzerland. Baton’s detention period expires. Department Chief Lieutenant Colonel Sharapov orders the suspect’s release. Dedushkin leaves Petrovka, brazenly promising the inspectors more trouble.

Reflections on life and love

Alongside the detective intrigue, Captain Tikhonov’s inner world is deeply revealed. He is experiencing a difficult personal tragedy, often recalling his former lover, Lena. Ten years ago, she chose the successful journalist Marat over him, unable to cope with Stanislav’s constant workload and his stern obsession with fighting crime. Now, she occasionally runs into him by chance or calls to ask for small favors for her acquaintances.

Tikhonov searches for the true meaning of his challenging work. He often reminisces about motorcycle races at amusement parks and compares life to the dangerous "Wall Race," where a motorcyclist races around a circle, defying gravity and the laws of physics. The detective believes that every person should ride their own wall one day to overcome their everyday fears and prove their own courage.

Looking for help

Finding himself on the street, Baton feels lost and deeply lonely. He turns to his former partner, Senka Bakuma, for money. It turns out that Bakuma has given up thievery and is now working honestly as a taxi driver. His former comrade flatly refuses to lend him money, advises Baton to stop, and brutally beats the repeat offender for his brazen threats. The thief tries to find support from his family: his shady father, his stepmother named Magillo, and his senile grandfather. His relatives only complain of his constant poverty and, with a bang, kick him out.

Then Baton goes to the former lawyer Okun, who was disbarred for fraud. He explains to the recidivist that the old criminal "professions" are hopelessly dying out and advises him to take up shady business. Baton dismisses this boring path with open disdain. Finally, he visits the underground dentist Serafim Zubakin. The dentist, who amassed a huge fortune by buying stolen gold, mocks the thief at length and also refuses a loan.

Embittered, Baton decides to commit new crimes. At night, he breaks into a store on Domnikovskaya Street, deftly unscrewing a heavy fan grill. The thief steals the proceeds from the safe, takes two suitcases containing scarce merchandise, and disappears without a trace. The next day, he takes cunning revenge on the dentist Zubakin: he breaks into his hiding place behind a radiator, takes the gold coins, and leaves a caustic note.

Bulgarian trace

Bulgarian investigator Angel Stoyanov-Veselinov, an old university friend of Tikhonov’s, arrives in Moscow. Angel provides a detailed account of an international gang that robbed jewelry stores in Sofia and other cities with impunity. Fausto Castelli turns out to be a cunning Italian con man, wanted by Interpol for a series of frauds. His American partner, Alversen Guy, sent Castelli to Moscow to retrieve General von Dietz’s inheritance, securely hidden with his former adjutant, Sytnikov, in the town of Zarechensk. An ancient order served as a secret password.

Tikhonov travels to the Tula region and learns that Sytnikov died a month ago of a heart attack. The Italian was late, and the valuables he found were turned over to the state. The other half of the medal — a diamond eight-pointed star — is found in the possession of Professor Obnorsky, who bought it at a thrift store for his secret girlfriend. The investigation gains a full picture of the events.

At the same time, former taxi driver Bakuma turns himself in to the police. He confesses to his past thefts in an attempt to clean up his act, but flatly refuses to name his accomplice, Dedushkin. Sharapov highly appreciates this humane act, while Tikhonov is furious, demanding complete compliance with the law.

Despair and revenge

Dedushkin can feel the search ring tightening. He hides with his friend, the barmaid Zosya, but the constant, primal fear is slowly driving him mad. Wanting revenge on Tikhonov, he places a mocking ad in the evening newspaper for the sale of a purebred pointer puppy named "Stas." To fill out the newspaper form, Baton uses a passport stolen from a pensioner named Repnin during a recent burglary. The thief even manages to withdraw money from the robbed old man’s savings account.

Detectives, after checking the receipt from the editorial office, discover that the criminal used Repnin’s documents. They immediately recall that a personalized Browning pistol has disappeared from the pensioner’s desk. Sharapov sternly warns his subordinate of the extreme danger: cornered, the thief is ready to use his weapon in cold blood.

The police are hanging posters with the repeat offender’s photo all over the city. Seeing his portrait on a brick wall, Dedushkin panics. He heads to Domodedovo Airport, intending to hijack a plane or fly to Tbilisi, where he’d previously shipped the stolen suitcases. In the buffet of the noisy terminal, the criminal drinks heavily in the company of random women.

Airport brawl

Tikhonov, tired and stranded at Domodedovo Airport due to bad weather, was planning to fly to Georgia to intercept luggage. He accidentally spots Baton at a buffet table. The criminal also sees the inspector and quickly heads for the exit, his pistol firmly in his pocket. The inspector pursues him relentlessly. A violent confrontation occurs near the station’s glass doors. Tikhonov bravely lunges at Baton, completely blocking his gun. A fierce, bloody fight ensues.

Dedushkin brutally beats the detective, desperately trying to break free. Noticing an approaching patrol motorcycle, the thief uses his last strength, throws the policeman back with a powerful blow, and shoots him point-blank. The captain falls to the wet asphalt. The patrolmen immediately subdue Loaf. Looking at the bloodied inspector, Dedushkin finally realizes the utter ruin of his life.

Tikhonov comes to in a white hospital bed. His mother tearfully shows him the broken old ZIF watch that belonged to Stanislav’s father, who died at the front. The watch’s sturdy metal case had successfully absorbed the bullet, saving the young captain’s life. The spiral of time had come full circle.