Before Dimitri could explain, an old truck came rumbling up from the east and stopped at the crossing. The window rolled down and the person inside yelled out, "Dimitri....is that you?" Dimitri smiled knowingly, leaned in the window and started conversing with the man in the truck. Boris looked back over the river for a few more moments then walked back to his car, idling on the side of the road. After a few minutes, the truck pulled away. Dimitri waved and walked towards the car, a smile on his face. Cold air rushed into the car when he opened the door and got seated. He rubbed his hands together briskly and held them to the heater vent. "Was that a friend of yours Uncle Dimitri?"… Boris asked. "Yes he is.”...Dimitri responded. "It was Dima Konovolov. Dima and I have known each other since we were children. Just down the road here is the farm where he grew up. The spot where your father and I used to go fishing at was on that farm. He used to join us quite often. Oh, I could tell you some stories about old Dima. "..Dimitri chuckled. "If you'd like, we could drive by there. The road just follows the river. It's really not much out of the way." "Sure we can, I'd like to see it.”...Boris responded. “Dima and I grew up together. It might have been a meeting where we first met." "Do you mean a "session" Uncle Dimitri?”...asked Boris. "Well, that's what they are called now, but when I was young, they were called meetings. They were quite different back then. Anyway, it could have been at a meeting or at school, I just don't remember now. What's interesting about Dima though is that unlike me, he never emblematized his devotion to "the path". I remember the "Vessels of Knowledge" trying to encourage him to take a stand for it, but Dima was just cut from a different cloth. But we've still been friends all these years. He married a very nice girl that was in our class, I think around 2029. I was actually in his wedding party. That's been 55 years ago. He had a good job at the power plant and worked his farm all these years. And what a family! Just now he told me his fourth great grandchild had recently been born...a boy. He was quite happy. He said that they have a family get together at the farm every year and the house is bursting at the seams. He even invited Larisa and me to come to it this summer. “They continued on for a distance and reached a point where the road started to incline. "There on the right...that is Dima's farm"...Dimitri pointed. It was a beautiful old frame house, probably built around the turn of the century by Dima's father. But the barn was much older. It was an old fashion gambrel style barn that was probably built in the 1930's. Very few of these barns were left remaining, but Dima's family had always seen to it that theirs was kept in good condition. There was white smoke trailing from the chimney. Boris imagined how warm and comfortable it must be on a day like this. It was a beautiful scene. "You know Boris, what has happened in Dima's life and what you are experiencing now are quite similar. As you were growing up Boris, I knew that there would come a time when others would begin to, oh...how should I say...encourage you to emblematize your devotion to the path. I knew what could happen to you if you took that step. As a child Boris, you just don't know what it can mean. In the past when that subject came up, I was able to dissuade those who urged it. Even though I have been the Prolocutor of the Vessels for many years, there was never a complaint against me. I believe that the Council realizes that if I was removed that they might have a very difficult time getting another to accept the privilege. So this issue with the Unity Department is nothing of concern. I know this law very well from experience. You see Boris, to be subject to this law; both people who seek a Unification Certificate must be members of the Millennial Comrades. Because you never were emblematized, it will not be enforceable against you and Natasha" "Oh, Uncle Dimitri that is wonderful!”...Boris exclaimed. "Tomorrow, you and I and Natasha will go to the Unity Department and get this straightened out." ...Dimitri said confidently. "Oh Uncle, I don't know how to thank you. Natasha and I have talked so much about this. We have been so excited to start a family...a family just like Dima's. It has been a dream for us! "...Boris cried.”Yes, it was once my dream also." ...Dimitri said dryly as he looked out the window at Dima's farm.

..to be continued