Chapter 48: September 23rd: My Beloved Barbara Alexievna

September 23rd: My Beloved Barbara Alexievna September 23rd. My beloved Barbara Alexievna—I hasten to reply to you—I hasten to express to you my extreme astonishment. … In passing, I may mention that yesterday we buried poor Gorshkov. … Yes, Bwikov has acted nobly, and you have no choice but to accept him. All things are in God’s hands. This is so, and must always be so; and the purposes of the Divine Creator are at once good and inscrutable, as also is Fate, which is one with Him.…