He could work on the wall without crouching now, but had to bend his aching back for every cinder block and every spoonful of mortar. “Come on, boys,” he said roughly. “You could put the blocks up here on the wall for me.” The captain would have obliged, only he hadn’t the strength. Wasn’t used to it. But Alyoshka said: “Right, then, Ivan Denisovich. Just show me where you want them.” Never says no, that Alyoshka, whatever you ask him to do. If everybody in the world was like him, I’d be the same. Help anybody who asked me. Why not? They’ve got the right idea, that lot.
