Chapter 28

More than half a year had been spent ascending to the summit of the SPSP society's pedestal. Its decline lasted slightly less. As George Byron said, "A thousand years scarce serve to form a state; an hour may lay it in the dust." The discord began from the top. Konstantin devoted less and less attention to the work. All his thoughts were consumed by Liza. He often disappeared with her for long stretches; they frequented expensive restaurants, traveled on excursions to other cities and countries. Kostya endeavored to fulfill all of Elizabeth's cherished wishes while he still possessed the means to do so. Obscured by happiness in the present, he gave no thought whatsoever to the future.

The SPSP reports were reviewed with serious delays. The heads of SPSP, indeed all its members, grew careless and unaccountable. Many found themselves employment beyond their work at SPSP. They began to regard the society as secondary in their lives. News from the scientific world was no longer followed with such diligence. SPSP investigations and presentations became far fewer. Public distrust of the society mounted. The SPSP school, with its private tutoring sessions, soon closed.

The society's funds diminished substantially, yet the publishing work remained. Books and the monthly journal, which now appeared behind schedule, still sold. Then came several unfortunate investments in false theories. The SPSP members had not carefully examined the discoveries and hypotheses of the pioneers, and the money went nowhere. The first failed investment was in that same cold nuclear fusion. Here Maxim Newton had been right; before long, this discovery could not withstand criticism from another scientific community. Maxim himself eventually left the society and began writing and publishing his own strange, semi-mystical hypotheses. These books immediately found their way onto bookstore shelves under the category "Occult Sciences."

Subsequently, a couple of failed investments drove the society into financial crisis. New investors were needed. Unfortunately, the situation that had developed within the community did not attract people who might have financed it through difficult times. Despite all these adversities, the situation might still have been remedied through proper decisions and innovations, but Konstantin continued to do nothing. In truth, all of this had become unnecessary to him, notwithstanding all his ambitions to change the world and the lives of others. Now that he had changed his own life, the lives of others held no interest for him whatsoever.

The final event that put an end to SPSP's existence was the closure of the printing house. The last SPSP assembly resolved to dissolve the society. A decision was also made to sell off the already printed books and liquidate the remaining fixed assets. With the proceeds, the society settled its accounts with the state for taxes, with former investors, and with other creditors.

Konstantin's fame, just as it had been acquired, just as swiftly faded. Within a year, SPSP became an unknown society to everyone. For some time afterward, Kostya was still known as the author of several philosophical books, but then he was forgotten entirely. Konstantin did not particularly grieve, especially since Elizabeth was still by his side.

The real life of an ordinary man, however, was not as Konstantin had imagined it. The financial savings Konstantin had accumulated during SPSP's existence were quite rapidly spent on various forms of entertainment. The time came when he had to find employment. Despite all the knowledge Konstantin had accumulated, he could not secure a position anywhere except as a bank teller, in accordance with his original profession. Moreover, there was neither time nor desire to be choosy or hold out for something better.

Now, awakened by the cold realities of life, Kostya began to feel his former sorrow. His relationship with Elizabeth grew more strained from day to day. He did not feel that she was happy with him. To say that this was precisely what he had wanted—this Kostya could not do, try as he might.