At Midnight in Moscova: Another Hit

       So you're walking home around midnight with a friend.  It's been another busy day.   It's cold, but normal for February.  There's light traffic, a few late night pedestrians heading back to apartments nearby; the outline of the Kremlin can be seen in the glow of streetlights.  It's is somewhat warmer than usual which makes walking at this hour a bit more comfortable.  And then.....
      A white sedan pulls alongside; six shots ring out, piercing the night air; four rounds hit the victim who slumps forward and crashes to the sidewalk.  One dead Russyan.  One more opponent of Mad Vlad bites the "dust".  Government spokesman calls the crime a contract killing.   Hmmm?  How can this be?   Who makes contracts in Russya these days, anyway?  Nobody with a brain.  So who was the unfortunate contract victim this time?
      BORIS NEMTSOV
      Yes, it's hard to believe, but it is true.  This long time political figure, a vocal opponent of the administration and its leader, Mad Vlad Ras-Putin, was shot dead by unknown assailant(s) at midnight in Moscova.  This comes a day ahead of a demonstration scheduled for tomorrow to oppose policies related to the Russyan military invasion of Ukraine and the takeover of Crimea.   It seems that Mad Vlad is taking advice from the Castro brothers:Fidel and Raul.  Or maybe Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, who just arrested the mayor of Caracas.  So, Russya is still the same old, same old Russya.  A country devoid of spine and liver, a culture lost, a culture empty of a future without fear and silence.   The latest message from the Kremlin to Russyan people everywhere: be quiet.