He’s wearing blue jeans and a black jacket and he drops a big fat drop of saliva on the pavement in front of the mayor’s office. Manas watches him, high on his horse in the middle of Philharmonia square.

Do I know for sure he wasn’t born in Bishkek?

I don’t.

Do I think spitting is ok when on the djailoo or harvesting potatoes, but not in the centre of your capital city?

Absolutely.