Isaac Babel's "How It Was Done in Odessa" is one of four intriguing stories in the Odessa Tales, crafted between 1921 and 1923, and later compiled under the title Odesskie rasskazy in 1931. These tales revolve around the notorious Jewish gangster, Benya Krik. The narrative kicks off with a query posed by a first-person narrator to Reb Arye-Leib, about how Benya ascended to his notorious title as “the King.”

The Making of a Legend

Reb Arye-Leib recounts a pivotal chapter in Benya's life, beginning when he was just twenty-five. Eager to cement his status in the criminal underworld, Benya approaches the preeminent gangsters of the time, seeking their blessing to join their ranks. They set a daunting task for him: to successfully rob Ruvim Tartakovsky, a man of immense wealth and influence in Odessa, who had already endured nine robberies.

A Bold Challenge

Undaunted, Benya takes on the challenge, crafting a courteous letter addressed to Tartakovsky, in which he candidly requests the victim's "cooperation" in the impending theft. Tartakovsky’s response, though penned, never reaches Benya, prompting him and his crew to advance on Tartakovsky’s office as planned. Upon their arrival, they find the office deserted save for a panicked clerk, Joseph Muginstein. The heist unfolds smoothly until Savka Butsis, a tardy and inebriated member of the gang, arrives on the scene. In his drunken stupor, Savka accidentally discharges his weapon, hitting Muginstein in the stomach, causing the gang to flee the scene.

Aftermath of an Accident

The shooting is a mishap, yet Benya's actions in the aftermath bolster his reputation. As they make their escape, Benya swears that if Muginstein succumbs to his injuries, Savka will find himself interred next to the unfortunate clerk. Benya later visits the hospital, instructing the medical staff to spare no effort in saving Joseph, underscoring his threat with the chilling promise of a burial plot for any doctor who fails, "even if he’s a doctor of philosophy." Despite these efforts, Joseph succumbs to his wounds.

Negotiations and Reparations

Following Joseph's death, Benya, in his distinctive red automobile, whose horn echoes the opening strains of the opera Pagliacci, visits Joseph's mother, Aunt Pesya. There, he faces off with Tartakovsky, who accuses Benya of "killing live people." In a heated exchange, Benya lambastes Tartakovsky for sending Aunt Pesya a pittance of a hundred rubles as compensation for her son's life. The tension escalates until they strike a deal: Tartakovsky will provide Aunt Pesya with five thousand rubles and a monthly pension of fifty rubles for the rest of her life.

A Funeral Fit for a King

The story culminates with the grand funeral Benya orchestrates for Joseph. It's a lavish affair that showcases Benya's flair for drama and respect for the dead. He delivers a heartfelt eulogy, concluding with an invitation for mourners to honor Savka Butsis as well. It is at this moment, in front of a captivated audience, that Benya earns the moniker "King," forever cementing his legend in Odessa's annals.