Platonov's story "Bessmertie" (1936) - two questions

[Robert Chandler]

Dear all,

1.
Едвак осовел от обиды.
— Ты мне, начальник, давай потяжельше дела, по слабым я слаб... Перекидка — пустая вещь, там дежурный был, a я этюд другого порядка.
Yedvak's boss at a railway station (its name is Krasny Peregon) in the Donbas has just criticised him.  Our first draft of a translation is this:
The insult stupefied Yedvak.
‘You, chief, please give me some more harder tasks. When I’m among the weak, I become a weakling myself . Moving wagons is an empty business.  Anyway, there was a duty officer there – and I’m a specialist of another order!’
It goes without saying that этюд is an absurd and pretentious word here - but is there anything more here?  Is there any reason why Platonov has chosen this particular nonsensical word?

2.  This is from the same conversation:

— А разве ты думаешь? Ты тоже на работе молчишь, а дома пляшешь…

— Я думать не берусь, я не тот человек, а пляшу я от горя, от безобразия на этом пункте своей жизни — в Красном, бордовом Перегоне!.. 
  
Why 'bordovom'?  What connotations does this word have in Russian? I appreciate that it is a little joke, but, again, I am wondering if there is any subtlety I am missing.

Here again is a first attempt at a translation:
‘But do you think?  You don’t say anything at work either – and all you do at home is dance.’

‘I’m not going to start thinking, I’m not that kind of person.  And if I dance, it’s from grief, from the chaos at this point of my life, in Red, burgundy-red, Peregon!’

All the best and, as always, thanks!

Robert

Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD





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