Cockburn calls one morning back in 2005. “Jeffrey, don’t you think Frankie could play Behemoth in the movie?” Frankie was Alex’s gregarious black cat, rather hefty with feline dreadlocks and an imperious manner. “Which movie would that be?” “The Master and Margarita, of course. Don’t tell me you haven’t read your Bulgakov? I’m astonished. Simply astonished.” Three days later, I had indeed read by