In Russian, пятерка (pyatyorka), "quintet" (our translation), comes from пять, "five," and is the cell of five people with which Pyotr says he organizes the revolution. The five in town believe they are one among hundreds and thousands of пятерок linked to a secret center. On the walk back from the park, Liputin asks whether there is one quintet or a thousand, and understands from the answer that he had always known it was only one.
Where It Appears
Quotes
What is needed here is a single magnificent will, of an idol, despotic, supported by something that is not accidental and lies outside... Then the quintets will tuck in the tail of obedience and, with servility, will be useful on the occasion.