But Černá wasn’t there. Just her boots. I flew out the door, going through every toilet in the area and peeking in on the neighbors, which didn’t come off without a few minor tiffs and exchanges of pleasantries, and came back and all that was there was the boots. I fell to my knees and begged him: I know we’re on the shinkansen, but please, we’ve done some really bad things … give me whatever I deserve, her too, I don’t care, just as long as we’re together, I can take anything …
Černá fell laughing into the compartment, I could tell right away she was liquored up, a tall, strapping guy came charging in behind her … bald head topped with a derby, bottle of Jack D. in hand, looked like a wholesale pig dealer … easy, honey, Sister wrapped her arms around my neck, she can tell very well what’s bugging me, even when she’s bombed … this gentleman’s got news for us, it isn’t goin to Prague, Černá spluttered, tipping over on the seat … Truly, young man, I’m pleased to know you’re Czechs on the go, this here poci
g, which is to say train, is going to Warsaw, and there’s a suburb there called Prága and that’s where I live, the name’s Josef Švejch and you’re Mr. Potok, your little sister tells me, she’s gone beddy-bye, isn’t that the sweetest thing! Sister sat, legs spread, snorin away … you wouldn’t happen to know a Mr. Potok from Poříčí nad Sázavou, would you? Old Vávra’s got a drayery there, and he told me once how the year I was captured a fireball wiped out both their churches, and why, do you think? Because the foreigners pulled into town … he leaned toward me and said … soon as it stops, grab the girl and hightail it out of here, and don’t look back, believe me, I’ve been helping out around here quite a while, it’s straight down from here on in! We’ll just put little sissy here’s booties on, tickle the señorita’s hoofs, heehee, the man gestured wildly toward the ceiling and then to his ear … the sign that the place was bugged … I was flabbergasted … so I’d been right! The question is whether he’s lying, I decided to chance it, I didn’t like that train one bit … the guy nodded and the train pulled to a stop. I grabbed Černá and flung her at the door, and again, she woke up: Let’s fly, run, I said in a voice reserved for awful moments … dragged her down the aisle, it was … totally empty again … not a soul, just the door at the far end creaking … we staggered along, Černá started to kick back in, didn’t ask any questions, smart girl … past three more empty compartments, at any moment expecting someone to reach out of the darkness, I looked over my shoulder, that pale thin guy was runnin after us, and how! … he was leaping, I caught a glimpse of his face, like … a wasp’s … mouth and nose merging into a single orifice … bubbling yellow foam … I had to stop and watch, it was like the foam was boiling, and I could see the pinchers … as he ran his … face grew, filling up the aisle … he raised his arms, tried to strangle me, slashed my neck with his nails … then somethin … Černá grabbed my hand, tugged, and I fell out onto the platform, hard … and the train was gone.
Little brother, are you hurt, she kneeled down next to me. Move, please, move.
What’re you doin, I’m fine. Just a little banged up. I hoisted myself.
Oh, you’re … I thought you got hit.
Huh. By who?
That disgusting guy that was after me, c’mon, he shot at me! I was afraid he got you, didn’t he? It totally hurt when you fell on me. But thanks for yankin me out, I was out of my mind with fear. The barrel on that thing. It was totally growin, seemed like it filled the aisle. It’s a wonder my head didn’t burst I was so scared. I’m amazed that train even left.
But you yanked me out! That’s how come I fell on you.
What do you mean … you yanked my arm. I was in the aisle with him an he was shootin, it was horrible … she covered her face.
Černá, wait a sec, I think I get it … you with the pistol, me strangled, those were … demons. An we made it through, I think we’re past it. I might’ve even prayed. I donno.
I prayed too, the whole time.
Hey, but that one guy saved us!
No he didn’t, I was about to make a move when he started gabbin at you how we oughta get off, an I knew he was gonna start shootin. He pulled a pistol on me an forced me to take him to our seats. I just pretended to be drunk. On that Fernet a his. When he was tellin you how we should get off, I wanted to scream. But I couldn’t move. It was real bad.
We went on discussing the train of horror for a while. The cool night air got it out of us. Peace and quiet all around, small platform, not a soul. We were together alone in the night and we’d just wriggled out of a trap, what more could we ask for.
Whatcha got there, Sister wondered.
I hadn’t let go of the plastic bag, astonishing!
I reached in my pocket and there were the cigarettes, only Cleos, marvelous Cleos. Warily I lit one up, and a smile spilled across my face.
Yep, Sister, now we’re in reality, let’s sit down a while.
There’s one thing still … we both know why he tried to shoot me, but why would they try to strangle you? Don’t cha wanna tell me?
I winced.
Why don’t we wait on that, huh?
Whatever you want. I trust you. An I think I know. Don’t get mad, but that girl who held me, the night after … you said you know her. Did you love her?
Yeah.
Was it her? Sister gasped.
Leave me alone.
I’ll never leave you.
We sat against the shabby waiting-room wall, taming our thirst and puffing away. The beer was real. Černá remarked that she didn’t give a damn if it was bewitched, she’d had her fair share of swills anyway. I had a feeling it wouldn’t throw me off either. And besides, I’d paid in normal money, there’s gotta be some logic still! Sister fervently concurred. Just to be sure we kissed a few times, hungrily and passionately. Then softly and tenderly. Our hands roamed over each other’s bodies. That worked too. Wait … have we got any cash? I gotta buy myself some shoes, this isn’t workin anymore. She took off her boots. We searched ourselves. Almost nothing, a couple thou, good for about two lunches. In Prague. Here maybe more. I’ll swipe you some sneakers somewhere, or we’ll hitch, or stow away, or somethin, I consoled her. I reached in the pocket where I’d put the tickets that pale Azazello had sold me. Came out with two dry leaves that crumbled in my fingers. We eyed the empty bottles with a touch of concern. But so what!
All at once Černá twisted up and started squirming, I alertly dropped to the ground, gropin for her … but she was screaming with laughter … Brother … don’t even lift your head … I lifted my head and saw a sign hanging there: USANICA. I didn’t laugh, I swore like crazy.
We lit up another round of Cleos.