That string in my head, I only felt it rarely now … I’d set up a regular time for sitting on the platform, that was my time to think about Černá, I’d given up believing she’d ever step off the train … given up being scared of it too … and when I’d jump out of my skin, it was always a different girl … and somehow I’d make it through the rest of the day, walking, wandering, sleeping … it occurred to me to try leavin the station, goin by my place on Gasworks, pick up my clothes and some money, there’d be something there, wash up so I wouldn’t stick out so much, and then go where I had to go, and do it. I gave my pistol a pat.
She talked to me first. Nothin much, but young, strawberry blonde, face kina runny. Took my hand. One word led to the next, our shoulders touched. I groped her under the table so it’d be obvious. She held on. Egh, I neighed on the inside … checked my getup, the lighting was dim, puffed out my chest … after a few shots we were all over each other … and I was turned on, so I’m absolutely positively getting better, I thought to myself. I kept drinking till nightfall so she wouldn’t notice how keyed up I was. I was looking forward to Gasworks. This way it would be … healthier. Up until now I couldn’t’ve imagined standing next to that sink again. Like I had that time with her. There might even be some of her things there still, trifles.
Ginger was a sociable one. Nurse on vacation in the little mother. Bullshit, no doubt, but it sounded nice. So if I trip an bust my face, you’d bandage me up, right? I’ll bandage you so good … you haven’t lived till you’ve been bandaged by me, she poured it on. We made a deal, I’d get the drinks, she’d get the cab. Either we’d stay at my place, or grab the cash an go somewhere. I’ll hit the cellar first thing in the morning, it’ll be a classy farewell … I told myself. With a manly smile. She got a little wild in the cab.
Yep … this is Gasworks, the driver said. Same name still.
I recognized the store on the corner, but except for that … my street, which used to be one of the worst … lots of buildings had new facades, wait a sec, leggo, I pushed her off, a fashion boutique, a toyfil store, a crystal shop, here? … a bank, this is unbelievable …
You gettin out, or do you want me to keep goin?
Wait here, I told him and the redhead, moving as if in a dream. At number 23, where my place should’ve been, was a hotel. Glass doors, dish jockeys, cactuses … Hotel Evropa, yeah, that’s original … Chinese tombs on the walls, all the frills … unobtrusive music, red carpet …
Where do you think you’re going? A fellow in a uniform stopped me, reception clerk. He surveyed my attire under the glowing chandeliers.
I live here.
Uh-huh … we’ll see about that. Which étagère?
Which what?
Which room.
Number nine, on the courtyard.
Oh, that’s gone now, sir. This is a hotel now, as you see for yourself.
Where’s my stuff, dammit!
Make an appointment at City Hall, sec. 77. All previous tenants who failed to submit claims were relocated to the City Dump. You must have neglected to submit your claim by 9/7!
What claim? That’s my stuff!
We’ve had cases like yours before. But if you haven’t submitted your claim yet, I’m afraid it’s too late.
What the …?
You won’t get any space from us.
Where’re all the resta the people that used to live here?
Where do you think? They went somewhere else.
I staggered back to the cab. This is unreal … my nautical maps, my photos … a couple blazers …