Theodore Odrach - Wave of Terror

She listened to Kulik with close attention. Her small delicate features tightened. Was she truly as inane as he said she was? Was she actually preventing herself from thinking things through?

She settled herself on the sofa, and, patting the seat with her hand, said almost cheerfully, “Ivan, come here and sit next to me. That’s better. Am I causing your blood to tingle? Oh, you, you …” she ran the tips of her fingers along the contours of his face. “What a forehead you have. You don’t even have the slightest crease. Such a fine, strong chin and your features are so heavy and bold. And that gleam in your eye! So devious! What were you like as a child? You must have given your parents a hard time.”

Kulik smiled. “I was a handful, I have to admit. I climbed the highest trees and destroyed crows’ nests.”

“Did you get into fights?”

“All the time. I fought everybody and anybody, big or small. There wasn’t a day I didn’t have a black eye or a bloody nose. The neighbors all agreed I would either grow up to be a criminal or a great man. But as you can see, I’ve become neither. I’m simply a Soviet civil servant of the lowest rank.”

“Were you ever in love?”

“I don’t know — love is so fleeting. And besides, love today has taken on a whole new meaning, it’s become burdensome and painful. It’s lost its appeal. Is there a point to falling in love, to getting married, when they can knock on your door at any time, even on your wedding day? … But let’s not talk about depressing things. Better to think of something pleasant and enjoy the moment.”

Marusia who had turned towards him, felt she had not had a good look at him before. His straight black hair was combed back neatly, his handsome face was clean-shaven. There was something definitely appealing about him, something she had not really noticed until now. Kulik could feel his pulse throb, and impulsively, he leaned toward her, put his arms around her and kissed her on the mouth. She responded.

Then suddenly she tensed and pushed him away. Her demeanor changed completely and she gasped. “What are you trying to do to me? You men are all alike, all of you! Leave me alone!”

No sooner had she pulled herself away, when there came a tapping on the window. It lasted only a few seconds. Rushing to the window, she pulled the curtains slightly apart, peered outside, and whispered nervously, “Ivan, I think there’s someone out there.”

The two stood in silence and listened. When they looked out again, they saw only the branch of an elderberry bush brushing up against the lower pane.

“I’ll go outside and take a better look.” Kulik started for the door, but Marusia grasped his arm.

“No, don’t go. It was probably nothing.”

It occurred to her that it was around this time that Sobakin left for the Zovty Prison. She quickly concluded that her worst nightmare had come true: it was Sobakin at the window! Looking frantically at Kulik, she could feel her heart begin to pound faster and faster. Taking his hand in hers and squeezing it tightly, looking deep into his eyes, she knew she could never forgive herself if anything were to happen to him.

It was well past nine o’clock when outside the Bohdanovich house there were a series of ear-piercing screams, followed by shouts. Marusia instantly recognized the voices of her mother and father. Turning on the lights, she ran outside to find her parents stumbling about in the darkness.

“I’ll catch that damn thief if it’s the last thing I do,” Efrosinia was yelling. “I’ll break his legs in two, I swear!”

Seeing her daughter, she called out, “Marusia, did you hear anything from the house? There was someone prowling around out here, trying to get in through one of the windows. Oh, if only I got a better look at him.” Then catching sight of Kulik by the door, “And you, what a fine product of a man you are! You should have gone outside right away, grabbed him by the collar, and called the police. The police would have known exactly what to do with the likes of him!”

Efrosinia rushed into the house to see if anything was missing. She held up her long black frock so she wouldn’t trip on it. When everything appeared in order, she went into the living room and plopped herself down on the sofa. Brushing a few loose strands of gray hair from her face, she drew a deep breath. Then she fixed her gaze upon Kulik, standing by the doorway.

Kulik winced. He knew that he was not exactly her favorite person, and it was just a matter of time before she would start berating him. But for some reason she ignored him. Her face worked and from her mouth came a series of strange, broken sounds; she seemed to be trying to say her son’s name. Weeping, she repeated these sounds several times.

A tremendous feeling of grief and sadness overcame Kulik. The old woman had such a huge burden to bear, as she sat there on the sofa alone and powerless, a mere bundle. But she started to recover herself. A smile came to her lips. And indeed, when she spoke, to Kulik’s surprise she did so quite easily, even matter-of-factly. For some reason she began to recount the events of her day. She looked straight at him, and seemed to be addressing him directly, but she didn’t seem to see him.

“I went to the train station today and waited for the train from Lvov. I expected Lonia to be on the five-thirty-five, but he wasn’t. I waited three hours for the next train. Hundreds of people got off, carrying all kinds of bundles and parcels. They were all bumping into each other and squeezing through the gates. I searched for Lonia, but again he was nowhere to be seen. Then my old man showed up and tried to get me to go home. But I made up my mind to stay on and wait for the express train to arrive in an hour and a half because I was sure Lonia would be on board. Valentyn said he would stay and wait with me, but that was only because he didn’t want a scene. Then the train came and there was no Lonia. I wanted to wait for the next one, coming in at dawn. I was ready to spend the night on one of the benches. Then my old man came up with a very good point. ‘What if Lonia decides to come by truck? There are a lot of trucks on the road these days traveling back and forth carrying supplies. He might easily hitch a ride with one of them.’ So I finally agreed to come home. But, as you can see, I didn’t find my Lonia waiting for me here. No, all I found was a thief trying to break in through the living room window — and you.”

When Efrosinia finished she stared before her as if she hadn’t said anything at all. She seemed oblivious to everything around her. Then she turned to Kulik. “Well, young man, tell me, what’s brought you to Pinsk?”

Kulik sat down on the sofa. He was about to answer, when suddenly from beneath him came an incredibly loud squeak. The squeak was so loud that even Valentyn, who had just sauntered into the room, gave a start.

Efrosinia turned on her husband. “Did you just hear that, old man? It was the sofa again! Are you ever going to fix it?” Then to Kulik, “Look at him, he doesn’t care about anything. And he calls himself man of the house! Man of the house, hah! What do you think, young man, is he a man like all other men?” She shook her head. “If this is a man like all other men, then God help the species!”

Valentyn’s face reddened with anger. “This time you’ve really outdone yourself, old woman.”

“Outdone myself? Does the truth hurt? The only good thing you’ve done lately is shave off that ugly beard of yours. And how long did that take you? Three months!”

She stopped short. Her mouth quivered and she buried her head in her hands, shaking with sobs and muttering to herself, her lips barely moving. Clasping her hands, she cried, “Oh, Lonia, my poor Lonia.” Then again she seemed to rally. Seizing Kulik’s arm, she stared into his eyes. “What do you think, young man, did my Lonia really get married? Yes, he did! He got married, I know he did.” In a sort of trance, she smiled strangely. “I was there, at the wedding, and it was the most beautiful one I have ever seen. The church bells rang for the whole town to hear. My Lonia looked very handsome, all dressed in black. And I saw his bride too. How lovely she is, so tall and strong and self-reliant.”