Jáchym Topol - City, Sister, Silver

Maybe … it’s the lovemaking?

Definitely. An everything.

Yeah. Since we’re together, everything’s easier.

All at once she broke up laughing again, guffawing and roaring. This time I didn’t get why, and tried to fall asleep.

I woke up … gazing straight into a … the word iris occurred to me, or nonthorn, crimson cloud, treasury of rosebushes … it was kind and familiar, I blew out a puff of air and my dream’s orgiastic landscape trembled imperceptibly … focused my gaze, it was Sister’s ear, inserted the tip of my tongue, she jumped up … ick, oh it’s you? Then out with it, now … what were you dreamin?

This time I was too lazy to invent anything.

Nothin. Nothin at all! An you?

I’m not tellin. She blushed.

We walked down a lane and then through the streets. Just to have a look around. Not a soul, we loitered on streetcorners. Studied the situation. Explored shredded posters from last year’s festivals. Windows. Behind some of them were family things, we often spotted the outlines of furniture. And people. Sometimes nothing. Up above, the same sky; down below, trickles of mud. The movie theater was playing Chainsaw. We deciphered that, the pictures were inscrutable. At the end of the sidewalk, we found a little park with a statue in it. Sit down, said Sister when we came to a bench, I’ll tell you somethin.

You’re probly not gonna like this. I’ve been havin dreams … about someone. I like him a lot, an I feel safe an pretty blissful with him. I’ll just spew it out: The guy’s washin me. I’m in the bath an he’s splashin water on me an soapin me up an touchin me. He’s gentle but strong. An I know that before, I was really … dirty. Are you angry?

Not at all! Surprise, but no! Can you see his face?

No, my eyes’re shut an I can’t open em. Then somebody walks in, somebody bad, an the guy chases him out. But only with words. This dream keeps comin back. Don’t get mad, but maybe when I find out who he is … I’m gonna wanna be with him.

She eyed me from the side. Saw I was smiling.

That doesn’t bother you?

No! C’mon, let’s keep goin.

Next to some building with a shop selling something, not food, sat a bus. The driver was starting the engine. A small, rather obese guy with glasses. We ran over, not caring where it was headed as long as it was away … from here. It only had seats in front, otherwise it was empty, apart from a few crates. If he’d tried to throw us off, I probly woulda pulled the gun. We’d had it up to here with Ušanica. I let Sister do the negotiating, she’s prettier. But the guy … it pissed me off, Černá may be petite, but when she sticks out her chest … gave her an appraising look. It’s not like I care if some fella looks her over. My eyes’re active too. It’s those disgusting market looks that go right for the price. Since that time in Berlun I’ve been sensitive to that stuff. I couldn’t hear what they were talkin about over the roar of the engine. Shoulda been more on guard with my sister.

She came back … furious, guess he musta gotten raunchy with her. Who wouldn’t, girl in distress.

What’s his deal?

Aw, you know these fuckheads … laid all sortsa bullshit on me, yeah, you know. Plus I think he’s drunk. Czech.

Where we goin?

It’s cool, said he’s going through a place where there’s a railway hub to Prague, ends at some market near the border with Hungary, some Kyselice* or somethin.

Hungary, that’s weird. An what’s the first place?

He said Hungary, maybe there’s Hungarians there, I donno. An that hub’s in the Czech Lands! We’re in luck.

What’s it called?

Ahh, said Sister softly … some Bezbožice.*

Hah, not a chance! Are you crazy? It’s obvious! Forget it, hey, we’re outta here …

Take it easy. Wait a sec.

She grabbed my hand, which helped.

Let’s go to that Kyselice or whatever. He’s got a stall there, there’s a market, there’ll be connections.

What’s he sell?

Donno. He didn’t say.

But the way she said it was weird somehow. After a while we dozed off again. The bus rocked us to sleep. And the landscape around us was empty, I noticed during the short time I was awake. Fields. A road or two. And the occasional scarecrow stuck up on a pole.

Up an at em, kids, nighttime! The fella stood in front of us, circles of sweat under his arms, swaying side to side, the bozo, uninviting guy.

Brother, said Černá astonished, he’s gropin me!

The big man slid his paw off her breast, made a playful face, said: Hoho! Enjoy the snooze? I’m Pepek, an you’re the only menagerie in my parlor, we’ll eat in a while, gang! An shoot the shit a little.

I eyed him incredulously as he fondled Černá’s thigh.

Sister … this guy’s a suicide case, I blurted.

Ah, so you’re siblings! Said to myself right away, an I’ll take your word on it, sir … seein as you two’re on the lam, you lamsters! You two … what? Addicts, that or you pulled some heist. Sit down! That paw of his was stronger than I expected. Gripping my shoulder, as she lay there feebly like … some body dragged outta the river … he kept it there. As it stands, you owe me a pretty nice wad for the trip, but I don’t want any horror shows, the young lady here’s quite a piece of work. I mean, compared to what’s around. Ride with me an we’ll make a deal, shake on it.

What do you want?

Little missy here knows. She’s not so much a snoozerist as some people. A fine little brother you are! She’s a bright girl all right. One week an you’ll have enough for a trip around the world! An a shower’ll do the trick. You know that one, right … lady goes to the doctor …

We know it.

Then off we go. Brake an skid, the squeal of speeding wheels … hah-hah!

Our driver settled in at the wheel. Černá didn’t say a word.

Tell me, what’s up … an I bet if you had your shades, you’d be puttin em on right now. What’d you cook up with him while I was asleep?

Nothin, are you crazy! He’s a jerk … wants me to sleep with him or whatever.

Wanting’s okay, I’m not surprised, who wouldn’t, with you … you’re a nice piece of work, although, then again … we’re not seventeen anymore, Sister!

I think this is some kina travelin whorehouse or somethin, she said.

Let’s take off then, this guy stinks, hey look, a village. Stop! I hollered, getting to my feet.

Wait … Černá tugged at me, let him drop us off first an then we can split.

No, we’re goin now. But he wouldn’t stop till I kicked the steering wheel. Didn’t get pissed, pity.

Don’t get off here, you’ll be stuck. I didn’t mean it!

Outside the windows it was hopping. A market, I guess, people all over, wooden carts, hens, looked lively … but otherwise, maybe we really were near Hungary.

There’s gotta be a bus or a train around here.

There’s nothin here! Puszta!* What’re you, blind? Take my word for it, c’mon, not another word about your girl, promise, I was only jokin. How was I sposta know you’re such a priss.

Open the door. Černá, let’s go!

Pepek exploded: Go on then, beat it, the hell with you. I had a sick little shit like you at home … ingrate!

We stood on a mucky village green. It must’ve been what was left of my mystical third eye that saw the hustle and bustle, through a cataract most likely … a few splintered wagons sitting in puddles, but otherwise not a soul, a dog trotted past. The squat cottages’ roofs … guess that must be thatching. They had tiny little windows, most of the yards were filled with bizarre odds and ends. All of it made of wood. Sister touched my hand and I saw … some old crone walking through the puddles in a black dress with a huge wig on. Carrying a hen with its head hanging off, throat slit. We looked at each other. Over there’s a … tavern, Černá pointed. Looked more like a shed. Three old fogies in black coats standing out in front, it was odd, as we passed them … standing silently, breeze ruffling their beards, some ropes or something dangling from their waists … Sister and I noticed the breeze right away. It was cold. A frosty föhn. She shivered, let’s go in an ask, she said. Inside it was all wood. Not a single poster, or TV, still rely on their imaginations out here. A couple tables occupied, the whole place was quiet … no one paid us any attention … I looked for a menu … not a one … on the wall opposite sat an old fella, also in a long black frock, caftan or somethin, nibbling at an egg, dog at his feet, yolk drippin all over his beard … innkeeper leaned on the counter, like a character out of an old movie, a cap on, full beard too … all of the guys had caps on their heads. I looked at Černá … her face had turned all pointy and pale … for once I looked for the sign, little brother, but there is none … no, there wasn’t a cross on the wall … but that’s normal in dives … I know where we are, said Sister, looking out the window, over there, GOLETICA,* only it’s written all funny. Never heard of it, I said, at the next table sat a guy with a red nose, belting back the hard stuff … also without a word, and in his hand he had a whip, a coachman’s I guess, but a book sat at his elbow, an old one apparently, all black … the coachman had a jacket on, not a black robe, he stood out a little from the mournful haggard band around him. And I think he reminded me of … someone … his features. Look at him, I told my mate, it’s weird, it’s like I know him … hah, that’s how you’re gonna look if you don’t watch it with the booze, yep, he’s got your nose, my dear. It’s incredible, Sister said softly. It gave me the chills. I’m a little superstitious, I admit. Member that hen, Černá, uch, there’s somethin in the air here an they’re actin like they don’t see us. Should I go to the counter, I inquired of my love. Not that I wanted to. Hold on, that girl’s tryin to tell you somethin, do you know her? Really, I hadn’t noticed her before … a beautiful girl … standing at the counter looking at me … up until that moment, I’d never seen eyes you could fall into, tunnels to somewhere, sparkling with light, grabbing hold and not letting go, like her long dark hair, I wanted to tell Černá, but my throat was choked … that girl, I donno her, but … raising her fingers, she put them to her lips, and then made a V sign … she was speaking in letters, I realized, saying: VOICE, and again VOICE, and again … I rose … Černá grabbed my hand, I’d forgotten she was there. No, don’t go, said Černá, let’s get outta here, nobody’s sayin a word an now they’re watchin … she got up and led me out, I felt pain, physical pain … like something tearing inside my body, touched my fingertips to my chest … I knew if I left now I’d never see that girl again, and it made me sorry, her fingers and hands were moving faster and faster as Černá dragged me out, telling me VOICE, HANA, VOICE, HANA, and then again I saw her eyes.