Peter Pišťanek - The End of Freddy

“Good question,” says Telgarth. “You’ll be paid in gold. And you’ll get shares in our oil industry, too. That’s a fair offer, don’t you think?”

“It is,” says Urban. “I could stay here a few weeks. But let’s have a written contract.”

“Fine,” Telgarth laughs. “If you want a contract, you’ll get one. To your health and our collaboration!”

* * *

The weeks turn into months. Soon it’s Christmas, and then New Year. The New Year celebration turns into a great celebration of victory for the Junjan Slovaks. Freddy prepares a great celebration in the New City, with Czech representatives present. He gives an impressive speech from the balcony of the former Khan’s Palace. He wrote it alone, the night before, and wept as he wrote:

“Dear Slovak men and women! Brothers and sisters! When I set out on the sorrowful path of war, I promised to take off my uniform only after final victory. Now, as you see, the day has arrived. Slovak men and women! From today we’re no longer a nation in retreat! We’ve rediscovered our pride and self-confidence. It is born of all the streams of blood that we have shed for our God and nation. So we can rejoice today at our success and be proud of what we’ve achieved. For I tell you: today we are not cheering just over a tiny trembling flame that might go out one day. I say, in the name of those who have fallen on the road here, this will never happen. Slovak men and women! Together, we’ve resurrected the flame of the restless conquering spirit that moved your forefathers many years ago to leave their homes and go into the wide world to seek a new future. Even though they ended up somewhere they did not originally choose, that flame has warmed them over many years of slavery and oppression. Today that flame burns bright. Just as bright, untamed and full, as it burned in them many generations ago. Brothers and sisters! In this cruel struggle, we’ve found ourselves as well as our place in the world. The time for weapons and killing has ended at last and now comes a time of love and procreation. A time for peaceful building. Therefore, let us love, procreate, build, live and get to know freedom! But we must never turn our backs on the victory that we’ve achieved by sacrificing our blood. Those of our ranks who have fallen would never forgive us! Thank you for your attention.”

After the speech begins a festive banquet and then the evening festivities continue in a free entertainment, which means unrestrained drinking. It cannot be otherwise, for the company is almost entirely male. It consists of prominent Slovaks guerrillas, now the free archipelago’s supreme representatives, and of representatives of the Czech Army and some foreign journalists. The handsome Czech officers lay siege to the few foreign female journalists, so all the rest of the guests can do is indulge in an unrestrained drinking competition.

The guerrilla commanders, in badly cut suits requisitioned from ethnic Junjans, feel ill at ease in this environment, but they bravely surmount that feeling. This is how it will be from now on. Their families are still on the tundra pastures, as it is not safe here yet. Shots are heard at night every now and again.

The guerrilla commanders drown their frustration in alcohol. The supply of wine and delicacies in the former Junjan Khan’s palace seems inexhaustible.

Here Telgarth and Geľo meet several of their fellow prisoners from the Kandźágtt camp, journalists from Hungary, Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic and Carpathian Slovakia. They have to drink a toast with each one of them. The journalists particularly recall Telgarth’s heroic, unbending attitude to the guards. This warms Telgarth’s heart. All puffed up with his own importance, he busily urges everyone to eat and drink.

Then Telgarth introduces to Urban an officer in a perfectly tailored uniform, Commodore Kubeš. Both Urban and Kubeš look at each other without a word for a moment and then firmly shake hands.

“I’m glad to see you again,” says Urban. “How long has it been?”

“And so am I,” says Kubeš. “Well, it’s been almost two years. And how is your beautiful cousin?”

“Thanks, she’s probably fine,” says Urban. “I haven’t seen her for a long time. I’ve been in Junja for half a year already.”

“And what brought you here?” Kubeš wants to know.

“We’ve known each other for many years,” Telgarth speaks for Urban. “He came to visit me and offer his services to the young Slovak Archipelago. As a former federal parliament member he advises me on legislative questions, including how not to suck up to the Czechs.”

Kubeš nonchalantly ignores the last sentence. After all, he’s not a politician. He’s a sailor.

Urban squirms, but finally decides to bite his tongue.

“And where did you meet the commodore?” Telgarth asks Urban.

“In Prague,” says Urban, “on a summer cruise on the Vltava.”

“Now I can say it; it’s no longer secret,” Kubeš tells Urban. “This is the new job I was telling you about on the Mayor Pfitzner . My last voyage, when I met you and your beautiful cousin, was on Friday and on Sunday I left for the submariner course. Do you know I still have her business card?”

“Really?” Urban asks.

He often thinks of his cousin Tina, too. The longer he is away from her, the more he longs for her.

“After this voyage, I’ll have an extended holiday,” boasts Kubeš. “I’d love to phone her and visit her. After all, I promised to tell her more about magic Prague.”

“Yes,” says Urban with a crooked smile. “She’ll be very glad.”

“I’ll be very glad to see her,” says Kubeš. “She’s a superb woman.”

“What’s the uniform you’re wearing?” Urban asks, changing the topic.

“It’s a Czech navy uniform,” says Kubeš. “We got it just recently.”

“It’s handsome,” nods Urban. “Better than the one you wore on the Mayor Pfitzner .”

“I wasn’t a Czech navy commodore then,” says Kubeš.

“The Czech navy didn’t even exist then,” concludes Telgarth. “Gentlemen, you talk a lot and drink very little. Here’s the champagne; please let me have your glasses.”

Soon midnight comes and with it an improvised fireworks display over the city, then new toasts. Those with guns fire bursts into the sky.

Telgarth is moved to tears. He is not merely moved, but a while ago, in the lavatory, he ingested another dose of his much-loved mushrooms. And topped that off with champagne. Genuine tears spring from his eye:

“This will be a great year for Slovaks! Oh, it will be a great year for Slovaks, indeed! A great year!!!”

* * *

One Czech drives another, and their own stupidity drives them.

Junjan Slovak proverb

Playing Soldiers, or Watch Out, a Junjan Soldier’s About!

The settlement Horná Náprava can’t be found on any map of the Junjan archipelago. It’s not even on the military map hanging in the hall of the former fur trading post. Welcome to the residence of one of the many Czech units that have come to defend the interests of the Czech Kingdom on this piece of frozen land.

“Over there, it’s over there.” “What, where?” “Well, over there. Can’t you see the flag flapping on that pole?” We thought that it would take forever looking for the Royal Czech Paratroopers in Junja.

Sunday

So this is the Royal Czech Army élite. This army was a few years ago, for a record brief period, part of NATO. An army now meant to help keep peace and order on the Junjan archipelago and also to defend Czech (or rather Czechoslovak) interests. Meanwhile, the élite unit amuses itself cleaning the mud off its boots and cursing the weather.