Peter Pišt'anek - Rivers of Babylon

Nobody has heard any more about the unfortunate manager of the Hotel Ambassador. It may be that he did reach his goal, the Arctic Circle. And maybe he’s still on his way there, hiding during the day from curious eyes and driving his pack of dogs at night over the snowbound plains, always heading due north. Those dogs that the manager left behind discovered Hurensson as soon as the snow melted. They dragged his bones all round the yard and the surroundings of the Hotel. A boy found Hurensson’s skull; it was cleaned bare by the dogs, and he put it in a glass case. Until his father confiscates the skull, squeamishly wraps it in a newspaper, and discreetly takes it out in the dark to dump it in a skip, the Swede will go on obtusely baring his teeth behind glass.

The eventual fate of Silvia and Edita is also unknown to us. Their traces vanish after the Austrian border. So many beautiful women between the ages of thirteen and forty disappear each year from our country that two solitary prostitutes are like two drops in the ocean.

Of course, Rácz will keep the promise he gave Lenka in a moment of weakness. As soon as the tradesmen have restored the weathered, neglected, but attractive villa high above the city, turning it into a luxurious mansion, Rácz takes a giant bouquet and goes to ask for Lenka’s hand. He is immediately accepted.

Rácz’s wedding becomes the social event of the year. Rácz would not be the man he is if he did not use the occasion to turn it into a sort of representative and promotional event to which all the city’s important personalities are invited. They all come; Rácz’s name has been mentioned too often for too long. Rácz is happy. He keeps repeating that this is the greatest day of his life. The bride is beautiful. And the groom is manly and well dressed. And wealthy, very wealthy.

All those invited accept the invitation: politicians, businessmen, influential journalists, and even those clowns, the artists. The latter get drunk since they can drink for free; they agree with everything, nodding their bearded mugs, ready to kiss anyone’s arse.

Soon after the wedding, the newly-weds move into the villa.

The lawyer’s plan for Rácz to move into the politics turns out to be realistic and easily carried out. At his wedding, Rácz makes friends with all the invited government leaders and politicians. With the caution of a stubborn, ignorant peasant, he selects two of the many political parties that seek his favour. He places Video Urban in one of the parties. The party leader soon promotes Urban to the central coordinating committee as thanks for the latter’s exceptional contribution to a successful election campaign. No wonder, as Rácz is generous with his money. Urban runs for the party in the communal elections. He wins and becomes a deputy to the city legislature. The party leader promises to let him run for parliament in two years.

Even the lawyer isn’t left unrewarded by politics. Using generous financial contributions, Rácz pushes him into the other political party. Soon the lawyer gets into the Slovak National Assembly and becomes a member of various committees close to Dr. Renceš, the Mayor. Rácz is keen to push the lawyer even further, but he has to wait a bit. They can move only after faithful Ščepán produces a document that will be used as evidence of Dr. Renceš’s alleged collaboration with communist State Security. After sensational disclosures, nothing will stop the lawyer being elected Mayor. It need not be stressed that the battered aluminium mess pot will take place of honour on the Mayor’s office wall. Of course, the lawyer will never forget whom he has to thank for his career and will never forget to show his gratitude. The same goes for Urban.

Lenka becomes pregnant and after the end of the academic year she interrupts her studies indefinitely. She may resume them in the distant future.

Rácz will open his Fitness Centre in the summer. The formal opening will be graced by the presence of the new Mayor who will remain ensconced with the hotelier in mutually advantageous conversation on the topic of the development of private business in the city.

The luxury Hotel Ambassador-Rácz II will start operating in autumn. Rácz is up to his ears in debt, but he looks happy. He knows that these days debt is the best investment.

By the end of the year he has a son. His name will be Karol, after his father-in-law, Lenka’s father. He will be baptized in the church where the wedding took place. In addition to permanent resident staff consisting of two maids, two butlers, a gardener, a chef, and, of course, Rácz’s personal secretary, butler, chauffeur, and clown Ďula, they hire a governess.

* * *

As always, after a light, but delicious and nourishing dinner, Rácz goes out onto his terrace to smoke his cigar quietly under the twinkling stars. He looks down at the city below the hill. Each building belonging to Rácz Corporation carries on its roof a striking green light. Rácz counts them every night like shining pinheads stuck in a map. When he has finished counting, he is content to puff on his cigar and blow the thinning smoke into the indigo black sky.

This is what Rácz has achieved with these two hands and this head, he realises. The world belongs to smart people, he says to himself. Rácz got the chance and used it. The wind blows. The hotelier shivers in the chilly air. He puffs once more on the cigar and then, with his thumb and index finger, sends it flying down into the darkness. He does not wait for it to get colder or for the next gust of wind. He hurries inside, into his villa, and firmly closes the big glass door behind him.

* * *

Do you feel that we may have forgotten someone?

Do you sense we haven’t ended the story of one of our heroes? You are not mistaken. But what can one say about the further destiny of Freddy Mešťanek, known as Piggybank? Unwillingly, but conscientiously, he pays the private service Sekuritatia for protection from bad gypsies, eats sausages and beans and has long ago put his weight back on.

Like an angry and choleric fanatic, he runs up and down the car park in front of the Hotel Ambassador-Rácz I, and he either explodes in anger at innocent customers, or ardently kisses their arses.

You don’t believe me? Run and have a look! He might still be there.