The Justice of a Body Snatcher
– a love story by renan goksin –
Episode Seven: The Archangel
“Can you lend me just a little?” Gabriel asked. He had the habit of appearing at Herman’s sight at the most uncanny moments and invariably in need of a drink. Herman vaguely stared at his friend’s broad face, his red cheeks and baby looks. He always perspired profusely.
“I’ll pay you back tomorrow,” Gabriel continued. “I couldn’t not pay you back, could I? We are old friends. Tomorrow, I have a sure bet at the cock fights. I’ll more than triple what you give me.”
“Let’s have a couple of drinks,” said Herman with a smile. Gabriel, at once, ordered two glasses of chartreuse and two glasses of absinthe; his eyes gleamed with gratitude. He was a good natured man, almost innocent at the expense of appearing idiotic. Everything of the world impressed him; from the changing of the seasons to the miracle of being himself, and like a child lacking in the art of explanations, he treated the world at large with veneration. He was fond of telling unlikely stories. He would draw them out with an air of doom, shake his head from side to side, and conclude with an appeal to the strangeness of the times and the mysterious universe in which they lived.
On this night, he told Herman of a true occurrence at a village by the idyllic summer resort of Lake Valda. The fishermen had brought ashore a strange fish caught in their nets. All the villagers flocked into the market square to witness this marvellous creature, so unique amongst the usual haul of two crates of mullet and carp. The fish was still alive, tossing from side to side like a sleeping person might, vainly trying to escape a nightmare; gasping for breath, and calling out in a faint, squeaky voice: “Please let me go back, please let me go.”
to be continued…
next episode: 8- The Fish-Girl
