NORMAN MANEA
the shadow of her breasts.
"Please turn on the light."
"What for?"
"Turn it on. I can't stand the dark."
I press the switch; light; as if I were back in the phone booth.
"Sit here."
"You don't offer guests the bed. I'll stay here, on the chair."
57
I have to cover the distance from the phone booth to the first corner
once again. There is a display window with colorful toys on that corner -
a refuge. I will keep standing. She has soft, tender lips, but she turns away,
irritated at each attempt until, apparently bored, she relents. I pass the
corner, not knowing if I can increase my pace. Long, thin fingers, her
sharp nails stop me . Suddenly she relaxes, stands up, takes a few steps to–
wards me . Her stiletto heels hammer out a relentless, indecipherable
Morse code on the fragile glass of which I am so afraid. And yet, I have
succeeded. She lies absently, stretched out on the bed. Her zipper
announces the rustle of silk, sliding, opening.
"What on earth are you doing? Please, be reasonable. You're crush–
ing my things."
I don't answer, busy, feverish.
"Hey, what've you done? This is ridiculous; I'm leaving. I've got
tickets for the nine o'clock show. No, please!"
The same vague, nebulous fading ofboundaries. Still, I feel as ifl had
made it across the gleaming stretch of glass to the solid checkerboard par–
quet. A soothing, silken glow in the darkness.
It
seemed to keep watch, to
guard the lulls, the loneliness as the night flows between us, far away.
Still cool, she lies next to me. Her movements seem automatized. We
fall asleep quickly, exhausted and, confused, we discover each other again
at dawn, together. I don't know how best to leave.
"It's easy to get to the bathroom, you just have to cross the court–
yard. "
"I'm not going to work today. I'm tired. Please bring me an iron for
my dress."
"I'll get one. Why are you so bored?"
"I've only learned to speak in formulas. And yet, each time, I hope
I'll forget."
"You're a cynic."
"No. That's enough. If you want, I can go."
"I've brought you the iron. What are your plans?"
"I'm going to lie down. I'm sleepy."
"Fine. I have to leave. I'll lock the apartment from outside. I'll be
back around ten, to let you out."
I pass the building supervisor quickly. I am late. Around ten I come
