REVENGE
A Friend in Need
Tenerife… Dana decided to go to Tenerife for vacation. This idea had grown up at once in Dana’s mind not as a dream, something like a fairy-tale, but rather as a somewhat childish will to travel to one of the most gorgeous places on Earth, prove that she can reach her dream though it could be hard to do…
She simply called a travel agency and found out that that very day she could buy out two tickets for herself and a friend for a very cheap price.
So who will be the second person? It cannot be George because she has broken up with him. Sad to recall that. But unfortunately one can’t rewind what is done. Very sorrowful… Well. Well. Well. She will go with an old friend. Cynthia was her classmate, and they stayed friends even after the school was finished.
Certainly she has to invite Cynthia who loves travelling, enjoys adventures and she is a true friend. She’ll agree going. And… first she would be glad to hear Dana, and second, Dana would propose her to accompany her in an interesting trip which was, even more, much less expensive.
After a short discussion they came to a mutual agreement.
And so did they go. In a week a comfortable plane was carrying them to the Canaries. The way was rather a long one, but they could spend time watching films or looking through magazines. Dana simply preferred looking through the small plane window and at the clouds below they were passing. Cynthia was sleeping or pretending she was.
She did not like flying and her friends knew that, although some of them had the same fear. Dana looked through the small plane window, and suddenly her sight was captured by a small object quickly passing beneath. It was another plane, flying it’s own rout. The picture was fantastic. Dana touched Cynthia’s shoulder as she was sure of her not sleeping, but just pretending to. Cynthia turned away her head and slightly waved her hand… Absolutely indifferent. As the girls were in the middle of the flight they decided to eat something. The flight attendant, a very handsome man in his forties, gently smiling, brought each of them an appetizing piece of fish, fried potato and tomato in a plane plastic container. Dana looked at fish and immediately got disappointed:
— Sorry but I don’t eat fish. Do you have anything else?
Now it was his turn to be disappointed.
— Why didn’t you tell that you don’t eat fish? Wait a minute. I’ll bring you something vegetarian from the business class.
He left immediately and came back with another dish of salad and told Dana with a smile, that they were landing soon and the salad would be enough to survive. Meanwhile Cynthia was surviving. Her fish was delicious and she herself got happier.
…So here they are. The weather warm, the sky blue and all around so bright and vivid that it seemed to them, that they had suddenly appeared in a fairy -tail.
After placing their stuff the girls decided to examine the beach. While they were looking at the landscape and reflecting on where they move further, Cynthia jumped into the water and swam. She was swimming fast. Several meters there and back and she was already getting out of the water when Dana met her on the beach going to get a swim too.
Cynthia was rather tall. Nice to people she liked or respected, or to friends. So sometimes pleasant, sometimes rough.
They were walking along a narrow road talking about something very unimportant when a young handsome man suddenly appeared in front of them. They stopped for a second — which was the effect he wanted, but Cynthia calmly moved further. He looked surprised:
— Good afternoon!
— Good afternoon!
It was easy to guess what kind of words would follow, so Cynthia didn’t stop. She knew that he had some goods to sell. She never paid attention to such things and people as well as to many other.
Several days passed. Strangely enough. But they remembered that cold windy morning very well. Maybe appeared unbelievably revelating or so. After a usual swim that morning Dana advised to go to a small cafe not far away and so they went. The girls occupied a small table standing outside the cafe under a huge umbrella and ordered juice. They could go inside the cafe. But Cynthia insisted on sitting outside. The wind seemed to grow. The umbrella was shaking, and Dana simply got frozen but Cynthia had almost stopped Dana who was going to get inside.
There was a choice for them whether to go inside and sit in a small room or enjoy fresh air outside. Dana preferred the first option as it was windy, but Cynthia desperately insisted on enjoying the open air, let it be in the wind. And who knows why she was so strong in her wish… She had always tried to prove something to somebody and to fight for the truth as she understood it. Be it herself and let it be no use in her wishes or ideas. And Dana knew that.
The idea of friendship was rather a philosophical subject. The reflecting character was sure that he or she was and had to be in the centre.
So they sat at a tiny plastic table outside and ordered juice.
As they were talking the wind grew stronger. Dana felt that it would be better simply to get up and leave and not to struggle with the impossible like captain Ahab with the whale in «Moby Dick». But Cynthia insisted on staying.
So the salty wind from the sea had finally got strong enough and dropped Dana’ s glass, breaking it into small pieces, which cut Dana’s fingers and palms, when she tried to collect them. Cynthia who had ignored Dana when she pointed at the umbrella shaking from the wind, didn’t pay any attention even to the broken glass. She had tried to be a winner in her life. Or at least she struggled to win. Finally they decided to leave and asked for the bill. Dana had to pay more because of the broken glass, and well… she did pay.
Time passed. Two friends returned to their jobs, sometimes they met to go out or to play tennis. Everything went right but then Dana made a terrible mistake.
Once at her job appeared a young man, neither handsome nor simply nice. Somewhat you cannot call even close to attractive. It was something unpleasant in his appearance. His name was Adolf Weib. And he started courting her. Theatre, cinema, flowers. She knew he was not her kind…
Very far from her interests, he had never heard of the books she loved, but he simply made his goal to get a smart girl.
She still refused him, but then he thought he would get her interested, made her a proposal she wouldn’t refuse. And so he told her he would go in for sports… very original… And Dana immediately got interested.
He was absolutely useless and even more one could call him inadequate.
His name Adolf Weib fit him very well. He could hide himself behind it. It really fit him, it was so good for him… He did behave himself like a woman, sometimes like a hysterical old lady.
Dana liked to do risky things, but she knew that what she was doing was safe and she would never have done a really dangerous thing. Adolf was so irritating. She stayed calm.
It seemed so, but Dana would never even bear in mind that an awkward clumsy thick creature would be the one who would stop the happy course of her life.
But that had happened…
Adolf was standing near the entrance to her house. He was the last person she would like to see there. He awkwardly hurried to her.
— Hi, sweet! Don’t tell me you are not happy to see me!
— I’d say no and farewell!
— I know you’re always glad to see me.
Dana stepped forward.
— I am busy.
— What is holding you? I haven’t seen you in the sports!
Adolf had brought Dana to studies of the sword battle which she liked first, but then thought the sport was rather cruel and decided to leave it ignoring the promises of the trainer and the group that it was absolutely safe.
Adolf paused and then continued:
— What are your plans?
— I am trying to be polite.
— Well. Being polite is not your manner and I am afraid you’ll never succeed.
— All right.
Adolf tried to make a sort of smile, but didn’t succeed and the picture was rather pitiful… Dana turned to leave, but Adolf stopped her showing Dana a small book he produced from his jacket.
— Read this!
— Do I have to?
— Take the book. You’d like it.
Dana looked through the book.
— What is this?
— You must read it!
Dana saw the title and suddenly got a strong wish to throw the book into his head. Adolf looked as a surprised child.
The girl was embarrassed and while thinking of her future actions she managed to see with the corner of her eye Adolf opening the book and slightly licking his lips. She recalled how aunt Delia in Woodhouse’s novel threw the book to Berty’s head. She told him goodbye and left leaving the surprised man alone.
Several hours passed, and the disappointment was only growing. Dana knew that this so-called new friend was inadequate.
As soon as she had closed the room of her flat the phone rang, Dana did not take the receiver.
Simply did not want to make any spare movement. The disappointment was strong and she just needed to talk to a human being. Ignoring the phone which was still constantly ringing Dana took her cell phone and called Cynthia.
They haven’t seen each other for some time maybe because they both were busy or there was some other reason, nobody knows. They had to discuss the situation, to meet and probably decide whether to go to the sports or not. Dana told Cynthia that she considered it was safe to struggle together,
because you know each other and you are sure that your partner will not accidentally harm you or which was also possible do it on purpose.
Though the weather was not really for breathing fresh air and walking somewhere in the small park nearby as it started raining. So Dana proposed her friend to take a car and in more or less comfortable conditions to go and spend time doing something healthy. And they both had taken their safe wooden swords (safe as they were promised). Safe as Adolf had sworn Dana and as all members of the group had promised, as well. It seemed doubtful, but yes — one always wants to believe that the danger may avoid him even if it seems to be real. And therefore it can’t be possible.
And that day everything was fine… It was time to go to sword battle training.
Adolf was among others looking at Dana and as she thought analysing all her movements.
The trainer was young, but a professional, noticing every false movement.
Yes, everything was safe or it seemed so.
There was another trainer… He was very unsympathetic, even looked savage, like a gangster, but maybe he was looking simply frightening.
— The training, so-called sword battle, was not long, so they enjoyed first learning something new and then practicing new hits and then the battle.
— Well, it was safe and there were almost no accidents, no blood, that is almost. Surely once somebody told Dana that he saw a young man in the gim who was leaving it rather calmly. But still all in blood. Surprisingly, but what can one do to make himself to believe that it was still safe.
— After the training was over and Dana left the changing room she met Adolf who was hasting to her. She knew that he wanted a chance…
— So, does he deserve forgiveness?
He ran up to Dana, breathing hard, tired of the exhausting run. Came very close to her, so close that she felt his hot breath near her face almost like fire. He breathed out:
— I hurried to catch you!
— Was there any need for the hunt?
There were sarcastic notes in her voice. But Adolf either did not pay any attention to her words or tried to show that he did not.
— Have you read the book I gave you yesterday?
— You may guess that I haven’t.
Dana turned to go, but Adolf came up very close to her and although she pushed him from her way hugged and tried to kiss her.
Dana stepped back a little shocked by the kiss so disgusting to her mind and stumbled. There was a small pond very close. The girl was fully aware of it, but Adolf just thought she would make another step behind which she didn’t. He became scared and screamed. Dana looked at him.
— Are you O’K.? You have frightened me!
By the way, you were wiping your lips.
— So what?
— It is impolite…
— I see you don’t love me.
— Positive!
— You will… after we get married!
— I doubt it.
What exactly I doubt is that we can ever get married and that I can ever fall in love with you!
And Dana turned and left Adolf alone near the small pond.
Dana didn’t make a couple of small steps — small as she felt she might offend Adolf simply leaving him without any explanation, but she still felt somewhat like pity for the guy who swore he loved her which she knew wasn’t true, but he looked so unhappy even slightly howling. And still she paused. Heavy steps behind became closer. And he took Dana’s wrists.
— I thought you’ll stay, but if you are not really cross with me…
— So what if I am?
And she was simply tired of him. Just wanted to have a normal, adequate man near her. And wanted to get rid of that nightmare nearby.
— Listen, I… I wanted to tell… Some friends… I will have some friends to …I want you to see my friends. You will love them.
Dana was surprised, but still asked:
— Who are they? Will I fit the company?
— My best friend, his wife and some other friends. I am sure you will love -Honoria and you will become great chums.
Dana tried to smile, but without any sincerity. The smile was rather fake. She started feeling sorry and didn’t even know why.
I can come. But I don’t have even a slightest idea why I should.
— Please do! My friends are eager to meet you.
— Why? Do they know anything about me?
— They will be happy to see my girlfriend.
Dana waited long enough.
— And who is she? Will she be there? I’d love to see this… sorry… I’ll try to come.
She smiled and looked right into his eyes.
— Let’s meet then!
Adolf met her at the bus stop as he had promised. He had no car. And simply couldn’t drive, was desperately afraid of driving, and often screamed like an old lady while sitting on the passenger seat. He also told Dana, that his first wife insisted on him learning to drive and he refused: «I will be exhausting myself driving hard and she will be sitting there thinking that she is so beautiful!»
And he did not have children with any of his wives.
That ‘s why Dana was not driving in his presence being afraid of scaring him. Adolf lived with his parents the only people who could stand him.
Once Dana tried to seat on the sofa in his flat and immediately jumped up as Adolf had put the pot with porridge under the blanket on that sofa to keep it warm.
…So they entered the flat and there were no guests yet.
The door ring announced the first guest. And it was Adolf’s school mate with a bunch of roses which he immediately gave Dana. He was tall handsome and very polite.
Next came another one with his wife Homoria.
Dana recognized her without introduction — Adolf’s description was enough. Yes. She was nice, not beautiful though and extremely confident.
Dana was exhausted after the first hour of her talk and tried to escape to the balcony. No success — Honoria reached her there and continued endless love stories of her friends real and so on. And as Honoria was constantly smoking while telling her stories, Dana who had smoked only a couple of times before thought that the moment had come and took a cigarette which Honoria gladly proposed her.
So during their talk the balcony door had opened and someone looked into the balcony.
Honoria saw that it was her husband and started describing him to Dana. As Dana found out he was very shy and his wife used this quality when she needed.
So he asked whether they would like some tea. Honoria answered immediately that they were positive, threw the cigarette from the balcony and rushed for tea.
The table was great, Adolf’s mother worked on the salad, the hot dishes and the cake.
Dana noticed immediately that it was Honoria’s favourite meal.
Finally the group gathered at the table. Honoria was playing the part of the mistress. Dana thought that the word mistress was so good for that play as she was not sure that the word was to mean the woman, playing the part of the hostess only.
And here the best word would be that Dana herself had remained merely Zuschauer — a person described by Arthur Schopenhauer, merely a spectator of the world show who watches it and reflects.
So after the dinner was eaten and various drinks, which Adolf had ordered specially in the expensive shops, were drunk the guests went downstairs to relax.
Downstairs was a small yard and a table for tennis.
Dana was eager to play as she loved it. She was a perfect tennis and table tennis player and wanted to show Adolf the high level of her skill. She came up to the table where Adolf was already standing ready to play. The girl thought she would start playing immediately but in vain.
Honoria was the first to play and certainly the partner appeared not to be her husband.
Dana thought she might let them enjoy the game as they had so much fun! They were like two children who had completely forgotten everything around them.
That pair seemed to exist there alone on the whole planet. And a planet was a desert.
Dana was not really irritated first and decided to wait a little until the game was over. And she calmly waited. The time passed. First ten minutes. Then twenty. Then…
Adolf was so inadequately active in that innocent play that Dana really started worrying about him. She could not believe that Honoria whom she thought really average could charm or bewitch Adolf. And maybe their «warm friendship» had a long story? And understanding that waiting would be hopeless and even shameful for her, she turned away and left.
No reaction. Was Dana expecting it? Certainly not. But she had expected something like that.
And while going back home Dana still hoped that Adolf would follow her, stop her and beg for forgiveness and prove that it all was a terrible mistake.
But no way. There were no steps behind. No hard breath, nothing.
She understood that it was impossible to stay with a bastard, a man for whom betrayal was nothing and slowly she went. On the way the girl meditated on how comic so called love could be and which was more interesting whether Honoria would let Adolf live with his prospective wife. It might be questionable.
Striking! And it was hard to say anything when you are betrayed for no reason. And you suddenly face an ugly mixture of hypocrisy and «love». Parody of love shown to you and humble attempts to court… And suddenly there appears a company which you should join and the people you must make your friends. The people that shock you. And you just cannot make friends to a hore who tells about her private life to the very first person she sees. No!
And Dana entered her flat.
The only thing she had expected had happened. Adolf had at last noticed her absence and called, but she hated to hear his voice. She would call Cynthia who would understand.
So she took her cell phone while the home one was desperately ringing.
Cynthia was happy to hear her. Glad to hear the story and, yes, she agreed that Dana shouldn’t answer the home phone. But still go somewhere and relax.
As they both enjoyed horse riding, they decided to go somewhere to rent a horse and that would be some enjoyment which would make Dana forget the shock so painful for her.
And they did go. The friends had to wait for a free horse to ride on. All the horses were engaged.
A red stallion had just arrived and was calmly standing and waiting for anybody to come.
Dana had a quick thought that the horse might be too much phlegmatic. But how wrong was she.
As soon as she got on the horse and checked that everything was fine, a small boy seemed to appear from nowhere just in front of the horse’s head.
Dana stopped the animal which had already started moving slowly as she was afraid that the boy might be injured. He looked right into Dana’s eyes and started saying something so quickly and with such a poor pronunciation that it was almost impossible to get the meaning.
— I want to feeth «the horthy!»
Dana was a little surprised.
— But I want to give him a piece of «thugar!»
— Well. I give up. Go ahead!
At that very moment Dana noticed that after the boy gave the horse a dirty greasy piece of sugar from his pocket he ran away and vanished as quickly as he had appeared. She looked up and saw a man in shades.
The horse startled and neighed nervously, and turning her head again Dana, didn’t see that strange man in shades anymore, he had vanished. The horse began to run unexpectedly. Being a good horse rider Dana put all her efforts to stop the animal. Cynthia could not be seen or even felt anywhere around.
This could last for ages until the horse had stumbled and fell to the ground almost carrying Dana with himself.
Dana quickly realised that the danger was enormous and jumped.
Mud was better if expected than an unexpected fall to the solid ground.
She had wiped the blood from her face. But still it was not a tragedy.
Dana looked around as she was mainly wondering what had happened to the horse.
Before she fell from a horse rarely, only once or twice in her life. So that case was an exclusive one. Not to say exceptional or, even more, suspicious.
Meanwhile she saw a groom coming up to her.
Turning to him Dana had also glanced to the place where she had seen the man in shades. The bench was empty.
She could only address the person who came up to her and was really surprised by the quick answer he gave.
— Do you know… There was… a man in shades… I am really embarrassed to ask you because I am almost sure that you will not understand me,
but I am surprised that he is not here anymore.
— Why are you surprised? Strange… He said that he would find you right here. And I am surprised as he seemed to be really shocked when you fell from the horse and almost jumped up from his place. Then stepped forward, suspiciously giggled as it seemed to me and quickly ran away.
I have never imagined that a man could laugh in such a strange manner. Looked like a hysteric laughter.
— It must have been Weib.
— You are right then.
The man smiled:
— You know German?
— Yes. But that is his second name.
The man noticed Dana smiling ironically:
— Do not be shy. That name fits him. He behaves himself like a woman.
— I do not quite get this. Sorry… Maybe this is because I mainly communicate with horses…
He smiled again shyly.
— I guess you should be really happy.
And Dana tried to smile:
— Tell me one more thing. Probably you have noticed… Maybe anybody was near him?
The man tried to smile again.
— There was a rather strange boy who was running around and giving sugar or something to the horses.
— And you did not try to stop him…
— I did. But he ran away quickly.
— He made his way right after your horse.
— I see.
Dana attempted to give him some money. The man protested. But she insisted:
— Buy something to the horse as a compensation.
— I shouldn’t give anything to the horse. He deserves no compensation.
— He had stress and that is the reason for some moral compensation.
And with these words Dana turned and went back.
Right on the way out she met Cynthia who was meditating on her future actions.
Seeing Dana the girl screamed and grabbed Dana’s hands:
— You’ve scared me! That’s terrible! Your face is in blood!
— Big deal!
Dana wiped her face with a handkerchief:
— Let’s move and watch the second act of the play!
So now the answer appeared by itself and they both went to their homes.
The impressions for that day were more than enough indeed. Enough fun. Enough adrenalin. Enough stress.
The future promised to be less stressful. But only promised.
In a couple of days Dana was sitting in a comfortable armchair reading Theodore Dreiser’s «Sister Carrie», thinking of the suspicious accident and trying to relax. At that time the phone rang. Cynthia who first wanted to make sure that Dana was absolutely fine, invited to join her for the sword battle. Dana made a short pause and answered easily:
— I don’t mind. But…
— I really hope that you don’t think that anybody could harm you… This is really… really stupid.
— I know.
Cynthia’s voice was harsh and clear:
— I know you’ll be safe.
Cynthia sounded surprised and as it seemed to Dana a bit irritated.
Dana only had to answer:
— Well. But…
— Don’t be afraid. Don’t be silly as we are struggling together. No one could possibly hit you, I hope you trust me… We have a great trainer and he is very safe too. Do trust him. And Dana answered. Not at once though:
— All right. Let’s meet today.
Not trusting anyone even herself Dana got up from the armchair.
So they met as decided later that day.
Each had taken her own car, and so they appeared in the gym almost simultaneously.
Battle… It sounds funny. As no one has ever before expected that there the game was not the game and it was the men’s world. Not for the young girls and certainly not for vengeance.
There were only a few people in the hall. All in cotton sport kimonos and with wooden swords katanas. Several people had black belts and therefore were in black. It was Adolf’s dream to get the black belt and to prove Dana that he was skilful. His friends and everyone around thought that he was a real soldier, a true samurai and therefore deserved respect. Although to Dana’s mind he simply was a coward- he was afraid of everything that seemed dangerous to him: to ride the horse, to swim, to drive a car, everything…
As they were warming up doing some small exercises first that Dana noticed was the trainer was not there and there was another one instead, his deputy, who also trained them. But… somehow… not to say evil or furious. If the chief was polite, gentle, then the other one was like a gangster.
And Dana had also noticed that Adolf was not there either.
The battle started soon after the girls arrived. Everybody in the gim joined a partner, everybody was striking and the partner had to strike back with the sword. It was said and promised that everything would be completely safe and there could be no injuries and surely no victims. But meanwhile there were times when they were some. Once while entering the gim the girls met a guy whose face was all in blood. But this was an exclusion.
…Dana immediately felt danger in the air around her. She was struck by the feeling that something was wrong and not to be trusted. She had also had that feeling because Adolf was not there — an exclusive case and then because she knew that Adolf was really a friend of that trainer and could had described him the story of the «poor deceived guy» and as any weak person could have accused her for breaking up with «poor him».
Yes. She had the feeling and was completely sure that it would be extremely stupid to use the chance and leave when the trainer asked her to stand in the far corner of the gym and train some hits whereas he himself started training Cynthia right behind her back. So it was all the same she was doing her steps through the gim constantly looking back and when her eyes met the trainer’s he slowed down as if to demonstrate her that there was no danger at all. Cynthia could not see her.
If the story would be shown in a film the spectators would say that it was impossible in real life.
Strangely enough but in spite of staying in a crowded place Dana was alone and no one could see her if only on purpose, if only his goal was to hit her. So Dana was in real danger. But she was moving sometimes backward, sometimes when she reached the end of the hall turned and went the other way.
First she turned to see whether the couple behind her was all right and then continued moving.
So the time had come. She relaxed thinking that the situation was under control and continued moving backward.
As she made a couple of steps again she heard a terrible sound… No. It was not thunder as she thought. But it was that Dana had got a terrible hit in her nape that was unexpected… «He has finally reached me!» — thought she before fainting.
The hit was unexpected for her but not for at least two people who have carefully planned it and brought into life. The trainer skilfully achieved what he planned not by hitting himself but making the other person do it, Dana’s friend.
Days, months and even years had passed since that terrible accident. And, like in a famous song ‘collecting her tears’ thinking of revenge, of a strong wave that would sweep him away… Dana was lying in bed unable to walk, work and even talk to her friends as they had all suddenly disappeared. Everyone, including Cynthia… yes, dear Cynthia, her friend in need…
And Dana herself was only lying in bed, cursing the bastard who had almost killed her… and so let him get it all, all that he deserves. For he deserves nothing but death.
After that friends started leaving her. The friends who were to trust had stayed. But Cynthia became unreachable and stopped being whatsoever available. Dana knew that Cynthia would appear as soon as she, Dana, gets well. But as it is clear from the world philosophy people become forgotten when suddenly fall ill and become useless.
So sitting at home without friends and surely men who had sworn in eternal love Dana had found out that Adolf had got married.
Another victim.
And the years passed and Dana felt that she had recovered and could travel again, but who would make her company?
Her friends were married and had children, so she must go alone. After that terrible illness she was happy only because she felt herself a human being again who is free to move everywhere. She had been to Egypt before. So she had just decided to go alone somewhere.
Dana had bought a plane ticket and already in a day she had entered the airport, funny, but the person who had taken a seat near her was Cynthia. The girls looked at each other and burst into laughter.
It appeared that Cynthia was also feeling lonely and had decided to go somewhere and as it always happened appeared in the same plane with Dana.
After the plane landed and the friends had found their hotel, they decided to look around. But first go and have a swim.
And so they did. Dana had a mask for snorkelling and Cynthia preferred swimming without any mask.
Dana put on the mask, breathed in and dived. The picture she saw was familiar and fantastic. One would never forget but keep longing for. So Dana tried to see all the beauty she hadn’t seen for a long time because of her illness. To swallow with her eyes all the picturesque things she saw — the corals which formed a wall. Going endlessly down as deep as the eye could follow she saw various kinds of fishes — very big, small, bright. Simple and sometimes frightening. So she was almost scared to pass them. And there were curious ones swimming very close. But immediately hurrying back as soon as she tried to reach out for them.
Yes. He was mistaken with the horse idea. Also next time the trainer had tried to do his best to send Dana’s bosom friend to heat her.
And then there came the day they were waiting for — the girls decided to go on an excursion and see the volcano, where they could go up the mountain to the top, walk and then see the volcano stones which could be found only there and seen in the local shop.
The tourist bus was big and comfortable, going very smooth and fast. The empty road was comfortable and the trip appeared to be relaxing, the time flew.
Suddenly the road made a turn and they saw a volcano in front of them.
Highly impressive.
But looking at the top of the mountain and getting the smell of sulphur Cynthia simply decided to wait for Dana in the bus. To the volcano Dana and other tourists were brought by a lift elevator. It was warm.
Very soon the elevator stopped on the top. A very specific smell immediately stroke the nose. Dana understood why Cynthia disliked that place. Her capricious character was shown once when the girls were passing a boy who was frying garlic outside a cafe.
A lot of people dislike garlic. Strangely enough Dana liked the smell of fried garlic. And Cynthia almost ran from the place quickly escaping.
What Dana saw and felt when she stepped on the solid ground that is plateau, was smell of sulphur. Specific and strong indicating that the volcano was a living one.
It occurred to be unforgettable.
The sky was bright and unbelievably blue and no single soul as if one was on a distant planet. But they were on the Earth. It was an ideal place to hide from civilization.
On the top Dana felt that it was very hard to breathe and almost impossible to move fast. The girl was enchanted by the landscape she saw when looking down as well as by snow «stalagmites» — very unusual to see in August. She was walking with a woman also from their bus, and they both were very busy watching here and there and looking at small paths thinking whether it would take much time to turn this or that path, so when she looked at the watch she saw that the elevator would leave back in a minute. They had to wait for the next one…
There when standing on the top of the volcano Teide and admiring the extraterrestrial landscape beneath Dana felt that somebody had gently touched her hand. She turned to see the person who did this and found out that it was a handsome young man whom she had seen before… probably…
He smiled at her charmingly and said something, Dana did not hear mainly, because she realised that the man talking to her was familiar. She recalled that she had really seen him before and that he was the one Cynthia really liked. Yes. She liked him and… So Dana remembered that his name was Hose. Decided to talk to him anyway feeling that she should not be too much attractive for the sake of friendship..
The picture she had seen from the top of the volcano had differed much from the one she noticed before. She saw the sea almost coming to the shore and hypnotising with its beauty and magic power.
Near Dana appeared several people who were also enchanted and unable to move or even talk.
Dana was surprised indeed to see that extraterrestrial picture. Very beautiful and strange in its nature. Enjoying the beauty she suddenly recalled Cynthia!
Dana rushed to the mountain elevator only to realise that she had spent a lot of time on the top and the next descend will be only in several minutes.
She had to wait then. While she was waiting she nervously thought about poor Cynthia who had to suffer alone in the empty bus and had missed all the beauty that Dana saw on the mountain. When the time came, Dana stepped into the mountain elevator and it moved down.
Cynthia, poor thing. She had missed so much. Had not seen the things worth seeing! She will regret it, regret that she did not go, did not join her.
Sitting in the mountain elevator and enjoying the landscape, slowly passing by Dana thought that there were so many beautiful places on Earth worth seeing, worth visiting. And one must always long to see them, to admire them, to know that they really exist. And not through the car window! But Cynthia had decided to stay and see nothing.
When Dana descended and got to the solid ground thinking that her friend was fine, she saw anger more tough than a real hysteria:
— Sorry, —
Dana’s voice was bright and emotional.
Silence. Dana tried to reach the understanding, to break through the wall of silence. Cynthia… just refused to talk to Dana. For her time was money, and what sense is to talk to the one who does not understand that. Cynthia looked insulted.
Well. Well. Well… This appeared to be rather painful to Dana. She has not done anything wrong, her mistake was only in her poetic nature, but there was nothing for malice and why should she waste her nerves for excuses which would not be listened to.
In this mutual silence they returned to the hotel. Dana was calm-nothing was to be done, and will soon be forgotten. And so it happened.
Dana and Cynthia were lying on the beach under warm sun beams, calm, gentle, each had her own thought. Cynthia thought of a handsome young man who would appear near her whereas Dana wished that he, handsome and kind, wouldn’t come that morning. She was thinking of Hose and hoping that he would never appear at least that day, at least not near her, but… she opened her eyes and saw him sitting on the sand right in front of her.
Dana got worried and looked at Cynthia who was sleeping or pretended to be sleeping, but Dana could clearly see and feel that her friend was disappointed and irritated. Dana looked at Hose knowing that her friend could be deeply offended, just said looking into his warm brown eyes, said although she knew she would offend him, but she had already offended her best friend…
— You shade me the sun sitting here like this.
Hose smiled with his gentle smile and bowed to Dana saying:
— You will get enough sun when you become my wife And he kissed her…
Dana saw the expression of her friend’s face who she knew had never cried or wept, but there… She had no choice as it was clear that Hose was a good swimmer but anyway, she got up from where she was lying, came close to water and dived…
It was still calm as if nothing has happened, Cynthia was absolutely untouched as if the story had happened in her absence and far away. Anyway, she had forced herself to get up and leave.
Cold water had made the job. The girls kept on swimming, and so Dana felt better. Sometimes she even dared to leave her friend swimming and went to walk alone.
Dana had always thought that Cynthia was her friend in need. And so it was. It costs a lot if one can trust a friend and rely on him. Yes, certain minor things had happened, but it would have been stupid even to mention that lift by car when Cynthia had dropped Dana far from her house, and so did she — it was normal, but Cynthia preferred not to turn from the road, and Dana always brought her friend directly to the entrance of her house.
And meanwhile Cynthia was lying in the sun, trying to get the tan, planning to have a swim and simply relaxing.
Suddenly she saw that someone had come and stood in front of her shading the sun. It was Adolf. She immediately recalled all Dana’s words and sat on her beach carpet.
It was unbelievable, but Dana was telling that after she had refused him, he had tried to kill her. It was some reason in her words… Smart, beautiful she had a lot of friends and admirers…
Yes. He was mistaken with the horse idea. The trainer had tried to do his best to use her friend so that she could hit her…
Adolf bent slowly to her face almost touching her lips. Cynthia became outrageous as she could not really believe… But she finally made herself just to understand. She turned her head so quickly that Adolf managed to hit his nose.
— Hot thing!
— I am! What do you want here? Why did you appear here?
— The weather is great… Would you like to go out and bathe in the sea?
Cynthia could not even allow herself a broken smile, all she made herself to produce was some kind of grimace and got up.
— Why me? I thought you were interested in Dana.
— Dana? No! I don’t need her…
— That’s why you’ve decided to get rid of her?
Adolf’s face grew very surprised and naive. It seemed that he didn’t understand a word.
— Then wait a minute!
Cynthia had almost run to the bathroom, put on a swimming suit and a light shirt over it and immediately ran out.
To her surprise, as she thought that Adolf was following her, the room was empty, Adolf had disappeared but the room had a scent of expensive perfume which he used too much.
That was suspicious and Cynthia had opened the door and quickly left the room.
She thought that it was an ideal day for swimming. Looked at the water — almost still and calm. Taking a deep breath, spread her hands getting ready to dive into the still water when somebody put his hands around her waist. She didn’t turn her head, did not look back as she perfectly knew who was standing behind. And she also knew that he had almost killed her friend as well as according to Dana’s words he couldn’t swim at all. She hit his leg with her heel and hearing a sound more like a scream stepped on his foot with all her strength.
Adolf tried to step away. But there was no space for him to move… And he stayed on his place and tried not to move knowing that he could be drowned.
So they stayed very close to each other and both Adolf and Cynthia knew that any single move would throw them into the water which was quite far beneath. Cynthia made a very slight step aside.
Adolf had stopped, probably trying to figure out her next move.
That was enough. They both had lost their balance and fell down into the water…
Meanwhile Dana was enjoying the rich underwater world. Suddenly she saw a group of small fishes quickly moving to something and some substance near it which had definitely attracted them.
She had noticed a sporadic movement in the sea beauty when all those colour fishes had suddenly moved in different directions making Dana turn away. ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY SHE SAW SOMETHING TOUCHING HER. LOOKED THROUGH THE GLASSES FOR SNORKLING SHE WAS SHOCKED RECOGNIZING ADOLF FALLING DOWN.
THE GIRL DIDN’ HAVE TIME FOR ANY PROPER REACTION AS HER ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON THE DRAMATIC PICTURE SHE SAW! IT WAS NOT HARD TO GUESS THAT THE SUBSTANCE WAS BLOOD WHICH APPEARED FROM THE WOUND ADOLF HAD GOT FROM THE CORAL WALL HE PASSED WHEN FALLING. AND THE FISHES WERE… PIRANIAS…
DANA REACHED HER HAND OUT AND SAW FISHES TURNING ASIDE, SWAM FROM THAT PLACE, AND SHE HAD FIRST GUESSED THAT IT WAS BLOOD, HAD QUICKLY SWAM TO THE PONTOON, ALMOST JUMPED OUT AND ONLY AFTER HAD FIGURED OUT THAT WHAT PIRANIAS WERE AIMING TO WAS BLOOD WHICH AS SHE HAD FOUND OUT LATER APPEARED FROM T HE WOUND ADOLG HAD GOT WHEN FALLING ON THE IMMENCELY SHARP CORAL REEFS.
SO A BIT FRIGHTENED DANA HAD GOT TO THE SHORE AND AS SHE LOOKED TO THE SEA SHE SAW WHO HAD SUBCONSCIOUSLY MADE THAT ACT OF VENGEANCE FOR HER — THAT A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED.
Standing on the shore Dana glanced forward and saw someone swimming fast far away. She recognized the person. It was her real friend, Cynthia.
Suddenly she heard light steps behind her. A young man gently took Dana"s wrist. «Beware, I have seen sharks here…» — «Whaaat? R u kidding?»…
Tenerife… Dana decided to go to Tenerife for vacation. This idea had grown up at once in Dana’s mind not as a dream, something like a fairy-tale, but rather as a somewhat childish will to travel to one of the most gorgeous places on Earth, prove that she can reach her dream though it could be hard to do…
She simply called a travel agency and found out that that very day she could buy out two tickets for herself and a friend for a very cheap price.
So who will be the second person? It cannot be George because she has broken up with him. Sad to recall that. But unfortunately one can’t rewind what is done. Very sorrowful… Well. Well. Well. She will go with an old friend. Cynthia was her classmate, and they stayed friends even after the school was finished.
Certainly she has to invite Cynthia who loves travelling, enjoys adventures and she is a true friend. She’ll agree going. And… first she would be glad to hear Dana, and second, Dana would propose her to accompany her in an interesting trip which was, even more, much less expensive.
After a short discussion they came to a mutual agreement.
And so did they go. In a week a comfortable plane was carrying them to the Canaries. The way was rather a long one, but they could spend time watching films or looking through magazines. Dana simply preferred looking through the small plane window and at the clouds below they were passing. Cynthia was sleeping or pretending she was.
She did not like flying and her friends knew that, although some of them had the same fear. Dana looked through the small plane window, and suddenly her sight was captured by a small object quickly passing beneath. It was another plane, flying it’s own rout. The picture was fantastic. Dana touched Cynthia’s shoulder as she was sure of her not sleeping, but just pretending to. Cynthia turned away her head and slightly waved her hand… Absolutely indifferent. As the girls were in the middle of the flight they decided to eat something. The flight attendant, a very handsome man in his forties, gently smiling, brought each of them an appetizing piece of fish, fried potato and tomato in a plane plastic container. Dana looked at fish and immediately got disappointed:
— Sorry but I don’t eat fish. Do you have anything else?
Now it was his turn to be disappointed.
— Why didn’t you tell that you don’t eat fish? Wait a minute. I’ll bring you something vegetarian from the business class.
He left immediately and came back with another dish of salad and told Dana with a smile, that they were landing soon and the salad would be enough to survive. Meanwhile Cynthia was surviving. Her fish was delicious and she herself got happier.
…So here they are. The weather warm, the sky blue and all around so bright and vivid that it seemed to them, that they had suddenly appeared in a fairy -tail.
After placing their stuff the girls decided to examine the beach. While they were looking at the landscape and reflecting on where they move further, Cynthia jumped into the water and swam. She was swimming fast. Several meters there and back and she was already getting out of the water when Dana met her on the beach going to get a swim too.
Cynthia was rather tall. Nice to people she liked or respected, or to friends. So sometimes pleasant, sometimes rough.
They were walking along a narrow road talking about something very unimportant when a young handsome man suddenly appeared in front of them. They stopped for a second — which was the effect he wanted, but Cynthia calmly moved further. He looked surprised:
— Good afternoon!
— Good afternoon!
It was easy to guess what kind of words would follow, so Cynthia didn’t stop. She knew that he had some goods to sell. She never paid attention to such things and people as well as to many other.
Several days passed. Strangely enough. But they remembered that cold windy morning very well. Maybe appeared unbelievably revelating or so. After a usual swim that morning Dana advised to go to a small cafe not far away and so they went. The girls occupied a small table standing outside the cafe under a huge umbrella and ordered juice. They could go inside the cafe. But Cynthia insisted on sitting outside. The wind seemed to grow. The umbrella was shaking, and Dana simply got frozen but Cynthia had almost stopped Dana who was going to get inside.
There was a choice for them whether to go inside and sit in a small room or enjoy fresh air outside. Dana preferred the first option as it was windy, but Cynthia desperately insisted on enjoying the open air, let it be in the wind. And who knows why she was so strong in her wish… She had always tried to prove something to somebody and to fight for the truth as she understood it. Be it herself and let it be no use in her wishes or ideas. And Dana knew that.
The idea of friendship was rather a philosophical subject. The reflecting character was sure that he or she was and had to be in the centre.
So they sat at a tiny plastic table outside and ordered juice.
As they were talking the wind grew stronger. Dana felt that it would be better simply to get up and leave and not to struggle with the impossible like captain Ahab with the whale in «Moby Dick». But Cynthia insisted on staying.
So the salty wind from the sea had finally got strong enough and dropped Dana’ s glass, breaking it into small pieces, which cut Dana’s fingers and palms, when she tried to collect them. Cynthia who had ignored Dana when she pointed at the umbrella shaking from the wind, didn’t pay any attention even to the broken glass. She had tried to be a winner in her life. Or at least she struggled to win. Finally they decided to leave and asked for the bill. Dana had to pay more because of the broken glass, and well… she did pay.
Time passed. Two friends returned to their jobs, sometimes they met to go out or to play tennis. Everything went right but then Dana made a terrible mistake.
Once at her job appeared a young man, neither handsome nor simply nice. Somewhat you cannot call even close to attractive. It was something unpleasant in his appearance. His name was Adolf Weib. And he started courting her. Theatre, cinema, flowers. She knew he was not her kind…
Very far from her interests, he had never heard of the books she loved, but he simply made his goal to get a smart girl.
She still refused him, but then he thought he would get her interested, made her a proposal she wouldn’t refuse. And so he told her he would go in for sports… very original… And Dana immediately got interested.
He was absolutely useless and even more one could call him inadequate.
His name Adolf Weib fit him very well. He could hide himself behind it. It really fit him, it was so good for him… He did behave himself like a woman, sometimes like a hysterical old lady.
Dana liked to do risky things, but she knew that what she was doing was safe and she would never have done a really dangerous thing. Adolf was so irritating. She stayed calm.
It seemed so, but Dana would never even bear in mind that an awkward clumsy thick creature would be the one who would stop the happy course of her life.
But that had happened…
Adolf was standing near the entrance to her house. He was the last person she would like to see there. He awkwardly hurried to her.
— Hi, sweet! Don’t tell me you are not happy to see me!
— I’d say no and farewell!
— I know you’re always glad to see me.
Dana stepped forward.
— I am busy.
— What is holding you? I haven’t seen you in the sports!
Adolf had brought Dana to studies of the sword battle which she liked first, but then thought the sport was rather cruel and decided to leave it ignoring the promises of the trainer and the group that it was absolutely safe.
Adolf paused and then continued:
— What are your plans?
— I am trying to be polite.
— Well. Being polite is not your manner and I am afraid you’ll never succeed.
— All right.
Adolf tried to make a sort of smile, but didn’t succeed and the picture was rather pitiful… Dana turned to leave, but Adolf stopped her showing Dana a small book he produced from his jacket.
— Read this!
— Do I have to?
— Take the book. You’d like it.
Dana looked through the book.
— What is this?
— You must read it!
Dana saw the title and suddenly got a strong wish to throw the book into his head. Adolf looked as a surprised child.
The girl was embarrassed and while thinking of her future actions she managed to see with the corner of her eye Adolf opening the book and slightly licking his lips. She recalled how aunt Delia in Woodhouse’s novel threw the book to Berty’s head. She told him goodbye and left leaving the surprised man alone.
Several hours passed, and the disappointment was only growing. Dana knew that this so-called new friend was inadequate.
As soon as she had closed the room of her flat the phone rang, Dana did not take the receiver.
Simply did not want to make any spare movement. The disappointment was strong and she just needed to talk to a human being. Ignoring the phone which was still constantly ringing Dana took her cell phone and called Cynthia.
They haven’t seen each other for some time maybe because they both were busy or there was some other reason, nobody knows. They had to discuss the situation, to meet and probably decide whether to go to the sports or not. Dana told Cynthia that she considered it was safe to struggle together,
because you know each other and you are sure that your partner will not accidentally harm you or which was also possible do it on purpose.
Though the weather was not really for breathing fresh air and walking somewhere in the small park nearby as it started raining. So Dana proposed her friend to take a car and in more or less comfortable conditions to go and spend time doing something healthy. And they both had taken their safe wooden swords (safe as they were promised). Safe as Adolf had sworn Dana and as all members of the group had promised, as well. It seemed doubtful, but yes — one always wants to believe that the danger may avoid him even if it seems to be real. And therefore it can’t be possible.
And that day everything was fine… It was time to go to sword battle training.
Adolf was among others looking at Dana and as she thought analysing all her movements.
The trainer was young, but a professional, noticing every false movement.
Yes, everything was safe or it seemed so.
There was another trainer… He was very unsympathetic, even looked savage, like a gangster, but maybe he was looking simply frightening.
— The training, so-called sword battle, was not long, so they enjoyed first learning something new and then practicing new hits and then the battle.
— Well, it was safe and there were almost no accidents, no blood, that is almost. Surely once somebody told Dana that he saw a young man in the gim who was leaving it rather calmly. But still all in blood. Surprisingly, but what can one do to make himself to believe that it was still safe.
— After the training was over and Dana left the changing room she met Adolf who was hasting to her. She knew that he wanted a chance…
— So, does he deserve forgiveness?
He ran up to Dana, breathing hard, tired of the exhausting run. Came very close to her, so close that she felt his hot breath near her face almost like fire. He breathed out:
— I hurried to catch you!
— Was there any need for the hunt?
There were sarcastic notes in her voice. But Adolf either did not pay any attention to her words or tried to show that he did not.
— Have you read the book I gave you yesterday?
— You may guess that I haven’t.
Dana turned to go, but Adolf came up very close to her and although she pushed him from her way hugged and tried to kiss her.
Dana stepped back a little shocked by the kiss so disgusting to her mind and stumbled. There was a small pond very close. The girl was fully aware of it, but Adolf just thought she would make another step behind which she didn’t. He became scared and screamed. Dana looked at him.
— Are you O’K.? You have frightened me!
By the way, you were wiping your lips.
— So what?
— It is impolite…
— I see you don’t love me.
— Positive!
— You will… after we get married!
— I doubt it.
What exactly I doubt is that we can ever get married and that I can ever fall in love with you!
And Dana turned and left Adolf alone near the small pond.
Dana didn’t make a couple of small steps — small as she felt she might offend Adolf simply leaving him without any explanation, but she still felt somewhat like pity for the guy who swore he loved her which she knew wasn’t true, but he looked so unhappy even slightly howling. And still she paused. Heavy steps behind became closer. And he took Dana’s wrists.
— I thought you’ll stay, but if you are not really cross with me…
— So what if I am?
And she was simply tired of him. Just wanted to have a normal, adequate man near her. And wanted to get rid of that nightmare nearby.
— Listen, I… I wanted to tell… Some friends… I will have some friends to …I want you to see my friends. You will love them.
Dana was surprised, but still asked:
— Who are they? Will I fit the company?
— My best friend, his wife and some other friends. I am sure you will love -Honoria and you will become great chums.
Dana tried to smile, but without any sincerity. The smile was rather fake. She started feeling sorry and didn’t even know why.
I can come. But I don’t have even a slightest idea why I should.
— Please do! My friends are eager to meet you.
— Why? Do they know anything about me?
— They will be happy to see my girlfriend.
Dana waited long enough.
— And who is she? Will she be there? I’d love to see this… sorry… I’ll try to come.
She smiled and looked right into his eyes.
— Let’s meet then!
Adolf met her at the bus stop as he had promised. He had no car. And simply couldn’t drive, was desperately afraid of driving, and often screamed like an old lady while sitting on the passenger seat. He also told Dana, that his first wife insisted on him learning to drive and he refused: «I will be exhausting myself driving hard and she will be sitting there thinking that she is so beautiful!»
And he did not have children with any of his wives.
That ‘s why Dana was not driving in his presence being afraid of scaring him. Adolf lived with his parents the only people who could stand him.
Once Dana tried to seat on the sofa in his flat and immediately jumped up as Adolf had put the pot with porridge under the blanket on that sofa to keep it warm.
…So they entered the flat and there were no guests yet.
The door ring announced the first guest. And it was Adolf’s school mate with a bunch of roses which he immediately gave Dana. He was tall handsome and very polite.
Next came another one with his wife Homoria.
Dana recognized her without introduction — Adolf’s description was enough. Yes. She was nice, not beautiful though and extremely confident.
Dana was exhausted after the first hour of her talk and tried to escape to the balcony. No success — Honoria reached her there and continued endless love stories of her friends real and so on. And as Honoria was constantly smoking while telling her stories, Dana who had smoked only a couple of times before thought that the moment had come and took a cigarette which Honoria gladly proposed her.
So during their talk the balcony door had opened and someone looked into the balcony.
Honoria saw that it was her husband and started describing him to Dana. As Dana found out he was very shy and his wife used this quality when she needed.
So he asked whether they would like some tea. Honoria answered immediately that they were positive, threw the cigarette from the balcony and rushed for tea.
The table was great, Adolf’s mother worked on the salad, the hot dishes and the cake.
Dana noticed immediately that it was Honoria’s favourite meal.
Finally the group gathered at the table. Honoria was playing the part of the mistress. Dana thought that the word mistress was so good for that play as she was not sure that the word was to mean the woman, playing the part of the hostess only.
And here the best word would be that Dana herself had remained merely Zuschauer — a person described by Arthur Schopenhauer, merely a spectator of the world show who watches it and reflects.
So after the dinner was eaten and various drinks, which Adolf had ordered specially in the expensive shops, were drunk the guests went downstairs to relax.
Downstairs was a small yard and a table for tennis.
Dana was eager to play as she loved it. She was a perfect tennis and table tennis player and wanted to show Adolf the high level of her skill. She came up to the table where Adolf was already standing ready to play. The girl thought she would start playing immediately but in vain.
Honoria was the first to play and certainly the partner appeared not to be her husband.
Dana thought she might let them enjoy the game as they had so much fun! They were like two children who had completely forgotten everything around them.
That pair seemed to exist there alone on the whole planet. And a planet was a desert.
Dana was not really irritated first and decided to wait a little until the game was over. And she calmly waited. The time passed. First ten minutes. Then twenty. Then…
Adolf was so inadequately active in that innocent play that Dana really started worrying about him. She could not believe that Honoria whom she thought really average could charm or bewitch Adolf. And maybe their «warm friendship» had a long story? And understanding that waiting would be hopeless and even shameful for her, she turned away and left.
No reaction. Was Dana expecting it? Certainly not. But she had expected something like that.
And while going back home Dana still hoped that Adolf would follow her, stop her and beg for forgiveness and prove that it all was a terrible mistake.
But no way. There were no steps behind. No hard breath, nothing.
She understood that it was impossible to stay with a bastard, a man for whom betrayal was nothing and slowly she went. On the way the girl meditated on how comic so called love could be and which was more interesting whether Honoria would let Adolf live with his prospective wife. It might be questionable.
Striking! And it was hard to say anything when you are betrayed for no reason. And you suddenly face an ugly mixture of hypocrisy and «love». Parody of love shown to you and humble attempts to court… And suddenly there appears a company which you should join and the people you must make your friends. The people that shock you. And you just cannot make friends to a hore who tells about her private life to the very first person she sees. No!
And Dana entered her flat.
The only thing she had expected had happened. Adolf had at last noticed her absence and called, but she hated to hear his voice. She would call Cynthia who would understand.
So she took her cell phone while the home one was desperately ringing.
Cynthia was happy to hear her. Glad to hear the story and, yes, she agreed that Dana shouldn’t answer the home phone. But still go somewhere and relax.
As they both enjoyed horse riding, they decided to go somewhere to rent a horse and that would be some enjoyment which would make Dana forget the shock so painful for her.
And they did go. The friends had to wait for a free horse to ride on. All the horses were engaged.
A red stallion had just arrived and was calmly standing and waiting for anybody to come.
Dana had a quick thought that the horse might be too much phlegmatic. But how wrong was she.
As soon as she got on the horse and checked that everything was fine, a small boy seemed to appear from nowhere just in front of the horse’s head.
Dana stopped the animal which had already started moving slowly as she was afraid that the boy might be injured. He looked right into Dana’s eyes and started saying something so quickly and with such a poor pronunciation that it was almost impossible to get the meaning.
— I want to feeth «the horthy!»
Dana was a little surprised.
— But I want to give him a piece of «thugar!»
— Well. I give up. Go ahead!
At that very moment Dana noticed that after the boy gave the horse a dirty greasy piece of sugar from his pocket he ran away and vanished as quickly as he had appeared. She looked up and saw a man in shades.
The horse startled and neighed nervously, and turning her head again Dana, didn’t see that strange man in shades anymore, he had vanished. The horse began to run unexpectedly. Being a good horse rider Dana put all her efforts to stop the animal. Cynthia could not be seen or even felt anywhere around.
This could last for ages until the horse had stumbled and fell to the ground almost carrying Dana with himself.
Dana quickly realised that the danger was enormous and jumped.
Mud was better if expected than an unexpected fall to the solid ground.
She had wiped the blood from her face. But still it was not a tragedy.
Dana looked around as she was mainly wondering what had happened to the horse.
Before she fell from a horse rarely, only once or twice in her life. So that case was an exclusive one. Not to say exceptional or, even more, suspicious.
Meanwhile she saw a groom coming up to her.
Turning to him Dana had also glanced to the place where she had seen the man in shades. The bench was empty.
She could only address the person who came up to her and was really surprised by the quick answer he gave.
— Do you know… There was… a man in shades… I am really embarrassed to ask you because I am almost sure that you will not understand me,
but I am surprised that he is not here anymore.
— Why are you surprised? Strange… He said that he would find you right here. And I am surprised as he seemed to be really shocked when you fell from the horse and almost jumped up from his place. Then stepped forward, suspiciously giggled as it seemed to me and quickly ran away.
I have never imagined that a man could laugh in such a strange manner. Looked like a hysteric laughter.
— It must have been Weib.
— You are right then.
The man smiled:
— You know German?
— Yes. But that is his second name.
The man noticed Dana smiling ironically:
— Do not be shy. That name fits him. He behaves himself like a woman.
— I do not quite get this. Sorry… Maybe this is because I mainly communicate with horses…
He smiled again shyly.
— I guess you should be really happy.
And Dana tried to smile:
— Tell me one more thing. Probably you have noticed… Maybe anybody was near him?
The man tried to smile again.
— There was a rather strange boy who was running around and giving sugar or something to the horses.
— And you did not try to stop him…
— I did. But he ran away quickly.
— He made his way right after your horse.
— I see.
Dana attempted to give him some money. The man protested. But she insisted:
— Buy something to the horse as a compensation.
— I shouldn’t give anything to the horse. He deserves no compensation.
— He had stress and that is the reason for some moral compensation.
And with these words Dana turned and went back.
Right on the way out she met Cynthia who was meditating on her future actions.
Seeing Dana the girl screamed and grabbed Dana’s hands:
— You’ve scared me! That’s terrible! Your face is in blood!
— Big deal!
Dana wiped her face with a handkerchief:
— Let’s move and watch the second act of the play!
So now the answer appeared by itself and they both went to their homes.
The impressions for that day were more than enough indeed. Enough fun. Enough adrenalin. Enough stress.
The future promised to be less stressful. But only promised.
In a couple of days Dana was sitting in a comfortable armchair reading Theodore Dreiser’s «Sister Carrie», thinking of the suspicious accident and trying to relax. At that time the phone rang. Cynthia who first wanted to make sure that Dana was absolutely fine, invited to join her for the sword battle. Dana made a short pause and answered easily:
— I don’t mind. But…
— I really hope that you don’t think that anybody could harm you… This is really… really stupid.
— I know.
Cynthia’s voice was harsh and clear:
— I know you’ll be safe.
Cynthia sounded surprised and as it seemed to Dana a bit irritated.
Dana only had to answer:
— Well. But…
— Don’t be afraid. Don’t be silly as we are struggling together. No one could possibly hit you, I hope you trust me… We have a great trainer and he is very safe too. Do trust him. And Dana answered. Not at once though:
— All right. Let’s meet today.
Not trusting anyone even herself Dana got up from the armchair.
So they met as decided later that day.
Each had taken her own car, and so they appeared in the gym almost simultaneously.
Battle… It sounds funny. As no one has ever before expected that there the game was not the game and it was the men’s world. Not for the young girls and certainly not for vengeance.
There were only a few people in the hall. All in cotton sport kimonos and with wooden swords katanas. Several people had black belts and therefore were in black. It was Adolf’s dream to get the black belt and to prove Dana that he was skilful. His friends and everyone around thought that he was a real soldier, a true samurai and therefore deserved respect. Although to Dana’s mind he simply was a coward- he was afraid of everything that seemed dangerous to him: to ride the horse, to swim, to drive a car, everything…
As they were warming up doing some small exercises first that Dana noticed was the trainer was not there and there was another one instead, his deputy, who also trained them. But… somehow… not to say evil or furious. If the chief was polite, gentle, then the other one was like a gangster.
And Dana had also noticed that Adolf was not there either.
The battle started soon after the girls arrived. Everybody in the gim joined a partner, everybody was striking and the partner had to strike back with the sword. It was said and promised that everything would be completely safe and there could be no injuries and surely no victims. But meanwhile there were times when they were some. Once while entering the gim the girls met a guy whose face was all in blood. But this was an exclusion.
…Dana immediately felt danger in the air around her. She was struck by the feeling that something was wrong and not to be trusted. She had also had that feeling because Adolf was not there — an exclusive case and then because she knew that Adolf was really a friend of that trainer and could had described him the story of the «poor deceived guy» and as any weak person could have accused her for breaking up with «poor him».
Yes. She had the feeling and was completely sure that it would be extremely stupid to use the chance and leave when the trainer asked her to stand in the far corner of the gym and train some hits whereas he himself started training Cynthia right behind her back. So it was all the same she was doing her steps through the gim constantly looking back and when her eyes met the trainer’s he slowed down as if to demonstrate her that there was no danger at all. Cynthia could not see her.
If the story would be shown in a film the spectators would say that it was impossible in real life.
Strangely enough but in spite of staying in a crowded place Dana was alone and no one could see her if only on purpose, if only his goal was to hit her. So Dana was in real danger. But she was moving sometimes backward, sometimes when she reached the end of the hall turned and went the other way.
First she turned to see whether the couple behind her was all right and then continued moving.
So the time had come. She relaxed thinking that the situation was under control and continued moving backward.
As she made a couple of steps again she heard a terrible sound… No. It was not thunder as she thought. But it was that Dana had got a terrible hit in her nape that was unexpected… «He has finally reached me!» — thought she before fainting.
The hit was unexpected for her but not for at least two people who have carefully planned it and brought into life. The trainer skilfully achieved what he planned not by hitting himself but making the other person do it, Dana’s friend.
Days, months and even years had passed since that terrible accident. And, like in a famous song ‘collecting her tears’ thinking of revenge, of a strong wave that would sweep him away… Dana was lying in bed unable to walk, work and even talk to her friends as they had all suddenly disappeared. Everyone, including Cynthia… yes, dear Cynthia, her friend in need…
And Dana herself was only lying in bed, cursing the bastard who had almost killed her… and so let him get it all, all that he deserves. For he deserves nothing but death.
After that friends started leaving her. The friends who were to trust had stayed. But Cynthia became unreachable and stopped being whatsoever available. Dana knew that Cynthia would appear as soon as she, Dana, gets well. But as it is clear from the world philosophy people become forgotten when suddenly fall ill and become useless.
So sitting at home without friends and surely men who had sworn in eternal love Dana had found out that Adolf had got married.
Another victim.
And the years passed and Dana felt that she had recovered and could travel again, but who would make her company?
Her friends were married and had children, so she must go alone. After that terrible illness she was happy only because she felt herself a human being again who is free to move everywhere. She had been to Egypt before. So she had just decided to go alone somewhere.
Dana had bought a plane ticket and already in a day she had entered the airport, funny, but the person who had taken a seat near her was Cynthia. The girls looked at each other and burst into laughter.
It appeared that Cynthia was also feeling lonely and had decided to go somewhere and as it always happened appeared in the same plane with Dana.
After the plane landed and the friends had found their hotel, they decided to look around. But first go and have a swim.
And so they did. Dana had a mask for snorkelling and Cynthia preferred swimming without any mask.
Dana put on the mask, breathed in and dived. The picture she saw was familiar and fantastic. One would never forget but keep longing for. So Dana tried to see all the beauty she hadn’t seen for a long time because of her illness. To swallow with her eyes all the picturesque things she saw — the corals which formed a wall. Going endlessly down as deep as the eye could follow she saw various kinds of fishes — very big, small, bright. Simple and sometimes frightening. So she was almost scared to pass them. And there were curious ones swimming very close. But immediately hurrying back as soon as she tried to reach out for them.
Yes. He was mistaken with the horse idea. Also next time the trainer had tried to do his best to send Dana’s bosom friend to heat her.
And then there came the day they were waiting for — the girls decided to go on an excursion and see the volcano, where they could go up the mountain to the top, walk and then see the volcano stones which could be found only there and seen in the local shop.
The tourist bus was big and comfortable, going very smooth and fast. The empty road was comfortable and the trip appeared to be relaxing, the time flew.
Suddenly the road made a turn and they saw a volcano in front of them.
Highly impressive.
But looking at the top of the mountain and getting the smell of sulphur Cynthia simply decided to wait for Dana in the bus. To the volcano Dana and other tourists were brought by a lift elevator. It was warm.
Very soon the elevator stopped on the top. A very specific smell immediately stroke the nose. Dana understood why Cynthia disliked that place. Her capricious character was shown once when the girls were passing a boy who was frying garlic outside a cafe.
A lot of people dislike garlic. Strangely enough Dana liked the smell of fried garlic. And Cynthia almost ran from the place quickly escaping.
What Dana saw and felt when she stepped on the solid ground that is plateau, was smell of sulphur. Specific and strong indicating that the volcano was a living one.
It occurred to be unforgettable.
The sky was bright and unbelievably blue and no single soul as if one was on a distant planet. But they were on the Earth. It was an ideal place to hide from civilization.
On the top Dana felt that it was very hard to breathe and almost impossible to move fast. The girl was enchanted by the landscape she saw when looking down as well as by snow «stalagmites» — very unusual to see in August. She was walking with a woman also from their bus, and they both were very busy watching here and there and looking at small paths thinking whether it would take much time to turn this or that path, so when she looked at the watch she saw that the elevator would leave back in a minute. They had to wait for the next one…
There when standing on the top of the volcano Teide and admiring the extraterrestrial landscape beneath Dana felt that somebody had gently touched her hand. She turned to see the person who did this and found out that it was a handsome young man whom she had seen before… probably…
He smiled at her charmingly and said something, Dana did not hear mainly, because she realised that the man talking to her was familiar. She recalled that she had really seen him before and that he was the one Cynthia really liked. Yes. She liked him and… So Dana remembered that his name was Hose. Decided to talk to him anyway feeling that she should not be too much attractive for the sake of friendship..
The picture she had seen from the top of the volcano had differed much from the one she noticed before. She saw the sea almost coming to the shore and hypnotising with its beauty and magic power.
Near Dana appeared several people who were also enchanted and unable to move or even talk.
Dana was surprised indeed to see that extraterrestrial picture. Very beautiful and strange in its nature. Enjoying the beauty she suddenly recalled Cynthia!
Dana rushed to the mountain elevator only to realise that she had spent a lot of time on the top and the next descend will be only in several minutes.
She had to wait then. While she was waiting she nervously thought about poor Cynthia who had to suffer alone in the empty bus and had missed all the beauty that Dana saw on the mountain. When the time came, Dana stepped into the mountain elevator and it moved down.
Cynthia, poor thing. She had missed so much. Had not seen the things worth seeing! She will regret it, regret that she did not go, did not join her.
Sitting in the mountain elevator and enjoying the landscape, slowly passing by Dana thought that there were so many beautiful places on Earth worth seeing, worth visiting. And one must always long to see them, to admire them, to know that they really exist. And not through the car window! But Cynthia had decided to stay and see nothing.
When Dana descended and got to the solid ground thinking that her friend was fine, she saw anger more tough than a real hysteria:
— Sorry, —
Dana’s voice was bright and emotional.
Silence. Dana tried to reach the understanding, to break through the wall of silence. Cynthia… just refused to talk to Dana. For her time was money, and what sense is to talk to the one who does not understand that. Cynthia looked insulted.
Well. Well. Well… This appeared to be rather painful to Dana. She has not done anything wrong, her mistake was only in her poetic nature, but there was nothing for malice and why should she waste her nerves for excuses which would not be listened to.
In this mutual silence they returned to the hotel. Dana was calm-nothing was to be done, and will soon be forgotten. And so it happened.
Dana and Cynthia were lying on the beach under warm sun beams, calm, gentle, each had her own thought. Cynthia thought of a handsome young man who would appear near her whereas Dana wished that he, handsome and kind, wouldn’t come that morning. She was thinking of Hose and hoping that he would never appear at least that day, at least not near her, but… she opened her eyes and saw him sitting on the sand right in front of her.
Dana got worried and looked at Cynthia who was sleeping or pretended to be sleeping, but Dana could clearly see and feel that her friend was disappointed and irritated. Dana looked at Hose knowing that her friend could be deeply offended, just said looking into his warm brown eyes, said although she knew she would offend him, but she had already offended her best friend…
— You shade me the sun sitting here like this.
Hose smiled with his gentle smile and bowed to Dana saying:
— You will get enough sun when you become my wife And he kissed her…
Dana saw the expression of her friend’s face who she knew had never cried or wept, but there… She had no choice as it was clear that Hose was a good swimmer but anyway, she got up from where she was lying, came close to water and dived…
It was still calm as if nothing has happened, Cynthia was absolutely untouched as if the story had happened in her absence and far away. Anyway, she had forced herself to get up and leave.
Cold water had made the job. The girls kept on swimming, and so Dana felt better. Sometimes she even dared to leave her friend swimming and went to walk alone.
Dana had always thought that Cynthia was her friend in need. And so it was. It costs a lot if one can trust a friend and rely on him. Yes, certain minor things had happened, but it would have been stupid even to mention that lift by car when Cynthia had dropped Dana far from her house, and so did she — it was normal, but Cynthia preferred not to turn from the road, and Dana always brought her friend directly to the entrance of her house.
And meanwhile Cynthia was lying in the sun, trying to get the tan, planning to have a swim and simply relaxing.
Suddenly she saw that someone had come and stood in front of her shading the sun. It was Adolf. She immediately recalled all Dana’s words and sat on her beach carpet.
It was unbelievable, but Dana was telling that after she had refused him, he had tried to kill her. It was some reason in her words… Smart, beautiful she had a lot of friends and admirers…
Yes. He was mistaken with the horse idea. The trainer had tried to do his best to use her friend so that she could hit her…
Adolf bent slowly to her face almost touching her lips. Cynthia became outrageous as she could not really believe… But she finally made herself just to understand. She turned her head so quickly that Adolf managed to hit his nose.
— Hot thing!
— I am! What do you want here? Why did you appear here?
— The weather is great… Would you like to go out and bathe in the sea?
Cynthia could not even allow herself a broken smile, all she made herself to produce was some kind of grimace and got up.
— Why me? I thought you were interested in Dana.
— Dana? No! I don’t need her…
— That’s why you’ve decided to get rid of her?
Adolf’s face grew very surprised and naive. It seemed that he didn’t understand a word.
— Then wait a minute!
Cynthia had almost run to the bathroom, put on a swimming suit and a light shirt over it and immediately ran out.
To her surprise, as she thought that Adolf was following her, the room was empty, Adolf had disappeared but the room had a scent of expensive perfume which he used too much.
That was suspicious and Cynthia had opened the door and quickly left the room.
She thought that it was an ideal day for swimming. Looked at the water — almost still and calm. Taking a deep breath, spread her hands getting ready to dive into the still water when somebody put his hands around her waist. She didn’t turn her head, did not look back as she perfectly knew who was standing behind. And she also knew that he had almost killed her friend as well as according to Dana’s words he couldn’t swim at all. She hit his leg with her heel and hearing a sound more like a scream stepped on his foot with all her strength.
Adolf tried to step away. But there was no space for him to move… And he stayed on his place and tried not to move knowing that he could be drowned.
So they stayed very close to each other and both Adolf and Cynthia knew that any single move would throw them into the water which was quite far beneath. Cynthia made a very slight step aside.
Adolf had stopped, probably trying to figure out her next move.
That was enough. They both had lost their balance and fell down into the water…
Meanwhile Dana was enjoying the rich underwater world. Suddenly she saw a group of small fishes quickly moving to something and some substance near it which had definitely attracted them.
She had noticed a sporadic movement in the sea beauty when all those colour fishes had suddenly moved in different directions making Dana turn away. ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY SHE SAW SOMETHING TOUCHING HER. LOOKED THROUGH THE GLASSES FOR SNORKLING SHE WAS SHOCKED RECOGNIZING ADOLF FALLING DOWN.
THE GIRL DIDN’ HAVE TIME FOR ANY PROPER REACTION AS HER ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON THE DRAMATIC PICTURE SHE SAW! IT WAS NOT HARD TO GUESS THAT THE SUBSTANCE WAS BLOOD WHICH APPEARED FROM THE WOUND ADOLF HAD GOT FROM THE CORAL WALL HE PASSED WHEN FALLING. AND THE FISHES WERE… PIRANIAS…
DANA REACHED HER HAND OUT AND SAW FISHES TURNING ASIDE, SWAM FROM THAT PLACE, AND SHE HAD FIRST GUESSED THAT IT WAS BLOOD, HAD QUICKLY SWAM TO THE PONTOON, ALMOST JUMPED OUT AND ONLY AFTER HAD FIGURED OUT THAT WHAT PIRANIAS WERE AIMING TO WAS BLOOD WHICH AS SHE HAD FOUND OUT LATER APPEARED FROM T HE WOUND ADOLG HAD GOT WHEN FALLING ON THE IMMENCELY SHARP CORAL REEFS.
SO A BIT FRIGHTENED DANA HAD GOT TO THE SHORE AND AS SHE LOOKED TO THE SEA SHE SAW WHO HAD SUBCONSCIOUSLY MADE THAT ACT OF VENGEANCE FOR HER — THAT A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED.
Standing on the shore Dana glanced forward and saw someone swimming fast far away. She recognized the person. It was her real friend, Cynthia.
Suddenly she heard light steps behind her. A young man gently took Dana"s wrist. «Beware, I have seen sharks here…» — «Whaaat? R u kidding?»…