Short Story – Presage
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In the evening I sat at my desk to write down in my diary and opened an author’s preface to ”Don Quixote”. Miguel de Cervantes revealed how difficult was him to write it. He dreaded to overestimate his ”child” as he called his novel and added that his attitude to children could hardly be right especially as he is only a stepfather. I vividly imagined as his wife says him with lenient smile: ”My dear, your attitude to children could hardly be right.”
I wrote:
- – People turn heroes just for the sake of their own family,- and closed the diary. I lay down on the sofa and closed my eyes.
- – It’s quite true,-said low voice in the middle of the room.
- – You look tired and very likely you need to talk to me,- added he after rather long piece of silence.
- – All tiresome guys say me it.
- – When I am tired like you I usually put my face under a tap.
- I went to a bathroom.
- – Your computer is hacked,-informed he when I came back.
- – It disobeys me already a week or two.
- – Everything changes after the sun comes out.
- – Never imagined that hackers are vampires.
- – Not just vampires, but also debauchees.
- – Thank you..! I am suspected of hacking.
- – Proofs..?
- – Leave that!..
- – I would say that you need a new computer.
- – I am high and dry.
- – I am your friend and if you want me to stay here I will.
- – I have no idea what I want. Perhaps, I don’t want you retire. It will be clear to me after some refreshments…What a pity that I couldn’t divide it with you! How are you called?
- – Presage. I am here to presage your birth.
- – Then you are late a little. I was born more than forty five years ago.
- – I didn’t mean it. I talked about a second birth.
- – Second breath is one thing and second birth is quite another. What does it mean?
- – You will be another person.
- – I am not bad at all. Why do I need to be another?
- – I didn’t say ”you need”, I said ”you will”.
- – When we say ”he became another person” it means no good. What do you mean by that?
- – Second is always better than first.
- – Nobody thinks so.
- – Does it not prove that I am right?
- – May be.
- – I am sure that people will like you more. What about you?..
- – It is difficult to say. Is it dangerous to my health?
- – I don’t know.
- – When we say ”he was reborn” it means sometimes that he was gravely ill. What do you think?
- – I don’t know.
- – Do you advise me to apply to doctor?
- – I don’t know.
- – You are hard on me.
- – I will always be with you not just to assure you the opposite. However, I have nothing against any additional help. Do you have a family?
- – My wife with child left me long ago. I bored them. I am grouch.
- – Do they visit you?
- – No.
- – I am awfully sorry.
- – Let us better talk about literature. What do you like to read?
- – I read the book that lies on your desk.
- – Do you mean ”Old Testament”?
- – Yes. I consider it outstanding in spite of all its errors.
- – Strange… People consider this book historical and conclude that it has no errors.
- – It is a fiction book that has many errors, but I like it. What is your favorite book?
- – ”Karamazov brothers”. It is psychological novel.
- – What is it about?
- – About attitude of people to each other.
- – It is possible to write about it eternally. In such cases I always say: ”Don’t read things, do them!”
- – Whose words are this?
- – My. Do you like poetry?
- – Yes.
- – Who is your favorite poet?
- – It’s a secret.
- – Will you ever reveal it to me?
- – I promise.
- – How many nights haven’t you slept already?
- – A year.
- – Do you believe that I will help you?
- – I would be glad to believe. Today I feel worse than ever.
- – Nothing threatens you now.
- – Give me a hand, please!..
Feeling suffocation and heart attack, I seized his hand and squeezed it until time and space ceased to exist.
