Through swamp
By tibi popovici
- 388 reads
Twelve o'clock, middle of the night, between Saturday and Sunday. A warm and humid air, coming from the west, but this was not the trouble, mosquitoes were driving me crazy. I had a straw hat on my head, a short sleeve shirt and long pants, although it was hot, wore long pants to stay away from the marshes fucking wide grass.
Near me was my grandfather snoring. It was the first time in fifteen years when I remained in the swamp overnight with my grandfather. We were going to the next village with three bags of flour, when we heard that sizzle, the boat engine just stopped. We were five miles at least to the first house. My grandfather, quiet, sat back on the boat, placed his hat on his face to protect by mosquitoes, and said good night.
I thought to do the same, sit back and close my eyes ... no more than three minutes, as the family locomotive began puffing, at the beginning was only steam, then began to rattle, no more to come for a smoke. He was sleeping well, I don't, but what was to be done? I count all the stars in the sky, I am already accustomed with the frogs song, repeatedly harrowing, but I couldn't manage mosquitoes, I felt bumps on my hands, down to elbows. I started laying my hands on water, first left then right, as if it was better, I got chill. Closed my eyes hoping that I will get rid of the anguish by sleeping. I heard the water rippling, I opened my eyes, I thought it was a fish, then came again, as if were steps walking on water.
Remain sitted, nobody could be at that time strolling through the swamp, was thinking. The reed was opened near the boat, I froze, figure of a girl, arround twenty years old, was emerging from the reeds, she didn't said anything, just stretched her hand asking me to go with her. Damn! I get up and followed her, in complete darkness, saw no sight, she held my hand advancing slowly through the swamp. I could hardly saw her figure, but her eyes were blue, or green, a small mouth, lips stretched from corner of mouth, a small and sharp nose and black hair, was definitely black. We walked for a long way, I was soaked to the chest, trying to break through the deep swamp places, it seems she's doing better, but her dress was definitely torn apart since fringes of it were floating on the water surface. I asked her a few times where we are going, the last time I remember that I lost my voice and seemed desperate, but she just turn to me with grin on the corner of her mouth.
We went all night, so I thought we reached no shore, I just pushed my chest on the muddy water of marshes, like I pulled the plow. I was exhausted. A log felt on the water, I asked her to allow me to catch my breath, as it was already daylight, she nodded and waved as she returns, gone through the swamp, by herself, leaving me there, resting, then I fell asleep. Anything else I can't remember.
My grandfather woke me. It was daylight and I didn't understand anything. I wondered what I was doing there, in the middle of the swamp resting on a oak log. I did't know what to answer. He was not alone, with another two forest keepers. I looked around, it was already afternoon. I just look at them lost, not even tried to tell them what I do remember, it was absurd, even I did not believe such a story.
When the two left, I remain with my grandfather on a small rowing boat, moving slowly through the water. Suddenly he stopped under an old willow, I saw him stares through reed, seeing that no one's there, asked me: "It was that bitch! Huh? She took you!" I never found out who was that "bitch", but perhaps my grandfather knew something.
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Comments
in complet[e] darkness,
in complet[e] darkness, interesting that the reader isn't sure if the woman is real, a figment of his imagination or some swamp creature that takes form.
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