Sign it don't gawk at me!

Some very encouraging tidings to locked up and secluded prisoner of war.

Down the cellar's stairs they went, up to the cell's door; and while the guard was busy with his keys Nicole turned to that guard rather abruptly, uttering some short guttural words in that strange language of theirs. Opening the door for them, he nodded his head in approval, and stepped aside to let them pass through the open door.

As soon as the door was shut she turned her back to it, and blocked the spy-hole with the back of her head. Facing Nick she raised her blue eyes to his in a tense and demanding stare. He took her in his arms, drawing her to him swiftly, clasping her tight to his chest overflowed with emotion. Resting his cheek on her crown of glossy black hair and shutting his eyes breathing hard with a heaving chest, he was carried away drowning in his own sensations... They were thus embraced in each others arms, her face buried in his chest,  his huge body enveloping hers; and though she nearly disappeared in his arms, he was the one who needed her warmth and support. The revelations she confided to him, this same afternoon quite shocked him; though he stood it bravely in the yard, and all the way to the cell, right now he was exhausted physically and mentally as well. All he wished was to keep clinging to her thus on and on �" eternally.                          

‘I say, you must have forgotten something, comrade, something that seemed rather urgent to you.’ She suddenly said raising her voice, pushing him slightly backwards. ‘There's a letter you were ever so keen to send, and I haven't seen any evidence of that urgency yet.’

‘Oh yes,’ he admitted timidly, regretting the forced come-back into reality, the sudden awakening in mid dream by a swift and resolute hand.

‘Shall I write it now?’

‘If you still wish to send it, yes go ahead I'm waiting.’

What's the matter now, what have I done? He sulked once again surprised, as he was walking toward the nearest chair, obeying her. Doesn't she know how much I love her? Can't she see?  There isn't a thing in this world, I won't do for her. Anything to make her mine! He had already caught himself more than once, imitating her ornate lingo, her behavior; he adores her and worships her.

‘How did he get here I wonder?’ He asked her aloud, trying to restore somewhat the intimate atmosphere.

‘Who? What are you talking about?’ She retorted surprised.

‘Your father...’

‘As far as I'm concerned he doesn't exist, so let's not discuss it any further. There's no need to indulge in futile gossip. But in any case it’s none of your business anyway. So sit down and write your letter.’                          

Seated at the table he lowered his eyes to the pad and tried to scribble down the first few words. In a quick agile step she approached and reaching him, stood at his side and put her hand on his shoulder gently.  

‘It’s no good.’ She said leaning forward over him.

He tore off the first page, with the few words he had already written.

 ‘A short note will do, say...’ And he set out afresh as she dictated him: ‘My dear parents I'm alive, in good health and I do hope to see you soon.’ She added the last phrase with emphasize, smiling into his surprised face, as he turned round bewildered looking upward to meet her eyes.

‘Don't gawk at me, sign it.’ She said chuckling happily, and stroked his cheek with her finger tips.                         

He turned back to the pad and adding "your loving son", signed it with a trembling hand. But he kept sitting over it as if he was dazed.

‘That's it.’ She said over his shoulder. ‘Put it in an envelope, and hand it over to me.’                              

Having done as she told him, he handed her the letter, unsealed.

‘Now then,’ she summed the matter up with a sweet loving smile. ‘I want you to prepare a summary of the analysis we did together at the yard.’ Without wasting any additional time, she went over to the door still talking to him, and rapped on it with her open palm. ‘It should be a comparison between the debauch capitalistic system and our own. Take your time and do it with the same enthusiasm, with which you had done it orally at the yard.’

The door opened up and with a snappish: ‘See you soon comrade.’ She went out, and passed the guard right out of Nick's sight.    

 Haim Kadman 1991 �" all rights reserved.