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“Into the woods.”– Naģe responds.
He continues to keep silent, but very soon after, turns into
the woods. Naģe draws a relieved breath. Every path, tiny
track, bog and marsh. Why don’t the bad thoughts leave
her? Why is she afraid? He is her usual style of man. No
longer young, large build, kind face.
They step out of the car and go further into the woods,
because he wants it so. On the road that leads to the marsh,
he suddenly leans against a tree and tells Naģe to fall to her
knees and take him in her mouth. Naģe does what she has
to do and soon feels a warm liquid spurt in her mouth,
when, suddenly, he grabs her by the head and with all his
strength dashes her face against the rain-soaked sandy
road. Naģe is stunned, she tries to get to her feet, but
instantly is kicked down again with his booted foot.
“
Paluchi, zhaba, urods neschastniys, paluchi zhaba
”
1
– he
kicks Naģe’s head, stomach and breast. An abnormal,
suppressed anger is released with each kick. He kicks Naģe
like an old rotted fence post, like a pumpkin thrown out on
a compost pile. When she is no longer moving, to make
certain, he kicks her again. Then he wipes his sweat-
drenched forehead and walks off along the forest road.
1
Paluchi, zhaba, urods neschastniys, paluchi zhaba
– In Russian
means ‘Take this, you toad, you miserable cripple, take this, you
toad!”