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his pouch, throws kisses through the air to Jacob’s little
machines. The machines laugh and call: “Utabanga! You –
you!”
Sunset, as always, despondent. In its portmanteau are many
powerful medicines, the leather smells of chemicals, and it
pulls in the little kitten Brenci, who follows it sniffing.
Desert goes last and begins to pull the kitten by the tail.
Brenci doesn’t like this, and the minx takes a strike at
desert, so that the room is full of scattered sand. Jacob takes
the beloved mirror, on its backside some Orthodox church.
The mirror shows confident seekers. The personages found
places within the working parts and, accompanied by car
horn blasts, strode as celebratory as an orchestra of
soldiers. Young men hung from the windows, who called:
“Bring oysters from the sea, complete with their shells, and
we’ll invite you to the Rondo café for a gambling party!” But
blondes and brunettes threw flowers, because it seemed
everyone was in love with Mephistopheles, who had money
and power. But Mephistopheles loved only talents, worthy
and challenged in bloom.
Jacob’s mirror didn’t lie, but suddenly the bell at the door
rang and guests with gifts and glittering eyes came into the
apartment.
“Jacob! Jacob! Guests, guests. Juris, Daigava, Ievina and
Aigars!” called mama.