Trafika Europe 7 - Ukrainian Prayer

Maria Matios

waited for Mykhailo to come from the mountain valley, but in the early morning had already sent two gazdas to the river to search. And just as Mykhailo appeared at the threshold, the caretaker advised him not to dawdle chatting and not to tarry with inquiries among the people, and just to go to the police station to file a report about his wife’s disappearance. Yilashko already had filed a report, but it was necessary for Mykhailo to do this as well. There wasn’t much hope, but there they know better what’s going on in the village and even beyond its borders… the time was such, that it was necessary to dash wherever you could, while there was somewhere and someone to dash to…. Lieutenant Lupul, simultaneously the chief

of the Cheremoshne police office and the border post, in Romanian posterunok , silently listened to Mykhailo’s report, for a long time twirled his sparse mustache beneath his nose, then sighed heavily, looking back at the wide open window, through which flies were scurrying, as though he were checking whether there was anyone by the wall, and said: “Mihai, right now it’s becoming really alarming here… soon a lot could change… but we’ll search for your wife. The Primar sent his people, we’ll give ours. We’ll help.” Mykhailo ignored Lupul’s uncertain words about his anxiety – it was as though he had gone mad from uncertainty. However he unexpectedly asked the lieutenant:

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