The Forgotten Trick

by © Jonathan Dilas

Urgently, I cuddled up to her and grasped her bottom. Immediately, I got into a state of arousal, but she evaded me and said: »Not here!« Then, she took my hand and pulled me along with her. Stumbling, I ran behind her. We knew both that we were not to be seen, because otherwise they would separate us. Therefore, we went to a lake, in order to find a secluded place. There were some bushes and with gentle force I tried to push her into that direction, but she still played coy and seemed to be insecure.

»Listen, I get us a boat and then we go to the other side. As soon as we arrive, you can do with me, whatever and however you want!« she said and gave me a brief kiss.

I wondered, why she made such a fuss about sleeping together. Apparently, she wanted to be quite sure that we would not be discovered. So I waited. Some minutes later, she returned with a boat. A little hesitating I got into it. When we arrived at the other side, she took my hand without bothering about the boat any further and pulled me in the direction of a large house. We passed it on the left side. Not far away, I saw a door. Laughing, we ran to it. She opened it and went through. At first, I hesitated, but then I followed her.

Inside, I saw a swimming pool and a crowd of people in what seemed to be a kind of public baths. I was a little shocked. She had vanished! Where could she have gone? There were only two directions she could possibly have taken. Already confused, I looked in both these directions, again and again, but she did not appear. She surely had left the bath, yet, I could not explain it differently. Without much hesitation, I made for the exit at the opposite side, when someone came in my way. In this moment, something suddenly emerged within me and instantly I kicked him. I did not remember exactly, where my foot landed, but now my way was free. Being outside, two other man stood in front of me. I wondered for the third time. At this moment I guessed, something was wrong. Again, this rage rose within me and I stroke out at the men, but unexpectedly, every blow failed. One of the men seemed to be either excellent in dodging or I just hit right through him. My confusion increased, when the other man approached from behind. At the very moment, when I turned to him, I lost consciousness.

When I awoke, I went with one of the men, the older one, along a street. I assured him that now I was completely peaceful and would definitely not beat anyone again. He looked at me and shook his head, as if saying that he did not believe me. All of a sudden, this rage came up again, but before it could break out, I lost consciousness for another time.

I opened my eyes and immediately I knew that I felt better. Slowly I raised and sat down on a chair. I was in a room. On my left side sat that old man. His friend and two other, very young men, stood in front of a table. One of the boys directly stood before it and he held darts in his hands. On the table, there were some glasses, a clock and a burning candle that lighted up the room. The old man looked at me: »

»Watch closely, now! You have to follow every movement exactly and remember everything!«

He spoke those words very slowly and without a movement in his face. So I turned my head and watched attentively.

The boy, who stood in front of the table, had meanwhile chosen one of the darts, and laid down the others on the edge of the table. While watching the boy, I peered every now and then to the old man. After a short period of concentration the boy took aim and threw. Where the dart landed, I could not see, because I had no view of the trajectory.

The old man nodded and seemed to be contented with the boy’s result. Then he picked up the thrown dart and gave it to me. Apparently, it was my turn, now. I got up and went to the table. As I risked a sidelong glance to the old man, I saw that he rose to his feet very quickly and blew out the candle. At once, I realised that he wanted to bully me in doing so, because he did not like me at all. He had kidnapped and bewitched me, he had enslaved and wanted to torture me now, before murdering me. In the meantime, I had become furious again, because the candle had indicated the direction of the wind, thus, I could have acted according to that help, in order to meet the target. He looked at me sharply, but then I obeyed to his wish. I saw those glasses and the clock, which represented the target.

I took aim precisely, hold my breath for a moment and then I threw. Whether I hit it or not, I did not know. I only knew that the old man looked at me very seriously and disappointed. I realised that I had failed, although, I did not saw, why. When he instantly got up and came very fast towards me, I already lost consciousness, again. Later, I sat with him on the ground and he held a bowl in his left hand. In his right one there was a little spatula, with whom he scratched some green substance from the edge of the bowl. It was obvious that this substance was soap and that he intended to shave himself or me. But when I looked at him more closely, I realised with a little shock, that he had something particular in his mind. Suddenly, he looked at me and while he let his thumb slip over the edge of the spatula, he grinned diabolically at me. Instantly, I got in panic and started to scream. I knew, he wanted to kill me now. I implored him to spare me and to talk about everything, once again. The old man nodded without speaking and seemed to agree. My panic had been infinite, but as he agreed, it vanished at once. Now the moment had come, when I started to wonder about myself. This moment was decisive, because the old man only grinned and while I was realising that he already knew for a long time, what was only a presentiment to me now, his grinning changed again into a murderer’s.