 | Antaran's Journal |
 |
 |   |
 |
|
We started work as usual, at the usual time, with the usual routine. Couriers of various cities, villages and even places which I didn't even know still were populated, brought us packages and letters. By midday we were already running around in the office, trying to find a place for the new deliveries in the three rooms of our office. By using chairs we built up huge piles that reached the ceiling. Some couriers looked at those mountains of undelivered letters and parcels, and asked us if we were going to bring those to their respective addressees.
"Of course, who do you think we are? A collection service for public donations?" Tartek would reply in such a case. After midday we didn't get any new deliveries anymore, just as usual. We sat on our chairs, leaning back, watching the people through the windows passing by. "When do you think they will notice?" I asked after a while of silence. Tartek was reading a newspaper and I only saw his feet on the table and his fingers holding the journal. "Tomorrow," he mumbled. "Then why are we still here?" I asked. Tartek lowered the newspaper, so that only his eyes looked at me over the upper edge. "In case my theory is wrong. Don't you want to be here should the king come over to kill us in person?" With a loud rustling he shook his newspaper and hid himself behind it again. I sighed. "Go and look after our hostages if you're so bored." His right thumb pointed at the piles of letters in the other room. "It's not like they need any water or food," I said. "How do you know? Did you ask them?" "No." "Why not?" "Are you serious?" Tartek turned to the next page. "Serious as ever." "I'm glad that at least you are having fun." I folded my arms and stared through the windows. "Too bad you won't join," Tartek said. "Oh, this is hilarious. They made a whole page of people giving comments about the Insomida Jail. All compliments, of course." "Why do you think they won't realize that something is wrong with the delivery service before tomorrow?" I asked. "We have been one of the most reliable delivery service up until now. They will think that it must have been a very serious emergency that we were forced to skip one day, and they will assume that we are going to continue to work tomorrow. And that's when they will start to complain," Tartek said, as if he possessed the ability to foretell the future. I still don't know how he could remain so calm. I imagined all the possible things that could have happened to us, and he was just sitting there, reading the newspaper. Time passed rather slowly, but eventually even the last minute went by and I could go home. When walking through the streets of Insomida I took a careful look around and paid attention to what people were talking about around me. Only one out of the dozen discussions I've heard was about the Insomida Delivery Service, and just as Tartek predicted, those two women who spoke about us only assumed that it must have been some sort of accident. At home yet again I greeted Carana without getting a response. I expected her to meditate again, but I couldn't find her in the kitchen. I got nervous, thought about what would have happened if someone knew what we were up to and just kidnapped Carana and Tartek's wife as a response to what we are trying to achieve. But in the bedroom there she lied, sleeping peacefully, whispering words beyond my understanding. After getting a hold of myself again I started to write this journal entry, and that's where I am now. My hand feels a bit numb. Maybe I should stop writing for tonight. I just wanted to add that I hate spiders. A few moments ago a spider dropped into my soup from the ceiling and died in the boiling water. I'm certainly not hungry anymore. |
|
|
[
Polish version ] [ 
Russian version ]
[ Get the Book ] [ Visit The Farm ]