Swimming Electric Blue Water. Samantha Holmes

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ Grigori carried Anna out, mimicking Yuri and Ingra.

      “I love you, Anna,” he said.

      “Will you marry me when I grow up, Unca Grigori?” Her pudgy hands entwined around his neck.

      “Of course, poochkins. I’m sure Helena won’t mind. But first, let’s get some cookies. I think I smelled a bakery just down the road.”

      “Where are you going with my sister?” Yuri yelled after them.

      “To the cookie shop. You and Ingra can be alone for a while, and I’ll take care of Anna. Okay?”

      Yuri mouthed “thank you” and carefully placed Ingra in a waiting taxi.

      • • •

      “A woompa, woompa, awhoosh!” Grigori swung the giggling child around in circles.

      “Again, again, again!” she squealed.

      “You’re making Unca very tired.”

      “Again!” she cried, ignoring his protest.

      “Why aren’t you sick? You ate five cookies and a soda. I’m sick just thinking about it.”

      “Again!” she demanded.

      “Okay, a whoompa, a whoompa, a whoo—”

      The noise died in his throat as a bat swung down and shattered his skull. He fell like a dropped marionette, arms still holding Anna, who was too terrified to scream.

      Micki pried the girl from Grigori’s dead hands. Saviar wiped the blood and bone chips from the bat with his towel.

      “Did you see how his head exploded? I should have gone into baseball,” Saviar laughed. “It’s going… going… gone!”

      “Be quiet! Let’s go before someone notices,” Micki replied, walking away briskly as he wrapped the shocked child tightly in his coat.

      Saviar looked over his handiwork then followed behind, leaving Grigori’s dead body to cool in the icy evening air.

      • • •

      “I can’t wait any longer, Ingra,” Yuri said, kissing Ingra who was still lying between the sheets. “If he calls, tell Grigori that I left for the pool.”

      “You know, sex is the best exercise,” Ingra purred to him as he put on his last shoe.

      “I know. That’s why I’m taking a break with a few laps. You tire me out so.” Yuri ducked the pillow thrown at him, picked it up, and placed it on the bed next to her. After giving her another kiss on the forehead, he walked to the door.

      “Things are going to be wonderful now that you’re mine forever. I love you, my wife. ’Wife,’ I like the sound of that!” He blew a kiss before he shut the door behind him.

      Once alone, Ingra got up to get something to eat and to call Grigori so he could bring Anna home. It was so nice of him to take Anna for a few hours. Ingra wished she and Yuri could go on a real honeymoon, but she would have to wait. There would be plenty of time after the race, and being with Yuri now mattered far more than any trip.

      The phone at Grigori’s rang twice before his wife answered.

      “Hello, Helena. It’s Ingra. I just wanted you to know that Yuri has already left for the pool and that Grigori can bring the baby home.”

      “He isn’t home yet, love. He probably went to a movie. Congratulations on the wedding! I’m so sorry I missed it!”

      “It was very nice, but short. We will all be able to celebrate after the race.”

      “Yes, Grigori is so excited. He is sure Yuri is going to win.”

      “Well, let him know where Yuri is when he gets home. Feel better soon. Do you need anything?”

      “No, thank you. I’ll be fine. Bye, bye, Mrs. Konikov.”

      Ingra hung up the phone. It was very quiet in the apartment. She almost wished her neighbors were talking or had their music up loud. She walked over to the television then sat down on the couch. She still couldn’t believe that she was married today.

      • • •

      Yuri was alone in the pool. A dull light shone down from the main building where a night watchman made his rounds. An icy fog haloed the few outdoor lights that weren’t even strong enough to illuminate the pool, making the water look like black tar. Yuri felt better and better with each stroke, going faster with each successive lap until he was only aware of pushing off after each turn. He swam seventy laps before leaving the pool. He was not tired, but he was anxious to go home. Odd that Grigori had not come. Maybe, he thought Yuri was not dedicated enough to leave his new bride’s side. Yuri planned to tease him about that tomorrow.

      The night air was bitingly cold. Body heat steamed as he walked over to his towel and clothes. He dried and dressed quickly, and then headed to the gate. The noise from the watchman’s television filtered out of his small booth.

      “Comrade Konikov! Comrade Konikov!” the watchman yelled at him from the building entrance. Yuri waited for him to walk over.

      “There is a message for you.”

      “From Grigori?”

      “It doesn’t say on the envelope. I found it by your towel and took it in so it wouldn’t get wet. The news said it might snow again.” He handed the envelope to Yuri.

      “Thank you.”

      Yuri opened the envelope and a clump of blond hair fell out. He reached down and picked it up off the slushy snow. It was soft and smelled of bubblegum shampoo. He quickly pulled the note out. It read:

      Be at 6600 B Markovo at 12:30 A.M. Come alone or the child dies.

      Yuri’s hand went to his chest as it seized with fear. He looked at his watch. It read 12:05 A.M. He didn’t have time to think of what to do, only to run as fast as he could. He sprinted through the gate and down the ice-coated roads.

      • • •

      Ingra had been waiting for Yuri to come home. She had made the bed, eaten some fruit, taken a shower, and watched some forgettable programs on the Corporate television station full of so many advertisements that it was almost unwatchable. She could not afford the independent stations. Ironically, only Corporate employees had the money to avoid their own commercials. It was 12:15 A.M. when the phone rang. She answered it, thinking it was Grigori finally calling to say Anna had fallen asleep on their couch. The voice on the line was hardly recognizable — it was Helena. Her sobs and groans made it almost impossible to understand. Panicking herself, Ingra tried to calm Helena, shushing her as if she were a child stung by a bee. Ingra heard the words “police,” “hospital,” and “Grigori” and tried to make sense of it.

      “Is Grigori sick? Hurt?”

      “He’s … dead. Oh, my husband! Grigori, Grigori. Oh God, no!”

      “Where’s СКАЧАТЬ