The Great Ski-Lift. Anton Soliman

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СКАЧАТЬ following in the footsteps of any guru claiming to know the infinite nuances of freedom.

      He was completely awake now, his tiredness suddenly gone. His eyes roved around the room, now attuned to the half-light, and the space radiated a sense of well-being. Lying flat on a surface as notions of safety and continuity slipped by: a lunar place, the Sea of Tranquillity.

      Clara opened the door and slowly approached the bed, checking if Oskar was sleeping. She smiled on seeing his wide-open eyes, and placed a hand on his forehead.

       - I came to call you for a trip to the springs, and watch the sunset. You were moaning in your sleep, maybe a nightmare.

      - Really?

      - Your forehead was boiling – she said in a low voice.

      - What time is it?

      - Almost midnight.

      Oskar was surprised, he must have been exhausted to sleep for so many hours. He felt much better though.

       An old oil lamp was turned on for company as they sat down beside the fireplace. They stayed silent next to each other before the fire. Oskar broke the silence: - What did you do when you were living in the city?

      - I was studying at the Academy of Arts and enjoying myself. I had lots of friends and my musical passion was growing, I even used to play in a bar.

      - Sounds fun! Well done, you made a good choice. What happened afterwards?

      Clara became serious, and arranged herself more comfortably on the armchair: - The problems began when I started working. Working in the City is something almost incomprehensible. I think only a few people are able to understand the real dynamics.

      - I think you're right, work is pretty mysterious ... So you came back to Valle Chiara?

      - Of course. It made no sense to stay in a City where my life was almost flat lining.

      It was true, thought Oskar. In some ways Clara's impressions were not so different from his.

      - You're an engineer, is that right? Where do you work?

      -I work with H.M.C. as a materials expert.

      - Must be an interesting job.

      - Just about. But I've been working too hard as of late, that's why I am on holiday.

      There was a square in town I knew well, and I made an appointment with someone who didn't suggest a holiday but...rather suggested joining the Great Ski Lift, as if it were a job.

      Clara turned to him and gently ran her hand along his forehead, almost caressing.

      - I know everything. I knew something was wrong as soon as I saw you in the dining room. I was interested in you because it seemed you needed somebody.

      The two kissed for a long time, and fell asleep still hugging.

      Oskar woke up with a jolt. The girl was sleeping. Clara looked very beautiful now, he was starting to grow fond of her. He liked that room full of family memories, he liked talking to her. He was no longer alone, an essential link had been reformed, the one of Protection.

      They wandered in the woods together, the sun occasionally peeking out between clouds, its rays making the landscape glitter, before disappearing again and turning the trees into silhouettes.

      Oskar and Clara spent a few days together. They talked into the late hours and slept hugging tight, surrounded by the collected memories. One day they went to the cable car in silent agreement. The morning was vividly bright. He watched the steel cables run through the woods; just about spotting tiny cabins re-emerging behind a second ridge, and then higher and higher, the cables rising over a mountain pass and fading into the sky. After that mountain pass, the cable car must continue to climb until reaching an invisible height. As far as he could see though, no traces of snow were visible, except for some white spots near the vegetation.

      He felt no repulsion this time round, but instead looked in fascination at the endless chain of pylons running along the mountain slopes. From that viewpoint, the existence of any plateaus seemed unlikely...The ski station now looked like a magic ladder to storm Heaven. Oskar imagined that maybe the project's creator had wanted to open a sort of trapdoor to another World.

      In that moment he thought about reaching the top on his own before remembering he had met Clara in the village.

      He embraced her, feeling the tension drop away:

      - Clara, I love you.

      - Will you stay a while longer? - asked the girl smiling.

      - You know, after meeting you, this place is starting to grow on me.

      - Of course, Valle Chiara is a great place! - she exclaimed.

      That evening he was surprised by the sudden sunset while chopping wood behind the inn. The water in the nearby pond turned a reddish hue. Looking up, he saw the house walls, the windows, the flowerpots and roof tiles being enveloped in a dim light. The eastern sky seemed to be on fire and the setting sun made the winter landscape was almost overpowering. He listened to the valley's sounds in turn: a dog barking, a child crying, hammering on a wooden board, a moving cart. Suddenly, he felt like being somewhere else entirely. In some ways he had stopped. The world continued turning. Was what he saw and felt its effects? Yes, he now remembered what he wrote that day:

      The World Exists Because It Works.

      These were not poetic verses; it was an aphorism that started a perhaps revolutionary scientific work that was now lost to him. No memories seemingly remained

      During the stay in the hotel he had not seen much of his hosts. Oskar usually ate alone with Clara after the owner and his wife had gone to sleep.

      He was certain that they talked to each other and were firm supporters of his prolonged idyll. His appearance was fairly presentable, a city professional with a decent job. All the correct life boxes ticked.

      That evening like always, Oskar noticed the owners had already left the kitchen. The girl was laying the table with a focused and grave expression.

      - You said you loved me the other day.

      Oskar drew closer and clasping both her hands murmured:

      -I am happy with you.

      - What does that mean? Do you think you could live with me?

      - In these few days I thought about staying in the valley forever, because I feel at peace here. I saw the sunset...in the City there are no sunsets.

      The girl laid the cutlery silently, and they both sat down to eat.

      - I think I could be happy with you – repeated Oskar.

      When they finished eating, he poured a drink. He remained withdrawn though, not talking. Clara had been listening carefully but with a different expression than usual.

      - Would you be willing to stay in Valle Chiara? - she asked and shaking her head, added, - I'm not asking you to leave the City and your job.

      There СКАЧАТЬ