Looking at Isidor, Alisa says, “Go now, we must.”
Running into the forest the prisoners chase their freedom. The weather is cool and fall like. The leaves are starting to drop from the trees. They hear a crash. Jumping behind a tree, Isidor looks back towards the train car. Using a hand signal, he tells the others to be silent.
Staring down the track, Isidor can see camp guards looking around the damaged car. Pointing towards the forest, the leader of the guards starts walking down the tracks. Signaling to the others to follow, the group walks our way.
Looking down at Misha, Isidor asks, “Can you keep up?”
Misha, now smiling says, “Can I keep up? Can you keep up with me should be the question. My metal legs working fine. They are magic. If you lose track of me it’s because I am ahead of us.”
“Well, let’s go before we are all wearing metal legs.” Isidor replies.
“Did you see any dogs?” Alisa asks.
“No I didn’t, they were probably in such a hurry to catch us that they left the dogs behind.” Isidor replies
They call this the “Forest of the Dead” with good reason. There has always been a work camp in this spot, even before Stalin. The prisoners worked till they perished then were taken here to be dumped. Anyone executed was taken here. The forest collected all and released no one. Death lived in the trees, waiting for anyone that walked this way.
The escapees made as good of time as possible. Running when they could, walking when they had to, they worked their way deeper into the forest. Noticing that Alisha was tiring, Isidor said, “Let’s stop for a moment and catch our breath.”
Leaning against tree breathing hard, Alisa stared into the forest from where they had just came. “Look! Fire…they have torches.”
Alarmed, Isidor stood up and looked for himself. “Dam, they’re closer than I thought.”
“How many torches do you see?” Misha asks.
“Seven…” Isidor replies.
The crack of a rifle explodes in the night as a piece of bark is shot off the limb above them. The guards have seen the prisoners and are getting closer. Starting to run, they veer to the left. Fallen trees and limbs lay on the floor of the forest in front of them. Jumping over each one slows them more. Looking behind, the torches are getting closer.
Pausing for a moment, Isidor leans against a tree for support. Starting to feel a pain in his side, Isidor stares at the ground in front of him. Slowly a few leaves move on a fallen branch. Then a bush starts to shake, now a tree. Opening his eyes wider Isidor can’t believe what he is seeing. The obstacles laid out in front of them are slowly sliding to the side, clearing a path in front of the prisoners.
Looking at the others, Isidor realizes that Misha and Alisa see the same thing he does. Whistling past his head, another bullet hits the tree beside him. Breaking into a run, the three go down the path in front of them. As they reach the end, they turn and watch as the path disappears behind them. As if blown by the wind, tree limbs, shrubs and stumps slowly fill the space that was just open.
Seeing Alisa staring, Isidor looks into the forest. Standing before them is an opaque figure. The blue figure of a man appears to float above the ground. He wears a long bushy coat and a tall fur hat. Lifting is left arm slowly to shoulder height, he points them deeper into the forest.
Now running ever quicker, the escapees follow the directions of the ghost. As they crest a hill Isidor gets cold shiver through his body. He immediately stops running as Misha and Alisa stop in their tracks. Looking at Misha, Isidor asks, “What was that?”
“I don’t know; you felt it too?” Misha replies.
“Yes…” Isidor whispers as he stares into the forest in front of them.”
Now standing at the edge of cliff, Alisa looks out at the ghost from before, now floating over the deep ravine. Walking up to the edge, Isidor kicks a rock. At first there is silence, then after a long pause the rocks hits something and bounces, “click, click…click”. Looking at Misha, Isidor says, “We’d be dead if we had kept running.” Looking back at the ghost, he is now pointing again with his left arm.
Following the ghost’s long fingers the escapees bolt and run again. Suddenly a piercing scream breaks the night as someone plummets. Stopping in their tracks, Isidor says, “Did you hear that? Someone fell off the cliff.”
Alisa looks behind them. “How many torches do you see?” Misha asks as he bends over to pull a vine that has wrapped around his metal foot.
“Five…five torches, two are now gone.” Alisa replies.
Continuing on, the escapees come to a split in the path. They must choose their course now. Run to the right and stay along the ravine, run to left and go into the ravine. Slowly looking at Misha and Alisa, Isidor asks, “Which one?
Staring for a moment, Misha says, “Stay on the path, what if we get trapped going into the ravine.”
“Alisa? “ Isidor asks.
Looking down at the ravine, Alisa says, “The guards think like Misha.”
“I agree.” Isidor replies. “We take the path with the most obstacles.
Feeling their way down the side of the ravine the prisoners continue on. After working their way down the path, backs against the wall, they come across what appears to be a cave in the side of the ravine. This is an opportunity to rest; the prisoners go into the cave.
Not even the moonlight can make its way into the cold cavern. Slowly stumbling through the dark, the prisoners feel their way along the wall. As Isidor reaches in front of his face he touches something warm and furry. “What the hell was that?” he speaks aloud as he quickly pulls back.
Suddenly the cave starts to come alive with the sounds of clicking and humming. “Bats!” whispers Misha. Slowly the prisoners start to walk backwards. “The floor…it’s covered in bat dung!” Alisa cries out.
Sliding backwards, the prisoners push themselves until they find solid dirt under their feet. Pushing their backs against the wall, they slide to the ground. Huddling together for warmth they wait. The only sounds are the prisoner’s breath and the occasional arrival of a stray bat.
After some time has passed Isidor notices the reflection of light on a branch hanging over the ravine. “Dam…” he mumbles. “Someone is coming down the path. Quietly the prisoners huddle and wait.
Staring at the entrance to the cave, Isidor sees the head of a torch poke through the opening. Slowly Isidor picks up stone. Waiting for the right moment, just as the guard walks through the entrance, Isidor flings the rock at the bats hanging on the ceiling.
Startled, the bats fly to the fire in a mass exodus out of the cave. Jumping to his feet, Isidor runs at the cowering guard and dives into him. Pushing him out of the cave, the surprised guard is unable to regain his balance and tumbles into the ravine. Standing at the edge, Isidor watches the screaming man and his furiously burning torch disappear into the darkness of the ravine. Four guards now remain.
Staring into the ravine, Isidor is shocked but what he just saw. Turning his head, there is a blue face inches from his eyes. Nearly falling off the cliff, Isidor stares at the ghost’s face. “Who are you?” he whispers. Uttering no sound or syllable, the ghost lifts his arm and points down the path.
Calling Misha and Alisa from the cave, the three continue down the ledge. “Did you see the ghost?” Isidor asks.
“We saw nothing.” Misha replies.
Looking up above him, Isidor see four torches running along the top of the cliff. The other guards must have heard their comrade go over the edge. Realizing they must pick up the pace, the three escapees start to run faster. Once again a shot rings out through the night. But this time it’s pointed in the opposite direction. Maybe they are losing the guards.
Sitting quietly at the bottom of the ravine the prisoners wait to see what the guards are going to do. Suddenly a bright fire starts to burn above them. The guards are making camp. They must be going to wait until morning to continue the hunt.
Isidor and the others must m
ake a choice. Run through the night or go back and fight the four guards. Looking first at Misha then over at Alisa, Isidor considers their fate. After several minutes, Isidor says, “I will go back, you two will go on. The guards will be sleeping. With the advantage of surprise, I can kill one, maybe two then flee the camp.”
“Why would you want to do that?” Alisa asks. “Can’t we flee four as easily as two? Why risk your life for that?”
“With two gone, maybe the other two will leave in the morning. If not, then the odds are even for us the rest of the way. It will be better.” Isidor replies.
“Wouldn’t the odds be three against two us?” Alisa asks.
Staring back at Alisa for a moment Isidor says, “Yes, of course. You’re correct.” But inside himself Isidor knew he would not be joining the others again. He planned all along to fight until he fell. He knew the best hope for the group was to sacrifice himself.
Looking at Alisa and Misha Isidor says, “Run the river, it must lead somewhere to a larger body of water, maybe a lake. If there is a lake, there will be people and with people will be a boat.” Looking one final time at Alisa, Isidor raises his hand to her cheek. Bending to her face, he says, “Be safe.”
Climbing up the path, Isidor stops and looks one last time at the others as they flee along the riverside. He must be quiet and careful now; surprise is the only advantage he has. As he reaches the top of the ravine he slowly rises to the edge to look. Expecting to see a camp around a fire, he is surprised when he learns that the fire the prisoner’s had seen from below is the torches of the guards strewn across the ground.
Slowly rising with his knife in his hand, Isidor walks towards the fire. Getting closer he now sees that the four guards are lying motionless on the ground. Walking up to the one closest to him he kicks the motionless man in the side, but there is no movement. Going to next one and the next one, the same, they’re all dead. But how, Isidor does not see any wounds or signs of a struggle.
Bending down close to one of the guard, Isidor studies his face, suddenly he jumps back as he sees an eyelid move on the man. Holding his knife in front of him he gets closer. Looking at the man’s eyelids, he sees them bubble with movement. Taking his knife he slowly splits the man’s eye open. ANTS! The man’s eyes are filled with ants. Suddenly ants start crawling out of his mouth and ears. They’re inside him, eating his body.
Walking over to the other bodies Isidor sees the same thing going on over all the bodies. Tiny, 6 legged creatures with their razor sharp mandibles, filled with the flesh of the dead guards, marching into the forest with their kill. Isidor knew that nothing would remain tomorrow. The forest would swallow the bodies as if they were rain.
Grabbing the four rifles, Isidor runs down into the ravine to catch the others. Excitement and relief fill his heart as he knows now that escape is possible. Perhaps he has beaten the odds this time. Running beside the river he sees the others ahead of him. As he gets closer he sees that Alisa and Misha have stopped. As he gets closer he hears Misha yelling.
“What is this forest?” he shouts. “Does it have a name? Or is it just the forest of the dammed?”
“I don’t know what it is called” replies Alisa.
“Lyuban…” Misha yells.
“What did he say?” Isidor asks Alisa.
“Did you hear that?” Misha yells.
“Hear what? I didn’t hear anything.” Isidor replies.
“The voice, from the trees, it said Lyuban.” Misha says as he looks up into the trees.
“I didn’t hear anything.” Isidor replies. “What is Lyuban?”
Walking over to Alisa, Isidor asks, “What is going on? Who is he talking to?”
“I don’t know, he just stopped and started yelling, he sees something in the trees.” Alisa replies.
“Lyuban is where I was born. It’s on the Tigoda River. That is where I lost my legs, at the lumber mill. THERE! Do you hear it? It said it again? Can you hear it?” Misha yells.
“Misha! We hear nothing! Are you ill?” Alisa asks.
Looking at Alisa, Isidor says, “The forest is playing tricks with his mind. If he goes mad he will surely give us away.”
“Misha! Can you continue? We must remain calm. Are you Ok?” Isidor asks.
Misha, sitting on the ground with the look of fright on his face, clutching his knife against his chest with both hands, starts to cry. Trembling, he drops his knife to the ground and starts to talk to himself.
Isidor walks over to Alisa and whispers in her ear, “We must kill him before he takes us all down.”
Alisa asks, “Can’t we just leave him?”
Pausing for a moment, Isidor says “No, he will lead the next group of guards to us. If they catch him alive they’ll make him talk. He’ll give them names to save himself. People we knew or people we just talked to, all could be in danger. He must die.”
Reaching into his coat pocket, Isidor wraps his hand around his knife. Slowly pulling it out of his coat he circles behind the weeping Misha. Lifting the large knife above his head Isidor stiffens himself to push the knife through Misha’s ribs. Just as Isidor starts his deadly thrust, his arm freezes in mid-air. He tries again, but his arm will not move. Turning his head to look at his arm, he now sees a blue face staring coldly into his eyes.
Slowly Isidor relaxes his hand and drops the knife to the ground. The ghost releases Isidor’s arm and steps away from him. As Isidor backs up he now see’s many spirits where there were none before. Circling a sobbing Misha is now a pale blue mist. Misha continues to sob and tremble until the ghost who just held Isidor’s arm is in front of him.
Reaching down to Misha, the ghost grabs his throat and slowly raises his head to look in to his eyes. After staring for a moment the ghost asks, “Misha, do you recognize these people?
“No…” Misha sobs.
Raising his voice, the ghost says, “These are the people you have condemned to the forest.” Pointing to a tree, a lone woman appears. The ghost says, “Remember when you stole food and told the police it was her? She was condemned to the camp…for a loaf of bread…she didn’t steal.
That man over there!” The ghost points to spot where an old man comes into view. “You blamed him for the accident that took your legs. Everyone!” the ghost shouts. “Everyone here is by your hand! They have waited for you to walk into the forest. That day has come now Misha.”
Weeping, a frightened Misha asks, “What is to become of me? Are you going to kill me?”
The ghost looks at Misha and says, “These spirits will not harm anyone. They aren’t like you. No one here is a murderer Misha. They are just victims of your evil. All of them were condemned to the forest by you, for crimes you committed. The forest will judge you Misha just as it’s judged them.” Turning to Isidor and Alisa, the ghost points with is arm to trail in the forest.
Looking one last time at the trembling Misha, Isidor now sees thousands of ants crawling on his body. His metal legs appear to float across the ground as the ants carry them away. Misha’s head starts shaking as the ants borrow into his eyes and down his throat. Not able to watch anymore, Isidor turns to Alisa.
Grabbing her hand, they run in the direction the ghost pointed. After passing through several hundred yards of forest they come out beside a lake. A lone rowboat sits on the beach. Putting Alisa in the boat, Isidor looks towards the forest one last time. In the distance he hears the screams of a man. Listening for a moment, Isidor pushes the boat into lake.
The forest can be many things. Today it led two travelers to the light of freedom. But it can have a dark side too. In a place called небесный свод, the only light to escape is the blue glow of two eyes…crawling with ants.
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Lonesome Town - 3 Short Stories Page 4