Chapter 5.

Anna Chtorkh

by Anna Chtorkh

Story

The luminous square had appeared right in the middle of the wall, at eye level. I could see the sky through it, and as I moved closer to look through, somebody approached from the other side. I jolted in surprise, and the person did the same. Then I burst out laughing: it was a mirror.

I smiled at my reflection and peered into my own inquiring gaze. My reflection knew no more about the mystery of the wall than I did. Suddenly, I noticed a silhouette over my shoulder. I turned and saw an old man in the distance, who seemed to be observing me. He gave me a friendly wave, to which I responded, and started walking towards me, at a slow, faltering pace. When he got within a few meters of me, he stopped briefly to breathe, waved again, and walked the rest of the distance between us with a big smile.

“Hello”, I said. The old man took a few seconds to catch his breath and, without introduction, launched into a monologue punctuated by questions that did not require my answers.

“You’re from the village, aren’t you? You’ve walked a long way, son. And always along the wall? It’s the best way not to get lost. Convenient wall, isn’t it? Planted there, it decides for us where we can and can’t go. The choice is simple: you go left or right. Like me, you chose left. It’s a very good choice. I’ve never regretted it. It’s good to live here, in the middle of the fields. The left side of the wall is the best side of the wall. I can’t say the same for the right side of the wall. I have a distant cousin who lives there, but I haven’t seen him for decades. He is a bit crazy. He wanted to know what was on the other side of the wall. So I told him how I lived on the left side of the wall. You know what this lunatic said to me? He wanted to know what was beyond the wall. Ha ha! Can you imagine? Beyond the wall! As if we poor mortals could possibly know. I don’t know, I’ve never wanted to know, and I’m convinced that any speculation on the subject will do us no good. I’ve known some charlatans who claimed to know what’s out there. Among priests and politicians there are always mystics who will tell you about life beyond the wall, and how it would only take a small miracle or technological breakthrough to show us. And where do these prophets end up, may I ask? Ha ha! We have enough troubles and conspiracies on this side of the wall. I don’t need to know what’s behind it. If this wall is here, it’s certainly for a good reason.”

The old man fell silent. His features took on a melancholic hue, and he looked into the distance, where the wall merged with the horizon. He continued slowly, in a voice that now sounded younger: “I hung that mirror on the wall to remind myself that even if there’s something beyond, it’s exactly the same. On the other side, you’re also behind the wall.” He paused. “Go home, son. You’re not going to get there alone. If there’s anything to be done, it can’t be without the help of others.”

The old man patted me on the shoulder and walked away without my saying a word. I turned around and set off as well.

What should the narrator do? Return to the village – go to Chapter 13. Continue his journey – go to Chapter 11.

© Anna Chtorkh 2023-08-16

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Novels & Stories