Tales of Freedom Read Online Free PDF Page A

something to do.’
    ‘The only reason I might get up from here,’ said the young woman, ‘is if I know that at some point we might find a place where we can just be.’
    ‘A place to learn how to dream again.’
    ‘A place to learn how to forget.’
    ‘A place to be compassionate.’
    ‘Any old dump would do.’
    ‘It has to be a special place, though,’ said the young man.
    ‘Any rundown squat would do.’
    ‘It has to be full of magic and love and lovely lights.’
    ‘Any old dustbin is fine for me.’
    ‘I’ll settle for the sky.’
    ‘I’ll settle for a piece of bread.’
    ‘Yes. I’m hungry.’
    ‘I could eat you if we had a fire.’
    ‘I wouldn’t like to eat you. I might make a delicacy out of kissing you, though.’
    ‘If we don’t stop talking,’ said the young woman, ‘we will never find us a place.’
    ‘Let’s talk a bit more. We never get a chance to talk.’
    ‘Are you feeling better?’
    ‘No. Are you?’
    ‘Not really.’
    ‘My throat feels as if it’s made of gleet.’
    ‘That’s gut-rot.’
    ‘It feels like I’ve got a lump of lead in there and I can’t swallow it down.’
    ‘That sounds bad.’
    ‘How is your throat?’
    ‘Bad. But I don’t feel like celebrating my illness right now.’
    ‘That’s a good idea.’
    ‘Shall we get going?’
    ‘Why not? I don’t know if I can manage it, though.’
    ‘I don’t know if I can either.’
    ‘Let’s try anyway.’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘I’m ready when you are,’ said the young man.

Eight
    AFTER A SHORT silence, a heavier silence, the young woman said:
    ‘Let’s have an argument.’
    ‘I’m too tired.’
    ‘Come on.’
    ‘Okay.’
    ‘What should we argue about?’
    ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘Because I don’t.’
    ‘What do you mean you don’t?’
    ‘I don’t.’
    ‘You are an idiot, that’s why.’
    ‘No, I’m not.’

Nine
    THE SILENCE BECAME gentler.
    ‘Let’s go, then,’ said the young woman.
    ‘Yes. Let’s go.’
    ‘Let’s go holding hands.’
    ‘Dreaming about wonders.’
    ‘That sounds nice.’
    ‘Let’s go in such closeness that the world will be astonished that, amidst such devastation, beauty and truth can still exist and two souls can still participate in the imagination of life.’
    ‘Let’s do that,’ said the young woman, ‘while you help me up.’
    ‘Let’s go in such unity …’
    Raising her voice, the young woman said:
    ‘Do you want to help me up or not?’
    ‘Sorry.’
    ‘Come on, then.’

Ten
    THE YOUNG MAN got up from the ground, clearly in some pain, and then helped her up. After they were standing, they still kept the distance between them.
    ‘I hope we find the room,’ the young woman said.
    ‘Yes. I feel tired.’
    ‘Let’s go, then.’
    ‘In unity and love.’
    ‘Let’s just go.’
    ‘In peace and tranquillity.’
    ‘Forget the clichés. Just come on.’
    ‘Alright …’
    ‘What’s the matter now?’
    ‘I’m trying,’ said the young man, ‘to catch a thought.’
    ‘Well go on, then. But be quick about it.’
    ‘It’s a lovely thought.’
    ‘Get on with it and let’s go.’
    ‘I need the right atmosphere. I need silence.’

Eleven
    THE SILENCE HE needed wasn’t there.
    ‘If I don’t say the thought right,’ said the young man, ‘I might destroy it.’

Twelve
    THE YOUNG MAN waited, patiently. Then he spoke.
    ‘Life is a masterpiece of the imagination,’ he said.
    ‘Is that it?’
    ‘Yes. Don’t you think it is lovely?’
    ‘The imagination of a sick mind, I would say. Let’s go.’
    ‘It’s a shame you don’t like it. That is the best thought I’ve had in my whole life.’
    ‘Let’s go.’
    ‘The best thought of my life and it’s gone in a twinkle.’
    ‘I’m sure you’ll survive the disappointment.’
    ‘My darling, let’s go.’
    ‘Yes. Let’s.’
    ‘Let’s go slowly.’
    ‘And with dignity.’
    ‘Holding the best moments of our lives like a bottle of wine.’
    ‘Like a glass of