Araon was a lonely person sometimes. He would brave death for the love of his companion but he needed a lot of time to stay on his own. During the time that Jill was at the party he considered going to the cinema. The movie title was thrilling: The Wife of The Soldier. It was the tale of a widower who had lost her husband during World War 2. Usually it was Jill who had to wait for her husband to come back home at noon. This time it was her relaxing moment, just keeping in mind that her husband was like a ghost when he wanted to be. The plot of the movie was moving. Araon was so inspired by the show that he decided to put into practice the lesson he had learnt in his everyday life. He took a syringe and some medicine ready to go to the Van Gogh Museum and to make an injection in the wall of the Sunflower picture. He smashed the flake of plaster and, of course, he found the imprints of several people, the personnel of the museum included. It was harsh to take a decision at this point. Definitely it was not useful to recover the corpse missing from the day of the murder but it would arrive soon, the solution of a big enigma. Unrepentant not to have shared with Jill that secret he kept up with his wrong doing. Sure enough, he was not able to make any analysis of what was hidden beneath the plaster without the help of Van Dr Baast. He likely would stay away from home all day long and that was not good towards Jill. He had to devise an excuse that would be reliable. The fever. Yes, the fever. That was the cause of Araon’s long queue at the first aid. It was not easy for Araon to be outspoken. Jill was so used to Araon’s cuddles that she didn’t know what to do awaiting her husband at home. He was so late “Gosh! The party would have finished earlier if things were like this,” she thought. Araon’s absence from home for one day couldn’t be easily justified. Now Araon felt safe. He had worked like a robot with only the help of a hammer and a syringe These instruments were useful only to realize what was clear at first sight: that the imprints on the painting and wall had been muddled up for a long time. He had to use his imagination to try to figure out the identity of the person who committed the murder. A man in his forties, dark and short: that was what he believed to be the assassin, a man who had the power to disrupt reality all at once. Araon had clear in his mind the plot of the movie during his work at the museum. He considered the widower the only victim of that tragedy. A parallel with Jill was the obvious consequence of his wondering. To see or not to see her husband required a great deal of mental balance. On the other hand, to see or not to see any trace of a corpse was the opposite of genuine creativity. Araon was very skillful in handling the situation with the flake of paint that concealed any secret imprint once and for all. As if by magic, it came to his mind another chance. “What if the murderer was one of the personnel. Shame!” he thought. “But we have made a step forward. It’s difficult to find somebody who wants to give himself up to the police.” He never stopped thinking. He was unusually alone.
That part of the museum had been closed to the public since the previous week but Araon managed to enter it anyway without being observed by the surveillance guards. He was alone with this stunning short view of Amsterdam and he wanted to be alone. All his past deeds had brought nasty consequences to his life and now he believed to have an escapism. It was seven pm when it became dark, which was unusual for a regular spring day. It didn’t matter. He had collected so much data that he could consider himself closer to the solution of the mystery. But what about Van der Baast? They were two mates working together. Araon experienced the creeps when it came to his mind the picture of the man, the assassin. But his friend, the doctor, had not been interpolated this time. Probably there was another man working with the real murderer and he would have liked to discuss this with Van der Baast. The famous biblical plank in his eye prevented him from seeing the truth as it was.” We are descended from the monkeys. That why I imagine a man with no heart black and short. But now stop thinking. I have to go out from here unobserved and take the first bus to go back home.
He was determined to repeat within himself all what he had done during the day and to save it like a memorandum for Van der Baast. But Jill. Poor Jill. Araon had no idea of what she had done during his absence. He escaped a quarrel with her because of his quip. Remark and witticism were Araon’s best gifts.
But when he finally arrived home, he found Jill waiting for him with a delicious dinner. Araon had never seen Jill so accomplished before. Probably she needed a rest and some enjoyment like the recent hen party. Araon was now there with a box of chocolate and some flowers. He hadn’t wanted to go back home empty handed after what he had done. On his way home all sorts of thoughts assailed him. He had seen himself as a doctor at his first operation. The dilemma he had to sort out was in fact a source of great mastery and he didn’t want to be alone to deal with it. He was not sure if flowers and chocolates would free him from his sense of guilt towards Jill. He was cunning enough to devise little expedients to make his marriage relationship work. He had often looked back while walking very fast, obsessed by the picture of the ghost husband in the movie. A woman in her thirties had approached him attracted by the perfume of the roses. Araon had condemned that gesture as arrogance but he had left the young lady go away by herself. The beauty of the canal had the power to free him from his anxieties. His stomach was empty and he heard it rumble too many times. His wristwatch read eight pm and he had to run faster and faster. The sky had turned darker than usual during his lonely moments. The waving of the trees with the wind had made Araon savour the delights of spring. There had been no time to queue in front of those suggestions. But now he was with his beloved Jill. He was in the top of an empty pile.
Stardust: that was in Araon’s mind for the day of revenge. It was his vicious thought when he was in his local barn with his own imagination. The glow of that dream was not a surprise to him. He never missed the occasion to make whims of love for his adored wife, Jill. Now his mind drove his imagination to further negativity. He banned figuratively any plan of destruction of the evil mind. He didn’t know why that day he was feeling lonely though besotted with his ideal partner. “We need an amendment.” He wandered as if it was the best solution toward negativity in the world. He was lost into despair. The barn of his imagination was close to a two storey storehouse. It was the place where people used to throw any sort of rubbish into. That day was not clean as usual. Araon was disgusted by the stench that reigned over there. And in the middle of his hatred for the place, two names came into his mind: Albert and Sylvanus. They were his best friends who had always accompanied him during his misadventures but now they appeared to be a bit melancholic. The notes of that sadness were inspiring, though. Those thoughts snapped any sort of fear all at once. The so-called blasphemy for those things disappeared soon as well. Then, there was Jill toward whom Araon had always had a reticent attitude. It was a sort of illness that bound them without the fear of escaping. And on top of these claims there was the image of blood and of blood cells. He never stopped thinking, being careful to reach a conclusion out of his inspiration soon. It was a big enigma. that made him feel as alone as ever. His mind was floating and filled in with venom very thoroughly. He counted one by one all the petals of the roses he was holding with total confidence. Any petal was a reassurance of love for Jill. He now started to dream of mountains’ eyes wide open. They were the secret shelter for a rebounding calamity. “Calamity, what calamity!” he spoke up. “I must go back home before it’s too late” His speaking was blatant and pure at the same time. “Well now I’m approaching a bigger reality being myself in a tiny niche of my imagination. I trust Jill will appreciate the flowers a lot. I smell their odour and they appear to be sublime to me. My wife will have the same reaction as mine. Now I have drawn into my despair before my imagination drives me further. I feel isolated in the middle of a safe world of wisdom I feel I’m also blind. There is not a bigger blind man than the one who doesn’t want to see. And there are thousands of other little discrepancies I’m crying over today. My love for Jill: what a blessing! I have to start another day before things t
urn out to be as the ones I want. I’m here with no money and I feel naked because of this. I took some cash from my bank cashpoint earlier. but I don’t know where that has gone. I have to abandon myself in the middle of a resolute defence. I don’t know how Jill will feel when I go to finally embrace her.”
The sound of a horn woke Araon up. He had to immediately reach the end of the street far from that bloody traffic. He was into another reality now. The image of the blood in his mind mingled itself with the desired cuddles of love from Jill. It was all so spoiling! He was fifteen minutes’ walk from home and he had not found a lie to tell Jill yet. He thought that Jill wouldn’t forgive him because of his long absence from home. There was no remedy maybe, but Jill was used to his habits now. He delved into his mind with great patience. He wasn’t missing the point. He was there in front of their bedroom window on the point of uttering something. “Here we go,” he exclaimed confidently ringing the doorbell.
Jill opened the door apologetically. “Where have you been all this time?” she said, a bit agitated.
“Well, I have something for you before I can explain it all.”
He gave her the bunch of roses. Those roses that she adored so much. “They are fantastic! I simply wish these were not an excuse for being involved in such big absences from home. I am not angry. I’m simply concerned.” she said.
“You always worry too much. I am a busy man, you must have learnt it by now. I’m just joking, of course. I hope you have been busy doing something during my absence,” he said.
“I love you. You have no idea of how much I love you. Now come with me. There are some chestnuts into the oven. I know you love them,” said Jill calming herself down. They went to the kitchen where they spent lovely moments together. Araon looked out of the window every now and then as if he was waiting for somebody but Jill didn’t bother since she knew it was a little mania of her husband. The cat appeared suddenly for their own joy. The light from outside was slightly disappearing, the dark evening was soon to arrive.
They had roasted chestnuts for dinner, which made Araon feel swollen in the stomach: “You know darling,” he muttered,” I was thinking of Albert and Sylvanus all day long. I can see something strange about them, that came to my mind when the cat passed by,” said Araon.
“I’m sure these are your fantasy fears. There is nothing wrong about Albert and Sylvanus, they are our best friends and we must not forget it,” said Jill with love.
Araon diverted attention away from the real problem in that way. “Well, I know you are always right. My fears will disappear soon. Now we must enjoy the evening before the night surprises us with all its candor,” said Araon. He placed his hands in her lap, caressing her without concealing his desire for her. He pulled his tongue and he did his game.
“It’s time to go to sleep,” Jill interrupted him abruptly.”
“That’s right. We will carry on in bed,” said Araon undeterred and they both laughed a noisy laugh.
They were two perfect soulmates and this emerged not only during their sweet moments but also during their philosophical discussions. “You see, sweetheart. I cannot sleep tonight because I want to be closer to you. This morning I felt something was wrong during my absence. I was always thinking of you and of all our days spent together. Now I feel we are apart more than in the past. The image of blood never abandoned me. It sounded like something inferred by a weapon of despair. This has nothing to do with you, of course. I believed to be a stranger toward those thirsty with blood. I counted several times the petal of the flowers just to have an answer. I believe I have to establish the limits of our destiny in order to surrender to it. I saw you in a purer suit. You have always been my belle, but never like now did I feel so attached to you. I don’t know what you think of my deeds. Maybe you call them wrong doing or, maybe, I’m mistaken. I have no words, no gestures to give to show you how much I love you. I’m sure that time has cured the wounds of our past separation and that won’t happen any more. You are a white soul and I am blessed with it. Now I watch you shyly. I can see the most beautiful woman in the world in front of me. I have even forgotten your age because you are ageless. I now do penance for my sins. I have hopefully lost my sense of guilt for anything. This night is endless. All my thoughts keep me awake. Or maybe it’s just your presence. I need to be loved and to love in turn. There are no compromises between the two of us and you know it very well. I feel devastated. I am crying the cry of a spy who doesn’t know how to display love in words and gestures. I love you Jill. Sorry about touching. my tongue with yours. It’s time to do it now”
Jill didn’t deny a kiss to her partner but she suddenly started talking. “I am not fast asleep tonight for a reason. We have so many things in common together that sometimes I suppose you speak nonsense. There is some kind of magic that unites the two of us very well. The game isn’t worth a candle, somebody said. And I repeat it a few more times for you. Love always cures any wound. I don’t carry those wounds with me any longer. There is something disturbing I have in common with you. And this is the vision of blood. I see myself as Lady Macbeth when she made her husband’s soul sour. But I don’t know what is the meaning of the blood to us. I just try to forget it. This morning during your absence I was doing the cleaning and I dropped my wedding ring on the floor. I thought it was the sign of destiny. I mean, it was not something negative. It just meant our life is going to turnover. You never speak nonsense. You are always the wise and kind man that I met the first time. This night will last an eternity, I’m sure. Do you want to know something bizarre? I have dreamt of the two of us escaping to Haiti. Maybe a brief vacation is what we need right now. We can ask somebody to look after our work during our absence. But now I ask myself why our chat is replacing all the cuddles and effusions which should wrap us two. But there is time for everything,” Jill said.
Araon answered first with a kiss. “I greet and welcome your proposal with enthusiasm. It won’t take long to book the flight tickets and the hotel. I’m sure we will have a great time together. But now let me know something, what do you think of destiny? Do you believe we have been programmed to a certain life and the only freedom we have is to back it or not?” said Araon.
“I only think you haven’t to trouble you with these topics. We are here and blessed to be together: this is my main concern. To change the subject of discussion, you reminded me of posting the letters twice if I’m not wrong. You might say this has nothing to do with your question, but what I have answered matches very well with what you’re saying. In fact, every time I seal a letter. you come up to term and say the destiny will sort everything out. I have never understood the meaning of your behaviour. I think, maybe wrongly, that it has to do with your political point of view. You never express yourself clearly over that subject because you don’t want to argue because of political reasons. Blessed you are. But what time is it now?” said Jill.
“I think it’s time we sleep even if it’s very difficult right now. It’s four o’clock in the night. Well, we’ll get up at half past seven, as usual, and I’ll go immediately to book our vacation to Haiti. Now turn on your side and try to sleep,” said Araon. But Araon tripped over a passionate kiss.
Night seemed meaningless for that doting couple. They had spoken with fervor with the jotted down consequences. Finally, they could sleep until the alarm clock rung at the due time to get up. Araon’s muscles were aching and sore and it was the same for Jill. They managed arrange for the day in quiet and peace. Their long talk of the night had the effect of leaving them speechless at dawn They got off the bed and id some gym exercises in order to be pliable as usual. Just forgot the breakfast. The realm of dreams that brings wisdom hadn’t arrived the previous night so they made it difficult to establish the priority of the day.
Araon shrieked in front of an astounded Jill. It was the beginning of seeking effusion but Jill was full and had enough of them. This made Araon nervous but he resigned himself to his own fate; Jill was unavailable for t
he moment. A big day was in front of them. The sun had just risen and the cat chased the couple everywhere. He was playing with a meat tin and purring as he had never done before. Step by step, Jill went downstairs to get rid of the anxiety brought by the night. Araon would have liked to spend all day long on the sitting room sofa. He waited for his companion to start a brand-new day.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The brief journey to Haiti was definitely a wonderful experience. The young couple had learnt to be more in tune with the world and… guess what? They were starting to consider the option of conceiving a child. But they didn’t know if it was a temporary temptation or something more definitive. They were getting older and the possibility of having a healthy and beautiful child diminished with time, they thought. Araon was crazy enough to consider their desire a temptation due to the hot weather. Jill, more romantically considered it the natural course of things for a couple in love. But there was something that made Araon leap: the image of the horseshoes. It was their magnetism that attracted him a lot. He linked them to anything perverse and evil. It was something lost in the memories of the past. It was something sort of connected to the case of the blood in the Van Gogh Museum, where the magnet, who knew how, helped the corpse to disappear. He had not the courage to confess this fantasy to himself. Let alone to Jill! Anyway, he had the bizarre instinct to combine things together. When he told Jill he was going to buy some good horseshoes she was a bit astonished. They didn’t serve a purpose. But she had not the will to investigate her husband’s intention. A child was what she wanted. She was almost feverish at the exciting thought of it. Araon wished it were about to go in another direction but he didn’t want to contradict or disappoint his adored wife. After all, he was thirty-five and Jill thirty-three. They were old enough to bear a small creature in their arms. Jill was so sweet and seductive. It was a question of spending more time at home. But again, the image of the horseshoes appeared in Araon’s mind. He had definitely to go and buy a few of them. He found an excuse to tell Jill in order to go alone to the shop and buy the ones he liked. Jill was told that he was going to buy an innocent aspirin and that he would come back very soon. Once in the shop, Araon was amazed by the number of items for horses there were. He went immediately to search for the horseshoes and he was attracted by some orange ones. He asked the shop assistant for advice and he decided finally to buy those ones. The problem was, where to hide them once at home. This issue suddenly disappeared. They had to be hidden in the cellar behind the several kinds of wine bottles they used to save.
The Red Box Page 14
