by Gerard Denza
-Well, Dolores, nothing to say? I thought that you wanted to talk and keep me company? No answer?
On impulse, she skated to the center of the rink and readied herself for a double-axel jump. She looked over her shoulder and began the momentum forward. She positioned her body for the circular movement and, in particular, her right leg that she would use to lift herself off the ice. Yolanda got ready to make the leap. The time and the moment and the position were right: lift-off, two and a half rotations. She landed it successfully. However, her leg came around a little too soon and this forced her to touch the ice with her hand. The jump, itself, had been a good one. If she could pull it off in the artistic program, she’d be hard to beat.
-There! Did you see that? A little unsteady at the end, I admit, but still not so bad. Dolores? Cat got you tongue? No criticism this time?
Yolanda looked at the spot where her friend should be, but all the chairs were empty.
-Are you hiding? Where are you?
Yolanda resisted the urge to skate over to the chairs. She felt cold. She folded her arms about her torso.
-Dolores, answer me and stop playing this game. I don’t like it.
Yolanda’s light, blue costume made her feel exposed and vulnerable. She wanted to rush to her dressing room and throw her coat on and flee from the skating rink. But, to do that, she would have to leave the ice. She knew that on the ice she was safe, and it was she who held the advantage. The ice beneath her feet was a shield of protection and even a weapon.
The young ice skater stayed close to the center of the rink. She looked around the dark arena. The lights had been dimmed and even the overhead arc lights weren’t as bright as they should have been.
-Dolores?
She whispered her friend’s name. The lighting dimmed even more and, then, there was a sound...a vibration. Yolanda could bear it no longer.
-Dolores! Answer me! Please! What you’re doing is cruel.
The lights went out altogether and Yolanda was left in almost complete darkness. The tiny, dirty windows near the ceiling were her only source of light. She stared at the dim light and even this light was giving way to darkness.
-No!
Were those snowflakes Yolanda saw falling against the windows? She heard a loud thunder clap. The young woman started and almost fell down on to the ice. She put her arm out and stopped her fall. She heard a rumbling of thunder. The snow turned to rain and beat against the small window panes.
She raised herself back to her feet and glided toward the chairs where Dolores had been. She had to go this way in order to get to the dressing room. She tightened her muscles and made ready to either bolt to the imagined safety of the dressing room or skate back into the middle of the ice rink.
The frightened ice skater went to the edge of the rink and reached for her skates’ safety guards. She picked one up, and a hand grabbed her wrist. She screamed and fell to the ground.
-Yolanda. It’s Edward.
-Thank God you’re here, Edward. Pick me up and hold me.
-What’s wrong, baby?
-No. Don’t put me down just yet. Hold me in your arms. When did you get here?
-About a minute ago. Why are all the lights out? I can’t see a damned thing.
-Let me down. Dolores is gone. I don’t know where. She just vanished.
-Maybe, she just got bored and left.
-Without telling me? No. She would never do that. And, besides, she was coming with us to Marlena’s. Something’s happened to her. Help me to my dressing room. I don’t want to stay here.
I picked Yolanda up, again, and carried her to the dressing room, knocking over several wooden chairs on the way. I got to the door and kicked it open. It was pitch black inside.
-Here.
I placed her into a chair that I could just barely make out.
-Edward, I have some candles in that drawer, but I have no matches.
-Use my lighter.
There were two candles in the drawer: I took them out and lit one.
-Yolanda? Get changed and let’s get the hell out of this death trap.
It didn’t take her long to change into her street clothes, but putting on her make-up was another matter. I didn’t rush her because it did her mind good and eased her, somewhat. I heard the rain pounding against the roof. The thunder was unsettling, but the gun I had on me helped soothe my nerves.
-Okay? Let’s get moving.
-I’m ready.
She checked the contents of her purse. I picked up her gym bag.
-Edward? We should look for her Dolores- oh!
The vibration of that thunder could be felt. Did I imagine it, or were the walls shaking?
-We’ll look for her on our way out. Let’s move.
I took her by the arm and lead her out into the stands. Why there was only one way into and out of this place made no sense. There was practically no light in the place and even the ice radiated blackness. The only light that came in was through the tiny windows when the lightning struck.
We treaded our way through the wooden, collapsible chairs, some of which had been knocked over by me.
-Will we be safe outside?
-I think we’re almost there. And, it’s better than staying in here. At least outside we’ll have some running space and more light.
Lightning struck and this time Yolanda cried out, but not in fear.
-Over there, Edward! I saw someone. It was moving like some kind of animal.
I took my gun out. I stage whispered to Yolanda.
-I saw it, too.
A dark figure had opened the door and slid out...yes...”slid out” into the night. It didn’t look quite human, but what else could it be? My hand tightened its grip on the gun.
-Come on. Let’s get out of this death trap.
-Edward, I’m afraid. He may be out there waiting for us.
-I don’t think so. If he had any brains, he would have confronted us in the dark or stayed hidden.
Lightning struck, again.
-Look! Dolores! Is that you I see? Dolores?
We saw the outline of a girl on a chair through the flashes of lightning. We approached the figure as if we were in a sort of a trance. We couldn’t focus or sustain our vision. Yolanda made the sign of the cross several times. I extended my arm toward the girl in the chair. I spoke to her.
-Dolores? Is that you? Answer me.
The girl moved as the thunder vibrated the building. It turned toward us.
-Is she alive, Edward?
It was a corpse that moved...a corpse that had been disemboweled. There was a gaping hole through her body where one could see the back of the chair. And, yet, her glazed eyes stared at us.
It spoke.
-He did this.
The body collapsed to the floor. Yolanda became hysterical. I couldn’t have calmed her down even if I had made the attempt. Instead, I pushed her toward the exit. When we reached it, I kicked it open and we found ourselves in the pouring rain. In a matter of seconds, we were drenched. I saw a movement in the shadows, got out my gun, and took a shot at it. Man, that felt good! It ran off, but I think I hit it.
-Mother of my Savior! I didn’t know you carried a gun on you.
Yolanda screamed and her eyes went wild. I slapped her hard across the face to bring her back. I had to raise my voice to get her to listen.
-Get a grip! We have to call the cops and tell them what’s happened.
-No! Not the police! They won’t help and there’s nothing they can do except to make trouble for us. And, that gun, how will you explain it?
-A murder’s been committed.
-A murder? Is that what you call it? I can almost laugh at that word! No. It wasn’t a murder. It was a ritual slaughter. It was a warning for me! I know this.
-Come on. Let’s head for that restaurant that you took me to last night. I need a drink...maybe a few.
-No. We must go to Marlena’s place. She’ll know what to do and we should be safe there.
-We’re all in someone’s debt; does it matter so much to whom?
-Touché. But, I still don’t like it.
-Edward, please, I can’t stand it anymore.
-All right, you win. Let’s hail a taxi. Christ! I’m soaked to the damned skin!
-We can change at Marlena’s. A taxi won’t be necessary. We can use Dolores’s car. I have an extra set of keys on me.
We crossed the street. I followed her at a half run to a parked car. She threw the car keys to me.
-Here, Edward, you drive. I’m too nervous. I’ll tell you where to go and just keep your gun handy.
I noticed that she checked the back seat before getting in; this girl wasn’t taking any chances. We got in the car and locked the doors.
Yolanda grabbed me by the shoulder.
-And, now, dear Edward, drive like a madman to Marlena’s and pray that no one has seen us.
-You okay?
-No. I’m cold and upset.
-Here. Move closer to me. Reach into my jacket pocket for my cigarettes, will you?
-Got them. Nice jacket. You look good in it.
-Light one for me, baby? Glad you like the jacket.
Yolanda handed me the lit cigarette. I took a deep and grateful drag on it. Just what I needed. I noticed that the rain was coming down harder than it was a few minutes ago. Even with the windshield wipers working, I still had to strain to see the traffic up ahead.
-When you get to 89th St, turn right until you reach 1st Ave. Edward? Why were you so late? I was beginning to worry.
-Sorry about that, baby, but I stopped off at my office downtown.
-Oh? And did you find out anything about yourself?
-It didn’t trigger any memories, if that’s what you mean.
-So, why did you stay so long?
-I got sidetracked looking at some photos.
-You going to tell me what these photos were? There must have been a lot of them for you to look at.
-No. Only a few.
-So, tell me what they were.
-They were photographs of an atomic bomb blast.
-What?
-A sequence of photos ending in the mushroom cloud and-
-And? You were going to say something.
-In that last photo, baby, there was a white...speck? I guess that’s what you’d call it. I’m not too sure.
-Probably a flaw in the film, no?
-That’s what I thought.
-But? What do you think now.
-There was this sort of “fold” in that part of the photo.
-You mean the photograph was bent?
-No. The “fold” was a part of the actual photo. And, for some reason, Yolanda, it bothered the hell out of me. I kept staring at; trying to make some sense out of it.
-Edward, that’s interesting because I think I may know what that fold is.
-Give, baby. You’re one up on me.
-I’ve always been interested in science, especially astronomy. Dolores and I went to this lecture at the “Y’ a couple of years ago and a Professor Lange was outlining the dangers of atomic bomb testing. He said that the initial impact could have an effect on the earth’s rotation. It could slow it down and that would cause the planet to move closer to the sun.
-Christ! What else did this Doctor Lange have to say?
-He mentioned his own theory about parallel times and shifts in the space and time continuum. I didn’t understand some of the mathematics; but, he was concerned about “rips” in time caused by the intense heat and radiation into the atmosphere.
-What did he mean by that? And, by the way, you’re impressing the hell out of me, baby.
-He said that the bomb blasts could be opening up portholes into anti-matter galaxies.
-So, that white speck was anti-matter?
-I don’t know. He said that other civilization could use these portholes to come here.
-Assuming that there are other civilizations out there. And, that’s a pretty big assumption, in my opinion.
-He seemed to think that they were more advanced than we are. He even talked about a parallel earth.
-Here’s 89th St. I’ll make the turn. We’ll talk a lot more about this later. Right now, we’ve got a date with Miss Lake.
CHAPTER NINE
MARLENA
A YOUNG, BLONDE GIRL answered the door to the upper east-side townhouse. She was wearing pants and an open collared shirt. The masculine outfit suited her to the proverbial “T.” Her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
I took an immediate liking to this girl. I wanted to hold her for her warmth and intelligence and her self-command which I was certain that she possessed. She didn’t just stare at Yolanda and myself, she assessed us and the probable situation that we’d just come from. Her voice was clear and distinct and educated. The voice of reason.
-Please, come in and take your coats off. You’re both drenched. Sorry for stating the obvious.
Yolanda smiled at the girl and introduced us.
-Susan, I want you to meet my new boyfriend, Mr. Edward Mendez. Edward? This is Susan, Marlena’s daughter.
-Pleased to meet you, Mr. Mendez. Mother mentioned that you would be dropping by tonight, but she didn’t say exactly when. Yolanda, where’s Dolores? Is she trying to find a parking space in all this rain? It might take her awhile.
Neither Yolanda nor I could think of an appropriate answer. Susan saved us the trouble.
-No. She’s not with you, is she? Please, come in. Why don’t you slip out of your shoes and I’ll bring you some towels? Better still, why don’t I take you to separate bathrooms upstairs?
-Thank you, Susan. I know where they are and, of course, we’ll both need robes.
-You can borrow one of mine. I’ll get one for Mr. Mendez.
-Thank you, but-
-You can’t stay in those wet clothes, Mr. Mendez. I’ll let my mother know that you’re here. She’s pretty anxious to meet with you.
Susan walked through the parlor and into the dining area where I could see two people eating. Susan walked past them and into another room. I thought I heard her going down wooden plank steps. Right off the hallway was the parlor, and all I could make out was a round, oak table whose legs had been cut to shorten the table. There were cards on the table: strange, big cards with colorful images on them.
-Edward? Let’s go and change before we catch our deaths of cold. You can look at the cards later.
Yolanda’s look was not a nice one. She had caught me staring after Susan and said as much as we walked up the carpeted stairs.
-Susan is interesting, no? Do you like her?
I made no answer.
When we reached the first landing, my new girlfriend pointed toward a door.
-Go in there and get undressed. You can even take a quick shower. And, dear Edward, think of me naked in the next room and grow hard...for you see, I’ll be thinking of you.
-I’ll try real hard.
-Do more than just try. Now, go. I don’t want you to catch a chill.
As soon as I got into the bathroom, I stripped naked and grabbed a towel and dried myself down. I forgot my erotic promise to Yolanda. I put my gun on the straw hamper; the nozzle was still warm.
I took another towel, draped it about my waist, and went to the mirror. I ran a comb through my damp hair and rubbed my teeth with my forefinger. And, then, my pinkie finger...my left pinkie finger felt so strange, there was still that pressure on it.
I stared into my eyes and saw a stranger staring back at me. He was handsome and young and had a soul that was fashioned similar to my own; but, his soul bore the mark of more experience even though his youth belied such a thought.
A knock on the door.
-Yes?
-It’s Susan, Mr. Mendez. I’ll leave the bathrobe on the doorknob and the slippers by the door. Take your time; but, there’ll be fresh, hot coffee for you when you’re ready to
come down. Are you hungry? I’ll put a couple of pot-pies in the oven, if you like. I’ll see you downstairs.
-Susan? Thanks, again.
I heard her walk down the hall and knock on the other bathroom door. I opened the door and took the bathrobe and bent down for the slippers. I took off the towel and replaced it with the robe and carefully adjusted my gun underneath. Where I went, that baby was going with me. I slipped my bare feet into the black slippers that were just a little too big.
Patiently, I waited for Yolanda to emerge from her bathroom because I didn’t want to walk downstairs by myself. Impatiently, I walked over to the door and knocked.
-Yes?
-Yolanda?
-Yes, Edward?
-Ready yet?
-Of course not. I’ll be a few more minutes, so you may go down without me.
-Go down where?
-Into the dining area, of course. Don’t be modest. Susan likes you and she’ll put you at ease. Now, go downstairs and wait for me. I won’t be too much longer.
I walked down the hall and took the stairs two at a time and found myself in the parlour. No one was there, and I saw that the strange cards had been neatly placed into three piles face down. I reached down and flicked one over: it was the Knight of Wands: a handsome, young man with fire in his hair. I resisted the urge to pocket this card because I didn’t know why I would want such a strange souvenir whose symbology was lost on me. I took it, anyway. Slipping it into my pocket, I walked into the dining room where a young man and woman were seated at a table.
-Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt.
-That is no problem.
The young man spoke with an accent that I couldn’t place. He was young and had an arrogant look about him. The woman got up and extended her hand. She was thin with her hair pulled back in a tight braid. I took an immediate dislike to both of them, more so the woman.
-Good evening, Mr. Mendez. I recognize your voice. We spoke on the phone earlier today. I am Rosamund Spender and this is Erich Manfred who is an acquaintance of mine. He is accompanying me back to Germany.
