St. Petersburg Noir by Natalia Smirnova

Author:Natalia Smirnova [Smirnova, Natalia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Akashic Books
Published: 2012-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

This city consisted of black water and black stone. The water below, in the canals and rivers, and above, in the air.

Walking, he caught himself feeling as though he were breathing water.

The local inhabitants could probably use gills; especially now, in late fall. Or special breathing organs made of stone. Granite alveoli and tracheae.

The writer liked to fantasize after he got out of scrapes. He found contemplating abstract topics gave him a sensation of the fullness of life and was very calming.

His best friend once said, “Don’t look for peace, let peace find you.”

He walked to the station without finding a single open establishment.

Entering the warm, booming hall, he immediately felt a weakness. He no longer had any desire to work.

He bought a ticket. The cashier yawned mightily and glanced at his sleeve. The writer stepped aside and looked—there was someone else’s blood on his cuff.

Then he sat down on the plastic bench and composed a brief story about someone who loved people but not himself.

Twelve hours later he was home. That same evening his wife arrived, and the writer caught himself thinking that he was sincerely glad to see her.

The shirt he’d had to throw away; the blood wouldn’t wash out.

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