Five Spice Street

‘‘Why don’t you both come to my shop and help out here? Sitting in the loft all day will paralyze her legs. How can a person not move all day?’’

‘‘That won’t work,’’ he said. ‘‘She’s already fallen apart. You can’t imagine what her nerves are like now. She takes precautions day and night. We’re both weak. Sorry.’’

‘‘I want to teach her how to use the javelin.’’

‘‘It’s too late, dear sister. She spends the whole day squatting under the table because someone is making a disturbance on the roof. I want to engage a good doctor, but no one will climb our rope ladder. Whenever I suggest unblocking the staircase, she threatens to jump out the window.’’

The matter of Madam X’s becoming the representative didn’t end here. Everyone knew that one or two arguments wouldn’t work, considering past events; and without being able to talk with her, there was nothing to do but go ahead with the election. The young coal worker and others loyal to her saw her sitting on the windowsill, truly both deaf and blind. They pleaded with her, but left in disappointment. Later, the election took place in the dark room. As expected, Madam X won. She got nearly all the votes. She officially became a representative. Only a few ambitious people who wanted to be representatives overestimated their abilities and voted against her. After their hopes were dashed, they hatched a plot, but a shout from Madam X’s husband’s good friend scared them so much that they scattered. Among them were Madam X’s female colleague, Ms. B, and others. Only now did the people realize that Ms. B didn’t really want Madam X to be the representative. Her objective in going to the snack shop was to wreck this possibility! She was the one responsible for Madam X’s insistence on not being elected! Furious, Madam X’s husband’s good friend picked up a shovel: he wanted to split Ms. B’s head ‘‘in half.’’

‘‘So many people,’’ he roared indignantly, ‘‘so many people have assembled here to see Madam X. Now they can’t see even a shadow. Weren’t all of my years of effort and all my hopes just for today? When I think of those hurtful past events, my heart aches. I thought that the hard days were over. Who knew there would be a day like this! I’m telling you: a person like you has no excuse to go on living. You not only slapped me, but you also smashed my friend the young coal worker’s ideals. Look at him (he was picking his nose with a grieved expression). Ever since he became my neighbor, we’ve gone through so many trials and tribulations together! You-ugly crow! Go straight to hell!’’

He had been holding the shovel high. Now he let his hand drop, and the shovel hit his instep. Grimacing, he jumped around the room five times. Then he turned happy again and clasped the young coal worker’s shoulders:

‘‘This is the last proof,’’ he said. ‘‘My instep has cracked open and the bones are exposed. On this day when the esteemed lady appears in public, I will also soon have days of glory. I’m convinced she represents our future. I haven’t wavered in this belief at all. I think this must be rooted in my subconscious. I am talented: isn’t this clear? My friend! We are both talented. While others didn’t understand, we’ve been struggling alone until today. Look at the big blister on the back of my head: this came from sleeping on flagstones. Who is Madam X? She’s a model I have shaped-the well-known ‘‘wave of the future’’! Few people were aware of my efforts, but it was only because of those efforts that the people were able to put into effect this grand election. Buddy, we need to start working at night and come up with a new project. Do you feel some pressure?’’

The young coal worker confirmed that he ‘‘felt pressure in every part of his gut.’’ He couldn’t even pass gas. The most important thing was: Madam X had been absent without a reason, and this concealed innumerable dangerous portents. No, he wasn’t the least bit intoxicated over today’s election. He couldn’t see anything worth being intoxicated over. He had long ago learned about X. More often than not, when everyone was intoxicated with her, she didn’t notice it at all! At first, he had employed a lot of measures to attract her attention, but they were all ineffectual. One day, he ran into her on the street and greeted her. She just called him ‘‘a newcomer.’’ Of course, not being intoxicated wasn’t the same as wanting to abandon his efforts. The election process was half of what he wanted to do. But Madam X hadn’t shown up, and so the other half hadn’t yet been put into effect. If he couldn’t get Madam X to appear at the meeting, then the whole thing was unfinished and anti-climactic.