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II

We all wanted to run for the doors of the train when they opened.
But of course, we did not.
Even when they opened for the last time. When we arrived, we still did not run.
It had been too loud while we traveled with people talking too much.
And now there was this sudden silence, thick with the smell of us. It was almost night again.

No, she could not keep her mouth shut. I do not know what I would do if I was her. But surely she had to know. The boy was too frail. He was of no use.
His mother sat twisted into the earth, a baby to her breast and she screamed. She spit. She screamed. She screamed. She screamed.
Shut-up, shut-up, shut-up, I spoke in my head as I listened to her obscenities.
"Halt den Mund! Halt den Mund!" his voice coarsed through the air. His body moved back towards her. "Halt den Mund!"
She did not see him, not really, she kept screaming. She had already lost her mind.
"Halt den Mund!" he screamed as he grabbed her by her hair. She was like a doll and he was strong.
She opened her eyes and screamed in his face.
He grabbed her other son. He grabbed the child from her arms and he raised the child above his head.
"Halt den Mund!" he spit back at her and then he drove the baby into the ground.
I watched the baby's eyes open.
I watched the baby's mouth start to open.
And then I watched a bullet rip through the baby's face.
"Halt den Mund!" he pointed at us all, panting, his red eyes wide.
Then he walked away.
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Comments

Anonymous said…
This is a really good one, Q...I'd like to read more of this story.
Wednesday, 13 October 2004 at 07:58:00 GMT-4
Phoesable said…
Oh, Q., I'm.... speechless. Please, more. I think.
Wednesday, 13 October 2004 at 12:21:00 GMT-4
Anonymous said…
Hi I am from pesaremashreghiblogspot.com
how did you post muzik az your background sound on your weblog
can you give me the codes for doing that?
thanks
ARTAN
Friday, 15 October 2004 at 15:14:00 GMT-4
AJ in Nashville said…
Ach mein Gott...
But yes...continue...I think...
Friday, 15 October 2004 at 19:54:00 GMT-4
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