Spring 2024 - Recrudescence

“Through the Plague”

“God forbid, child,” said Grandpa Neyko, “when it comes, it

doesn’t choose between old and young.”

“No,” Tiha laughed again, “I heard she needed old skins

now, and she would kill the old ones first.”

By the time the hadji could hear what they were talking about, Tiha had left. Grandpa Neyko coughed on one hand to cov er up the girl’s joke, and on the other, as a way of getting ready to speak. He talked about the plague again, then about the famine, then about the plague once more. Finally, he finished and said:

“The village looks to you, Hadji. You’re our only hope…”

At that decisive moment, the old men lowered their eyes in anticipation to hear how Hadji Dragan would respond. Suddenly a cheerful, throaty laugh echoed through the room: Hadji Dragan was laughing. The old men looked at him in astonishment. Hadji Dra gan was a big man, and as he pulled back laughing, his whole body was shaking and his face had become red.

“So, is that why you came to me?” His thick voice rumbled.

“Well, I… Ha-ha-ha! I’m preparing a wedding today, and

here you are, talking about dying.”

“What are you talking about, Hadji,” said Grandpa Neyko,

“is it allowed?”

“Why not? It’s Tiha’s wedding today, I’ve told you. I have

one girl left, I will marry her off, too.

“Is that right, Hadji? People are dying…”

“Who’s dying? Where are they dying? What are you blab bering on about? There is no plague, I tell you. If anyone’s dying, they’re dying out of fear. That’s how it goes - if a person is scared, if 191