Spring 2024 - Recrudescence

“Through the Plague”

“Didn’t you see him?”, a female voice cried, and in the ensuing si lence, people recognized the voice of Dochka, the widow. “He’s just come home,” she continued talking to those clos est to her. “He jumped off his horse, and as soon as I told him, he headed straight to the church…. he must have come here.”

“Come? Who has come?” someone asked nervously.

“Aaaah! The plague has come!” a female voice screeched

from inside the church.

And as it was crowded, in a moment the crowd turned, ready

to run.

“Wait, people!”, some men shouted. “There’s nothing to be

afraid of, nothing!”

The people calmed down a bit and started going back. But up front, by the church altar, there was an empty space. And there, in that place, a man appeared, young but blackened and dusty. His eyes, fixed on the bride, burned like coals, and he was swaying. He tried to step forward but cringed in terrible convulsions, black spots forming on his face. His legs sagged and he fell. Everyone rushed back, shoving one another and shouting. Then the crowd ran from the church like a herd of animals, leaving the space lit up. Only Tiha stood under the chandelier. She wanted to run too, but she saw a woman and stopped: it was Dochka. She looked at the fallen man at the altar, wringing her arms, her eyes crazed. “He has the plague!”, someone shouted. “Run!”

“Oh, God, what can I do?” she was shouting, “he’s my son,

but he has the plague! Oh, my God!”

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