Enter the Hero 123

" When she calmed down, I said, 'I came to hate that novel, and I'm afraid. I'm sick. I'm terrified.'

" She got up and started to speak. 'My God, you are sick. Why did you do it, why? But I'll save you. I'll save you. What's this all about? '

" I saw her eyes, swollen from smoke and tears, and I felt her cold hands stroking my forehead.

" 'I'll cure you, I'll cure you, ' she murmured, clutching me by the shoulders. 'You'll reconstruct it. Why, oh why didn't I keep a copy myself! '

" She bared her teeth in fury and said something else that I couldn't make out. Then, with her lips pursed, she started gathering and sorting the burnt pages. It was a chapter from the middle of the novel, I don't remember which. She stacked the pages neatly, wrapped them in paper and tied them with a ribbon. All her movements showed decisiveness and self-control. She asked for some wine and after drinking it, began to speak more calmly.

" 'This is what we get for lying, ' she said, 'and I don't want to lie anymore. I'd stay with you right now, but that's not the way I want to do iL I don't want to leave him with the memory of my running off at night. He never did me any harm... He was called out suddenly, there was a fire at his factory. But he'll be back soon. I'll tell him everything in the morning, I'll tell him that I love someone else, and then I'll come back to you forever. Tell me, though, perhaps that isn't what you want? '

" 'My poor thing, my poor dear, ' I said to her. 'I won't let you do that. Things will go badly for me, and I don't want you to perish with me.'

" 'Is that the only reason? ' she asked, drawing her eyes close to mine.

" The only one.'

" She became terribly animated, pressed herself against me, wrapped her arms around my neck and said, 'I will perish with you. And I'll be back with you in the morning.'

" The last thing that I remember in my life is the strip of light coming from the entryway, and in that light a loosened curl, her beret, and her eyes, full of determination. I also remember a black silhouette in the outer doorway and a white package.

" i'd see you home, but I don't have the strength to come back here alone, I'm afraid.'

" 'Don't be afraid. Just be patient for a few hours. I'll be back with you in the morning.'

" Those were her last words in my life... Shh! " the sick man interrupted himself suddenly and raised his finger. " This moonlit night is restless."

He disappeared out onto the balcony. Ivan heard the sound of wheels in the corridor and a faint cry or sob.

When everything had quieted down, the guest came back and told Ivan that Room 120 had a new occupant. Someone had been brought in who kept asking to have his head returned. An anxious silence