《T*************y》D. F. Lau

17、Chapter 9

　　An early morning on the street, a car slowly running in silence while turned two rounds then came near to a house. A man coming down from driving seat hesitated to press the electronic combination lock. After a short fidgety wait, the door was opened.

　　While time passed away, Anton waked up from muddled.
　　All around was from vague profile little by little to clear up. But where was it？
　　Anton found himself lying on a bed. He moved his hands and feet feeling that his forehead and all over body were covered with medicinal liquid and swab.

　　“You are awake?” A man came around and gently said.
　　Anton carefully discerned.
　　“It’s me, Jimmy.” That man smiled towards him.
　　Anton finally recognized that’ Rene. He opened his month in doubt but was stopped. ”Everything was all right, you are safe now. I have all checked out. You only got abrasion which won’t be bothered at all. Do you feeling better now?”
　　Anton nodded.
　　“I am sorry I didn’t take you to the hospital. Or do you want to?” Rene asked.
　　“No, no need!” Anton struggled to sit up but got pushed down by Rene.” Stay in bed for a little while.”
　　“What time is it ?”
　　“Over nine , you should sleep for a little longer. Don’t worry. We gonna be back this afternoon. I will find something to eat now.” Rene covered the quilt for Anton then turend away.

　　However Anton hadn’t the mood to sleep. Anton struggled on his feet as soon as Rene left. He felt a little dazed realizing that Rene was right he got only light injury. Nothing mattered.
　　Then Anton looked over his environment: The windows were covered by thick curtains only dim daylight went through. He wondered to look around: This room was full of furniture covered by white cloth as if the host was being off or had never come back.
　　All surroundings was in no clamor, freaking quite only the door was opened toward the hall. So where was it, he became more perplexed and alarmed.
　　He looked down at himself who got wrapped by swabs very professionally. He went over in the room then felt better.
　　Anton wondered what furniture under the white cloth by the contour.
　　This one seemed like a cupboard, while after he lifted a corner of cloth, a bookcase stood there with books in different languages covered; another side was a desk. He carefully opened one drawer where lied several pieces of papers. He picked them up. Those testing paper and draft papers written full of chemical and physical formulas.
　　He drew another door of the desk. A pile of draft papers stacked there on which was an unnamed title of a company; besides a file folder. Anton held it in his hand, and opened it.
　　But to his surprise there was a calendar of activities and testing agenda of an unnamed school only class, activity introductions and handwriting number on it. He can picked out the one wrote on the paper was the organizer of this activity and he was planning on the management of members.
　　All the papers had yellowed yet, and the handwriting faded too. It seemed quite a long time since then. Some kind of weird feeling turned out from heart that made himself a little sad while he sighed.
　　At the bottom of the files, out of his imagination, he found a photo of four girls and two boys.
　　Suddenly, there came a sound. Anton hurried to put all the files back without thinking. Rene was back.

　　“not sleeping?” Seeing Anton standing in hall, Rene felt a little surprised.
　　“I should have a practice.” Anton felt strange that Rene changed his cloth and worn a baseball cap, a grey waterproof coat. Anton could not figure out what did this look like, but only felt strange, maybe a little too young out of usual Rene.
　　“Get something to eat.” Rene smiled and threw all the stuff on the bedside cupboard.” We just have pizza here.” Rene sounded so young and cautious that it seemed he didn’t want to disturb all the clothes covering ghosts.
　　Seeing the pack, Anton realized that it was near the university town. There over flew the delicious smell, he felt he’s so hungry. Without thinking, he devoured like a wolf.
　　Rene didn’t eat, after a while. Anton heard the sound of steps and he opened the curtain and looked out its Rene. He picked flowers outside.
　　Rene seemed in good mood; Anton wondered but still felt oppressive that no one could avoid working. Except that one night stand he could not relate with this guy for some special cause.
　　Rene came in with a bunch of flowers in hand, and then put some into the vase and the other into the medical box beside the bed.
　　“I am OK now, shall we go?” Anton asked as stiff as a poker.
　　After both of them cleared way, put all garbage into paper bag in hand then went out.
　　Rene pushed the door opened. Anton saw Rene wearing a pair of gloves which he didn’t notice when Rene put on.
　　Suddenly exposing in the sun from the dark, Anton felt hurt in the eyes.
　　But Rene still stood inside the door, slow-wittedly looked around all over the clothe-covered house.
　　“What?” Anton stepped in showing his wonder; one second he saw tears shinning in Rene’s eyes.
　　“Go, let’s go.” Rene nodded, and then pressed the password by hands still in gloves，turn out, closed the door.
　　It was bright and sunshine with air full of fragrance. Rene trembled and closed eyes tightly.
　　He put the medical box into the back trunk, the bunch of flowers in front of the seat, sit in the driving seat, put on a pair of light color glass, start the car and drive on their way.
　　It could be learned that Rene knew the road. He watched the view along the road now and then. While they both kept silent even Anton intended to ask but never commence. Under the glass shined that desolation that Anton never found in Rene’s eyes.

　　Car went into a petrol station. A fat brown-haired woman filled the petrol box. They went out of the car and bought several bottles of water in the shop. “You are Sally?” Rene passed the Visa to her and asked.
　　“Who are you?” That woman rose up and saw Rene with alertness.
　　Rene made a wry smile while brown-haired woman came out from the shop then watched the car driving away with amazement.

　　With the time went by, car ran off the main road which Anton realized was not the way to the highway, and then he looked at Rene in baffle.
　　“Anton,” Rene asked,” Would you please wait for me for a while?” He stopped the car at a crossing beside there was a small road leading to the hillside.
　　“Pardon?”
　　“Could you wait for me for a second？ I am going to a place.”
　　“What?” Anton felt a little strange but still admitted.” All right.”
　　“Thanks.”

　　He found it, finally he found it.
　　Rene put flowers and water in front of headstone. It was the first time that he came here.
　　Rene stood there, staring at the headstone woodenly. There was the one who he was so familiar with, smiling at him with pure sight full of wonderful dreams.
　　Forever young, he sighed. Looking at the photo, time fixed in that second, never changed.
　　Wind blew in a hurry, warm and bright wind with a little coldness in it.

　　Waited for a while, Rene hadn’t returned, Anton hesitated, and then at last came up along the way Rene went away.
　　Anton went up, turned around, and passed an iron gate which was unlocked. On the door carved several characters and one emblem showed it’s a private location,
　　He looked out, to his surprise; he saw a graveyard in front.
　　Beside the forest a little faraway, two aged workers were working quietly.
　　So far away, he saw Rene under a headstone with lowering head. Anton came near.
　　Rene discovered and raised head. Their eyes touched in the air. Rene came by and Anton stopped.
　　“Sorry to make you worried.” Rene apologized to Anton and they quickly went towards the gate.

　　The wind began to blow again. Behind, several leaves and petals flew down to the empty headstone.