25
Olga lay stretched out on her bed (the radio in the next room was silent), and it was obvious to her that Jakub had killed Ruzena and that only she and Dr. Skreta knew it. She would probably never learn why he had done it. A shudder of horror ran through her, but then she noticed with surprise (as we know, she knew how to observe herself) that the shudder was delightful and the horror full of pride.
The night before, she had made love with Jakub while he must have been full of the most excruciating thoughts, and she had absorbed him completely into herself, even with those thoughts.
Why doesn't this repel me? she wondered. Why don't I go (and never will go) and inform on him? Am I, too, living beyond justice?
But the more she interrogated herself this way, the more she felt swelling in her that strange, happy pride, and she felt like a young girl who is being raped and is abruptly gripped by stunning pleasure growing all the more powerful the more strongly it is being resisted…
26
The train reached the railroad station, and two women got off.
One was about thirty-five and received a kiss from Dr. Skreta; the other, who was younger and elegantly dressed, carried a baby in her arms and was kissed by Bertlef.
'Show us your little boy, Mrs. Bertlef,' said the doctor, 'I haven't seen him yet!'
'If I didn't know you so well, I'd be suspicious,' said Suzy Skreta, laughing. 'Look, he has a birthmark on his upper lip, in exactly the same place as you!'
Mrs. Bertlef examined Dr. Skreta's face and said in a near shout: 'It's true! I never noticed it on you when I was here at the spa before!'
Bertlef said: 'It is such an amazing coincidence that I venture to rank it among the miracles. Doctor Skreta, who restores health to women, belongs to the category of angels, and like an angel, he puts his sign on the children he has helped bring into the world. It is not a birthmark, it is an angel mark.' All were delighted by Bertlef's explanation, and they laughed cheerfully.
'Besides,' Bertlef went on, addressing his charming wife, 'I hereby solemnly announce that, as of a few minutes ago, the doctor is the brother of our little John. Since they are brothers, it is quite normal for them to bear the same mark.'
'Finally! You finally decided…' said Suzy Skreta to her husband with a sigh of happiness.
'I don't understand, I don't understand any of this!' said Mrs. Bertlef, insisting on an explanation.
'I shall explain everything to you. We have many things to talk about today, many things to celebrate. We have a marvelous weekend before us,' said Bertlef, taking his wife by the arm. Then the four of them walked off under the platform lights and away from the railroad station.
COMPLETED IN BOHEMIA IN 1971 OR 1972
Milan Kundera
