“What a country. The crazy things that happen here. You know, when I was a kid, one afternoon a boulder fel on a boy, and kil ed him on the spot. Right in our backyard. We al shared a backyard, al these buildings shared one backyard, and there was a slope running along the edge of it, like a hil , with stones and boulders. And the boulder fel on this poor kid and kil ed him. One minute he was there, the next …I was eight. I sometimes think there’s a reason for al these freak accidents. Some message. A message from above.”
“What message?”
“I don’t know. That the place is dangerous. That we need to be stronger, more aware. Another guy I know got eaten alive by bees. In my high school two kids drowned, and one girl died when a branch fel on her during a hike. I swear, it’s weird.”
“Those sorts of things happen everywhere, you just don’t hear about them. We’re a smal country, so we hear about every death. We hear, and we also remember. We feel bad, and we remember.”
“Yes, that’s true. We remember.”
“Also people here are careless. They drive like they’re homicidal and on amphetamines. They think they have to be tough, so they aren’t self-protective. They don’t avoid bees and they swim where there aren’t any lifeguards. The city doesn’t clear boulders. We don’t look after ourselves, that’s the problem. We’re too arrogant and vain and we’re obsessed with being tough. Maybe we’re also suicidal.”
“That doesn’t seem to describe you.”
“You’re right, I do try to protect myself. I don’t care if people think I’m a coward.”
“I do. I would hate that. I would hate it if anyone thought I was a coward.”
“I do. I would hate that. I would hate it if anyone thought I was a coward.”
“People don’t distinguish between real bravery and just showing of . Are you going to be here every night I come and walk?”
“Do you want me to be here?”
“No, I need to be alone.”
“Who wants to be alone? Isn’t it bad enough you haven’t got your husband?” He placed his arm around my shoulder.
I slipped away from him. “Yes, it is bad enough. That’s why I need to be alone. I like to walk here and think about him.”
He was silent for a few minutes. Then he said, “Al right, I won’t bother you again. But if you ever need anything, cal me. Here’s my number.” He handed me his business card.
But he didn’t want to leave; he had something more to say, and he wasn’t sure whether he should say it or not. I waited while he deliberated. Final y he decided. “Listen, I can find your husband’s address, if you want,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“I told you, I’m in a special unit. I have access to everything. I can look him up on our computer.”
“I already tried that. I mean they checked their computers at al the of ices I went to. He has a fake address, but it’s not where he lives.”
“Those weren’t the right computers,” he said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. If he was a soldier, and he’s wounded, I can find out where he is.”
“When can you try? How soon?” My heart began to beat faster.
“I can do it tomorrow, it’s not a problem.”
“You mean you can look anyone up?”
“Yes. You deserve to know. Why shouldn’t you know? Just don’t tel anyone it was me, okay? You have to promise. And I mean no one.
Promise.”
“I won’t tel anyone.”
“I just need his ID.”
“Do you have a pen?”
“I’l remember. I have a good memory.”
“Five-three-two-two-six-four-nine.”
“Five-three-two-two-six-four-nine. Cal me tomorrow evening around six.”
“Yes,” I said.
He began jogging along the beach. He turned around once and waved good-bye, jogging backward, then continued on his way.
Daniel’s parents returned from Greece two days after he vanished. At that time we were stil convinced that Daniel would be back in a day or two. We thought he just wanted some time alone; Nina said he needed “to reestablish his aura” and the doctors said he hadn’t nished his treatment, and his health problems would bring him back. In the meantime Nina was practicing a Japanese method of long-distance healing and she asked me to join her, but I was too anxious about Daniel to think about energy currents. I was certain he would contact me soon, but I also sensed that something was wrong.
