Seven Demons, Aidan Truhen [english readers txt] 📗

touching it in that sense it is touching me—”

“I did not mean that, your other hand is—”

“I—oh shit I had no idea I was—”

“Keep your fucking hands away from the—”

“IT IS IN ME I HATE—”

“STOP TOUCHING—”

“I AM NOT IT IS ITCHY IS ALL I—”

“PRICE LEAVE THE—”

“GET THE ITCHY OUT OF ME—”

“NO NO NO NO YOUR DAMN HANDS YOU DAMN—”

(Bonk.)

No one says bonk but it is the noise I hear.

Somewhere Doc says: “Thank you Rex that was very timely. Lucille get that car please I’m afraid we’ll have to kill the driver—yes stop screaming madame—I know it’s unfortunate but I will make this painless there we are—goodbye I will do my best to take care of your family and so on if you have any—no that’s it relax good and five four three two one done. Rex you drive GO. Jesus that’s a lot of blood Price you IDIOT Charlie give me your belt now hold this and—for Christ’s sake Charlie I do not want to fucking hear it you ALWAYS wear underwear when robbing a bank that is just professional—now TWIST—”

White light and hot cold and sleep now.

—

“Oh what no Doc I might just sit down—”

“No Price you can’t fucking just sit down—”

“But I’m all awake now and I just need a little—”

Volodya says: “Doctor he is lose blood give me the kit.”

“We need to stay together—”

“He must lie still and get transfusion. Cannot be in car chase and running or he will tear the artery open and then is fucked-up. I will take him. You make diversion. Meet at Black House. I will take care of it.”

“You? What the fuck are you going to—”

“I am universal donor give me the kit.”

“Fuck no you cannot just—”

“I can and I will and I am experience. I have done before. Give.”

“Jesus fuck no Doc don’t give him the kit he makes human ham don’t let him give me human ham blood that’s just wrong—”

“Shut up Jack.”

Big dumb Volodya face all up in my vision tunnel: “Also too Jack it is not human ham we have discussed and I find this continuing hurtful as you know—”

“Yeah sorry big guy I’m a bad man but hey look this mail is real comfy—”

“Doctor. Give me the kit.”

“Fuck. I know you’re a—Jesus fuck it’ll fucking—”

“I know. If not he will maybe die certainly no good for weeks. These are realities. Give me the kit.”

“…Fucking take it then. FUCK!”

“You are good doctor, Doc.”

“…Fuck!”

—

I wake in the gray place that is the place that you go when you are not unconscious but not also the other thing. The edges of the gray place are brown and when you push too hard into the real world the brown makes you sleep.

Negative universe coffee.

I am lying on sacks of mail and the world is softly in motion. I can feel an engine working GOGA-GOGA-GOG.

I am in a mail truck.

No.

Not a truck a—

Volodya says: “I get off now Price you go on to end of line.”

“What? Fuck buddy don’t leave me in this shit OW what—”

“I take transfusion kit not good if they find us with it.”

“Well OW but also man stay with me we’ll—”

“No Price I got stuff to do now. You sleep. Will all be okay. Okay?”

“Fucking human ham blood transfusion so wrong. You’re gonna leave me NOW? I’m fucking dying here.”

“I don’t think so. You got my blood in you now. Very rude to die anyway.”

“Where the fuck is everyone?”

“They make diversion. I get you away. Was bad situation.”

“But you’re leaving me now?”

“Bad situation got consequences.”

“More people need to think about me is what I’m saying because I got stabbed.”

“You are asshole Jack.”

“Yeah buddy I am.”

“Yeah you are.”

“Yeah I am.”

“…”

“…You’re a good friend I’m sorry.”

“…Hah. Now is truth.”

“Well I got your blood in me I guess truth comes with.”

“You are good friend Jack you got to make it okay?”

“Don’t get all misty on me—”

“I don’t get misty asshole I am totally male and Ukrainian.”

“Sorry buddy didn’t mean to overstep.”

“Now sleep. Go on to end of line.”

“I don’t want to sleep I got—”

“Price.”

“Yeah?”

“Sleep.”

I sleep.

—

A mail train.

Not a truck because this is the country of the train. Seriously they have the best trains here there are actual armchairs and bars with real beer and a playground even like red and yellow plastic and happy children all on a train. Standard class because civilization is not a luxury. I tell you, this country, man, they make capitalism look a lot like Socialism sometimes.

Not always.

—

Bright light and blue blue sky and a man do not wake me man I am sleeping MAN pay attention you are waking me with your waking—

The man does not approve not at all. He is stern because I have bled on the mail. Bled a lot he says which you know he likely hasn’t seen a lot of bleeding because that stuff spreads super-duper thin and is real dramatic I feel fine.

The man is also pissed because I have traveled in the train without a ticket. That is a fine. Also because the mail van is not certified for human transport it is unsafe I am totally risking injury like whiplash with my shabby leg.

But now he is stern plus extra stern because the blood is a health hazard yes a hazard to public health and that is quite antisocial. It is irresponsible. Am I Swiss? This is un-Swiss.

I tell the man I am not Swiss.

He says good.

He carries me like a child.

“Are you arresting me?”

A noise like one of those toys they sell that you shake that is supposed to sound like a cow.

“Yaaaahhh-uuuuuuuaaaaawh. Later for all this. Now just get you to a bed. You have lost a lot of blood. I know. It is in my mail.”

“Yeah sorry man I honestly got no idea how that happened.”

“Yaaaaaah-uuuuuuawh. Of course not.”

“No I mean obviously I got stabbed I just got no idea how I ended up in your mail van.”

Guy is old like old old how is he carrying me? I