The Night Trip
- Where, my friend, we are going?
- There, where nobody sees us, where smell of the see enters the body, where beetles gnaw trees tirelessly, where soil evaporates heat, where beautiful silver fishes suddenly turn into weightless clouds on white-white sky…
Dedicated to my beloved Bro, our junky Friend, and gorgeous psychedelic remedies
It all started during the day - the sun was shining brightly and bees buzzed in the air. Unnoticeably we entered the forest, venturing farther. Along the way, we stumbled upon the large building, in appearance like a hotel or a modern apartment on the shore of the Lake. The construction works were carried out under the sign "Restoration of the object". Previously, in times of our childhood, there was a wharf of the boat “Hero Tanzorov”, which cruised along the Lake, carrying happy children with ice cream “Eskimo” in small hands.
Beach “Gypsy woman”, how it is called among commoners for its remoteness and wildness, pleased us with flamboyance and shabbiness. Immediately somehow the idea of goa-party came along, that would perfectly blended into the surrounding landscape and departed after the overview of the place and spotting the few groups of young people having much fun while drinking upon the asses of their autos.
We sat under the Color Mushroom near the water. Few young-looking girls were hanging around, telling something sad and disappointing into the handset to someone and glancing occasionally in our direction. The sun was setting, but who would notice that - journey just begun. We rejoiced, leaving behind more people and encountering fewer cars. It became quite dark in the forest when we reached the bridge. I have never been onwards.
Suddenly it became clear that we remained alone with the forest. Just in front of us was a nest with little frightened bird. We agreed not to bother her; we have already enough intervened into this magical process. The road gradually disappeared and was replaced by a barely visible trail. Everybody walked confidently and quickly. Surrounding silence fascinated us and no one was to break it, unless some branch rarely cracked under the foot.
A howling of dogs was heard from afar.
- We approach village.
- Well, go on; let's see how it is there.
Soon we came to the forest line, beneath lay the road on which the drunken village boy waded. Obviously, he did not see us. We sat down, the dark wall of trees whispered behind. Nobody wanted to go down to the village. It was a shame that the forest ended so quickly. Apparently, Indians in reservations are feeling similarly. Nasty human smell spread out of the village.
We didn’t want to linger here and soon the forest engulfed us again. Complete darkness shrouded us and yet no one was looking for a trail. Just go confidently, trusting your intuition. Woods, night and sounds around enveloped us with tranquility. Senses of smell, hearing and sight strained to impossible degree and somehow miraculously merged into one.
Suddenly we came out to the bridge and wonderful picture opened. I would say that it just can not happen in reality. A huge orange moon was rising out of the water; it was crossed by clouds here and there; fish jumped out of the lake in strange spawning ecstasy.
- Come on, there is some light, let’s bask.
- No, it’s better to go on.
- Let’s go, when the moon rises a little higher and it becomes lighter.
I went right at the light, but night trails are misleading and suddenly the mud sucked my moccasins, and could suck even myself, if friends failed to pull me out. Swamp is a terrible creature. I do not really like fire. This thing was donated by a man-god and it fatally changed the nature of women's land. Fire instantly kindled with smut and firewood, left by grief-tourists, like if he was enjoying another chance.
On the other side of the bridge drove a taxi. Two dark figures were sent to us, whispering something. Two persons suddenly emerged in the field of fire, outwardly quite similar to the real goblins. Short stature, pointed features, running buttons-eyes, tattered strands of gray hair and shoes with elongated nose. They gnawed seeds.
- Well, well… where have you cast?
- What exactly have we cast?
- Confess. We are the same as you are.
- Are you sure?
- Where have you cast fishing net?
- We haven’t cast any nets.
- What are you doing here? It seems you don’t have vodka… well… you have a girl, but what good is out of her..?
- We rest.
- Without vodka?
- Yes, some relax so too nowadays.
- Are you sure, you haven’t cast the nets? Well, watch out...
One of them pulled a beer out of a dirty pack and handed it to me. I refused, peering intently at Goblin’s eyes. "Damn you! Throw a grid, Vasia". Two dark figures began to move quickly on the bridge. Staying there longer was senseless and even dangerous. The road was dark and straight. Soon it brought us back to the beach. The atmosphere there has changed. Autos switched on the red lights, girl’s moaning and drunken mumbling was heard here and there. Autos were moving back and forth. I never thought that this place is so popular. They dazzled.
Restaurant reflected red light. An Auto with barely drunk driver went out, followed by expensive Auto with a very drunk driver. While going down into the swamp, where the city began, blinding and stun effects increased, plus musty smell and it flowed again from nose. Indeed, around was very light from the night lights, machine made a lot of noise and people smelled badly. It was so sad to come back here again.
Unnoticeably we crossed the road and sank into the park to catch the breath. I stopped in the middle of fragile bridge and looked into the water: black and a little scary at first.
In a regular restaurant people celebrated wedding. Noisy meaningless music, drunken guests and youth, withered flowers ... Fat and ugly smell of stale evaporated above it all. We had to get used again to live here. A forest is getting smaller...